Successful Treatment for BK Virus Nephropathy by Leflunomide in a Kidney Transplant Patient: A Case Report

IntroductionThe immunosuppressant agents in kidney transplantation (KT) may lead to various complications such as opportunistic infections and malignancies. BK virus associated nephropathy is a significant complication following KT, and it can result in graft failure. BK virus causes tubulointerstitial nephritis, ureter stenosis, and even graft failure in KT recipients with impaired immune system. We described a 63-year-old woman, who was a hepatitis C carrier and on dialysis for 22 years before KT, who received cadaveric-donor KT 2 years previously. She reported decreasing urine output and general weakness. The serum creatinine level was slightly increased from 2.94 to 4.38 mg/dL.MethodsImmunosuppressant medications including prednisolone, everolimus, cyclosporin, and mycophenolate sodium were continued as maintenance therapy post KT. Kidney biopsy was performed due to deterioration of graft function.ResultsThe kidney biopsy showed consistent results with early-stage polyomavirus nephropathy, characterized by focal viral cytopathic changes with positive immunohistochemical signals and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, immune-complex-mediated (Fig 1 and Fig 2). Negative C4d staining at peritubular capillary was reported. The dosage of mycophenolate sodium was tapered from 720 to 360 mg daily and that of everolimus increased from 0.5 to 1.0 mg daily due to BK viral infection with BK nephropathy. The serum creatinine level was 2.75 mg/dL after treatment.ConclusionEarly detection of BK nephropathy and decreasing immunosuppressant agents are the mainstay of treatment. Substituting leflunomide for mycophenolate sodium and increasing dosage of everolimus has been proposed to solve BK nephropathy. We presented that the use of leflunomide in such situation is in a timely manner.     

F形空心钉与传统3枚平行钉治疗Pauwels Ⅲ型股骨颈骨折的疗效比较

目的:分析比较"F"形空心钉与传统倒三角3枚平行螺钉内固定治疗青壮年Pauwels Ⅲ型股骨颈骨折的临床疗效。方法：2017年1月至2020年1月收治Pauwels Ⅲ型股骨颈骨折患者38例，根据置入钉方式的不同将其分为两组，其中A组18例，采用"F"形空心钉固定，男12例，女6例，年龄37~55岁，受伤至手术时间1~3 d。B组20例，采用传统倒三角3枚平行拉力螺钉固定，男12例，女8例，年龄35~55岁，受伤至手术时间为1~3 d。比较两组患者骨折不愈合，股骨头坏死，股骨颈短缩，空心螺钉退出情况，髋关节功能Harris评分，疼痛视觉模拟评分（visual analogue scale，VAS）。结果：所有患者获得随访，时间为15~31个月。两组患者在骨折不愈合，股骨颈短缩，股骨头坏死方面差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）；两组患者在螺钉退出方面差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。两组患者术后12个月时髋关节Harris评分及VAS评分差异均无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论："F"形与传统倒三角3枚平行空心钉内固定治疗青壮年Pauwels Ⅲ型股骨颈骨折中短期疗效相似，但"F"形空心钉退钉率较低。     

The effect of immediate postpartum levonorgestrel contraceptive implant use on breastfeeding and infant growth: a randomized controlled trial

Objective

This study assessed whether immediate postpartum insertion of levonorgestrel contraceptive implants is associated with a difference in infant growth from birth to 6 months, onset of lactogenesis, or breastfeeding continuation at 3 and 6 months postpartum compared to delayed insertion at 6 to 8 weeks postpartum.

Elevated glycohemoglobin HbA1c is associated with low back pain in nonoverweight diabetics

Background Context

Low back pain (LBP) is a common complaint in clinical practice of multifactorial origin. Although obesity has been thought to contribute to LBP primarily by altering the distribution of mechanical loads on the spine, the additional contribution of obesity-related conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM) to LBP has not been thoroughly examined.

Improving Prenatal Diagnosis of Coarctation of the Aorta

Background

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association between fetal echocardiographic measurements and the need for intervention (primary coarctation repair, staged coarctation repair, or catheter intervention) in prenatally diagnosed coarctation of the aorta.

The oncogenic impact of RNF2 on cell proliferation,invasion and migration through EMT on mammary carcinoma

Mammary carcinoma (MC) is one of most common malignancy in women, and ring finger protein 2 (RNF2) possesses various roles in vast human tumors. In MC tissues as well as in cell lines RNF2 exhibited high expression, had significant association with tumor size, lymph node status, TNM stage, patients’ poor survival, and promoted cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration and invasion of MC cell lines which was mediated by downregulation of E-cadherin protein. These data reveal that RNF2 protein plays a vital role in the development of MC and may be a potential therapy target of MC.     

Dorsal suspension for Morton’s neuroma: A comparison with neurectomy

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the clinical outcomes of dorsal suspension with those of neurectomy for the treatment of Morton’s neuroma.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of dorsal suspension and neurectomy group. The dorsal suspension was performed by dorsal transposition of neuroma over the dorsal transverse ligament after neurolysis. The visual analog scale (VAS), the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), postoperative satisfaction, and complications were evaluated.ResultsBoth groups reported significant pain relief, and there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to postoperative pain. The postoperative FAAM outcomes showed no significant between-group differences. Satisfaction analysis showed ‘excellent’ and ‘good’ results in the dorsal suspension and neurectomy groups (95% and 77.7%, respectively). Complications of numbness and paresthesia reported in the dorsal suspension group (5% and 5%, respectively) were significantly fewer than those of neurectomy group (61.1% and 33.3%, respectively) (both, p < .05).ConclusionsWith its favorable results, dorsal suspension can be another operative option for the treatment of Morton’s neuroma.Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative case series.