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Four patients with end-stage renal failure on intermittent hemodialysis in whom rhabdomyolysis developed after major surgery are described. This possibly underdiagnosed complication was manifested by extreme hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and elevated creatine phosphokinase levels. Serum myoglobin levels further supported the diagnosis. The metabolic abnormalities reached a peak on the fourth postoperative day. The possible precipitating factors included opiates used for anesthesia and postoperative pain control, anesthetic agents, and surgical position. The preferred treatment option is increasing dialysis to control hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia. (Am J Kidney Dis 1998 Mar;31(3):539-44)

An asymptomatic, but highly significant, rise in serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels developed in a renal transplant recipient. Investigations ruled out bony or hepatobiliary disease. Subsequent diarrhea and weight loss led to a diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis, which was confirmed with a positive CMV pp65 antigenemia test and an endoscopic finding of multiple colonic erosions. Intravenous ganciclovir led to complete patient recovery and a swift reduction of serum AP levels to normal. Normally, intestinal AP isoenzymes are cleared quickly from the circulation. However, acute bowel diseases, especially when inflammatory in origin, can produce high serum AP levels. In this presented patient, the rise in serum AP levels preceded symptomatic manifestations of CMV colitis, and fell with successful therapy. Acute CMV disease in solid organ transplant recipients is common, can take many shapes, and needs to be diagnosed quickly. An unexplained rise in serum AP levels should lead to a search for inflammatory bowel disease, specifically CMV colitis, in transplanted patients.

RENAL TRANSPLANT recipients, as well as patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), have an increased incidence rate of cancer. Immune suppression seems to be the major predisposing factor for the increased cancer complication rate in transplanted patients. The incidence of cancer in these patients is related to the immunosuppressive dose and the duration of therapy. We hypothesized that impaired DNA repair may contribute to the increased cancer incidence in renal transplant recipients. DNA repair represents a major defense mechanism for the genome preservation and prevention of carcinogenesis. Several hereditary diseases with suppressed DNA repair ability are associated with a very high incidence of malignant diseases. Several studies have described reduced DNA repair in lymphocytes from patients with ESRD before dialysis, and on regular hemodialysis treatment. Furthermore, lymphocytes from renal transplant recipients with cancer revealed impaired DNA repair ability. The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate lymphocyte DNA repair in renal transplant recipients receiving two different immunosuppressive treatment protocols; and (2) to observe these renal transplant recipients for the appearance of tumors.

Objective: To assess the therapeutic contribution of intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) in four acutely ill, hypercatabolic, hemodialysed patients. All underwent major surgery, complicated by infection and malnutrition. Design: A retrospective clinical study. Setting: An in-center hemodialysis unit, at a tertiary referral hospital. Patients: Patient 1: a young woman, with a good renal transplant. Developed gastric lymphoma, which required gastrectomy. After cessation of immunosuppression, "lost" her kidney and returned to hemodialysis. Received IDPN for 4 months and recovered well from severe malnourishment. Patient 2: an elderly, malnourished man, on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Developed biliary peritonitis and bacteremia. In a 3-month period, the patient had four operations. Maintained on IDPN for 4 months. Patient 3: a young and obese man, who suffered from life-threatening staphylococcal aureus peritonitis, resulting in widespread bowel adhesions. Underwent repeated aspirations of purulent ascites, laparoscopy, and explorative laparotomy. IDPN was administered for 4 months and stopped on the patient's request. Patient 4: a young man, who after cadaveric renal transplantation remained hospitalized for 6 months because of acute rejection and peritoneal and retroperitoneal abscesses. Had major surgery performed seven times. Received IDPN for 6 months, and is now well. Results: All four patients benefited from 4 to 6 months of IDPN, as an integral part of intensive supportive and nutritional treatment. Weight loss was halted, as patient appetite returned and oral nutrition became adequate. Estimated daily protein intake reached 1.2 g/kg, while caloric intake rose to nearly 30 kcal/kg/d (Table 3). Mean serum albumin levels increased from 25.5 g/L ± 0.9 g/L to 38.0 g/L ± 1.5 g/L. No adverse side effects were seen from IDPN. Conclusion: IDPN is a worthwhile part of treatments used in the catabolic, postoperative hemodialysed patient. It is safe and efficient when used over a 6-month period in trying to attenuate existing, or worsening malnutrition in these patients. It should be commenced at an early stage in these patients, after attempts at oral nutritional support have been deemed inadequate.

