A case of early recurrent immunoglobulin A nephropathy and T-cell-mediated rejection in a transplant patient with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-chromosome recessive immunodeficiency disease characterized by the triad of thrombocytopenia, eczema, and susceptibility to infection owing to WAS protein gene abnormalities. Kidney transplantation is rarely offered to WAS patients with end-stage renal disease because of concerns that thrombocytopenia and immune disorders may affect the clinical outcome. Here, we report the case of a 20-year-old kidney transplant patient who developed end-stage renal disease owing to immunoglobulin (Ig)A nephropathy caused by WAS.

An inhibitor of Krüppel-like factor 5 suppresses peritoneal fibrosis in mice.

Back Ground: Krüppel-like transcription factor 5 (KLF5) is a transcription factor regulating cell proliferation, angiogenesis and differentiation. It has been recently reported that Am80, a synthetic retinoic acid receptor α-specific agonist, inhibits the expression of KLF5. In the present study, we have examined the expression of KLF5 in fibrotic peritoneum induced by chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) in mouse and evaluated that Am80, as an inhibitor of KLF5, can reduce peritoneal fibrosis.

The effect of active vitamin D administration on muscle mass in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Muscle wasting is common and insidious in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Loss of muscle quantity and quality reduces quality of life and increases mortality in ESRD patients. Additionally, secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) causes muscle atrophy.

Involvement of leptin in the progression of experimentally induced peritoneal fibrosis in mice.

Leptin is a hormone mainly produced by white adipose cells, and regulates body fat and food intake by acting on hypothalamus. Leptin receptor is expressed not only in the hypothalamus but in a variety of peripheral tissues, suggesting that leptin has pleiotropic functions. In this study, we investigated the effect of leptin on the progression of peritoneal fibrosis induced by intraperitoneal injection of chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) every other day for 2 or 3 weeks in mice.

22-Oxacalcitriol prevents progression of peritoneal fibrosis in a mouse model.

Objective: Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and is used to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism among dialysis patients. The biologic activity of vitamin D and its analogs is mediated by vitamin D receptor (VDR), which is distributed widely throughout the body. Recent papers have revealed that low vitamin D levels are correlated with severe fibrosis in chronic diseases, including cystic fibrosis and hepatitis.

Recombinant human erythropoietin attenuates renal tubulointerstitial injury in murine adriamycin-induced nephropathy.

Background: Erythropoietin (EPO) has been found to provide cytoprotection against acute ischemic and toxic renal tubulointerstitial injury. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism(s) underlying EPO protection while examining whether EPO provides tubulointerstitial protection in a mouse model with adriamycin (ADR)-induced tubulointerstitial injury.

Methods: Adriamycin nephropathy (AN) was induced by a single injection of ADR in the 2 experimental groups on day 0.

Thalidomide prevents the progression of peritoneal fibrosis in mice.

Thalidomide is clinically recognized as a therapeutic agent for multiple myeloma and has been known to exert anti-angiogenic actions. Recent studies have suggested the involvement of angiogenesis in the progression of peritoneal fibrosis. The present study investigated the effects of thalidomide on the development of peritoneal fibrosis induced by injection of chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) into the mouse peritoneal cavity every other day for 3 weeks.

Renoprotective effect of azelnidipine in rats.

To assess whether azelnidipine (AZN) exerts renoprotective effects, 20-week-old adult male stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRsp) were treated with AZN 10 mg/kg/d (n=6), olmesartan (OLM) 3 mg/kg/d (n=4), hydralazine (HYD) 20 mg/kg/d (n=3), or water (control; n=5). Each test agent was administered by oral gavage for 12 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured every 2 weeks and urinary protein excretion (UproV) every 3 weeks.

Hollow polycarbonate fiber for Er:YAG laser light delivery.

We developed hollow fibers with polycarbonate (PC) capillaries for use as a supporting tube. The PC capillaries were prepared by using a glass-drawing technique. Hollow PC fibers are safer and more flexible than hollow glass fibers because no fragments are released when the fibers are broken in various applications.