Tannic acid modulates SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis by curbing key host receptors and oxidative stress.

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which wrecked havoc around the world in the recent years through COVID-19, gains entry into the host cell through various receptors. Development of therapies targeting host-pathogen interaction will be a key to curb the infection as it potentially suppresses viral attachment and entry into the host. Boundless bioactives abundant in natural resources are the important source of new as well as safer alternatives.

UmamiPreDL: Deep learning model for umami taste prediction of peptides using BERT and CNN.

Taste is crucial in driving food choice and preference. Umami is one of the basic tastes defined by characteristic deliciousness and mouthfulness that it imparts to foods. Identification of ingredients to enhance umami taste is of significant value to food industry.

Chain of Thought Utilization in Large Language Models and Application in Nephrology.

Chain-of-thought prompting enhances the abilities of large language models (LLMs) significantly. It not only makes these models more specific and context-aware but also impacts the wider field of artificial intelligence (AI). This approach broadens the usability of AI, increases its efficiency, and aligns it more closely with human thinking and decision-making processes.

Membranous nephropathy treatment standard.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is characterized by deposition of immune complexes leading to thickening of glomerular basement membranes. Over time, the understanding of MN has evolved, with the identification of specific autoantibodies against novel podocyte antigens and the unraveling of intricate pathogenic pathways. Although the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab is favored as part of the initial therapy in MN, a subgroup of MN patients may be resistant to rituximab necessitating the use of alternative agents such as cytotoxic therapies.

Global hemodialysis vascular access care: Three decades of evolution.

The development of vascular access for hemodialysis has come a long way since 1943 when the first hemodialysis treatment was performed in humans by connecting an artery and vein using an external glass canula. Since then, vascular access care has evolved robustly through contributions from numerous countries and professional nephrology societies, worldwide. To understand the global distribution and contribution of different specialties to medical literature on dialysis vascular access care, we performed a literature search from 1991 to 2021 and identified 2768 articles from 74 countries.

A systematic review on impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Innumerable pathogens including RNA viruses have catastrophic pandemic propensity, in turn, SARS-CoV-2 infection is highly contagious. Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with high mutation rate additionally codifies infectious ability of virus and arisen clinical imputations to human health. Although, our knowledge of mechanism of virus infection and its impact on host system has been substantially demystified, uncertainties about the emergence of virus are still not fully understood.

Life-Threatening Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage Following Cyst Rupture in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD): A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the leading genetic cause of kidney failure worldwide. It is characterized by cyst formation and growth, kidney parenchymal destruction, and complications including cyst infection, nephrolithiasis, cyst rupture, and cyst hemorrhage. Cyst bleeding is typically a self-limited event.

Characteristics of Kidney Recipients of High Kidney Donor Profile Index Kidneys as Identified by Machine Learning Consensus Clustering.

Background: Our study aimed to characterize kidney transplant recipients who received high kidney donor profile index (KDPI) kidneys using unsupervised machine learning approach. Methods: We used the OPTN/UNOS database from 2010 to 2019 to perform consensus cluster analysis based on recipient-, donor-, and transplant-related characteristics in 8935 kidney transplant recipients from deceased donors with KDPI ≥ 85%. We identified each cluster’s key characteristics using the standardized mean difference of >0.

Association of Serum Phosphate Derangement With Mortality in Patients on Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.

Background: There is limited evidence on the association of serum phosphate with mortality in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Objective: To assess the association of serum phosphate with mortality in critically ill patients requiring CRRT for acute kidney injury (AKI).

Design: A cohort study.

Management of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in the era of disease-modifying treatment options.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the reported etiology in 10% of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients and has an estimated prevalence of 12.5 million cases worldwide across all ethnicities. There have been major advancements over the last two decades in understanding the pathogenesis and development of disease-modifying treatment options for ADPKD, culminating in regulatory approval of tolvaptan for ADPKD patients at risk of rapid progression to kidney failure.

Association of hypochloremia with mortality among patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy.

Background: Serum chloride derangement is common in critically ill patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). We aimed to assess the association between serum chloride levels before and during CRRT with mortality.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of critically ill patients receiving CRRT for acute kidney injury from December 2006 through November 2015 in a tertiary referral hospital in the United States.

Association of serum potassium derangements with mortality among patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy.