Hypercalcemia frequently occurs in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients treated with calcium carbonate and vitamin D metabolites. To reduce the incidence of this complication, it has been proposed to use dialysate solutions with a low calcium concentration. However, there is concern that these solutions may lead to a negative calcium balance. We measured calcium balance in 13 CAPD patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism who were treated with calcium carbonate and alfacalcidol, 2 microg twice weekly, while using 1.0- (1.0 group) and 1.25-mmol/L (1.25 group) dialysate calcium solutions. Calcium absorption was measured after the administration of Ca47. Results for the 1.0 (n = 6) and 1.25 (n = 7) groups included fractional calcium absorptions of 0.14 (range, 0.09 to 0.27) and 0.08 (range, 0.03 to 0.40; P = not significant [NS]) and calcium absorptions of 380 +/- 92 and 331 +/- 83 mg/d (P = NS). Dialysate calcium losses were 93 +/- 20 and 91 +/- 26 mg/d, and total calcium losses (dialysate and urine) were 106 +/- 16 and 108 +/- 40 mg/d (P = NS). Calcium balance was positive in all patients (274 +/- 92 and 223 +/- 65 mg/d; P = NS). These data suggest that the use of 1.0- and 1.25-mmol/L calcium solutions in conjunction with calcium carbonate and pulse alfacalcidol therapy is associated with a positive calcium balance in CAPD patients.

The efficacy and safety of enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide was investigated in a multicenter study of 81 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups and, following a placebo period, given enalapril maleate (20 mg), hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg), or a combination of the two drugs (32.5 mg). A significant decrease in blood pressure was observed after only 2 weeks in the enalapril and enalapril-hydrochlorothiazide groups. A double dose was required to achieve a satisfactory response in one-third of the patients in both the enalapril (9 of 27) and the enalapril-hydrochlorothiazide groups (8 of 27). Adverse reactions included cough in one patient and mild hyperkalemia in another, both of whom received enalapril. Two patients on the drug combination developed side effects--symptomatic orthostatic hypotension in one and impotence in the second. Enalapril alone and in combination with hydrochlorothiazide appears to be effective and well tolerated.

Fifty-nine uremic patients (38 males and 21 females) maintained on chronic hemodialysis (CHD) served as the subjects in a study of the relationship between sexual dysfunction and serum prolactin levels (SPL). Sexual desire and activity were evaluated by a self-report sexual function rating scale (SFRS). About half the population of this study reported sexual dysfunction. Males and females reporting disturbance of sexual function had significantly higher SPL than those with normal sexual function. Bromocriptine treatment in five hyperprolactinemic patients reduced SPL to normal range and improved the sexual function. Association between sexual dysfunction and hyperprolactinemia in uremic patients is suggested.

Special Issue: 74th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, August 8-12, 2011, London, U.K.; International audience; Although synchrotron radiation X-Ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) is among the least destructive analysis methods applied to rare extraterrestrial grains, we have observed radiation damage effects following high flux synchrotron analyses. Track 30 of the IS collector of the Stardust mission , containing 2 candidates dubbed Orion and Sirius was analyzed at ESRF, France, on beamlines ID13 and ID22NI by nano-XRF/XRD scanning methods. Beam damage effects were noticed on both samples and a quantitative analysis of their irradiation history was established , allowing us to propose new experimental protocols as well as fluence limits, minimizing such effects in the future. The purpose of this study is to present these facts, analyze potential damage mechanisms and offer alternatives.