Predictive Value of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Parameters for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients-A Retrospective Study.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a significant contributor to increased overall and cardiovascular mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is an accurate method for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) during both submaximal and peak exercise. Previous studies have demonstrated a strong correlation among CRF and increased cardiovascular and overall mortality rates.

The protective mechanism of Klotho gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on acute kidney injury induced by rhabdomyolysis.

Background: Studies have shown that the Klotho gene has tremendous potential for future therapeutic purposes in both acute and chronic kidney diseases . This study aimed to investigate the possible protective mechanisms of the Klotho gene against acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by rhabdomyolysis (RM).

Methods: In this study, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were transfected with recombinant adenoviruses expressing the Klotho gene (BMSCs-Klotho) and by those expressing empty vector (BMSCs-EV).

Protective Effect of Salvia Przewalskii Extract on Puromycin-Induced Podocyte Injury.

Background: To determine the effect of Salvia przewalskii extract (SPE) from total phenolic acids on puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced rat podocyte injury.

Methods: The rats were divided into groups that were treated with either PAN only or PAN followed by tacrolimus or SPE. We evaluated the effects of SPE on podocyte injury 5, 10, 15 and 21 days following treatment.

Therapeutic effects of human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells on renal interstitial fibrosis in a murine model of unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Interstitial fibrosis is regarded as the main pathway for the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is often associated with severe renal dysfunction. Stem cell-based therapies may provide alternative approaches for the treatment of CKD. Human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (hAFSCs) are a novel stem cell population, which exhibit both embryonic and mesenchymal stem cell characteristics.

Thrombospondin-1 short hairpin RNA suppresses tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the kidney of ureteral obstruction by ameliorating peritubular capillary injury.

Background/aims: Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a naturally occurring inhibitor of angiogenesis, is an important mediator of renal fibrosis in clinical and experimental kidney disease. Increasing evidence shows that the microvasculature plays a critical role in progressive renal disease. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether interstitial fibrosis could be prevented by abolishing TSP-1 function in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis.

Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells alleviates renal interstitial fibrosis in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Aims: The present study investigated whether transplantation of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (BM-EPCs) in renal capillary network improves renal interstitial fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model in mice.

Main Methods: Ex vivo generated, characterized, and cultivated mice BM-EPCs were identified by their vasculogenic properties in vitro. BM-EPCs were labelled with carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFDA-SE) before transplantation.