Tenascin-C expression in renal biopsies from patients with tubulointerstitial nephritis and its relation to disease activity and prognosis.

Tenascin-C (TNC) is an extracellular matrix protein that is transiently expressed in close association with tissue remodeling in various organs. Expression of TNC in patients with tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) is not well-characterized. Using renal biopsy specimens from 25 patients with TIN and 8 patients with thin basement membrane disease (controls), we assessed immunohistochemical staining for TNC and investigated its relation with clinicopathologic data.

Long-Term Levocarnitine Ameliorates Left Ventricular Diastolic as Well as Systolic Dysfunction in Hemodialysis Patients - Multi-Center Study.

Levocarnitine has been reported to improve the left ventricular (LV) systolic function and decrease LV hypertrophy in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Its effect on LV diastolic dysfunction, however, has not yet been clarified. HD patients (n=88) were given levocarnitine i.

Correction: Effectiveness of plasma lyso-Gb3 as a biomarker for selecting high-risk patients with Fabry disease from multispecialty clinics for genetic analysis.

The HTML version of this Article contained errors in Supplementary Figure S2 "Flowchart of the lyso-Gb3 screening and gene analysis in female patients", which have been detailed in the associated Correction.

Correction: Effectiveness of plasma lyso-Gb3 as a biomarker for selecting high-risk patients with Fabry disease from multispecialty clinics for genetic analysis.

The PDF and HTML versions of the article have been updated to include the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License information.

Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Improving the Respiratory Status in Patients Receiving Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation in Intensive Care Units: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background And Objective: Patients in critical care settings often require prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) therapy and, occasionally, they cannot be weaned from MV. The authors evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for improving the respiratory status and promoting successful weaning from prolonged MV in patients at intensive care units (ICUs).

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Effectiveness of plasma lyso-Gb3 as a biomarker for selecting high-risk patients with Fabry disease from multispecialty clinics for genetic analysis.

Purpose: Plasma globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb3) is a promising secondary screening biomarker for Fabry disease. Here, we examined its applicability as a primary screening biomarker for classic and late-onset Fabry disease in males and females.

Methods: Between 1 July 2014 and 31 December 2015, we screened 2,359 patients (1,324 males) referred from 168 Japanese specialty clinics (cardiology, nephrology, neurology, and pediatrics), based on clinical symptoms suggestive of Fabry disease.

The metabolic profile of a rat model of chronic kidney disease.

Background: The kidney is always subjected to high metabolic demand. The aim of this study was to characterize metabolic profiles of a rat model of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) induced by prolonged hypertension.

Methods: We used inbred male Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats fed an 8% NaCl diet from six weeks of age (high-salt; HS group) or a 0.

Traditional Thermal Therapy with Indirect Moxibustion Decreases Renal Arterial Resistive Index in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Objective: To evaluate the immediate effects of traditional local thermal therapy with indirect moxibustion on renal hemodynamics in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by using Doppler ultrasonography (US).

Design: Examiner-blinded crossover study.

Participants: Forty-three participants with CKD (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 44 ± 15 years; estimated glomerular filtration rate, 69.

Higher plasma prorenin concentration plays a role in the development of coronary artery disease.

Background: Prorenin and renin are both involved in atherosclerosis. However, the role of plasma prorenin and renin in the development and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) is still not clear. Thus, we aimed to examine the relationships among plasma prorenin concentration, CAD and clinical parameters.

Expression of prorenin receptor in renal biopsies from patients with IgA nephropathy.

Prorenin receptor (PRR) has been implicated in the onset and progression of various renal diseases, though its possible association with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy remains unclear. In the present study, we tried to clarify expression and pathophysiological significance of PRR in IgA nephropathy. We immunohistochemically assessed PRR levels in renal biopsy specimens from 48 patients with IgA nephropathy and evaluated its relevance to the clinical and pathological features of the disease.

Treatment with Lindera strychnifolia reduces blood pressure by decreasing sympathetic nerve activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Lindera strychnifolia (Tendai-Uyaku), a medicinal plant, has long been used for the treatment of cardiac, renal and rheumatic diseases in Japan. We investigated the effect of Lindera strychnifolia on systolic blood pressure, cardiac function, and plasma noradrenaline levels in rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were given free access to water or extract solution of Lindera strychnifolia, which was extracted with a ratio of 10 g Lindera strychnifolia roots/20 ml water.

