Kinetic analysis of D-Alanine upon oral intake in humans.

D-Alanine, a rare enantiomer of alanine, can potentially alleviate the worsening of viral infections and maintain circadian rhythm. This study aimed to analyze the kinetics of D-Alanine upon oral intake. Five healthy volunteers were administered D-Alanine as a single oral dose at 11,236 or 33,708 µmoL (1-3 g).

D-Asparagine is an Ideal Endogenous Molecule for Measuring the Glomerular Filtration Rate.

Introduction: An ideal endogenous molecule for measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is still unknown. However, a rare enantiomer of serine, d-serine, is useful in GFR measurement. This study explored the potential of other d-amino acids for kidney function assessment.

Identification of Diabetic Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Kidney Biopsy through Blood and Urinary Profiles of d-Serine.

Background: The diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN), the major cause of ESKD, requires kidney biopsy. d-Serine, present only in trace amounts in humans, is a biomarker for kidney diseases and shows potential to distinguish the origin of kidney diseases, whose diagnoses usually require kidney biopsy. We extended this concept and examined the potential of d-serine in the diagnosis of DN.

Measurement of glomerular filtration rate using endogenous d-serine clearance in living kidney transplant donors and recipients.

Background: Endogenous molecules that provide an unbiased and a precise evaluation of kidney function are still necessary. We explored the potential of clearance of d-serine, a rare enantiomer of serine and a biomarker of kidney function, as a measure of glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study of 200 living kidney transplant donors and recipients enrolled between July 2019 and December 2020 in a single Japanese center, for whom GFR was measured by clearance of inulin (C-in).

Protective effects of hydrogen gas inhalation on radiation-induced bone marrow damage in cancer patients: a retrospective observational study.

Although intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has been developed as an alternative to conventional radiotherapy, reducing bone marrow damage is limited. Thus, a novel technology is needed to further mitigate IMRT-induced bone marrow damage. Molecular hydrogen (H) was recently reported as a preventive and therapeutic antioxidant that selectively scavenges hydroxyl radical (·OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO).

Correcting anemia and native vitamin D supplementation in kidney transplant recipients: a multicenter, 2 × 2 factorial, open-label, randomized clinical trial.

Anemia and vitamin D deficiency are associated with allograft failure, and hence, are potential therapeutic targets among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). We conducted a multicenter, two-by-two factorial, open-label, randomized clinical trial to examine the effects of anemia correction and vitamin D supplementation on 2-year change in eGFR among KTRs (CANDLE-KIT). We enrolled 153 patients with anemia and >1-year history of transplantation across 23 facilities in Japan, and randomly assigned them to either a high or low hemoglobin target (>12.

Impact of Immunoglobulin M-Type Donor-Specific Human Leukocyte Antigen-Antibody Levels in Supernatants from Cultured Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells as Predictors of Antibody-Mediated Rejection.

Background: Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a crucial barrier in the long-term prognosis of transplant recipients.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from kidney allograft recipients ( = 41) and cultured in vitro for 1 week. Furthermore, the supernatants of the cultured PBMCs were analyzed by Luminex single-antigen beads.

Serum phosphate levels modify the impact of parathyroid hormone levels on renal outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.

Separate assessment of mineral bone disorder (MBD) parameters including calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D) predict renal outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), with conflicting results. To date, data simultaneously evaluating these parameters and interwoven relations on renal outcomes are scarce. We conducted a prospective long-term follow-up cohort study included 263 KTRs with grafts functioning at least 1 year after transplantation.

Importance of Continuing Education for Medical Staff to Improve the Confirmation Rate of Intent for Organ Donation.

Background: Among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, the number of cadaveric donors per population is the lowest in Japan. The present study investigated whether a continuing educational intervention for medical staff, such as Donor Action Program (DAP) that is aimed at increasing the number of cadaveric donors, improved the confirmation rate of organ donation in potential donors.

Material And Methods: We studied 2 hospitals with emergency centers in Toyama, Japan.

Transitional changes in the incidence of hip osteonecrosis among renal transplant recipients.

Background: Immunosuppressive therapy for renal allograft recipients has changed substantially since the introduction of the anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody, basiliximab. We hypothesized that recent improvements in immunosuppressive treatment may reduce the incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). This study aimed to investigate transitional changes in the incidence of OFNH among renal transplant recipients by MRI.

