Irrigation and water management are important cultivation practices, controlling rice crop production and regulating As concentration in both paddy fields and rice plants (Oryza sativa L.). This study investigated the impacts of various types of irrigation practices with As‐contaminated groundwater on the extent of arsenic accumulation within rice plant parts during development and rice crop production at maturity. Three types of irrigation practices were applied to As‐rich paddy fields: flooded irrigation, aerobic irrigation, and alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWDI). The arsenic accumulation in various plant parts was monitored at 40, 54, 68, 82, 96, and 110 d after transplanting in the first (with ‘Tainong 84’) and the second (with ‘Tainan 11’) cropping seasons of 2013. Results show that the arsenic concentration in different parts of rice plants varied with growth stage and irrigation practices in both cropping seasons. There was a seasonal fluctuation of arsenic concentration within rice plants during plant development with flooded irrigation, which had the largest amount of irrigation input. Lower levels of As in rice were found in AWDI and aerobic irrigation than in flooded irrigation. Different irrigation practices can change the oxidation and reduction conditions of the paddy field, which lead to As release or absorption in the soil, thus influencing the uptake of As by plants.
Idiopathic membranous nephropathy is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. The nephrotic syndrome due to idiopathic membranous nephropathy is often resistant to glucocorticosteroids and requires an alkylating agent such as chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide to induce remission. Recent studies illustrate that antibodies against the autoantigen M-type phospholipase A2 receptor contribute to a vast majority but not all cases of idiopathic membranous nephropathy. Herein, we report a patient with nephrotic syndrome due to membranous nephropathy that was resistant to 6 months of therapy with ramipril and high-dose glucocorticosteroids but responded to a single cycle of bortezomib infusion.
Background: Oligonucleosomes (ON) have been demonstrated in the circulation and biopsies of lupus nephritis patients. Their presence as immune complexes is an early and persistent finding in lupus nephritis as are changes in mesangial matrix. Since ON competitively bind to glomerular mesangial cells (MC) in a receptor-like fashion, the purpose of our study was to investigate what effects ON have on MC matrix and proliferation. Methods: Rat and mouse MCs grown with ON or DNA for 1 week were dissociated from their matrices with Triton-X and their proteins were determined. MC collagen production, using collagenase sensitive 3H-proline incorporation, was measured after 48-hour incubation with ON and DNA. Similar experiments using 10-fold excess DNA were done to assess its blocking effect on ON induced collagen synthesis. ON interaction with matrix was evaluated by incubated 125I-ON with MC matrix grown with ON or media alone for 1 week. Results: MCs stimulated by ON but not DNA significantly increased total matrix protein, total collagen and specifically, collagen type I synthesis. DNA inhibited ON-stimulated collagen synthesis. MC matrix incubated with ON binds 3 times more 125I-ON than matrix generated in media alone. Histone, a major component of nucleosomes, significantly increased 3H-thymidine incorporation. Conclusions: Oligonucleosomes, both qualitatively and quantitatively, influence mesangial cell function. These findings for the first time suggest ON to be pathogenic independent of their IC construct. DNA inhibition of ON induced mesangial matrix changes suggests participation of the ON/DNA receptor. Increased production of collagen type I may contribute to glomerulosclerosis.
Severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG)-induced acute pancreatitis has been well described. Currently accepted therapeutic options are limited. We report a case of acute pancreatitis associated with hypertriglyceridemia and diabetic ketoacidosis that was safely and effectively managed with plasmapheresis. A 38-year-old female with history of gestational diabetes presented with acute onset of nausea and abdominal pain. She denied alcohol use and was on oral contraceptive pills. On physical exam, she was afebrile, normotensive, and tachycardic with mild abdominal distension and diffuse tenderness. Diagnostic tests revealed a serum glucose of 414 mg/dL, triglycerides > 816 mg/ dL, amylase of 106 U/L, lipase of 272 U/L, anion gap of 23, BUN of 13 mg/dL, creatinine of 0.3 mg/dL, sodium of 120 mmol/L, HCO 3 of 14 mmol/L, and positive urine ketones. Computed tomography (CT) findings were consistent with severe acute pancreatitis. The patient was managed conservatively on day 1. Due to persistence of symptoms, plasma exchange using NxStage plasmafilter was performed on day 2 and day 3, which resulted in significant reduction of the triglyceride level and resolution of abdominal pain. Patient was discharged home with gemfibrozil and glyburide as maintenance therapy. The exact mechanism of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis is not clear. It has been postulated that hyperviscosity of blood due to lipid particles causes ischemia in the pancreas, releasing inflammatory mediators and leading to pancreatic necrosis and inflammation. The advantage of plasmapheresis over conservative management is the removal of lipid particles in a relatively short period of time and clearance of triglyceridemia-associated pro-inflammatory agents.
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