Application of an adenoviral vector encoding soluble transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor to the treatment of diabetic nephropathy in mice.

1. In the present study, we examined the effects of inhibiting transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in a mouse model of diabetic nephropathy. 2.

Renoprotective effect of the addition of losartan to ongoing treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in type-2 diabetic patients with nephropathy.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are frequently used for the treatment for glomerulonephritis and diabetic nephropathy because of their albuminuria- or proteinuria-reducing effects. To many patients who are nonresponsive to monotherapy with these agents, combination therapy appears to be a good treatment option. In the present study, we examined the effects of the addition of an ARB (losartan) followed by titration upon addition and at 3 and 6 months (n=14) and the addition of an ACE-I followed by titration upon addition and at 3 and 6 months (n=20) to the drug regimen treatment protocol in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy for whom more than 3-month administration of an ACE-I or the combination of an ACE-I plus a conventional antihypertensive was ineffective to achieve a blood pressure (BP) of 130/80 mmHg and to reduce urinary albumin to <30 mg/day.

Hepatocyte growth factor gene therapy slows down the progression of diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice.

Background: Effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has scarcely been determined on diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: Adenovirus encoding human HGF gene or LacZ gene (as the control) was injected into the hindlimb muscles of the C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mice at the age of 12 weeks, a model of genetic diabetes. Diabetic nephropathy was then evaluated at the age of 24 weeks.

Volumetric quantitative analysis of tissue characteristics of coronary plaques after statin therapy using three-dimensional integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was twofold: 1) to evaluate the usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) integrated backscatter (IB) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for quantitative tissue characterization of coronary plaques; and 2) to use this imaging technique to determine if six months of statin therapy alters the tissue characteristics of coronary plaques.

Background: Three-dimensional IVUS techniques for quantitative tissue characterization of plaque composition have not been developed.

Methods: Radiofrequency (RF) signals were obtained using an IVUS system with a 40-MHz catheter.

Water extract of the root of Lindera strychnifolia slows down the progression of diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice.

We examined a possible preventive effect of Linderae radix (LR), the root of Lindera strychnifolia, on the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Water extract of Linderae radix (LR extract) was orally administered to the C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mice, a model of genetic diabetes, at a dose of 730 mg/kg/day for 12 week. The LR extract treatment did not affect glucose metabolism and systolic pressure.

In vivo quantitative tissue characterization of angiographically normal coronary lesions and the relation with risk factors: a study using integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound.

Background: Autopsy studies have shown atherosclerotic changes in angiographically normal coronary lesions (ANCL), and conventional intravascular ultrasound shows intimal thickening in these lesions, but cannot differentiate the lipid core. Accurate characterization of ANCL is essential to prevent progression to coronary artery disease.

Methods And Results: ANCL (n=120) were analyzed by integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) in 30 patients with stable angina pectoris.

Involvement of apoptosis in patients with diabetic nephropathy: A study on plasma soluble Fas levels and pathological findings.

Aims: We investigated the relationship between levels of plasma soluble Fas (sFas) and stages of diabetic nephropathy, with special reference to apoptosis and clinical features of diabetic nephropathy in 168 patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Results: There was a positive correlation between plasma sFas and creatinine levels, between sFas levels and urinary protein levels, and between sFas levels and urinary albumin. There was a negative correlation between plasma sFas levels and creatinine clearance.

Apoptotic cell loss following cell proliferation in renal glomeruli of Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats, a model of human type 2 diabetes.

Background: The mechanism of glomerular cell loss during the late stage of diabetic nephropathy is unknown.

Methods: We examined cell population, proliferation, apoptosis, and immunohistochemical expression of apoptosis-related proteins, Bcl-2 and Bax, in renal glomeruli of the Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat, an animal model of human type 2 diabetes. 10-, 30-, 50-, and 70-week-old rats were used (n = 5-8).