CD11b deficiency attenuates the ischemia/reperfusion-induced AKI-to-CKD process by regulating macrophage polarization.

Severe acute kidney injury (AKI) is a risk factor for the future development of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and macrophages are an essential cell group implicated in injury, repair, and fibrosis during this progress. However, the underlying mechanism of how macrophages participate in the development of the disease is largely unclear. CD11b (Integrin α) is highly expressed in monocytes/macrophages and has been verified to mediate broad functions.

Clinical characteristics of monoclonal immunoglobulin-associated renal disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Clinical epidemiological data on monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) are lacking. In this retrospective observational study, MGRS was compared with B-cell or plasma cell malignancies (BCM/PCM) with renal involvement to clarify differences in their clinical features.

Methods: Among the 1408 renal biopsies performed at our hospital, 25 MGRS and 18 BCM/PCM patients were identified.

Assessing protein and albumin recovery rates in different ascites filtration membrane washing methods for cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy.

Objectives: In cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART), the protein recovery rate decreases when the filtration membrane gets clogged. Employing a device with a filtration membrane washing feature prevents clogging, but it leads to the loss of ascites within the filter, resulting in reduced protein recovery. This study employed a device with a membrane washing function to investigate the relationship between protein recovery rate and the quantity of washing solution used, depending on the selected washing method.

Additional renoprotective effect of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in a patient with ADPKD receiving tolvaptan treatment.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a major cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Vasopressin plays a pivotal role in ADPKD progression; therefore, the selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist tolvaptan is used as a key drug in the management of ADPKD. On the other hand, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), which may possibly stimulate vasopressin secretion due to the diuretic effect of the drug, have been shown to have both renal and cardioprotective effects in various populations, including those with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease.

Macrophage-1 antigen exacerbates histone-induced acute lung injury and promotes neutrophil extracellular trap formation.

Acute lung injury (ALI), which occurs in association with sepsis, trauma, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a serious clinical condition with high mortality. Excessive platelet-leukocyte aggregate (PLA) formation promotes neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) release and thrombosis, which are involved in various diseases, including ALI. Macrophage-1 antigen (Mac-1, CD11b/CD18), which is expressed on the surface of leukocytes, is known to promote NET formation.

Rationale and design of the Japanese Biomarkers in Nephrotic Syndrome (J-MARINE) study.

Introduction: Disease subtyping and monitoring are essential for the management of nephrotic syndrome (NS). Although various biomarkers for NS have been reported, their clinical efficacy has not been comprehensively validated in adult Japanese patients.

Methods: The Japanese Biomarkers in Nephrotic Syndrome (J-MARINE) study is a nationwide, multicenter, and prospective cohort study in Japan, enrolling adult (≥18 years) patients with minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy (MN), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), and lupus nephritis (LN).

Multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled trial to compare early intervention with calcimimetics and conventional therapy in preventing coronary artery calcification in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (UPCOMING): a study protocol.

Introduction: Coronary artery and heart valve calcification is a risk factor for cardiovascular death in haemodialysis patients, so calcification prevention should be started as early as possible. Treatment with concomitant calcimimetics and low-dose vitamin D receptor activators (VDRAs) is available, but not enough evidence has been obtained on the efficacy of this regimen, particularly in patients with short dialysis duration. Therefore, this study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of early intervention with upacicalcet, a calcimimetic used to prevent coronary artery calcification in this patient population.

Comparison of the Serial Humoral Immune Response according to the Immunosuppressive Treatment after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination.

Objective The objective of this study was to estimate the humoral immune response evaluated by immunoglobulin G (IgG) against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike receptor-binding domain (RBD-IgG) following the third mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in patients with kidney disease who received immunosuppressive treatment. Methods The primary outcome was RBD-IgG levels after the third SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The primary comparison was the RBD-IgG levels between patients with kidney disease who received immunosuppressive treatment (n=124) and those who did not (n=33).

Novel function of transglutaminase 2 in extracellular histone-induced acute lung injury.

Extracellular histones induce endothelial damage, resulting in lung haemorrhage; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Factor XIII, as a Ca-dependent cross-linking enzyme in blood, mediates fibrin deposition. As another isozyme, transglutaminase 2 (TG2) has a catalytic activity distributing in most tissues.

Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate reconciles management of hyperkalemia and continuity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate, a non-absorbed non-polymer zirconium silicate, is a new potassium binder for hyperkalemia. A previous report showed that administering sodium zirconium cyclosilicate to patients with hyperkalemia allows a higher continuation rate of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors. However, no studies have compared sodium zirconium cyclosilicate with existing potassium binders for renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor continuity.

Effects of N-acetyl-L-tryptophan on desorption of the protein-bound uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate and effects on uremic sarcopenia.

Introduction: Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a protein-bound uremic toxin that causes uremic sarcopenia. IS has poor dialysis clearance; however, the addition of a binding competitor improves its removal efficiency.

