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1.
Is the kidney a target of SARS-CoV-2?
Martinez-Rojas, MA, Vega-Vega, O, Bobadilla, NA
American journal of physiology. Renal physiology. 2020;(6):F1454-F1462
Abstract
The new disease produced by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) represents a major pandemic event nowadays. Since its origin in China in December 2019, there is compelling evidence that novel SARS-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible virus, and it is associated to a broad clinical spectrum going from subclinical presentation to severe respiratory distress and multiorgan failure. Like other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 recognizes human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 as a cellular receptor that allows it to infect different host cells and likely disrupts renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system homeostasis. Particularly, a considerable incidence of many renal abnormalities associated to COVID-19 has been reported, including proteinuria, hematuria, and acute kidney injury. Moreover, it has been recently demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 can infect podocytes and tubular epithelial cells, which could contribute to the development of the aforementioned renal abnormalities. In this review, we discuss the biological aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, how understanding current knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 infection may partly explain the involvement of the kidneys in the pathophysiology of COVID-19, and what questions have arisen and remain to be explored.
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2.
Kidney disease associated with androgenic-anabolic steroids and vitamin supplements abuse: Be aware!
Parente Filho, SLA, Gomes, PEAC, Forte, GA, Lima, LLL, Silva Júnior, GBD, Meneses, GC, Martins, AMC, Daher, EF
Nefrologia. 2020;(1):26-31
Abstract
The excessive chase for beauty standards and the rise of muscle dysmorphia have ultimately led to an increase in androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) and intramuscular injections of vitamins A, D and E (ADE) abuse, which is associated with several adverse effects and has become a public health issue. This review of literature discusses kidney injury associated with the use of AAS and ADE, highlighting the mechanisms of acute and chronic renal lesion, such as direct renal toxicity, glomerular hyperfiltration and hypercalcemia. Future perspectives regarding evaluation and early diagnosis of kidney injury in these patients are also discussed.
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3.
An expanding spectrum of complications in isolated methylmalonic aciduria.
Forny, P, Grunewald, S
Journal of mother and child. 2020;(2):9-13
Abstract
Isolated methylmalonic acidurias represent a heterogeneous genetic group of inborn errors of propionate metabolism with the common biochemical hallmark of elevated methylmalonic acid present in tissues and body fluids. It was first described in the 1960s and over the years better understanding of the disease and its presentation, earlier diagnosis, and most importantly advances in treatment have resulted in extended survival of patients. With that an expanding spectrum of complications is emerging which requires attention and regular monitoring to facilitate early intervention and reduce disease burden.
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4.
EHR-Based Clinical Trials: The Next Generation of Evidence.
Abdel-Kader, K, Jhamb, M
Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN. 2020;(7):1050-1052
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5.
Jiao-tai-wan for insomnia symptoms caused by the disharmony of the heart and kidney: a study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Zeng, C, Liu, X, Hu, L, Feng, Y, Xia, N, Zeng, H, Luo, L, Ye, R, Yuan, Z
Trials. 2020;(1):408
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insomnia seriously affects people's normal lives and work. However, effective treatment strategies are scarce. The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of Jiao-tai-wan (JTW) for ameliorating insomnia symptoms caused by disharmony of the heart and kidney. DESIGN This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. A total of 124 participants suffering from insomnia symptoms will be randomly assigned to the JTW or placebo group in an equal ratio. The participants will be asked to take JTW or placebo granules twice a day for 1 week. All data will be gathered at baseline and at the end of the drug intervention. The primary outcome measures will be the mean change in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) from baseline to the end of the drug intervention. Secondary outcome measures will include the altered sleep parameters in polysomnography, 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) evaluation, the Disharmony of Heart and Kidney Scoring System score, and blood tests, including the levels of serum adenosine and melatonin. A laboratory test will be taken before and after treatment to assess the safety of JTW. DISCUSSION The outcomes of this study will confirm the efficacy of JTW for the treatment of insomnia symptoms and will also be used to monitor the safety of JTW. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800019239. Registered on 1st November 2018.
