Advancing the clinical assessment of glomerular podocyte pathology in kidney biopsies via super-resolution microscopy and angiopoietin-like 4 staining.

The tertiary structure of normal podocytes prevents protein from leaking into the urine. However, observing the complexity of podocytes is challenging because of the scale differences in their three-dimensional structure and the close proximity between neighboring cells in space. In this study, we explored podocyte-secreted angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) as a potential morphological marker via super-resolution microscopy (SRM).

mTOR pathway: A key player in diabetic nephropathy progression and therapeutic targets.

Diabetic nephropathy is a prevalent complication of diabetes and stands as the primary contributor to end-stage renal disease. The global prevalence of diabetic nephropathy is on the rise, however, due to its intricate pathogenesis, there is currently an absence of efficacious treatments to enhance renal prognosis in affected patients. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine protease, assumes a pivotal role in cellular division, survival, apoptosis delay, and angiogenesis.

The prognostic role of activation of the complement pathways in the progression of advanced IgA nephropathy to end-stage renal disease.

Introduction: The role of complement system in late stage of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) remains unknown. We therefore investigated the effects of complement system on worsening kidney function in advanced (stage 4 CKD) IgAN.

Methods: Renal specimens of 69 IgAN patients who underwent renal biopsy during stage 4 CKD between 2010 and 2021, were stained using immunofluorescence (IF) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for glomerular complement components.

Glucocorticoid does not improve the renal prognosis of patients with diabetic nephropathy combined with acute tubulointerstitial nephritis: a retrospective analysis.

Background And Objectives: In clinical practice, some patients are diagnosed with diabetic nephropathy (DN) combined with acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) through renal biopsy. There is relatively little research on the treatment and prognosis of such patients, and no consensus exists on the use of glucocorticoid for treatment. Therefore, our study explores the progression of DN combined with ATIN and the renal outcomes after treatment with glucocorticoid.

Identification and validation of biomarkers in membranous nephropathy and pan-cancer analysis.

Background: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disease and represents the most prevalent type of renal pathology in adult patients afflicted with nephrotic syndrome. Despite substantial evidence suggesting a possible link between MN and cancer, the precise underlying mechanisms remain elusive.

Methods: In this study, we acquired and integrated two MN datasets (comprising a single-cell dataset and a bulk RNA-seq dataset) from the Gene Expression Omnibus database for differential expression gene (DEG) analysis, hub genes were obtained by LASSO and random forest algorithms, the diagnostic ability of hub genes was assessed using ROC curves, and the degree of immune cell infiltration was evaluated using the ssGSEA function.

Unraveling the interplay of ferroptosis and immune dysregulation in diabetic kidney disease: a comprehensive molecular analysis.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a primary microvascular complication of diabetes with limited therapeutic effects. Delving into the pathogenic mechanisms of DKD and identifying new therapeutic targets is crucial. Emerging studies reveal the implication of ferroptosis and immune dysregulation in the pathogenesis of DKD, however, the precise relationship between them remains not fully elucidated.

Unraveling DDIT4 in the VDR-mTOR pathway: a novel target for drug discovery in diabetic kidney disease.

Introduction: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) necessitates innovative therapeutic strategies. This study delves into the role of DNA damage-inducing transcription factor 4 (DDIT4) within the VDR-mTOR pathway, aiming to identify a novel target for DKD drug discovery.

Methods: Transcriptome data from the Gene Expression Omnibus Database were analyzed to assess the expression of mTOR and VDR expression in human renal tissues.

Prevalence and immunopathologic characteristics of seropositive and seronegative hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy: a retrospective study of 420 biopsy-proven cases.

Background: This retrospective study aims to investigate the prevalence and immunopathologic characteristics of seropositive and seronegative hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy (HBV-MN).

Methods: Clinicopathologic and serologic records of 420 patients with histologically confirmed HBV-MN between January 2014 and July 2021 were examined to determine the prevalence of seropositive and seronegative HBV-MN. Serum anti-PLA2R antibody testing was conducted on 280 patients with HBV-associated membranous nephropathy (HBV-MN) from August 2018 to July 2021.

Membranous nephropathy with systemic light-chain amyloidosis of remission after rituximab therapy: A case report.

Background: About 70%-80% of patients with primary membranous nephropathy (MN) have phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in renal tissue. Systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is the most common type of amyloidosis. MN complicated with amyloidosis is rare.

Utility of shear wave-based ultrasound elastography in chronic kidney disease and related pathological quantitative analysis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tissue fibrosis and microvessel density on shear wave-based ultrasound elastography (SWUE) of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In addition, we were looking to see whether SWUE could predict stage of CKD, correlating with the histology on kidney biopsy.

Methods: Renal tissue sections from 54 patients diagnosed with suspected CKD were subjected to immunohistochemistry (CD31 and CD34), and the degree of tissue fibrosis was assessed using Masson staining.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose rituximab as induction therapy for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis with renal involvement: a Chinese case series.

Background: Rituximab (RTX) is a standard therapy for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). However, the most frequently used dose may lead to severe adverse effects (SAEs). We explored the efficacy and safety of low-dose RTX in Chinese patients with AAV.

Clinical characteristics of membranous nephropathy with spontaneous remission: An analysis of 24 patients.

Purpose: To investigate the prognosis of patients with spontaneous remission (SR) of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R)-associated membranous nephropathy (MN).

Patients And Methods: Patients diagnosed with MN were recruited after examining their renal biopsy in the Renal Department of China-Japan Friendship Hospital between January 2015 and September 2021. Among them, 24 patients with SR were included in this study and follow-up.

IgA Nephropathy with Macroproteinuria and a GFR of 20-30 ml/min/1.73 m May Still Benefit from RAS Inhibition.

Introduction: There has been controversy about renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibition in IgAN patients with advanced (stage 4) chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, we investigated the effect of RAS blockade in these patients.

Methods: Renal specimens of 50 IgAN patients who underwent renal biopsy during stage 4 CKD between 2010 and 2020, were stained using immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of RAS receptors (AT1R, AT2R, MasR, and MrgD).

Lung cancer patients with nephropathy as the first manifestation: Literature review and clinical study report.

Background: To investigate the relationship between membranous nephropathy (MN) and lung cancer.

Methods: To report patients with lung cancer detected by follow-up after the diagnosis of MN by renal biopsy in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from January 2010 to December 2019, and to study the prognosis of lung cancer-associated MN and have a review of the literature.

Results: Lung cancer was detected in six patients followed for 1-27 months (median 8 months) after the diagnosis of MN: including four cases of lung adenocarcinoma, one case of carcinoma , and one case of small cell lung cancer with multiple metastases.

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal biopsy: an 8 year experience at a single centre.

Purpose: To present our experience and outcome of consecutive laparoscopic renal biopsy (LRB) in a series of Chinese patients over an 8 year period.

Methods: Between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2020, 104 patients (M/F 71/33, age 43.6 ± 16.

Complement Deposition Predicts Worsening Kidney Function and Underlines the Clinical Significance of the 2010 Renal Pathology Society Classification of Diabetic Nephropathy.

Objectives: Converging evidence points towards a role of the complement system in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The classification system of diabetic kidney lesions devised by the Renal Pathology Society (RPS) in 2010 are based on the pathogenic process of DN. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between glomerular C3 deposits and RPS DN classification and the combined deleterious effects thereof on kidney function.

Activation of Complement Pathways in Kidney Tissue May Mediate Tubulointerstitial Injury in Diabetic Nephropathy.

Introduction: Key genes involved in tubulointerstitial injury may influence the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We investigated whether complement-related genes are linked to the mechanism underlying tubulointerstitial injury in DN.

Methods: We analyzed the microarray data of 17 tubulointerstitial tissue samples from DN patients and 21 normal controls from the Gene Expression Omnibus.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody seropositivity in young adults aged up to 35 years: kidney histopathological findings and patient outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, pathological renal findings, and outcomes in young adults with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) seropositivity.

Methods: Adults aged ≤35 years, with ANCA seropositivity, who underwent renal biopsy and received treatment comprising a combination of corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide between January 2004 and May 2018, were retrospectively enrolled.

Results: Thirteen patients with ANCA seropositivity were included, all of whom presented with kidney disease at diagnosis: 10 (76.

Activation of complement C1q and C3 in glomeruli might accelerate the progression of diabetic nephropathy: Evidence from transcriptomic data and renal histopathology.

Aims/introduction: It is not unclear whether the complement system is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We explored the role of the complement system in glomeruli from patients with DN using integrated transcriptomic bioinformatics analysis and renal histopathology.

Materials And Methods: Four datasets (GSE30528, GSE104948, GSE96804 and GSE99339) from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were integrated.

Acute kidney injuries induced by thrombotic microangiopathy following severe hemorrhage in puerperants: a case series and literature review.

Background: Acute kidney injury in puerperants is generally caused by acute tubular necrosis and occasionally by thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) following post-partum hemorrhage. However, TMA leads to worse clinical outcomes and is rarely reported in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the pathological mechanism behind the development of TMA in puerperants to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease mediated by IgG and IgA: a case report.

Background: Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is a rare autoimmune condition responsible for rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. This disease is usually mediated by IgG autoantibodies against the noncollagenous domain of the α3(IV) collagen chain. In rare cases, IgA or IgM anti-GBM antibodies are involved.

The relationship between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and early renal fibrosis and renal prognosis in patients with lupus nephritis.

Objective: To explore the relationship between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and early renal fibrosis and renal prognosis in patients with lupus nephritis.

Methods: A total of 186 patients with lupus nephritis admitted to our hospital were enrolled and grouped according to the standard of "NLR=3.175".

The Treatment Effectiveness Evaluation for Slowing the Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy During Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease.

Introduction: People with advanced diabetic nephropathy (DN) are at high risk for development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or death. Whether renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and some concomitant drugs could still continue to delay the onset of ESRD in the later stage of DN needs to be clarified. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of the therapeutic methods as well as clinicopathologic variables with prognosis of patients with biopsy-proven DN during stage 4 of chronic kidney disease (CKD).