mRNAs in urinary nano-extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers for non-invasive kidney biopsy.

Urinary nano-extracellular vesicles (NVs), including exosomes and microvesicles, are considered potential biomarkers for kidney diseases using liquid biopsies. However, clinical application of urinary NVs has not yet been validated. In the present study, the levels of mRNAs in urinary NVs in animal models of kidney disease were assessed.

Quantitative analysis of markers of podocyte injury in the rat puromycin aminonucleoside nephropathy model.

Podocytes are an essential component of the renal glomerular filtration barrier, their injury playing an early and important role in progressive renal dysfunction. This makes quantification of podocyte marker immunoreactivity important for early detection of glomerular histopathological changes. Here we have specifically applied a state-of-the-art automated computational method of glomerulus recognition, which we have recently developed, to study quantitatively podocyte markers in a model with selective podocyte injury, namely the rat puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephropathy model.

Automated image analysis of a glomerular injury marker desmin in spontaneously diabetic Torii rats treated with losartan.

Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication in diabetes and a leading cause of end-stage renal failure. Glomerular podocytes are functionally and structurally injured early in diabetic nephropathy. A non-obese type 2 diabetes model, the spontaneously diabetic Torii (SDT) rat, is of increasing preclinical interest because of its pathophysiological similarities to human type 2 diabetic complications including diabetic nephropathy.

Modified resveratrol Longevinex improves endothelial function in adults with metabolic syndrome receiving standard treatment.

Resveratrol is known to improve endothelial function in animals, but little is known about its effect on human subjects. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors underlying endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized that the modified resveratrol, Longevinex, improves endothelial function in patients with MetS.

Comparison of metabolic profile and adiponectin level with pioglitazone versus voglibose in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus associated with metabolic syndrome.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a high risk of cardiovascular disease. We compared the effect of early intervention with pioglitazone versus voglibose on physical and metabolic profiles and serum adiponectin level in patients with T2DM associated with MetS. Sixty patients who were diagnosed for the first time as T2DM associated with MetS were analyzed for insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, serum adiponectin and systemic inflammation.

Combined analysis of multislice computed tomography coronary angiography and stress-rest myocardial perfusion imaging in detecting patients with significant proximal coronary artery stenosis.

Objective: Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) coronary angiography (CAG) is limited in detecting significant coronary artery stenosis because of its low specificity and positive predictive value. Stress-rest myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) can detect myocardial ischemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of detecting patients with proximal coronary artery disease for coronary intervention by combined analysis of MSCT-CAG and MPI.

The effect of verapamil on the restoration of myocardial perfusion and functional recovery in patients with angiographic no-reflow after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: Angiographic thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade < or = 2 after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), defined as angiographic no-reflow, predicts poor functional recovery in patients with acute myocardial infarction. We investigated the effect of verapamil on the restoration of myocardial perfusion and functional recovery in patients with angiographic no-reflow after PCI.

Methods: 99mTc tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) imaging was performed (before, immediately after and 1 month after PCI) in 101 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction.