NFATc4 Promotes Lung Adenocarcinoma Progression via the CCNB1/CDK1 Pathway and Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker.

Nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 4 (NFATc4), a transcription factor of the NFAT family, has been reported to participate in the tumorigenesis and progression of several cancers. However, the function and regulation of NFATc4 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain poorly understood. Here, we report for the first time that NFATc4 is significantly overexpressed in LUAD tissues, and high NFATc4 expression correlates with lymphatic metastasis, advanced tumor stage, and poor prognosis in patients.

Comparison and prognostic analysis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis patients with or without nephrotic syndrome at onset.

Background: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) constituted one of the most common causes of end-stage kidney disease. We aimed to compare the presentation and prognosis for FSGS patients based on whether they met the criteria of nephrotic syndrome (NS) at disease onset.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 291 treatment-naïve adult FSGS patients managed per clinical guidelines.

Integration of intratumoral and peritumoral CT radiomic features with machine learning algorithms for predicting induction therapy response in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: To extract intratumoral, peritumoral, and integrated intratumoral-peritumoral CT radiomic features, develop multi-source radiomic models using various machine learning algorithms to identify the optimal model, and integrate clinical factors to establish a nomogram for predicting the therapeutic response to induction therapy(IT) in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: This study included 209 patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) who received IT as the training cohort, and an external validation cohort comprising 50 patients from another center. Radiomic features were extracted from intratumoral, peritumoral, and integrated intratumoral-peritumoral regions by manually delineating the gross tumor volume (GTV) and an additional 3 mm surrounding area.

Genomic characteristics of PD-L1-Induced resistance to EGFR-TKIs in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: The co-occurrence of PD-L1 positivity and EGFR mutations in advanced NSCLC often limits EGFR-TKIs effectiveness, with unclear mechanisms.

Methods: We analyzed 103 treatment-naive EGFR-mutant LUAD patients from three centers, assessing PD-L1 expression and performing NGS analysis.

Results: SMO mutations and MET amplification were significantly higher in the PD-L1 ≥ 1% group versus PD-L1 < 1% group (SMO: 8% vs.

IL-17A's role in exacerbating radiation-induced lung injury: Autophagy impairment via the PP2A-mTOR pathway.

Objective: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a serious complication of radiotherapy, and the role of IL-17A in this process is not well understood. While IL-17A has been shown to modulate autophagy, conflicting reports exist regarding its activation or inhibition of autophagy. This study investigates the role of IL-17A in RILI and its effects on autophagy via the PP2A-mTOR pathway, with a focus on the PP2A B56α subunit.

Liposomal sodium clodronate mitigates radiation-induced lung injury through macrophage depletion.

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a severe complication arising from thoracic tumor radiotherapy, which constrains the possibility of increasing radiation dosage. Current RILI therapies provide only limited relief and may result in undesirable side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for effective and low-toxicity treatments for RILI.

Supramolecular Nano-Assembly of Caffeate-Strengthened Phenylboronic Ester with Multistep ROS Scavenging Ability for Targeted Therapy of Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a life-threatening complication with a considerable occurrence among patients. AKI is typically accompanied by an elevation in reactive oxidative species (ROS) in renal tissues, which is the main contributor to kidney damage. Herein, a supramolecular nano-assembly (Ser-HPEC) containing an ethyl caffeate-strengthened phenylboronic ester with ROS-triggered antioxidative ability is proposed for AKI-targeted therapy.

Urinary RBP as an Independent Predictor of Renal Outcome in Diabetic Nephropathy.

Background: Renal tubular impairment is prevalent in diabetic nephropathy (DN) and the histological severity predicted renal outcome. Biomarkers of tubular injury also increased in the urine of DN patients. The retrospective study aimed to assess the prognostic value of clinically widely applied urinary tubular injury markers, retinol-binding protein (RBP), 2-microglobulin (2-MG) and N-acetyl--D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in DN.

