Macrogenome analysis of rodents from Heilongjiang Province, China.

Rodents are carriers and hosts of numerous zoonotic pathogens, analysing the diversity of viruses and bacteria carried by rodents is important for predicting and reducing the risk of future outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. Heilongjiang is a border province in China with rich ecological resources. In this study, we characterized the zoonotic microbiota (viruses and bacteria) in wild rodents.

Impact of Improved Diagnosis and Treatment on Holistic CKD Burden.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease despite the availability of effective interventions. The potential clinical, economic, and environmental impacts of increased diagnosis and improved adherence to guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMTs) recommended for patients with CKD are not well-understood.

Methods: Eight country populations (Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, UK, and USA) were simulated for 25 years using the IMPACT CKD model to compare burdens under various diagnosis and GDMT adherence scenarios versus current practice.

Perlecan is a novel target of autoantibodies in anti-glomerular basement membrane disease.

Background And Hypothesis: Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is an autoimmune kidney disease in which autoantibodies are directed against GBM components. Type IV collagen and laminin α5β2γ1 (LM521) within GBM are two major target antigens in anti-GBM disease. Perlecan is a type of heparan sulfate proteoglycan, ubiquitously expressed in basement membranes.

Difference between cystatin C- and creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate, diabetes status, and incident peripheral artery disease: A population-based cohort study.

Background And Aims: Difference between cystatin C and creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRdiff) has been suggested to reflect factors that are associated with vascular risk, independent of kidney function. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the association between eGFRdiff and peripheral artery disease (PAD), as well as the potential modifying role of diabetes.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 466,245 participants with concurrent measured serum creatinine and cystatin C and free of PAD at baseline (2006-2010) from the UK Biobank.

Holistic Impact of CKD: A Clinical, Economic, and Environmental Analysis by IMPACT CKD.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing global health problem driven by aging and the rise of comorbidities, including diabetes and hypertension. Although clinical and economic burdens have been reported, there is a lack of information on the multidimensional impact of CKD across countries with varying demographics and health system archetypes.

Methods: The validated IMPACT CKD model was used to project the clinical, health care resource use (HCRU), economic, patient, societal, and environmental burden of CKD in 8 countries (Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States) over 10 years (baseline: 2022; simulated years: 2023-2032).

A piperidinyl indole derivative, potential complement factor B inhibitor, plays a renoprotective role in diabetic nephropathy.

Aims: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the main cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) worldwide. The pathogenesis of DN is complex, and cumulating evidence demonstrated that over-activation of the complement system is involved. Complement factor B (CFB), a serine protease, drives the central amplification loop of the alternative pathway (AP) of the complement, making it a potential therapeutic target.

Safety and efficacy of sirolimus combined with cyclosporine in primary membranous nephropathy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine, are primary treatments for membranous nephropathy (MN). Optimizing this regimen is crucial to reduce nephrotoxicity and enhance immunological remission. Sirolimus, when combined with cyclosporine, may offer non-inferior clinical remission to cyclosporine monotherapy, while improving kidney function preservation and antibody clearance.

Guideline-Recommended Disease-Modifying Therapies for Patients with Cardiorenal Disease: A Call-to-Action Narrative Review.

Substantial gaps exist between recommendations for guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its use in real-world clinical practice. This includes suboptimal dosing of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi), low uptake of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) for CKD, and low uptake and/or transient use of potassium binders to manage RASi-induced hyperkalemia. Suboptimal RASi therapy deprives patients of the full cardiorenal benefits associated with RASi, and increases the risk of cardiorenal adverse events and mortality.

Executive summary for the China Kidney Disease Network (CK-NET) 2017-2018 Annual Data Report.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a public health issue. Rapid urbanization in China has been intimately linked to shifts in the spectrum of CKD, particularly as regards CKD related to diabetes mellitus. By amalgamating diverse data streams and harnessing cutting-edge technologies, the China Kidney Disease Network aspires to evolve into a comprehensive surveillance framework for kidney diseases in China.

The efficacy and safety of rituximab in adult patients with steroid-dependent or frequent relapsing nephrotic syndrome: A retrospective study.

Background: Steroid-dependent (SD) and frequently relapsing (FR) nephrotic syndrome, primarily due to minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), poses significant treatment challenges. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of rituximab in these patient populations.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 94 patients with SD or FR nephrotic syndrome treated with rituximab.

Disease-Modifying Therapies in Lupus Nephritis: A Narrative Review Evaluating Currently Used Pharmacologic Agents.

