Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Cureus 2018 Nov 13;10(11):e3584. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, CAN.

A 41-year-old woman presented with pT4dN1aM0, right-sided, inflammatory breast cancer. She had a co-morbid diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at the age of 20 and was found to have significant kidney involvement (lupus-associated nephritis) at the age of 28. She went on to receive six cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and docetaxcel (FEC-D) after which she had radiographically stable disease. Read More

J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2018 Dec 19. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background: This clinical study investigates the role of 5-methoxytryptophan (5-MTP) in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with a particular interest in lupus nephritis (LN).

Patients And Methods: One hundred ten children with SLE were enrolled in the cohort study. Among the patients, seventy-seven (70%) had active LN and thirty-three (30%) were not present with LN during their first visit to the clinic. Read More

World J Urol 2018 Oct 15. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.

Purpose: To prospectively characterize computed tomography (CT)-indeterminate renal masses (CTIRM) using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and to correlate quantitative imaging findings with histopathology or interim follow-up (FU).

Methods: 123 patients with CTIRM (longest diameter < 4 cm) underwent ARFI and CEUS with CT image fusion (IF). Exclusion criteria included all contraindications for CEUS and IF. Read More

J Immunol Res 2018 12;2018:8214379. Epub 2018 Jul 12.

Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, CHIH, Mexico.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a perplexing and potentially severe disease, the pathogenesis of which is yet to be understood. SLE is considered to be a multifactorial disease, in which genetic factors, immune dysregulation, and environmental factors, such as ultraviolet radiation, are involved. Recently, the description of novel genes conferring susceptibility to develop SLE even in their own (monogenic lupus) has raised the interest in DNA dynamics since many of these genes are linked to DNA repair. Read More

J Emerg Med 2018 07 9;55(1):e1-e4. Epub 2018 May 9.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Background: Febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) include a spectrum of pathologies from uncomplicated pyelonephritis to urosepsis, including xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP). Most febrile UTIs are treated with antibiotics alone, but studies indicate nearly 12% of cases of presumed simple pyelonephritis require emergent urologic intervention. How to identify these individuals, while limiting unnecessary advanced imaging and delays in diagnosis, challenges all emergency providers. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2018 04 5;18(1):127. Epub 2018 Apr 5.

Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

Background: Chylopericardium effusion is characterized by the accumulation of milky effusion in the pericardium. It is often idiopathic but it can be secondary to trauma, chest radiation, tuberculosis and malignancy. If cardiac tamponade ensues, it becomes life-threatening. Read More

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2018;162:D2392

Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, Rotterdam.

Acute lobar nephritis (ALN) is a focal interstitial bacterial infection of the renal parenchyma. ALN is described as a midpoint between an acute pyelonephritis and renal abscess. ALN is underdiagnosed in children due to both non-specific symptoms and negative urinalysis/bacteriuria laboratory findings. Read More

Gene 2018 Apr 6;649:80-86. Epub 2018 Feb 6.

Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, PR China. Electronic address:

We looked for differentially expressed MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Forty-eight miRNAs were identified through the initial screening phase (2 IgAN pools vs. 1 normal control (NC) pool) using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) based Exiqon panel (miRCURY-Ready-to-Use-PCR-Human-panel-I + II-V. Read More

Transfus Clin Biol 2018 Feb 2;25(1):73-77. Epub 2017 Nov 2.

EA3064, Faculty of Medicine of Saint-Étienne, University of Lyon, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France; Institut national de la transfusion sanguine, 6, rue Alexandre-Cabanel, 75015 Paris, France. Electronic address:

A retrospective - single center - survey compared tolerance of individual donor therapeutic plasma in a series of 88 patients principally presenting with thrombotic microangiopathy; all patients underwent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) performed with more than 90% of either of two types of plasma preparations. One plasma type used in TPE was prepared with pathogen reduction by amotosalen addition and UVA illumination, and the other one was non-manipulated (quarantine plasma). Both types of plasma were single donor. Read More

Korean J Intern Med 2018 07 1;33(4):837-838. Epub 2017 Nov 1.

Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Am J Emerg Med 2018 Apr 18;36(4):589-593. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Department of Radiology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020 Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address:

Objective: To evaluate the performance of non-contrast computed tomography (CT) by reporting the difference in attenuation between normal and inflamed renal parenchyma in patients clinically diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis (APN).

Material And Methods: This is a retrospective study concerned with non-contrast CT evaluation of 74 patients, admitted with a clinical diagnosis of APN and failed to respond to 48h antibiotics treatment. Mean attenuation values in Hounsfield units (HU) were measured in the upper, middle and lower segments of the inflamed and the normal kidney of the same patient. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 03 21;19(1):65. Epub 2017 Mar 21.

Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, No. 5, Fu-Shin St. Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, 33375, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Background: HCMV phosphoprotein 65 (HCMVpp65) is a putative immunogen that acts as an accelerator, inducing autoantibody and exacerbating autoimmune response in susceptible animals. The immunity to pp65 instigates autoimmunity, suggesting that pp65 contains crucial B cell epitope(s) for the development of nephritis. This study narrowed down the target epitope to pp65 for immunization of BALB/c mice and mapping of B cell epitope. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2018 Mar 13;21(3):716-724. Epub 2017 Mar 13.

Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.

Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of socioeconomic and geographical variables on disease phenotype and activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Chinese population.

Methods: Data on 904 therapy-naïve SLE patients from the Chinese SLE Treatment and Research Group (CSTAR), which is a nation-wide database of SLE patients, were used to evaluate the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) and geographical regions on disease phenotypes. The influence of regional climate and economic variables (i. Read More

Clin Hemorheol Microcirc 2016 ;64(3):287-295

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

Background: Intra-arterial administration of radiographic contrast media (CM) is discussed to impair renal perfusion. The pathogenesis of contrast-induced Nephropathy (CIN) is still not clarified.

Objective: This trial was performed to prove the effects of two CM with different molecular structure on renal perfusion. Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2017 Apr 11;35(4):554-563. Epub 2016 Dec 11.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Objective: Routine CT for patients with acute flank pain has not been shown to improve patient outcomes, and it may unnecessarily expose patients to radiation and increased costs. As preliminary steps toward the development of a guideline for selective CT, we sought to determine the prevalence of clinically important outcomes in patients with acute flank pain and derive preliminary decision rules.

Methods: We analyzed data from a randomized trial of CT vs. Read More

Kardiol Pol 2016 ;74(9):1027

Instytut- Pomnik Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka.

Lancet Oncol 2016 Oct 1;17(10):1374-1385. Epub 2016 Sep 1.

Division of Dermatology, University of Washington Medical Center at South Lake Union, Seattle, WA, USA.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive skin cancer with poor prognosis in patients with advanced disease. Current standard care uses various cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens, but responses are seldom durable. Tumour oncogenesis is linked to Merkel cell polyomavirus integration and ultraviolet-radiation-induced mutations, providing rationale for treatment with immunotherapy antibodies that target the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway. Read More

Acta Radiol 2017 May 30;58(5):634-640. Epub 2016 Sep 30.

1 Department of Imaging, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Background The most widely accepted computed tomography (CT) protocol for diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) includes at least a pre- and post-contrast scan, which may expose patients to higher doses of ionizing radiation. Purpose To establish the accuracy, reproducibility, and degree of confidence in CT diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) and urolithiasis using only images obtained during the nephrographic phase. Material and Methods A retrospective study of 100 consecutive patients (88 women; age range, 19-70 years) with clinical and laboratory suspicion of APN and who underwent triphasic abdominal CT scans (non-contrast, nephrographic, and excretory phases) was performed. Read More

J Leukoc Biol 2016 12 30;100(6):1443-1452. Epub 2016 Jun 30.

Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany;

ANCA to either PR3 or MPO are found in patients with necrotizing vasculitis and glomerulonephritis. ANCA binding to their target antigens on neutrophils and subsequent neutrophil activation are pivotal disease mechanisms that lead to vascular inflammation and necrosis. ANCA interaction with PR3 is more complex than with MPO as the neutrophil-specific CD177 receptor is involved in PR3 surface expression and PR3-ANCA-induced neutrophil activation. Read More

J Radiol Prot 2016 Sep 29;36(3):474-489. Epub 2016 Jun 29.

Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Health effects following low doses of ionizing radiation are uncertain. Military veterans at the Nevada test site (NTS) during the SMOKY atmospheric nuclear weapons test in 1957 were reported to be at increased risk for leukemia in 1979, but this increase was not evaluated with respect to radiation dose. The SMOKY test was one of 30 tests in 1957 within the PLUMBBOB test series. Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2016 May;95(1):297-303

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of definitive or adjuvant external beam proton therapy on survival in patients with chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the spine.

Methods And Materials: Between March 2007 and May 2013, 51 patients with a median age of 58 years (range, 22-83 years) with chordoma (n=34) or chondrosarcomas (n=17) of the sacrum (n=21), the cervical spine (n=20), and the thoracolumbar spine (n=10) were treated with external beam proton therapy to a median dose of 70.2 Gy(RBE) [range, 64. Read More

Mod Pathol 2016 06 25;29(6):637-52. Epub 2016 Mar 25.

Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Pathology, Portland, OR, USA.

Renal injury in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients may be related to a combination of factors including chemotherapy, radiation, infection, immunosuppressive agents, ischemia, and graft-versus-host disease, and can involve glomerular, tubulointerstitial, and vascular structures. We reviewed renal pathology from 67 patients at a single institution (2009-2014), including 14 patients with biopsy for clinical dysfunction, 6 patients with surgical kidney resection for other causes, and 47 autopsy patients. Kidney specimens frequently contained multiple histopathologic abnormalities. Read More

J Xray Sci Technol 2016 ;24(1):145-59

Department of Radiology, People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate microstructural changes in chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) rabbit model under diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) technology of synchrotron radiation (SR).

Materials And Methods: The chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) models were obtained within two months after 5 New Zealand white rabbits were treated with doxorubicin hydrochloride. Blood exams, urine tests and kidney histological studies were carried out after the 5 rabbits were humanely sacrificed by hyperanesthesia. Read More

J Biophotonics 2016 08 21;9(8):781-91. Epub 2016 Jan 21.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 77204, USA.

Acute glomerulonephritis caused by antiglomerular basement membrane marked by high mortality. The primary reason for this is delayed diagnosis via blood examination, urine analysis, tissue biopsy, or ultrasound and X-ray computed tomography imaging. Blood, urine, and tissue-based diagnoses can be time consuming, while ultrasound and CT imaging have relatively low spatial resolution, with reduced sensitivity. Read More

Phys Med 2016 Jan 28;32(1):169-75. Epub 2015 Nov 28.

Medical Physics Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, 33081 Aviano, Italy.

Purpose: To introduce volumetric modulated arc therapy treatments (VMAT) with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) for pancreatic cancer and describe dosimetric results on a large patient series.

Methods And Materials: 45 patients with pancreatic malignancies were treated with 18 MV single-arc VMAT. Image guidance was performed with daily online kilo-volt cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2016 Mar;41(3):253-4

From the *Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital; and †Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

It is often challenging to assess renal activity on FDG-PET/CT due to intense physiological activity in the collecting system, thus any unusual intrarenal activity should be evaluated carefully. While increased bone tracer uptake in the irradiated region of the kidneys has been reported in the literature, altered biodistribution of FDG in irradiated renal tissue is not well described. We report a case of FDG PET/CT showing increased FDG activity in small portions of the kidneys that were previously irradiated. Read More

Transplant Proc 2015 Oct;47(8):2523-7

Department of Pediatrics, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.

For patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus, current medications are insufficient to control their condition, and new treatments are necessary. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of fetal and neonatal murine peripheral blood (FNPB) mononuclear cells and their impact on microRNA-145 (miR-145) in renal vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice. MRL/lpr mice aged 20 weeks were randomized to 3 groups of 15 (control group, radiation group, infusion group). Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2015 Oct 22;16(10):25154-67. Epub 2015 Oct 22.

Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Hong Kong, China.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease characterized by the generation of immune responses to self-antigens. Lupus nephritis is one of the most common and severe complications in SLE patients. Though the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis has been studied extensively, unresolved questions are still left and new therapeutic methods are needed for disease control. Read More

Clin Nephrol 2015 Dec;84(6):344-52

Castleman's disease (CD) is an uncommon, benign, non-neoplastic, lymphoproliferative disease of uncertain etiology. Here, we report 6 cases of kidney disease-associated CD in China. All patients exhibited multicentric CD (MCD) with involvement of the mediastinum, neck, bilateral axillary, and bilateral inguinal regions. Read More

PLoS One 2015 28;10(8):e0136238. Epub 2015 Aug 28.

UCL Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

IL-17 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis and IL-17 deficient mice are protected from nephrotoxic nephritis. However, a regulatory role for IL-17 has recently emerged. We describe a novel protective function for IL-17 in the kidney. Read More

Pediatr Nephrol 2016 08 4;31(8):1253-65. Epub 2015 Aug 4.

Pediatric Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda -Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Via della Commenda, 9 20122, Milano, Italy.

Acute pyelonephritis is one of the most serious bacterial illnesses during childhood. Escherichia coli is responsible in most cases, however other organisms including Klebsiella, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, Proteus, and Pseudomonas species are being more frequently isolated. In infants, who are at major risk of complications such as sepsis and meningitis, symptoms are ambiguous and fever is not always useful in identifying those at high risk. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2015 Jun 15;16:371-3. Epub 2015 Jun 15.

Department of Nephrology, 3201 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, Shaanxi, China (mainland).

