Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2022 May 16. Epub 2022 May 16.

Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Clinical Islet Transplant Program, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Islet transplantation offers an effective treatment for selected people with type 1 diabetes and intractable hypoglycaemia. Long-term experience, however, remains limited. We report outcomes from a single-centre cohort up to 20 years after islet transplantation. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Department of Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Background: In the last decades, solid organ transplantation (SOT) has emerged as an important method in the management of chronic kidney, liver, heart and lung failure. Antimicrobial use has led to a significant reduction of morbidity and mortality due to infectious complications among patients with SOT, however, it can lead to adverse events and drive the development of antimicrobial resistance, thus, antimicrobial stewardship is of extreme importance. Even though there are ongoing efforts of transplant societies to implement principles of antimicrobial stewardship in everyday practice in SOT, there is still a lack of guidelines in this patient population. Read More

Environ Toxicol 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Cardiovascular and Mitochondria Related Diseases Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan.

Diabetic nephropathy is a serious chronic complication affecting at least 25% of diabetic patients. Hyperglycemia associated advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) increase tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (TEMT) and extracellular matrix synthesis and thereby causes renal fibrosis. The chalcone isoliquiritigenin, found in many herbs of Glycyrrhiza family, is known for potential health-promoting effects. Read More

Am J Transplant 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Unit of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation - Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.

Extracellular vesicles (EV) are emerging mediators in several diseases; however, their role in the pathophysiology of antibody-mediated allograft rejection (AMR) has been poorly investigated. Here, we investigated the role of EV isolated from AMR patients in inducing tubular senescence and endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and analyzed their miRNA expression profile. By multiplex-bead flow cytometry, we characterized the immunophenotype of plasma AMR-derived EV and found a prevalent platelet and endothelial cell origin. Read More

Kidney360 2022 Mar 13;3(3):497-505. Epub 2021 Oct 13.

Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.

Background: Alport syndrome is an inherited disorder characterized by progressive renal disease, variable sensorineural hearing loss, and ocular abnormalities. Although many pathogenic variants in and have been identified in patients with autosomal Alport syndrome, synonymous mutations in these genes have rarely been identified.

Methods: We conducted splicing analysis using Human Splicing Finder (HSF) and Alamut to predict splicing domain strength and disruption of the sites. Read More

Microbiol Spectr 2022 May 17:e0061922. Epub 2022 May 17.

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Typhoid fever is caused primarily by the enteric microbe Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and remains a major global health problem with approximately 14 million new infections and 136,000 fatalities annually. While there are antibiotic options available to treat the disease, the global increase in multidrug-resistant strains necessitates alternative therapeutic options. Host-targeted therapeutics present a promising anti-infective strategy against intracellular bacterial pathogens. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 May 16;12(1):8040. Epub 2022 May 16.

The Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.

Pediatric renal injury is an emerging health concern in communities affected by chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu). Early detection of susceptibilities through highly sensitive and specific biomarkers can lead to effective therapeutic and preventive interventions against renal diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate the utility of kidney injury molecule (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in early detection of renal abnormalities in selected pediatric communities in Sri Lanka. Read More

Appl Nurs Res 2022 Jun 16;65:151575. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Ege University Atatürk Medical Vocational Training School, Turkey. Electronic address:

Background: Dialysis treatment for kidney failure is a condition that can lead to long-term psychiatric problems. Resilience is the ability to adapt to stressful life events. High resilience can alleviate the stress caused by illness and dialysis treatment. Read More

Vet J 2022 May 13:105842. Epub 2022 May 13.

Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK.

New discoveries relating to phosphorus homeostasis include the hormones fibroblast growth factor-23 and klotho produced by bone and kidney. These hormones, together with novel understanding of how calcium and phosphate ions are carried in colloidal form as calciprotein particles, have changed our view of how phosphorus is regulated. Recognition that high dietary intake of inorganic forms of phosphorus in humans is a risk factor for both cardiovascular and renal diseases have led to re-examination of the impact of inorganic sources of phosphorus in prepared cat foods on renal health. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 27;13:861583. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States.

Transplantation is a treatment option for patients diagnosed with end-stage organ diseases; however, long-term graft survival is affected by rejection of the transplanted organ by immune and nonimmune responses. Several studies have demonstrated that both acute and chronic rejection can occur after transplantation of kidney, heart, and lungs. A strong correlation has been reported between synthesis of donor-specific antibodies (HLA-DSAs) and development of both acute and chronic rejection; however, some transplant recipients with chronic rejection do not have detectable HLA-DSAs. Read More

Ann Transl Med 2022 Apr;10(8):494

Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Background: Immunoglobulin (Ig) A nephropathy (IgAN) with a membranoproliferative pattern of injury that manifests as nephrotic syndrome (NS) is rarely reported in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced cirrhosis. It is not known whether eradication of HCV by direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs can lead to remission of proteinuria and improve the long-term prognosis.