Methods: Dialysis experiments were performed using N-acetyl-l-tryptophan (L-NAT) instead of l-tryptophan (Trp) using pooled sera obtained from dialysis patients.

COVID-19 mRNA vaccination is associated with IgA nephropathy: an analysis of the Japanese adverse drug event report database.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines are used worldwide to prevent severe symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of glomerular injury after COVID-19 vaccination; however, because of the low frequency of such events, only a few reports have been published. A large pharmacovigilance database of real-world spontaneous adverse event (AE) reports is essential for evaluating the drug-associated safety signals regarding rare AEs.

Evaluation of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare diagnostic criteria for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis compared to ACR/EULAR 2022 classification criteria.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) diagnostic criteria for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis compared to the new American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology 2022 criteria.

Methods: Two nationwide cohort studies were used, and participants were categorised as having eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) according to the American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology 2022 and MHLW criteria.

Results: Of the entire patient population, only 10 (2.

Combination of brain natriuretic peptide and urinary albumin as a predictor of cardiovascular-renal events in outpatients with chronic kidney disease.

Objectives: Cardiovascular and renal diseases are closely related. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and urinary albumin are established predictors for cardiac and renal morbidities, respectively. To date, no reports have investigated the combined predictive value of BNP and urinary albumin for long-term cardiovascular-renal events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Efficacy of Ascorbic Acid, Thiamine, and Hydrocortisone Combination Therapy: Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background/aim: Sepsis is a life-threatening biological condition that induces systemic tissue and organ dysfunction and confers a high mortality risk. Although the use of hydrocortisone in combination with ascorbic acid and thiamine (HAT therapy) significantly reduced mortality from sepsis or septic shock in a previous study, it did not improve mortality in subsequent randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Therefore, no definitive conclusion has been established on the benefits of HAT therapy for sepsis or septic shock.

Validation of new ACR/EULAR 2022 classification criteria for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology 2022 criteria with the previous classification algorithm for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Methods: We used data from two nationwide, prospective, inception cohort studies. The enrolled patients were classified as having eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) according to the new criteria; these criteria were compared with Watts' algorithm.

Racial heterogeneity of IgA1 hinge-region -glycoforms in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Galactose (Gal)-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) is involved in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) pathogenesis. To reflect racial differences in clinical characteristics, we assessed disease- and race-specific heterogeneity in the -glycosylation of the IgA1 hinge region (HR). We determined serum Gd-IgA1 levels in Caucasians (healthy controls [HCs], n = 31; IgAN patients, n = 63) and Asians (HCs, n = 20; IgAN patients, n = 60) and analyzed profiles of serum IgA1 HR -glycoforms.

Mesenchymal stem cells exert renoprotection via extracellular vesicle-mediated modulation of M2 macrophages and spleen-kidney network.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) have shown therapeutic potentials against refractory diseases. However, the detailed therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report the therapeutic actions of human ASCs in nephritis, focusing on cellular dynamics and multi-organ networks.

Frequency of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Vasculitides: An Observational Study Using Data From the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report Database.

Information on immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced vasculitides is limited, and predictors for this condition have not been identified. Therefore, we have examined the frequency of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced vasculitides by analyzing the data recorded in the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database. Data from April 2004 to March 2020 were extracted, and vasculitides as an immune-related adverse event was defined according to the 2012 revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides.

A novel renal perivascular mesenchymal cell subset gives rise to fibroblasts distinct from classic myofibroblasts.

Perivascular mesenchymal cells (PMCs), which include pericytes, give rise to myofibroblasts that contribute to chronic kidney disease progression. Several PMC markers have been identified; however, PMC heterogeneity and functions are not fully understood. Here, we describe a novel subset of renal PMCs that express Meflin, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein that was recently identified as a marker of fibroblasts essential for cardiac tissue repair.

First-in-human study of blood amyloid β removal from early Alzheimer's disease patients with normal kidney function.

Introduction: Amyloid β (Aβ) is a brain protein that causes Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to verify whether hemadsorption using a hexadecyl-alkylated cellulose bead (HexDC) column removes blood Aβ and brain Aβ accumulation in mild cognitive impairment/mild AD cases with normal kidney function.

Methods: Two patients with positive Aβ on brain imaging underwent HexDC hemadsorption weekly for 6 months.

Vitamin K2 supplementation and the progression of abdominal aortic calcification in dialysis patients.

Objectives: Vascular calcification is common in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and contributes to cardiovascular disease. Accumulating evidence indicates that CKD patients often acquire subclinical vitamin K deficiency, which is associated with vascular calcification.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, parallel group, multicenter trial (UMINID000011490) will include 200 dialysis patients in an open-label, two-arm design.

Prediction model of acute kidney injury induced by cisplatin in older adults using a machine learning algorithm.

Background: Early detection and prediction of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (Cis-AKI) are essential for the management of patients on chemotherapy with cisplatin. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a prediction model for Cis-AKI.

Methods: Japanese patients, who received cisplatin as the first-line chemotherapy at Fujita Health University Hospital, were enrolled in the study.