Paricalcitol prevents MAPK pathway activation and inflammation in adriamycin-induced kidney injury in rats.

Background: Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway induces uncontrolled cell proliferation in response to inflammatory stimuli. Adriamycin (ADR)-induced nephropathy (ADRN) in rats triggers MAPK activation and pro-inflammatory mechanisms by increasing cytokine secretion, similar to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Activation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a crucial role in suppressing the expression of inflammatory markers in the kidney and may contribute to reducing cellular proliferation.

Vitamin D deficiency contributes to the diabetic kidney disease progression via increase ZEB1/ZEB2 expressions.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains one of the main causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and mortality in diabetic patients worldwide. Vitamin D deficiency (VitDD) is one of the main consequences of different chronic kidney disease (CKD) types and is associated with rapid progression to ESRD. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that lead to this process are poorly understood.

Paricalcitol Improves the Angiopoietin/Tie-2 and VEGF/VEGFR2 Signaling Pathways in Adriamycin-Induced Nephropathy.

Renal endothelial cell (EC) injury and microvascular dysfunction contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD). In recent years, increasing evidence has suggested that EC undergoes an endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT), which might promote fibrosis. Adriamycin (ADR) induces glomerular endothelial dysfunction, which leads to progressive proteinuria in rodents.

Lipoprotein glomerulopathy associated with the Osaka/Kurashiki APOE variant: two cases identified in Latin America.

Background: Lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) is a rare autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations in APOE, the gene which encodes apolipoprotein E. LPG mainly affects Asian individuals, however occasional cases have also been described in Americans and Europeans. Herein we report two unrelated Brazilian patients with LPG in whom genetic analyses revealed the APOE-Osaka/Kurashiki variant.

The Prevalence of Nondiabetic Renal Diseases in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in the University Hospital of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of nondiabetic renal diseases (NDRDs) in renal biopsies of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the University Hospital of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. . We conducted a retrospective study including kidney biopsies performed in diabetic patients between 1987 and 2013.

Imbalance of Pro- and Anti-Angiogenic Factors Due to Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency Causes Renal Microvasculature Alterations Affecting the Adult Kidney Function.

Vitamin D (Vit.D) is involved in cellular proliferation and differentiation and regulation of the renin gene, which are important aspects of nephrogenesis and quiescence of renal health in adulthood. This study evaluated the angiogenic mechanisms involved in long term renal disturbances induced by Vit.

Protective effect of calcitriol on rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury in rats.

Glycerol injection in rats can lead to rhabdomyolysis, with the release of the intracellular muscle content to the extracellular compartment and acute kidney injury (AKI). Oxidative stress and the inflammatory processes contribute to the disturbances in renal function and structure observed in this model. This study evaluated the effect of calcitriol administration in AKI induced by rhabdomyolysis and its relationship with oxidative damage and inflammatory process.

Vitamin C-induced oxalate nephropathy in a renal transplant patient related to excessive ingestion of cashew pseudofruit (Anacardium occidentale L.): a case report.

Background: Ingestion of vitamin C is generally regarded as harmless. Oxalate nephropathy is an infrequent condition and is characterized by oxalate deposition in the renal tubules, in some cases resulting in acute kidney injury. It can be caused by overproduction of oxalate in genetic disorders and, more frequently, as a secondary phenomenon provoked by ingestion of oxalate or substances that can be transformed into oxalate in the patient.

Calcitriol reduces kidney development disorders in rats provoked by losartan administration during lactation.

Calcitriol has important effects on cellular differentiation and proliferation, as well as on the regulation of the renin gene. Disturbances in renal development can be observed in rats exposed to angiotensin II (AngII) antagonists during lactation period. The lack of tubular differentiation in losartan-treated rats can affect calcitriol uptake.

Corticotherapy response in primary IgA nephropathy.

Introduction: Some beneficial effects from long-term use of corticosteroids have been reported in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the outcome of proteinuria and renal function according to a protocol based on a 6-month course of steroid treatment.

Method: Twelve patients were treated with 1 g/day intravenous methylprednisolone for 3 consecutive days at the beginning of months 1, 3, and 5 plus 0.