Case Description: We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with HCV cirrhosis for 10 years. Read More

Cell Mol Life Sci 2022 May 15;79(6):296. Epub 2022 May 15.

Infection Program and Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.

Polymyxin antibiotics are often used as a last-line defense to treat life-threatening Gram-negative pathogens. However, polymyxin-induced kidney toxicity is a dose-limiting factor of paramount importance and can lead to suboptimal treatment. To elucidate the mechanism and develop effective strategies to overcome polymyxin toxicity, we employed a whole-genome CRISPR screen in human kidney tubular HK-2 cells and identified 86 significant genes that upon knock-out rescued polymyxin-induced toxicity. Read More

Adv Sci (Weinh) 2022 May 14:e2200543. Epub 2022 May 14.

MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Department of Complex Tissue Engineering, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, the Netherlands.

Pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids offer a promising solution to renal failure, yet current organoid protocols often lead to off-target cells and phenotypic alterations, preventing maturity. Here, various dynamic hydrogel architectures are created, conferring a controlled and biomimetic environment for organoid encapsulation. How hydrogel stiffness and stress relaxation affect renal phenotype and undesired fibrotic markers are investigated. Read More

J Clin Med 2022 Apr 24;11(9). Epub 2022 Apr 24.

Division of Nephrology, Bone and Mineral Metabolism, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.

Fragility fracture is a worldwide problem and a main cause of disability and impaired quality of life. It is primarily caused by osteoporosis, characterized by impaired bone quantity and or quality. Proper diagnosis of osteoporosis is essential for prevention of fragility fractures. Read More

Cell Mol Biol Lett 2022 May 13;27(1):37. Epub 2022 May 13.

Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, 5756151818, Iran.

In nature, lectins are widely dispersed proteins that selectively recognize and bind to carbohydrates and glycoconjugates via reversible bonds at specific binding sites. Many viral diseases have been treated with lectins due to their wide range of structures, specificity for carbohydrates, and ability to bind carbohydrates. Through hemagglutination assays, these proteins can be detected interacting with various carbohydrates on the surface of cells and viral envelopes. Read More

Int J Artif Organs 2022 May 12:3913988221098076. Epub 2022 May 12.

Department of Chemical Science and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience and Applied Chemistry, Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan.

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has a good therapeutic effect in a variety of diseases, such as acute kidney injury. CRRT filters should feature small membrane surface area, excellent water permeability and solute removal performance for long-term use. Solute removal performance depends on the physicochemical structure of the dialysis membrane as well as on the housing design. Read More

Front Pediatr 2022 25;10:834771. Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Neonatology, Thomas Jefferson University/Nemours, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues worldwide with fluctuating case numbers in the United States. This pandemic has affected every segment of the population with more recent hospitalizations in the pediatric population. Vertical transmission of COVID-19 is uncommon, but reports show that there are thrombotic, vascular, and inflammatory changes in the placenta to which neonates are prenatally exposed. Read More

PLoS Genet 2022 May 9;18(5):e1010190. Epub 2022 May 9.

Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance disorders are caused by mutations in ubiquitously expressed nuclear genes and lead to syndromes with variable disease severity and tissue-specific phenotypes. Loss of function mutations in the gene encoding the mitochondrial genome and maintenance exonuclease 1 (MGME1) result in deletions and depletion of mtDNA leading to adult-onset multisystem mitochondrial disease in humans. To better understand the in vivo function of MGME1 and the associated disease pathophysiology, we characterized a Mgme1 mouse knockout model by extensive phenotyping of ageing knockout animals. Read More

Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 2021 Sep-Oct;32(5):1482-1484

Department of Nephrology, New Jersey Kidney Care and Christ Hospital, NJ, USA.

Hydatid cysts, usually found in liver and lungs, are rare to be primarily located in the retroperitoneal region. It may mimic malignant mass and differentiation may be difficult. Surgical exploration in undiagnosed cases may lead to adverse complications. Read More

Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2022 May 9. Epub 2022 May 9.

Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States.