Background: The Asian giant hornet is the largest wasp species in the world. Its stings can cause acute interstitial nephritis and acute renal failure. From July to October, 2013, Asian giant hornet attacks have killed 42 people and injured 1675 people with their powerful venomous stings in Hanzhong, Ankang, and Shangluo, three cities in the southern part of Shaanxi Province, China. Read More

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 2015 7;149:600-6. Epub 2015 May 7.

School of Environmental Science and Engineering, China-America CRC for Environment & Health, Shandong Province, Shandong University, 27# Shanda South Road, Jinan 250100, PR China.

As a major factor participating in the organism antioxidation and detoxification process, GSH is of vital importance to human beings. Detecting GSH content in single cells is significant to diagnosis and prevention of many diseases. In this work, the amount of GSH within single erythrocytes was detected and analyzed via statistical analysis. Read More

Arch Ital Urol Androl 2014 Dec 30;86(4):383-4. Epub 2014 Dec 30.

Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, V Fazzi Hospital, Lecce.

The enterovesical fistula is a communication between the urinary tract and the colon and is a rare complication of various inflammatory and cancer diseases. The most frequent cause is represented by diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon and less frequently from Crohn's disease, tumors of the colon and bladder, trauma, radiation therapy and appendicitis. In this report we describe the occurrence of an enterovesical fistula in a patient with renal allograft from a cadaveric donor, which onsetted with signs of acute pyelonephritis and pneumaturia due to diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon, clinically silent. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2016 Apr 18;18:90. Epub 2016 Apr 18.

Department of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Krankenhausstr. 8-10, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.

Background: The role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis, in particular their differentiation to a certain subtype (e.g., M1- or M2-like) modulating the inflammatory reaction, is unknown. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2017 May 11;27(3):533-535. Epub 2015 Feb 11.

a Department of Internal Medicine , Soma Central Hospital , Fukushima , Japan.

A 61-year-old woman was admitted for long-lasting fever and recurrent opportunistic infections during the treatment of SLE. She had been diagnosed as SLE and type-IV nephritis based on a renal biopsy and serological findings. A colonoscopy and liver biopsy revealed disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection. Read More

J Immunol Res 2014 23;2014:197548. Epub 2014 Jul 23.

Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 845 19th Street South, BBRB 762, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN), the leading cause of primary glomerulonephritis, is characterized by IgA1-containing immunodeposits in the glomeruli. IgAN is a chronic disease, with up to 40% of patients progressing to end-stage renal disease, with no disease-specific treatment. Multiple studies of the origin of the glomerular immunodeposits have linked elevated circulating levels of aberrantly glycosylated IgA1 (galactose-deficient in some O-glycans; Gd-IgA1) with formation of nephritogenic Gd-IgA1-containing immune complexes. Read More

Bull Exp Biol Med 2014 Aug 12;157(4):440-2. Epub 2014 Aug 12.

N. I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia,

We studied disorders in ciliary body microcirculation in experimental chronic glomerulonephritis with tubulointerstitial nephritis and evaluated the hemodynamic effects of low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field in this pathology. Laser Doppler flowmetry demonstrated vasospasm with reduced nutrient blood fl ow in the ciliary body of animals with experimental chronic glomerulonephritis with tubulointerstitial nephritis. The exposure to low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field using developed technology will lead to significant reduction of the vascular tone and improve arterial blood supply to the microcirculatory bed. Read More

Immunobiology 2014 Dec 21;219(12):980-9. Epub 2014 Jul 21.

Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Key laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100034, PR China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, PR China.

Anti-C1q antibodies are prevalent in patients with active lupus nephritis and were found to be closely associated with renal involvement and predictive for a flare of nephritis. However, the pathogenesis of anti-C1q antibodies involved in human lupus nephritis remains unclear. C1q, which plays a key role in apoptotic cell and immune complex removal, is a very important functional molecule in the pathogenesis of SLE. Read More

Gut 2015 Apr 9;64(4):554-61. Epub 2014 Jul 9.

State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, China.

Objective: To study the detailed nature of genomic microevolution during mixed infection with multiple Helicobacter pylori strains in an individual.

Design: We sampled 18 isolates from a single biopsy from a patient with chronic gastritis and nephritis. Whole-genome sequencing was applied to these isolates, and statistical genetic tools were used to investigate their evolutionary history. Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2014 Jul;89(3):599-606

Division of Biological Stress Response, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Purpose: The late side effects of kidney irradiation include vascular damage and fibrosis, which are promoted by an irradiation-induced inflammatory response. We therefore treated kidney-irradiated mice with the anti-inflammatory and angiogenesis-modulating drug thalidomide in an attempt to prevent the development of late normal tissue damage and radiation nephropathy in the mouse kidney.