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6.
Unravelling the complex genetics of common kidney diseases: from variants to mechanisms.
Sullivan, KM, Susztak, K
Nature reviews. Nephrology. 2020;(11):628-640
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Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified hundreds of loci associated with kidney-related traits such as glomerular filtration rate, albuminuria, hypertension, electrolyte and metabolite levels. However, these impressive, large-scale mapping approaches have not always translated into an improved understanding of disease or development of novel therapeutics. GWAS have several important limitations. Nearly all disease-associated risk loci are located in the non-coding region of the genome and therefore, their target genes, affected cell types and regulatory mechanisms remain unknown. Genome-scale approaches can be used to identify associations between DNA sequence variants and changes in gene expression (quantified through bulk and single-cell methods), gene regulation and other molecular quantitative trait studies, such as chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation, protein expression and metabolite levels. Data obtained through these approaches, used in combination with robust computational methods, can deliver robust mechanistic inferences for translational exploitation. Understanding the genetic basis of common kidney diseases means having a comprehensive picture of the genes that have a causal role in disease development and progression, of the cells, tissues and organs in which these genes act to affect the disease, of the cellular pathways and mechanisms that drive disease, and of potential targets for disease prevention, detection and therapy.
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7.
[Immune check point inhibitor-associated renal toxicity].
Izzedine, H, Gueutin, V
Nephrologie & therapeutique. 2020;(1):19-26
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibition had a major clinical success in clinical oncology and impacted the treatment paradigm in many cancers. Immune related adverse events are well-described toxicities that are closely associated with CPI therapies and can involve any organ in the body. Renal toxicity is multifocal. In addition to the predominant tubulointerstitial involvement, immunotherapy can lead to a variety of glomerular damage and electrolyte disorders. Suggested mechanisms include direct renal interstitium lymphocyte infiltration, renal immune complex deposition, microangiopathic endothelial disease, or cytokine release leading to podocytopathy. Immunotherapy in the renal transplant patient raises the question of the rejection occurrence. Current recommendations for diagnosis and management of renal effects are not optimal because of the limited data available and understanding of their pathophysiology.
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8.
Clinical Efficacy and Transcriptomic Analysis of Congrong Shujing Granules () in Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Syndrome of Shen (Kidney) Essence Deficiency.
Chen, SY, Xiao, SJ, Lin, YN, Li, XY, Xu, Q, Yang, SS, Huang, LH, Cai, J
Chinese journal of integrative medicine. 2020;(6):412-419
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Congrong Shujing Granules ( , CSGs) in treating patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome of Shen (Kidney) essence deficiency, and to investigate the potential mechanism involving efficacy through a transcriptome sequencing approach. METHODS Eligible PD patients with syndrome of Shen essence defificiency were randomly assigned to a treatment group or a control group by a random number table, and were treated with CSGs combined with Western medicine (WM), or placebo combined with WM, respectively. Both courses of treatment lasted for 12 weeks. The Unifified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score, the PD Question-39 (PDQ-39) score, CM Syndrome Scale score, and drug usage of all patients were evaluated before and after treatment. Safety was evaluated by clinical laboratory tests and electrocardiographs. Blood samples from 6 patients in each group were collected before and after the trial and used for transcriptomic analysis by gene ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis. Differentially expressed genes were validated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS A total of 86 PD patients were selected from the Third Affifiliated People's Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2017 and December 2017. Finally, 72 patients completed the trial, including 35 in the treatment group and 37 in the control group. When compared with the control group after treatment, patients in the treatment group showed signifificant decreases in UPDRS sub-II score, PDQ-39 score, CM syndrome score, and Levodopa equivalent dose (P<0.05). During the treatment course, no signifificant changes were observed in safety indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). A possible mechanism of clinical effificacy was proposed that involved regulating cell metabolism-related processes and ribosome-related pathways. Treatment with CSGs had shown to affect relevant gene loci for PD, including AIDA, ANKRD36BP2, BCL2A1, BCL2L11, FTH1P2, GCH1, HPRT1, NFE2L2, RMRP, RPS7, TGFBR1, WIPF2, and COX7B. CONCLUSIONS CSGs combined with WM can be used to treat PD patients with CM syndrome of Shen essence defificiency with a good safety. The possible mechanism of action and relevant gene loci were proposed. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IOR-16008394).
