Bioinformatic analysis reveals that the OAS family may play an important role in lupus nephritis.

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common complication of systemic lupus erythematosus that presents a high risk of end-stage renal disease. However, the molecular mechanisms of LN remain unclear. The lack of understanding hinders the development of specific targeted therapy for this progressive disease.

Transcriptome sequencing of circular RNA reveals a novel circular RNA-has_circ_0114427 in the regulation of inflammation in acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common serious syndrome characterized by rapid decrease of glomerular filtration rate and the progressive increase of serum creatinine. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are regulatory RNAs that recently became popular among various diseases. However, the expression profile and function of circRNAs in AKI remain largely unknown.

Integrated bioinformatics analysis reveals novel hub genes closely associated with pathological mechanisms of immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common glomerular disease. The major pathological changes associated with it affect cell proliferation, fibrosis, apoptosis, inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) organization. However, the molecular events underlying IgAN remain to be fully elucidated.

Bioinformatic Analysis Reveals Novel Immune-Associated Hub Genes in Human Membranous Nephropathy.

Background: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is one of the most common pathologies of the nephrotic syndrome. MN is closely associated with the autoimmune response but its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Bioinformatic network analysis can be used to identify disease-related hub genes.

Genetic association of polymorphisms in AXIN1 gene with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in a Chinese population.

Aim: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the association between the polymorphisms in AXIN1 with susceptibility to clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Materials & Methods:  A total of 284 ccRCC patients and 439 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Totally three tag single nucleotide polymorphisms in AXIN1 gene were genotyped using PCR & restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Effect of restricted protein diet supplemented with keto analogues in end-stage renal disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the restricted protein diet supplemented with keto analogues when applied in end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CBM and CENTRAL databases were searched and reviewed up to January 2017. Clinical trials were analyzed using RevMan 5.

Caregiving burden and depression in paid caregivers of hospitalized patients: a pilot study in China.

Background: Caregiving burden and depression in family caregivers have been investigated, but little is known about how they affect paid caregivers. The aim of this study was to investigate caregiving burden and depression in paid caregivers of hospitalized patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital (Chengdu, China) that enrolled 108 paid caregivers who worked in the inpatient department.

Mitofusin 2 attenuates the histone acetylation at collagen IV promoter in diabetic nephropathy.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) increase in diabetic nephropathy (DN) is closely related to mitochondrial dysfunction. The mechanism of protective function of mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) for mitochondria remains largely unknown. In this study, the molecular mechanisms for the effect of Mfn2 on mitochondria and subsequent collagen IV expression in DN were investigated.

The effect of calcineurin inhibitors in the treatment of IgA nephropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA).

Background: Immunoglobin A nephropathy (IgAN), the most prevalent form of primary glomerulonephritis, represents the leading cause of kidney failure among East Asian populations. Immunosuppressive treatment regimen, except for a 6-month trial of corticosteroids, has not been approved by the KDIGO guideline yet. Specific and effective treatment is still lacking.

Inhibition to DRP1 translocation can mitigate p38 MAPK-signaling pathway activation in GMC induced by hyperglycemia.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious complication of diabetes with a poorly defined etiology and limited treatment options. Early intervention is a key to preventing the progression of DN. Dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) regulates mitochondrial morphology by promoting its fission and is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases.

Novel risk score of contrast-induced nephropathy after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aim: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a major cause of acute kidney injury. In this study, we established a comprehensive risk score model to assess risk of CIN after PCI procedure, which could be easily used in a clinical environment.

Methods: A total of 805 PCI patients, divided into analysis cohort (70%) and validation cohort (30%), were enrolled retrospectively in this study.

Clinicopathological and outcome analysis of adult lupus nephritis patients in China.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of lupus nephritis adult patients in China.

Methods: Clinicopathological features, treatment strategies, responses and outcome of 681 adult patients with biopsy-proved lupus nephritis were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Six hundred and eighty-one LN patients were included and followed up for 52.

Protein kinase C-delta is involved in induction of NOX1 gene expression by aldosterone in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

In this study, we focused on the relationship between aldosterone and NOX1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). For the first time, with the use of specific inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), we report that PKCdelta mediates upregulation of NOX1 induced by 10 nM aldosterone in cultured VSMCs. Participation of PKC in the mediation of NOX1 regulation was further confirmed by the effect of diacylglycerol, a PKC agonist, on the NOX1 RNA in A7r5 cells with Northern blot analysis.

Two tachykinin-like peptides from skin secretions of Danio rerio.

Tachykinin perform multiple physiological functions such as smoothing muscle contraction, vasodilation, inflammation, the processing of nerve signal, neuroprotection and neurodegeneration. Two novel tachykinin-like peptides named tachykinin-DR1 and -DR2 were identified from skin secretions of Danio rerio in current work. Their amino acid sequences were determined as SKSQHFHGLM-NH(2) and NKGEIFVGLM-NH(2), respectively.

[Effects of Artesunate on MCP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA expression of renal tissue in the rat IgA nephropathy model].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Artesunate on expression of MCP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA in renal tissue of the rat experimental IgA nephropathy model.

Methods: 40 rats were divided randomly into 4 groups with 10 rats in normal control group while the other 30 in model control group, low dose Artesunate group and high dose Artesunate group after the establishment of IgA nephropathy model. MCP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA in renal tissue were tested by immunohistochemical and RT-PCR methods.

[Inflammatoin, oxidative stress and carbonyl stress in uremic patients].

Objective: To evaluate the states of inflammation, oxidative stress and carbonyl stress in uremic patients and analyze their relationships.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight cases were divided into 6 groups: non-dialysis uremia group (n=25), peritoneal dialysis group (n=19), hemophan(Hem) membrane dialysis group (n=25), polyamide (PS) membrane dialysis group (n=25), diabetes with normal renal function group (n= 23) and normal control group (n=11). Spectrophotometry and immune turbidimetry were used to measure the serum SOD, VitC, VitE, MDA and total carbonyl compounds (TCC) levels.

[Effects of RGD tripeptide on the expression of FAK and HA in glomerular mesangial cells].

Objective: Observing the effects of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides on the proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs), and on the expression of focal adheshion kinase (FAK) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in GMCs.

Methods: GMCs of rats were induced with RGD peptide in vitro. The proliferation of GMCs was measured by MTT; the expression of FAK, by immunohistochemistry; and the quantity of HA, by radioimmunoassay.

[Effects of cilazapril on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in diabetic rat glomeruli].

Objective: To assess the effect of cilazapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), on the protection against diabetic nephropathy and on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in diabetic rat glomeruli.

Methods: The rat model of diabetes mellitus (DM) was produced by injection of streptozocin (STZ). After the treatment with cilazapril [1 mg/(kg.

[Protective effect of angiotensin II receptor blockage on rats with experimental diabetes nephropathy in early stage].

Objective: To investigate the possible mechanism of angiotensin II receptor blockage (Losartan) for the decreasing of proteinuria and the protection of renal function in diabetic rats.

Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: Losartan treatment group, diabetes mellitus (DM) model group, and control group. All were treated accordingly for 4 weeks.