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Biomedical subjects

Yoshihiro Takamitsu

Publications and source records attributed to Yoshihiro Takamitsu.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Is 2.5 mEq/L the optimal calcium concentration of dialysate in the use of sevelamer hydrochloride? A study of the dialysate calcium concentration recommended by K/DOQI guidelines.

We tested the effect of three different dialysate calcium concentrations on calcium-phosphorus metabolism during the use of sevelamer hydrochloride. After a calcium-containing phosphate binder was switched to sevelamer, the serum calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone levels and the markers of bone turnover were measured in the patients whose dialysate calcium concentrations were 2.5, 2.75, and 3.0 mEq/L. As a result, in the 2.75-mEq/L group, the serum calcium concentrations decreased and the intact parathyroid hormone level increased significantly. In the 2.5-mEq/L group, transient hypocalcemia occurred and the levels of both bone-alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin increased. In the 3.0-mEq/L group, the serum calcium concentrations did not change significantly and only bone-alkaline phosphatase increased. If a calcium-containing phosphate binder is completely switched to sevelamer, dialysis using a dialysate calcium concentration below 3.0 mEq/L may result in hypocalcemia and acceleration of bone turnover.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Accumulation of cyanide and thiocyanate in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Cyanide is a toxic agent, and its detoxification product, thiocyanate, may be a major pathogenetic substance in uraemia. Recent studies examining the myeloperoxidase(MPO)/thiocyanate system have suggested a link between thiocyanate and atherosclerosis. However, inaccuracies in conventional assays for cyanide and thiocyanate have limited the understanding of their metabolism in haemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: We used high-performance liquid chromatography to measure cyanide in erythrocytes and thiocyanate in plasma in 43 HD patients and in a group of 46 healthy controls that included 15 current smokers. To clarify the metabolic conversion of cyanide to thiocyanate in uraemic patients, we also measured cysteine and sulfate. We then used stepwise regression analysis to analyse factors that determine erythrocyte cyanide and plasma thiocyanate. RESULTS: Mean cyanide and thiocyanate were significantly greater in HD patients than in non-smoking controls. However, cyanide was far below lethal concentrations in dialysis patients. Thiocyanate was six to seven times greater in HD patients than in non-smoking controls, and decreases in thiocyanate following dialysis were only 19.3+/-3.5%. Multiple regression analysis showed a positive correlation between cyanide and thiocyanate in controls, but a negative correlation in HD patients. In patients, an inverse relationship between thiocyanate and BUN was also observed. CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of thiocyanate in patients undergoing dialysis probably is secondary to both limited efficiency of HD and deranged metabolism of cyanide and thiocyanate. Because thiocyanate is a preferred substrate for MPO, it may play a role in uraemic complications including cardiovascular events.

Adult↗

Defective regulation of iron transporters leading to iron excess in the polymorphonuclear leukocytes of patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Although hemodialysis (HD) patients are suspected of having defectively regulated iron metabolism, intracellular iron status has never been investigated thoroughly. To clarify the iron metabolism of HD patients, proteins involved in iron import (transferrin receptor [TfR]), as well as export (ferroportin 1), were investigated in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs). Relations between iron status and several PMNL functions also were tested. METHODS: Seventeen HD patients and 17 controls were recruited. Relative quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure ferroportin 1 and TfR messenger RNA (mRNA), and ferroportin 1 and TfR expression were semiquantified by means of Western blot analysis or immunohistochemistry. PMNL functions also were examined. RESULTS: Serum iron levels were significantly lower in HD patients than controls, and serum ferritin levels, as well as PMNL ferritin and iron content, were elevated in HD patients. Ferroportin 1 mRNA levels were substantially lower in PMNLs from HD patients, whereas TfR mRNA levels were higher. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry confirmed that expression of the corresponding proteins paralleled those of the mRNAs. PMNL phagocytic and bactericidal activity did not differ between HD patients and controls. Chemotactic peptide f-Met-Leu-Phe-stimulated degranulation activity of lactoferrin (Lf) was decreased significantly in HD patients, whereas those of myeloperoxidase and elastase were accelerated. Lf release correlated negatively with intracellular ferritin level. CONCLUSION: We show for the first time that increased iron levels in PMNLs of HD patients were associated with downregulation of ferroportin 1 and upregulation of TfR, which might be linked to hypercytokinemia.

Aged↗

[Endothelin].

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Acute Kidney Injury↗

[Pericarditis].

