Cofilin is a actin-binding protein in eukaryotic cells. It plays a role in maintaining the steady state of the internal environment through regulating actin dynamics, which contributes to the development of various kinds of diseases. In recent 20 years, cofilin has been widely attracted due to its regulatory effect on cell phenotype, gene transcription, apoptosis and inflammation in renal tissue. Cofilin plays a regulatory role in pathological changes in proteinuria diseases such as minimal change nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, and IgA nephropathy. It could be one of the diagnosis index for glomerular podocyte injury. At the same time, cofilin plays a key role in maintaining the polarity and function of proximal tubular epithelial cells and it is involved in the regulation of kidney inflammation in a variety of kidney diseases, such as renal ischemia/reperfusion injury, diabetic nephropathy, and hypertensive nephropathy reaction. In addition, cofilin plays an important role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells and epithelial cells in various tissues, suggesting that cofilin may be involved in the regulation of peritoneal dialysis-related EMT and fibrosis. Cofilin might turn into the new diagnosis and treatment target of kidney diseases.
Cofilin 1 ; metabolism ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Kidney Diseases ; physiopathology ; Proteinuria ; genetics ; physiopathology

Acute kidney injury is a serious global health problem and determinant of morbidity and mortality. Recent advancements in the field of stem cell research raise hopes for stem cell-based regenerative approaches to treat acute kidney diseases. In this review, the authors summarized the latest research advances of the adult resident renal progenitor cells (ARPCs) on kidney repair, the role of ARPCs on tubular regeneration after acute kidney injury, the current understanding of the mechanisms related to ARPC activation and modulation, as well as the challenges that remain to be faced.
Acute Kidney Injury ; physiopathology ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Kidney Tubules ; physiopathology ; Receptors, CXCR ; metabolism ; Regeneration ; physiology ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; Stem Cells ; physiology

OBJECTIVEVascular calcification is the consequence of the complex interaction between genetic, environmental, and vascular factors, which ultimately lead to the deposition of calcium in the tunica intima (atherosclerotic calcification) or tunica media (Mönckenberg's sclerosis). Vascular calcification is also closely related to other pathologies, such as diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease. It has been concluded that the degree of vascular calcification may vary from person to person, even if the associated pathologies and environmental factors are the same. Therefore, this suggests an important genetic contribution to the development of vascular calcification. This review aimed to find the most recent evidence about vascular calcification pathophysiology regarding the genetic aspects and molecular pathways.

DATA SOURCESWe conducted an exhaustive search in Scopus, EBSCO, and PubMed with the keywords "genetics and vascular calcification", "molecular pathways, genetic and vascular calcification" and included the main articles from January 1995 up to August 2016. We focused on the most recent evidence about vascular calcification pathophysiology regarding the genetic aspects and molecular pathways.

STUDY SELECTIONThe most valuable published original and review articles related to our objective were selected.

RESULTSVascular calcification is a multifactorial disease; thus, its pathophysiology cannot be explained by a single specific factor, rather than by the result of the association of several genetic variants, molecular pathway interactions, and environmental factors that promote its development.

CONCLUSIONAlthough several molecular aspects of this mechanism have been elucidated, there is still a need for a better understanding of the factors that predispose to this disease.

Diabetes Mellitus ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Dyslipidemias ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Tunica Intima ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Tunica Media ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Vascular Calcification ; metabolism ; physiopathology

Bone Density ; Coronary Artery Disease ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; physiology ; Risk Factors ; Skin Diseases ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Vitamin D ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo assess the kidney oxygen bioavailability in acute renal failure using blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

METHODSTwenty-one patients with acute renal failure, including 18 patients with oliguric renal failure, 1 nonoliguric acute renal failure and 2 functional renal failure were enrolled in the study; 20 healthy subjects served as controls. All subjects received renal functional MR examination. BOLD MR imaging with 16 gradient-recalled-echoes on a 1.5-T scanner were performed. R2(*)(1/sec) values of the cortex and medulla and R2(*) ratio of the medulla to cortex (R2(*) ratio of M/C) of the renal were recorded respectively.

RESULTSThe R2(*) values of the medulla was higher than those of the cortex in controls (17.64 +/-1.86/sec vs 13.73 +/-0.49/sec, P<0.00). The R2(*) ratio of M/C in controls was 1.28 +/-0.06. The R2(*) values of the medulla (13.31 +/-4.28/sec) and cortex (12.25 +/-2.41/sec) and the R2(* ) ratio of M/C (1.01 +/-0.25) in oliguric renal failure were lower than those in controls (P <0.05). Patients with functional renal failure and nonoliguric acute renal failure had higher R2(*) values in cortex and medulla and higher R2(*) ratio of M/C than those of controls.

