Objective To investigate the correlation between body composition and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods CKD patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Nephrology of Chongqing General Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019 and had complete clinical biochemical data were divided into CKD patients with CVD and CKD patients without CVD according to their medical history and corresponding auxiliary examinations. Clinical data were collected and anthropometric measurements were conducted. Skeletal muscle index (SMI), appendage lean mass/height², total body fat (TBF), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), bone mineral capacity, bone mineral density and et al, were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. T test, U test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between body composition and CVD. Results A total of 604 CKD patients were included in this study, including 560 patients (92.7%) with CKD stage 3, 44 patients (7.3%) with CKD stage 4, and 180 CKD patients with CVD (29.8%), 424 CKD patients without CVD (70.2%). Compared with CKD patients without CVD, the proportion of men, the proportion of hypertension, the proportion of diabetes, age, duration of CKD, systolic blood pressure, blood uric acid, waist to hip ratio and waist circumference were higher (all P<0.05), while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were lower in CKD patients with CVD (all P<0.05). In terms of body composition, SMI (t=-11.964, P<0.001) and body mass index (t=-4.462, P<0.001) in CKD patients with CVD were significantly lower than those in CKD patients without CVD, but VAT (t=3.089, P=0.002) and TBF (t=5.177, P<0.001) in CKD patients with CVD were significantly higher. After adjusting for confounders such as age, CKD duration, hypertension history, diabetes history, LDL-C, body mass index, eGFR, TBF, etc. by multivariate logistic regression analysis, the risk of CKD patients suffering from CVD increased significantly with the decrease of SMI [with SMI high tertile (36.37%-50.80%) as reference, SMI middle tertile (28.23%-36.31%): OR=1.49, 95%CI 1.24-1.71, P=0.003; SMI low tertile (15.28%-28.19%): OR=2.17, 95%CI 1.79-2.62, P<0.001], and VAT was not found to be associated with the risk of CVD in CKD patients (P>0.05). Conclusion Reduction of SMI is independently associated with CVD in CKD patients.

Objective To study the relationship between the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1α (CPT1α) and progression of renal interstitial fibrosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD), and to evaluate the value of CPT1α as a biomarker in pathological diagnosis of renal interstitial fibrosis and CKD. Methods As a retrospective cohort study, information of CKD patients dignosed with tubulointerstitial fibrosis by renal biopsy and receiving follow-up from March 1, 2010 to July 30, 2017 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were collected. Renal tissues were stained by immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of CPT1α protein and then divided into three groups according to the quartile of proportion of CPT1α positive staining cells, including group Q1(>67.89%), group Q2(49.84%-67.89%) and group Q3(<49.84%). The degree of renal interstitial fibrosis was measured by Masson staining and lipid deposition was represented by Bodipy staining. Messenger RNA of CPT1α and collagen as well as other extracellular matrix genes were detected by real time-PCR. Relationships between proportion of CPT1α positive staining cells and renal interstitial fibrosis and renal function were analyzed by linear regression analysis. The relationship between CPT1α positive cell number ratio and renal function progression was measured by Pearson correlation analysis and generalized linear model. The effect of lipid-lowering medicine on renal function of CKD patients was analyzed by paired comparative analysis. Results Ninety patients with CKD were included in this study. Renal interstitial fibrosis and lipid droplets deposition area increased in Q2/Q3 group compared with Q1 group by Masson and Bodipy staining (all P<0.05). Messenger RNA level of extracellular matrix-related proteins increased in Q2/Q3 group by real time-PCR than those of Q1 group (all P<0.05). Linear regression analysis showed that fibrosis area was negatively correlated with the proportion of CPT1α positive staining cells (r=-0.309, P<0.01). The baseline expression of CPT1α in renal issues was negatively related with serum creatinine (Scr) (r=-2.801, P<0.001), positively related with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r=1.240, P<0.001). After a medium follow-up of 3.47 years, CPT1α positive cell number ratio was positively correlated with eGFR change rate by Pearson analysis (r=0.220, P=0.038). Paired stratified analysis showed that taking lipid-lowering medicines attenuated the decrease of eGFR in Q2 group and Q3 group but not in Q1 group (both P<0.05). Conclusions The decline of CPT1α in renal tissues of CKD patients is associated with the increase of Scr, the decrease of eGFR and renal interstitial fibrosis. CPT1α is a promising molecular marker to evaluate the degree of renal fibrosis and the progression of CKD.

