BACKGROUND: Microalbuminuria is the main parameter used in diabetic patients for clinical evaluation of early diabetic nephropathy and other complications. The most common method for quantitative urinary protein relies on a 24-hour urine collection or overnight urine collection; however, this method is time consuming and sometimes obtains inaccurate results. This study is aimed to test whether the microalbumin to creatinine ratio (Uma/Ucr) in the first-morning urine samples correlates with the microalbumin content in the 24-hour urine collection. METHODS: 59 urine samples from 59 type 2 diabetic patients were analyzed for Uma/Ucr, and for 24-hour urine microalbumin that were successively collected. RESULTS: Daily microalbumin excretion varied from 2.4 to 168.7 mg/24 hr with a median value of 22.9 mg, and Uma/Ucr ranged from 3.4 to 200 g/mg with a median value of 29.0 g/mg. An excellent correlation was found between the microalbumin excretion measured from the 24-hour urine collections and the first-morning urine Uma/Ucr ratio (R=0.93, P<0.001). All patients that excreted more than 30 mg albumin in the 24-hour urine samples also had an Uma/Ucr of more than 30 g/mg. Patients who had less than 30 g/mg of Uma/Ucr were unlikely candidates for microalbuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that measurements of Uma/Ucr in first-morning urine samples are a simple and reliable alternative to measurements of the urinary albumin excretion rate in the 24-hour urine collections.
Creatinine* ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Humans ; Urine Specimen Collection

OBJECTIVETo determine whether urinary type IV collagen can serve as an indicator specific for diabetic nephropathy.

METHODSUsing a novel sandwich ABC-ELISA to measure type IV collagen directly, the 24-hour urinary type IV collagen excretion rate was determined in 120 diabetic patients and some groups of controls. Urinary albumin determinations were made with a RIA kit at the same time. A total of 13 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria underwent percutaneous renal biopsy for definitive diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy. Type IV collagen and TGF-beta 1 immunoreactivities were detected with ABC methods in renal biopsies.

RESULTSUrinary type IV collagen excretion was significantly increased in diabetic patients with microalbuminuria, especially those with albumin excretion above 200 mg/24 h. By comparison, collagen excretion was equivalent to that in healthy controls when measured in diabetics with normalbuminuria and in patients with primary glomerular disease, primary hypertension, or coronary heart disease. Urinary type IV collagen excretion in diabetics was negatively correlated with creatinine clearance. In renal biopsies from subjects with elevated collagen excretion, the glomeruli showed pathological changes typical of diabetic nephropathy. Also, excessive type IV collagen and TGF-beta 1 immunoreactivity were detected in the glomeruli, Bowman's capsule and interstitium.

CONCLUSIONSExcretion of type IV collagen, possibly reflecting increased production or decreased degradation of this protein, may be a clinically useful indicator of incipient diabetic nephropathy.

Albuminuria ; urine ; Biomarkers ; urine ; Collagen Type IV ; urine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; urine ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on early metaphase diabetic nephropathy.

METHODSFifty-four cases of diabetes were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (n=30) and a control group (n=24). The patients in the two groups were all treated by oral administration of Gliguidon or subcutaneous injection of insulin with acupuncture at Ganshu (BL 18), Weiwanxiashu (EX-B 3), Shenshu (BL 23), Guanyuan (CV 4) and other acupoints added in the acupuncture group, for 30 days.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.3% in the acupuncture group and 66.7% in the control group. After treatment, blood beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), and urine beta2-MG in the acupuncture group decreased significantly with a significant difference as compared with those in the control group; total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) significantly decreased and high density lipoprotein (HDL) significantly increased in the acupuncture group with significant differences compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can improve lipid metabolism and protect the renal function of the patient with early metaphase diabetes.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; blood ; therapy ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; urine

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore the therapeutic effect of tongxinluo capsule (TXLC) on diabetic nephropathy, the influence on plasma endothelin (ET-1) level of the drug was observed.

METHODSAll the 63 patients enrolled were randomly divided into the treatment group and control group. They were all treated with low protein diabetic diet, oral administration of hypoglycemic or injection of insulin, calcium antagonist according to level of blood pressure and supportive symptomatic treatment. To the treated group, 2 capsules of TXLC were given additionally three times a day. The efficacy was evaluated after 8 weeks' treatment. The chief indices observed before and after treatment were endogenous creatinine clearance rate (CCr), urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), urinary beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), fasting blood-glucose (FBG) and ET-1.

RESULTSBefore treatment, no significant difference was shown in all the tested indices between the treated group and the control group. After treatment, levels of CCr, UAER, beta2-MG, ET-1 and FBG significantly changed in the treated group, showing significant difference as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05). Moreover, comparison of these indices in the two groups after treatment, excepting FBG, also showed statistical significance (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTXLC shows obvious effect in reducing plasma ET-1 and UAER, it is definitely effective in repairing the renal tubular interstitial damage, and effectively delay the progress of diabetic nephropathy, improve the renal function, and is favorable to ameliorate hyperglycemia auxiliarily.

