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Nat Rev Nephrol 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.

Excessive adiposity raises blood pressure and accounts for 65-75% of primary hypertension, which is a major driver of cardiovascular and kidney diseases. In obesity, abnormal kidney function and associated increases in tubular sodium reabsorption initiate hypertension, which is often mild before the development of target organ injury. Factors that contribute to increased sodium reabsorption in obesity include kidney compression by visceral, perirenal and renal sinus fat; increased renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA); increased levels of anti-natriuretic hormones, such as angiotensin II and aldosterone; and adipokines, particularly leptin. Read More

Mol Metab 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Metabolic Diseases Branch, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA. Electronic address:

Objective: Gα couples multiple receptors, including the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), to intracellular cAMP generation. Germline inactivating Gα mutations lead to obesity in humans and mice. Mice with brain-specific Gα deficiency also develop obesity with reduced energy expenditure and locomotor activity, and impaired adaptive thermogenesis, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Read More

Obesity (Silver Spring) 2019 May;27(5):691-699

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

One of the fundamental challenges in obesity research is to identify subjects prone to weight gain so that obesity and its comorbidities can be promptly prevented or treated. The principles of thermodynamics as applied to human body energetics demonstrate that susceptibility to weight gain varies among individuals as a result of interindividual differences in energy expenditure and energy intake, two factors that counterbalance one another and determine daily energy balance and, ultimately, body weight change. This review focuses on the variability among individuals in human metabolism that determines weight change. Read More

Nephrol Dial Transplant 2018 Jul 25. Epub 2018 Jul 25.

Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, INSERM UMR1149, CNRS ERL8252, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine site Bichat, Laboratoire d'Excellence Inflamex, DHU FIRE, Paris, France.

Lupus nephritis (LN) affects a large proportion of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). LN can lead to end-stage renal disease depending on when it is diagnosed and on the adequacy of the treatment administered to the patient based on the class of LN. Determination of the class and activity of LN is only possible by histological analysis of kidney biopsies. Read More

Ann Intern Med 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (J.W.A., K.M.G.).

Background: Identifying reliable predictors of long-term weight loss (LTWL) could lead to improved weight management.

Objective: To identify some predictors of LTWL.

Design: The DPP (Diabetes Prevention Program) was a randomized controlled trial that compared weight loss with metformin, intensive lifestyle intervention (ILS), or placebo. Read More

Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Center for Health, Work, and Environment Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus 13001 E. 17th Pl., Ste. W3111, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.

Objective: Agricultural workers worldwide exposed to heat stress could be at the risk of kidney injury, which could lead to chronic kidney disease of an unknown origin (CKDu). Hydration has been promoted as a key measure to reduce kidney injury. In the presence of a hydration intervention, the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) was calculated in a sugarcane worker population in Guatemala and several risk factors were evaluated. Read More

Internist (Berl) 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Universitätsklinik für Nephrologie und Hypertonie, Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern, Universität Bern, 3010, Bern, Schweiz.

Kidney diseases are among the most frequently reported diseases with a poor prognosis that are diagnosed too late. According to current Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines, diagnosis and risk stratification are mainly based on functional markers (creatinine and cystatin C), which are used to determine the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the analysis of urinary albumin excretion as a marker of kidney damage. These methods have limitations that can complicate the interpretation of the results and can lead to a delay of the diagnosis as well as to a misinterpretation of the prognosis. Read More

Ambio 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Institute of Animal Nutrition (ITE), Bundesallee 37, 38116, Braunschweig, Germany.

Lead poisoning of birds of prey from ingestion of ammunition lead has been well documented. Alternative, lead-free ammunition is widely available, but the toxicokinetics of other metals in birds are poorly understood. We tested the erosion of lead, copper, zinc, iron and brass by feeding domestic Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos forma domestica) defined numbers of small metal pellets. Read More

Nutrients 2019 Apr 3;11(4). Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain.

Oxidative Balance Scores (OBSs) are tools that have emerged to evaluate the global balance of individuals' oxidation-reduction status. The aim was to compare OBSs available in the literature regarding their characteristics and associations with chronic diseases in epidemiological studies. Studies that developed OBSs were searched in PubMed until August 2018. Read More

G Ital Nefrol 2019 Apr;36(2)

Centro per la Cura e lo Studio della Sindrome Emolitico-Uremica. Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano.

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) are a group of diseases that can complicate pregnancy and threaten the lives of both the mother and the fetus. Several conditions can lead to TMA, including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), HELLP syndrome and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). We describe the case of a 39-year-old woman who presented a HELLP syndrome in the immediate postpartum period. Read More

Environ Res 2018 Dec 25. Epub 2018 Dec 25.