As more lupus nephritis (LN) medications become available, identifying treatments that are disease-modifying is critical in making treatment decisions. Based on our 2022 published working definition of LN disease modification as 'minimizing disease activity with the fewest treatment-associated toxicities and slowing progression to end-stage kidney disease' (ESKD), the objective of this review was to classify current LN treatments according to the proposed kidney disease modification criteria, excluding toxicities. Based upon a selection of LN clinical trial (n = 27) and observational study (n = 20) publications, as well as the authors' clinical experiences, we evaluated the disease modification potential for 16 LN treatments (inclusive of antimalarials, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, calcineurin inhibitors and biologics) according to the proposed kidney disease activity and organ damage criteria at year 1, years 2-5, and > 5-year time points.

Lupus nephritis trials network (LNTN) repeat kidney biopsy-based definitions of treatment response: A systematic literature review-based proposal.

Within the frame of the Lupus Nephritis Trials Network (LNTN), we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to propose kidney tissue-based definitions of treatment outcomes in lupus nephritis (LN). Given the limitations of clinical markers like proteinuria in predicting immunological, histological, and long-term outcomes, our work emphasises the importance of repeat kidney biopsies. Such biopsies help identify discordance between clinical and histological response, which has implications for long-term kidney outcomes.

Anti-nephrin antibodies in adult Chinese patients with minimal change disease and primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Introduction: Anti-nephrin autoantibodies have been discovered in patients with minimal change disease (MCD) and primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), especially in those with active nephrotic syndrome.

Methods: Here, we investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-nephrin antibodies in 596 adult Chinese patients (436 with MCD and 160 with primary FSGS) diagnosed by kidney biopsy.

Results: Anti-nephrin IgG and IgM were detected using ELISA, with validation through antigen-inhibition ELISA and Western blotting.

Finerenone Alleviates Over-Activation of Complement C5a-C5aR1 Axis of Macrophages by Regulating G Protein Subunit Alpha i2 to Improve Diabetic Nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), accounts for a major cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide, with a complicated pathogenesis and limited effective strategies nowadays. The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is a classical ligand-activated nuclear transcription factor. It is expressed in the renal intrinsic and immune cells, especially macrophages.

Peripheral-central correlation study of acupuncture for chronic tinnitus study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: (1) Exploring the evaluation and correlation of peripheral central auditory function in patients with chronic tinnitus. (2) Evaluation of the cumulative effect of acupuncture on peripheral central auditory function in patients with chronic tinnitus.

Method: Our research is structured as a regulated and randomized trial with assessor blinding.

Complement C5a and C5a receptor 1 mediates glomerular damage in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Background: Clinical data and animal models have provided compelling evidence supporting the pathogenic role of complement activation in the progression of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). However, the mechanisms underlying complement-induced podocyte injury and parietal epithelial cell (PEC) activation are not well understood.

Methods: We evaluated glomerular C5aR1 (CD88) expression in FSGS patients and tested the effects of the C5aR1 antagonist (PMX205) in Adriamycin nephropathy mice.

Risk factors for relapse and aggravation in membranous nephropathy after COVID-19 infection.

Background: Relapse of membranous nephropathy (MN) and other glomerular diseases has been observed after COVID-19 infection. The risk factors contributing to disease progression in MN patients after contracting COVID-19 remain unclear.

Methods: This retrospective study included 656 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven primary MN who received treatment and were regularly followed up for over six months.

A conceptual framework to assess the health, socioeconomic and environmental burden of chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health challenge that affects patients, caregivers, healthcare systems, the environment and national economies. Despite its far-reaching impact, there is no framework to systematically evaluate national CKD prevention and management programmes or evaluate the societal burden of disease. This paper has two objectives: first, to introduce a comprehensive framework to assess national programmes, which recognises gaps and weaknesses and identifies feasible policy interventions to reduce overall CKD burden; second, to present some key challenges and success stories in delivering CKD services delivered in eight different country settings.

Gestational diabetes mellitus causes genome hyper-methylation of oocyte via increased EZH2.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a common pregnancy disease, has long-term negative effects on offspring health. Epigenetic changes may have important contributions to that, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we report the influence of GDM on DNA methylation of offspring (GDF1) oocytes and the possible mechanisms.

Maternal obesity may disrupt offspring metabolism by inducing oocyte genome hyper-methylation via increased DNMTs.

Maternal obesity has deleterious effects on the process of establishing oocyte DNA methylation; yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found that maternal obesity disrupted the genomic methylation of oocytes using a high-fat diet (HFD) induced mouse model, at least a part of which was transmitted to the F2 oocytes and livers via females. We further examined the metabolome of serum and found that the serum concentration of melatonin was reduced.

Identification of biomarkers in Parkinson's disease by comparative transcriptome analysis and WGCNA highlights the role of oligodendrocyte precursor cells.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease characterized by the death of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. A large number of studies have focused on dopamine neurons themselves, but so far, the pathogenesis of PD has not been fully elucidated.

Results: Here, we explored the significance of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs)/oligodendrocytes in the pathogenesis of PD using a bioinformatic approach.