OBJECTIVE: To explore the impacts of delayed ureteral stent removal on the quality of life (QoL) and mental health of urinary calculi postoperative patients due to the corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: The demographic and clinical data of patients with ureteral stent placement after urinary endoscopic lithotripsy and returned to Peking University People's Hospital for stent removal from December 2019 to June 2020 were collected. Ureteral stent symptoms questionnaire (USSQ) score and the outcome 20-item self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were collected to estimate the QoL and mental status. The USSQ consisted of 44 questions in 6 domains (including urinary symptom, physical pain, general health, work performance, sexual function, and ureteral stent related infection). For most questions in each domain, its score was a five-point Likert-type scale from 1 to 5, and a small proportion of questions was quantified by 1 to 4 or 1 to 7 scale. SAS and SDS both contained 20 questions used to assess a patient's level of anxiety and depression. Its scoring for each item was on a four-point Likert-type scale from 1 to 4. A total score (ranging from 20 to 80) was the main statistical indicator. The level of clinical anxiety and depression was quantified by using standard scores (total score multiplied by 1.25 to produce integers). And the multi-group structural equation model was constructed by analysis of moment structure (AMOS) analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 71 patients were enrolled for analysis. It was found that the median duration of ureteral stent time differed significantly between the control and delayed groups for 32 (30, 33) d and 94.5 (88, 103) d, respectively. The delayed group resulted in higher scores in the USSQ multidimensional, which included urinary symptoms, general health, work performance and ureteral stent related infections. Anxiety and depression were also significantly serious in the delayed group than in the control group. A longer indwelling time of a ureteral stent could exacerbate the effects of urinary symptoms and physical pain on work performance (P=0.029 < 0.05). Among them, the patients with severe urinary symptoms leading to poor work performance were most significantly affected by prolonged ureteral stent duration time (CR=2.619>1.96). CONCLUSION Patients with delayed ureteral stent removal due to the COVID-19 had resulted in worse QoL and mental status. Stents related symptoms are more severe in patients with higher anxiety and depression degree during COVID-19. To improve the QoL and mental health of patients after urinary calculi surgery during COVID-19, it is still not recommended to prolong the stent duration time or corresponding intervention measures should be taken.
Humans ; Quality of Life ; Pandemics ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Ureter/surgery* ; Urinary Calculi ; Pain ; Ureteral Diseases ; Stents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ureteral Calculi

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Qianjin Wenwu decoction (QWD), a well-known traditional Korean medicine, has been used for the treatment of DKD, with satisfactory therapeutic effects. This study was designed to investigate the active components and mechanisms of action of QWD in the treatment of DKD. The results demonstrated that a total of 13 active components in five types were found in QWD, including flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, phenylpropionic acids, saponins, coumarins, and lignins. Two key proteins, TGF-β1 and TIMP-1, were identified as the target proteins through molecular docking. Furthermore, QWD significantly suppressed Scr and BUN levels which increased after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) and Masson staining results demonstrated that QWD significantly alleviated renal interstitial fibrosis in UUO mice. We also found that QWD promoted ECM degradation by regulating MMP-9/TIMP-1 homeostasis to improve renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and interfere with the expression and activity of TGF- β1 in DKD treatment. These findings explain the underlying mechanism of QWD for the treatment of DKD, and also provide methodological reference for investigating the mechanism of traditional medicine in the treatment of DKD.
Rats ; Mice ; Animals ; Ureteral Obstruction/metabolism* ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/metabolism* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Kidney Diseases/drug therapy* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Flavonoids/metabolism* ; Fibrosis

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction is one of the common causes of hydronephrosis in infancy and childhood. Most cases of ureteropelvic junction obstruction are diagnosed prenatally and are usually asymptomatic. Although less common, older children can experience ureteropelvic junction obstruction that presents with symptoms including flank or abdominal pain. Here, we present the case of a nine-year-old healthy girl who had repeated flank pain and abdominal symptoms, with mild left hydronephrosis, for several months. Computed tomography that was performed during the period of acute flank pain revealed aggravated hydronephrosis on her left kidney, which was secondary to an ureteropelvic junction obstruction. She underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty, and a crossing vessel that passed the ureteropelvic junction was identified. In addition, we reviewed the current literature of this rare entity.
Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney ; Ureteral Diseases ; Ureteral Obstruction