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Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Free cysteine is increased in plasma from hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Although only the total thiol concentration, which includes bound and free forms, has been determined in most previous clinical studies, the free form may be a better predictor of cardiovascular risk. METHODS: We measured the apparent concentration of free homocysteine (Hcy) and cysteine (Cys) in filtered and acid-soluble fractions of plasma in healthy control subjects and in patients with chronic renal failure just before and after a hemodialysis session. RESULTS: In control, filtered Hcy and acid-soluble Hcy were similar, while filtered Cys was much smaller than in acid-soluble Cys. In prehemodialysis samples, filtered Cys was more than 60 times as abundant (259.2 +/- 26.2 micromol/L) as in control samples (4.1 +/- 0.7 micromol/L ). Free-to-total ratios for filtered Cys were 1.6 +/- 0.3% in controls, but 40.9 +/- 2.7% in prehemodialysis patients. CONCLUSIONS: The filtered fraction of thiols can be used to estimate solute transport across the dialysis membrane. In addition, the possible involvement of cysteine in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients should be reexamined.

Acids↗

Extra-renal erythropoietin secretion after bilateral nephrectomy.

Serum concentrations of erythropoietin and soluble transferrin receptor were examined immediately after removal of the remaining kidney in a patient with a history of unilateral radical nephrectomy. Unexpectedly, the erythropoietin concentration increased from 18.2 U/L to 42.5 within 6 h after the operation. Soluble transferrin receptor (TfR) concentration rapidly decreased from 2,725 microgram/L to 1,548 during the 12-h postoperative period. Extra-renal erythropoietin secretion could increase to more than twice as much as the renal secretion of erythropoietin immediately after the loss of renal tissue, and the rise in erythropoietin could accelerate the recycling of TfR, thus causing a decrease in its serum concentration.

Aged↗

A nitric oxide-generating beta-blocking agent prevents renal injury in the rat remnant kidney model. Comparative study of two beta-blocking drugs, nipradilol and propranolol.

BACKGROUND: The L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway plays an important role in the modulation of glomerular disease. We investigated whether beta-blocking agents, with and without an NO-generating function, had renoprotective effects in the 5/6 nephrectomized rats (Nx), an animal model of glomerulosclerosis. METHODS: Nipradilol, a beta-blocker with an ONO(2) group (5, 10 or 15 mg/kg/day) and propranolol, a beta-blocker without this group (50 mg/kg/day) were administered for 12 weeks to Nx together with and without nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). We evaluated the effects of both drugs on proteinuria, hypertension, renal function, glomerulosclerosis and urinary excretion of NO metabolites (U(NOx)) and cyclic GMP (U(cGMP)). RESULTS: Both drugs similarly attenuated the elevated blood pressure in Nx. However, nipradilol, at doses of 10 and 15 mg/kg/day, significantly decreased proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis, while propranolol did not. Nx showed reduced U(NOx) in comparison with the sham-operated rats. Nipradilol increased U(NOx) and U(cGMP) significantly and in a dose- dependent manner, whereas propranolol reduced them to levels lower than those in Nx. Nx receiving L-NAME reduced U(NOx). The addition of nipradilol increased U(NOx) and decreased urinary protein excretion and glomerulosclerosis, suggesting that the NO released from the drug contributed to its renoprotective effect. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that nipradilol exerts its renoprotective effect through NO generation, and not by lowering blood pressure. The beta-adrenergic blocking action per se does not seem to be related to the renoprotective effect of these agents.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

[A case of sarcoidosis overlapping with rheumatoid arthritis].

We report the case of a 54-year-old woman who presented on May 28, 2001 with sarcoidosis overlapping with rheumatoid arthritis. She had experienced morning stiffness 2 years previously and was diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis. She had been treated with bucillamine and loxoprofen for 3 months. In October 2000, she developed proteinurea. The patient discontinued treatment with bucillamine and loxoprofen. Proteinurea persisted, and the patient's renal function declined. On admission, subcutaneous nodules were palpable in the patient's legs. The patient's serum creatinine and calcium levels were 2.49 mg/dl and 11.6 mg/dl, respectively. Intact-PTH was suppressed, and PTHrP was not elevated. Despite the presence of hypercalcemia, the patient's serum 1 alpha 25(OH)2D3 was not suppressed. Serum ACE and lysozyme levels were elevated beyond the normal ranges. A renal biopsy was performed, and non-caseous epithelioid granuloma was found in the renal interstitium. Based on the histological findings, the patient was diagnosed as having sarcoidosis. Following treatment with prednisolone, the patient's serum calcium levels returned to normal and her renal function improved.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Plasma 3-deoxyglucosone elevation in chronic renal failure is associated with increased aldose reductase in erythrocytes.