Objective To understand the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) scores in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients aged 65 years and older, and analyze the related influencing factors of quality of life. Methods A total of 189 patients who were over 65 years old and diagnosed with CKD in the Department of Nephrology of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital from October 2016 to October 2019 were included retrospectively. The patients were divided into dialysis group (n=90 cases) and non-dialysis group (n=99 cases) according to whether dialysis or not. The concise CGA scores included age, basic activities of daily living (BADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and modified cumulative illness rating score for geriatrics (MCIRS-G). Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between different scale scores and clinical indexes. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to further analyze independent related factors of the quality of life in elderly CKD patients. Results Compared with the non-dialysis group, the BADL score and IADL score in the dialysis group were significantly reduced [(70.00±33.28) vs (93.38±14.32), t=6.166, P<0.001；(9.78±7.12) vs (15.95±5.74), t=6.520, P<0.001], while the MCIRS-G score was significantly increased [(31.13±4.00) vs (27.29±5.17), t=-5.741, P<0.001]. Linear regression analysis performed on the data of non-dialysis group patients showed that estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum uric acid (SUA), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), blood potassium and chlorine were positively correlated with BADL and IADL scores (all P<0.05). B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was negatively correlated with BADL score (P<0.01). BNP and age were negatively correlated with IADL score (both P<0.05). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was positively correlated with MCIRS-G or MCIRS-G other than kidney (both P<0.05), and eGFR, SUA, total cholesterol, and HDL-C were negatively correlated with MCIRS-G or MCIRS-G other than kidney (all P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that eGFR was an independent influencing factor for BADL (P<0.01). Age and eGFR were independent influencing factors for IADL (both P<0.05). Conclusions The decline of quality of life in elderly CKD patients is related with eGFR, SUA, age, BNP and HDL-C levels, and eGFR and age are independent influencing factors.

Objective To investigate the number of necroptotic renal tubular epithelial cells in renal tissues of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the correlation with clinicopathologic parameters, and explore its role in the progression of the excessive loss of renal tubular cells and chronic kidney injury. Methods Renal tissue samples from 60 patients (18-65 years old) with CKD proven by kidney biopsy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from June 2017 to June 2019 were collected. According to internationally accepted K/DOQI guidelines, the patients were divided into 1-4 stages of CKD, with 15 cases in each stage. The number of necroptotic renal tubular epithelial cells in patients with different stages of CKD was detected using receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) fluorescent staining, and the expression of RIP3 and MLKL, marker protein of necroptosis, was detected by immunohistochemistry. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the percentage of necroptotic renal tubular epithelial cells and clinicopathologic parameters. In addition, the expression of angiotensinogenⅡ receptor (AT2R) in renal tissue and its correlation with the percentage of necroptotic renal tubular epithelial cells were analyzed. Results With the development of CKD, the structural destruction of renal tubules in patients with CKD was gradually aggravated, and the renal tubules in the corresponding areas were atrophied, accompanied by worsening interstitial fibrosis. The adjacent renal tubules were focally dilated and numerous protein tubules were seen in the tubules. Importantly, renal tubular injury score in second and third stage of CKD was significantly higher than that in control group (both P<0.01). TUNEL+RIP3 immunofluorescence staining results showed that the percentage of TUNEL/RIP3 double positive renal tubular epithelial cells (necroptotic renal tubular epithelial cells) in renal tubules of the second and third stage of CKD was higher (all P<0.01). Immunohistochemical results showed that RIP3, MLKL and AT2R proteins were mainly expressed in cytoplasm of renal tubular epithelial cells, and the expression of RIP3, MLKL and AT2R in renal tubular epithelial cells was higher in the second and third stage of CKD patients (all P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the percentage of necroptotic renal tubular epithelial cells was positively correlated with blood urea nitrogen (r=0.514, P=0.003), serum creatinine (r=0.507, P=0.019), serum cystatin C (r=0.571, P=0.026), serum uric acid (r=0.592, P=0.008), renal tubules injury score (r=0.901, P<0.001), renal interstitial fibrosis index (r=0.700, P=0.001) and the expression of AT2R protein in renal tissue (r=0.715，P=0.001). Conclusions As CKD progresses, necroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in CKD patients occurs. The necroptotic cell death may be an important factor leading to renal tubular epithelial cell excessive death and the progression of chronic kidney injury. Furthermore, necroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells may be related to the high expression of AT2R in kidney tissue.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of chronic kidney disease (CKD) at the stage 3-5D in children with renal anemia, and provide reference data for standardized diagnosis and treatment. Methods A single-center retrospective study was conducted to collect clinical data in children with CKD at Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2016 to December 2018. The patients were divided into CKD stage 3 group, stage 4 group and stage 5 group according to estimated glomerular filtration rate. The indexes of anemia among the groups were compared. Data on anemia indicators, treatment, and anemia improvement in maintenance dialysis children at stage 5D were analyzed. Results A total of 171 children with CKD were included in the study. The hemoglobin levels in CKD stage 3 group, stage 4 group and stage 5 group were (126.4±20.5) g/L, (90.8±26.0) g/L and (78.7±18.4) g/L, respectively, and there was a statistical difference among the groups ( χ²=61.982, P<0.001; trend test F=71.061, P<0.001). The incidences of anemia in children with CKD stage 3, stage 4 and stage 5 were 27.3%(9/33), 83.3%(25/30) and 95.4%(105/108), respectively. Mild, moderate and severe anemia in children with CKD stage 3 accounted for 15.2%(5/33), 12.1%(4/33) and 0(0), respectively. Mild, moderate and severe anemia in children with CKD stage 4 accounted for 26.7%(8/30), 50.0%(15/30) and 6.7%(2/30), respectively. Mild, moderate and severe anemia in children with CKD stage 5 accounted for 21.3%(23/108), 60.2%(65/108) and 15.8%(17/108), respectively. Anemia type was mostly normocytic anemia. The hemoglobin of 30 children with CKD stage 5D at the initial stage of dialysis was (79.3±16.3) g/L. Twenty-three children with CKD stage 5D received erythropoietin combined with oral iron or intravenous iron therapy. The hemoglobin compliance rates in children with maintenance dialysis in initial phase, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months were 6.7%(2/30), 16.7%(5/30), 63.3%(19/30) and 90.0%(27/30), respectively. The correction time for anemia was (2.5±1.0) months. Twelve children with CKD stage 5D received iron sucrose infusion, and no adverse reaction occurred. Conclusions Renal anemia has a high incidence in children with CKD. Early and standardized treatment is of great significance to improve outcome of renal anemia. Venous iron infusion is a safe and effective treatment method for children with maintenance dialysis.

