Tacrolimus is an alternative therapy option for the treatment of adult steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome: a prospective, multicenter clinical trial.

Background: The optimal therapy for adult steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) remains a therapeutic challenge. We investigated the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus as a promising regimen in Chinese adult patients.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter trial was conducted in 9 nephrology centers from 2006 to 2008, in patients with SRNS (defined as failure to respond to 1 mg/kg/day of prednisone for 8, and 16 weeks, in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis).

Outcomes of tacrolimus therapy in adults with refractory membranous nephrotic syndrome: a prospective, multicenter clinical trial.

Introduction: The treatment of adult refractory idiopathic membranous nephropathy with steroid and other immunosuppressant-resistant nephrotic syndrome can be a significant challenge. The authors investigated the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus (TAC) as a promising regimen.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter trial was conducted in 9 nephrology centers from 2006 to 2008.

[Expression of TNF-alpha signaling adapter proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in lupus nephritis patients of different TCM asthenia syndromes].

Objective: To investigate the mRNA expressions of the TNF adapter proteins, including TNF receptor-associated death domain protein (TRADD), Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD), receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP-1) and TNF receptor-associated factor-2 (TRAF-2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of lupus nephritis (LN) patients of various TCM asthenia syndromes. Methods Fifty-one inpatients with LN were differentiated according to TCM syndrome differentiation, 13 cases of yin-deficiency with inner heat syndrome (A); 26 cases of both qi-yin deficiency syndrome (B), 12 cases of Pi-Shen yang-deficiency syndrome (C). Peripheral venous blood samples from the 51 LN patients and 17 healthy subjects were collected to separate PBMCs.

[Clinical diagnosis and treatment of BK virus infection in renal transplant recipients].

Objective: To explore methods of clinical diagnosis and treatment of BK virus (BKV) infection in renal transplant recipients.

Methods: Urine samples were collected from 227 renal transplant recipients who had undergone renal transplantation at most 48 months to detect the decoy cells. Samples of urine and peripheral blood (BP) were collected to undergo real-time PCR to detect the BKV DNA.

Protein expression and purification of human Zbtb7A in Pichia pastoris via gene codon optimization and synthesis.

Human Zbtb7A was proved to be an important molecular switch in oncogenesis. However, it is difficult to obtain its protein expression in prokaryotic system, due to high G+C content and rare codons in zbtb7a gene. Therefore, to further research the function and application of this protein, we optimized its coding sequence according to the codon bias of Pichia pastoris, synthesized the sequence with two-step PCR and confirmed the accuracy by DNA sequencing.

[Expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha signaling adapter proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Objective: To investigate the mRNA expression of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-adapter proteins, TNF receptor-associated death domain protein (TRADD), Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD), receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP-1), and TNF receptor-associated factor-2 (TRAF-2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to explore the relationship between the expression of these adaptors and the SLE disease activity.

Methods: PBMC were isolated from venous blood of 51 SLE patients and 17 healthy subjects. The mRNA expression of TRADD, FADD, RIP-1, TRAF-2, Caspase 3, and interleukin (IL)-1beta were analyzed by quantitative real time RT-PCR.

[Therapeutic effect of sirolimus against chronic allograft nephropathy in kidney transplant recipients].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of sirolimus in management of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 31 CAN patients followed up since March 2002, who experienced a change from a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based regimen to a SRL-based regimen. Serum creatinine (Cr) in these patients was compared before and after the regimen change, and the adverse events associated with SRL were analyzed.

[Clinical diagnosis of BK virus infection in renal transplant recipients].

Objective: To explore the clinical diagnosis of BK virus (BKV) infection in renal transplant recipients.

Methods: Urine and peripheral blood samples were taken from 234 renal transplant recipients for BKV detection with cytological test and real-time PCR.

Results: The occurrence rate of urine decoy cells, BKV viruria and viremia in these patients was 33.

Decreased expressions of the TNF-alpha signaling adapters in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are correlated with disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is a pleiotropic cytokine. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease. However, until now, the expression and pathophysiological role of TNF adapters in SLE have been poorly understood.

[Characteristics of neoplasm occurrence of renal allograft recipients and their prognosis].

Background & Objective: Renal allograft recipients are more likely to develop neoplasm than general population because of long-term immunosuppressive treatment and concurrent infections. This study was designed to analyze the clinical features of neoplasm occurrence of renal allograft recipients, and the effect of radical surgery (RS) on their prognosis.

Methods: Records of 2 160 renal allograft recipients treated in our center from Oct.