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ANZ J Surg 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of General Surgery, Bendigo Health, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.

Klin Padiatr 2017 Nov 18;229(6):e1. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Nuklearmedizin 2018 Dec 18;57(6):224-233. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Aim: The aim of this study is to present normal values for technetium mercaptoacetyltriglycine renal uptake kinetics as a function of age, sex and circadian rhythm in mice using multi-pinhole SPECT.

Methods: Dynamic multi-pinhole SPECT semistationary acquisitions consisting of 10 20 s frames followed by 25 50 s frames began prior to intravenous injection of 50 MBq in 12 female (F) and 12 male (M) C57BL/6N mice. Each mouse had follow-up imaging at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 22 months of age. Read More

Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2018 Dec;50(6):1004-1008

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tibet Autonomous Region People's Hospital, Lhasa 850000, China.

Objective: To describe the clinical, immunological characteristics and organ involvement of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Tibet plateau, China.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 70 patients admitted in the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Hospital between May 2014 and April 2016. In the study, 120 hospitalized patients with SLE from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of the Peking University People's Hospital were randomly selected as the control (plain) group. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2018 Dec 11;51(6):2591-2603. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing,

Background/aims: Chronic inflammation contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus by targeting the insulin receptor substrate protein-1 (IRS-1) signaling pathway. Previous studies showed that Leukemia related protein 16 (LRP16) reduced insulin stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes by impairing the IRS-1 signaling pathway. We explored the mechanism by which LRP16 promotes the inflammatory response. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2018 Dec 14;51(6):2938-2954. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin,

Background/aims: Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is expected to be a new method to solve the clinical problems caused by advanced metastasis in patients with lung cancer. The use of ultrasound has the advantage of being noninvasive, with deep-penetration properties. This study explored the anti-tumor effect of SDT with a new sonosensitizer, sinoporphyrin sodium (DVDMS), on the human small cell lung cancer H446 cell line in vitro and in vivo. Read More

Hum Immunol 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Florida Hospital Transplant Institute, AdventHealth Orlando, 601 East Rollins St, Orlando, FL 32707. Electronic address:

Introduction: The number of solid organ transplants completed annually continues to trend upwards each year. Despite this, maintenance immunosuppression available on the market has remained relatively stagnant. Standard triple immunosuppression, composed typically of tacrolimus, mycophenolate, and steroids, lead to many side effects that limit the use of these medications. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Dept. of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; Center of Critical Care Nephrology, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address:

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of sepsis and contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. Urinary tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP2) has been recently recognized as an early biomarker to predict AKI in critically ill patients. However, the biological functions of TIMP2 remain largely unknown. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, 66075-900 Belém, Brazil. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth is an annual weed with a preference to humid places with reduced solar radiation. This plant is mainly distributed in the Neotropics, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Read More

Curr Biol 2018 Dec;28(24):R1386-R1388

Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. Electronic address:

Energy and sleep homeostasis are entwined, each capable of exerting priority based on need. The identification of central nodes involved in the appropriate orchestration of these systems is critical to our understanding of how the brain regulates behavior. Read More

Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Ophthalmology, Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.

This is the first reported case of necrotizing nasal and sinus herpes infection with orbital involvement. A 94-year-old male with a past medical history of hypertension, congestive heart failure, and chronic kidney disease presented with necrotic nasal cellulitis and a red left eye with blurry vision. Onset was 2 weeks prior with an upper lip fever blister. Read More

Pharmacogenet Genomics 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, New Jersey.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine whether differences in CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 haplotype influence the dose of ibuprofen self-administered by individuals, and to examine the potential relationship between CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 reduced metabolism haplotypes and adverse events.

Participants And Methods: We investigated relationships between genetic variations in CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 and ibuprofen use, dose, and side effects (reported by questionnaire) in 445 participants from the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative.

Results: Carriers of reduced metabolism haplotypes for CYP2C8 (*2, *3, *4) and CYP2C9 (*2, *3) were significantly (P=0. Read More

Curr Opin Urol 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Urology, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.

Purpose: of review The most relevant recent findings on the use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in adult population to provide an insight of its role in the current and future of stone treatment. Comparing ESWL with other modalities is not in the scope of this review.

Recent Findings: We conducted a PubMed/Embase search and reviewed recent publications that include relevant information on the development of ESWL. Read More

Curr Opin Pediatr 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Hypertension and Pheresis, Washington University School of Medicine and St Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis.

Purpose Of Review: Infections represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation in children. We review recent advances in epidemiology, assessment, prevention and treatment for several different infections.