Albuminuria ; urine ; Capsules ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Phytotherapy

To investigate the correlation of serum long noncoding RNA-metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(LncRNA MALAT1) and serum amyloid A(SAA) with diabetic kidney disease. Retrospective research was used, and 40 patients with type 2 diabetes and 80 patients with type 2 diabetic kidney disease patients who were treated in Tianjin Medical University Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital from August 2021 to February 2022 were selected, and 40 healthy subjects were selected during the same period. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to detect serum LncRNA MALAT1. SAA were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Automatic biochemistry analyzer was used to detect serum creatinine (CREA) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),automatic blood glucose analyzer to detect serum fasting plasma glucose (FPG), automatic glycated hemoglobin analyzer to detect hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), and automatic immunoassay analyzer to detect urinary albumin to creatinine ratio(UACR). Differences between groups were compared by t test and analysis of variance. Pearson analysis was used to analyze the correlation between MALAT1, SAA and other indicators. Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) was used to evaluate the auxiliary diagnostic value of MALAT1 and SAA for diabetic kidney disease. The results showed that MALAT1 and SAA in the diabetic kidney disease with mass albuminuria group were higher than those in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group (q=8.57, P<0.01; q=11.09, P<0.01) and the diabetic kidney disease with microalbuminuria group (q=3.96, P<0.05; q=7.85, P<0.01). MALAT1 had a high correlation with UACR, CREA, SAA, HbA1c and FPG (r value was 0.706, 0.643, 0.578, 0.553, and 0.524, all P<0.01), and SAA had a high correlation with UACR, HbA1c and FPG (r value was 0.664, 0.617, and 0.595, all P<0.01). ROC curve analysis of the diagnostic value of LncRNA MALAT1 and protein SAA for diabetic kidney disease showed that the areas under curve (AUC) were 0.741 and 0.744, respectively. The combined diagnostic value of the two was the greatest (AUC=0.801). In summary, MALAT1 and SAA were elevated in the serum of patients with type 2 diabetes. Their concentrations in the serum of group with diabetic kidney disease were higher than that in the type 2 diabetes group, and the serum concentrations of MALAT1 and SAA in group with mass albuminuria are higher than the group with microalbuminuria. MALAT1 and SAA were both closely related to UACR and HbA1c, and there is a correlation between them. Both of them may have ancillary diagnostic value for diabetic kidney disease.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies/urine* ; Retrospective Studies ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; Albuminuria

In clinic, some urinary protein makers can dynamically and noninvasively reflect the degree of renal tubular injury in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). These urinary biomarkers of tubular damage are broadly divided into two categories. One is newfound, including kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1), neutrophil getatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) and cystatin C (CysC); the other one is classical, including beta2 microglobulin (beta2-MG), retinal binding protein (RBP) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). It is reported that, the increases in urinary protein markers are not only closely related to the damage of tubular epithelial cells in DN patients, but also can be ameliorated by the treatment with Chinese herbal compound preparations or Chinese herbal medicine. Recently, although urinary proteomics are used in the protein separation and identification, the traditional associated detection of urinary protein markers is more practical in clinic. At present, it is possible that the associated detection of urinary biomarkers of glomerular and tubular damages may be a feasible measure to reveal the clinical significance of urinary protein markers in DN patients and the interventional effects of Chinese herbal medicine.
Biomarkers ; urine ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; complications ; drug therapy ; urine ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Proteinuria ; complications

To analyze the characteristic of urinary protein spectrum in patients with stage III diabetic nephropathy (DN) and its compliance with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)symptom, for the sake of providing a basis for clarifying the rules of TCM syndrome differentiation in DN. Adopting the traditional epidemiological retrospective method, thirty-eight TCM syndromes and urinary protein with medium or low molecular weight, as well as urinary enzyme, including 24 h urinary protein (Upro), urinary albumin( UAlb), urinary retinal binding protein( URBP), urinary cystatin C (UCysC), urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (UNAG), were collected from 108 patients with stage III DN, and a multiple factor regression analysis between them was conducted. As the results, the levels of Upro, UAlb, URBP, UCysC, and UNAG were increased in 108 patients with stage III DN. Qi-Yin deficiency type was the major type. The level of UAlb in patients with Qi-Yin deficiency type was significantly higher than those without Qi-Yin deficiency type (P < 0.05). The elevation of Upro with the factors as swift digestion with rapid hungering, lassitude and lack of strength, weakness of waist and knees was complied, the elevation of UA1b with the factors as dry mouth with desire to drink, the elevation of URBP with the factors as numbness of extremities, shortness of breath, the elevation of UCysC with the factors as clear urine in large amounts, and the elevation of UNAG with the factors as frequent micturition, were complied respectively. In conclusion, for 108 stage III DN patients. The increase in urinary protein spectrum including UAlb, URBP, UCysC, and UNAG is the major characteristic. Shen and Pi are the major organs related to the appearance of urinary protein; Pi-Shen deficiency is the basic pathogenesis. The level of UAlb is taken as one of the objective syndrome factors for Qi-Yin deficiency type. The levels of UNAG and UCysC are possibly the objective syndrome factors for Shen-Qi deficiency type.
Diabetic Nephropathies ; complications ; diagnosis ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Proteinuria ; complications ; urine ; Qi ; Regression Analysis ; Yin-Yang

