Hemoadsorption improves kidney microcirculatory oxygenation and oxygen consumption, ameliorates tubular injury, and improves kidney function in a rat model of sepsis-induced AKI.

Microcirculatory dysfunction, hypoxia, and inflammation are considered to be central in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). In this experimental study, we hypothesized that extracorporeal removal of inflammatory cytokines by hemoadsorption (HA) therapy may mitigate renal injury associated with sepsis-induced AKI. To this end, we investigated renal microcirculatory oxygenation and perfusion, oxygen consumption, lactate, systemic hemodynamic variables, tubular cell integrity, inflammatory mediators, and kidney function in a rat model of septic AKI elicited by endotoxin infusion.

Secondhand smoke exposure in public outdoor spaces in the Netherlands: The stronger the smell, the more exposure to nicotine.

Introduction: While secondhand smoke exposure in outdoor spaces has been investigated before, no data on outdoor secondhand smoke exposure have been collected in the Netherlands. Such data could help policymakers gain support for smoke-free outdoor public spaces.

Methods: Between May and November 2021, we visited 25 outdoor locations across the Netherlands.

Iron deficiency is related to lower muscle mass in community-dwelling individuals and impairs myoblast proliferation.

Background: Loss of muscle mass is linked with impaired quality of life and an increased risk of morbidity and premature mortality. Iron is essential for cellular processes such as energy metabolism, nucleotide synthesis and numerous enzymatic reactions. As the effects of iron deficiency (ID) on muscle mass and function are largely unknown, we aimed to assess the relation between ID and muscle mass in a large population-based cohort, and subsequently studied effects of ID on cultured skeletal myoblasts and differentiated myocytes.

Crotamine/siRNA Nanocomplexes for Functional Downregulation of Syndecan-1 in Renal Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells.

Proteinuria drives progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis in native and transplanted kidneys, mainly through the activation of proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs). During proteinuria, PTEC syndecan-1 functions as a docking platform for properdin-mediated alternative complement activation. Non-viral gene delivery vectors to target PTEC syndecan-1 could be useful to slow down alternative complement activation.

Circulating FGF21 Concentration, Fasting Plasma Glucose, and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Results From the PREVEND Study.

Objective: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a peptide hormone synthesized by several organs and regulates, among others, energy homeostasis. In obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D), higher circulating FGF21 concentrations have been found. Temporal analyses in murine studies demonstrate that FGF21 increases before insulin resistance occurs.