The causal effect of triglyceride and high blood pressure on IgA nephropathy: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: It has been reported that high blood pressure (HBP) and triglyceride (TG) are considered risk factors in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). This study aimed to explore the causalities between HBP and TG, and IgAN on the basis of Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: Firstly, the genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data of IgAN (GCST90018866) and two exposure factors, TG (ukb-d-30870_raw) and HBP (ukb-a-437), were sourced from the GWAS Catalog and Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) OpenGWAS databases, respectively.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells improve rat islet graft revascularization by upregulating ISL1.

Revascularization of the islet transplant is a crucial step that defines the success rate of patient recovery. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been reported to promote revascularization; however, the underlying cellular mechanism remains unclear. Moreover, our liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry results showed that BMSCs could promote the expression of insulin gene enhancer binding protein-1 (ISL1) in islets.

Comprehensive assessment of deceased donor kidneys with clinical characteristics, pre-implant biopsy histopathology and hypothermic mechanical perfusion parameters is highly predictive of delayed graft function.

Due to the current high demand for transplant tissue, an increasing proportion of kidney donors are considered extended criteria donors, which results in a higher incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) in organ recipients. Therefore, it is important to fully investigate the risk factors of DGF, and establish a prediction system to assess donor kidney quality before transplantation. A total of 333 donation after cardiac death kidney transplant recipients were included in this retrospective study.

Outcomes for primary kidney transplantation from donation after Citizens' death in China: a single center experience of 367 cases.

Background: The cases of donation after brain death followed by circulatory death (DBCD) and donation after cardiac death (DCD) have been increased year by year in China. Further research is needed to understand in the outcomes and risk factors of delayed graft function (DGF) in order to minimize the risk of DGF and ameliorate its potential impact on long-term outcomes. This study was to explore the differences in outcomes between DBCD and DCD transplant and the main risk factors for DGF in DBCD.

Polyglycolic Acid Fibrous Scaffold Improving Endothelial Cell Coating and Vascularization of Islet.

Background: Improving islet graft revascularization has become a crucial task for prolonging islet graft survival. Endothelial cells (ECs) are the basis of new microvessels in an isolated islet, and EC coating has been demonstrated to improve the vascularization and survival of an islet. However, the traditional method of EC coating of islets has low efficiency in vitro.

Inactivation of p27 Promoted Nonspecific Inflammation by Enhancing Macrophage Proliferation in Islet Transplantation.

Islet transplantation suffers from low efficiency caused by nonspecific inflammation-induced graft loss after transplantation. This study reports increased islet loss and enhanced inflammatory response in p27-deficient mice (p27-/-) and proposes a possible mechanism. Compared with wild type, p27-/- mice showed more severe functional injury of islet, with increased serum levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF-α, inducing macrophage proliferation.

Experimental studies on islets isolation, purification and function in rats.

To develop a simple and effective method of islet isolation and purification in rats. Collagenase P was injected into pancreatic duct followed by incubation in water bath to digest the pancreas and isolate islet, then discontinuous gravity gradient purification was used to purify the islet. The purified islets were identified by dithizone staining.

Influence of de novo donor-specific antibody on early renal allograft function recovery.

Background: The aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of de novo donor-specific antibodies (dnDSA) on early graft function, to provide objective reference for early clinical diagnosis and reasonable individualized treatment.

Methods: 305 cases of renal transplant patients for the first time were observed in this study. Follow-up time for all recipients was 6 months after operation.

[Endothelial cells promote islet survival and function].

Objective: To investigate islet graft survival and function after co-culture and co-transplantation with vascular endothelial cells (ECs) in diabetic rats.

Methods: We isolated ECs, and assessed the viability of isolated islets in a group of standard culture and a group of co-culture with ECs. Then we put the diabetic rats in 4 groups: an islet transplantation group, an islet graft with EC transplantation group, an EC transplantation group, and a PBS control group.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus infection after renal transplantation: experience from a single center in China.

