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D Verbeelen

Publications and source records attributed to D Verbeelen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Group JK corynebacterium peritonitis in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

We describe a case of peritonitis with isolation of a group JK corynebacterium from the peritoneal effluent in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and treated with corticosteroids. Therapy with intraperitoneal vancomycin resulted in a rapid eradication of the organism. However, only 1 month after discontinuation of the 26-day therapy, a second episode of peritonitis with JK corynebacterium occurred. After vancomycin was restarted, the organism disappeared again from the peritoneal fluid, but the patient died a few days later from heart failure apparently unrelated to the infection. Some authors have mentioned the isolation of diphtheroids (without further identification) from peritoneal effluent of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients, but to our knowledge, this is the first report of peritonitis associated with JK corynebacterium, an opportunistic organism that must be differentiated from other corynebacteria.

Aged↗

Intracellular immunoglobulin distribution of bone marrow plasma cells as a diagnostic aid for primary amyloidosis.

In order to classify the underlying disorder in four patients with biopsy-proven amyloidosis without overt monoclonal gammopathy, the cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (Ig) distribution of bone marrow plasma cells was evaluated using direct immunofluorescence microscopy. This procedure revealed the presence of a monoclonal proliferation of light chain containing plasma cells, and thus led to the diagnosis of immunoglobulin-related amyloidosis.

Aged↗

The determination of aluminum in biological fluids by means of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

Methods are described for the determination of aluminium in serum and in diluted urine by means of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. For the analysis of serum, thermal decomposition of the sample in the furnace, using a ramp charring program, was found to be necessary in order to eliminate the organic material. The precision of the method was 10%. For urine the relative deviation was 9%. The precision was markedly improved by the use of an automatic sample injector (5.3%). Since large contamination problems make the determination of Al at the parts per billion (ppb) level very difficult, special attention was paid to the precautions to be taken in order to avoid external aluminum contamination.

Aluminum↗

Renal responsiveness to parathyroid hormone in a case of nonfamilial hypophosphatemic osteomalacia.

Plasma immunoreactive parathyroid hormone level, urinary excretion of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and the sensitivity of the renal tubule to calcium infusion and to parathyroid extract were investigated in a patient with nonfamilial hypophosphatemic osteomalacia. Plasma immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentration was normal and basal urinary excretion of cyclic AMP was increased. Renal cortical adenylate cyclase, as measured by urinary cyclic AMP excretion, was certainly as sensitive to exogenous parathyroid extract as in normal subjects. After a previous calcium infusion, a greater parathyroid-hormone-sensitive component of phosphorus transport in the kidney was present than in two control subjects. Our results indicate that in nonfamilial hypophosphatemic osteomalacia the renal tubule could be hyperresponsive to parathyroid hormone.

Calcium↗

Chemical analysis of renal stones from 377 Belgian patients by using qualitative or quantitative methods.

The renal stones of 377 patients from the Brussels' area have been studied by chemical methods; 239 stones were submitted to qualitative analysis and the other 138 to a quantitative analysis. The results of the study demonstrate that, in Belgium as well as in other Western countries like the USA and Great Britain, calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate and magnesium ammonium phosphate are, in decreasing order of frequency, the major constitutents of renal calculi. The fact that calcium oxalate-containing stones are mainly found in men associated with sterile urine, and magnesium ammonium phosphate stones in women associated with urinary infection, is confirmed in the present series. The percentage of uric acid-containing stones is similar to that in the USA and Great Britain, but lower than that observed in several European countries including France, Spain, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Sweden. A small group of Mediterranean patients living in Belgium show no specific pattern, suggesting that the formation of calculi could be more dependent upon environmental than upon ethnic factors.

Ammonia↗

The use of a test for the differential diagnosis of hypercalciuria.

28 renal stone formers (18 men and 10 women) with idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH) and 27 controls have been subjected to a test proposed for the diagnosis of absorptive, resorptive and renal hypercalciurias. Fasting serum calcium concentration, urinary calcium and cyclic AMP excretion were measured after overnight fasting and an oral load of calcium. Absorptive hypercalciuria was demonstrated in 14 patients. High fasting urinary calcium first suggested resorptive or renal hypercalciurias in 5 other patients, but since fasting urinary calcium was normalized following cellulose phosphate therapy, absorptive hypercalciuria was more likely. Renal hypercalciuria was a possibility in 1 single case. Both fasting and post-load urinary calcium were normal in 7 men and 1 woman. The test did not appear as useful as expected since it was of no diagnostic value in about 30% of the cases and erroneously suggested resorptive or renal hypercalciuria in about 15% of the cases. On the other hand it indicated that absorptive IH is common and renal IH exceptional.

