New COL4A5 mutation in IgA nephropathy.

Purpose: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common type of primary glomerulonephritis and a leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Recently, some case reports have shown that mutation is associated with IgAN. Here, we identified a new gene mutation in IgAN in a Chinese family.

Basophil count, a marker for disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease, with frequent flares amid remissions. Basophils contribute to the immunopathogenesis of SLE. This retrospective clinical study evaluated blood basophil count as a potential marker of SLE activity.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Dialysis patient-perceived Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale.

Background: Perceptions of exercise benefits and barriers affect exercise behavior. Because of the clinical course and treatment, dialysis patients differ from the general population in their perceptions of exercise benefits and barriers, especially the latter. At present, no valid instruments for assessing perceived exercise benefits and barriers in dialysis patients are available.

Osteopontin gene polymorphism in association with systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese patients.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is one kind of cytokine which can play a number of roles in promoting activation of T lymphocyte, regulating balance between Th1 and Th2, participating in cell-induced immunologic response and stimulating B lymphocyte to express multi-clone antibodies. Some researches have showed that OPN may be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to investigate possible association of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 9250 in exon 7 of the OPN gene (OPN gene 9250) with SLE in Chinese patients.