Identification of renal stem cells in zebrafish.

Renal stem cells (RSC) hold great promise as kidney disease regenerative therapies. However, RSCs capable of regenerating de novo nephrons remain unidentified in vertebrates. Therefore, this study aimed to identify RSCs in zebrafish.

Systemic inflammation-based refinement of triglyceride glucose index for predicting new-onset cardiovascular disease: A nationwide multicenter cohort study.

Background: Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a surrogate marker of insulin resistance, which has been related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, the predictive rationale for incorporating triglyceride and glucose is not well established. Furthermore, whether inflammatory information adds prognostic value to TyG remains largely unknown.

Tricobalt tetraselenide nanoparticles improve intestinal barrier function by reshaping the gut microbiota and fortifying epithelial tight junctions.

The disrupted intestinal mechanical barrier contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irradiation-induced intestinal injury (IRIII), both of which lack sufficient medical countermeasures currently. Reshaping the gut microbiota to increase the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels is instrumental for fortifying the mechanical barrier and mitigating these diseases. Inspired by the fact that supplementation of essential trace elements selenium (Se) and cobalt (Co) can enrich SCFA-producing bacteria and promote microbial fermentation, respectively, we prepared tricobalt tetraselenide nanoparticles (CoSe NPs) using a facile biomineralization approach in this study.

Multimodal analysis stratifies genetic susceptibility and reveals the pathogenic mechanism of kidney injury in diabetic nephropathy.

The genetic etiology of diabetic nephropathy (DN) is masked by inaccurate phenotyping and ethnic disparities. Here, we conduct a stepwise genome-wide association study (GWAS) in the Chinese Han population, using a precise phenotype of biopsy-proven DN as cases, patients with type 2 diabetes without microvascular complications as controls, and healthy individuals for comparison. Our analysis reveals that the genetic etiology of DN is primarily attributed to an inherent susceptibility to kidney injury.

Hospital type and clinical outcomes in peritoneal dialysis: Findings from the PDTAP study.

BackgroundThere are inequalities in resource allocation and services across peritoneal dialysis (PD) centers in China. This study aimed to explore the association between hospital type (university-affiliated vs. non-university-affiliated hospitals) and clinical outcomes in PD patients.

Comprehensive analysis of pyroptosis-related gene signatures in renal fibrosis.

Background: Renal fibrosis is key histopathological lesion in chronic kidney disease progression. This study explored pyroptosis-related gene signatures, potential molecular pathways and chemicals, as well as immune infiltration in renal fibrosis.

Methods: Renal fibrosis datasets and pyroptosis-related genes were obtained and differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes (DEPGs) were identified.

C-reactive protein-to-prealbumin ratio as prognostic marker in hemodialysis patients with Omicron infection.

Background: Hemodialysis patients frequently experience chronic inflammation and malnutrition, while C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio (CP ratio) is a comprehensive assessment approach of inflammatory and nutritional status. Howerer, there is limited research on the prognostic value of the CP ratio specifically in hemodialysis patients infected with the Omicron variant.

Methods: Data from 847 hemodialysis patients, diagnosed with Omicron across 6 hemodialysis centers between December 2022 and February 2023, were analyzed.

Functional Performance Decline Outperforms Sarcopenia and Its Components in Predicting New-Onset Chronic Kidney Disease: A Nationwide Multicenter Study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the associations of functional performance, sarcopenia, and components of sarcopenia with the onset of chronic kidney disease (CKD), while also determining the optimal predictive factor.

Methods: This observational multicenter study included 8,647 community-dwelling adults. Activities of daily living (ADL) scale, physical performance, and sarcopenia were assessed at baseline, and participants were followed to track CKD incidents.

Association of air pollutants exposure and increased risk of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis: An observational study from PDTAP cohort.

IntroductionAlthough the impact of air pollutants on infectious diseases is well-known, there is limited evidence regarding its effects on peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This study aimed to investigate the association between air pollutants and PD-related peritonitis.MethodsThis is an observational study affiliated to the PD Telemedicine-assisted Platform Cohort Study (PDTAP study), which is a national-level cohort study in China.

Parameter Calculation and Rotor Structure Optimization Design of Solid Rotor Induction Motors.

Solid rotor induction motors have a solid body rotor, which leads to low efficiency and power factor, and currently, the rotor is mostly optimized by slotted and squirrel cage structures. A generalized multilayer analytical model for different rotor structures is established, which can consider the effects of rotor eddy currents and saturation, based on which a generalized equivalent circuit model is established. The effects of number of slots, depth of slots, width of slots, squirrel cage material and end ring thickness on rotor impedance, torque and rotor losses are analyzed.

