[The course and prognosis of mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis].

Aim: A retrospective analysis of a clinical course of mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in patients with glomerular deposition of IgA (IgA nephropathy--IgA-N), with glomerular deposition of other Ig to determine prognostic factors of MpGN progression including IgA-N and to examine the patients' sensitivity to immunodepressive therapy.

Material And Methods: 2000 patients with primary MPGN followed up from 1980 to 1999 from the disease onset to development of chronic renal failure (creatinine > 2.5 mg%).

[Renal and uterine hemodynamics in pregnant women with hypertension].

Aim: To study gestational alterations of renal and uterine hemodynamics, their relationships with systemic and intracardiac hemodynamics in pregnant women (PW) with essential hypertension (EH).

Material And Methods: Echocardiography, ultrasound dopplerography of renal and uterine arteries, roll-over test were made in the course of trimester II-III and 3 months after the delivery in 48 PW with EH degree 1-2 and control 20 healthy PW. Hemodynamic parameters in pregnancy were compared to postpartum ones.

Correlation between the expression of DNA topoisomerases I and IIalpha and clinical parameters in kidney disease.

Multiple factors interact during the evolution of renal diseases. In the present study, we examined the expression of DNA topoisomerases type I and IIalpha, which reflect gene transcription and DNA replication, respectively. Enzyme content was assessed by immunohistochemistry using two specific monoclonal antibodies, C21 and Ki-S4, on 81 archival punch-biopsy specimens from patients with renal diseases, including minimal change disease (MCD; n = 10), focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS; n = 6), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN; n = 11), membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN; n = 10), mesangial capillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN; n = 7), rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN; n = 12), lupus nephritis (LN; n = 15), and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN; n = 10).

[Kidney damage in primary antiphospholipid syndrome].

Aim: To characterize clinical manifestations, course and laboratory signs of nephropathy in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAS).

Material And Methods: 6 patients with PAS and renal affection were observed for 10 years since 1991. They were examined for anticardiolipin antibodies and/or lupus anticoagulant.

Expression of DNA topoisomerases in chronic proliferative kidney disease.

Background: Circulating autoantibodies to human topoisomerases have been reported in glomerular kidney disease associated with scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus. However, limited information is available about the expression of topoisomerases in the kidney under normal and pathological conditions.

Methods: The expression of DNA topoisomerases I and IIalpha was studied by immunohistochemistry on archival biopsies from 70 patients with chronic renal diseases.

[Lupus nephritis and pregnancy].

Aim: To evaluate effects of pregnancy on the course and prognosis of lupus nephritis and fetal outcome, in particular, in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis was made of the course of LN in 31 females (44 pregnancies).

Results: A favorable outcome of pregnancy is possible in LN women if they had a persistent remission at conception.

[Primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: clinical and morphological prognostic factors].

Aim: To retrospectively analyze clinical course and results of immunodepressive therapy of patients with primary focal-segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), to reveal prognostic factors of the disease progression and patients' sensitivity to immunosuppressive therapy.

Material And Methods: Morphological diagnosis was specified, morphological indices of activity and sclerosis were estimated, renal survival was analysed, mono- and multivariate analysis of prognostic factors was made by the evidence obtained in the study of 135 biopsy specimens from CRF patients meeting the criteria of FSGS.

Results: At the moment of the disease onset only age of the patients was related to FSGS: 5- and 10-year survival was 100% if the disease started under 16 years of age, if older--the survival was 80 and 65%, respectively.

Role of matrix metalloproteinases in development of diabetic nephropathy.

This review considers molecular mechanisms that underlie disorders in the structure and metabolism of renal extracellular matrix in diabetic nephropathy. The contribution of the increased synthesis of renal extracellular matrix proteins in the accumulation of renal mesangial matrix is considered, and the important role of the degradation system of the extracellular matrix proteins in the development of fibrosis is also shown. Data on changes in mRNA expression for the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) in various forms of diabetic nephropathy are presented.

[Toxicological assessment of a new product from coriander cake].

Characteristics of the product obtained by the authors from coriander cake, basic results of evaluation of its toxicological properties, basic stages of the experiment on white rats and its results are described. The conclusion about positive influence of the product on metabolism in white rats and perspectives of introduction of the new product from coriander cake as an additive for manufacture of food products is made.

[Platelet dysfunction and pregnancy in gestational exacerbation of chronic glomerulonephritis].

Aim: To evaluate platelet dysfunctions and pregnancy outcomes in females with gestational exacerbation of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and the disease remission.

