Publications by authors named "Fernand M Lai"
Background: Emerging evidence suggests that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays important roles in the regulation of gene expression. We determine the role of using urinary lncRNA as a non-invasive biomarker for lupus nephritis.
Method: We studied three cohorts of lupus nephritis patients (31, 78, and 12 patients, respectively) and controls (6, 7, and 24 subjects, respectively).
Rationale & Objective: Previous studies have suggested that microRNA-21 (miR-21) plays an important role in kidney fibrosis. We examined the relationship between intrarenal miR-21 level and rate of kidney function loss in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN).
Study Design: Prospective cohort study.
We report a patient with chronic diabetes and was referred for recent onset proteinuria. Light microscopy of the renal biopsy specimen showed mildly expanded mesangium with mesangial hypercellularity and segmental sclerosis, features compatible with diabetic glomerulosclerosis. However, crystalglobulin-induced nephropathy with crystal deposit was identified on electron microscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: The reported causes of nephrotic syndrome (NS) varies between different countries. Less is known about the causes of nephrotic-range proteinuria (NPU). We aimed to evaluate the underlying causes of NS and NPU.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To investigate the diagnostic performance of ultrasound-guided synovial biopsy.
Methods: Clinical notes, pathology and microbiology reports, ultrasound and other imaging studies of 100 patients who underwent 111 ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies were reviewed. Biopsies were compared with the final clinical diagnosis established after synovectomy (n = 43) or clinical/imaging follow-up (n = 57) (mean 30 months).
Background: Glomerular and tubulointerstitial fibrosis play important roles in the progression of chronic kidney disease. We determine whether urinary mRNA levels of extracellular matrix proteins reflect the degree of kidney fibrosis and predict renal function decline in adult nephrotic patients.
Methods: We studied 56 adult nephrotic patients and 20 controls.
Purpose: To investigate the performance of prostate health index (PHI) and percentage prostate-specific antigen (PSA) isoform [-2]proPSA (%p2PSA) in predicting pathologic outcomes at radical prostatectomy (RP) in a Chinese population.
Methods: We performed a prospective study of 135 prostate cancer patients with RP. The accuracy of preoperative %p2PSA (= p2PSA/free PSA) and PHI [= (p2PSA/free PSA) × √PSA] in predicting pathologic outcomes of RP including pT3 disease, pathologic Gleason score (pGS) ≥7, Gleason score (GS) upgrade at RP, tumor volume >0.
Background: Podocyte depletion is a characteristic feature of progressive renal failure. We hypothesize that studying the podocyte mRNA level in urinary sediment may provide diagnostic and prognostic information in adult nephrotic syndrome.
Methods: We studied 25 patients with minimal change nephropathy (MCN), 25 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and 17 healthy controls.
Background: We tested the strategy of mTOR inhibitors with calcineurin inhibitor minimization in renal transplant recipients with known chronic allograft dysfunction.
Methods: In this open-label, single-arm study, renal transplant patients were recruited after biopsy-confirmed chronic allograft dysfunction in the absence of acute rejection episode within 2 months, with proteinuria <0.8 g/day, and serum creatinine <220 μmol/L or estimated glomerular filtration rate >40 mL/min/1.
Objective: We studied the urinary sediment mRNA level of Th9- and Th22-related cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods: We quantified urinary mRNA levels of interleukin (IL) 9, IL-10, IL-22, and their corresponding transcription factors in 73 patients with active lupus nephritis, 13 patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis (HTN), and 25 healthy subjects.
Results: There was no detectable IL-9 mRNA in all samples.
Background: Inflammation and fibrosis play important roles in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. We determine the urinary mRNA levels of ELR-CXC chemokine ligand and extracellular matrix in diabetic nephropathy.
Methods: We studied 26 patients with biopsy-proven diabetic nephropathy, 15 with hypertensive nephrosclerosis and 10 healthy controls.
Background: Minimal change nephropathy is a common cause of primary nephrotic syndrome in adults. However, there are few studies of its clinical course, response to treatment, and long-term outcome.
Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Objective: Islet amyloidosis and arteriosclerosis are histopathological hallmarks in type 2 diabetes. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a common component of amyloidosis. ApoE [Latin Small Letter Open E]4 allele is associated with arteriosclerosis and cerebral amyloidosis in Alzheimer disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is no reliable clinical test to predict the reversibility of acute-on-chronic renal failure. We study whether urinary biomarkers could be used as a noninvasive prognostic marker in patients with acute-on-chronic renal failure.
Methods: We studied 39 adult patients with pre-existing chronic renal impairment presenting to us with acute-on-chronic renal failure.
Background: MicroRNAs are a group of non-coding RNA molecules that play important roles in the pathogenesis of various kidney diseases. We investigate the urinary sediment miRNA levels of adult patients with nephrotic syndrome.
Methods: We study 20 patients with diabetic glomerulosclerosis (DGS), 21 with minimal change nephropathy (MCN) or focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS), 23 with membranous nephropathy (MGN), and 10 healthy controls.
Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the progression of renal fibrosis. We studied the urinary levels of miR-21, miR-29 family and miR-93, which are downstream mediators of the transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGF-β(1)), in patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy.
Methods: We studied the urinary miRNA levels of 43 IgA nephropathy patients and 13 healthy controls.
Objective: To study the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)/Fn14 and the interferon-inducible protein (IP-10)/CXCR3 axis in lupus nephritis (LN).
Methods: We studied 113 patients with LN who had had repeat renal biopsies. Glomerular and tubulointerstitial messenger RNA expression of TWEAK, Fn14, IP-10, and CXCR3 were quantified.
Aim: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. We studied the intra-renal expression of miRNA targets that were reported to be differentially expressed in peripheral blood or urine between lupus nephritis (LN) patients and normal controls.
Methods: We quantified the expression of in glomerulus and tubulointerstitium of miR-146a, miR-155, miR-198 miR-638 and miR-663 in 42 patients with LN and 10 healthy controls.
Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by disease flares and remission. We hypothesize that in clinically quiescent SLE patients, the mRNA level of target genes in the urinary sediment is an early indicator of disease flare.
Methods: From a cohort of 134 adult SLE patients prospectively followed for 56 weeks, we identified 19 patients with a single disease flare.
Background: The role of longitudinal change in sequential renal biopsies of lupus nephritis (LN) patient remains elusive.
Methods: Clinical and pathological documents of 156 LN patients with repeat renal biopsies (412 times) were collected from a database.
Results: The percent of transformation of the biopsy class from reference biopsies to repeat biopsies was 75%.
Background: Previous studies suggested miR-146a and miR-155 play important roles in innate and adaptive immune responses. We studied intra-renal and urinary levels of miR-146a and miR-155 in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN).
Methods: Intra-renal and urinary levels of miR-146a and miR-155 are quantified in 43 patients with IgAN; the result was compared to 20 nephrectomy specimens and urine sediment of 13 healthy volunteers.
Expression of ACE and ACE2 in patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis.
Kidney Blood Press Res
September 2011
Background: The interplay between intrarenal angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and type 2 ACE (ACE2) might play important roles in the pathogenesis of hypertensive nephrosclerosis (HTN), but human data are limited.
Methods: Renal biopsy specimens of 41 patients with HTN and 10 transplant donors as controls (CTL) were studied. The glomerular and tubulointerstitial mRNA expression of ACE and ACE2 was measured by laser microdissection and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.