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address:

The impact of foodborne metals on the burden of disease has been largely overlooked, in comparison to the attention on acute diseases associated with infectious foodborne agents. Four articles in this special section describe in detail the burden of disease from foodborne lead, methylmercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Ingested lead and methylmercury are causally associated with lifelong intellectual disability. Read More

Immunobiology 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China. Electronic address:

A deficiency of complement factor H may lead to excessive consumption of C3 and an increase in C3b deposition, which are important pathological characteristics of lupus nephritis. Complement factor H-related proteins (CFHRs), comprising CFHR1 to CFHR5 (CFHR1-5), are members of the wider factor H/CFHR family. Their role in lupus nephritis remains unclear. Read More

J Viral Hepat 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

University of California at San Francisco.

Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) is an important serological marker of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and is associated with higher levels of viremia, increased risk of infectivity to others and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. We analyzed HBeAg status in a large cohort of adults and children enrolled in Cohort Studies of the Hepatitis B Research Network, long-term natural history studies of chronic HBV infection. A cross sectional analysis examined factors associated with HBeAg positivity, including demographic and virologic data, across the age spectrum. Read More

Cell Biol Int 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Mossakowski Medical Research Centre of Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Nephrology, Gdańsk, Poland.

Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) is a 39-kDa protein belonging to the Ena/VASP protein family, which is involved in adhesion, migration, cell-cell interaction, and regulation of pathways connected with actin cytoskeleton remodeling. VASP is activated through phosphorylation at Tyr39, Ser157, Ser239, Thr278, and Ser322 mainly by tyrosine kinase Abl, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase G, AMP-activated protein kinase, and protein kinase D1, respectively. VASP activation, as a regulator of actin dynamics, may lead to impaired reorganization of the podocyte actin cytoskeleton not only by indirect interaction of VASP with actin but also by regulation of other signaling pathways. Read More

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Inflammation is being a protective mechanism of the body towards the injury. However, chronic and progressive inflammation may lead to some chronic diseases. Due to the serious unwanted effects associated with available drugs, new and safe anti-inflammatory agents are still required. Read More

Indian J Med Res 2018 Dec;148(Supplement):S125-S133

Division of Reproductive and Cytotoxicology, ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, India.

Background & Objectives: Oxidative stress, lifestyle factors as also exposure to certain environmental factors are known to affect the fertility status in human beings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of OS and lifestyle and environmental factors affecting IVF outcome.

Methods: A total of 253 couples were included, and biological samples such as blood, follicular fluid (FF), cumulus cells and semen were collected. Read More

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019 May;374(1773):20180301

1 Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie UMR 1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes , 44093 Nantes cedex 01 , France.

Human polyomaviruses show relatively little genetic polymorphism between isolates, indicating that these viruses are genetically stable between hosts. However, it has become increasingly clear that intra-host molecular evolution is a feature of some polyomavirus (PyV) infections in humans. Mutations inducing premature stop codons in the early region of the integrated Merkel cell PyV genome lead to the expression of a truncated form of the large tumour (LT) antigen that is critical for the transformation of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) cells. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.

Mutations in the gene encoding canonical transient receptor potential-6 (TRPC6) channels result in severe nephrotic syndromes that typically lead to end-stage renal disease. Many but not all of these mutations result in a gain in the function of the resulting channel protein. Since those observations were first made, substantial work has supported the hypothesis that TRPC6 channels can also contribute to progression of acquired (non-genetic) glomerular diseases, including primary and secondary FSGS, glomerulosclerosis during autoimmune glomerulonephritis, and possibly in type-1 diabetes. Read More

Eur J Anaesthesiol 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

From the Department of Anaesthesiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark (EL-M, ML-K, JB-S, CM-S, MV-M, MR-G).

Background: Nondepolarising muscle relaxants (NDMRs) provide optimal conditions for tracheal intubation and improve surgical conditions. Several clinical conditions, diseases and pharmacological interactions have been suggested to cause resistance towards NDMRs that may translate into difficult intubation or inadequate operating conditions during surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the current evidence of patient groups with resistance towards NDMRs. Read More

Hematology 2019 Dec;24(1):426-438

f Department of Nephrology , Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki , Greece.

Objectives: Beta-thalassemias are a group of recessively autosomal inherited disorders of hemoglobin synthesis, which, due to mutations of the beta-globin gene, lead to various degrees of defective beta-chain production, an imbalance in alpha/beta-globin chain synthesis, ineffective erythropoiesis, and anemia. Improved survival in thalassemic patients has led to the emergence of previously unrecognized complications, such as renal disease.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review through PubMed was undertaken to summarize the published evidence on the epidemiology and pathophysiology of renal disease in thalassemia. Read More

Health Soc Care Community 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of General Practice, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.

