Increased Serum Sclerostin Level Is a Risk Factor for Peripheral Artery Disease in Patients with Hypertension.

: Sclerostin and dickkopf-1 (DKK1), which are Wnt inhibitors, are involved in vascular calcification and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease (PAD) is highly prevalent, particularly in patients with hypertension. This study aimed to explore the association between serum concentrations of Wnt pathway inhibitors and PAD in patients with hypertension.

Serum -Cresyl Sulfate Is Independently Associated with Aortic Stiffness in Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

-Cresyl sulfate (PCS), a gut-derived uremic toxin with proinflammatory and cytotoxic effects, has been implicated in cardiovascular injuries among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Aortic stiffness (AS), assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), is a recognized predictor of cardiovascular risk. This study investigated the association between serum PCS levels and AS in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD.

Serum Indoxyl Sulfate as a Potential Biomarker of Peripheral Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3 to 5.

Indoxyl sulfate (IS), which is a protein-bound uremic toxin, is involved in vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular risk in subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, its role in peripheral arterial stiffness (PAS) remains unclear. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between IS and PAS in patients diagnosed with CKD stages 3 through 5 who are not undergoing dialysis.

Ellagic acid suppresses the human renal carcinoma cell migration and invasion by targeting the RUNX2/MMP1 expression.

Ellagic acid (EA) exerts anti-carcinogenic activity in various types of cancer. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are critical mediators in the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) metastasis. Using experiments, this study aims to investigate the mechanisms by which EA inhibits RCC migration and invasion.

Serum -Cresyl Sulfate Levels Correlate with Peripheral Arterial Disease in Hypertensive Patients.

-Cresyl sulfate (PCS) is implicated in inflammation, oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction. Hypertension is a major risk factor for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is linked to increased mortality in patients with hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum PCS levels and PAD in hypertension cases.

Serum osteopontin level is independently associated with arterial stiffness in patients on hemodialysis.

Objectives: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is an approach primarily adopted to define arterial stiffness (AS), which is one of the major contributors to unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes. Osteopontin (OPN), in addition to regulation of bone homeostasis, is an inflammatory mediator of atherosclerosis. We performed a research which estimated the correlation between blood OPN levels and AS in participants on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

Decreased Serum Decorin Levels Are Correlated with Aortic Stiffness as Assessed Using Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity in Patients with Peritoneal Dialysis.

In patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD), aortic stiffness (AS) is a common cardiovascular condition that can predict cardiovascular events and mortality. Decorin is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan that plays a vital role in extracellular matrix organization and vascular remodeling. The relationship between decorin and AS in patients with PD remains unclear.

Serum Endocan Levels as a Risk Factor for Peripheral Artery Disease in Non-Dialysis Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3-5.

: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a severe manifestation of atherosclerosis that disproportionately affects patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3-5, resulting in a higher prevalence in this group. Currently, it is challenging to detect early PAD in this patient population. This study investigated the association between serum endocan levels and PAD based on the ankle-brachial index (ABI) in non-dialysis patients with CKD stages 3-5.

Delving Into the Interaction Between Exercise and Diabetes on Methylation of the FKBP5 Gene.

FKBP5 is a critical gene involved in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and stress response. Aberrant DNA methylation at FKBP5 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites, such as cg22363520 and cg00862770, has been implicated in mental health disorders and metabolic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes. Exercise is a modulator of DNA methylation and metabolic health.

The Association Between Serum Trimethylamine -Oxide and Arterial Stiffness in Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Trimethylamine -oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiome-derived metabolite, participates in the atherogenesis and vascular stiffening that is closely linked with cardiovascular (CV) complications and related deaths in individuals with kidney failure undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy. In these patients, arterial stiffness (AS) is also an indicator of adverse CV outcomes. This study assessed the correlation between serum TMAO concentration quantified with high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry and central AS measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in patients with chronic PD.

β-Mangostin Alleviates Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis via the TGF-β1/JNK Signaling Pathway.

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of kidney fibrosis, and kidney fibrosis is associated with an adverse renal prognosis. Beta-mangostin (β-Mag) is a xanthone derivative obtained from mangosteens that is involved in the generation of antifibrotic and anti-oxidation effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of β-Mag on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro and the corresponding mechanisms involved.

Obstructive sleep apnea and genotype rs6843082 as a risk factor for cerebrovascular accident.

NO previous studies have examined the simultaneous effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, and the SNP rs68430822 on stroke. We aimed to explore whether these elements together, play a role as risk factors for stroke. Data was obtained from the Taiwan Biobank and the National Health Insurance database.

