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Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2020 Jul 16;55:107-110. Epub 2020 May 16.

Urologist, Duhok Directorate General of Health, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction is a common problem in patients with chronic kidney disease. Disturbances in sexual function are noticed in early stages of chronic kidney diseases and deteriorate further as renal function declines. This is due to uremic effects, comorbid illness, anemia, hormonal disturbances, autonomic neuropathy, vascular diseases, hyperparathyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, side effects of medications, and psychosocial factors. Read More

Diabetol Metab Syndr 2020 19;12:42. Epub 2020 May 19.

1Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000 China.

Background: Neuregulin 4 (Nrg4) is a novel neurotrophic adipokine associated with the development of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), however, the pathological mechanism remains poorly understood. The purpose of our study was to investigate the association of circulating Nrg4 with DPN and 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], a multifunctional secosteroid hormone that regulates other neurotrophic factors and adipokines gene expression, and other diabetic vascular complications.

Methods: Circulating Nrg4 levels were measured with an ELISA kit in 164 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (nT2DM) patients. Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2020 May 27. Epub 2020 May 27.

Radiation Biology and DNA Repair, Darmstadt University of Technology, Darmstadt, Germany. Electronic address:

Background: Radon and its progenies contribute significantly to the natural background radiation and cause several thousands of lung cancer cases per year worldwide. Moreover, patients with chronic inflammatory joint diseases are treated in radon galleries. Due to the complex nature of radon exposure, the doses associated with radon exposures are difficult to assess. Read More

J Nephrol 2020 May 29. Epub 2020 May 29.

Nephrology Clinic, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Center-'C.I. Parhon' University Hospital, and 'Grigore T. Popa' University of Medicine, Iasi, Romania.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Clustering of traditional atherosclerotic and non-traditional risk factors drive the excess rates of coronary and non-coronary CVD in this population. The incidence, severity and mortality of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as the number of complications of its therapy is higher in dialysis patients than in non-chronic kidney disease patients. Read More

Urolithiasis 2020 May 29. Epub 2020 May 29.

Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK.

Measurement of oxalate in the blood is essential for monitoring primary hyperoxaluria patients with progressive renal impairment and on dialysis prior to transplantation. As no external quality assurance scheme is available for this analyte, we conducted a sample exchange scheme between six laboratories specifically involved with the investigation of primary hyperoxaluria to compare results. The methodologies compared were gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS), ion chromatography with mass spectrometry (ICMS), and enzymatic methods using oxalate oxidase and spectrophotometry. Read More

Interv Cardiol Clin 2020 Jul 12;9(3):293-298. Epub 2020 May 12.

Division of Nephrology, UT Health at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, MSC 7882, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.

Passing contrast media through the renal vascular bed leads to vasoconstriction. The perfusion decrease leads to ischemia of tubular cells. Through ischemia and direct toxicity to renal tubular cells, reactive oxygen species formation is increased, enhancing the effect of vasoconstrictive mediators and decreasing the bioavailability of vasodilative mediators. Read More

Ortop Traumatol Rehabil 2020 Apr;22(2):69-76

Klinika Ortopedii z Pododdziałem Ortopedii Dziecięcej, Centralny Szpital Kliniczny Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi, Polska / Department of Orthopaedics with Paediatric Orthopaedics Ward, Central Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz, Poland.

Bone tissue actively contributes to the regulation of systemic homoeostasis, and particularly the maintenance of calcium-phosphate balance. The parathyroid hormone-vitamin D feedback axis is balanced by the recently discovered bone-FGF23-kidney hormonal axis. An active complex consisting of FGF23, a receptor and Klotho protein blocks phosphate reabsorption in the proximal tubules, increasing urine phosphate levels and decreasing blood phosphate levels. Read More

Hematol Transfus Cell Ther 2020 May 16. Epub 2020 May 16.

Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FCM/UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:

Introduction: Mutations affecting genes involved in oxidative and signaling pathways may be associated with kidney disease in sickle cell anemia. We determined the allele and genotype frequencies of some polymorphisms in the promoter regions of the Heme Oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) [rs2071746 (A>T) and (GT)n repeats, short (S) and long (L) alleles] and Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor type-1B (BMPR1B) [rs17022863 (A>G), rs4331783 (A>G) and rs1470409 (A>G)] genes in 75 adult patients with sickle cell anemia and 160 healthy controls and investigated whether these polymorphisms may influence the estimated glomerular filtration rate for the patients.

Methods: The single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped using the TaqMan assays, the HMOX1(GT)n repeats were determined by polymerase chain reaction fragment size analysis and the estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Read More

Cell Commun Signal 2020 May 27;18(1):80. Epub 2020 May 27.

Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, St. Boniface Albrechtsen Research Centre, Room R2034 - 351 Taché Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R2H 2A6, Canada.

Background: Circulatory iron is a hazardous biometal. Therefore, iron is transported in a redox-safe state by a serum glycoprotein - transferrin (TF). Different organs acquire iron from the systemic circulation through a tightly regulated mechanism at the blood-tissue interface which involves receptor-mediated internalization of TF. Read More

Front Immunol 2020 7;11:734. Epub 2020 May 7.

Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.

The aberrant activation of complement system in several kidney diseases suggests that this pillar of innate immunity has a critical role in the pathophysiology of renal damage of different etiologies. A growing body of experimental evidence indicates that complement activation contributes to the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI) such as delayed graft function (DGF) in transplant patients. AKI is characterized by the rapid loss of the kidney's excretory function and is a complex syndrome currently lacking a specific medical treatment to arrest or attenuate progression in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Read More

Int J Cancer 2020 May 24. Epub 2020 May 24.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrine Unit, University of Pisa, Italy.

The long-term survival of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients and the need to perform several treatments with radioiodine (131-I) lead to the question if the lifetime risk of developing a non-thyroidal second primary cancer (NTSPC) is increased in these patients. In this study we assessed the prevalence of NTSPCs in thyroid cancer population and evaluated the possible causative role of 131-I treatment. We analyzed 1096 consecutive patients followed at our institution from 1964 to 1998. Read More

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is an emerging swine pathogen associated with acute porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS)-like clinical signs, reproductive failure, and multisystemic inflammation. Current evidence shows that PCV3 is spread worldwide, and its high incidence may pose a threat to the global pig industry. Capsid (Cap) protein is the sole structural protein which plays an important role in inducing protective immunity against PCV3 infection. Read More

J Am Soc Nephrol 2020 Jun;31(6):1296-1313

Institute of Cell Dynamics and Imaging and Cells in Motion Interfaculty Centre, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

Background: Monogenic diseases provide favorable opportunities to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of disease progression and improve medical diagnostics. However, the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors in disease etiologies makes it difficult to discern the mechanistic links between different alleles of a single locus and their associated pathophysiologies. Inverted formin 2 (INF2), an actin regulator, mediates a stress response-calcium mediated actin reset, or CaAR-that reorganizes the actin cytoskeleton of mammalian cells in response to calcium influx. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 May 21;10(1):8418. Epub 2020 May 21.

Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Centro Anna Maria Astori, Science and Technology Park Kilometro Rosso, Bergamo, Italy.

More effective treatments for diabetic nephropathy remain a major unmet clinical need. Increased oxidative stress is one of the most important pathological mechanisms that lead to kidney damage and functional impairment induced by diabetes. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is the main mitochondrial deacetylase and critically regulates cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and detoxification. Read More

Trop Med Infect Dis 2020 May 15;5(2). Epub 2020 May 15.

Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK.

The mortality and severity in COVID-19 is increased in patients with comorbidities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients with underlying kidney and liver diseases. We retrieved data on the clinical features and primary composite end point of COVID-19 patients from Medline and Embase which had been released from inception by the April 16, 2020. Read More

BMC Nephrol 2020 May 18;21(1):186. Epub 2020 May 18.

Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology Unit, Jabriya, Kuwait.

Background: Glomerulonephritides (GN) are relatively rare kidney diseases with substantial morbidity and mortality. They are often difficult to treat, sometimes with no cure, and can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage kidney disease (ESKD). Kidney biopsy is the diagnostic procedure of choice with variable indications from center to center. Read More

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2020 May 12;79:103381. Epub 2020 May 12.

Department of Occupational Diseases of Yangpu Hospital Under Yangpu District Central Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai 200090, China. Electronic address:

To investigate heavy metal exposure in an industrial zone vs. a living quarter in Shanghai and explore the relationship between the heavy metal source and urine cadmium (Cd) and early kidney damage. Blood lead and urine Cd, manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and EKD indexes were compared between residents in Exposure group (n = 168) and Control group (n = 168). Read More

Pediatr Transplant 2020 May 15:e13739. Epub 2020 May 15.

Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

BK virus encephalitis after HSCT is uncommon. Several reports of native kidney BKVN in patients with HSCT, hematologic malignancies, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and non-renal solid organ transplantation have been described. However, an uncommon combination of BK encephalitis and ESRD of native kidneys secondary to BK virus in a child with HSCT has not been described. Read More

Nat Rev Nephrol 2020 May 12. Epub 2020 May 12.