Cullin-RING ligases (CRLs) are a family of E3 ubiquitin ligases that control cellular processes through regulated degradation. Cullin 3 (CUL3) targets with-no-lysine kinase 4 (WNK4), a kinase that activates the Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC) the main pathway for sodium reabsorption in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT). Mutations in CUL3 lead to familial hyperkalemic hypertension by increasing WNK4 abundance. Read More

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2022 Apr;47(8):2021-2027

National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing 100700, China.

Black-bone silky fowl, sweet, pungent, and hot-natured, is one of the valuable domesticated birds with special economic value in China's genebank of poultry breed, which has a long history of medicinal and edible uses. It has the effects of tonifying liver and kidney, replenishing Qi and blood, nourishing yin, clearing heat, regulating menstruation, invigorating spleen, and securing essence. Therefore, it has remarkable efficacy of enhancing physical strength, tonifying blood, and treating diabetes and gynecological diseases. Read More

Can J Kidney Health Dis 2022 2;9:20543581221097749. Epub 2022 May 2.

Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.

Rationale: Q fever is a zoonotic infection that may lead to acute or long-term renal injury. Given its rare incidence, Q fever is not often considered on the initial differential diagnosis for glomerular disease which can lead to delays in treatment. This case highlights the importance of avoiding early diagnostic closure and revisiting the differential diagnosis in the setting of an atypical clinical presentation or response to treatment. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2022 28;2022:1331758. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh.

(Wall.) is extensively used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases including rheumatism, kidney problems, jaundice, urinary tract disorders, fever, and pain. The present study was designed to explore new lead compound(s) to alleviate pain, pyresis, and diarrhea from methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extracts of (Wall. Read More

BMC Nephrol 2022 05 6;23(1):176. Epub 2022 May 6.

Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Geriatrics, Grigore T Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) produced a pandemic since March 2020 by affecting more than 243 million people with more than 5 million deaths globally. SARS-CoV-2 infection is produced by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme, which among other sites is highly expressed in the endothelial cells of the blood vessels, pericytes and the heart, as well as in renal podocytes and proximal tubular epithelial cells. SARS-CoV-2 and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are interconnected by risk factors association with an increased incidence of the disease and by determining de novo cardiac complications. Read More

J Med Econ 2022 Jan-Dec;25(1):640-649

Market Access, PharmaLex, Barcelona, Spain.

Aims: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) therapy is commonly used to reduce the risk of death and to slow down disease progression in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure (HF) and hypertension. However, the cardio-renal benefits of RAASi therapy are also associated with an increased risk of hyperkalemia (HK), which may lead to dose reduction or discontinuation of therapy. Patiromer has demonstrated to reduce the risk of HK, which enables to maintain optimal doses of RAASi therapy. Read More

Sao Paulo Med J 2022 May-Jun;140(3):406-411

PhD. Associate Professor, Department of Gerontology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos (SP), Brazil.

Background: Frailty is consensually understood to be a clinical syndrome in which minimal stressors can lead to negative outcomes such as hospitalization, early institutionalization, falls, functional loss and death. Frailty is more prevalent among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and those on dialysis are the frailest. Depression contributes towards putting patients with CKD into the frailty cycle. Read More

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2022 23;2022:2814196. Epub 2022 Apr 23.

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known systemic disease with increasing global prevalence and multi-organ complications including diabetic nephropathy (DN). The trend of using medicinal plants in the management of DM is increasing exponentially. is a medicinal plant that contains chemicals and antioxidants that delay the oxidation process. Read More

Clin Kidney J 2022 May 9;15(5):855-864. Epub 2021 Dec 9.

Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common medical problem with a multitude of aetiologies. Prompt diagnosis and management is key in the prevention of complications. Cutaneous signs can often give diagnostic clues of underlying systemic diseases causing AKI. Read More

Bioengineered 2022 Apr;13(4):11156-11168

Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.

Environmental lead contamination can cause chronic renal disease with a common clinical manifestation of renal fibrosis and constitutes a major global public health threat. Aberrant proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in renal interstitial fibroblasts are key pathological causes of renal fibrosis. However, the mechanism underlying lead-induced kidney fibrosis remains unclear. Read More

J Pharm Pract 2022 Apr 14;35(2):308-310. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Department of Pharmacy Services, Robert D. and Patricia Kern Center for Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

The advent of immunotherapy has improved outcomes of patients in a number of cancers. While immunotherapy helps the immune system recognize malignant cells, it also can lead to adverse effects that mimic autoimmune diseases including, but not limited to, rash, colitis, pneumonitis, and nephritis. Diagnosis of immunotherapy related nephritis is based on serum creatinine trends, which can be falsely elevated in the setting of high muscle mass. Read More