BACKGROUND: Serum concentrations of 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG), a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound, are elevated in uremic patients. Aldose reductase (AR) is an enzyme involved in both the detoxification of 3DG and producing precursors of 3DG. METHODS: We examined the relationship between plasma 3DG and erythrocyte AR content in uremic patients. Patients were divided into three groups: (1) progressive renal disease without hemodialysis (HD; chronic renal failure [CRF] group), (2) patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) treated with maintenance HD (HD group), and (3) patients with DM treated with maintenance HD (DM-HD group). High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure 3DG, and erythrocyte AR was measured by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Both 3DG and erythrocyte AR levels were significantly greater in the CRF, HD, and DM-HD groups than in healthy controls. These results did not change after HD sessions in the HD or DM-HD groups. Serum creatinine levels correlated with 3DG and erythrocyte AR levels in the control and CRF groups (3DG: r = 0.67; P < 0.001; erythrocyte AR: r = 0.71; P < 0.001). Both erythrocyte AR and 3DG levels then increased as renal function declined. A positive correlation was seen between 3DG and erythrocyte AR levels in all groups (r = 0.65; P < 0.001), and also between plasma osmolality and erythrocyte AR level (r = 0.46; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both erythrocyte AR and 3DG levels are increased in uremic patients, and these increases could possibly contribute to the development of uremic symptoms.

Adult↗

Association of hyperhomocysteinemia with plasma sulfate and urine sulfate excretion in patients with progressive renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) level is increased in patients with renal disease, parallel to serum creatinine concentration. In renal failure, the final product of sulfated amino acid metabolism, sulfate, also accumulates as renal function declines. We hypothesized that the elevation in sulfate level could cause hyperhomocysteinemia and tested the relation between tHcy level and both urinary excretion and plasma levels of sulfate. METHODS: Forty patients with renal disease were divided into three groups: patients without renal failure (nRF; creatinine clearance [CCr] > or = 80 mL/min/1.73 m2 [> or =1.33 mL/s/1.73 m2]), patients with mild renal failure (mRF; 80 > CCr > or = 25 mL/min/1.73 m2 [1.33 > CCr >/ or 0.42 mL/s/1.73 m2]), and patients with severe renal failure (sRF; CCr < 25 mL/min/1.73 m2 [<0.42 mL/s/1.73 m2]). Daily urinary excretion and plasma levels of tHcy, total cysteine (tCys), and sulfate were measured. A healthy control (HC) group also was tested. Serum methionine, taurine, vitamin B12, and folate levels also were determined in patients with renal disease. RESULTS: Plasma tHcy and sulfate concentrations in the groups with mRF and sRF were greater than in the HC group. Plasma tCys concentrations in the mRF and sRF groups were greater than in the nRF group. Daily urinary Hcy and Cys excretion did not differ among the four groups. Daily urine sulfate and urea nitrogen excretion in the sRF group were significantly less than in the HC and nRF groups. Multiple regression analyses showed that plasma creatinine (beta = 0.40) and sulfate (beta = 0.43) levels were independently associated with plasma Hcy level; among urine parameters, only daily urine sulfate excretion (beta = -0.52) was independently associated with plasma Hcy level. CONCLUSION: The elevated plasma sulfate level, in accordance with renal function, is associated with plasma tHcy level. Decreased sulfate excretion, which might parallel the intake of sulfated amino acid or protein, may increase tHcy levels.

Analysis of Variance↗

Carbamylated hemoglobin as a therapeutic marker in hemodialysis.

Carbamylation requires isocyanic acid derived from urea. Carbamylation of hemoglobin (Hb) produces carbamylated Hb (carbHb), which could serve as a marker of posttranslational protein modification possibly associated with such uremic complications as atherosclerosis. Since relative carbHb levels are determined by mean urea concentration and duration of exposure, they could be used to assess the adequacy of a patient's hemodialysis (HD) regimen. We therefore determined the relationship between carbHb and urea kinetics in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing maintenance HD. In pre-HD determinations as well as in nondialyzed subjects including healthy subjects and CRF patients without dialysis, carbHb correlated well with blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations, especially with BUN averaged for the preceding 1-3 months. In HD patients, carbHb correlated significantly with urea kinetics (time-averaged concentration of urea, or TAC(urea), K(t)/V and urea reduction rate). The estimated mean urea concentration in HD patients calculated from the relationship between carbHb and averaged BUN over 3 months in the nondialyzed groups was lower than TAC(urea), suggesting that TAC(urea) may be an overestimate. Pre-HD BUN is not a good nutritional index since detrimental decreases in urea elimination from the body can elevate pre-HD BUN independently of nutrition. We therefore devised a new nutritional index, BUN/carbHb, which correlated significantly with serum albumin as well as the normalized protein catabolic rate. These results demonstrate that carbHb accurately reflects uremic control and the BUN/carbHb ratio could serve as an index of nutritional state in HD patients.

