The behavior of the 2 sialidase forms present in the erythrocyte membrane was investigated in 117 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus versus 95 healthy controls. A significant increase of the acidic form of sialidase, which is anchored to the membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol bridge, was observed in erythrocyte resealed membranes. On the contrary, the neutral form of the enzyme, the...

High blood pressure plays a key role in the progression of renal failure. Hypertension is a common presentation of kidney disease and an almost invariable accompaniment of renal failure. Hypertension is also a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, the major cause of morbidity and mortality in renal failure. Hypertension is both cause and consequence of renal failure, but the precise natu...

INTRODUCTION Ghrelin is a hormone produced mainly by the stomach, which enhances gastric emptying. The disturbances of ghrelin secretion and/or biodegradation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastroparesis in hemodialysis patients, especially those with diabetic nephropathy. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to assess postprandial changes in plasma ghrelin in hemodialysis p...

Bartter syndrome can manifest in three different forms and is rarely concomitant with glomerular nephropathies. However, this association is more frequently observed in children. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman with Gitelman syndrome for the past 30 years who also had a nephrotic syndrome of recent appearance. Her renal biopsy revealed hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus and ...

Toxic nephropathies manifest morphologically as glomerulonephritides, vasculitides, tubular necrosis, and acute or chronic tubulointerstitial disease. The most common toxicity is acute interstitial nephritis owing to hypersensitivity. However, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and necrotizing angiitis secondary to heroin abuse, membranous glomerulopathy owing to gold, penicillamine and captopr...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The therapy and outcome of HIV infection have dramatically changed over the last 15 years, resulting in a change in renal complications. This study analyzed the characteristics of HIV-infected patients and biopsy-proven tubulointerstitial nephropathies to define disease patterns and therapeutic implications. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS A clinico-pat...

Ischemia and/or reperfusion injury (IR) is one of the most common causes of acute renal failure. Erythropoietin (EPO), is main hematopoietic hormone that has recently been shown to exert important cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effects in experimental I/R and toxicity models. Recent studies suggest that administration of exogenous EPO prevents ischemia-induced kidney damage. In this review w...

OBJECTIVE To determine the risk factors for adverse renal outcome in type 2 diabetic patients who underwent renal biopsy and were followed-up longitudinally. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We examined 68 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes during the period of 1985-1999 who underwent renal biopsy for proteinuria > or =1 g/day, renal involvement (proteinuria or renal impairment) at the abse...