Inflammatory markers such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are elevated in dialysis patients and can predict cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Endotoxin is an important source and also another marker of inflammation in patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of oral probiotics on serum levels of endotoxemia and cytokines in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The decline of residual renal function, peritonitis episodes, and cardiovascular events were also recorded. From July 2011 to June 2012, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in PD patients. The intervention group received one capsule of probiotics containing 10(9) cfu Bifobacterium bifidum A218, 10(9) cfu Bifidobacterium catenulatum A302, 10(9) cfu Bifidobacterium longum A101, and 10(9) cfu Lactobacillus plantarum A87 daily for six months, while the placebo group received similar capsules containing maltodextrin for the same duration. Levels of serum TNF-α, interferon gamma, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and endotoxin were measured before and six months after intervention. 39 patients completed the study (21 in the probiotics group and 18 in the placebo group). In patients receiving probiotics, levels of serum TNF-α, IL-5, IL-6, and endotoxin significantly decreased after six months of treatment, while levels of serum IL-10 significantly increased. In contrast, there were no significant changes in levels of serum cytokines and endotoxin in the placebo group after six months. In addition, the residual renal function was preserved in patients receiving probiotics. In conclusion, probiotics could significantly reduce the serum levels of endotoxin, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), IL-5, increase the serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), and preserve residual renal function in PD patients.

Renal involvement in patients with polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM) is previously thought to be uncommon, but two main types of renal lesion have been described. First, acute tubular necrosis with renal failure related to myoglobulinemia and myoglobulinuria is a well-recognised feature of acute rhabdomyolysis. Second, chronic glomerulonephritis has been infrequently reported in a small group of patients with PM/DM. This study aims at investigating the incidence, severity and prognosis of renal disease in PM/DM patients, admitted to a single centre in a 10-year interval. The hospital records of 65 Taiwanese patients with PM/DM, examined between 1992 and 2002, were studied retrospectively. Of the 65 patients, 14 were found to have suffered varying degree of renal involvement, and the incidence rate was 21.5%. All the 14 patients had varying degree of haematuria and proteinuria. Acute tubular necrosis with renal failure developed in four patients with PM and in five patients with DM. Renal biopsy in two DM patients with overt proteinuria revealed IgA nephropathy in one and membranous nephropathy in the other. We, therefore, concluded that renal involvement in PM/DM patients is not as uncommon as previously thought.

Introduction: There is a paucity of literature analyzing outcome of chlorpyrifos intoxication. Methods: A total of 40 patients with chlorpyrifos intoxication were seen at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 2008 and 2017. Patients were stratified into two subgroups according to their prognosis, as good ( n = 12) or poor ( n = 28). Good prognosis group were defined as patients who survived without serious complications, and poor prognosis group included patients who died and survived after development of severe complications. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and mortality data were obtained for analysis. Results: Patients aged 53.8 ± 16.3 years and most were male (80.0%). All patients (100.0%) developed acute cholinergic crisis such as emesis (45.0%), respiratory failure (42.5%), tachycardia (30.0%), kidney injury (22.5%), and seizure (7.5%). Intermediate syndrome developed in 12.5% of patients, but none had delayed neuropathy (0%). The poor prognosis group suffered higher incidences of respiratory failure ( p = 0.011), kidney injury ( p = 0.026), and prolonged corrected QT interval ( p = 0.000), and they had higher blood urea nitrogen level ( p = 0.041), lower Glasgow coma scale score ( p = 0.011), and lower monocyte count ( p = 0.023) than good prognosis group. All patients were treated with atropine and pralidoxime therapy, but six patients (15.0%) still died of intoxication. In a multivariate logistic regression model, blood urea nitrogen was a significant risk factor for poor prognosis (odds ratio: 1.375, 95% confidence interval: 1.001–1.889, p = 0.049). Nevertheless, no mortality risk factor could be identified. Conclusion: The mortality rate of patients with chlorpyrifos intoxication was 15.0%. Furthermore, acute cholinergic crisis, intermediate syndrome, and delayed neuropathy developed in 100.0%, 12.5%, and 0% of patients, respectively.