Introduction: We aimed to assess the association between serum potassium and mortality in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Methods: We studied 1279 acute kidney injury patients receiving CRRT in a tertiary referral hospital in the United States. We used logistic regression to assess the association of serum potassium before CRRT and mean serum potassium during CRRT with 90-day mortality after CRRT initiation, using serum potassium 4.

Impact of hypoalbuminemia on mortality in critically ill patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy.

Background: This study aimed to assess the association of hypoalbuminemia with mortality in critically ill patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of critically ill patients receiving CRRT from December 2006 through November 2015 in a tertiary referral hospital in the United States. We used logistic regression to assess serum albumin at CRRT initiation as predictors for 90-day mortality.

Tunneled femoral dialysis catheter: Practical pointers.

One of the most challenging aspects of providing end-stage kidney disease care is to achieve adequate long-term access to the bloodstream to support hemodialysis (HD) therapy. Although upper extremity arteriovenous fistula remains the vascular access of choice for patients on HD, complications such as central venous stenosis, access thrombosis, or exhaustion of suitable access sites in the upper extremity, ultimately result in pursuing vascular access creation in the lower extremity. The current review focuses on the indications, contraindications, and clinically relevant practical procedural tips to successfully place a tunneled femoral dialysis catheter.

The significance of anti-phospholipase receptor antibodies in a patient with membranous nephropathy.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the major cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults and may be secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus or malignancy in 25% of patients. Without any etiology, it is called primary MN, which is usually associated with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) receptor antibodies. Secondary MN can appear months before a secondary cause is identified.

Management of COVID-19 in special populations with kidney disease.

Although the literature is limited, early evidence suggests that patients with chronic kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, and kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease and death. Hence, management should focus on both infection prevention and treatment. There is currently a lack of evidence and guideline recommendations on optimal management of immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19 and the kidney.

COVID-19 is primarily considered a respiratory illness, but the kidney may be one of the targets of SARS-CoV-2 infection, since the virus enters cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, which is found in abundance in the kidney. Information on kidney involvement in COVID-19 is limited but is evolving rapidly. This article discusses the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in COVID-19, its optimal management, and the impact of COVID-19 on patients with chronic kidney disease, patients with end-stage kidney disease on dialysis, and kidney transplant recipients.

Optimal management of atypical hemolytic uremic disease: challenges and solutions.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a chronic life threatening condition that arises from genetic abnormalities resulting in uncontrolled complement amplifying activity. The introduction of eculizumab, the humanized monoclonal antibody, has brought about a paradigm shift in the management of aHUS. However, there are many knowledge gaps, diagnostic issues, access and cost issues, and patient or physician challenges associated with the use of this agent.

Overview of Monogenic or Mendelian Forms of Hypertension.

Monogenic or Mendelian forms of hypertension are described as a group of conditions characterized by insults to the normal regulation of blood pressure by the kidney and adrenal gland. These alterations stem from single mutations that lead to maladaptive overabsorption of electrolytes with fluid shift into the vasculature, and consequent hypertension. Knowledge of these various conditions is essential in diagnosing pediatric or early-onset adult hypertension as they directly affect treatment strategies.

Incorporating problem based learning into medical curriculum: An experience from a medical college in Mangalore.

Background: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has envisioned a change in the undergraduate medical curriculum by encouraging integrated teaching and Problem Based Learning (PBL).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study 110 medical teachers of Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore were assessed regarding their perception on PBL. Independent -test was applied to find out the difference in the mean perception scores regarding PBL among the teachers in pre/para-clinical and clinical departments and < 0.

The basics and advances of immunomodulators and antigen presentation: a key to development of potent memory response against pathogens.

Introduction: Immunomodulators are agents, which can modulate the immune response to specific antigens, while causing least toxicity to the host system. Being part of the modern vaccine formulations, these compounds have contributed remarkably to the field of therapeutics. Despite the successful record maintained by these agents, the requirement of novel immunomodulators keeps increasing due to the increasing severity of diseases.

IGF-I stimulates cooperative interaction between the IGF-I receptor and CSK homologous kinase that regulates SHPS-1 phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells.

IGF-I plays an important role in smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. In vascular smooth muscle cells cultured in 25 mm glucose, IGF-I stimulated a significant increase in Src homology 2 domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase substrate-1 (SHPS-1) phosphorylation compared with 5 mm glucose and this increase was required for smooth muscle cell proliferation. A proteome-wide screen revealed that carboxyl-terminal SRC kinase homologous kinase (CTK) bound directly to phosphotyrosines in the SHPS-1 cytoplasmic domain.