Recent Findings: Infections, such as bacterial urinary tract infection or opportunistic viral infection remain common, may be increasing and represent a large proportion of hospitalization. Read More

J Histochem Cytochem 2018 Dec 18:22155418819967. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

Although there are thousands of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks potentially available for scientific research, many are of questionable quality, partly due to unknown preanalytical variables. We analyzed FFPE tissue biospecimens as part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Biospecimen Preanalytical Variables program to identify mRNA markers denoting cold ischemic time. The mRNA was extracted from colon, kidney, and ovary cancer FFPE blocks (40 patients, 10-12 hr fixation time) with 1, 2, 3, and 12 hr cold ischemic times, then analyzed using qRT-PCR for 23 genes selected following a literature search. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Dec;11(12):e008531

Disciplina de Cardiologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica (T.Q.-S., O.R.C.F.), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

Circ Heart Fail 2018 Dec;11(12):e005488

IMIB-Arrixaca, University of Murcia, Spain (M.T.P.-M., M.C.A.-L., C.M.M., A.L.).

Background: Serum concentrations of ST2 (interleukin-1 receptor-like 1) represent a meaningful prognostic marker in cardiac diseases. Production of soluble ST2 (sST2) may be partially extracardiac. Identification of sST2 sources is relevant to design strategies for modulating its signaling. Read More

NMR Biomed 2018 Dec 18:e4041. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

This study introduces a technique for simultaneous multislice (SMS) cardiac magnetic resonance fingerprinting (cMRF), which improves the slice coverage when quantifying myocardial T T , and M . The single-slice cMRF pulse sequence was modified to use multiband (MB) RF pulses for SMS imaging. Different RF phase schedules were used to excite each slice, similar to POMP or CAIPIRINHA, which imparts tissues with a distinguishable and slice-specific magnetization evolution over time. Read More

Nephrol Dial Transplant 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Nephrology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the effect of different immunosuppressive strategies on long-term kidney transplant outcomes. Moreover, as they were usually based on historical data, it was not possible to account for the presence of pretransplant donor-specific human-leukocyte antigen antibodies (DSA), a currently recognized risk marker for impaired graft survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate to what extent frequently used initial immunosuppressive therapies increase graft survival in immunological low-risk patients. Read More

Nephrol Dial Transplant 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Transplant Nephrology and Surgery, Kidney Disease Center, Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.

Background: Posttransplant anemia may be a major determinant of chronic allograft nephropathy. However, the impact of correcting anemia on graft function remains controversial.

Methods: A 3-year follow-up of an open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involving kidney transplantation recipients examined whether sustained maintenance of target hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations at a high level (12. Read More

Nephrol Dial Transplant 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Background: A number of peritoneal dialysis (PD) systems are available but there have been few studies comparing them. The aim of this study was to examine technique failure and patient survival between different PD company systems.

Methods: The study included all patients who commenced PD between 1995 and 2014 in Australia and New Zealand. Read More

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland.

Acta Biomed 2018 Dec 17;89(9-S):158-172. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Emergency and Trauma Surgery of University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.

Background: Contrast enhanced Computed Tomography (CCT) is the most used imaging test to investigate acute abdominal clinical conditions, because of its high sensitivity and specificity. It is mandatory to make a correct and prompt diagnosis when life threatening abdominal diseases as mesenteric ischemia are suspected. Contrast medium administration was linked to acute renal failure, therefore radiologist often prefer to perform CCT without contrast in patients needing to undergo the exam with increased serum creatinine. Read More

Acta Biomed 2018 Dec 17;89(9-S):153-157. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Pediatric Emergency Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Maternal and Infant Department, Parma, Italy.

Background: Shiga-toxin Escherichia coli productor (STEC) provokes frequently an important intestinal damage that may be considered in differential diagnosis with the onset of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The aim of this work is to review in the current literature about Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) and IBD symptoms at the onset, comparing the clinical presentation and symptoms, as the timing of diagnosis and of the correct treatment of both these conditions is a fundamental prognostic factor. A focus is made about the association between typical or atypical HUS and IBD and a possible renal involvement in patient with IBD (IgA-nephropathy). Read More

Acta Biomed 2018 Dec 17;89(9-S):76-80. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Pediatric Emergency Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Maternal and Infant Department, Parma, Italy.

Background And Aim Of The Work: Historical studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of symptomatic nephrolithiasis is higher in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), compared to general population. The aim of the review was to analyze literature data in order to identify the main risk conditions described in literature and the proposed treatment.

Methods: A research on the databases PubMed, Medline, Embase and Google Scholar was performed by using the keywords "renal calculi/lithiasis/stones" and "inflammatory bowel diseases". Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2018 Dec;7(24):e011254

1 Division of Cardiology University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle WA.

See Article by Bagai et al. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2018 Dec;7(24):e010108

2 Department of Neuroscience and Physiology Sahlgrenska Academy & Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg Sweden.