Methods And Materials: Kidneys of C57Bl/6 mice were irradiated with a single dose of 14 Gy. Read More

Pediatr Int 2014 Jun;56(3):e4-6

Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.

It has been established that enhanced computed tomography (CT) and (99m) Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy ((99m) Tc-DMSA scintigraphy) used in conjunction with single-photon emission CT is a useful tool for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN). The utility of non-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, has not been investigated extensively for the diagnosis of APN or renal abscess in children. We describe the case of a 23-month-old boy with suspected APN who received non-enhanced MRI. Read More

Lupus 2014 Sep 22;23(10):994-1005. Epub 2014 Apr 22.

Department of Pediatrics, Navy General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing city, China

For patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), current medications are insufficient to control their condition, and new treatments are necessary. We investigated the effect of fetal and neonatal murine peripheral blood (FNPB) mononuclear cells on MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice. Female MRL/lpr mice were randomized to three groups (control, radiation and infusion groups). Read More

Pediatr Nephrol 2014 Sep 20;29(9):1567-74. Epub 2014 Mar 20.

Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo North Road, Taichung, 402, Taiwan.

Background: We examined the ability of a procalcitonin (PCT) protocol to detect vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and renal scarring (RS), evaluated procedural costs and radiation burden, and compared four representative guidelines for children with their first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI).

Methods: Children aged ≤2 years with their first febrile UTI who underwent renal ultrasonography (US), acute and late technetium-99m ((99m)Tc)-dimercaptosuccinic acid scan, and voiding cystourethrography were prospectively studied. The representative guidelines applied in a retrospective simulation included the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), National Institute of Clinical Excellence, top-down approach (TDA), and Italian Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ISPN). Read More

Nihon Rinsho Meneki Gakkai Kaishi 2014 ;37(1):42-7

Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University-Kori Hospital.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is effective for several diseases, including leukemia, solid tumors, and immunodeficiency. However, there are still some intractable diseases that cannot be treated with HSCT alone. We have developed a new HSCT method, allo-HSCT + thymus transplantation (TT) from the same donor, which induces elevated T cell function with mild graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in comparison to conventional HSCT alone and HSCT + donor lymphocyte infusion (HSCT + DLI). Read More

Ann Diagn Pathol 2014 Apr 6;18(2):104-8. Epub 2014 Jan 6.

Department of Pathology, Dongfang Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China. Electronic address:

C3d deposition in peritubular capillaries has been demonstrated to indicate antibody-mediated alloresponse during renal transplantation. C3d deposition in renal arterioles in IgA nephropathy (IgAN), however, is poorly documented. Especially, its significance to the pathology of primary glomerulonephritis remains unclear. Read More

Eur Radiol 2013 Nov 8;23(11):3077-86. Epub 2013 Jun 8.

Department of Diagnostic Imaging, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.

Objectives: The diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) requires demonstration of parenchymal involvement. When no predisposing conditions are found, non-complicated APN is suspected and CT or MRI should be performed. Diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI might be useful, quicker and cheaper than the standard gadolinium-enhanced (GE) MRI. Read More

Semin Nucl Med 2013 Mar;43(2):102-13

Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.

Although infection may be suggested by signs and symptoms such as fever, pain, general malaise, and abnormal laboratory results, imaging tests often are used to confirm its presence. Morphologic imaging tests identify structural alterations of tissues or organs that result from a combination of microbial invasion and the inflammatory response of the host. Functional imaging studies use minute quantities of radioactive material, which are taken up directly by cells, tissues, and organs, or are attached to substances that subsequently migrate to the region of interest. Read More

Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2013 15;6(3):536-42. Epub 2013 Feb 15.

Department of Radiation Emergency Medicine, National Institute of Radiological Sciences Chiba, Japan.

We report a first case of HIV-associated lymphoma (HAL) presenting with acute kidney injury (AKI) and inflammatory immune reconstitution syndrome (IRIS). A 39-year-old male, treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for one month prior to admission, developed AKI, left testicular tumor, and recurrent swelling of the right parotid gland. A resected testicular tumor exhibited features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2013 Apr 18;227(2):228-35. Epub 2013 Jan 18.

Department of Pathology, Section on Comparative Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that estrogen treatment in a radiation chimera mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and atherosclerosis will increase SLE-associated atherosclerosis by increasing autoantibody production and inflammation.

Methods: We used a radiation chimera mouse model in which bone marrow from the polygenic B6.Sle1. Read More