Objective To analyze the expression and regulation of components of intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the correlation between intrarenal angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) expression and clinicopathological injury index in primary IgA nephropathy patients. Methods Expressions of intrarenal RAS components were assessed by immunohistochemistry staining (IHCS). Correlation among intrarenal RAS components and of intrarenal Ang Ⅱ expression with blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 24-h urinary protein and Katafuchi score in 36 primary IgA nephropathy patients were examined. Results There were positive correlations between positive IHCS area of intrarenal renin and Ang Ⅱ (r=0.43, P＜0.01), angiotensiongen and Ang Ⅱ (r=0.34, P＜0.05). There was negative correlation between positive IHCS area of intrarenal Ang Ⅱ and eGFR (r=-0.61, P＜0.01). There was positive correlation between positive IHCS area of intrarenal Ang Ⅱ and pathological chronicity index (ρ=0.39, P＜0.05), index of interstitial cell infiltration (ρ =0.52, P ＜0.05). Conclusion Expression of intrarenal Ang Ⅱ is positively correlated with expression of intrarenal renin and angiotensinogen, and plays an important role in kidney fibrosis in primary IgA nephropathy.

Objective To analyze the correlation of urinary angiotensinogen (AGT) with clinical index of kidney injury and intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Methods Urinary or plasma renin activity, AGT, angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ ), aldosterone were measured by RIA or ELISA in 129 CKD patients. Expression of intrarenal renin, AGT, Ang Ⅱ and angiotensinⅡ receptor was examined by immunohistochemistry staining (IHCS) in 73 CKD patients undergoing renal biopsy. Correlation of urinary AGT with other indexes was performed. Results Average urinary AGT in 129 CKD patients was (159.08 ± 125.18) μg/g Cr, Scr was (113.20± 105.05)μmol/L, and urinary AGT was positively correlated with Scr (r=0.51, P<0.01). Average estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was (58.52±27.15) ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1, which was negatively correlated with urinary AGT (r=-0.55, P<0.01). Average urinary protein was (2.03±2.65) g/24 h, which was positively correlated with urinary AGT (r=0.30, P<0.01). Average urinary Ang Ⅱ was (164.71 ±139.25) ng/g Cr, which was positively correlated with urinary AGT (r=0.20, P<0.05). Average urinary type Ⅳ collagen was (447.60± 800.66) μg/g Cr, which was positively correlated with urinary AGT (r=0.47, P<0.01). Average urinary soduim was (162.17±81.61) mmol/24 h, which was negatively correlated with urinary AGT (r=-0.20, P<0.05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that low eGFR (P<0.01), high Scr (P< 0.01), high urinary protein (P<0.05), high urinary Ang Ⅱ (P<0.05) and high urinary type Ⅲ collagen (P<0.01) were significantly correlated with high urinary AGT. In renal tissues of CKD patients, there was positive correlation of urinary AGT with positive IHCS area of AGT (r=0.45, P< 0.01), Ang Ⅱ (r=0.52, P<0.01) and angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (r =0.28, P <0.05). Conclusions Urinary AGT level may indicate the kidney injury severity, especially in chronic kidney injury, and may be used as a non-invasive marker of intrarenal Ang Ⅱ activity in CKD patients.

Objective To examine the association between residual renal function at initiation of dialysis and prognosis in maintenance dialysis patients.Methods Incident patients with end-stage renal diseases initiating dialysis between 1 January 2005 and 30 September 2009,followed up to 31 March 2010 were enrolled in this study.Residual renal function was evaluated using eGFR estimated by the abbreviated MDRD equation.Patients were classified into four groups according to eGFR of ≥10.5,8 to ＜10.5,6 to ＜8,＜6 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1.The outcome was all-cause and cardiocerebral vascular mortality.Results (1) A total of 562 patients were included.The median eGFR at initiation of dialysis was 5.60 (2.26-12.62) ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1.The median follow-up time was 17 (0-58) months from initiation of dialysis and 141 patients died within this period.The median survival time was 45.48 (43.05-47.90) months.With eGFR declined,Scr,BUN,serum uric acid,serum prealbumin,phosphorus,calcium and phosphate product,iPTH,mean arterial pressure (MAP) at initiation of dialysis increased (P＜0.05),and hemoglobin,proportion of male,proportion of diabetes comorbidity,proportion of the Charlson comorbidity index ≥5 decreased (P＜0.05).Though there was no significant difference among the four groups,the proportion of left ventricular hypertrophy comorbidity increased when eGFR declined.(2) There was no significant difference of all-cause mortality among four groups using Kaplan-Meire survival curve.Cox regression model indicated no significant difference of all-cause mortality in levels of eGFR (HR=1.012,95％CI 0.961-1.065,P=0.654).Without patients died in the first 3 months,the multivariate Cox regression model indicated eGFR at initiation of dialysis was the protective factor to 1 year survival (HR=0.791,95％CI 0.669-0.935,P＜0.01).(3) The multivariate Cox regression model indicated the risk of overall and 1 year cardiocerebral vascular death decreased with eGFR at initiation of dialysis increased (HR=0.868,95％CI 0.777-0.971,P＜0.05; HR=0.937,95％CI 0.851-0.992,P＜0.05,respectively).