Objective To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/NF-κB signaling pathway in human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells of hyperuricemic nephropathy. Methods HK-2 cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into control group and experimental group. The experimental group was induced by high uric acid (720 μmol/L) immersion for 48 h to establish a cell model of hyperuricemic nephropathy in vitro and subsequently divided into hyperuricemic group, overexpressed protease activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and knockdown PAR2 group. The expressions of PAR2, PI3K, AKT, NF-κB mRNA were measured by real-time PCR. The expressions of PAR2, PI3K, AKT and NF-κB protein were measured by Western blotting. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), pro-interleukin-1β (pro-IL-1β), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results (1) Compared with the control group, the expressions of PAR2, PI3K, AKT and NF-κB mRNA and protein in hyperuricemic group were significantly increased (all P<0.05), the expressions of TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6, pro-IL-1β, IL-1β and TGF-β1 in the supernatant in hyperuricemic group were significantly increased (all P<0.01). (2) Compared with the hyperuricemic group, the expressions of PAR2, PI3K, AKT and NF-κB mRNA and protein in overexpressed PAR2 group were significantly increased (all P<0.05), the expressions of TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β1 in the supernatant were significantly increased (all P<0.05). (3) Compared with the hyperuricemic group, the expression of PAR2, PI3K, AKT and NF-κB mRNA and protein in knockdown PAR2 group were significantly decreased (all P<0.05), the expressions of IL-6, pro-IL-1β, IL-1β and TGF-β1 in the supernatant were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). Conclusions In the process of uric acid-induced HK-2 cell damage, uric acid significantly up-regulates the expression of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway by activating PAR2, leading to a marked increase in inflammatory damage. Knocking down PAR2 inhibits the expression of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway, which can effectively reduce the inflammatory damage of HK-2 cells.

Objective To analyze the weight score and clinical application of 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) classification criteria in lupus nephritis patients. Methods Lupus nephritis patients with renal biopsy results who were admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University College of Medicine between January 2014 and December 2018 were enrolled retrospectively. According to whether these patients were treated with glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressants at the time of renal biopsy, they were divided into untreated group and post-treatment group. The weight scores were compared between the two groups, and the relationship between each weight score and remission after treatment was analyzed. Taking no remission as the end event, Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the influence of each weighted integral on the end event. Results A total of 153 patients were enrolled, including 131 (85.6%) females. These were 70 (45.8%) patients in the untreated group and 83 (54.2%) patients in the post-treatment group. The patients in the untreated group had higher scores of fever (>38.3℃), blood system involvement, low complement and positive specific antibodies than those in post-treated group (all P<0.05). In a median follow-up of 34 (6-50) months, 99 patients (64.7%) achieved complete remission, 38 patients (24.8%) achieved partial remission and 16 patients (10.5%) had no remission. With no remission as the endpoint event, univariate Cox regression analysis showed that proliferative lupus nephritis (renal score of 10 points vs 8 points) and neuropsychiatric involvement were the risk factors (both P<0.05), while multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that neuropsychiatric involvement (HR=4.758, 95%CI 1.324-17.101, P=0.017) was an independent risk factor. Conclusion The weight scores of 2019 EULAR/ACR SLE classification diagnostic criteria have certain predictive value for remission of patients with lupus nephritis.