Background: We compared the efficacy and safety of 2 different treatments of CMV infection, including asymptomatic CMV replication and CMV disease.

Material And Methods: 852 renal transplantation recipients, including asymptomatic CMV replication and CMV disease, received antiviral therapies of intravenous acyclovir or comprehensive anti-infection solution, mainly with intravenous ganciclovir. Effect, time, acute allograft rejection, and safety were analyzed during the antiviral therapy

Results: The total effective rates were higher with ganciclovir in both asymptomatic CMV replication (98.

Combined strategy of endothelial cells coating, Sertoli cells coculture and infusion improves vascularization and rejection protection of islet graft.

Improving islet graft revascularization and inhibiting rejection become crucial tasks for prolonging islet graft survival. Endothelial cells (ECs) are the basis of islet vascularization and Sertoli cells (SCs) have the talent to provide nutritional support and exert immunosuppressive effects. We construct a combined strategy of ECs coating in the presence of nutritious and immune factors supplied by SCs in a co-culture system to investigate the effect of vascularization and rejection inhibition for islet graft.

Clinical research and social status investigation for donor and recipient of living-related kidney transplant.

Objective: Renal transplantation is the best options for treating end-stage renal disease. Better patient and allograft survival rates are provided by living donation, which has been safe, with minimal immediate and long-term risk for the donor. This study aims to investigate the life status and summarize the clinical experience in living-related kidney transplant (LRKT) before and after renal transplantation.

Assessment of different biomarkers provides valuable diagnostic standards in the evaluation of the risk of acute rejection.

Acute rejection (AR) is a strong risk factor for chronic rejection in renal transplant recipients. Accurate and timely diagnosis of AR episodes is very important for disease control and prognosis. Therefore, objectively evaluated the immune status of patients is essential in the field of post-transplantation treatment.

Blockade of the nuclear factor kappa B pathway prolonged islet allograft survival.

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway is known for its important role in the upregulation of various inflammatory mediators and its "switch regulator" functionality for transcription factor gene networks which control cytokine-induced β-cell dysfunction and death. In this study, the islets were divided into the control group, Ad-green fluorescent protein, and the adenovirus transfected with inhibitor kappa B group. The proliferation index of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the islets apoptosis index were examined after mixed lymphocyte-islet reaction with inverted fluorescence microscopy.

Islet graft survival and function: concomitant culture and transplantation with vascular endothelial cells in diabetic rats.

Background: Human islet transplantation is a great potential therapy for type I diabetes. To investigate islet graft survival and function, we recently showed the improved effects after co-culture and co-transplantation with vascular endothelial cells (ECs) in diabetic rats.

Methods: ECs were isolated, and the viability of isolated islets was assessed in two groups (standard culture group and co-culture group with ECs).

Simultaneous blockade of the CD40/CD40L and NF-κB pathways prolonged islet allograft survival.

Activation of NF-κB pathway and co-stimulatory system CD40/CD40L promotes the inflammation, which plays a key role in the failure of islet graft. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if simultaneous blockade of CD40/CD40L and IκB/NF-κB pathways could protect islet graft. Streptozocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats were transplanted intraportally with 2000 IEQ islets isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats.

Tea polyphenol-induced neuron-like differentiation of mouse mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can be induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells under appropriate conditions often involving toxic reagents that are not applicable for clinical transplantation. The present study investigated whether tea polyphenol (TP), a native nontoxic antioxidant, could induce mouse neuron-like cell differentiation of BMSCs in vitro. BMSCs, dissected from mouse femur bone marrow, were amplified in culture and treated with TP or beta-mercaptoethanol (BME, control).

Improved survival and function of rat cryopreserved islets by coculture with sertoli cells.

In order to investigate how to improve the function and survival of cryopreserved islets, we cocultured cryopreserved thawed rat islets with rat Sertoli cells. After thawing, the islets were divided into the Sertoli cell coculture group and the control group. Using light and transmission electron microscopes, we examined the morphology of islets and measured their apoptosis index (AI) and insulin release stimulation index (SI).