Adult↗

Treatment of gram-negative peritonitis with aztreonam in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

In a multicenter open study, intraperitoneal aztreonam was used together with vancomycin, cloxacillin, or flucloxacillin for initial empiric treatment of peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Monotherapy with aztreonam was continued in 34 episodes of gram-negative peritonitis in 28 patients. The microorganisms isolated included Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter species, Pseudomonas species, and Klebsiella species. In three episodes, two organisms were cultured. Microbiologic assessment revealed cure in 27 episodes, cure with relapse in two, cure with superinfection in one, and treatment failure in four (with resistance to aztreonam in three). As assessed by clinical criteria, 27 episodes were cured, five failed to respond, and two responded partially. No adverse reactions to aztreonam were observed. Comparison of these 34 episodes with 35 episodes in historical controls (treated mainly with aminoglycosides and/or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) showed significantly higher rates of cure (84% vs. 51%) and of survival (97% vs. 86%) as well as lower rates of catheter removal (65% vs. 87%) with aztreonam. Thus aztreonam is a safe and efficient agent for the treatment of peritonitis caused by gram-negative organisms in patients undergoing CAPD.

Adult↗

Antioxidant enzyme gene expression in rats with remnant kidney induced chronic renal failure.

Reactive oxygen intermediates play a role in chronic renal injury and glomerulosclerosis. We investigate changes in renal cortex antioxidant enzyme gene expression in the rat remnant-kidney model of chronic renal failure and compare the new data to enzyme activities published earlier. Antioxidant enzyme gene expression is evaluated by Northern blot analysis of cortex mRNA, using cDNA probes for catalase, copper/zinc-containing superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase. Catalase gene expression decreases during development of renal failure; this decrease is accompanied by decreased catalase activity during the glomerulosclerosis phase of the remnant-kidney model. Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase gene expression remain at a normal level during progression of the model, whereas their activities show a temporary decrease in the early remnant kidney. In the remnant-kidney model, catalase seems to be more vulnerable to reactive oxygen intermediates than superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Our results show that antioxidant enzyme activity and gene expression do not change in the same direction at all times during disease development and that all antioxidant enzymes do not respond in the same way.

Actins↗

Angiotensin II administration causes enhanced expression of glomerulosclerosis-related markers and decreased renal antioxidant enzyme activities in rats.

Angiotensin II administration to rats during 6 weeks causes decreased activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in renal cortex. Rats show mild hypertension, subclinical signs of renal injury, increased glomerular expression of desmin, glomerular and interstitial expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and an increased number of ED-1-positive cells in glomeruli. An inverse correlation exists between catalase activity and glomerular alpha-smooth muscle actin expression and between glutathione peroxidase activity and glomerular desmin expression. The decrease of antioxidant enzyme activity, early after angiotensin II administration, might be an important initiating factor in the complex process leading eventually to renal sclerosis by reduction of reactive oxygen intermediate breakdown. The significant relationship between markers of sclerosis and some antioxidant enzyme activities suggests either a causative link or a common triggering factor.

Actins↗

In vivo hydrogen peroxide production in rat remnant kidney.

In the rat remnant kidney hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production is increased when compared to the normal kidney. The activities of the peroxisomal H2O2-producing oxidases, D-amino acid oxidase and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase, and of the extraperoxisomal superoxide dismutase are decreased in renal homogenate. The peroxisomal L-alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase and L-lactate oxidase as well as the peroxisomal H2O2 scavenger catalase preserve their activity. The activity of the cytosolic scavenging system, glutathione peroxidase, is decreased by 40%. A starvation period of 48 h does not produce a measurable increase in H2O2 production in the normal nor in the remnant kidney. On visual inspection, peroxisomal morphology and distribution in the renal tubules are similar in the normal and remnant kidney tissue.

Amitrole↗