CONCLUSIONBOLD MRI demonstrates that decreased R2(*) values of cortex and medulla suggest lower oxygen bioavailability in acute renal failure and decreased R2(*)ratio of M/C suggests the disappearance of a steep cortico-medullary gradient of oxygen.

Acute Kidney Injury ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Adult ; Biological Availability ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen ; blood ; metabolism

Spleen kidney Yang deficiency (SKYD) diarrhea is a common syndrome in tranditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Until now, there is not an ideal SKYD diarrhea rat model for the research. In this study, we compared single factor way (method I, injecting hydrocortisone and gavaging Sennae Folium) with compound factors way(method II, gavaging adenine, improper diet, exhaustion, and gavaging Sennae Folium) on establishing SKYD diarrhea rat model. After modelling, diarrhea index, D-xylose excretory rate, NOS/cGMP signal transduction system, organ index and histopathology examination were used to evaluate the two ways. The results showed that, compared with health group, all the assessment criterias of method I and method II had significant differences (P < 0.01, 0.05). In addition, the index such as diarrhea index, NOS/cGMP signal transduction system, organ index (kidney, testis and thymus) and histopathology examination had significant differences (P < 0.01, 0.05) between method I and method II. In conclusion, the compound factors modelling method better conforms to the symptom of diarrhoea model caused by SKYD. This new modelling method provides a basis for studying on TCM astringents warming and tonifying the spleen and kidney, relieving diarrhea.
Animals ; Diarrhea ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Xylose ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology

Aging is associated with progressive functional deterioration and structural changes in the kidney. Changes in the activity or responsiveness of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) occur with aging. RAS changes predispose the elderly to various fluid and electrolyte imbalances as well as acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. Among the multiple pathways involved in renal aging, the RAS plays a central role. This review summarizes the association of the RAS with structural and functional changes in the aging kidney and age-related renal injury, and describes the underlying mechanisms of RAS-related renal aging. An improved understanding of the renal aging process may lead to better individualized care of the elderly and improved renal survival in age-related diseases.
Acute Kidney Injury/etiology/metabolism/physiopathology ; Age Factors ; Aging/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Glucuronidase/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney/*metabolism/physiopathology ; Kidney Diseases/*etiology/genetics/metabolism/physiopathology ; Prognosis ; *Renin-Angiotensin System ; Risk Factors

Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; physiopathology ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child Nutrition Disorders ; physiopathology ; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; physiology ; Humans ; Infection ; physiopathology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of clinical effects in female patients with obesity and hyperlipidemia of yang deficiency of spleen and kidney syndrome between warm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture and simple warm acupuncture.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 65 cases in each one. In the control group, acupuncture was used at Pishu (BL 20), Zhongwan(CV 12), Shenshu(BL 23), Zhongji(CV 3), Guanyuan(CV 4), Mingmen(GV 4), Taibai(SP 3), Fenglong(ST 40), etc.; warm acupuncture was applied at Pishu(BL 20), Zhongwan(CV 12), Shenshu(BL 23) and Zhongji(CV 3); the treatment was required once every two days and for 3 months continuously. In the observation group, based on the treatment in the control group, thumbtack intradermal needles were embedded at auricular points, including pi(CO13), shen(CO10), pangguang(CO9), sanjiao(CO17), neifenmi(CO18), neishengzhiqi(TF2), etc. Obesity indices [body mass(W), obesity degree(A), body mass index(BMI), body fat percentage(F%)] blood lipid indices [serum total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein(LDL-C), high density lipoprotein(HDL-C)] and clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. Results After treatment in the two groups, the obesity indices of W, A, BMI, F% and the blood lipid levels of TC, TG, LDL-C were obviously decreased compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 01) and the HDL-C levels were apparently increased than those before treatment (both P<0. 01). After treatment, the improvement of TC and HDL-C in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (both P<0. 01). The difference was not statistically significant in the aspect of improving every obesity index between two groups (all P>. 05). The comprehensive total effective rate of the observation group was 95.4% (62/65), which was better than 84. 6% (55/65) of the control group (P<0. 001).

CONCLUSIONWarm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture and simple warm acupuncture can both benignly adjust abnormal lipid metabolism of obesity patients with hyperlipidemia, and warm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture are superior to simple warm acupuncture treatment on antiobesity action and improving the TC and HDL-C levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Triglycerides ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

Cardiovascular Diseases ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; Vitamin D ; pharmacology ; physiology