(4) The multivariate Cox regression model indicated eGFR at initiation of dialysis was benefit to survival of patients treated by peritoneal dialysis,with all-cause death risk decreased by 10％ when eGFR increased by 1 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1 (HR=0.90,95％CI 0.81-0.99,P＜0.05).In hemodialysis patients,Kaplan-Meire survival curve was significantly different among the four groups (Log-rank test,P=0.047); the survival of the group of 8 to ＜10.5 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1 was lower as compared to the groups of 6 to ＜8 (Log-rank test,P=0.033) and ＜6 ml·min-1(1.73 m2)-1 (Log-rank test,P=0.005); but the multivariate Cox regression model indicated no relationship between survival and eGFR.In the subgroup of chronic glomerulonephritis as primary renal disease,the eGFR at initiation of dialysis was the benefit factor,with all-cause death risk decreased by 16.6％ (HR=0.834,95％CI 0.736-0.946,P＜0.01) and cardiocerebral vascular death risk decreased by 18.2％ (HR=0.818,95％CI 0.669-0.999,P＜0.05) when eGFR increased by 1 ml ·min-1 ·(1.73 m2)-1.In the subgroup of chronic glomerulonephritis treated by peritoneal dialysis,the all-cause death risk decreased by 32.1％ with eGFR increased by 1 ml·min 1·(1.73 m2)-1 (HR=0.679,95％CI 0.535-0.862,P＜0.01).Conclusions Early initiation of dialysis may not be associated with improved overall survival,but may reduce cardiocerebral vascular and 1 year all-cause mortality,improve the survival of chronic glomerulonephritis patients and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objective To assess the risk factors of intradialytic-hypotension (IDH) among maintaining hemodialysis (MHD) patients and to explore the relation between NT-proBNP and IDH,thus to provide clinical evidence for the prevention and treatment of IDH.Methods A total of 202 MHD patients during March 2009 to May 2009 in our dialysis center were enrolled in the study.Intradialytic blood pressure (BP) was measured during a 3-month period.IDH was defined as an event characterized by a sudden drop in systolic BP more than 20 mm Hg or in mean artery pressure (MAP) more than l0 mm Hg.Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk factors of IDH.ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of serum NT-proBNP.Results The incidence of IDH was 42.1％.One hundred and seventeen patients with no-IDH (＜1/10 hypotensive events per 3 months) were served as controls.Fifty-five patients with o-IDH (≥ 1/ 10 but ≤1/3 hypotensive events per 3 months) and 30 patients with f-IDH (＞1/3 hypotensive events per 3 months) were identified among 202 patients.Multivariate regression analysis showed that age,gender,ultrafiltration rate,serum NT-proBNP,serum albumin,aortic root dimension (AoRD) were associated with IDH among MHD patients.Serum NT-proBNP was positively correlated with IDH.The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of NT-proBNP was 0.76 (95％ CI 0.69 to 0.83,P＜0.01).The cut-off value of serum NT-proBNP for IDH was 1746.5 ng/L,with a sensitivity of 88.61％ and a specificity of 51.10％.Furthermore,the AUC of NT-proBNP for f-IDH was 0.65 (95％ CI 0.53 to 0.763,P＜0.01).The cut-off value of serum NT-proBNP for f-IDH was 8208.0 ng/L,with a sensitivity of 33.33％ and a specificity of 91.30％.Conclusions Elderly,female,high ultrafiltration rate,high level of serum NT-proBNP,hypoalbuminemia,shorter AoRD are independent risk factors of IDH among MHD patients.Serum NT-proBNP can be used as a predictor of IDH.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and prevention management of death events caused by infections in end-stage renal disease (ESRD)patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods Clinical data of ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis in Nephrology Department of Zhongshan Hospital from 1998 to 2008 were retrospectively studied.Death causes,primary diseases,complications,infections,and survival time were analyzed. Results A total of 252 patients died including 162 males(64.29%)and 90 females(35.71%).Average death age was (63.48±14.77)years.In death events,emergency dialysis accounted for 59.52%,and primary glomerular disease was the major primary diseases(27.23%),then diabetic nephropathy(16.90%)and hypertensive nephrosclerosis (14.55%).34.8%death was caused by infections or promoted by infections,secondly by cerebrovascular events(23.6%).The elderly accounted for the majority of infection-associated deaths.48.15%and 38.71%patients with deaths caused or promoted by infections respectively had shorter dialysis duration(<3 months),whose percentage was much higher than those with non-infection-associated deaths (30.34%).Primary infection was still pulmonary infection(77.59%),then blood infection(10.34%)and catheter-associated infection(5.17%).58.62%infection-associated deaths had positive microbiologic test results,and gram negative bacillus accounted for 38.24%.50% of patients with positive test was complicated with fungal infection. Conclusions Infection is a main cause and a critical promotion to death in ESRD hemodialysis patients,besides it is the main cause of death in the elderly (>75 years)and hemodialysis duration within 3 months,which may result in shorter survival.Pulmonary infection and gram negative bacillus combined with fungal infection should be considered in the treatment.Prophylaxis of nosocomial infection and pulmonary infection in hemodialysis patients should be more emphasized.