We longitudinally studied 51 patients from two hemodialysis centers to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients. Serum samples were tested for antibody to HCV by first- and second-generation enzyme immunoassays and for hepatitis C virus RNA by nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Antibody to hepatitis C virus was detected in the initial serum samples by first-generation enzyme immunoassay and second-generation enzyme immunoassay in 6 (11.8%) and 11 (21.6%) patients, respectively. First-generation enzyme immunoassay had a false-positive rate of 33.3% and a false-negative rate of 63.6%. Hepatitis C virus RNA was found in eight second-generation enzyme immunoassay-positive patients (72.7%) and in one patient negative for antibody to hepatitis C virus (2.5%) giving an overall positivity rate of 17.6%. After 19 mo, antibody to hepatitis C virus was detected in 15 patients (29.4%) on second-generation enzyme immunoassay; hepatitis C virus RNA was found in 13 patients (25.5%). Hepatitis C virus markers persisted in all 12 patients with initial evidence of hepatitis C virus infection. Three patients acquired hepatitis C virus infection during the interim, giving a new infection rate of 4.9% per patient-year. Antibody to hepatitis C virus, hepatitis C virus RNA or both was detected in 55.6% of patients with biochemical changes suggestive of non-A, non-B hepatitis. Of the 15 antibody to hepatitis C virus, second-generation enzyme immunoassay-positive patients, 66.7% had persistently normal serum transaminase levels. In summary, hepatitis C virus infection is common among hemodialysis patients. First-generation enzyme immunoassay is an unreliable assay for antibody to hepatitis C virus in these patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Rapamycin is a potent immunosuppressive drug currently used mainly for rejection prophylaxis in renal transplantation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of rapamycin treatment on the development of nephritis in lupus-prone New Zealand Black/White F1 (NZB/W F1) mice. Twelve-week-old female NZB/W F1 mice were treated with rapamycin (3 mg/kg body weight) or saline once daily by oral gavage for 20 weeks. The severity of nephritis was assessed by clinical and biochemical parameters, renal histology, immunohistochemistry and gene expression studies. Rapamycin treatment markedly reduced proteinuria, improved renal function, decreased serum anti-double stranded DNA antibody levels and diminished splenomegaly. Kidney sections from saline-treated mice showed marked mesangial proliferation, tubular dilation with protein cast deposition and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration. Rapamycin-treated mice had near normal renal histology, with marked reduction in glomerular immune deposition and the infiltration by T cells, B cells and macrophages. Rapamycin treatment was associated with down-regulation of intra-renal expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA and protein. We conclude that rapamycin is highly effective in preventing the development of nephritis in NZB/W F1 mice. The beneficial effects of rapamycin are mediated through inhibition of lymphoproliferation and reduced MCP-1 expression.
Compared to Caucasians with severe OSA, a low respiratory ArTh appears to be a less common pathophysiological mechanism in Chinese patients. Caucasians with less severe anatomical compromise exhibit evidence of a lower ArTh, an association which is absent in Chinese patients. Our data suggest that OSA mechanisms may vary across racial groups.
Background and objective: Craniofacial morphology is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Facial photography has previously shown utility in predicting OSA in a Caucasian sleep clinic. However, ethnic differences in OSA risk factors may influence these facial predictors. Our aim was to assess phenotypical facial measurements for OSA prediction in a Chinese population. Methods: Calibrated frontal and profile facial photographs were taken before polysomnography. Photographs were analysed to derive head, face and neck measurements. Demographical, anthropometrical and facial photographical variables were considered in prediction models for OSA. OSA prediction models were derived using logistic regression and classification and regression tree techniques. Results: Two-hundred subjects were recruited (146 OSA, 54 controls). The OSA group contained more men (77% vs 61%) and were more obese. Logistic regression modelling found cervicomental angle (OR 1.06/degree, 95% CI: 1.03-1.09, P < 0.001) and face width (OR 1.7/ cm, 95% CI: 1.1-2.7, P = 0.02) predicted OSA (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.76). Classification and regression tree analysis identified cricomental space area, mandibular width, mandibular plane angle and neck soft tissue area as predictors (area under receiver operating characteristics curve 0.81). Conclusion: In a Hong Kong Chinese sleep clinic, facial photographical measurements had predictive utility for OSA. Prediction models had similar accuracy and included variables to a previous Caucasian population.
We provide evidence of ethnic and sex differences in facial phenotype related to OSA. Furthermore, we demonstrate that craniofacial photography can be used as a phenotypic tool to assess these differences and allow investigation of OSA phenotypes in large samples. This has relevance to personalizing OSA recognition strategies across different populations.
Liddle's syndrome was diagnosed in a 23-yr-old Chinese girl with hypertension and hypokalemia by the presence of suppressed renin and negligible plasma and urinary aldosterone secretion. Adrenal corticosteroids, including aldosterone, were suppressed by dexamethasone and stimulated by ACTH. While spironolactone was ineffective, triamterene (2,4,7-triamino-6-phenyl-pteridine) treatment corrected the hypertension and hypokalemia and restored PRA to normal provided that sodium intake was not excessive. During long term treatment with triamterene, blood pressure was extremely sensitive to salt intake, increasing promptly with high intake and decreasing with low salt intake. As a result of the chronic hypervolemia and sodium retention consequent upon the patient's persistent high salt intake and increased renal tubular sodium reabsorption, plasma renin and aldosterone remained low. Erythrocyte sodium concentration and membrane permeability were increased. Triamterene with salt restriction was able to lower the intracellular sodium concentration but did not correct the increased sodium permeability. This suggests that there is an abnormality of sodium transport in Liddle's syndrome which affects the erythrocytes as well as the renal tubular cells.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.