Biomarkers↗

Impairment of vascular responses to reactive hyperemia and nitric oxide in chronic renal failure.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular events are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. The role of endothelial dysfunction, an early marker of arteriosclerosis, in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) before the initiation of maintenance hemodialysis (HD), and the factors affecting endothelial dysfunction in the setting of chronic renal failure remain poorly understood. METHODS: We evaluated endothelial function by measuring flow-mediated vasodilation (%FMD) during reactive hyperemia in healthy individuals (HCS) and patients with chronic renal failure with (HD) or without (ND) hemodialysis. Nonspecific endothelium-independent vasodilation (%NTG) was measured after the administration of sublingual glyceryl trinitrate spray (0.3 mg). Factors affecting %FMD and %NTG were also tested. RESULTS: In ND and HD, plasma homocysteine, cysteine and stable NO metabolite (NO(-)(3)) concentrations were significantly elevated. In ND and HD, reactive hyperemia as well as %NTG and %FMD were attenuated to a similar degree. On multivariate regression analysis, NO(-)(3) concentration was directly correlated with both %FMD and %NTG, while the glutathione (GSH) concentration correlated with only %NTG. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that chronic renal failure before the initiation of maintenance hemodialysis impairs endothelial function and/or the response to NO, which is accompanied by the attenuated reactive hyperemia. Furthermore, the impairment might be related to the decreased synthesis or the dissipation of NO.

Blood Pressure↗

[Perioperative management for nephrectomy using combined spinal-epidural anesthesia with sedation in a patient with cerebral palsy under maintenance hemodialysis].

A 43-year-old man (166 cm, 53.5 kg) with cerebral palsy on maintenance hemodialysis underwent a right nephrectomy for gross hematuria under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) with sedation. The patient suffered from hemiplegia, speech disturbance and low intelligence (approximately 6 years and 8 months). Following premedication with midazolam 4 mg, he was calm and cooperative. An analgesic level below T 10 was obtained by spinal (L 4-5) anesthesia using plain 0.5% bupivacaine 4 ml. Further cephalad spread (below T 3) was secured by bolus (7 ml) and continuous (8.5 ml.h-1) administration of 2% mepivacaine for thoracic epidural (T 10-11) anesthesia. Intravenous sedation (midazolam 0.08 mg.kg-1.h-1 and pentazocine 0.24 mg.kg-1.h-1) with 2 l.min-1 oxygen via nasal cannula was given during surgery. The operation and anesthesia times were 216 min and 330 min, respectively. Intraoperative bleeding was 1,158 g and the extracted kidney weighted 2,333 g. Following a prompt recovery with exclamation at the end of surgery, a bolus dose of epidural buprenorphine 0.2 mg combined with droperidol 2.5 mg was administered. Three hours after surgery, sleep was induced by brotizolam 0.25 mg orally. We accomplished a giant nephrectomy under CSEA with sedation in a patient with cerebral palsy receiving hemodialysis. Sufficient premedication using midazolam was profitable for CSEA in mental-retarded patient.

Adult↗

Sequential changes in the plasma concentration of risperidone following intentional overdose.

Risperidone (RIS) is a novel antipsychotic agent whose pharmacokinetics have yet to be fully determined. In particular, little is known about RIS following an overdose. We report the pharmacokinetics following ingestion of a high dose of RIS by serially measuring the plasma concentration in two patients. These patients were admitted in a comatose state following an intentional overdose of RIS; all patients survived. In the first patient, 14 mg of RIS had been ingested 2 hr before the first blood sample was obtained. The second patient ingested an estimated 90 mg of RIS. Seven time-points were determined. The maximum concentration of unaltered RIS was 325 ng/mL and that of the principal metabolite (9-hydroxy-risperidone: 9-OH RIS) was 139 ng/mL. By plotting the time-concentration curve for the active fraction (RIS plus 9-OH-RIS) in the first and second patients, the half-life of RIS following overdose was determined and was approximately 12.7 hr and 17.8 hr, respectively. These values are similar to the half-life of RIS in healthy individuals ingesting a therapeutic dose. Two patients did not developed parkinsonism nor dystonia, and were discharged without sequelae.

Adult↗