Background With increasing survival rates among patients with myocardial infarction ( MI ), more demands are placed on secondary prevention. While physical activity ( PA ) efforts to obtain a sufficient PA level are part of secondary preventive recommendations, it is still underutilized. Importantly, the effect of changes in PA after MI is largely unknown. Read More

Nephrology (Carlton) 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Kidney Research Laboratory, Division of Nephrology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem. Although accumulated data suggested that probiotic supplements played roles in CKD, the results remained controversial. Here we performed a meta-analysis to assess the effects of probiotic supplements on the CKD progression. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Background: Intestinal dysbiosis has been documented in humans with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is thought to contribute to production of the uremic toxins indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresol sulfate (pCS). Characteristics of the fecal microbiome in cats with CKD and correlation to serum concentrations of uremic toxins are unknown.

Objectives: To characterize the fecal microbiome and measure serum IS and pCS concentrations of cats with CKD in comparison to healthy older cats. Read More

Eur J Heart Fail 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.

Background: Clinical consequences of an interplay between dysfunction/injury of different end-organs in acute heart failure (AHF) remain unknown.

Methods And Results: In 284 consecutive AHF patients, end-organ dysfunction/injury was defined as cardiac [troponin I level above the upper reference limit (URL, > 0.056 ng/mL)], kidney (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1. Read More

JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Background: Reliable and valid tools to screen for malnutrition in the intensive care unit (ICU) remain elusive. The sarcopenia index (SI) [(serum creatinine/serum cystatin C) × 100], could be an inexpensive, objective tool to predict malnutrition. We evaluated the SI as a screening tool for malnutrition in the ICU and compared it with the modified-NUTRIC score. Read More

Nat Rev Urol 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS), which encompasses interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is characterized by chronic pain in the pelvic region or genitalia that is often accompanied by urinary frequency and urgency. Despite considerable research, no definite aetiological risk factors or effective treatments have been identified. The Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network uses a novel integrated strategy to characterize UCPPS as a systemic disorder that potentially involves multiple aetiologies. Read More

Khirurgiia (Mosk) 2018 (12):65-72

Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Care of Moscow Healthcare Department, Moscow, Russia; Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russia.

Aim: To perform retrospective analysis of treatment of postoperative ventral hernias (PVH) in kidney and extrarenal organs recipients, to assess its safety and effectiveness.

Material And Methods: Hernia repair has been performed in 84 PVH patients for the period from May 2006 to November 2017. The main group consisted of 41 patients (24 males, 17 females, mean age 55 (44; 59)) years with PVH due to previous transplantation. Read More

Niger J Clin Pract 2018 Dec;21(12):1639-1644

Department of Nephrology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Aim: We aim to investigate the incidence and associated factors of vitamin D deficiency, a seldom reported factor, in patients with stages 1 and 2 chronic kidney disease (CKD) in southern China.

Methods: We conducted a single-center observational study. Hospitalized patients over 14 years old, who were diagnosed with stages 1 and 2 CKD and had their serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25 (OH) D] measured, were included. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 Dec 18;12:CD010612. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Pediatric Nephrology, Ricardo Gutierrez Children's Hospital, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Los Incas Av 4174, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1427.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common condition among patients in intensive care units (ICUs), and is associated with high death. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is a blood purification technique used to treat the most severe forms of AKI. The optimal time to initiate RRT so as to improve clinical outcomes remains uncertain. Read More

J Clin Ultrasound 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Radiology, 55210 Kurupelit, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.

Purpose: To evaluate whether two-dimensional (2D) shear wave elastography (SWE) can predict the presence of perirenal sticky fat (PSF) by showing increased perirenal fat stiffness.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 28 patients with 31 renal tumors and 10 donor cases. Conventional renal ultrasound (US) and 2D-SWE examination of the perirenal fat were performed. Read More

Lipids 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

The Lipid Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 1 Efron St. Haifa, Israel 31096.

The polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice (PJ) and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated paraoxonase1 (PON1) are known as potent atheroprotective antioxidants, but their effects on other tissues related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain unknown. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of treating mice with PJ or recombinant PON1 (rePON1) on the oxidation and lipid status of CVD-related tissues: serum, aorta, heart, liver, kidney, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissues (VAT and SAT). Both PJ consumption and rePON1 injection decreased the serum levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (16% and 19%) and triacylglycerols (TAG, 24% and 27%), while only rePON1 increased the levels of thiol groups (35%) and decreased serum cholesterol (15%). Read More

Indian J Gastroenterol 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, 226 014, India.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a parenterally-transmitted hepatotropic virus that often causes chronic infection, which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Development of highly effective direct-acting anti-viral agents (DAAs) has led to a paradigm change in the treatment of HCV infection over the last 4-5 years. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a higher risk of acquiring HCV infection. Read More

Ann Intensive Care 2018 Dec 17;8(1):127. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Medical Intensive Care Unit, AP-HP, Saint Louis Hospital, Paris, France.