Programs in Metabolism and Medical & Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases worldwide, projected to affect 693 million adults by 2045. Devastating macrovascular complications (cardiovascular disease) and microvascular complications (such as diabetic kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy) lead to increased mortality, blindness, kidney failure and an overall decreased quality of life in individuals with diabetes. Clinical risk factors and glycaemic control alone cannot predict the development of vascular complications; numerous genetic studies have demonstrated a clear genetic component to both diabetes and its complications. Read More

Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 2020 Mar-Apr;31(2):407-414

Department of Pediatrics, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Dengue viral infection (DVI) has emerged as one of the most common arthropod borne diseases and is more prevalent in the tropical countries. It has varied clinical spectrum ranging from undifferentiated fever to severe hemorrhagic fever and shock with multi-organ dysfunction. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is lesser known complication in DVI. Read More

Mol Psychiatry 2020 May 11. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

We conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of relative intake from the macronutrients fat, protein, carbohydrates, and sugar in over 235,000 individuals of European ancestries. We identified 21 unique, approximately independent lead SNPs. Fourteen lead SNPs are uniquely associated with one macronutrient at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10), while five of the 21 lead SNPs reach suggestive significance (P < 1 × 10) for at least one other macronutrient. Read More

High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 2020 Jun 7;27(3):215-223. Epub 2020 May 7.

Department of Nephrology, Ruby General Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Cardiovascular disease is predicted to be the largest cause of death and disability in India by 2020. Hypertension (HT), one of the main contributing factors, presents a significant public health burden. Inability to achieve adequate blood pressure (BP) control results in uncontrolled hypertension (UHT). Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Apr 29;17(9). Epub 2020 Apr 29.

2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University and Louis Pasteur University Hospital, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia.

: The Roma population is one of the largest marginalized population groups in Europe. The aim of our work was to summarize the morbidity of lifestyle-related diseases and infectious diseases in the Roma population living in segregated settlements. : We used data from the cross-sectional study HepaMeta, in which we examined 452 Roma subjects with an average age of 34. Read More

Front Pediatr 2020 17;8:165. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.

A false interpretation of homozygosity for pathogenic variants causing autosomal recessive disorders can lead to improper genetic counseling. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the underlying etiologies of presumed homozygous disease-causing variants harbored in six unrelated children with five different genetic renal diseases when the same variant was identified in a heterozygous state in only one of the two parents from each family using direct sequencing. Peripheral blood genomic DNA samples were extracted. Read More

Hypertension 2020 Jun 4;75(6):1491-1496. Epub 2020 May 4.

Department of Epidemiology, and Department of Medicine (C.E.L.), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.

It remains uncertain whether intensive control of blood pressure (BP) results in a lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertension. Using data from SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial), which enrolled participants with hypertension at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, we examined whether intensive BP lowering (target systolic BP [SBP] <120 mm Hg), compared with standard BP lowering (target SBP<140 mm Hg), results in a lower risk of AF. This analysis included 8022 participants (4003 randomized to the intensive arm and 4019 to standard BP arm) who were free of AF at the time of enrollment and with available baseline and follow-up electrocardiographic data. Read More

Int Urol Nephrol 2020 May 2. Epub 2020 May 2.

Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, Mezourlo Hill, 41110, Larissa, Greece.

Background: Glucotoxicity in renal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors may exert their renoprotective effect by preventing glucotoxicity. We tested whether the confirmed in capillary endothelial cells unifying model of glucotoxicity can be applied in RPTECs and the impact of dapagliflozin. Read More

Curr Med Chem 2020 May 1. Epub 2020 May 1.

Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Family Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113, 90-549 Lodz. Poland.

For many years clinicians have been searching for "kidney troponin"- a simple diagnostic tool to assess risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). Recently, the rise in the variety of contrast-related procedures (contrast computed tomography [CT], percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] and angiography) have resulted in increased number of contrast-induced acute kidney injuries (CI-AKI). CI-AKI remains important cause of overall mortality, prolonged hospitalization and it increases total costs of therapy. Read More

Diabetes Obes Metab 2020 Apr 29. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

Glomerular hyperfiltration is a common finding in patients with diabetes and poor glycaemic control; whole-kidney hyperfiltration, with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) values above normal, should be differentiated from single nephron hyperfiltration, consequent to nephron loss and compensatory hyperfiltration of the remnant nephrons. This is the result of an imbalance between the vascular tone of the afferent and efferent arterioles. Hormonal influences and/or an impaired tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) system, because of excessive sodium (Na ) and glucose reabsorption in the proximal tubule, contribute to determine hyperfiltration. Read More

FASEB J 2020 Apr 29. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Klogene Therapeutics, Inc, Boston, MA, USA.

