Glomerulonephritis associated with tuberculosis: A case report and literature review

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis caused mycobacterium tuberculosis is rare; however, three case have been reported to date. Crescentic glomerulonephritis is a life-threatening disease and together with the presence of tuberculous infection is associated with a poor outcome if treatment is inadequate and delayed. We describe the case of a 31-year-old female patient with nephrotic syndrome and progressive renal failure secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis. Renal biopsy showed crescent formation in 14 out of 27 glomeruli, and there was diffuse linear staining of immunoglobulin G deposits. Treatment included corticosteroids in combination with antituberculosis drugs for 2 months, and resulted in a significant improvement in renal function, the disappearance of proteinuria and pulmonary symptoms. We also present a review of the pertinent literature and discuss the pathophysiology of tuberculosis-related acute postinfectious glomerulonephritis.     

History of psychosis and mania,and outcomes after kidney transplantation ‐ a retrospective study

History of psychosis or mania, if uncontrolled, both represent relative contraindications for kidney transplantation. We examined 3680 US veterans who underwent kidney transplantation. The diagnosis of history of psychosis/mania was based on a validated algorithm. Measured confounders were used to create a propensity score‐matched cohort (n = 442). Associations between pretransplantation psychosis/mania and death with functioning graft, all‐cause death, graft loss, and rejection were examined in survival models and logistic regression models. Post‐transplant medication nonadherence was assessed using proportion of days covered (PDC) for tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid in both groups. The mean ± SD age of the cohort at baseline was 61 ± 11 years, 92% were male, and 66% and 27% of patients were white and African‐American, respectively. Compared to patients without history of psychosis/mania, patients with a history of psychosis/mania had similar risk of death with functioning graft [subhazard ratio (SHR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 0.94(0.42–2.09)], all‐cause death [hazard ratio (95% CI): 1.04 (0.51–2.14)], graft loss [SHR (95% CI): 1.07 (0.45–2.57)], and rejection [odds ratio(95% CI): 1.23(0.60–2.53)]. Moreover, there was no difference in immunosuppressive drug PDC in patients with and without history of psychosis/mania (PDC: 76 ± 21% vs. 78 ± 19%, P = 0.529 for tacrolimus; PDC: 78 ± 17% vs. 79 ± 18%, P = 0.666 for mycophenolic acid). After careful selection, pretransplantation psychosis/mania is not associated with adverse outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.     

Renal functional reserve and renal hemodynamics in hypertensive patients

The renal functional reserve (RFR) is the ability of the kidneys to increase renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in response to protein intake. It is a measure of functional and anatomic integrity of nephrons. It is not known what relation between RFR and kidney Doppler parameters. We aimed to study the relation between the RFR and renal hemodynamic parameters in hypertensive patients with and without nephropathy who had normal kidney function. Twenty-four hypertensive subjects with nephropathy (HTN-n, n?=?10) and hypertension without nephropathy (HTN, n?=?14) were included in the study. Control group included 11 healthy subjects. Baseline GFR (GFR1) and GFR after intake of egg protein 1?mg/kg of body weight were determined (GFR2). RFR was calculated by the following formula: (GFR2-GFR1)/GFR1?×?100%. Doppler ultrasonography was performed. Arterial blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), and estimated GFR were also recorded. HTN and HTN-n groups had impaired levels of RFR compared with controls (p?<?0.05), significantly decreased value of flow velocity parameters (Vmax, Vmin), and increased RRI compared with controls. There was significant negative correlation of RFR with blood pressure levels (sBP, r?=??0.435, p?=?0.009; dBP, r?=??0.504, p?=?0.002), RRI (r?=??0.456, p?=?0.008), micro albuminuria (MAU, r?=??0.366, p?=?0.031) and positive correlation with Vmax and Vmin (r?=?0.556, p?=?0.001 and r?=?0.643, respectively, p?<?0.001). Linear regression showed that RRI and MAU were independent predictors of decreased RFR. RFR is lower in hypertensive patients despite near-normal level of kidney function and is related to particular level of BP. RRI and MAU were independent predictors of decreased RFR.     

Surgical Reconstruction of Penile Curvature due to Peyronie's Disease by Plaque Incision and Buccal Mucosa Graft

Background/aimWe aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of penile plaque incision and buccal mucosa grafting in patients with stable-phase Peyronie's disease (PD).MethodsThis was a prospective evaluation of patients with stable-phase PD who were treated by plaque incision and buccal mucosa grafting. Preoperative evaluation included International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire (IIEF-5), measurement of erect penile length, and penile Doppler ultrasound during prostaglandin-induced erection. At 3- and 24-month follow-up visits, penile length and residual curvature were measured along with penile Doppler ultrasound and IIEF5 questionnaires. Patient and sexual partner satisfaction were also assessed at 24-month-visit.ResultsThe study was completed with 20 patients (mean age 46.5 ± 9.9 years). Dorsal curvature was the most frequent site of curvature (45%). The median curvature at preoperative evaluation was 45°(range 40-90°). The postoperative median curvatures were 5°(5-10, IQR) and 7°(5-10, IQR) at 3- and 24-month postoperatively, respectively. Success rate was 95% at 3-month and 90% at 24-month. There was no significant penile shortening. The mean IIEF-5 score was 17.5 ± 2.2 at preoperative evaluation. The median IIEF-5 scores were calculated as 20.1 ± 2.2 and 21.3 ± 2.2 at 3-month and 24-month visits, respectively (p<0.0001). Compared with baseline IIEF-5 score, both postoperative IIEF-5 scores were significantly higher. There was no de novo erectile dysfunction. There were no serious complications during and after the surgery. Ten percent of patients were poorly satisfied with the results of the surgery.ConclusionCorporoplasty with buccal mucosa graft led to excellent structural and functional results and patient satisfaction.Ainayev Y, Zhanbyrbekuly U, Gaipov A, et al. Surgical Reconstruction of Penile Curvature due to Peyronie's Disease by Plaque Incision and Buccal Mucosa Graft. J Sex Med 2021;18:1308–1316.     

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio independently predicts cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease

Background

Increased inflammation is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with increased adverse cardiovascular events (CVE). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was used to predict survival in patients with acute coronary syndrome. We aimed to evaluate predictive ability of NLR in CKD patients.

Methods

225 subjects with stage 3–5 CKD were followed for a mean of 39 months. Fatal and nonfatal CVE were recorded during this period. NLR at baseline was determined from complete blood count differential. Endothelial dysfunction (flow-mediated dilation, FMD), hsCRP and insulin resistance were determined. We investigated if NLR could predict development of fatal and nonfatal CVE. We also looked at how NLR and its individual components change across CKD stages and whether NLR is related to CRP, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction.

Results

There were 70, 74 and 81 patients in groups of CKD stage-3, stage-4 and stage-5, respectively. Median NLR was 2.81. NLR showed a significant increase from stage 3 to stage 5. NLR was inversely associated with FMD independent of hsCRP. 14 fatal and 52 nonfatal CVE occurred during follow-up period. NLR could predict composite CVE independent of insulin resistance and hsCRP. Increased NLR over 2.81 was related to a significantly decreased survival time (log-rank Chi-square = 14.833, P < 0.0001). A cutoff value for NLR ≥3.76 could predict development of composite CVE with 80.3 % sensitivity and 91.8 % specificity.

Conclusions

NLR is independently related to endothelial dysfunction and could predict composite cardiovascular endpoints independent of traditional confounding factors in patients with moderate to severe CKD.