Background: Transient and persistent acute kidney injury (AKI) could share similar physiopathological mechanisms. The objective of our study was to assess prognostic impact of AKI duration on ICU mortality.

Design: Retrospective analysis of a prospective database via cause-specific model, with 28-day ICU mortality as primary end point, considering discharge alive as a competing event and taking into account time-dependent nature of renal recovery. Read More

AAPS PharmSciTech 2018 Dec 17;20(1). Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Pharmaceutical Informatics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki, 852-8588, Japan.

Vancomycin (VCM) is an important antibiotic for treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. To treat bacterial meningitis caused by MRSA, it is necessary to deliver VCM into the meninges, but the rate of VCM translocation through the blood-brain barrier is poor. Additionally, high doses of intravascularly (i. Read More

Pediatr Nephrol 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Paediatric Nephrology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH, UK.

Background: Amongst other sequelae, acute kidney injury (AKI) is a well-recognised post-natal complication of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Despite this, there has been a lack of data reporting long-term renal outcomes. Our aim was to report the long-term renal outcomes of infants born with TTTS. Read More

Pediatr Nephrol 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France.

Background: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) has been associated with a number of infectious agents. We report here the case of an infant with severe Bordetella pertussis infection who developed HUS.

Case Diagnosis/treatment: A 2-month-old preterm male was admitted for severe Bordetella pertussis infection. Read More

Aging Clin Exp Res 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Geriatrics, Skåne University Hospital, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, 20502, Malmö, Sweden.

Background: The prevailing diagnostic criteria for CKD are age-independent, but have been challenged in light of the eGFR decline associated with normal aging. The stages of CKD communicate magnitude of risk of ESRD, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality.

Aims: This study aims to provide more insight into the morbidity and mortality associated with eGFR levels corresponding to the current CKD stages in older adults. Read More

Eur Radiol 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Radiology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China.

Objective: To explore the value of texture analysis based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), blood oxygen level-dependent MRI (BOLD), and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in evaluating renal dysfunction.

Methods: Seventy-two patients (mean age 53.72 ± 13. Read More

Eur Radiol 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea.

Purpose: Cortical biopsy is the cornerstone to reveal a cause of unexplained dysfunction of the kidney transplant. Nevertheless, only a few studies have reported the biopsy technique with its performance. We described a novel technique of ultrasound (US)-guided kidney transplant biopsy using cortex-only view and analyzed its diagnostic efficacy and safety. Read More

Dig Dis Sci 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, VCU Program in Enteric Neuromuscular Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980551, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.

Background: Isovaleric acid (IVA) is a 5-carbon branched-chain fatty acid present in fermented foods and produced in the colon by bacterial fermentation of leucine. We previously reported that the shorter, straight-chain fatty acids acetate, propionate and butyrate differentially affect colonic motility; however, the effect of branched-chain fatty acids on gut smooth muscle and motility is unknown.

Aims: To determine the effect of IVA on contractility of colonic smooth muscle. Read More

Sheng Li Xue Bao 2018 Dec;70(6):663-669

Division of Nephrology, Huashan Hospital, and Nephrology Research Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.

The employment of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) becomes a hot topic in recent years. Compared with traditional glucose-lowering drugs, SGLT-2 inhibitors present distinctive advantages in renal and cardiovascular protection. The mechanisms for renal protection include attenuating glomerular hyperfiltration, lowering serum uric acid, alleviating tubular lesions and regulating intrarenal renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) dysfunction. Read More

Sheng Li Xue Bao 2018 Dec;70(6):657-662

Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common complications and the main cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease. Uremic toxins are the primary cause of cardiovascular disease in renal insufficiency. In patients with chronic kidney disease, the protein-bound uremic toxins represented by indoxyl sulfate are difficult to be removed by conventional dialysis and are extremely toxic. Read More

Sheng Li Xue Bao 2018 Dec;70(6):649-656

Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.

Urea transporters (UTs) are transmembrane urea-selective channel proteins that include two UT subfamilies, UT-A and UT-B. UT-A subfamily includes six members, UT-A1 to UT-A6, which are mainly expressed in kidney. UT-B subfamily has only one member that has a wide distribution in the body. Read More