Objective To evaluate the effect of preoperative plasma D-dimer level on the risk of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI). Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2017 to December 2018 were collected retrospectively. All patients were distributed into two groups (normal D-dimer group with D-dimer level≤0.55 mg/L and elevated D-dimer group with D-dimer level>0.55 mg/L) according to the D-dimer threshold of 0.55 mg/L and the differences of clinical data between the two groups were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method was used to analyze the difference of the cumulative incidence of CSA-AKI between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic splines analysis were used to analyze the association between serum D-dimer and the incidence of CSA-AKI. Results There were 871 patients enrolled in the study with 427 females (49.0%) and age of (56.6±12.3) years, including 215 patients (24.7%) with high D-dimer and 259 patients (29.7%) with CSA-AKI. Compared with the normal D-dimer group, patients with elevated D-dimer had higher baseline serum creatinine, proportion of chronic kidney disease stage 3, international normalized ratio, fibrinogen, proportion of receiving renal replacement therapy and incidence of CSA-AKI (all P<0.05). The prothrombin time, operation time, extracorporeal circulation time, aortic occlusion time and hospital stay in the elevated D-dimer group were longer (all P<0.05), and the preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and hemoglobin levels were lower than those in the normal D-dimer group (both P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, comorbid diseases, cardiac function classification, and hospital mortality (all P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve results showed that compared with the normal D-dimer group, the risk of CSA-AKI in the elevated D-dimer group was significantly increased (Log-rank χ²=14.227，P<0.001). The multivariate logistic regression showed that after adjusting variables including gender, age, diabetes mellitus, preoperative eGFR, cardiopulmonary bypass time and so on, the higher level of preoperative D-dimer (>0.55 mg/L) was still related to CSA-AKI (OR=1.476，95% CI 1.038-2.098，P=0.030). Restricted cubic splines analysis showed that the incidence of CSA-AKI raised when preoperative serum D-dimer concentration increased (non-linear P=0.262). Conclusion Patients with high preoperative serum D-dimer have an increased risk of CSA-AKI.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in treating primary nephrotic syndrome in children with dual resistance to glucocorticoids and calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). Methods Clinical data of 6 children with primary nephrotic syndrome treated with ACTH in the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 were retrospectively collected. All the enrolled patients were children with primary nephrotic syndrome with dual resistance to glucocorticoids and CNIs. All the 6 children were given 0.4-1.0 IU·kg^-1·d^-1 ACTH (total ≤25 IU)+5% glucose 500 ml intravenous infusion for 8 h during the hormone reduction process, with a course of treatment for 5 days, once a month, and continuous treatment for 3-6 months. Clinical data such as 24 h urinary protein quantification, serum albumin, serum cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) level and glucocorticoid dosage were collected at equal time points at 6 months before treatment, at the beginning of treatment, at the end of treatment and at 6 months of follow-up after treatment of ACTH to evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions. Results The onset age of 6 children was (4.89±1.77) years, and the age of the first treatment with ACTH was (9.49±3.06) years. All the 6 children completed 3 to 6 months of ACTH treatment, with 2 cases of complete remission, 2 cases of partial remission and 2 cases of no remission. At the end of ACTH treatment, 24 h urinary protein was significantly decreased (P=0.026), serum albumin level was significantly increased (P=0.003), and glucocorticoid dosage was significantly decreased (P<0.001) than before treatment. At 6 months after the end of ACTH treatment, there was no statistical significance in 24 h urinary protein, serum albumin and hormone dosage compared with the end of ACTH treatment (all P>0.05), and the blood cholesterol level continued to decrease (P=0.039). There was no significant change in eGFR during observation period (P>0.05). In the process of ACTH infusion, all the 6 children showed transient decrease in urine output, rash in 2 cases, and elevated blood glucose in 1 case, which could be spontaneously relieved after drug withdrawal. There were no serious cardiovascular events, renal impairment, infection and other adverse reactions. Conclusions ACTH has a good effect on children with primary nephrotic syndrome who are dual resistant to glucocorticoids and CNIs. ACTH can reduce proteinuria, decrease the dosage of glucocorticoids, improve the clinical remission rate, and has good security.

