Performance enhancement of optical pulse coding phase-sensitive OTDR system with genetic-optimized code.

Optical pulse coding (OPC) in phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (φ-OTDR) traditionally relies on standard coding sequences as probe pulse trains, which usually suffer the problem of distorted probe pulse caused by the gain saturation in erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). To improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and mitigate distortion caused by the EDFA gain saturation, a genetic-optimized code (Go-code) based OPC φ-OTDR (GOPC φ-OTDR) scheme is proposed in this paper. The unique Go-code sequence generated by the distributed genetic algorithm (DGA) is explored in the field of φ-OTDR for the first time, and the coding sequence was optimized to adapt to the vibration sensing requirements in φ-OTDR.

COMMD5 is involved in the mechanisms of hypotension after parathyroidectomy in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Background: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication of end-stage renal disease. Parathyroidectomy (PTx) is often employed for treatment of severe SHPT. However, PTx may cause hypotension via unknown mechanisms.

GAP-43 ameliorates Podocyte injury by decreasing nuclear NFATc1 expression.

Podocyte injury is sufficient to cause glomerulosclerosis and proteinuria, eventually leading to kidney failure. Previous studies found that podocytes and neurons had similar biological characteristics. Growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) is a growth cone protein in neurons, and a marker of axonal and synaptic growth.

Thromboxane A is involved in the development of hypertension in chronic kidney disease rats.

Hypertension is one of the most common complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Some research has indicated that changes in large artery function especially caused by thromboxane A2 (TXA2) may be a novel factor acting to induce hypertension in CKD. We studied the 5/6 nephrectomy rat model and measured serum levels of creatinine (Cr), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), TXA2-stable metabolites (thromboxane B2, TXB2), and caudal artery pressure after nephrectomy.

Receptor activator of NF-κB mediates podocyte injury in diabetic nephropathy.

Receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) expression is increased in podocytes of patients with diabetic nephropathy. However, the relevance of RANK to diabetic nephropathy pathobiology remains unclear. Here, to evaluate the role of podocyte RANK in the development of diabetic nephropathy, we generated a mouse model of podocyte-specific RANK depletion (RANKCre T), and a model of podocyte-specific RANK overexpression (RANK TG), and induced diabetes in these mice with streptozotocin.

Integrin β3 overexpression contributes to podocyte injury through inhibiting RhoA/YAP signaling pathway.

Axis formed by integrin β3 (ITGβ3)-Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA), and Yes-associated protein (YAP) plays an important role in atherosclerosis. In addition, ITGβ3 overexpression was noted in high-glucose (HG) exposure podocytes. However, the ITGβ3-RhoA-YAP axis on HG-induced podocyte injury remains unclear.

Clinical features of severe patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has posed significant threats to public health. To identify and treat the severe and critical patients with COVID-19 is the key clinical problem to be solved. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of severe and non-severe patients with COVID-19.

The Krüppel-like factor 15-NFATc1 axis ameliorates podocyte injury: a novel rationale for using glucocorticoids in proteinuria diseases.

Podocyte injury and loss contribute to proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis and eventually kidney failure. Recent studies have demonstrated that the loss of Kruppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) in podocytes increases the susceptibility to injury; however, the mechanism underlying the protective effects on podocyte injury remains incompletely understood. Herein, we showed that KLF15 ameliorates podocyte injury through suppressing NFAT signaling and the salutary effects of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone in podocyte were partially mediated by the KLF15-NFATc1 axis.

Treatment of Uremic Tumoral Calcinosis in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

Background/aims: Uremic tumoral calcinosis (UTC) is a rare disease with metastatic tissue calcification in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, limited data are available on the treatment of UTC in HD patients. This article mainly discusses the diagnostic findings and efficacy of treatment on HD patients with UTC.

Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor is Associated with Coronary Artery Calcification and Cardiovascular Disease in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.

Background/aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Vascular calcification is thought to play an important role in causing CVD. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a biomarker strongly predictive of cardiovascular outcomes in the pathogenesis of diabetic patients with renal disease treated with hemodialysis.