Little is known on the perspectives of nephrologists on managing non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of nephrologists regarding the interface with general practitioners (GP) and GPs' management of patients with non-dialysis CKD, so that barriers to cooperation and need for improved management can be identified. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted for this qualitative study. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019 Apr 3;19(1):116. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Background: Secondary hypertension is a rare complication in pregnancy that causes poor outcomes, such as preeclampsia, premature delivery, intrauterine growth retardation, stillbirths, spontaneous abortion or intrauterine death. Cushing's disease caused by an adrenal adenoma is rare during pregnancy and may be overlooked by obstetricians and physicians, but can lead to hypertension, diabetes mellitus and an increased risk of fetal and maternal morbidity. Approximately 200 cases have been reported in the literature. Read More

J Med Chem 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy , University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha , Nebraska 68198-6125 , United States.

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are highly homologous, nonselective cation channels that form many homo- and heterotetrameric channels. These channels are highly abundant in the brain and kidney and have been implicated in numerous diseases, such as depression, addiction, and chronic kidney disease, among others. Historically, there have been very few selective modulators of the TRPC family in order to fully understand their role in disease despite their physiological significance. Read More

Stud Health Technol Inform 2019 ;258:179-183

University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hanover, Germany.

Due to demographic change the number of serious kidney diseases and thus required transplantations will increase. The increased demand for donor organs and a decreasing supply of these organs underline the necessity for effective early rejection diagnostic measures to improve the lifetime of transplants. Expert systems might improve rejection diagnostics but for the development of such systems data models are needed that encompass the relevant information to enable optimal data aggregation and evaluation. Read More

Ren Fail 2019 Nov;41(1):190-196

a Department of Nephrology , General Hospital of Northern Theater Command , Liaoning , China.

Aim: Exertional heastroke (EHS) can lead to acute kidney injury. Oral rehydration solution III (ORS III), recommended by WHO in 2004, is used to rehydrate children with gastroenteritis. This study aimed to characterize the renoprotective effect of ORS III in EHS rats. Read More

J Neuroinflammation 2019 Apr 2;16(1):69. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, USA.

Background: Acute liver failure resulting from drug-induced liver injury can lead to the development of neurological complications called hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Hepatic transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) is upregulated due to liver failure in mice and inhibiting circulating TGFβ reduced HE progression. However, the specific contributions of TGFβ1 on brain cell populations and neuroinflammation during HE are not known. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Apr 1;20(7). Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Medical Science Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 04401, Korea.

Kidney disease can be either acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic kidney disease (CKD) and it can lead to the development of functional organ failure. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are derived from a diverse range of human tissues. They are multipotent and have immunomodulatory effects to assist in the recovery from tissue injury and the inhibition of inflammation. Read More

Diabetes 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, and

Skeletal muscle (SKM) insulin resistance plays a central role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Since G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent excellent drug targets, we hypothesized that activation of specific functional classes of SKM GPCRs might lead to improved glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes. At present, little is known about the metabolic roles of the various distinct GPCR signaling pathways operative in SKM. Read More

Kidney Int 2019 Mar 6. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA. Electronic address:

Inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of many disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms are often unknown. Here, we test whether cystinosin, the protein involved in cystinosis, is a critical regulator of galectin-3, a member of the β-galactosidase binding protein family, during inflammation. Read More

Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2019 Mar;39(8):567-571

Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Czech Republic.

Objectives: Here we tested the hypothesis that multiple toxic and infectious stressors combine in their adverse effects to produce higher tissue responses of metallothioneins (MTs) in birds.

Methods: We used Japanese quails as a model avian species. The study is based on data obtained from single and combined exposures of Japanese quails to cyanobacterial biomass containing microcystins, lead and a live Newcastle disease vaccination virus. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019 Apr 29;116(16):7926-7931. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland;

Dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway (AP) predisposes individuals to a number of diseases including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, and C3 glomerulopathy. Moreover, glomerular Ig deposits can lead to complement-driven nephropathies. Here we describe the discovery of a highly potent, reversible, and selective small-molecule inhibitor of factor B, a serine protease that drives the central amplification loop of the AP. Read More

Hum Immunol 2019 Mar 26. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Division of Surgery, Section of Transplantation, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, United States. Electronic address:

Non-HLA antibodies are recognized as a potential source of antibody mediated rejection following transplantation. The epitopes which lead to production of these antibodies are a result of tissue disruption, specifically endothelium, secondary to inflammation and injury. Vimentin is a cytoskeletal protein involved in many aspects of cellular organization, signaling, and proliferation. Read More

Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pathology, San Gerardo Hospital.