Objective To explore the mechanism of cisplatin-induced renal interstitial fibrosis and provide a new idea for the prevention and treatment of renal interstitial fibrosis. Methods Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (specific pathogen-free) were used to carry out the experiment. The mice were divided into cisplatin group (10 mg/kg, n=6) and saline group (n=6) with intraperitoneal injection on day 0, 7 and 21, and sacrificed on day 28. The kidney tissues were collected for RNA Illumina high-throughput sequencing, real-time PCR, Western blotting, Masson staining and bioinformatics analysis. Results Through real-time PCR, Western blotting and Masson staining, a mouse model with cisplatin-induced renal interstitial fibrosis was successfully established. Through RNA Illumina high-throughput sequencing, 387 long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and 2 427 mRNA were differently expressed between cisplatin group and saline group. The expression of the top two lncRNA was confirmed by real-time PCR with the same tendency as RNA sequencing. Complement C3 was found to be at the top among the different expressed mRNA by RNA sequencing. Several terms related to immunity were found to be within the top 20 terms through Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. Systemic lupus erythematous pathway (ko05322, Q=3.4E-17), including the complement cascade pathway, was found to be the top pathway through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. The mRNA expression levels of C1q, C2, C3 and C4 were up-regulated remarkably in the cisplatin group by RNA sequencing than those in saline group (all P<0.05) and confirmed by real-time PCR. Conclusions Renal interstitial fibrosis can be induced by intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin periodically in mice, with complement cascade pathway activation in the diseased kidney.

Objective To investigate the effect of acteoside on the expressions of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the renal tissue of diabetic nephropathy mice.Methods Among 20 healthy 8-week old C57BL/6J mice, 5 mice were randomly selected as normal control group, the rest were established as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) models by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ, 150 mg/kg). T1DM mice were randomly divided into three groups: 5 mice without treatment, 5 mice treated with acteoside and 5 mice treated with irbesartan. After continuous administration for 8 weeks, serum, urine, and kidney tissue were collected for biochemical, pathological, and related mRNA and protein detection. The renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E cells) were divided into control group (1 g/L glucose), high glucose group (4.5 g/L glucose) and high glucose+acteoside group (4.5 g/L glucose+32 μmol/L acteoside). Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to assess the expressions of HMGB1 and NF-κB after 48 hours and 72 hours culturing. Results Compared with normal control group, blood glucose, 24-hour quantitative urinary protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and blood and urine HMGB1 were significantly increased in model group (all P<0.05), along with interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration and messangial matrix expantion, and the expressions of HMGB1 and NF-κB were significantly enhanced (all P<0.05). Compared with model group, histopathologic changes were alleviated and the mRNA and protein expression levels of HMGB1 and NF-κB were lower in the acteoside group (all P<0.05), while the blood glucose level was maintained at high level (P>0.05), excluding reduced quantitative 24-hour urinary protein, BUN, Scr, and serum and urine HMGB1 (all P<0.05). Compared with control group, the mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB1 and NF-κB were increased in high glucose group of NRK-52E cells (all P<0.05). Compared with high glucose group, the mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB1 and NF-κB in high glucose+acteoside group were down-regulated (all P<0.05). Conclusion Acteoside may alleviate the nephropathy in STZ-induced diabetic nephropathy mice by down-regulating the expressions of HMGB1 and NF-κB.

Objective To observe the expression of sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) and mitochondrial damage-associated proteins in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury mouse model and renal tubular epithelial cells, and to explore the role of Sirt3 in LPS-induced abnormal mitochondrial dynamics in renal tubular epithelial cells. Methods Eighteen specific pathogen free (SPF) male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to control group, LPS 24 h group and LPS 48 h group. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with physiological saline (0.1 ml/10 g), and LPS 24 h group and LPS 48 h group were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (10 mg/kg) solution. Renal functional indexes of mice were analyzed by automatic biochemical analyzer. The pathological change of the kidney was observed by HE staining, and the expressions of dynamin-related protein-1 (Drp1), optic atrophy type 1 (Opa1) and Sirt3 were evaluated by Western blotting. Expression and distribution of Sirt3 in kidney was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were exposed to 10 μg/ml LPS for 24 h，and the expression of Drp1, Opa1 and Sirt3 were detected by Western blotting. Cell apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst-33342 staining. After transfection to HK-2 cells with pcDNA3.1-Sirt3 recombinant plasmid, the expressions of Sirt3, Drp1, Opa1 and cell apoptosis were detected by the same methods as above. Results (1) The levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine in LPS group were significantly higher than those in control group (both P<0.05), and the pathological changes of kidney were obvious. (2) Compared with the control group, the expression of mitochondrial fission-associated protein Drp1 in renal tissue of LPS group was significantly higher (P<0.05), and the expression of mitochondrial fusion associated protein Opa1 was significantly lower (P<0.05). (3) Compared with the control group, the expression of Sirt3 in LPS group was significantly lower (P<0.05), and immunohistochemistry results showed that Sirt3 was mainly expressed in glomerular vascular endothelial cells and renal tubular epithelial cells. (4) In vitro, LPS stimulation induced increased Drp1 expression in HK-2 cells (P<0.05), decreased Opa1 and Sirt3 expression (both P<0.05), and increased apoptosis (P<0.05). (5) LPS-induced mitochondrial dynamics disturbance and apoptosis were alleviated by pcDNA3.1-Sirt3 recombinant plasmid transfection. Conclusions LPS can induce down-regulation of Sirt3 expression and disturbance of mitochondrial dynamics, and Sirt3 may play a protective role in LPS-induced acute kidney injury by regulating mitochondrial dynamics.