OBJECTIVES: In diabetics the disturbance of circardian variation of blood pressure and heart rate has been supposed to be related to diabetic autonomic neuropathy and diabetic nephropathy. We performed this study to evaluate the circardian variation of blood pressure and heart rate and the difference of affecting factors between normoalbuminuric patients and microalbuminuric patients. METHODS: We studied 50normotensive NIDDM patients without overt nephropathy, divided two grooups, which are normoalbuminuric patients(D1 group) and microalhuminuric patients(D2 group), according to the urinary albumine excretion rate(AER) on 24-h urine collection. We simultaneosly measured 24-hour blood pressure and heart rate by using of ambulatory 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). RESULTS: 1) In group Kb, 24-h systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher than in C(normal control group) and D1 2) 24-h heart rate values did not significantly differ between the groups, but night heart was significantly elevated in group D2 than C and D1. 3) The night/day ratio of SBP(systolic blood pressure) and HR(heart rate) was significantly higher in D2 than C and D1, but the night/day ratio of DBP(diastolic blood pressure) was significantly higher in D2 compaired with C only. 4) The night/day ratio of SBP correlated significantly with duration of diabetes, log of AER, HDL, HbAlc and 24-h DBP. The determinants selected in a multiple stepwise regression were duration of diabetes and HbAlc. 5) The night/day ratio of DBP was related to duration of diabetes, log of AER, 24-h DBP and night HR. The determinants selected in a multiple stepwise regression were duration of diabetes and 24-h DBP. 6) The night/day ratio of HB was related to neuropathy, 1/creatinine, HDL, night SBP, duration of diabetes and log of AER. The determinants selected in a multiple stepwise regression were neruopathy and night SBP. CONCLUSION: In this study, the normal circardian variation of blood pressure was disturbed in a group of micoralbuminuric patients. But it seems that AER was not a principle independent factor and circardian variation of blood pressure and heart rate were affected by different several factors identified in this study. The nocturnal heart rate was significantly elevated in microalbuminuric group, suggesting the possibility of the presence of parasympathetic neuropathy which is supposed to be related with sudden cardiac death. So it is thought that blunted circardian variation of blood pressure and heart rate can be a prognostic indicator and further prospective study is necessary.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Blood Pressure* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Urine Specimen Collection

Aged ; Albuminuria ; drug therapy ; urine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; urine ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; urine ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Flavonoids ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

In diabetes mellitus, thickening of basement membrane in capillaries and small vessels is a well-known finding and important in the progression of diabetic microangiopathy. We evaluated whether the plasma levels of type IV collagen and fibronectin, which are important factors of basement membrane, are related with the presence of diabetic microangiopathy. Plasma type IV collagen and fibronectin levels were measured in 40 healthy controls (Mean +/- SD, age; 50.3 +/- 5.5 yr) and 94 diabetic patients (age; 52.4 +/- 13.5 yr) with and without microvascular complications. The mean plasma levels of type IV collagen (5.3 +/- 2.9 ng/ml) and fibronectin (474.4 +/- 119.4 ug/ml) in diabetic patients were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in healthy controls (3.7 +/- 1.3 ng/ml and 319 +/- 50.9 ug/ml). The mean plasma level of type IV collagen in diabetic patients with complications (6.6 +/- 3.7 ng/ml) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in those without complications (4.3 +/- 1.7 ng/ml) and became higher in more complicated patients. Furthermore, the severity of retinopathy and several indicators of nephropathy such as serum BUN, creatinine and proteinuria were closely associated with plasma type IV collagen level and a significant correlation was found between plasma type IV collagen and creatinine clearance (r = -0.31, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in plasma fibronectin concentrations, however, between the diabetic patients with complications and those without complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult ; Aged ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Proteins/urine ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Collagen/*blood ; Creatinine/blood ; Diabetic Angiopathies/*blood/diagnosis ; Diabetic Nephropathies/blood/diagnosis ; Diabetic Retinopathy/blood/diagnosis ; Female ; Fibronectins/*blood ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age