Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-Dependent Intrarenal Angiotensin II Contributes to CTP: Phosphoethanolamine Cytidylyltransferase Downregulation, Mitochondrial Membranous Disruption, and Reactive Oxygen Species Overgeneration in Diabetic Tubulopathy.

The limited therapeutic options for diabetic tubulopathy (DT) in early diabetic kidney disease (DKD) reflect the difficulty of targeting renal tubular compartment. While renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) inhibitors are commonly utilized in the management of DKD, how intrarenal RAS contributes to diabetic tubular injury is not fully understood. Mitochondrial disruption and reactive oxygen species (ROS) overgeneration have been involved in diabetic tubular injury.

NF-κB/miR-455-5p/SOCS3 Axis Aggravates Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury through Promoting Renal Inflammation.

Introduction: Sepsis is the leading contributor to acute kidney injury (AKI), responsible for 45-70% of AKI occurrences. Despite this, septic AKI is a highly multifactorial and complex condition, and our grasp of its pathogenesis is still not fully developed. Consequently, there remains a significant gap in effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for septic AKI.

Assessment of metabolomic variations among individuals returning to plain areas after exposure to high altitudes: a metabolomic analysis of human plasma samples with high-altitude de-acclimatization syndrome.

Background: High altitude de-acclimatization (HADA) is gradually becoming a public health concern as millions of individuals of different occupations migrate to high-altitude areas for work due to economic growth in plateau areas. HADA affects people who return to lower elevations after exposure to high altitudes. It causes significant physiological and functional changes that can negatively impact health and even endanger life.

Empagliflozin reduces kidney fibrosis and improves kidney function by alternative macrophage activation in rats with 5/6-nephrectomy.

Background: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes are clinically very effective drugs halting chronic kidney disease progression. The underlying mechanisms are, however, not fully understood.

Methods: We generated single-cell transcriptomes of kidneys from rats with 5/6 nephrectomy before and after SGLT2 inhibitors treatment by single-cell RNA sequencing.

Anthocyanin improves kidney function in diabetic kidney disease by regulating amino acid metabolism.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is among the most important causes for chronic kidney disease. Anthocyanins (ANT) are polyphenolic compounds present in various food and play an important role in ameliorating hyperglycemia and insulin sensitivity. However, the effects of ANT in DKD are still poorly understood.

Abdominal paracentesis drainage improves outcome of acute pancreatitis complicated with intra-abdominal hypertension in early phase.

Background: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is an important risk factor for organ dysfunction, and it occurs in the early phase of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). We have reported a novel step-up approach and shown the benefit of performing abdominal paracentesis drainage (APD) ahead of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) when treating Patients with SAP with fluid collections. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of APD in Patients with SAP complicated with IAH in the early phase.

Posthepatectomy jaundice induced by paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: A case report.

Background: Jaundice is a major manifestation of posthepatectomy liver failure, a feared complication after hepatic resection. Herein, we report a case of posthepatectomy jaundice that was not caused by liver failure but by paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)-induced hemolysis.

Case Summary: A 56-year-old woman underwent right hepatectomy and biliary tract exploration surgery due to hepatic duct stones.

Novel Mutations of Identified in Chinese Families with X-Linked Alport Syndrome and Literature Review.

Alport syndrome (AS) is an inherited kidney disease caused by defects in type IV collagen, which is characterized by hematuria, progressive nephritis or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), hearing loss, and occasionally ocular lesions. Approximately 80% of AS cases are caused by X-linked mutations in the gene. This study explored novel deletion and missense mutations in responsible for renal disorder in two Han Chinese families.

Generation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Blood.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by the production of multiple autoimmune antibodies and potentially involves any organ or tissue with a broad range of clinical manifestations. Conventional therapy still utilizes glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants. However, some patients show inadequate responses to glucocorticoids and immunosuppression, which may induce secondary immune dysfunction and severe infection as well as lead to an increased tumor risk.

Quantitative Proteomic Analyses To Reveal the Key Features of Proteins in New Onset Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease. Various immune cells play an essential role in the AS pathogenesis. However, the specific pathogenesis of AS has not been well understood.

Non-oxidized PTH (n-oxPTH) is associated with graft loss in kidney transplant recipients.

Elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations were reported to be associated with chronic renal allograft failure. However, measurements of PTH are challenging, because PTH can occur either as non-oxidized (n-ox) or oxidized (ox) PTH. Only n-ox PTH is a PTH receptor agonist.

Impact of maternal smoking associated lyso-phosphatidylcholine 20:3 on offspring brain development.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy affects fetal neurological development. Metabolomic studies in the general population suggest that smoking is associated with characteristic metabolic alterations. We investigated the association between the maternal smoking status, the fetal metabolome and head circumference at birth, as a surrogate parameter of brain development.

