Impact of volume indices in bioelectrical impedance measurement on the assessment of cardiac function indices by echocardiography in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Cardiovascular events resulting from volume overload are a primary cause of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is significantly valuable for assessing the volume status of hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this article, we explore the correlation between the volume index measured by BIA and the cardiac function index assessed by echocardiography (ECG) in HD patients.

Selective Inhibition of Histone Deacetylase Class IIa With MC1568 Ameliorates Podocyte Injury.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors are promising therapeutic agents against proteinuric kidney diseases, here, we investigated the effect of MC1568, a selective inhibitor of HDAC class IIa, on the development and progression of nephrotic syndrome in a murine model induced by Adriamycin (ADR). In kidney tissues of FSGS patients, all four members of HDAC IIa were significantly upregulated in podocytes. In ADR-treated cultured human podocyte, expression of HDAC IIa were induced, meanwhile inhibition of HDAC IIa with MC1568 restored cytoskeleton structure and suppressed expression of desmin and α-SMA.

Tacrolimus alleviates LPS-induced AKI by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signalling in mice.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is a model of clinical serious care syndrome, with high morbidity and mortality. Tacrolimus (TAC), a novel immunosuppressant that inhibits inflammatory response, plays a pivotal role in kidney diseases. In this study, LPS treated mice and cultured podocytes were used as the models of SA-AKI in vivo and in vitro, respectively.

Protective Effect of Calcium Dobesilate on Induced AKI in Severely Burned Mice.

Background: Early acute kidney injury (AKI) predicts a high mortality rate in severely burned patients. However, the pathophysiology of early AKI induced by severe burn has not been well-defined. This study was designed to examine the protective effects of calcium dobesilate (CaD) against severe burn-induced early AKI in mice and explore the mechanism.

Elucidating the relationship between nutrition indices and coronary artery calcification in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are common in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, and vascular calcification is associated with the incidence of CVD. Malnourished MHD patients are particularly prone to CVD events. Thus far, there is no clear explanation for the relationship of nutrition status with vascular calcification; therefore, we investigated the relationship between malnutrition and vascular calcification.

Vascular Access in Patients Treated with Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: A Report from a Single Center in China.

Our aim was to analyze the practice pattern of vascular access use and complication rates in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy from a large Chinese urban medical center. Patients who had received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) from April to October 2014 in our center were included in this study. Demographic data, primary disease, department for hospitalization, blood pressure, heart rate, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score, presence of mechanical ventilation, CRRT modalities, choice of functioning vascular access, site and duration of catheter insertion, presence of recatheterization, cumulative catheter indwelling time, catheter malfunction and catheter-related infections, as well as laboratory test results, were collected.

First identification of nonsense mutations in autosomal dominant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Recently, a novel heterozygous missense mutation c.T1421G (p. L474R) in the gene encoding podocalyxin was identified in an autosomal dominant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (AD-FSGS) pedigree.

Salvia przewalskii extract of total phenolic acids inhibit TLR4 signaling activation in podocyte injury induced by puromycin aminonucleoside in vitro.

Background: TLR4 signaling is known to be involved in podocyte injury. We have previously shown that Salvia przewalskii extract of total phenolic acids (SPE) and its active monomer salvianolic acid B (SalB) and rosmarinic acid (RA) protect podocytes from injury induced by PAN. In the present study, we test whether SPE inhibits TLR4 signaling.

Evaluation of Intradialytic Hypertension Using Bioelectrical Impedance Combined With Echocardiography in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

Although intra-dialytic hypertension (IDH) has been noted in clinical settings for many years, its pathogenesis remains unclear. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed IDH incidence in our center and the correlation between postdialysis volume state and IDH. One hundred thirty-one maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients were enrolled in our study, and bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and echocardiography (ECG) were recorded.

The effects of Salvia przewalskii total phenolic acid extract on immune complex glomerulonephritis.

Context: Salvia przewalskii Maxim. (Lamiaceae) is a Chinese herbal medicine that has long been used for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Objective: The study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of S.

Antioxidative Stress Effects of Salvia przewalskii Extract in Experimentally Injured Podocytes.

