Peritoneal ultrafiltration seems to be an efficient and safe procedure and a treatment of choice in elderly patients with RCHF without non-terminal CKD. Peritoneal ultrafiltration improves the quality of life and the effort capacity, and reduces hospitalization rates due to decompensated heart failure and acute renal failure.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is a cell surface protein, which down-regulates the immune response at CTLA-4/CD28/B7 pathway. We aimed to investigate the influence of the -318 C/T, +49 A/G, -1661 A/G and CT60A/G, and CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms on acute rejection of kidney allograft in Turkish patients. The study design was a case-control study that consists of three groups: Group 1 (n = 34) represented the kidney transplant (Ktx) recipients who experienced acute rejection, Group 2 (n = 47) was randomly assigned Ktx recipients without acute rejection, and Group 3 (n = 50) consisting of healthy volunteers to evaluate the normal genomic distribution. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique was used to determine the polymorphisms. Genotype and allele frequencies among three groups denoted similar distributions for +49 A/G, -1661 A/G, and CT60A/G. Conversely, -318 C/T genotype was three times more frequent in the acute rejection group than in the non-rejection group (OR = 3.45; 95%CI = 1.18-10.1, p = 0.015) and two times more frequent than the healthy control group (OR = 2.45; 95% CI = 0.98 - 6.11, p = 0.047). Additionally, having a T allele at -318 position was significantly associated with acute rejection (0.147 vs. 0.043, OR = 3.45; 95% CI = 1.13-10.56, p = 0.02). 318C/T gene polymorphism and T allelic variant were found to be associated with increased acute rejection risk in Turkish kidney allograft recipients.

Here we report the case of a patient who developed urinary tract infection after a urodynamic study. The causative agent was Raoultella planticola, a rare opportunistic pathogen that usually invades immunocompromised patients. While a urinary tract infection with R. planticola has been previously described, this is the first report in which an R. planticola infection developed after a urodynamic study. We postulate that the mechanism of infection was direct invasion of the urinary tract from contaminated urodynamic study equipment. Here, we discuss the role played by isotonic solutions in facilitating bacterial reproduction.

No abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the possible effect of thyroid palpation and fine needle aspiration biopsy on serum thyroid hormones and thyroglobulin in patients with several thyroid diseases. We measured serum free T4, free T3, TSH, and thyroglobulin levels at baseline, 5 and 60 minutes in 13 normal control subjects (group 1). These parameters were next measured at baseline, after 5 and 60 minutes vigorous palpation of the thyroid in 11 normal subjects without any thyroid disease (group 2), and in 61 patients with various thyroid diseases (group 3). We also measured the same parameters at baseline, after 5 and 60 minutes of fine needle aspiration biopsy in 13 patients with euthyroid nodular goiter (group 4).Serum free T4, free T3, TSH, and thyroglobulin levels were not changed after 5 minutes in any group. Serum TSH level was decreased after 60 minutes of thyroid palpation (P ϭ 0.01) in group 2. Serum free T4, free T3, and thyroglobulin levels were not significantly different in these subjects. Serum free T4 (P ϭ 0.01) and TSH levels (P ϭ 0.01) were decreased after 60 minutes of thyroid palpation in group 3. Serum TSH level was decreased (P ϭ 0.02). Thyroglobulin level was increased 60 minutes after fine needle aspiration biopsy in group 4 (P ϭ 0.04). There was no correlation between thyroid volume and change of serum TSH, free T3, free T4, and thyroglobulin levels.Our results suggest that fine needle aspiration results in a significant increase in serum thyroglobulin 60 minutes after the procedure. Palpation and fine needle aspiration have no clinical significant effects on TSH, free T4, or free T3 levels.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract