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Purpose: To assess the degree of protective effects of amifostine on kidney functions via semiquantitative static renal scintigraphy and histopathologic analysis., Material and Methods: 30 female albino rats were divided into three equal groups as control (CL), radiotherapy alone (RT), and radiotherapy + amifostine (RT+AMI). The animals in the CL and RT groups were given phosphate-buffered saline, whereas the animals in the RT+AMI group received amifostine (200 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection 30 min before irradiation. RT and RT+AMI groups were irradiated with a single dose of 6 Gy using a (60)Co unit at a source-skin distance of 80 cm to the whole right kidney. They were followed up for 6 months. CL, RT, and RT+AMI groups underwent static kidney scintigraphy at the beginning of the experiment and, again, on the day before sacrificing. Histopathologically, tubular atrophy and fibrosis of the kidney damage were evaluated., Results: After irradiation, the median value of right kidney function was 48% (44-49%) and 50.5% (49%-52%) in RT and RT+AMI groups, respectively (p = 0.0002). Grade 1 kidney fibrosis was observed to be 60% in the RT group, while it was only 30% in the RT+AMI group. Grade 2 kidney fibrosis was 30% and 0% in the RT and RT+AMI group, respectively. Grade 1 tubular atrophy was 70% and 50% in the RT and RT+AMI group, respectively. Grade 2 tubular atrophy effect was the same in both groups (10%)., Conclusion: Static kidney scintigraphy represents an objective and reproducible method to noninvasively investigate kidney function following irradiation. Amifostine produced a significant reduction in radiation-induced loss of renal function.

Candida arthritis is quite rare and might be caused either by direct intra-articular inoculation of Candida or secondary to hematogeneous seeding of Candida in immunocompromised hosts. Until now less than 50 cases of Candida arthritis have been reported in the literature. We report a case of Candida arthritis, which occurred in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in blastic transformation. Aggressive chemotherapy and broad-spectrum antibiotics for a prolonged period for febrile neutropenia had been given to the patient. Arthritis of the left knee appeared during the recovery phase of leukopenia. Despite treatment with fluconazole, no clinical or microbiological improvement was obtained. Thus, administration of liposomal amphotericin B was started and after 3 days there was improvement. We can conclude that fluconazole might not be sufficient in some Candida arthritis cases and liposomal amphotericin B might be a good alternative in these resistant cases.