Materials And Methods: Platelet metabolism was studied by activity of intraplatelet LDG, platelet secretory activity by plasm beta-TG and ADP-aggregation in 75 gravidae. Of them 16 had exacerbation of CGN, 40 females were in remission of CGN and 19 healthy pregnant women served control.

[Polymorphism studies of angiotensin converting enzyme gene in chronic glomerulonephritis].

Aim: To investigate the relationship between polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and predisposition to chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) as well as antihypertensive and anti proteinuric response to ACE inhibitors (ACEI) treatment, therapy with angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

Materials And Methods: Genotype was determined in 57 CGN patients and 113 subjects free of chronic diseases. Effects of ACE gene polymorphism on antihypertensive and antiproteinuric efficiency of ACEI and cozaar were studied in 35 CGN patients on monotherapy.

[Comparison of two cyclophosphamide treatment regimens in nephrotic patients with chronic glomerulonephritis].

Aim: Comparison of two cyclophosphamide (CPA) treatment regimens in chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) patients: oral daily CPA versus intravenous CPA pulses (IV-CPA) MATERIALS AND METHODS: 31 nephrotic patients entered the trial: 12, 16 and 3 with membraneous, mesangial proliferative and mesangiocapillary CGN, respectively. The patients were randomized into two groups. 13 patients of group 1 received oral CPA (1.

[Hemodynamic mechanisms of lupus nephritis progression].

Aim: To study the role of abnormal intrarenal hemodynamics (IRHD) in progression of lupus nephritis (LN) and its response to therapy with inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).

Materials And Methods: The trial included 30 LN patients (27 females, 3 males; age 29.8+(-)10.

[Kidney involvement in hereditary osteo-onychodysplasia].

Review of the literature and case report concern renal damage in hereditary osteo-onychodysplasia (nail-patella syndrome). This syndrome is a rare genetic disease inherited by the autosome-dominant type. It arises because of underdevelopment of tissues of mesodermal and ectodermal origin and is characterized by hypoplasia or absence of patella, ulnar dysplasia, nail plate dystrophy, growths on the iliac bones, renal affection.

[Sandimmun in the treatment of chronic glomerulonephritis with the nephrotic syndrome].

Sandimmun was given to 11 patients (7 males and 4 females) aged 16-34 years with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and nephrotic syndrome (NS). Various morphological forms were revealed: minimal changes (MC), focal-segmentary glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGS), membraneous glomerulonephritis (MGN), mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). They occurred in 1, 3, 2, 1 and 3 patients respectively.

[Nitric oxide: its role in the development of pregnancy complications and in their prevention in women with hypertension and chronic glomerulonephritis].

The activity of NO-synthase and formation of NO (EDRF) were assessed by an increase in the activity of NO-dependent hyanilate cyclase in response to L-arginine in vitro in platelets of 61 pregnant females (39, 8 14 with essential hypertension, preeclampsia and healthy controls, respectively) and in 9 hypertensive nonpregnant females. Compared to healthy pregnant females, EDRF synthesis activity was inhibited in hypertensive gravidas but enhanced in preeclampsia patients. Effectiveness of exogenic donator NO (transdermal nitroglycerine, Nitroderm NNS 5) was studied in a randomised trial of 76 gravidas with essential hypertension (EH), EH and chronic glomerulonephritis (GN).

[Arterial hypertension in lupus nephritis].

Incidence of arterial hypertension (AH), its relation with activity of lupus nephritis (LN), other factors (antiphospholipid syndrome, old age, disturbances of purin and lipid metabolism), prognostic implication of AH were studied in a trial performed from 1957 to 1996. A total of 398 patients with LN were divided into 3 groups according to immunosuppressive therapy practiced in different time periods. Overall AH incidence and that of severe AH were similar at present and in the past.

[Thrombocytic disorders in pregnant women with chronic glomerulonephritis and hypertension].

To assess platelet changes in pregnant women with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and essential hypertension (EH) we estimated platelet lactic dehydrogenase activity (LDH), beta-thromboglobulin and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) plasma levels and ADP-stimulated platelet aggregability. Five groups of gravidae (26-40 weeks of gestation) were studied: with EH (n = 20), with CGN and hypertension (n = 31), with CGN without hypertension (n = 29), with late toxemia (n = 11), nonpregnant CGN women (n = 10) and healthy pregnant women (n = 20). Activation of platelet function was found in gravidae with CGN and EH.