The PKM2 activator TEPP-46 suppresses cellular senescence in hydrogen peroxide-induced proximal tubular cells and kidney fibrosis in CD-1 mice.

Aim/introduction: Senescence is a key driver of age-related kidney dysfunction, including diabetic kidney disease. Oxidative stress activates cellular senescence, induces abnormal glycolysis, and is associated with pyruvate kinase muscle isoform 2 (PKM2) dysfunction; however, the mechanisms linking PK activation to cellular senescence have not been elucidated. We hypothesized that PKM2 activation by TEPP-46 could suppress oxidative stress-induced renal tubular cell injury and cellular senescence.

Effective method for life-style modifications focused on dietary sodium intake in chronic kidney disease: sub-analysis of the FROM-J study.

Background: Lifestyle modifications by educational sessions are an important component of multidisciplinary treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD). We attempted to identify the best method to teach these modifications in order to ensure their acceptance by patients and investigated its effectiveness in CKD practice.

Methods: This study is a post-hoc analysis of the FROM-J study.

Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of Tacrolimus in Patients With Lupus Nephritis in Japan: 10-Year Analysis of the Real-World TRUST Study.

Objective: To assess the long-term safety and effectiveness of tacrolimus as maintenance therapy in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) receiving treatment in real-world clinical settings in Japan.

Methods: An open-label, noncomparative, observational, prospective postmarketing surveillance study was conducted in 1395 patients with LN receiving maintenance treatment with tacrolimus at 278 medical institutions across Japan over a period of 10 years. Tacrolimus continuation rate and cumulative incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), relapse, progression to renal failure, and progression to dialysis were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Polar vasculosis is associated with better kidney outcome in type 2 diabetes with biopsy-proven diabetic kidney disease: A multicenter cohort study.

Aims/introduction: This multicenter cohort study retrospectively assessed the association between polar vasculosis and the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 811 patients with type 2 diabetes, biopsy-proven DKD, and proteinuria (≥0.15 g/g creatinine [g/day]).

Evaluation of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare diagnostic criteria for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis compared to ACR/EULAR 2022 classification criteria.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) diagnostic criteria for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis compared to the new American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology 2022 criteria.

Methods: Two nationwide cohort studies were used, and participants were categorised as having eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) according to the American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology 2022 and MHLW criteria.

Results: Of the entire patient population, only 10 (2.

The Effect of Medical Cooperation in the CKD Patients: 10-Year Multicenter Cohort Study.

Introduction: While chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most important contributors to mortality from non-communicable diseases, the number of nephrologists is limited worldwide. Medical cooperation is a system of cooperation between primary care physicians and nephrological institutions, consisting of nephrologists and multidisciplinary care teams. Although it has been reported that multidisciplinary care teams contribute to the prevention of worsening renal functions and cardiovascular events, there are few studies on the effect of a medical cooperation system.

Predictors of damage accrual in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: A nationwide prospective study.

Objectives: This study elucidated the prognosis and risk factors associated with damage accrual during long-term remission maintenance therapy for patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: We obtained data from 120 patients registered in a nationwide prospective cohort study on remission induction therapy in Japanese patients with AAV and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RemIT-JAV-RPGN), who achieved remission at 24 months after treatment initiation and were followed up for additional 24 months. The primary outcome was the vasculitis damage index (VDI) score at Month 48, and the secondary outcome included risk factors associated with increased total VDI at Month 48.

Association of - alleles with risk of relapse in myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positive vasculitis in the Japanese population.

Background: Disease relapse remains a major problem in the management of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). In European populations, is associated with both susceptibility and relapse risk in proteinase 3-ANCA positive AAV. In a Japanese population, we previously reported an association between and with susceptibility to, and with protection from, myeloperoxidase-ANCA positive AAV (MPO-AAV).

Sex differences in risk factors for end-stage kidney disease and death in type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: This study investigated the sex differences in the risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and mortality, as well as the effect modification of sex on associated factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This multicenter observational cohort study included 4328 patients with type 2 diabetes. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of sex for ESKD and death were estimated using Cox proportional regression with adjustment for baseline covariates.

Validation of new ACR/EULAR 2022 classification criteria for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology 2022 criteria with the previous classification algorithm for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Methods: We used data from two nationwide, prospective, inception cohort studies. The enrolled patients were classified as having eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) according to the new criteria; these criteria were compared with Watts' algorithm.

Low disease activity of microscopic polyangiitis in patients with anti-myosin light chain 6 antibody that disrupts actin rearrangement necessary for neutrophil extracellular trap formation.

Background: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are critically involved in microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) pathogenesis, and some patients with MPA possess anti-NET antibody (ANETA). Anti-myosin light chain 6 (MYL6) antibody is an ANETA that affects NETs. This study aimed to determine the significance of anti-MYL6 antibody in MPA.