Membranous nephropathy represents the most frequent cause of nephrotic syndrome in the adult, leading to end-stage renal disease in one third of all the patients. In the last years, the discovery of circulating autoantibodies against phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type-1 containing 7A domain (THSD7A), shed light on the pathogenesis of idiopathic forms, being responsible for 70% and 3% of all the cases, respectively. These identifications allowed the development of serological and histologic tests to detect autoantibodies and relative targets for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Read More

J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2019 Apr 8;1113:98-106. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 312 Anshan west Road, Tianjin 300193, China. Electronic address:

Purines and pyrimidines, the important components of DNA and RNA, are closely related to metabolic syndrome and disorder, such as renal disease, gout and diabetic nephropathy etc. Given the importance of the biological significance of purines and pyrimidines, it is necessary to further develop a rapid and sensitive method for practical detection of a large-scale analyses. In this study, based on 96-well solid phase extraction plates-ultra performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (SPE-UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS), a novel approach for simultaneous determination of 23 purines and pyrimidines in biological samples was developed. Read More

Postgrad Med 2019 Apr 29;131(3):171-175. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

a Human Physiology Department , Instituto Universitario del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires , Argentina.

Hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis of renal origin results from a defect in renal tubular acidification mechanism, and this tubular dysfunction can consist of an altered tubular proton secretion or bicarbonate reabsorption capability. Studies have documented that all forms of renal tubular acidosis (RTA), type I to IV, are documented in kidney transplant patients. Among RTA pathophysiologic mechanisms have been described the renal mass reduction, hyperkalemia, hyperparathyroidism, graft rejection, immunologic diseases, and some drugs such as renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockers, and calcineurin inhibitors. Read More

Biosens Bioelectron 2019 May 8;133:107-124. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

School of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur 613004, India; Centre for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials (CeNTAB), SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur 613004, India. Electronic address:

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one among the supreme metabolic issues observed in history since 3000 BCE and has gained much interest recently due to the increasing number of diabetic cases every year. Glucose is considered as the most iconic biomarker for diabetes detection, and fluctuations in its levels are related to different stages of DM. However, methylglyoxal (MG) is evolving as a diabetes marker since it plays a significant role in biological processes Apart from DM, MG causes several metabolic irregularities like hypertension, neuropathy, nephropathy, oxidative stress. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2019 27;49(4):307-316. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China,

Background: Aberrant O-glycosylation IgA1 production is a major factor in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. IgA1 glycosylation modification is in Golgi, and downregulation of the Golgi peripheral membrane protein Golgi matrix protein 130 (GM130) could lead to glycosylation deficiency. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of GM130 in glycosylate deficiency IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) production. Read More

Pathophysiology 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Applied and Environmental Physiology Unit, Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Iron-overload has been recognized as a risk factor for organ dysfunction and damage resulting in diseases such as liver and heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigated renal function and some systemic inflammatory indices in iron-overloaded male Wistar rats. Thirty animals were equally distributed into 3groups and treated daily i. Read More

Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat 2019 Mar;28(1):37-40

Department of Dermatovenerology, Maribor University Medical Center, Maribor, Slovenia.

A 72-year-old female patient presented with an end-stage renal disease on on-line hemodiafiltration and warfarin therapy with advanced ulcerated calciphylaxis on the lower extremities, complicated by two episodes of cellulitis. She was successfully treated for 8 months with intravenous sodium thiosulfate in combination with modification of medication and dialysis treatment, careful wound care, and other supportive measures. Calciphylaxis is an uncommon life-threatening systemic disease, mostly occurring in patients with chronic kidney disease and other risk factors. Read More

Prostate 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the major causes of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including storage LUTS such as urinary frequency and urgency. Recently, a growing number of clinical studies indicate that prostatic inflammation could be an important pathophysiological mechanism inducing storage LUTS in patients with BPH. Here we aimed to investigate whether nonbacterial prostatic inflammation in a rat model induced by intraprostatic formalin injection can lead to long-lasting bladder overactivity and changes in bladder afferent neuron excitability. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2019 Mar 22;13(1):91. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

The National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Background: Naphthalene (mothball) is a commonly used deodorizer in the Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka. Though it is freely available around this country, poisoning has never been reported in the literature. Ingestion, either accidental or by deliberate self-harm, can occur due to its abundance as well as its candy-resembling appearance. Read More

