Low-protein diet supplemented with ketoacids ameliorates proteinuria in 3/4 nephrectomised rats by directly inhibiting the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system.

Low-protein diet plus ketoacids (LPD+KA) has been reported to decrease proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD). However, the mechanisms have not been clarified. As over-activation of intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been shown to play a key role in the progression of CKD, the current study was performed to investigate the direct effects of LPD+KA on intrarenal RAS, independently of renal haemodynamics.

The GSTA1 polymorphism and cyclophosphamide therapy outcomes in lupus nephritis patients.

Pulsed low-dose cyclophosphamide (CTX) therapy has become a very effective approach in improving the clinical outcomes of lupus nephritis (LN) patients. However, variations of CTX therapeutic outcomes in LN patients are incompletely understood. We investigated the contributions of known allelic variants to CTX therapy outcomes in 77 LN patients.

Acid loading stimulates rat glomerular mesangial cells proliferation through Na(+)-H (+) exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1)-dependent pathway.

The role of metabolic acidosis in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the direct effects of acid loading on the proliferation of rat glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) in vitro and the possible role of sodium-hydrogen ion exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1). Rat GMCs were treated with acidic medium as acid loading.

Twelve weeks of pioglitazone therapy significantly attenuates dysmetabolism and reduces inflammation in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients--a randomized crossover trial.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of oral pioglitazone (PIO) on lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, inflammation, and adipokine metabolism in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.

Methods: In this randomized crossover trial, 36 CAPD patients with serum triglyceride levels above 1.8 mmol/L were randomly assigned to receive either oral PIO 15 mg once daily or no PIO for 12 weeks.

[Reasons for not intensifying antihypertensive treatment to diabetes in some regions of China].

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the current situation of blood pressure control in the type 2 diabetics in some regions of China.

Methods: Totally 5063 consecutive patients with hypertension were investigated. Among them 1993 with diabetes underwent baseline survey.

[A survey of factors influencing prognosis and control rate for patients with hypertension in mainland China].

Objective: To observe the risk factor stratification and prevalence of target organ damage in hypertensive patients before therapy and blood pressure control rate after 4 or 12 weeks antihypertensive drug therapy.

Methods: In this prospective survey, data on cardiovascular risk factors, target organ damage and concomitant disease were collected in 26 655 hypertensive patients. Among them 26 325 and 3457 patients were recruited for antihypertensive drug therapy for 4 and 12 weeks, respectively and blood pressure control rate was determined.

Renoprotective effect of breviscapine through suppression of renal macrophage recruitment in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Background/aims: Experimental and clinical evidence has consistently demonstrated that renal macrophage infiltration is one of the most important events for the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Breviscapine is a flavonoid extracted from the Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapus. Previously, it was shown that treatment with breviscapine attenuated renal injury in the diabetic rats.

[The establishment of plasmid over-expressing mouse peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma1 and functional identification in mesangial cells].

Objective: To construct a plasmid expressing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma1 (PPARgamma1) and to study its antifibrotic effects on transfected mesangial cells under the condition of high glucose.

Methods: Wild type full length of mouse PPARgamma1 (mPPARgamma1/WT) cDNA was ligated into an expressing vector pIRES-EGFP. This constructed pIRES-EGFP-mPPARgamma1/WT was then transfected into cultured glomerular mesangial cells facilitated by lipofectin.

[Protection of rosiglitazone against renal interstitial lesion and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the protection of rosiglitazone (RSG) against renal interstitial lesion and its mechanism.

Methods: Male adult SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: Sham group, undergoing sham operation; Sham + RSG group, undergoing sham operation and treated with RSG (30 mg.kg(-1).

A report with consensus statements of the International Society of Nephrology 2004 Consensus Workshop on Prevention of Progression of Renal Disease, Hong Kong, June 29, 2004.

This report summarizes the discussions of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) 2004 Consensus Workshop on Prevention of Progression of Renal Disease, which was held in Hong Kong on June 29, 2004. Three key areas were discussed during the workshop: (1) screening for chronic kidney disease; (2) evaluation and estimating progression of chronic kidney disease; and (3) measures to prevent the progression of chronic kidney disease. Fifteen consensus statements were made in these three areas, as endorsed by the participants of the workshop.

[Production of aldosterone by rat mesangial cell and the accumulation of extracellular matrix induced by aldosterone].

Objective: To investigate whether aldosterone (Aldo) may be synthesized by glomerular mesangial cells and whether Aldo promotes the synthesis of fibronectin (FN) and type IV collagen in mesangial cells.

Methods: Rat mesangial cells (RMC) were cultured and then divided into 4 groups: control group, AngII group (AngII of the concentrations of 10(-10), 10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7), and 10(-6) mol/L was added), losartan group (AngII 1 type inhibitor losartan and AngII were added), and KCL group (KCL of the concentrations of 7 and 9 mmol/L was added). 48 hours after the RNAs of the cells in different groups were collected to detect the Aldo synthesized by the RMCs themselves.

[Renal protective effects of specific cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor in rats with subtotal renal ablation].

Objective: To investigate the renoprotective effect of specific cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor rofecoxib and its possible mechanism of retarding progressive renal injury in rats with subtotal renal ablation.

Methods: Rats were randomly divided into six groups: sham, subtotal renal ablation (SNX). SNX treated with rofecoxib (10 mg.

Determination of vitamin C in plasma and dialysate from uremia patients by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A convenient and valid method for the determination of ascorbic acid(AA) and dehydroascorbic acid(DHAA) in plasma and dialysate from patients with uremia by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection is described. A mixture of 0.8 g/L metaphosphoric acid and 18% (volume fraction) perchloric acid was used as a protein precipitant and the extractant for AA from biosamples.