Combination therapy with diltiazem plus CsA/MMF/Pred or CsA/Aza/Pred triple immunosuppressive regimens for use in clinical kidney transplantation in Northwestern China.

Objective: The effects of diltiazem on 1692 kidney transplant recipients under the immunosuppressive regimen of cyclosporine A (CsA) in combination with either mycophenolate mofetil or azothioprine were assessed. The two treatment groups were compared for blood concentrations of CsA, the extent of acceptable dosage reduction for the maintenance of immunotherapy, potential effects of kidney protection, and promotion of graft function.

Method: We monitored changes of blood concentrations of CsA in the two different patient treatment groups for post-transplant graft function, episodes of acute rejection, and hepatic and renal toxicity in 1640 renal transplant recipients after treatment with diltiazem.

Efficacy of Cordyceps sinensis in long term treatment of renal transplant patients.

High doses of cyclosporin A (CsA) can not be used in the long term treatment of kidney allograft recipients primarily due to severe side effects. In the present study, we investigated the potential application of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) in the long term treatment of renal transplant patients. The renal function and survival rates of grafts and patients did not show significantly different between the control group and the treatment group.

The effects of diltiazem in renal transplantation patients treated with cyclosporine A.

Objective: To investigate the effects of diltiazem and cyclosporine A (CsA) combination therapy on protecting the kidney, promoting graft functioning and improving post-transplanted kidney recovery.

Methods: The blood concentrations of CsA, the condition of the post-transplant kidney, the rate of acute rejection (AR), as well as hepatic and renal toxicity in 636 cases of renal transplant recipients were determined after being treated by CsA, with or without diltiazem.

Results: Compared with the control group which received CsA, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and prednisolone (Pred) but lacked diltiazem, the group receiving these agents together with diltiazem required reduced dosage of CsA (P < 0.

[Comparison of different isolation methods on adult Sertoli cells co-transplanted with islets].

Aim: To establish a more convenient and effective method for isolating adult Sertoli cells and apply the method to islet transplantation.

Methods: Trypsin, DNase, collagenase and hyaluronidase were used for a one-step digestion in group A. A two-step digestion was used in group B, in which testis tissues were first digested by trypsin and DNase and then were digested by collagenase and hyaluronidase.

Study on systemic immune tolerance induction in rat islet transplantation by intravenous infusion of Sertoli cells.

Background: Sertoli cells are usually co-transplanted with pancreatic islets to induce local immune tolerance. In this report, we used infusion with Sertoli cells in islet transplantation to induce systemic immune tolerance and studied the mechanism of the tolerance induction.

Methods: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were divided into four groups before islet transplantation: group A as control; group B with intravenous infusion of Sertoli cells; group C with Sertoli cell infusion and Fas ligand antibody treatment; and group D with Sertoli cell infusion and transforming growth factor-beta1 antibody treatment.

Long-term follow-up of co-administration of diltiazem and cyclosporine in Chinese kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Co-administration of diltiazem and cyclosporine A (CsA) in kidney transplant recipients shows improvement of renal transplantation outcomes.

Methods: We respectively analyzed 1531 kidney transplant recipients treated by different immunosuppressive therapy schemes from 1986 to 2003. They were divided into three groups depending on their immunosuppressive therapy schemes: control group with a standard triple therapy without use of diltiazem; study group I with the combination of diltiazem and the standard triple therapy but slightly low CsA; study group II with combination of diltiazem and a modified standard triple therapy but lower CsA.

Allograft rejection-related gene expression in the endothelial cells of renal transplantation recipients after cytomegalovirus infection.

Objective: To explore the effects of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on rejection-related gene expression in the endothelial cells of renal transplantation recipients.

Methods: Endothelial cells (ECs) were cultured and stimulated by a variety of factors: A, normal control group; B, inactivated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection group; C, HCMV infection group; D, HCMV supernatant infection group; and E, ganciclovir HCMV group. Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and major histocompability complex (MHC) class I and class II antigens was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) and immunohistochemistry.