Clinical Features, Outcomes, and Response to Corticosteroid Treatment of Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis: A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study in the Czech Republic.

Introduction: Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) is a well-recognized cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) due to the tubulointerstitial inflammation. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical features, outcomes, and responses to corticosteroid treatment in patients with ATIN.

Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven ATIN, who were diagnosed between 1994 and 2016 at the Department of Nephrology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine, and General University Hospital in Prague, were included in the study.

Inhibition of E. coli Growth by Nanodiamond and Graphene Oxide Enhanced by Luria-Bertani Medium.

Nanodiamonds (NDs) and graphene oxide (GO) are modern carbon-based nanomaterials with promising features for the inhibition of microorganism growth ability. Here we compare the effects of nanodiamond and graphene oxide in both annealed (oxidized) and reduced (hydrogenated) forms in two types of cultivation media-Luria-Bertani (LB) and Mueller-Hinton (MH) broths. The comparison shows that the number of colony forming unit (CFU) of is significantly lowered (45%) by all the nanomaterials in LB medium for at least 24 h against control.

Placental growth factor, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products, extracellular newly identified receptor for receptor for advanced glycation end products binding protein and high mobility group box 1 levels in patients with acute kidney injury: a cross sectional study.

Background: Placental growth factor (PlGF), pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), extracellular newly identified receptor for RAGE binding protein (EN-RAGE) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1) are novel biomarkers in chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, their clinical significance in acute kidney injury (AKI) is unknown. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether selected biomarkers are changed in AKI patients.

Determinants of circulating matrix metalloproteinase-2 and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) have been implicated in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the serum determinants of MMP-2 and PAPP-A in CKD are unknown. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical significance of MMP-2 and PAPP-A and their determinants in patients with CKD.

Changes in levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in patients with various nephropathies.

Background: Specific changes and imbalanced concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) may reflect the pathophysiology of various nephropathies (GN). We compared MMP-2, MMP-9 and PAPP-A levels in patients with GN, with those found in healthy controls.

Methods: We studied 45 controls and 128 patients with GN, defined by kidney biopsy: IgA nephropathy (IgAN, n=33), membranous glomerulonephritis (MN, n=23), minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS, n=7), focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS, n=11), lupus nephritis (LN, n=22) and ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis (AAV, n=32).

Serum S100A12 (EN-RAGE) levels in patients with decreased renal function and subclinical chronic inflammatory disease.

Background: The calcium-binding protein S100A12 (EN-RAGE) causes inflammation through interaction with the multiligand receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). The aim of the study was to determine S100A12 levels and describe their relationship to inflammatory markers in patients with decreased renal function.

Methods: The studied group consisted of 46 patients with various degrees of chronic renal insufficiency (CHRI), 31 long-term hemodialysis (HD) patients and 24 healthy controls.

Associations of serum levels of advanced glycation end products with nutrition markers and anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Advanced glycation end product (AGE) levels are elevated in patients with decreased renal function and may contribute to the excessive cardiovascular disease in this population. However, their relation to nutrition, anemia, and micro inflammation is not well characterized. The aim of this study is to determine their relationship in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).