Changes of gut microbiota in diabetic nephropathy and its effect on the progression of kidney injury.

Purpose: We aimed to illustrate gut microbiota and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients, and investigate the mechanism of sodium butyrate in diabetic mellitus (DM) rats.

Methods: Gut microbiota and serum SCFA levels were measured by 16S rDNA and GC-MS. After being built by streptozotocin (DM rats), the DM rats were administered 300 mg/kg sodium butyrate for 12 weeks (DM + BU rats).

Mannose-binding lectin activates the nuclear factor-κB and renal inflammation in the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Increased serum mannose-binding lectin (MBL) level has been proven to correlate with the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Here, we aim to find the role and mechanism of MBL involved in the progression of DN. Patients with DN were recruited and divided into two groups according to different rs1800450 genotypes of the MBL2 gene, and inflammatory profiles in monocytes/macrophages were compared between the two groups.

Performance of the 2019 EULAR/ACR systemic lupus erythematosus classification criteria in a cohort of patients with biopsy-confirmed lupus nephritis.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) SLE classification criteria in a cohort of patients with biopsy-confirmed lupus nephritis (LN) and their renal prognosis.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed SLE attending and followed up for >12 months were included. A retrospective review of all patients with renal biopsy fulfilling a consensus expert opinion during 2014 and 2018.

Combination of mesenchymal stromal cells and machine perfusion is a novel strategy for organ preservation in solid organ transplantation.

Organ preservation is a prerequisite for an urgent increase in the availability of organs for solid organ transplantation (SOT). An increasing amount of expanded criteria donor (ECD) organs are used clinically. Currently, the paradigm of organ preservation is shifting from simple reduction of cellular metabolic activity to maximal simulation of an ex vivo physiological microenvironment.

Diagnostic roles of urinary kidney microvesicles in diabetic nephropathy.

Background: The pathology of diabetic nephropathy (DN) broadly involves the injury of glomeruli, tubulointerstitium and endothelium. Cells from these compartments can release increased numbers of microvesicles (MVs) into urine when stressed or damaged. Currently whether urinary MVs from these three parts can help diagnose DN and reflect pathological features remain unclear.

Identification of Key Genes of Human Advanced Diabetic Nephropathy Independent of Proteinuria by Transcriptome Analysis.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of ESRD. Emerging evidence indicated that proteinuria may not be the determinant of renal survival in DN. The aim of the current study was to provide molecular signatures apart from proteinuria in DN by an integrative bioinformatics approach.

A review of the application of nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a great burden to global public health as current therapies are generally ineffective. Early detection and effective therapy are crucial for the future prevention and progression of CKD. Nanoparticles (NPs) vary by particle size, charge, shape and the density of targeting ligands and are associated with enhancement of the pharmacokinetic properties, targetability, or the bioavailability of drugs.

Preconditioning is an effective strategy for improving the efficiency of mesenchymal stem cells in kidney transplantation.

The inevitable side effects caused by lifelong immunosuppressive agents in kidney transplantation patients spurred the exploration of novel immunosuppressive strategies with definite curative effects and minimal adverse effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a promising candidate due to their role in modulating the immune system. Encouraging results obtained from experimental models have promoted the translation of this strategy into clinical settings.

The Crescentic Implication of Renal Outcomes in Proliferative Lupus Nephritis.

Objective: To determine the association between crescents and renal outcomes, and the implications on therapeutic choices.

Methods: There were 231 patients with biopsy-proven proliferative lupus nephritis (PLN) who were divided into 4 groups: 59 patients were in the noncrescent group (NC); 59 patients exclusively with segmental crescents were in the segmental crescent group (SC); patients with circumferential crescents were categorized into 2 groups according to the crescentic ratio (C1 had 64 patients with ≤ 25%, and C2 had 49 patients with > 25%). Their baseline laboratory tests, histopathological manifestations, and outcomes were compared.