Kidney international
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Kidney international · Feb 2001
Acute aluminum encephalopathy in a dialysis center caused by a cement mortar water distribution pipe.
In Curaçao, distilled seawater from the water plant was used without further purification for hemodialysis for several decades. A new distribution pipe supplying water to a dialysis center on the island was installed in May 1996. To protect it from corrosion, this pipe was lined on the inside with a cement mortar. Because of the aggressiveness of the distilled water, calcium and aluminum (Al) leached from the cement mortar into the water used to prepare dialysate. This caused a possible hard water syndrome and definite acute Al intoxication. ⋯ The water distribution pipe was lined with a cement mortar that was probably inappropriate for transporting drinking water. Water distribution facilities as well as the dialysis community should be aware of the possibility of Al leaching from cemented water distribution pipes. Similar Al loads appear to induce a more severe intoxication in malnourished, older patients with smaller Al distribution volumes and anuria.
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Kidney international · Dec 2000
Angiotensin type 2 receptor is expressed in the adult rat kidney and promotes cellular proliferation and apoptosis.
Angiotensin II (Ang II) is associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. The role of the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) in these processes remains controversial. Conventional radioligand binding of 125I-Sar1, Ile8 Ang II in adult kidney has failed to demonstrate the binding for the AT2R. ⋯ These findings indicate that there is significant expression of the AT2R in the adult kidney, and that the AT2R has a role in mediating Ang II-induced proliferation and apoptosis in proximal tubular epithelial cells and expression of osteopontin.