Salvianolic acid B ameliorates liver injury in a murine aGvHD model by decreasing inflammatory responses via upregulation of HO-1.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) remains lethal, even after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Inflammatory responses play an important role in aGvHD. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) has been widely reported to have a major effect on the anti-inflammatory response, but these effects in an aGvHD model have never been reported.

Assessment of renal function in living kidney donors before and after nephrectomy: A Japanese prospective, observational cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the utility of estimated glomerular filtration rate for assessing kidney function in living kidney donors before and after nephrectomy.

Methods: A total of 101 donors underwent inulin clearance measurements before and 1 year after nephrectomy. The mean of three inulin clearance values was used as the measured glomerular filtration rate.

Molecular hydrogen protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in a mouse fatty liver model via regulating HO-1 and Sirt1 expression.

Fatty liver has lower tolerance against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in liver operations, including liver transplantation. Seeking to ameliorate liver injury following I/R in fatty liver, we examined the protective effect of hydrogen (H) saline on I/R liver injury in a methionine and choline-deficient plus high fat (MCDHF) diet-induced fatty liver mouse model. Saline containing 7 ppm H was administrated during the process of I/R.

How Do Dendritic Cells Play the Role in Ischemia/Reperfusion Triggered Kidney Allograft Rejection.

In deceased donors, Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury (IRI) is an important cause of allograft dysfunction. Prolonged cold and warm ischemia time leads to a high risk of early post-transplant complications, including acute and chronic rejection. Ischemia not only up-regulates inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, but also enhances the expression of MHC-class II and adhesion molecules on epithelial and dendritic cells.

Successful Desensitization of T cell Flow Cytometry Crossmatch Positive Renal Transplant Recipients Using Plasmapheresis and Super High-Dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin.

Background: High-dose IVIG (2 g/kg) alone or low-dose IVIG (100 mg/kg) in conjunction with plasma exchange is typically administered as a renal transplantation desensitization therapy. Herein, we monitored changes in T cell and B cell flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) to assess the effects of short-term super high-dose IVIG (4 g/kg) administration with plasmapheresis before living-donor renal transplantation.

Methods: Seventeen patients, each showing positive T cell FCXM (median ratio, ≥ 1.

Hydrogen-Rich Saline Regulates Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction, Dysbiosis, and Bacterial Translocation in a Murine Model of Sepsis.

Bacterial translocation is a major cause of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in critical illness, and its management is an important therapeutic strategy. In this study, we focused on the key factors responsible for bacterial translocation including the intestinal microbiome and investigated the impact of molecular hydrogen therapy as a countermeasure against bacterial translocation in a murine model of sepsis. The experimental protocols were divided into the sham, saline treatment (control), and hydrogen treatment (H2) groups.

Analysis of an ADTKD family with a novel frameshift mutation in MUC1 reveals characteristic features of mutant MUC1 protein.

Background: Medullary cystic kidney disease Type 1 is an autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease (ADTKD). Recently, mucin 1 (MUC1) was identified as a causal gene of medullary cystic kidney disease (ADTKD-MUC1). However, the MUC1 mutation was found to be a single cytosine insertion in a single copy of the GC-rich variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs), which are very difficult to analyze by next-generation sequencing.

Astaxanthin prevents ischemia-reperfusion injury of the steatotic liver in mice.

Steatosis has a low tolerance against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). To prevent IRI in the steatotic liver, we attempted to elucidate the protective effect of astaxanthin (ASTX) in the steatotic liver model by giving mice a methionine and choline-deficient high fat (MCDHF) diet. Levels of lipid peroxidation and apoptosis, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and heme oxygenase (HO)-1, in the liver were assessed.

NEDD4-family E3 ligase dysfunction due to PKHD1/Pkhd1 defects suggests a mechanistic model for ARPKD pathobiology.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is an important childhood nephropathy, occurring 1 in 20,000 live births. The major clinical phenotypes are expressed in the kidney with dilatation of the collecting ducts, systemic hypertension, and progressive renal insufficiency, and in the liver with biliary dysgenesis, portal tract fibrosis, and portal hypertension. The systemic hypertension has been attributed to enhanced distal sodium reabsorption in the kidney, the structural defects have been ascribed to altered cellular morphology, and fibrosis to increased TGF-β signaling in the kidney and biliary tract, respectively.