Smartphone-based machine learning model for real-time assessment of medical kidney biopsy.

Background: Kidney biopsy is the gold-standard for diagnosing medical renal diseases, but the accuracy of the diagnosis greatly depends on the quality of the biopsy specimen, particularly the amount of renal cortex obtained. Inadequate biopsies, characterized by insufficient cortex or predominant medulla, can lead to inconclusive or incorrect diagnoses, and repeat biopsy. Unfortunately, there has been a concerning increase in the rate of inadequate kidney biopsies, and not all medical centers have access to trained professionals who can assess biopsy adequacy in real time.

Phospholipase A2 receptor staining in pediatric idiopathic membranous glomerulopathy.

Background: Membranous glomerulopathy, though typically a disease of adults, does occur in children. Antiphospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) autoantibodies have recently been implicated as a causative agent in most cases of adult primary (idiopathic) membranous glomerulopathy. PLA2R staining of renal biopsies in two recent large case series of adults with primary membranous glomerulopathy showed a sensitivity of approximately 75 % for detecting primary membranous glomerulopathy.