Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein in Crohn's disease patients: a promising noninvasive biomarker monitoring disease activity.

Background: Following STRIDE-II recommendations, the discovery of novel noninvasive biomarkers, beyond the use of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin, remains a medical need to further improve the monitoring of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aims to evaluate the potential of serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) in monitoring IBD activity.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 69 IBD patients (43 Crohn's disease and 26 ulcerative colitis) and 82 controls.

Nephroprotective Effects of Two Ganoderma Species Methanolic Extracts in an In Vitro Model of Cisplatin Induced Tubulotoxicity.

Although cisplatin is used as a first-line therapy in many cancers, its nephrotoxicity remains a real problem. Acute kidney injuries induced by cisplatin can cause proximal tubular necrosis, possibly leading to interstitial fibrosis, chronic dysfunction, and finally to a cessation of chemotherapy. There are only a few nephroprotective actions that can help reduce cisplatin nephrotoxicity.

Protective Effect of Nebivolol against Oxidative Stress Induced by Aristolochic Acids in Endothelial Cells.

Aristolochic acids (AAs) are powerful nephrotoxins that cause severe tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The biopsy-proven peritubular capillary rarefaction may worsen the progression of renal lesions via tissue hypoxia. As we previously observed the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by cultured endothelial cells exposed to AA, we here investigated in vitro AA-induced metabolic changes by H-NMR spectroscopy on intracellular medium and cell extracts.

CD4 and CD8 T Cells Exert Regulatory Properties During Experimental Acute Aristolochic Acid Nephropathy.

Experimental aristolochic acid nephropathy is characterized by transient acute proximal tubule necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltrates followed by interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. The respective role of T-cell subpopulations has never been studied in the acute phase of the mouse model, and was heretofore exclusively investigated by the use of several depletion protocols. As compared to mice injected with aristolochic acids alone, more severe acute kidney injury was observed after CD4 or CD8 T-cells depletion.

Protective Effects of Pistacia lentiscus L. fruit extract against calcium oxalate monohydrate induced proximal tubular injury.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The world prevalence of kidney stones is increasing and plants are frequently used to treat urolithiasis. Pistacia lentiscus L, a plant which freely grows around the Mediterranean basin areas, is widely used for various pathologies. P.

Blocking TGF-β Signaling Pathway Preserves Mitochondrial Proteostasis and Reduces Early Activation of PDGFRβ+ Pericytes in Aristolochic Acid Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Wistar Male Rats.

Background: The platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ)+ perivascular cell activation becomes increasingly recognized as a main source of scar-associated kidney myofibroblasts and recently emerged as a new cellular therapeutic target.

Aims: In this regard, we first confirmed the presence of PDGFRβ+ perivascular cells in a human case of end-stage aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) and thereafter we focused on the early fibrosis events of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) inhibition in a rat model of AAN.

Materials And Methods: Neutralizing anti-TGFβ antibody (1D11) and its control isotype (13C4) were administered (5 mg/kg, i.

Substitution between Aristolochia and Bryonia genus in North-Eastern Morocco: toxicological implications.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Although acknowledged as toxic herbs, Aristolochia species are still widely used worldwide. The aristolochic acids (AA) they contain can induce the so-called "aristolochic acid nephropathy", leading to renal fibrosis and upper urinary tract cancer. Traditional Moroccan medicine still often uses Aristolochia species under the vernacular name of Bereztem for the treatment of numerous ailments, notably cancer, diabetes or digestive tract disorders.

Biochemical parameters after cholecalciferol repletion in hemodialysis: results From the VitaDial randomized trial.

Background: The 2009 KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder clinical practice guideline suggests correcting 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D) levels<30ng/mL in patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis, but does not provide a specific treatment protocol.

Study Design: 2-center, double-blind, randomized, 13-week, controlled trial followed by a 26-week open-label study.

Setting & Participants: 55 adult maintenance hemodialysis patients with 25(OH)D levels<30ng/mL were recruited from June 2008 through October 2009.

Cytotoxicity of mononuclear cells as induced by peritoneal dialysis fluids: insight into mechanisms that regulate osmotic stress-related apoptosis.

Objective: High glucose content of peritoneal dialysis fluids (PDFs) has been shown to contribute to loss of peritoneal function during long-term peritoneal dialysis. However, hyperosmolality and hypertonicity of PDF are usually seen as similar stress events inducing osmotic stress-induced programmed cell death. In this study, we examined the impact of various osmotic agents on apoptosis induced by hyperosmolar PDFs, focusing on the mechanisms underlying the lethal effects of PDFs on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Patterns of interstitial inflammation during the evolution of renal injury in experimental aristolochic acid nephropathy.

Background: Interstitial inflammation is a prominent feature associated with the severity of renal injury and progressive kidney failure. We utilized an animal model of aristolochic acid (AA)-induced nephropathy (AAN) to assess patterns of infiltration and inflammation during the evolution of tubulointerstitial damage and to relate them to the development of fibrosis.

Methods: Male Wistar rats receiving sc daily AA or vehicle were sacrificed between Days 1 and 35.

The renin-angiotensin system blockade does not prevent renal interstitial fibrosis induced by aristolochic acids.

Background: Experimental aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN), characterized by interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and chronic renal failure, was reported after 35-day injections of aristolochic acids (AA) to salt-depleted male Wistar rats. The link between renal fibrosis and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in this model remains unknown.

Methods: We investigated the impact of sodium diets (low and normal), of RAS inhibition with enalapril (ENA) alone, or combined with candesartan (CSN) for 35 days, and ENA + CSN for 65 days on AAN development.