Background: Oxidative stress is a leading cause of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced nephrosis. As the inhibition of oxidative stress may improve injury of podocyte, we aimed at examining the effect of total phenolic acid extract of Salvia przewalskii (SPE) on PAN-induced oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro.

Methods: Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups (n = 12), PAN alone, tacrolimus (TAC), SPE (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and normal control group.

Multifunctional oligomer incorporation: a potent strategy to enhance the transfection activity of poly(l-lysine).

Natural polycations, such as poly(l-lysine) (PLL) and chitosan (CS), have inherent superiority as non-viral vectors due to their unparalleled biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the application was constrained by poor transfection efficiency and safety concerns. Since previous modification strategies greatly weakened the inherent advantages of natural polycations, developing a strategy for functional group introduction with broad applicability to enhance the transfection efficiency of natural polycations without compromising their cationic properties is imperative.

Sarcopenia in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis: incidence rate, risk factors and its effect on survival risk.

Background: Sarcopenia is a degenerative syndrome mainly characterized by the atrophy of skeletal muscle, along with the decrease of muscle strength and function. However, there are currently few studies concerning sarcopenia in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis dialysis (MHD). This study was aimed to investigate the incidence of sarcopenia in MHD patients and its influencing factors, as well as its impact on survival risk.

N,N,N-trimethylchitosan modified with well defined multifunctional polymer modules used as pDNA delivery vector.

A novel non-viral gene carrier based on N,N,N-trimethylchitosan (TMC) has been fabricated. First, well-defined copolymer P(PEGMA-co-DMAEMA) was synthesized through reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and N,N-(2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylamide (DMAEMA). Then allyl group grafting N,N,N-trimethylchitosan (Allyl-TMC) was synthesized via the reaction between allyl bromide and hydroxyl of TMC.

Protective Effect of Salvia Przewalskii Extract on Puromycin-Induced Podocyte Injury.

Background: To determine the effect of Salvia przewalskii extract (SPE) from total phenolic acids on puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced rat podocyte injury.

Methods: The rats were divided into groups that were treated with either PAN only or PAN followed by tacrolimus or SPE. We evaluated the effects of SPE on podocyte injury 5, 10, 15 and 21 days following treatment.

Assessment of urinary kidney injury molecule-1 and interleukin-18 in the early post-burn period to predict acute kidney injury for various degrees of burn injury.

Background: Burn patients with AKI have a higher mortality, rapid diagnosis and early treatment of AKI are necessary. Recent studies have demonstrated that urinary KIM-1 and IL-18 are potential biomarkers of early-stage AKI, however, changes in urinary KIM-1 and IL-18 levels are unclear in patients with burns. The aim of our study was to determine whether combined KIM-1 and IL-18 are more sensitive than traditional markers in detecting kidney injury in patients with burns.

Evaluation of the effects of amphiphilic oligomers in PEI based ternary complexes on the improvement of pDNA delivery.

Two kinds of novel oligomers were prepared by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and incorporated into the polyethyleneimine (PEI) gene delivery system through non-electrostatic assembly to improve gene transfection efficiency. The non-electrostatic assembly process was first investigated via probing the interactions of the oligomers with plasmid DNA (pDNA), PEI and AD-293 cells using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The results show that the prepared oligomers almost had no interaction with pDNA while they had much stronger interactions with PEI and AD-293 cells.

The Relationship between Carotid Atherosclerosis, Inflammatory Cytokines, and Oxidative Stress in Middle-Aged and Elderly Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective. To identify the relationship between microinflammation, oxidative stress, and carotid arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients. Methods.

Risk factors for carotid artery distensibility in middle-aged and elderly hemodialysis patients.

Background: Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and stiffness are taken as useful surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. In China, the number of elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis has increased year by year, with the increase of dialysis-related cardiovascular events. This study was undertaken to examine carotid stiffness in elderly hemodialysis patients by the ultrasound techniques in order to find out the possible risk factors.

Significance of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in renal tissue of patients with preeclamptic nephropathy.

Objective: It was the aim of this study to evaluate the distribution and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in kidneys of patients with preeclamptic nephropathy and their relationship with clinical and pathological manifestations.

Methods: From May 1993 to August 2004, 19 patients with a mean age of 28.1 +/- 4.