PMUC did not reflect the microbiological environment found in stones and urine directly obtained from the renal pelvis. Patients with postoperative infectious complications had negative PMUC with positive RPUC or RSC. RPUC and RSC can help guide prompt and appropriate antibiotic treatment for patients who develop postoperative infectious complications after PCNL.

In the heart, the main pathway for calcium influx is mediated by L-type calcium channels, a multi-subunit complex composed of the pore-forming subunit CaV1.2 and the auxiliary subunits CaVα2δ1 and CaVβ2. To date, five distinct CaVβ2 transcriptional start site (TSS) variants (CaVβ2a-e) varying only in the composition and length of the N-terminal domain have been described, each of them granting distinct biophysical properties to the L-type current. However, the physiological role of these variants in Ca(2+) handling in the native tissue has not been explored. Our results show that four of these variants are present in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. The contribution of those CaVβ2 TSS variants on endogenous L-type current and Ca(2+) handling was explored by adenoviral-mediated overexpression of each CaVβ2 variant in cultured newborn rat cardiomyocytes. As expected, all CaVβ2 TSS variants increased L-type current density and produced distinctive changes on L-type calcium channel (LTCC) current activation and inactivation kinetics. The characteristics of the induced calcium transients were dependent on the TSS variant overexpressed. Moreover, the amplitude of the calcium transients varied depending on the subunit involved, being higher in cardiomyocytes transduced with CaVβ2a and smaller in CaVβ2d. Interestingly, the contribution of Ca(2+) influx and Ca(2+) release on total calcium transients, as well as the sarcoplasmic calcium content, was found to be TSS-variant-dependent. Remarkably, determination of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance and cell size change indicates that CaVβ2 TSS variants modulate the cardiomyocyte hypertrophic state. In summary, we demonstrate that expression of individual CaVβ2 TSS variants regulates calcium handling in cardiomyocytes and, consequently, has significant repercussion in the development of hypertrophy.

Renal sodium reabsorption depends on the activity of the Na,K-ATPase α/β heterodimer. Four α (α) and 3 β (β) subunit isoforms have been described. It is accepted that renal tubule cells express α/β dimers. Aldosterone stimulates Na,K-ATPase activity and may modulate α/β expression. However, some studies suggest the presence of β in the kidney. We hypothesized that the β isoform of the Na,K-ATPase is expressed in tubular cells of the distal nephron, and modulated by mineralocorticoids. We found that β is highly expressed in collecting duct of rodents, and that mineralocorticoids decreased the expression of β. Thus, we describe a novel molecular mechanism of sodium pump modulation that may contribute to the effects of mineralocorticoids on sodium reabsorption.

High resolution computed tomography in the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Usual interstitial pneumonia pattern (UIP) in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has a high degree of correlation with the histological pattern which makes it possible to obviate in these cases the need for lung biopsy. The accuracy of a UIP diagnosis in HRCT is based on the detection of specific signs of fibrosis such as honeycomb and reticular densities with traction bronchiolectasis. The update of the 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines of the ATS / ERS / JRS / ALAT of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and the Fleischner Society White Paper proposed a new way of classifying the tomographic patterns taking into account the aspects previously considered. Although the presence of honeycomb remains the main finding to characterize the UIP pattern, the distribution of interstitial reticulate and the presence of traction bronchiolectasis, in the specific clinical context, may be sufficient to make the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Mixed epithelial-stromal tumors of kidney are rare neoplasm usually described in postmenopausal females under estrogenic therapy. Although tumor behavior is in general benign, sporadic cases with an aggressive behavior have been described. The present case is a 41-year-old male with lumbar pain, hematuria and lump in left kidney. Tumor spread assessment evidenced no findings and therefore radical nephrectomy was performed. Grossly tumor was peripherally located, whitish, round-shaped, measuring 9 cm. It showed spread to the pyelocalyceal system and necrotic areas. Histologically consisted of biphasic neoplasm, with epithelial component of branching ducts that covered a moderately cellular and partly spindle-cell stroma, with focal areas of marked atypia and prominent mitotic activity. Immunostains were positive for Pancytokeratin and Keratin 7 in the epithelial component, positive for Vimentin in both epithelial and stromal components, and positive for Actin only in isolated stromal cells. Immunostains were negative for Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors and CD99. Ki-67 was positive in 60% of pleomorphic stromal areas, in 20% of low-grade stromal areas and in < 5% of the epithelial component. Disease progressed in a few months with bilateral lung metastases and death. The present case is reported by to be a very rare case with malignant behavior and fatal outcome in a male patient. The aim of the present work is to contribute to the knowledge and characterization of such lesions.