Aldosterone sensitivity is defined as an outcome variable for a given circulating level of aldosterone. In basic and translational studies, aldosterone has been measured in differential tissue responses, e.g., lower urine sodium higher potassium, index the renal response; clinical blood pressure responses. The concept disrupts conventional wisdom renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system potential t...

We have recently reported that there are significant genetic influences on the population variation in blood pressure in black twins in Los Angeles. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken to replicate these findings in a black twin population that lives in a different biosocial environment. We chose the Caribbean island nation of Barbados, where 96% of the population is black, the lit...

Alkaptonuria is a rare autosomal recessive, single-gene metabolic disease caused by the lack of the enzyme homogentisic acid oxidase and characterized by black pigmentation of cartilage and other connective tissues. 38 yr old male was admitted to the orthopedics ward with bilateral hip pain for the past 3 years and inability to walk for the past 1yr. He had also complained of brownish-black dis...

It is not known whether exposure to air pollutants causes systemic oxidative stress in children. We investigated the association between exposure to air pollution and biomarkers of oxidative stress in relation to a governmental air quality intervention implemented during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. We studied 36 schoolchildren during 5 time periods before and during the Olympic Games in Bei...

pasteurella species are commensal bacteria of the respiratory airways and oronasal cavity of animals. in this study, we report an unusual case of pasteurella dagmatis isolation from dog urine with uroliths. an 11-year-old female dog was admitted to the veterinary hospital of ahvaz university complaining of abdominal pain, hematuria, dysuria and stranguria. in clinical and radiological examinati...

welding is a process in which two or more metals are attached by the use of heat and, in some cases, pressure. direct exposure and inhalation of welding fumes causes acute and chronic side effects in humans. kidney damage is one of these important side effects. β2 microglobulin is an 11.8 kilodalton protein and levels increase in the case of some inflammatory and viral diseases, or kidney malfu...

BK viruseassociated nephropathy (BKVAN) is one of the main causes of graft failure after kidney transplantation [1] and is implicated inmore than 20% of graft failure. Intragraft inflammation and insufficient immune response are regarded as the main factors of BKVAN. Although the BK polyoma virus infection is highly prevalent in general population, BKVAN does not develop in healthy individuals ...

Urinary glycoproteins are important inhibitors of calcium oxalate crystallization and adhesion of crystals to renal cells, both of which are key mechanisms in kidney stone formation. This has been attributed to glycosylation of the proteins. In South Africa, the black population rarely form stones (incidence < 1%) compared with the white population (incidence 12-15%). A previous study involving...

It is not known whether exposure to air pollutants causes systemic oxidative stress in children. We investigated the association between exposure to air pollution and biomarkers of oxidative stress in relation to a governmental air quality intervention implemented during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. We studied 36 schoolchildren during 5 time periods before and during the Olympic Games in Bei...