Early post-treatment remission of proteinuria is associated with long-term prognosis in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between remission status and the optimal thresholds of proteinuria and hematuria after 6 months of treatment in patients with Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN), and to assess their predictive value for long-term prognosis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 440 IgAN patients. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to determine the optimal thresholds for proteinuria and hematuria remission at 6 months post-treatment initiation.

Associations between iron markers with hemoglobin and outcomes in peritoneal dialysis patients: results from the PDTAP study.

Background And Hypothesis: Iron metabolism markers, such as transferrin saturation (TSAT) and ferritin, are crucial in anemia management in patients with CKD and those undergoing dialysis, yet optimal levels remain unelucidated.

Methods: We conducted a prospective multicenter cohort study using data from the nationwide Peritoneal Dialysis Telemedicine-based Management Platform (PDTAP) to analyze TSAT, ferritin, and hemoglobin (Hb) levels, and their associations with mortality in the peritoneal dialysis (PD) population.

Results: Our study included 4429 PD patients, analyzing data through restricted cubic splines and Cox regression models, adjusted for multiple confounders.

Single-cell analysis of proximal tubular cells with different DNA content reveals functional heterogeneity in the acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease transition.

Introduction: Proximal tubular epithelial cells with different DNA contents emerge after acute kidney injury (AKI). However, their heterogeneity and roles in the acute kidney injury-to-chronic kidney disease (AKI-to-CKD) transition remain incompletely understood.

Methods: Proximal tubular epithelial cells with different DNA contents were isolated at days 3 and 14 post-AKI following ischemia reperfusion injury for single-cell RNA sequencing.

Acetylation-regulated DUSP1 deficiency contributes to renal fibrosis progression.

The irreversible damage of renal fibrosis has been widely recognized as a critical factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage kidney failure. This necessitates investigation into its precise mechanisms. Dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), a regulator of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, is linked to diseases such as cancer and immune disorders, but its role in renal fibrosis is unclear.

Creatine-mediated ferroptosis inhibition is involved in the intestinal radioprotection of daytime-restricted feeding.

Ionizing radiation-induced intestinal injury (IRIII) is a catastrophic disease lack of sufficient medical countermeasures currently. Regulation of the gut microbiota through dietary adjustments is a potential strategy to mitigate IRIII. Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is an emerging behavioral nutrition intervention with pleiotropic health benefits.

REST contributes to renal fibrosis through inducing mitochondrial energy metabolism imbalance in tubular epithelial cells.

Background: Renal fibrosis represents the final common pathological manifestation of chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet the underlying mechanism remains elusive, and there is still a lack of effective targeted therapeutic strategy. Although previous research indicated that repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST) contributed to acute kidney injury (AKI) in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs), its specific contribution to renal fibrosis and associated mechanisms remains largely unexplored.

Methods: Renal biopsies from CKD patients were collected to evaluate the expression of REST.

Genetically Predicted Causal Relationship between Gut Microbiota and Various Kidney Diseases.

Introduction: Although recent research suggests that alterations in gut microbiota play a critical role in the pathophysiology of kidney diseases, the causal relationship between specific intestinal flora and the risk of kidney diseases remains unclear. Here, we investigated the causal relationship between gut microbiota and different kidney diseases through mendelian randomization analysis.

Methods: Gut microbiota and three types of kidney diseases, including diabetic nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, and membranous nephropathy, were identified from large-scale genome-wide association studies summary data.

Risk prediction of cardiovascular events in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Cardiovascular events (CVEs), which refer to a spectrum of conditions including heart attacks, stroke and peripheral vascular disease, are the primary cause of death among peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, accounting for nearly 40% of deaths. Early identification of high-risk individuals is essential to lessen this burden. Machine learning is particularly suited for this task due to its ability to discern complex, non-linear relationships between various clinical variables, which is essential for accurately predicting CVEs in the context of PD.

Association of combined left and right handgrip strength with new-onset chronic kidney disease in middle-aged and older adults: a nationwide multicenter cohort study.

Background: The role of multi-site muscle strength in the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains largely unknown. This study aims to investigate the association of combined left and right handgrip strength (CHS) with new-onset CKD in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: This observational multicenter study included 4618 community-dwelling adults without CKD at baseline in 2011.

Dodecapeptides derived from human cathelicidin with potent activity against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

The increasing infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) poses a serious threat to global public health. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are alternatives to conventional antibiotics in combating superbugs. However, discovering AMPs with low synthesis costs and strong antibacterial effects against CRAB is challenging.

Association of Serum Polyamines with Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that serum polyamines, including putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, may serve as potential biomarkers for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its progression. However, the association between serum polyamine levels, cardiovascular (CV) events, and mortality in CKD patients remains poorly understood.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, involving 297 adult patients with CKD at stages 1-5 from March 2015 to September 2018, with follow-up until May 2023.