There is an unmet need for treatments for diseases associated with aging. The antiaging, life-extending, and cognition-enhancing protein Klotho is neuroprotective due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and pro-myelinating effects. In addition, Klotho is also a tumor suppressor and has beneficial roles in multiple organs. Read More

Cells 2020 Apr 23;9(4). Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Laboratorio de Patología Molecular, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 511-0566, Chile.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is considered the main cause of kidney disease in which myofibroblasts lead to renal fibrosis. Macrophages were recently identified as the major source of myofibroblasts in a process known as macrophage-myofibroblast transition (MMT). Adenosine levels increase during DN and in vivo administration of MRS1754, an antagonist of the A adenosine receptor (AAR), attenuated glomerular fibrosis (glomerulosclerosis). Read More

Cell Signal 2020 Aug 23;72:109649. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America. Electronic address:

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is a systemic disorder associated with polycystic liver disease (PLD) and other extrarenal manifestations, the most common monogenic cause of end-stage kidney disease, and a major burden for public health. Many studies have shown that alterations in G-protein and cAMP signaling play a central role in its pathogenesis. As for many other diseases (35% of all approved drugs target G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) or proteins functioning upstream or downstream from GPCRs), treatments targeting GPCR have shown effectiveness in slowing the rate of progression of ADPKD. Read More

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2020 Apr 22. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

Introduction: Viral hepatitis infection is associated with negative impacts on renal function that may lead to nephropathy. We investigated associations between chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and chronic kidney disease (CKD) and/or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in a large, representative sample from a nationwide U.S. Read More

Lancet 2020 05 23;395(10235):1506-1515. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Common and Rare Kidney Diseases, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, UMR-S 1155, Paris, France; Médecine Intensive-Réanimation, Université de Paris, AP-HP Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes, France. Electronic address:

Background: The timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for severe acute kidney injury is highly debated when no life-threatening complications are present. We assessed whether a strategy of delayed versus early RRT initiation affects 28-day survival in critically ill adults with severe acute kidney injury.

Methods: In this systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomised trials published from April 1, 2008, to Dec 20, 2019, that compared delayed and early RRT initiation strategies in patients with severe acute kidney injury. Read More

J Diabetes Complications 2020 Apr 13:107584. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.

Mitochondrial disorders refer to the complex group of conditions affecting energy metabolism. A number of mitochondrial disorders can lead to the development of diabetes mellitus, and mitochondrial diabetes is thought to account for up to 3% of all diabetes mellitus cases. Depending on the degree of preservation of beta cell secretory capacity and peripheral muscle insulin sensitivity, the phenotype of mitochondrial diabetes may resemble that of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Apr 21;10(1):6772. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Aging, INDICyO Program, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the main causes of morbimortality in the adult population. Among them, hypertension is a leading cause for stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. Also, as a result of arterial wall weakness, hypertension can lead to the development of dissecting aortic aneurysms, a rare but often fatal condition if not readily treated. Read More

Transplant Proc 2020 Apr 15. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Department of General, Vascular and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.

Background: Long-lasting diabetes mellitus may lead to numerous pathologies in the oral cavity. The aim of the study was to assess the condition of the oral cavity, caries intensity, salivary parameters, and incidence of oral fungal infections in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after kidney transplantation (KTx) or simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation (SPK).

Methods: Twenty-one patients after SPK, 18 T1D patients after KTx, and 14 kidney recipients without diabetes (control group) were included in the study. Read More

Elife 2020 Apr 17;9. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, United States.

Renal macrophages represent a highly heterogeneous and specialized population of myeloid cells with mixed developmental origins from the yolk-sac and hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). They promote both injury and repair by regulating inflammation, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling. Recent reports highlight differential roles for ontogenically distinct renal macrophage populations in disease. Read More

FEBS Open Bio 2020 Jun 18;10(6):1122-1134. Epub 2020 May 18.

Department of Nephrology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is among the most common and serious complications of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we used KK/Ta-Ins2 (KK-Akita) mice as a model of DKD and KK/Ta (KK) mice as controls to identify novel factors related to the development/progression of DKD. Capillary electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry analysis revealed that circulating Asp (l-aspartic acid) levels in diabetic KK-Akita mice tend to be lower than those in control KK mice. Read More

Urologe A 2020 May;59(5):533-543

Urologikum Lübeck, Lübeck, Deutschland.