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9.
Bisphenol A impaired cell adhesion by altering the expression of adhesion and cytoskeleton proteins on human podocytes.
Moreno-Gómez-Toledano, R, Arenas, MI, González-Martínez, C, Olea-Herrero, N, Reventún, P, Di Nunzio, M, Sánchez-Esteban, S, Arilla-Ferreiro, E, Saura, M, Bosch, RJ
Scientific reports. 2020;(1):16638
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical -xenoestrogen- used in food containers is present in the urine of almost the entire population. Recently, several extensive population studies have proven a significant association between urinary excretion of BPA and albuminuria. The alteration of glomerular podocytes or "podocytopathy" is a common event in chronic albuminuric conditions. Since many podocytes recovered from patients' urine are viable, we hypothesized that BPA could impair podocyte adhesion capabilities. Using an in vitro adhesion assay, we observed that BPA impaired podocyte adhesion, an effect that was abrogated by Tamoxifen (an estrogen receptor blocker). Genomic and proteomic analyses revealed that BPA affected the expression of several podocyte cytoskeleton and adhesion proteins. Western blot and immunocytochemistry confirmed the alteration in the protein expression of tubulin, vimentin, podocin, cofilin-1, vinculin, E-cadherin, nephrin, VCAM-1, tenascin-C, and β-catenin. Moreover, we also found that BPA, while decreased podocyte nitric oxide production, it lead to overproduction of ion superoxide. In conclusion, our data show that BPA induced a novel type of podocytopathy characterizes by an impairment of podocyte adhesion, by altering the expression of adhesion and cytoskeleton proteins. Moreover, BPA diminished production of podocyte nitric oxide and induced the overproduction of oxygen-free metabolites. These data provide a mechanism by which BPA could participate in the pathogenesis and progression of renal diseases.
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10.
Clinical, Operative, and Economic Outcomes of the Point-of-Care Blood Gases in the Nephrology Department of a Third-Level Hospital.
Qasem Moreno, AL, Sáez, PO, Calle, PF, Del Peso Gilsanz, G, Ramos, SA, Almirón, MD, Soto, AB
Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine. 2020;(10):1209-1216
Abstract
CONTEXT.—: Point-of-care testing allows rapid analysis and short turnaround times. To the best of our knowledge, the present study assesses, for the first time, clinical, operative, and economic outcomes of point-of-care blood gas analysis in a nephrology department. OBJECTIVE.—: To evaluate the impact after implementing blood gas analysis in the nephrology department, considering clinical (differences in blood gas analysis results, critical results), operative (turnaround time, elapsed time between consecutive blood gas analysis, preanalytical errors), and economic (total cost per process) outcomes. DESIGN.—: A total amount of 3195 venous blood gas analyses from 688 patients of the nephrology department before and after point-of-care blood gas analyzer installation were included. Blood gas analysis results obtained by ABL90 FLEX PLUS were acquired from the laboratory information system. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.3 software. RESULTS.—: During the point-of-care testing period, there was an increase in blood glucose levels and a decrease in pCO2, lactate, and sodium as well as fewer critical values (especially glucose and lactate). The turnaround time and the mean elapsed time were shorter. By the beginning of this period, the number of preanalytical errors increased; however, no statistically significant differences were found during year-long monitoring. Although there was an increase in the total number of blood gas analysis requests, the total cost per process decreased. CONCLUSIONS.—: The implementation of a point-of-care blood gas analysis in a nephrology department has a positive impact on clinical, operative, and economic terms of patient care.