Objective To report four male COL4A5 mutation mosaicism patients with X-linked Alport syndrome, and to provide evidence for diagnosis, genetic counseling, and reproduction in the respective families and improve our knowledge of mosaicism in Alport syndrome. Methods Suspected male mosaic patients for COL4A5 who met the following criteria: clinical diagnosis of Alport syndrome, harbored COL4A5 mutations detected using next generation sequencing or Sanger sequencing, heterozygosity for the mutant and normal COL4A5 alleles in the DNA demonstrated by Sanger sequencing, registered in the on-line registry of hereditary kidney diseases, and admitted to Peking University First Hospital during the period of April 2018 to April 2019 were enrolled. Clinical data and karyotypes were retrospectively analyzed. Genetic DNA isolated from multiple tissues was analyzed for COL4A5 gene mutations by using PCR and Sanger sequencing. Related literatures published in PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang databases were reviewed. Results Four COL4A5 somatic and germline mosaic male patients with Alport syndrome were included in the study. Patient 1 was characterized by hematuria and proteinuria. His karyotype of peripheral blood was normal. COL4A5 c.3455-1G>A mosaicism was detected in multiple tissues (peripheral blood, saliva and urine). Patient 2 presented with hematuria and microalbuminuria. His karyotype of peripheral blood was normal. COL4A5 c.4994+1G>A mosaicism was detected in multiple tissues (peripheral blood, saliva and skin fibroblasts). Patients 3 showed hematuria without proteinuria. COL4A5 c.3535G>A mosaicism was found in genomic DNA of peripheral blood and hair. Laboratory and physical examinations of patient 4 showed hematuria and normal renal function, without proteinuria, megasoma or small testes. COL4A5 c.3106G>A mosaicism was detected in genomic DNA of skin fibroblasts. Although without karyotype analysis due to unavailable specimens, 47,XXY or 46,XY/47,XXY mosaicism was not considered according to the reproductive history and lack of clinical manifestations of megasoma and small testes in patients 3 and 4. Renal disease in 8 published male cases with mosaicism for COL4A5 was affected by mutant allelic fractions and genotype. Conclusions Compared with hemizygous males with X-linked Alport syndrome, the renal phenotype of mosaic males was milder, and associated with mutant allelic fractions and mutation type.

Objective To analyze the splicing mutation site of COL4A5 gene in a family with X-linked dominant Alport syndrome and explore the possibility of exon specific U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) gene therapy. Methods The clinical data of the proband and family members of Alport syndrome were collected, and the gene mutations in the whole exon of a series of nephropathy genes in the proband were detected by high-throughput sequencing. The splice site changes and pathogenicity caused by COL4A5 c.546+5G>A mutation were analyzed by online software. Minigene experiment was used to verify and analyze the effect of COL4A5 gene mutation site c.546+5G>A in the proband of Alport syndrome family, and transient transfection and introduction of modified U1 snRNA to correct splicing mutation. Results The results of gene sequencing showed that there was a hemizygous variation of COL4A5 gene in the proband and his half brother, and the variation site was c.546+5G>A. The results of online software for analyzing the pathogenicity of splice variation showed that the original donor splicing site could not be detected after mutation, suggesting that there was a great possibility of affecting splicing. The abnormal splicing mode of COL4A5 gene with c.546+5G>A mutation—deletion of exon 9 was verified by hybridized small gene detection. The abnormal splicing mutation could be partially corrected by the modified U1 snRNA. The correction ratios of ExSpeU1 (MT), ExSpeU1(E9+1), ExSpeU1(E9+9) and ExSpeU1(E9+11) to exon 9 deletion caused by c.546+5G>A were 0, 43.81%, 52.09% and 48.12%, respectively. Conclusions The pathogenicity of the new splicing mutation of COL4A5 is verified, and the modified U1 snRNA can partially correct the abnormal splicing.