Systemic therapy in uro-oncology is currently undergoing major changes. In the past, drug therapies only showed good treatment results in metastasized testicular tumors. New developments indicate that an improved understanding of tumor biology will lead to targeted treatment strategies for metastatic prostate, urothelial and renal cell carcinoma. Read More

Klin Lab Diagn 2020 ;65(5):275-280

Samara State Medical University, 443099, Samara, Russia.

Anemic syndrome is detected in 10-25% of geriatric patients, and with increasing age, there is a tendency to increase the incidence of the disease. Among the diseases that lead to the development of anemia, kidney pathology plays an important role. Progressive deterioration of kidney function in old age is associated with an increased risk of fractures, sarcopenia, and the development of cognitive impairment. Read More

Oncologist 2020 Apr 10;25(4):290-300. Epub 2019 Oct 10.

Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have proven to be effective for various advanced neoplasia. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) as a result of increased T cell activation are unique and potentially life-threating toxicities associated with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Multiple endocrine irAEs, including primary hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, primary adrenal insufficiency, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and hypophysitis, have been reported with the use of various immune checkpoint inhibitors. Read More

Nutrients 2020 Apr 12;12(4). Epub 2020 Apr 12.

Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.

Insulin resistance (IR), defined as an attenuated biological response to circulating insulin, is a fundamental defect in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), and is also linked to a wide spectrum of pathological conditions, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cognitive impairment, endothelial dysfunction, chronic kidney disease (CKD), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and some endocrine tumors, including breast cancer. In obesity, the unbalanced production of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipocytokines can lead to the development of IR and its related metabolic complications, which are potentially reversible through weight-loss programs. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), characterized by high consumption of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), nuts, red wine, vegetables and other polyphenol-rich elements, has proved to be associated with greater improvement of IR in obese individuals, when compared to other nutritional interventions. Read More

Med Hypotheses 2020 Apr 7;141:109718. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Department of Pediatrics, Kindai University, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the most common glomerular diseases in children. Glomerular podocyte dysfunction can result in proteinuria, the presence of a large amount of protein in the urine. Podocytes are unique epithelial cells that divide into 3 separate structural and functional segments: a cell body, major processes, and foot processes. Read More

J Biol Chem 2020 May 10;295(21):7249-7260. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Center for Renal Precision Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229

Exposure to chronic hyperglycemia because of diabetes mellitus can lead to development and progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). We recently reported that reduced superoxide production is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in the kidneys of mouse models of type 1 DKD. We also demonstrated that humans with DKD have significantly reduced levels of mitochondrion-derived metabolites in their urine. Read More

Saudi Pharm J 2020 Apr 20;28(4):504-508. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Background: Worldwide, the prescribing pattern of the Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) has increased. They are considered highly effective medications in controlling various conditions including inflammatory diseases. They are associated with various adverse effects including gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcer and renal toxicity though. Read More

Front Cell Dev Biol 2020 20;8:185. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Departamento Biología de Sistemas, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud (IRYCIS), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), especially those involving a systemic inflammatory process such as atherosclerosis, remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD is a systemic condition affecting approximately 10% of the general population. The prevalence of CKD has increased over the past decades because of the aging of the population worldwide. Read More

Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020 Jun 19;24(6):589-599. Epub 2020 Apr 19.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University, Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

: Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is a rare disease defined by the growth of hepatic cysts and occurs either isolated or as an extrarenal manifestation of polycystic kidney disease. While surgery has been the mainstay in treatment of symptomatic PLD, recently discovered regulatory mechanisms affecting hepatic cystogenesis provide potential new therapies to reduce hepatic cyst burden.: This review summarizes intracellular pathways and therapeutic targets involved in hepatic cystogenesis. Read More

Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2020 May 6;318(5):F1295-F1305. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Podocyte loss and proteinuria are both key features of human diabetic nephropathy (DN). The leptin-deficient BTBR mouse strain with the mutation develops progressive weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and diabetic nephropathy that has many features of advanced human DN, including increased mesangial matrix, mesangiolysis, podocyte loss, and proteinuria. Selective antagonism of the endothelin-1 type A receptor (ETR) by atrasentan treatment in combination with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibition with losartan has been shown to have the therapeutic benefit of lowering proteinuria in patients with DN, but the underlying mechanism for this benefit is not well understood. Read More

Kobe J Med Sci 2020 Mar 27;65(5):E153-E163. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) lead to end-stage renal diseases (ESRD) which are characterized by glomerulosclerosis, tubular injury, anemia, inflammation, and interstitial fibrosis. Vitamin D is known to have renal protective effects. However, its effects relate to low and high doses of Vitamin D in CKD model is still unknown. Read More