Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research
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Primary aldosteronism has been associated with myocardial fibrosis, and is the most common cause of secondary hypertension. We previously showed that aldosterone can induce the secretion of galectin-3. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between myocardial fibrosis and plasma galectin-3 level in patients with primary aldosteronism. We prospectively analyzed 11 patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) who received adrenalectomy from December 2006 to October 2008, and 17 patients with essential hypertension as controls. Levels of plasma galectin-3 were determined in both groups, and both groups underwent echocardiography with cyclic variations of integrated backscatter (CVIBS) to characterize tissue initially and 1 year after surgery in the APA group. Diastolic blood pressure, concentration of plasma aldosterone and aldosterone-renin ratio were significantly higher, and serum potassium level and plasma renin activity significantly lower in the APA group compared to the controls. In addition, left ventricular mass index was significantly higher and CVIBS significantly lower in the APA group (7.3±2.0 vs 9.2±1.7 dB, p=0.015). Furthermore, the concentration of plasma galectin-3 was significantly higher in the APA group (2.1±0.9 vs 1.1±0.6 ng/mL, p=0.005) compared to the controls. CVIBS was correlated to plasma galectin-3 level. In the APA group, CVIBS increased significantly (7.3±2.0 to 9.2±2.4 dB, p=0.032) and plasma galectin-3 decreased (2.1±0.9 to 1.2±0.6, p=0.049) 1 year postadrenalectomy. The patients with APA had increased myocardial fibrosis, and this was associated with a higher plasma galectin-3 level. Both increased myocardial fibrosis and plasma galectin-3 level recovered at least partially after adrenalectomy.
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Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe illness associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate morbidity and mortality of IE in a hospital serving the most diverse area in New York City. An analysis of 209 patients admitted to the hospital from 2000 to 2012 who were found to have IE based on modified Duke criteria. ⋯ The most common organisms identified were Staphylococcus aureus (43.7%), viridans streptococci (17%) followed by Enterococcus (14.7%). Despite appropriate treatment, high rates of morbidity and mortality remained, with a higher impact in patients greater than 50 years of age. Such discoveries raise the importance of controlling and monitoring risk factors for IE.
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The relationship between soluble Klotho (s-Klotho) levels, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels, and albuminuria in patients with diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. A total of 109 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 61.63±9.77 years), at the outpatient clinic of the Antalya Research and Training Hospital Nephrology Unit between January and June 2014, as well as 32 healthy controls (mean age 49.53±7.32 years) were enrolled for this cross-sectional study. Patients were classified into three groups according to their urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR), normoalbuminuria (UACR<30 mg/g), microalbuminuria (UACR 30-300 mg/g), and macroalbuminuria (UACR>300 mg/g). ⋯ Between the groups according to UACR, 1-way analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences for creatinine (p<0.001), 25hD (p<0.001), PTH (p=0.002), Ca (p=0.002), and albumin levels (p<0.001). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between s-Klotho and FGF23 (r=0.768; p=0.001), and between FGF23 levels and UACR (r=0.768; p=0.001). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that s-Klotho levels are significantly elevated in patients with diabetes and s-Klotho levels decreased with increasing albumin excretion in our patients despite a reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Comparison of safety and efficacy of laparoscopic pyelolithotomy versus percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with large renal pelvic stones: a meta-analysis.
To compare percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and laparoscopic pyelolithotomy (LP) for surgical management for large (>2 cm) renal stones. We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases until March 11, 2015, using the following search terms: renalpelvic stone, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, laparoscopic pyelolithotomy. Randomized controlled and prospective and retrospective two-armed studies were included. ⋯ No publication bias was observed. The study suggests that both procedures are effective and safe for removing large renal stones. However, LP may be more efficacious than PCNL in treating large kidney stones.
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Ezogabine, clobazam, and perampanel are among the newest antiseizure drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 2011 and 2012. Ezogabine and perampanel are approved for adjunctive treatment of partial epilepsy. Perampanel is also approved for adjunctive treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. ⋯ Clobazam is the only 1,5-benzodiazepine currently in clinical use, which is less sedating than the commonly used 1,4-benzodiazepines. Phase III multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials demonstrated efficacy and good tolerability of these 3 new antiepileptic drugs. These drugs represent a welcome addition to the armamentarium of practitioners, but it remains to be seen how they will affect the landscape of pharmacoresistant epilepsy.