The Anti-Metastatic Action of Oxyresveratrol via Suppression of Phosphoryl-ERK/-PKCα-Mediated Sp1/MMP1 Signaling in Human Renal Carcinoma Cells.

Oxyresveratrol (OxyR) exerts biological and pharmacological effects in a variety of tumor cells, including antioxidant action, antitumor activity, and proapoptotic effects. However, the regulation of targeted signaling pathways by OxyR and the mechanism underlying these effects in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have been less studied. We observed that OxyR at noncytotoxic doses did not affect the growth of human RCC cells or normal kidney HK2 cells.

Elevated Lipoprotein(a) Levels are Associated with Arterial Stiffness Measured by Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis.

Background: Arterial stiffness (AS) can be used to predict future cardiovascular diseases. High lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels were independently correlated with cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and death in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a useful biomarker of arteriosclerotic disorders and has a close relationship with a variety of CV events.

Serum Lipoprotein(a) Levels as a Predictor of Aortic Stiffness in Patients on Long-Term Peritoneal Dialysis.

BACKGROUND Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular mortality in patients with kidney failure. Aortic stiffness (AS), measured primarily by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), reflects vascular aging and precedes end-organ failure. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum Lp(a) levels and cfPWV in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).

The Prognostic Role of Serum β-Trace Protein Levels among Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are the most commonly encountered etiology of mortality in patients having kidney failure. β-Trace protein (BTP) is a biomarker of glomerular filtration function as well as a potential predictor of adverse CV outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of BTP in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD).

Ellagic acid ameliorates renal fibrogenesis by blocking epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Objectives: Ellagic acid (EA), a kind of polyphenol found in numerous fruits and vegetables, has anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant, and anti-fibrotic effects against a variety of diseases, but its role in mediating renal fibrogenesis remains unknown.

Materials And Methods: We used an mouse unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model and an model with HK-2 cell lines treated with EA and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). The expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins of UUO mice was examined using immunohistochemical staining.

Diabetes mellitus modifies the association between chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder biomarkers and aortic stiffness in peritoneal dialysis patients.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of four chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) biomarkers, including intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), soluble klotho, and fetuin-A, with aortic stiffness in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, comparing those with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). A total of 213 patients (mean age 58 ± 14 years; 81 (38.0%) patients with DM) were enrolled.

Serum Angiopoietin-like Protein 3 Levels Are Associated with Endothelial Function in Patients with Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) plays an important role in lipid and lipoprotein trafficking and metabolism and is positively correlated with cardiovascular disease. Our objective was to evaluate the association between serum ANGPTL3 levels and endothelial function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). We enrolled 116 patients on MHD and obtained their blood test results from their medical records.

Associations of Glucometabolic Indices with Aortic Stiffness in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis with and without Diabetes Mellitus.

Disruptions in glucose metabolism are frequently observed among patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) who utilize glucose-containing dialysis solutions. We aimed to investigate the relationship between glucometabolic indices, including fasting glucose, insulin resistance, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), PD-related glucose load, and icodextrin usage, and aortic stiffness in PD patients with and without diabetic mellitus (DM). This study involved 172 PD patients (mean age 58.

Endocan as a Potential Marker for Predicting All-Cause Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients.

Endocan, a pro-inflammatory cytokine and pro-angiogenic factor, is a marker of endothelial dysfunction and has been proven to correlate with cardiovascular disease. In hemodialysis (HD) patients, cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum endocan and all causes of mortality in HD patients.

Alpha-mangostin alleviate renal interstitial fibrosis via suppression of TGF-β1/Smad/ERK signaling axis in vitro and in vivo.

α-mangostin (α-MG), a natural derivative of coumarin, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-fibrotic effects. This study aimed to determine the effect of α-MG treatment in mediating the process of renal interstitial fibrosis. We found that α-MG could alleviate tubule-interstitial damage and decrease fibrotic (α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA], fibronectin, and collagen I), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) protein (N-cadherin, Snail, Slug, TGF-β1 and vimentin) expression in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mice with chronic kidney disease.

Urinary Klotho Excretion: A Key Regulator of Sodium Homeostasis in Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 2-4.

BACKGROUND Soluble alpha-klotho (klotho) is considered an important regulator of mineral homeostasis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Since the mineral transport proteins are located on the apical membrane of renal tubular cells, we hypothesized that urine klotho may also be involved in their homeostasis. We aimed to investigate the associations between serum and urine klotho and their impacts on mineral homeostasis in patients with stage 2 to 4 CKD.