Deletion of Smad3 protects against C-reactive protein-induced renal fibrosis and inflammation in obstructive nephropathy.

Elevated plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are closely associated with progressive renal injury in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here, we tested a hypothesis that CRP may promote renal fibrosis and inflammation via a TGF-β/Smad3-dependent mechanism. Role and mechanisms of TGF-β/Smad3 in CRP-induced renal fibrosis and inflammation were examined in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) induced in CRP Tg/Smad3 KO mice and in a rat tubular epithelial cell line in which Smad3 gene is stably knocked down (S3KD-NRK52E).

Depression at Baseline Is an Independent Risk Factor for Cognitive Decline in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Depression has been recognized as a risk factor for cognitive impairment (CI) from cross-sectional datasets. This multicenter prospective study investigated the association between depression and cognitive decline in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.This multicenter prospective cohort study included 458 PD patients who were followed up for 2 years.

The Association of Cognitive Impairment with Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis.

Research on the association between cognitive impairment (CI) and peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis is limited. Therefore, we investigated whether CI contributed to the risk of PD-related peritonitis.This prospective cohort study enrolled 458 patients from 5 PD centers between 1 March 2013, and 30 November 2013, and continued until 31 May 2016.

Cognitive Changes in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Rationale & Objective: Cognitive impairment is an independent predictor of technique failure and mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy. We investigated changes in cognitive function and factors associated with it in this population.

Study Design: Multicenter prospective cohort study.

An association of cognitive impairment with diabetes and retinopathy in end stage renal disease patients under peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Diabetes and retinopathy have been considered as risk factors of cognitive impairment (CI) in previous studies. We investigated both of these two factors and their relationship with global and specific cognitive functions in end stage renal disease patients under peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods: In this multicenter cross-sectional study, 424 clinically stable patients were enrolled from 5 PD units, who performed PD for at least three months and completed fundoscopy examination if they had diabetes.

Performance of the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) in Assessing Specific Cognitive Function in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis.

Purpose: While Cognitive impairment (CI) has been identified as an independent risk factors for mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), it is inadequately assessed. We evaluated the applicability of the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) in assessing specific cognitive function and compared it to a detailed neuropsychological test battery as the reference standard.

Methods: In this multicentric cross-sectional study, we enrolled 445 clinically stable patients from five PD units, who were undergoing PD for at least 3 months.

The Association of Individual and Regional Socioeconomic Status on Initial Peritonitis and Outcomes in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

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Background: Research indicates that the socioeconomic status (SES) of individuals and the area where they live are related to initial peritonitis and outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD). We conducted a retrospective, multi-center cohort study in China to examine these associations. ♦

Methods: Data on 2,171 PD patients were collected from 7 centers, including baseline demographic, socioeconomic, and laboratory data.

Depression and Cognitive Impairment in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Depression and cognitive impairment have been identified as independent risk factors for mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The relationship between depression and global and specific cognitive functions in PD patients was investigated in this study.

Study Design: Multicenter cross-sectional study.

Hyponatremia and Cognitive Impairment in Patients Treated with Peritoneal Dialysis.

Background And Objectives: Hyponatremia has been identified as a relevant factor for cognitive impairment but has not been investigated in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study investigated the relationship between hyponatremia and cognitive functions in PD patients.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: A total of 476 clinically stable patients from five PD units who were older than 18 years of age and had undergone PD for at least 3 months between March 2013 and March 2014 were enrolled in this multicenter cross-sectional study.

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level Could Predict the Risk for Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis.

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Background: As an immune system regulator, vitamin D is commonly deficient among patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), which may contribute to their impaired immune function and increased risk for PD-related peritonitis. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether vitamin D deficiency could predict the risk of peritonitis in a prospective cohort of patients on PD. ♦

Methods: We collected 346 prevalent and incident PD patients from 2 hospitals.

The associations between the family education and mortality of patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Aims: To investigate whether education level of family members predicts all-cause and cardiovascular death and initial-episode peritonitis in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods: A total of 2264 patients on chronic PD were collected from seven centers affiliated with the Socioeconomic Status on the Outcome of Peritoneal Dialysis (SSOP) Study. All demographic, socioeconomic and laboratory data of patients and the education level of all family members were recorded at baseline.

SCP, a polysaccharide from Schisandra chinensis, induces apoptosis in human renal cell carcinoma Caki-1 cells through mitochondrial-dependent pathway via inhibition of ERK activation.

This study is the first to investigate the anticancer effect of Schisandra chinensis polysaccharide (SCP) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells. The results revealed that SCP treatment showed high cytotoxic potency in Caki-1 cells by inducing apoptosis, which is associated with the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, activation of caspase-3/9, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Furthermore, pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) significantly blocked SCP-induced apoptosis and PARP cleavage in Caki-1 cells.

Associations between serum-intact parathyroid hormone, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, oral vitamin D analogs and metabolic syndrome in peritoneal dialysis patients: a multi-center cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Although previous studies have suggested associations between serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in the general population, these associations are still uncharacterized in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: In total, 837 prevalent PD patients from 5 centers in China were enrolled between April 1, 2011 and November 1, 2011. The demographic data, biochemical parameters and medical records were collected, except for serum 25(OH)D which was measured in 347 of 837 patients.

The associations of uric acid, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Aims: To investigate whether uric acid (UA) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients after controlling for recognized CV risk factors.

Methods: A total of 2264 patients on chronic PD were collected from seven centers affiliated with the Socioeconomic Status on the Outcome of Peritoneal Dialysis (SSOP) Study. All demographic and laboratory data were recorded at baseline.

Impact of individual and environmental socioeconomic status on peritoneal dialysis outcomes: a retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Objectives: We aimed to explore the impacts of individual and environmental socioeconomic status (SES) on the outcome of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in regions with significant SES disparity, through a retrospective multicenter cohort in China.

Methods: Overall, 2,171 incident patients from seven PD centers were included. Individual SES was evaluated from yearly household income per person and education level.

Protein-energy wasting and peritoneal function in elderly peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Nutritional status is important in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We aimed to compare the peritoneal transport (PT) characteristics and indicators of nutritional status in elderly and non-elderly PD patients.

Methods: One-hundred and four consecutive patients were divided into either the elderly (>65 years old; n = 44) or the non-elderly (≤65 years old; n = 60) group.

[Parathyroid hormone 1-34 induce cardiac myocytes hypertrophy via extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 pathway].

Objective: To investigate the role of mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MAPKK, MEK1) and regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) on cardiac hypertrophy induced by rat parathyroid hormone1-34 (rPTH1-34).

Method: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes was treated with or without 10(-7) mol/L rPTH1-34 in the absence or presence 2 x 10(-5) mol/L PD98059, a MEK1 inhibitor. Cellular diameter was measured by Motic Images Advanced 3.