Intravenous immunoglobulin for chronic residual peripheral neuropathy in microscopic polyangiitis: A multicentre randomised double-blind trial.

Objectives: We conducted a Phase 3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in patients with glucocorticoid-refractory neuropathy associated with microscopic polyangiitis.

Methods: Patients received immunoglobulin or placebo intravenously for 5 consecutive days at baseline and after 4 weeks. The IVIg and placebo groups received IVIg and placebo, respectively, after 8 weeks.

Chemoprophylaxis against Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in Japanese patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis: An observational study.

Objectives: This study investigated the current practice of prophylactic treatment against Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) and its effectiveness in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: This study included 319 patients registered from 53 institutions in Japan and newly diagnosed with AAV. During the 2-year observation period, we examined the frequency of usage, effectiveness and safety of prophylactic drugs against PCP.

The efficacy and safety of mizoribine for maintenance therapy in patients with myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated vasculitis: the usefulness of serum mizoribine monitoring.

Background: The life prognosis of elderly patients with myeloperoxidase-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis (MPO-AAV) has been improved by reducing the corticosteroid or cyclophosphamide dose to avoid opportunistic infection. However, many elderly MPO-AAV patients experience recurrence and renal death. An effective and safer maintenance treatment method is necessary to improve the renal prognosis of MPO-AAV.

Organic Anion Transporter Gene Variants Associated With Plasma Exposure and Long-Term Response to Atrasentan in Patients With Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Plasma exposure of the endothelin receptor antagonist atrasentan varies between individuals and is associated with nephroprotective effects and the risk of heart failure. We examined the influence of genetic polymorphisms on atrasentan plasma exposure and pharmacodynamic effects. We performed a substudy of the Study of Diabetic Nephropathy With Atrasentan (SONAR) trial which enrolled adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate: 25-75 mL/min/1.

Increase in BNP in Response to Endothelin-Receptor Antagonist Atrasentan Is Associated With Incident Heart Failure.

Background: The endothelin receptor antagonist atrasentan reduced the risk of kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the SONAR (Study of Diabetic Nephropathy with Atrasentan) trial, although with a numerically higher incidence of heart failure (HF) hospitalization.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess if early changes in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and body weight during atrasentan treatment predict HF risk.

Methods: Participants with type 2 diabetes and CKD entered an open-label enrichment phase to assess response to atrasentan 0.

Successful Control of Hypercalcemia with Sorafenib, Evocalcet, and Denosumab Combination Therapy for Recurrent Parathyroid Carcinoma.

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare type of endocrine cancer. Recurrence and metastasis are common after surgery, and refractory hypercalcemia often leads to a poor prognosis. However, there are currently no specific strategies for PC recurrence.

A Comparative Study of Serum Phosphate and Related Parameters in Chronic Kidney Disease between the USA and Japan.

Introduction: Recent studies have suggested a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the USA than in Japan. Hyperphosphatemia, a possible risk for CVD, may explain this difference; however, international differences in phosphate parameters in CKD have not been well elaborated.

Methods: By using the baseline data from the USA and the Japanese nation-wide, multicenter, CKD cohort studies; the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study (CRIC, N = 3,870) and the Chronic Kidney Disease-Japan Cohort Study (CKD-JAC, N = 2,632), we harmonized the measures and compared clinical parameters regarding phosphate metabolism or serum phosphate, fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23), and parathyroid hormone (PTH), in the cross-sectional model.

Early Response in Albuminuria and Long-Term Kidney Protection during Treatment with an Endothelin Receptor Antagonist: A Prespecified Analysis from the SONAR Trial.

Background: Whether early reduction in albuminuria with atrasentan treatment predicts its long-term kidney-protective effect is unknown.

Methods: To assess the long-term effects on kidney outcomes of atrasentan versus placebo in the SONAR trial, we enrolled patients who had type 2 diabetes and CKD (stage 2-4) and a urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) of 300-5000 mg/g; participants were receiving maximum tolerated renin-angiotensin system inhibition. After 6 weeks exposure to 0.

Two-year longitudinal trajectory patterns of albuminuria and subsequent rates of end-stage kidney disease and all-cause death: a nationwide cohort study of biopsy-proven diabetic kidney disease.

Introduction: Data on the association between longitudinal trajectory patterns of albuminuria and subsequent end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and all-cause mortality in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are sparse.

Research Design And Methods: Drawing on nationally representative data of 329 patients with biopsy-proven DKD and an estimated glomerular filtration rate above 30 mL/min/1.73 m at the time of biopsy, we used joint latent class mixed models to identify different 2-year trajectory patterns of urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) and assessed subsequent rates of competing events: ESKD and all-cause death.