Sevelamer hydrochloride with or without alphacalcidol or higher dialysate calcium vs calcium carbonate in dialysis patients: an open-label, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Sevelamer hydrochloride was recently proposed as a phosphate binder to prevent hypercalcaemia in place of calcium alkaline salts in dialysis patients. So far, it has been evaluated only in patients receiving calcitriol, without comparison with CaCO(3) alone, although the latter was found to be as effective as the combination of calcitriol and Al(OH)(3) in suppressing parathyroid hormone (PTH) without inducing hypercalcaemia and to have a better lowering effect on serum phosphate. Moreover, this bile salt binder may decrease serum 25-OH vitamin D. Therefore, we compared for 5 months two strategies for controlling moderate hyperparathyroidism: CaCO(3) alone vs sevelamer in conjunction with measures to increase calcium balance. METHODS: Forty-two patients were randomized: 21 continued their treatment with 4.8 g/day CaCO(3) and 21 were switched to sevelamer (initial dose: 2.4 g/day, increased to 4.4 g/day). Each month, when serum-corrected calcium decreased below 2.30 mmol/l, dialysate calcium was increased or alphacalcidol was given at each dialysis session, according to serum PO(4) levels. The following parameters were monitored: serum Ca, PO(4), bicarbonate and protein, weekly; and serum PTH, 25-OH vitamin D and total, LDL and HDL cholesterol monthly. RESULTS: Except for higher serum phosphate at month 1, lower serum bicarbonate at month 2 and lower LDL cholesterol at month 5 in the sevelamer group, no difference was found between the two groups. Compared with baseline levels, PTH increased and 25-OH vitamin D decreased significantly in both groups, these two parameters being inversely correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Given comparable control of plasma calcium, phosphate and 25-OH vitamin D, PTH control is comparable in both strategies. Sevelamer does not induce greater vitamin D depletion than CaCO(3). The transient decrease of serum bicarbonate after discontinuation of CaCO(3) in the sevelamer group suggests a less optimal prevention of acidosis. The sevelamer-induced decrease in LDL cholesterol gives this drug a potential advantage in cardiovascular prevention.     

Autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: spectrum and clinical associations

We have analysed the clinical features and autoantibody profile of 84 tunisian patients with newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were detected by an immunofluorescence method, anti-dsDNA and anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibodies by ELISA, antinucleosome and anti-extractible nuclear antigens (or anti-ENA: anti-Sm, anti-RNP, anti-SSA and anti-SSB) by immunodot. The mean age of the patients was 29,9 years and the sex-ratio F/M was 6. The most common initial features were haematological (80%), rheumatological (78%) and cutaneous (75%) disorders. 59% of the patients had glomerular nephropathy. ANA were detected in 97.6%, antinucleosome in 78.6%, anti-dsDNA in 75%, anti-histones in 44%, anti-Sm in 36.9%, anti-RNP in 32.1%, anti-SSA in 54.8% and anti-SSB in 14.3% of patients. IgG and IgM aCL were detected in 45 and 40% of the patients respectively. The significant clinical associations were those of nephropathy and disease activity with anti-dsDNA and antinucleosome antibodies. Our results confirm the clinical polymorphism of SLE, the high frequency of antinucleosome antibodies at time of diagnosis and the predominance of anti-SSA among anti-ENA antibodies.     

DAT1, DRD4, and DRD5 polymorphisms are not associated with ADHD in Dutch families.

Recent meta-analyses have indicated that the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) and the dopamine receptor genes D4 (DRD4) and D5 (DRD5) are associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), although single studies frequently failed to show significant association. In a family-based sample of 236 Dutch children with ADHD, we have investigated the previously described variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms and two additional microsatellites at the DAT1 and DRD4 loci. DRD5 was investigated using the microsatellite that was previously found to be associated. Transmission disequilibrium tests (TDTs) did not show preferential transmission of alleles or two-marker haplotypes to affected offspring. These data suggest that DAT1, DRD4, and DRD5 do not contribute substantially to ADHD in the Dutch population.     

中药治疗肝肾阴虚证绝经后骨质疏松的Meta分析

目的系统评价中成药和汤剂治疗肝肾阴虚证绝经后骨质疏松症(postmenopausal osteoporosis,PMOP)的疗效及安全性。方法计算机检索CNKI、CBM、VIP、万方数据库、PubMed、Embase、Cochrane图书馆,检索自建库以来至2019年9月23日的文献,按照纳排标准,收集调补肝肾法治疗PMOP的临床对照试验,依据Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions(version 5.35)进行质量评估,并使用RevMan5.3软件进行Meta分析。结果纳入9篇文献,9个研究。与常规治疗的中成药和西药相比,在降低中医证候积分[分别为MD=-3.74,95%CI(-4.86,-2.62),P<0.01;MD=-2.05,95%CI(-2.26,-1.84),P<0.01]、提高血清雌激素[分别为SMD=0.69,95%CI(0.21,1.17),P<0.01;SMD=0.37,95%CI(0.01,0.74),P=0.04]方面,单用调补肝肾法可能优于常规治疗;在临床症状疗效有效率[分别为RR=1.03,95%CI(0.90,1.17),P=0.68;RR=1.24,95%CI(0.94,1.63),P=0.13]、提高腰椎骨密度[分别为MD=0.01,95%CI(-0.03,0.05),P=0.65;MD=0.03,95%CI(-0.01,0.07),P=0.12]指标方面,与常规治疗组相比,无显著性差异。无纳入文献提示单用或联合应用以调补肝肾为治法选用的中成药和汤剂出现不良反应。结论中成药和汤剂在改善肝肾阴虚PMOP患者腰脊疼痛、腰膝酸软无力等的症状及提高血清雌激素方面,具有一定的治疗作用,具有较好的安全性。     

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome secondary to scorpion envenomation (apropos of 2 cases)

HUS was recently described following scorpion sting. We report 2 cases of HUS in the intensive care unit of a university hospital. Two children aged respectively 10 months and 1 year were admitted in the ICU after severe scorpion envenomation (with coma and pulmonary oedema) having required dobutamine and mechanical ventilation. Evolution was marked with acute anaemia without bleeding requiring blood transfusion, acute renal failure, low platelets and signs of haemolysis. Our experience and the previously reported case suggest that scorpion sting could be added to the list of causes of the HUS.