The Role of α3β1 Integrin Modulation on Fabry Disease Podocyte Injury and Kidney Impairment.

Podocyte dysfunction plays a crucial role in renal injury and is identified as a key contributor to proteinuria in Fabry disease (FD), primarily impacting glomerular filtration function (GFF). The α3β1 integrins are important for podocyte adhesion to the glomerular basement membrane, and disturbances in these integrins can lead to podocyte injury. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of chloroquine (CQ) on podocytes, as this drug can be used to obtain an in vitro condition analogous to the FD.

Mesothelioma in a developing country: a retrospective analysis of the diagnostic process.

Objective: To evaluate the process of diagnosing patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) at a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This was a retrospective study involving patients referred to a tertiary-care cancer center in Brazil between 2009 and 2020. The diagnostic process was divided into four steps: onset of symptoms, referral to a specialist visit, histopathological diagnosis, and beginning of treatment.

Uremic toxins activate CREB/ATF1 in endothelial cells related to chronic kidney disease.

Uremic toxins, such as p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) and indoxyl sulfate (IS), contribute to endothelial dysfunction in chronic kidney disease (CKD). This process is mediated by several cellular pathways, but it is unclear whether cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) and activating transcription factor 1 (ATF1) participate in endothelial dysfunction in uremic conditions despite playing roles in inflammatory modulation. This study aimed to evaluate the expression, activation, and transcriptional activity of CREB/ATF1 in endothelial cells exposed to PCS, IS, and uremic serum (US).

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 and Syndecan-1 Are Potential Biomarkers of Cardiac and Renal Involvement in Classical Fabry Disease under Enzyme Replacement Therapy.

Background And Aims: Inflammation and endothelial damage play a pivotal role in Fabry disease (FD) manifestations. In daily clinical practice, FD is mainly monitored by traditional biomarkers of target organ injury, such as serum creatinine and proteinuria, which provide no information about inflammation and endothelial damage.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the serum levels of 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), an oxidative stress biomarker, and of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and syndecan-1 in classical FD patients on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for at least 6 months and their relationship with Fabry-related cardiac and renal manifestations.

Indoor Air Quality and Environmental Sampling as Support Tools to Detect SARS-CoV-2 in the Healthcare Setting.

Objectives: To evaluate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread inside the healthcare setting using environmental sampling and indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters.

Methods: Ward/ICU rooms had IAQ parameters monitored in real-time, including volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. Surface and three air samples with different exposure times were collected in each room and tested for SARS-CoV-2 using quantitative Rt-PCR.

Confocal endomicroscopy and robot-assisted bronchoplasty integration to treat an endobronchial tumour.

We present a case of a young man with an endobronchial carcinoid in the left main bronchus, which was treated integrating probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy and fluorescence imaging during a robot-assisted bronchoplasty. This technique allowed precise detection of the neoplastic area, avoiding associated lung resection. The incorporation of new technologies to our current practice may lead to a better approach to airway tumours.

Uremic endothelial-derived extracellular vesicles: Mechanisms of formation and their role in cell adhesion, cell migration, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

p-Cresyl sulfate (PCS), indoxyl sulfate (IS), and inorganic phosphate (Pi) are uremic toxins found in chronic kidney disease (CKD) that are closely related to endothelial extracellular vesicles (EVs) formation. The present study aimed to understand the role of EVs and their role in cell adhesion and migration, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Human endothelial cells were treated with PCS, IS, and Pi in pre-established uremic and kinetic recommendations.

Pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 disease: Outcomes and relation to the Macklin effect.

Aim: Pneumomediastinum (PM) is associated with several etiologies and mechanisms. Although it has been described more than 100 years ago, the literature is limited to small retrospective studies. This study aimed to follow patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that developed PM during hospitalization and describe their clinical and radiological evolution.

In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D supplementation may be blurred in hemodialysis patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D supplementation under uremic conditions, both in vivo and in vitro, and its effects on the parameters of mineral metabolism.

Methods: Thirty-two hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo (N=14) or cholecalciferol (N=18) for six months. Serum levels of calcium, phosphate, total alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and vitamin D were measured at baseline and after three and six months.

Effectiveness of Spacer Devices on Preventing Undesirable Cardiovascular Effects of Inhaled Salbutamol.

Currently, there are no regulatory guidelines indicating spacer devices/valved holding chamber (VHC) should be used routinely during pulmonary function tests, and few studies evaluated if spacer devices reduce beta-agonist bronchodilators' side effects. A prospective study compared salbutamol's cardiovascular effects and bronchodilation response during spirometry tests with and without a spacer device/VHC. Heart rate (HR), the corrected QT interval (QTc), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured 10 minutes after the first spirometry test, before the drug administration, and 20 minutes after inhalation in both groups.

Uremia Impacts VE-Cadherin and ZO-1 Expression in Human Endothelial Cell-to-Cell Junctions.

Endothelial dysfunction in uremia can result in cell-to-cell junction loss and increased permeability, contributing to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) development. This study evaluated the impact of the uremic milieu on endothelial morphology and cell junction's proteins. We evaluated (i) serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers in a cohort of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and the expression of VE-cadherin and Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) junction proteins on endothelial cells (ECs) of arteries removed from CKD patients during renal transplant; (ii) ECs morphology in vitro under different uremic conditions, and (iii) the impact of uremic toxins p-cresyl sulfate (PCS), indoxyl sulfate (IS), and inorganic phosphate (Pi) as well as of total uremic serum on VE-cadherin and ZO-1 gene and protein expression in cultured ECs.

Sevelamer reduces endothelial inflammatory response to advanced glycation end products.

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been related to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus. We sought to investigate the binding capacity of sevelamer to both AGEs and uremic serum and then test this pharmaceutical effect as a potential vascular anti-inflammatory strategy.

Methods: AGEs were prepared by albumin glycation and characterized by absorbance and electrophoresis.

Role of Organic Anion Transporters in the Uptake of Protein-Bound Uremic Toxins by Human Endothelial Cells and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Expression.

Organic anion transporters (OATs) are involved in the uptake of uremic toxins such as p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) and indoxyl sulfate (IS), which play a role in endothelial dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD). In this study, we investigated the role of OAT1 and OAT3 in the uptake of PCS and IS into human endothelial cells. PCS was synthesized via p-cresol sulfation and characterized using analytical methods.