PURPOSE: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the common infectious diseases in children. Several imaging modalities can be used to confirm the presence of acute pyelonephritis (APN). Among them the 99mTcdimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan (DMSA scan) is used as a gold standard for diagnosis. Ultrasonography technology is evolving. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the sensitivity and specificity of Power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) compared to the results from the previous study. METHODS: There were 260 patients included in this study, aged between 1 and 12 months old. The patients were admitted to the Yeungnam University Medical Center between January 2008 and December 2015. All patients underwent both DMSA scan and PDU within 5days of admission. Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) was performed in 195 patients with abnormal DMSA scan or PDU. RESULTS: The diagnostic sensitivity of APN using PDU was 45.5% and specificity was 85.5% in 260 patients following detection of a defect on DMSA scan that was defined as APN. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of PDU for VUR were 65.5 % and 60.1%, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of DMSA scan for VUR were 95.7% and 14.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: PDU has a high specificity but low sensitivity, so there are limitations in using it to replace a DMSA scan for the diagnosis of APN in children. DMSA scan and PDU have different sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of VUR, respectively. Therefore, we suggest that the sensitivity and specificity of each test can be helpful in diagnosing APN and VUR when used in conjunction.
Academic Medical Centers ; Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Pyelonephritis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Succimer ; Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

Congenital renal arteriovenous fistula complicated with multiple renal arteries malformation is rare and hard to diagnose at early stage. Blood loss and complications after embolization are both severe. Some cases can be diagnosed by ultrasound, enhanced CT scan or digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy can identify the location of bleeding, exclude tumors, and discharge ureteral obstruction. A case of congenital renal arteriovenous fistula complicated with multiple renal arteries malformation was reported to investigate the pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of congenital renal arteriovenous fistula with multiple renal arteries malformation. A 36-year-old female patient with congenital renal arteriovenous fistula with multiple renal arteries malformation was hospitalized in the Department of Urology of Peking University People's Hospital. Five days before admission, the patient experienced whole course painless gross hematuria for 5 days with many blood clots. The patient's blood pressure was 90/70 mmHg, and hemoglobin was 60 g/L. The urinary CT scan showed a right hydronephrosis associated with dilatation of the upper ureter which was obstructed by space occupying lesion of the lower ureter. Many clots in the bladder could also be found in the CT scan. Cystoscopy showed many blood clots in the bladder and confirmed that the bleeding was fromthe right ureteral orifice. Ureteroscopy confirmed that the bleeding was from the right renal pelvis and many blood clots in the right ureter, and found no tumor in the right ureter and renal pelvis. We cleared the blood clots in the right ureter and inserted a ureteral stent.We thought that renal vascular malformation of the right kidney might lead to the hematuria from right renal pelvis. DSA showed a double renal arteries malformation in the right kidney. The diagnosis of "renal arteriovenous fistula" was considered with renal arteriovenous fistula in the right kidney. Selective arteriography revealed the presence of tortuous, coiled, dilated, and multichannelled vessels in the middle of the right kidney. With stainless steel coils, we embolized the vessels which supplied the fistula. Four days after the procedure, gross hematuria disappeared. Five days after the procedure, the patient's anemia improvedand the patient was discharged in good condition. Four months after the procedure, gross hematuria did not recur. The Doppler showed that the right kidney was normal and the renal dynamic showed that the right kidney function was normal. So DSA is the golden standard for diagnosis of congenital renal arteriovenous fistula complicated with multiple renal arteries malformation. Confirming the number of renal arteries by abdominal aorta angiography is necessary to avoid missed diagnosis. Renal arterial embolization is safe and effective.
Adult ; Arteriovenous Fistula/therapy* ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases/therapy* ; Renal Artery/pathology* ; Ureteral Diseases

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in the process of kidney fibrosis. Spliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1S) is the key mediator of ER stress while its role in fibrosis is still poorly understood. This study was aimed to investigate the role of XBP1S in renal fibrosis and evaluate whether valsartan could alleviate fibrosis through XBP1S. Renal interstitial fibrosis was induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in C57BL/6 mice, and UUO mice were daily administered with valsartan (20 mg/kg) through oral gavage. After 7 days of UUO, at euthanasia, left kidney was collected to examine the histological alteration by using haematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, Sirius red staining and immunohistochemistry. Western blot was used to assess XBP1S, targets of XBP1S, fibronectin, α-SMA, BAX and BCL2 protein levels. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess NADPH oxidase subunits p47-phox and p67-phox mRNA levels. The results showed that XBP1S expression was decreased by about 70% in the UUO mice compared with that in sham mice (P < 0.01), which was reversed by valsartan administration (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, UUO-induced renal interstitial fibrosis was attenuated by valsartan treatment. In addition, the protein levels of fibronectin and α-SMA were upregulated by UUO induction (P < 0.01), and valsartan administration inhibited the protein levels of fibronectin and α-SMA in UUO mice (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the ratio of BAX to BCL2 protein level was increased in UUO model compared with that in sham mice, and the increment also was diminished by valsartan treatment (P < 0.05). Finally, UUO-induced mRNA levels of p47-phox and p67-phox were significantly attenuated by valsartan administration (P < 0.05). These results showed that valsartan at least partly restores renal interstitial fibrosis by enhancing XBP1S activation through inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis in the UUO mice. These results suggest that XBP1S could be a potential therapeutic target for kidney fibrosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Fibronectins ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NADPH Oxidases ; Oxidative Stress ; Phosphoproteins ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ureteral Obstruction ; X-Box Binding Protein 1

