GalNAc-T14 may Contribute to Production of Galactose-Deficient Immunoglobulin A1, the Main Autoantigen in IgA Nephropathy.

Introduction: Immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) with galactose-deficient -glycans (Gd-IgA1) play a key role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Mucosal-tissue infections increase IL-6 production and, in patients with IgAN, are often associated with macroscopic hematuria. IgA1-secreting cell lines derived from the circulation of patients with IgAN, compared to those of healthy controls (HCs), produce more IgA1 that has glycans with terminal or sialylated -acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc).

[Acute kidney injury due to antimicrobial therapy].

One of the common causes of acute kidney injury (AKI) is drug nephrotoxicity. A large group of drugs associated with AKI includes a considerable number of antimicrobials. Clinical manifestations range from mild forms of tubular damage to significant deterioration of renal function requiring renal replacement therapy.

Expression and 7-day time course of circulating microRNAs in septic patients treated with nephrotoxic antibiotic agents.

Background: Through regulation of signaling pathways, microRNAs (miRNAs) can be involved in sepsis and associated organ dysfunction. The aims of this study were to track the 7-day time course of blood miRNAs in patients with sepsis treated with vancomycin, gentamicin, or a non-nephrotoxic antibiotic and miRNA associations with neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipokalin (NGAL), creatinine, procalcitonin, interleukin-6, and acute kidney injury (AKI) stage.

Methods: Of 46 adult patients, 7 were on vancomycin, 20 on gentamicin, and 19 on another antibiotic.

Galactose-Deficient IgA1 B cells in the Circulation of IgA Nephropathy Patients Carry Preferentially Lambda Light Chains and Mucosal Homing Receptors.

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) primary glomerulonephritis is characterized by the deposition of circulating immune complexes composed of polymeric IgA1 molecules with altered O-glycans (Gd-IgA1) and anti-glycan antibodies in the kidney mesangium. The mesangial IgA deposits and serum IgA1 contain predominantly light (L) chains, but the nature and origin of such IgA remains enigmatic.

Methods: We analyzed L chain expression in peripheral blood B cells of 30 IgAN patients, 30 healthy controls (HCs), and 18 membranous nephropathy patients selected as disease controls (non-IgAN).

Acute Kidney Injury in Septic Patients Treated by Selected Nephrotoxic Antibiotic Agents-Pathophysiology and Biomarkers-A Review.

Acute kidney injury is a common complication in critically ill patients with sepsis and/or septic shock. Further, some essential antimicrobial treatment drugs are themselves nephrotoxic. For this reason, timely diagnosis and adequate therapeutic management are paramount.

Nephrotoxicity of calcineurin inhibitors as a risk factor for BK polyomavirus replication after kidney transplantation.

BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PyVAN) is responsible for a significant percentage of transplanted kidneys prematurely terminating their function. Its occurrence is closely related to the intensity of immunosuppressive therapy. In a group of 161 newly transplanted patients, we prospectively evaluated 457 protocol renal biopsies performed within the first year after transplantation.

Multiparametric flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood B cell trafficking differences among Epstein-Barr virus infected and uninfected subpopulations.

Aims: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) targets predominantly B cells and these cells could acquire new phenotype characteristics. Here we analyzed whether EBV-infected and -uninfected B cells from healthy subjects differ in proportion of dominant phenotypes, maturation stage, and homing receptors expression.

Methods: EBV-infected and -uninfected cells were identified by flow cytometry using fluorophore-labeled EBV RNA-specific DNA probes combined with fluorophore-labeled antibody to surface lineage markers, integrins, chemokine receptors, and immunoglobulin isotypes, including intracellular ones.

Acute toxic kidney injury.

Substances toxic to the kidney are legion in the modern world. The sheer number and variety, their mutual interactions and, metabolism within the body are a challenge to research. Moreover, the kidney is especially prone to injury owing to its physiology.

Significance of prediabetes as a nosological entity.

Prediabetes is a glucose metabolism disorder considered as a distinct nosological entity which strongly predicts the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This nosological entity itself is a serious condition indicating an increased risk of atherosclerotic and oncological complications. In patients with prediabetes, other components of metabolic syndrome are usually present, such as arterial hypertension, obesity or dyslipidaemia, further increasing an individual's risk of morbidity and mortality.

Association of serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein and apolipoprotein B /apolipoprotein A1 ratio with intima media thickness of common carotid artery in dyslipidemic patients.

Background: Diseases caused by atherosclerosis play the most important role in mortality and morbidity worldwide. Serum adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) seems to be a new promising marker to determine the risk of atherosclerosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between serum A-FABP levels in studied individuals and to assess the possibility of modeling the intima media thickness of the common carotid artery (C-IMT) using A-FABP levels and other observed characteristics.

BK virus-induced renal allograft nephropathy.

BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) is a serious opportunistic infection threatening renal function especially during the first year after transplantation. Its incidence is now on the rise and is closely related to the level of the recipient's immune system inhibition. This is more intensive with current trends in transplantation medicine, where more potent immunosuppressive protocols are used and more aggressive antirejection therapy is applied.