The role of oxidative stress in renal injury induced in rats by losartan exposure during lactation.

Introduction: Rats exposed to angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonists during lactation present progressive disturbances in renal development that lead to progressive alterations in renal function and structure. This study evaluates the role of oxidative stress in the renal changes induced by exposure to losartan, a type 1 AII receptor antagonist, in rats during lactation.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar pups were divided into: Control, pups of dams that received 2% sucrose solution; Control-tempol, pups of dams that received tempol (0.

The imaging and pathological features of a mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma of the kidney: a case report.

A mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma (MTSCC) is a rare and recently described kidney neoplasm with distal nephron differentiation. It can affect patients of all ages and is more prevalent among women. In this case report, we present a 50-year-old woman who had a renal mass, which was accidently discovered during an investigation for chronic anemia.

Renal macrophage infiltration is associated with a poor outcome in IgA nephropathy.

Objectives: The objectives of our study were as follows: 1) to analyze the prognostic value of macrophage infiltration in primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and 2) to study the relationship between macrophages and other factors associated with the development of renal fibrosis, including mast cells, TGF-β1, α-SMA and NF-kB.

Methods: We analyzed 62 patients who had been diagnosed with IgAN between 1987 and 2003. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with monoclonal antibodies against CD68 and mast cell tryptase and polyclonal antibodies against TGF-β1, α-SMA and NF-kB p65.

Postnatal renal abnormalities in rats exposed to losartan during lactation.

Background/aims: Rats exposed to losartan during lactation exhibit progressive changes in renal function and structure. This study analyzed the early events in pups from dams that received losartan during lactation.

Methods: Male Wistar rats from dams that received 2% sucrose (control, n = 25) or losartan (100 mg/kg/day) diluted in 2% sucrose (n = 33) during lactation were anesthetized 21 days after birth.

Role of endogenous hydrogen sulfide on renal damage induced by adriamycin injection.

A single injection of adriamycin (ADR) induces marked and persistent proteinuria in rats that progress to glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions. It has been shown that ADR-induced nephrotoxicity is mediated, at least in part, by oxidative stress that lead to inflammation. Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is synthesized from L-cysteine and is an important signaling molecule in inflammation.

Renal diseases in the elderly underwent to percutaneous biopsy of native kidneys.

Introduction: The elderly population is growing and aging in better clinical conditions than in the past. However, the distribution and course of kidney diseases in elderly patients are not well known partially due to reluctance to indicate renal biopsies in those patients.

Objective: To evaluate the distribution, clinical features, and outcomes of nephropathies diagnosed by biopsy in the elderly.

Secondary PSF/TFE3-associated renal cell carcinoma in a child treated for genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma.

Xp11.2 translocation-associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a rare tumor that accounts for at least one-third of childhood RCC. Different reports have emphasized that previous radio/chemotherapy might be involved in its pathogenesis.

Inhibition of hydrogen sulphide formation reduces cisplatin-induced renal damage.

Background: Cisplatin (CP)-induced renal damage is associated with inflammation. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is involved in models of inflammation. This study evaluates the effect of DL-propargylglycine (PAG), an inhibitor of endogenous H2S formation, on the renal damage induced by CP.

Evaluation of erythrocyte dysmorphism by light microscopy with lowering of the condenser lens: A simple and efficient method.

Aim: To demonstrate that the evaluation of erythrocyte dysmorphism by light microscopy with lowering of the condenser lens (LMLC) is useful to identify patients with a haematuria of glomerular or non-glomerular origin.

Methods: A comparative double-blind study between phase contrast microscopy (PCM) and LMLC is reported to evaluate the efficacy of these techniques. Urine samples of 39 patients followed up for 9 months were analyzed, and classified as glomerular and non-glomerular haematuria.

[Tzanck smears: an old but useful diagnostic tool].

Tzanck smears can be used for the diagnosis of cutaneous infections, autoimmune disorders and cutaneous tumors. To exemplify its use, we report a case of a female patient with pemphigus vulgaris whose diagnosis was confirmed by positive direct immunofluorescence and conventional cytology using smears obtained by scraping the cheek mucosa.