Free 25-Vitamin D Is Correlated with Cardiovascular Events in Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients but Not with Markers of Renal Mineral Bone Disease.

Free vitamin D is the biologically active form of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular disease, the most common cause of mortality in hemodialysis patients. The goal of our current study was to investigate the relation between blood concentrations of free 25-hydroxyvitamin D with cardiovascular events in end-stage chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis, because this is unknown so far.

High serum IgA/C3 ratio better predicts a diagnosis of IgA nephropathy among primary glomerular nephropathy patients with proteinuria ≤ 1 g/d: an observational cross-sectional study.

Background: The serum immunoglobulin A (IgA)/C3 ratio is considered to be an effective predictor of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). This study sought to explore the diagnostic value of the IgA/C3 ratio in IgAN among primary glomerular nephropathy patients in China.

Methods: We recruited 1095 biopsy-diagnosed primary glomerular nephropathy patients, including 757 IgAN patients and 338 non-IgAN patients.

Syndrome of uremic encephalopathy and bilateral basal ganglia lesions in non-diabetic hemodialysis patient: a case report.

Background: Uremic encephalopathy (UE), a toxic metabolic encephalopathy, is an uncommon complication resulting from endogenous uremic toxins in patients with severe renal failure. UE syndrome can range from mild inattention to coma. The imaging findings of UE include cortical or subcortical involvement, basal ganglia involvement and white matter involvement.

Selection of glucocorticoid-sensitive patients in interstitial lung disease secondary to connective tissue diseases population by radiomics.

Purpose: The effect of glucocorticoid(s) on connective tissue disease (CTD)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) is controversial. This multicenter study aimed to identify glucocorticoid-sensitive patients using a radiomics approach.

Methods: A total of 416 CTD-ILD patients who began glucocorticoid treatment at the discretion of the attending physician, with or without cyclophosphamide, were included in this study.

Differentiation-inducing therapeutic effect of Notch inhibition in reversing malignant transformation of liver normal stem cells via MET.

Background: Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are the key factors for cancer metastasis, recurrent, and drug resistance. LCSCs are originated from either hepatocytes dedifferentiation or differentiation arresting of liver normal stem cells (LNSCs). Differentiation-inducing therapy is a novel strategy in solid tumors.

Fetal Serum Metabolites Are Independently Associated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Background/aims: Gestational diabetes (GDM) might be associated with alterations in the metabolomic profile of affected mothers and their offspring. Until now, there is a paucity of studies that investigated both, the maternal and the fetal serum metabolome in the setting of GDM. Mounting evidence suggests that the fetus is not just passively affected by gestational disease but might play an active role in it.

A multidisciplinary team approach for nutritional interventions conducted by specialist nurses in patients with advanced colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A clinical trial.

Background & Aims: Nutritional interventions for malnutrition in cancer patients can be helpful. However, concise intervention recommendations remain controversial. Thus, the aim of this study was to report on a nutrition intervention conducted by a multidisciplinary team of specialist nurses and to explore the effect of nutritional intervention on cancer patients.

Advance directives: cancer patients' preferences and family-based decision making.

Background: Advance directives are a sensitive issue among traditional Chinese people, who usually refrain from mentioning this topic until it is imperative. Medical decisions for cancer patients are made by their families, and these decisions might violate patients' personal will.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the acceptance of advance directives among Chinese cancer patients and their families and patient participation in this procedure and, finally, to analyze the moral risk involved.

Expansion of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells in patients with end-stage renal disease may lead to infectious complications.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are recently identified immune suppressive cells in multiple chronic inflammations. Here, we investigated MDSCs in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and their clinical significance in these patients and healthy individuals (49 each). Polymorphonuclear and mononuclear MDSCs were investigated by flow cytometry.

Outcome benefit of abdominal paracentesis drainage for severe acute pancreatitis patients with serum triglyceride elevation by decreasing serum lipid metabolites.

Background: Our previous reports demonstrated that abdominal paracentesis drainage (APD) exerts a beneficial effect on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients. However, the underlying mechanisms for this effectiveness are not well understood.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of 132 consecutive non-hypertriglyceridemia (HTG)-induced SAP patients with triglyceride (TG) elevation and pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid (PAAF) was recruited from May 2010 to May 2015 and included in this study.

Intra-Abdominal Pressure Reduction After Percutaneous Catheter Drainage Is a Protective Factor for Severe Pancreatitis Patients With Sterile Fluid Collections.

Objectives: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a fatal disease with natural course of early SAP (ESAP) and late SAP (LSAP) phases. Peripancreatic percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) is effective in management of LSAP. Although our previous study indicates that intra-abdominal PCD ahead of peripancreatic PCD benefits ESAP patients with sterile fluid collections, the mechanism is still uncovered.