Meta-analysis of the association between sclerostin level and adverse clinical outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis.

Background: Studies regarding the relationship of sclerostin (Scl) with clinical outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis have yielded controversial findings. This meta-analysis was performed to investigate the predictive role of Scl in this patient population.

Methods: Several electronic medical databases (e.

Nano-Graphene Enclosed Multi Nitrogen: Dynamic Hierarchical Self-Assemble Property for Lithium Ion Storage.

Led to significant capacity improvement to 1800 mA/h after 100 cycles for nano-graphene-N₄, which is the first report for a carbonaceous materials anode. In addition, the doping level, id est, number of nitrogen atoms, had a significant influence on the molecular self-assembled structures through hierarchical self-assembly. As the nitrogen concentration increased, the -space between the nanosheets increased from 3.

A Novel Process for the Preparation of ZnO Nanoparticles and ZnO/NiZnFe₂O₄ Nanocomposites.

A novel solution combustion and gel calcination process for the preparation of ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO/NiZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites was introduced. The phase identification, morphologies and magnetic properties of ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO/NiZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results showed that the concentration of zinc nitrate and the calcination temperature were two key factors for the grain size, crystallinity and properties of ZnO nanoparticles, while, the mass ratio of ZnO and NiZnFe₂O₄ in ZnO/NiZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites was the important factor for the specific magnetizations () of ZnO/NiZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites.

Ginsenoside-Rg1 Protects against Renal Fibrosis by Regulating the Klotho/TGF-β1/Smad Signaling Pathway in Rats with Obstructive Nephropathy.

Ginsenoside-Rg1 (G-Rg1) is an agent isolated from Panax ginseng that exerts anti-fibrotic effects; however, the mechanism is still unclear. Herein, we investigated whether G-Rg1 administration can mitigate or reverse unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis by regulating the Klotho/transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad signaling pathway in rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were subjected to UUO, and rats in the treatment group were administered G-Rg1 or G-Rg1 plus Klotho short hairpin RNA interference (shRNA), while rats in the control and model groups were administered vehicle for 14 d.

Plasma s-Klotho is related to kidney function and predicts adverse renal outcomes in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

To investigate whether the soluble Klotho (s-Klotho) level in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is related to kidney function and whether a low s-Klotho level can predict adverse renal outcomes or CKD progression in patients with advanced CKD. 112 patients with CKD stages 3-5 and 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Blood samples were collected to measure serum creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone, and hemoglobin.

Cyclosporine A Suppresses the Activation of the Th17 Cells in Patients with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a common autoimmune disease involving abnormal Th17 activation. The aim of the current study was to investigate the immunosuppression effect of Cyclosporine A (Cys A), a potent immunosuppressor on the proliferation and activation of T cells, on the activation of Th17 cells. Blood samples from both inactive and active pSS patients as well as healthy controls were collected and serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected and tested for IL-17 and RORγt expression.

Tranilast attenuates TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the NRK-52E cells.

We previously reported that tranilast can halt the pathogenesis of chronic cyclosporine nephrotoxicity in rats via the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) /Smad pathway, an important signaling system involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), but the exact underlying cellular mechanisms are not yet clear. Thus, by selecting TGF-β1-induced normal rat kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) as a model, we demonstrated potential modifying effect of tranilast on EMT-induced by TGF-β1 in vitro. NRK-52E cells were incubated with the blank vehicle (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and F-12 (DMEM/F12) added with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS)), 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 alone or together with 100, 200 or 400μM tranilast for 48 h after incubation in medium containing 1% FBS for 24 h.

[Research on the effects of PIAS3 expression on the invasion of glioma TJ905 cells].

Objectives: To investigate the function and possible mechanisms of PIAS3 expression on the invasion of TJ905 cells.

Methods: PIAS3 overexpression vectors were constructed and PIAS3 siRNA were chemically synthesized, which were separately transfected into TJ905 cells for upregulation or downregulation of PIAS3 expression levels in TJ905 cells. After that, the invasive effects of TJ905 cells were measured by Transwell assay, and the expression of PIAS3, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)3, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 were identified by Western blot.