Objective To investigate the incidence, risk factors and early prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) after heart valve surgery in adults, and to provide evidence for the early prevention and treatment of AKI after heart valve surgery. Methods Clinical data of patients undergoing heart valve surgery from January 2016 to March 2017 were collected retrospectively. Early postoperative AKI was diagnosed and staged according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) clinical guidelines for AKI. Patients were divided into AKI group and non-AKI group according to whether AKI occurred within 48 hours after surgery, and the differences in clinical indexes between the two groups were compared and analyzed. Influencing factors for early postoperative AKI were screened by stepwise multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 600 patients were enrolled, including 197 patients in the AKI group and 403 patients in the non-AKI group. The incidence of AKI was 32.83%. In the non-AKI and AKI groups, proportion of renal replacement therapy (RRT) during hospitalization, mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit (ICU) time and proportion of hospital mortality were different (all P<0.001). In the AKI group, 160 patients (81.22%) were in stage I, 33 patients (16.75%) were in stageⅡ, and 4 patients (2.03%) were in stageⅢ. The proportion of patients receiving RRT, mechanical ventilation time, ICU time, hospital mortality were also different in patients with AKI of different stages (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis results showed that males, body mass index≥24.0 kg/m², previous history of cardiac surgery, baseline serum creatinine>115 mmol/L, albumin<35 g/L, aortic occlusion time (AOT)>90 min, blood glucose in ICU after operation>11.1 mmol/L, the difference between the highest blood glucose within 48 hours after the operation and the blood glucose at 0 h after the operation≥2 mmol/L, blood lactic acid in ICU after operation>4 mmol/L and maximum vasoactive drug score within 48 hours after surgery>9 were independent influencing factors for early AKI (all P<0.05). Conclusions The incidence of AKI within 48 hours after heart valve surgery is over 30%. The independent influencing factors include male, overweight/obesity, previous cardiac surgery, preoperative renal insufficiency, hypoproteinemia, long duration of AOT, post-operative stress hyperglycemia, fluctuating blood glucose levels wildly, hyperlactacidemia, and using more vasoactive drugs. AKI after cardiac surgery affects the early prognosis of patients, the later of the stage leads to the worse prognosis.

Objective To explore the correlation between hemoglobin (Hb) and progression of renal function in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis (PLN). Methods Data of biopsy-proven PLN patients from January 2010 to February 2019 in Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into stable renal function group and renal function progression group according to changes of renal function including serum creatinine doubling/end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and the demographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics were compared between the two groups. Cox regression and smooth curve fitting of generalized additive model analysis were used to explore the correlation between Hb and progression of renal function. Results A total of 87 patients were included in this study. The age was (34.97±11.95) years old and 79 cases (90.80%) were females. During follow-up of 19.0(6.5, 43.5) months, renal function of 15 patients (17.24%) progressed. Compared with stable renal function group, Hb level of patients in renal function progression group were lower (t=3.887, P<0.001), and serum creatinine (Z=-2.466, P=0.003) and uric acid (t=-2.154, P=0.034) were higher. As to the pathological characteristics, the proportion of class lupus nephritis-IV, renal tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis in renal function progression group were higher than those in stable renal function group, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that high Hb was an independent protective factor of renal function progression in PLN patients (HR=0.893, 95%CI 0.836-0.954, P=0.001). The risk of progression to serum creatinine doubling/ESRD would decrease by 10.7% when Hb increased by 1 unit (g/L). Smooth curve fitting of generalized additive model analysis showed that Hb was linearly correlated with the risk of renal function progression (P=0.100). Receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the risk of doubling serum creatinine/ESRD in PLN patients would be relatively low when Hb level was above 77 g/L (area under the curve 0.788, best threshold 77 g/L, sensitivity 0.600, specificity 0.903). Conclusions Hb is closely related to progression of renal function in patients with PLN. More attention and management of Hb levels in patients with PLN can play an important role in improving renal prognosis.

