Impact of treatment of dyslipidemia on renal function,fat deposits and scarring in patients with persistent nephrotic syndrome

In this study 43 patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome were randomly distributed into 2 age- and sex-matched groups. The first group was given fluvastatin while the second was used as control. The cases in the 2 groups were evaluated clinically, biochemically (creatinine clearance, albumin, 24-hour proteinuria, and lipogram), neurologically, and histopathologically (examination of renal biopsies obtained basally and after 1 year of treatment with fluvastatin). In the fluvastatin-treated group but not in the control group, we observed a significant reduction in cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride. Clinical and laboratory assessment showed satisfactory tolerance of the drug by the patients. Proteinuria, serum albumin and creatinine clearance values were significantly better in the statin-treated patients. There was no difference in glomerular sclerosis between the 2 groups while interstitial fibrosis and renal fat deposits were less in the statin-treated group. The reduction in renal fat deposits in the statin-treated group was highly significant, while that of interstitial fibrosis was not. We conclude that: (1) statin can be safely and effectively used in the treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with persistent idiopathic nephrotic syndrome; (2) control of dyslipidemia in nephrotic patients is associated with better control of proteinuria and creatinine clearance; (3) statin treatment may cause regression of renal fat deposits in patients with nephrotic syndrome, and (4) longer term studies are still required to study further possible beneficial effects on renal histology and disease progression.     

Cystic nephroma: A rare clinical entity

We report a rare benign renal tumor, the cystic nephroma (CN) in a 35-year old man. CN should be considered in the differential diagnosis when clinical and radiological examinations reveals a multilocular cystic renal mass, but histopathological examination is the unique diagnostic mean.     

"Double imaging" for the diagnostic work-up of alveolar soft part sarcoma with Tc-99m MIBI

The authors report a case of alveolar soft-part sarcoma with lung metastases demonstrated by "double imaging" with Tc-99m HDP and Tc-99m MIBI. The tumor originated in the soft tissue with direct invasion to the right scapula, which was hypoactive on bone scan and hyperactive on Tc-99m MIBI images. A focus of dense accumulation of Tc-99m MIBI in the lungs, suggesting metastasis was also demonstrated.     

Potomania associated with schizophrenia: a case report

The potomania or primary polydipsia is associated to schizophrenia in 20% of cases. Authors reports a case of a patient 27 old years, that suffering from hebephrenia who presented potomania. It was necessary to eliminate secondary polydipsia. The main complication resulting from potomania is water intoxication. Neurobiological or psychological hypothesis were suggested related to the etiopathogeny of this association. Some biological or comportemental therapy were effective in this context.     

Crescentic glomerulonephritis in Egypt: clinical and histopathological risk factors

We followed up 128 patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN), having sufficient clinical and histopathological data for a mean period of 34 +/- 28 months. There were 49 males and 79 females, mean age 22.7 +/- 14 years. We studied the effects of clinical, laboratory and histopathological parameters on kidney function and survival at the end point of the study. Multivariate analysis indicated that serum creatinine at presentation, nephrotic range proteinuria during the follow-up period, percentage of glomeruli with crescents, percentage of fibrous crescents and absence of cellular infiltration were significant risk factors affecting kidney function at the end of the study. The only risk factor significantly correlated with mortality was serum creatinine at last follow-up.     

DNA authentication of Plantago Herb based on nucleotide sequences of 18S-28S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region

Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene were amplified from 23 plant- and herbarium specimens belonging to eight Plantago species (P. asiatica, P. depressa, P. major, P. erosa, P. hostifolia, P. camtschatica, P. virginica and P. lanceolata). Sequence comparison indicated that these Plantago species could be identified based on the sequence type of the ITS locus. Sequence analysis of the ITS regions amplified from the crude drug Plantago Herb obtained in the markets indicated that all the drugs from Japan were derived from P. asiatica whereas the samples obtained in China were originated from various Plantago species including P. asiatica, P. depressa, P. major and P. erosa.     

Nitric oxide levels in disruptive behavioral disorder

There are various evidences of the role of nitric oxide (NO) in several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, there is no clinical study which investigated the role of NO in disruptive behavioral disorders (DBD). The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between NO levels and DBD. NO levels were measured in serum from 45 patients diagnosed as having DBD (30 patients with a diagnosis of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and 15 with ADHD + oppositional defiant disorder [ODD]) and 51 healthy control subjects. It is statistically significant that the pure ADHD group's blood NO levels are lower than those of both the ADHD + ODD and control groups. There was no significant difference between the ADHD + ODD group and the controls. The difference of the NO levels in DBD may indicate the effect of NO in the etiology of this disorder spectrum.     

Undifferentiated ganglioneuroblastoma in a sheep

Ganglioneuroblastoma, presumably originating from the adrenal medulla, was found in an 18-month-old sheep. Histologically, the tumour was mainly composed of undifferentiated neuroblasts with neuropil and occasional ganglion cells. The morphological and immunohistochemical features with respect to intermediate filament proteins and the neuroendocrine nature of the tumour are described. The neoplastic cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin and vimentin.     

The role of urtica dioica (urticaceae) in the prevention of oxidative stress caused by tourniquet application in rats

Tourniquets are used in extremity surgery and provide a relatively bloodless field, thereby minimizing blood loss and helping identify the vital structures. However, they may cause an ischemia-reperfusion injury with potentially harmful local and systemic consequences. Many therapeutic effects such as diuretic, natriuretic, hypotensive, anti-rheumatic, anti-prostatic, and in-vitro anti-oxidant effects of the Urtica dioica (UD) have been determined. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of UD plant for prevention of oxidative stress in muscle tissues generated by tourniquet application in rats. Wistar rats were used in this study. The UD extract or 1.15% KCl aqueous solution, in which UD leaf samples were homogenized, was given to each group of eight rats once a day for 5 days through an intraesophageal canule. No treatment was applied to untreated group. Tourniquets were applied to the left posterior limb of rats for 1 or 2 h followed by a reperfusion period of 1 h. After the ischemia and reperfusion, the rats were killed with a high dose of anesthetic drug, and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in their tibialis anterior muscles. Basal MDA levels were obtained from tibialis anterior muscles of 8 control rats, which were not exposed to ischemia. MDA levels were lower in the UD-treated rats than those in untreated and KCl-treated rats after either 1 or 2 h of ischemia and 1 h reperfusion. These results indicate that UD has a potential antioxidant effect on ischemic muscle tissues.