J Chem Theory Comput 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Faculty of Science , Palacký University , tř. 17 listopadu 12 , 771 46 , Olomouc , Czech Republic.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations became a leading tool for investigation of structural dynamics of nucleic acids. Despite recent efforts to improve the empirical potentials (force fields, ffs), RNA ffs have persisting deficiencies, which hamper their utilization in quantitatively accurate simulations. Previous studies have shown that at least two salient problems contribute to difficulties in the description of free-energy landscapes of small RNA motifs: (i) excessive stabilization of the unfolded single-stranded RNA ensemble by intramolecular base-phosphate and sugar-phosphate interactions and (ii) destabilization of the native folded state by underestimation of stability of base pairing. Read More

Obesity (Silver Spring) 2019 May 18;27(5):845-854. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Objective: Meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies in Europeans have identified > 98 loci for BMI. Transferability of these established associations in Pima Indians was analyzed.

Methods: Among 98 lead single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 82 had minor allele frequency ≥ 0. Read More

J Neuroendocrinol 2019 Mar 18:e12708. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

To date, bariatric surgery remains the most effective strategy for the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities. However, given the enormity of the obesity epidemic, and sometimes variable results, it is not a feasible strategy for the treatment of all obese patients. A simple PubMed search for 'bariatric surgery' reveals over 28 000 papers that have been published since the 1940s when the first bariatric surgeries were performed. Read More

Int J Angiol 2019 Mar 26;28(1):25-27. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Giessen, Giessen, Germany.

Renal artery pseudoaneurysm (RAP) is a serious complication that can lead to severe hematuria, blood loss, and life-threatening hemorrhagic shock. A pseudoaneurysm is defined as an arterial wall deficiency that results in the accumulation of oxygenated blood in the nearby extraluminal region. Partial nephrectomy, a parenchymal sparing method, carries a lower risk of postoperative development of chronic kidney disease than total nephrectomy but a higher risk of iatrogenic vascular lesions such as RAP or arteriovenous fistulas. Read More

Indian J Med Microbiol 2018 Oct-Dec;36(4):600-602

Department of Nephrology, Institue of Kidney Disease Urology and Organ Transplantation, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Atypical mycobacteria remain a rare cause of peritoneal dialysis catheter-related tunnel infection (TI) and poses serious risk because of the resistant nature to most antibiotic therapy. Non-tubercular mycobacterial infections lead to chronicity requiring peritoneal dialysis catheter removal. We report an 82-year-old male, with diabetic nephropathy who had a coinfection with Staphylococcus hominis and Mycobacterium abscessus who presented with pus discharge at exit site and TI. Read More

Transplant Proc 2019 Mar 13;51(2):548-550. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Kidney Disease and Transplant Center, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Kamakura, Japan.

Patients with end-stage renal disease are at a high risk for cardiovascular diseases. It is controversial whether end-stage renal disease patients with low cardiac function can safely accept kidney transplant. Here, we present a 42-year-old kidney transplant recipient with severe mitral regurgitation accompanied by low cardiac function. Read More

J Chromatogr A 2019 Mar 6. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Alcalá, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona Km. 33.600, 28871 Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), Spain; Instituto de Investigación Química Andrés M. del Río (IQAR), Universidad de Alcalá, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona Km. 33.600, 28871 Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), Spain. Electronic address:

Diabetes mellitus is a major health concern nowadays. It is estimated that 40% of diabetics are affected by diabetic nephropathy, one of the complications derived from high glucose blood levels which can lead to chronic loss of kidney function. It is now clear that the renal proximal tubule plays a critical role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy but research focused on studying the molecular mechanisms involved is still needed. Read More

Adv Chronic Kidney Dis 2019 Jan;26(1):35-40

Scott & White Medical Center-Temple, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, TX.

Patients with chronic kidney disease have impaired immunity that increases their risk of infection. Increased incidence of mycobacterial infections, in particular Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is described in patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis as well as after kidney transplantation in low-prevalence and high-prevalence settings. Diagnosis of this infection can be challenging because of atypical presentations that may lead to treatment delay and, consequently, increased mortality; however, recent advances in molecular testing have improved diagnostic accuracy. Read More

Crit Care Med 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.

Objectives: To evaluate enhanced renal clearance over time in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracerebral hemorrhage via measured creatinine clearance and to compare measured creatinine clearance to creatinine clearance calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation and estimated glomerular filtration rate calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Diseases equation.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Setting: Neurosciences ICU in a tertiary care academic medical center. Read More