Objective To investigate the association between cognitive impairment and all-cause mortality in middle and elderly adult patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted. Patients from 11 HD centers in Beijing between April and June 2017 were enrolled. Baseline data were collected, and a series of neuropsychological batteries covered 5 domains of cognitive function were applied for the assessment of cognitive function. The patients were then classified as normal and cognitive impairment groups according to the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria (DSM-V) and followed-up until June 2018. The clinical characteristics of the two groups of patients were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the difference in the cumulative survival rate between the two groups. Multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the independent influencing factors of all-cause mortality, to determine the relationship between cognitive impairment and different cognitive domain impairments and all-cause death. Results A total of 613 patients were enrolled, of which 496(80.91%) patients had cognitive impairment. Compared with the normal cognitive function group, the patients in the cognitive impairment group tended to be older, longer dialysis vintage, a higher proportion of diabetes, hypertension, and stroke, increased serum iPTH level, and lower education level and urea clearance index (Kt/V) (all P<0.05). After (49.53±8.42) weeks of follow-up, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the cumulative survival rate of cognitive impairment group was significantly lower than that of cognitive normal group (Log-rank χ²=8.610, P=0.003). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that history of diabetes (HR=2.742, 95%CI 1.598-4.723, P<0.001), coronary heart disease (HR=1.906, 95%CI 1.169-3.108, P=0.010), dialysis vintage (every increase of 1 month, HR=1.007, 95%CI 1.003-1.011, P=0.001), serum level of albumin (every increase of 1 g/L, HR=0.859, 95%CI 0.809-0.912, P<0.001), cognitive impairment (HR=2.719, 95%CI 1.088-6.194, P=0.032) were independently associated with all-cause mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis on different cognitive domains also indicated that memory impairment (HR=2.571, 95%CI 1.442-4.584, P<0.001), executive function impairment (HR=3.311, 95%CI 1.843-5.949, P=0.001) and three, four, five domains combined impairment (HR=5.746, 95%CI 1.880-17.565, P=0.002; HR=12.420, 95%CI 3.690-41.802, P<0.001; HR=13.478, 95%CI 3.381-53.728, P<0.001) were independently related to all-cause mortality. Conclusions Cognitive impairment is an independent risk factor of all-cause mortality in middle and elderly adult patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, and the risk is significantly increased in patients with the impairment of the domains of memory, executive function, or in the combination of three to five cognitive domains.

Objective To investigate the injury effect of hyperoxali acid on human arterial endothelial cells (HAECs) and its mechanism. Methods HAECs were divided into intervention group and control group according to whether oxalic acid was used for intervention. The cells in the intervention group were stimulated with 30, 100, 200 and 300 μmol/L oxalic for different time. The effect of oxalic acid on the proliferation of HAECs was detected by MTT colorimetry. The change of cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. The content of intracellular calcium was detected by fluorescence detection technology. The protein and mRNA expressions of cell cycle and anion transporter-related proteins were detected by Western blotting and fluorescence quantitative PCR. Besides, JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway-related proteins were measured by Western blotting. Results MTT colorimetry results showed that the intervention groups with high concentration of oxalic acid (100, 200, 300 μmol/L) could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HAECs, which was significantly different from the control group (all P<0.05). Fluorescence detection showed that the contents of intracellular calcium of HAECs in the intervention groups with high concentration of oxalic acid (100, 200, 300 μmol/L) were significantly higher than those in the control group after 48 hours (P<0.05, P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). Flow cytometry showed that the proportion of S phase of cells in the 200 μmol/L oxalic acid intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The results of Western blotting and PCR showed that the relative protein and mRNA expressions of anion transporter-related proteins slc26a1, slc26a5, slc26a11 in the intervention groups were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Western blotting showed that the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in the intervention groups after 24 hours were significantly higher than those in control group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Hyperoxalic acid may enter HAECs through transporters slc26a1, slc26a5 and slc26a11 to inhibit cell proliferation and increase the intracellular calcium concentration. The mechanism may be through the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Therefore, oxalic acid may be one of the uremic toxins leading to atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the role and mechanism of (histone deacetylase 6, HDAC6) in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells and the activation of renal interstitial fibroblasts. Methods Human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) and rat renal interstitial fibroblast (NRK-49F) were cultured in vitro, and divided into 4 groups: control group, Tubastatin A (TA) group (treated with 10 μmol/L HDAC6 inhibitor TA for 36 h), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) group (10 ng/ml TGF-β1 for 36 h), and TGF-β1+TA group (treated with 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 and 10 μmol/L TA for 36 h). The expression levels of fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, E-cadherin, HDAC6, acetyl histone H3, histone H3, acetyl α-tubulin, α-tubulin, TGF-β receptor (TGF-βR) 1, p-Smad3, Smad3, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and p-EGFR in HK-2 and NRK-49F cell samples were detected by Western blotting, and quantitative analysis was performed according to gray level. Results (1) In HK-2 cells stimulated by TGF-β1, TA decreased the expression of fibronectin, α-SMA, collagen I, and increased the expression of epithelial cell marker E-cadherin. Meanwhile, TA decreased the expression of HDAC6 and increased the expression levels of acetyl histone H3 and acetyl α-tubulin (all P<0.05). (2) Compared with the TGF-β1 group, the expressions of TGF-βR1, p-Smad3, CTGF and p-EGFR in TGF-β1+TA group were decreased (all P<0.05), while the total protein levels of Smad3 and EGFR were not significantly different (both P>0.05). (3) In NRK-49F cells stimulated by TGF-β1, TA decreased the expressions of fibronectin, α-SMA, collagen I, TGF-βR1 and p-Smad3 (all P<0.05). Conclusions Blockade of HDAC6 by TA may inhibit the EMT of renal tubular epithelial cells and the activation of renal interstitial fibroblasts via regulating multiple signaling pathways including TGF-β/Smad3, CTGF and EGFR.