Adhesion molecule expression precedes brain damages of lupus-prone mice and correlates with kidney pathology.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is a frequent and potentially life-threatening complication in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) yet the mechanisms of organ damage remain poorly understood. Upregulation of cellular adhesion molecules in kidney and other organs has been implicated in the expression of inflammation and tissue injury, but the relation between kidney pathology and altered brain function has not been studied. We therefore analyzed the expression of cellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin in brains from 6 to 14week old MRL/(lpr), MRL+/+ and C57BL/6 mice by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence.

Atrial fibrillation down-regulates renal neutral endopeptidase expression and induces profibrotic pathways in the kidney.

Aims: Recent studies suggest that atrial fibrillation (AF) substantially influences microvascular flow in ventricular myocardium. This process may contribute to the occurrence of heart failure in AF. In general, development of heart failure and renal dysfunction go hand-in-hand causing systemic fluid overload and oedema.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and redox signaling in atrial tachyarrhythmia.

Accumulating evidence links calcium-overload and oxidative stress to atrial remodeling during atrial fibrillation (AF). Furthermore, atrial remodeling appears to increase atrial thrombogeneity, characterized by increased expression of adhesion molecules. The aim of this study was to assess mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress-activated signal transduction (nuclear factor-kappaB [NF-kappa B], lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor [LOX-1], intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], and hemeoxgenase-1 [HO-1]) in atrial tissue during AF.

Thiol-inducing and immunoregulatory effects of flavonoids in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with end-stage diabetic nephropathy.

The cellular thiol status and its relationship to T-cell activation and cytokine synthesis of mononuclear cells was investigated in patients with end-stage diabetic nephropathy (ESDN) undergoing dialysis treatment. The functional effects of thiol repair by in vitro and in vivo treatment with flavonoids were elucidated. The thiol status of peripheral blood lymphocytes from 30 ESDN patients on hemodialysis and healthy controls was determined by flow cytometry.

Ambulatory treatment with intravenous norepinephrine in a patient with end stage renal disease and generalized AA amyloidosis.

A 35-year-old man with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and generalized AA amyloidosis of 10 years duration developed end stage renal failure. Following appendectomy, the patient experienced progressive circulatory failure which required IV treatment with norepinephrine. All attempts to discontinue IV norepinephrine failed, each leading to recurrent life-threatening hypotension.