Relationship of Selected Adipokines with Markers of Vascular Damage in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: In this study we compared levels of selected adipokines between patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and healthy individuals and we determined their relationship with early vascular damage markers.

Methods: Seventy-seven subjects: 56 patients with T2D (34 men and 22 women) and 21 healthy controls (8 men and 13 women) were examined in this cross-sectional study. Selected adipokines [adiponectin, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), C1q/TNF-related protein 9 (CTRP-9), and allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1)] with possible cardiovascular impact were measured in all participants.

Glucocorticoids Reduce Aberrant O-Glycosylation of IgA1 in IgA Nephropathy Patients.

Background/aims: IgA nephropathy is associated with aberrant O-glycosylation of IgA1, which is recognized by autoantibodies leading to the formation of circulating immune complexes. Some of them, after deposition into kidney mesangium, trigger glomerular injury. In patients with active disease nonresponding to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II blockers, corticosteroids are recommended.

Serum protein pattern associated with organ damage and lupus nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus revealed by PEA immunoassay.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a remarkably heterogeneous autoimmune disease. Despite tremendous efforts, our knowledge of serum protein patterns in severe SLE phenotypes is still limited. We investigated the serum protein pattern of SLE, with special emphasis on irreversible organ damage and active lupus nephritis (LN) as assessed by renal Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index.

Pulse wave analysis and diabetes mellitus. A systematic review.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the primary cause of death in diabetic patients and one of the explanations may be increased arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness assessment using pulse wave analysis, is a predictive factor of CV events. The aim of this paper is to review the current knowledge of relations between diabetes mellitus and pulse wave analysis.

[IgA nephropathy - research-generated questions].

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common type of glomerulonephritis. Its etiology involves an increased production of polymeric immunoglobulin A1 with an abnormal composition of some carbohydrate chains. The reaction of these abnormal forms of IgA1 with specific autoantibodies while circulating immune complexes arise and settle in the renal mesangium with subsequent inflammatory activation of mesangial cells which in up to 50% of cases results in end-stage kidney failure.

Emergency surgical treatment of complicated acute pancreatitis after kidney transplantation with acute rejection: Case report and literature review.

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis is a rare but frequently fatal complication in patients following kidney transplantation. The first case of acute pancreatitis in patients following a kidney transplant was described by Starzl in 1964. The incidence of acute pancreatitis is stated at between 1 and 5%.

Clinical experience of conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus prolonged-release in stabilized kidney transplant patients.

Background And Aims: The CONCERTO study results showing the beneficial effects of conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus prolonged-release (tacrolimus PR) in stabilised patients after kidney transplantation, were first published in 2011. This communication describes our first experience of conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus PR in stabilised kidney transplant patients. The aim was to determine whether it could be used in routine clinical practice in the Czech and Slovak Republics.

New-onset diabetes mellitus after renal transplantation.

Background And Aim: Diabetes mellitus is a very common metabolic disease with a rising incidence. It is both a leading cause of chronic renal disease and one of the most serious comorbidities in renal transplant recipients. New-onset diabetes after renal transplantation (NODAT) is associated with poor graft function, higher rates of cardiovascular complications and a poor prognosis.

Emergency situations in rheumatology with a focus on systemic autoimmune diseases.

Background And Aim: Rheumatic diseases are commonly considered chronic conditions. However, acute manifestations can be very severe and represent a diagnostic problem. Examples are systemic lupus erythematosus with acute flare, glomerulonephritis, CNS disorders and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, scleroderma with interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension and renal crisis and polyangiitis with alveolar haemorhage and acute respiratory failure.

Late Rupture of Lumbar Artery as an Unusual Complication after Renal Biopsy - Case Report.

The most serious complication of renal biopsy is vascular damage with subsequent haemorrhage. To our knowledge, we present a first ever case of lumbar artery (LA) rupture accompanied by massive retroperitoneal bleeding, which developed after a significant amount of time following the biopsy itself. In a 63-year-old Caucasian female patient, a percutaneous left kidney biopsy was performed under continuous ultrasound guidance.

Prognostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging and coronary artery calcium measurements in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is highly prevalent in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), owing to clustering of traditional and uremic-specific risk factors. However, in this population asymptomatic course of CAD is common and it has been reported that myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with single-photon emission tomography (SPET) has lower sensitivity. In the current study, we assessed the value of MPI gated-SPET and its combination with coronary artery calcium (CAC) score measurements in risk stratification of ESRD patients.

Cutaneous bacillary angiomatosis due to Bartonella quintana in a renal transplant recipient.

Bacillary angiomatosis (BA) is a disorder of neovascular proliferation involving skin and other organs of immunosuppressed patients caused by Bartonella species. BA has been recognized in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient patients, mostly in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons, much more rare in those with other immunodeficiencies, including organ transplantation. Diagnosis is based on serologic analysis, culture and molecular biology [detection of Bartonella species deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in tissue biopsy extracts by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)].