The attenuation of renal fibrosis by histone deacetylase inhibitors is associated with the plasticity of FOXP3IL-17 T cells.

Background: The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, which has potential effects on epigenetic modifications, had been reported to attenuate renal fibrosis. CD4 forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) T regulatory (Treg) cells may be converted to inflammation-associated T helper 17 cells (Th17) with tissue fibrosis properties. The association between FOXP3IL-17 T cells and the attenuation of renal fibrosis by the HDAC inhibitor is not clear.

Addition of immunosuppressive treatment to hemoperfusion is associated with improved survival after paraquat poisoning: a nationwide study.

Paraquat poisoning associates very high mortality rate. Early treatment with hemoperfusion is strongly suggested by animal and human studies. Although the survival benefit of additional immunosuppressive treatment (IST) in combination with hemoperfusion is also reported since 1971, the large-scale randomized control trials to confirm the effects of IST is difficult to be executed.

Lower variability of tacrolimus trough concentration after conversion from prograf to advagraf in stable kidney transplant recipients.

Backgrounds: Variability of blood trough concentration (C0) in immunosuppressant leads to rejection and graft loss after kidney transplantation.

Methods: The aim of this study is to prospectively investigate the change of within-patient variability among stable kidney transplant recipients with conversion from twice-daily Prograf to the same milligram-for-milligram daily dose of once-daily Advagraf.

Results: The mean age of 129 patients was 51.

The subjective sleep quality and heart rate variability in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Sleep disturbances and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction are major complications of hemodialysis (HD). The goal of this study is to identify clinical, heart rate variability (HRV) or laboratory parameters that are independently associated with subjective sleep quality.

Patient And Methods: Forty-six stable HD patients filled out sleep questionnaires - Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Athens insomnia scale (AIS), and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS).

A reduction of unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal fibrosis by a therapy combining valsartan with aliskiren.

The protective effect of combination therapy with valsartan and aliskiren against renal fibrosis remains to be defined. This study was undertaken to examine the protective effects of the combination of valsartan and aliskiren against renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Combination therapy with valsartan (15 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)) and aliskiren (10 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)), valsartan monotherapy (30 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)), and aliskiren monotherapy (20 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)) all significantly ameliorated the increase in blood urea nitrogen and the degree of hydronephrosis determined by the increase in weight and length of the obstructed kidney.