BACKGROUNDSrc homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP-2) is a kind of intracellular protein tyrosine phosphatase. Studies have revealed its roles in various disease, however, whether SHP-2 involves in renal fibrosis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the roles of myeloid cells SHP-2 in renal interstitial fibrosis.

METHODSMyeloid cells SHP-2 gene was conditionally knocked-out (CKO) in mice using loxP-Cre system, and renal interstitial fibrosis was induced by unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO). The total collagen deposition in the renal interstitium was assessed using picrosirius red stain. F4/80 immunostaing was used to evaluate macrophage infiltration in renal tubular interstitium. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay were used to analyze the production of cytokines in the kidney. Transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling stain was used to assess the apoptotic renal tubular epithelial cells.

RESULTSSrc homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 gene CKO in myeloid cells significantly reduced collagen deposition in the renal interstitium after UUO. Macrophage infiltration was evidently decreased in renal tubular interstitium of SHP-2 CKO mice. Meanwhile, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was significantly suppressed in SHP-2 CKO mice. However, no significant difference was observed in the number of apoptotic renal tubular epithelial cells between wild-type and SHP-2 CKO mice.

CONCLUSIONSOur observations suggested that SHP-2 in myeloid cells plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis, and that silencing of SHP-2 gene in myeloid cells may protect renal from inflammatory damage and prevent renal fibrosis after renal injury.

Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fibrosis ; enzymology ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Diseases ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Myeloid Cells ; metabolism ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ureteral Obstruction ; enzymology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the effects and mechanisms of Qifu decoction( QFD) on renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) in model rats with yang-deficiency syndrome.

METHODThe rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the Sham group (Group A), the Model group (Group B), the Qifu decoction group (Group C) and the Enalapril group (Group D). The RIF model was established by adenine administrated and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) of the left ureter. After the model was successfully established, the rats in Group C and D were administrated with QFD or the Enalapril suspension,while the rats in Group A and B were administrated with distilled water. All rats were administrated for 3 weeks. Before administration and at the end of week 1, 2 and 3, the rats were weighted, and 24 h urinary protein excretion (Upro), urinary β2-microglobulin (Uβ2-MG) and urinary N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were examined, respectively. All rats were killed after administration for 3 weeks. Blood and renal tissues were collected, renal morphology and tubulointerstitial morphology were evaluated, respectively. Serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and uric acid (UA) were detected, respectively. The protein expressions of E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), onnective tissue growth factor (CTGF) extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2(ERK1/2) and phosphorylated-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in kidney were evaluated, respectively.

RESULTQFD ameliorated serum cAMP level and the rate of cAMP/cGMP, attenuated urinary β2-MG level, NAG level and renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis, increased E-cadherin protein expression, and reduced α-SMA, TGF-β1, CTGF and p-ERK1/2 protein expressions in the kidney. However, QFD had no influence on renal function in vivo. In addition, these effects were better than those of the model rats treated by Enalapril.

CONCLUSIONQFD could alleviate yang-deficiency parameters, as well as urinary β2-MG level and NAG level in model rats induced by adenine administration and UUO. Moreover, QFD could improve EMT and RIF by up-regulating E-cadherin protein expression, and down-regulating α-SMA, TGF-β1, CTGF and p-ERK1/2 protein expressions, the key molecular in ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ureteral Obstruction ; complications ; Yang Deficiency ; complications

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Shenluotong Decoction (SD) on serum levels of aldosterone, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), α-smooth muscle protein (α-SMA), and nuclear factor-KB (NF-κB) in obstructive nephropathy rats, and to explore the initial mechanism of SD for inhibiting renal interstitial fibrosis.

METHODSTotally 48 healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham-operation group (n =12) and the model group (n =36). Renal interstitial fibrosis rat model was established by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). After successful modeling, 36 rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Chinese medicine group, and the Western medicine group, 12 in each group. Eplerenone was added in the forage at the daily dose of 100 mg/kg for rats in the Western medicine group. Chinese medicine was added in the forage at the daily dose of 26 g/kg for rats in the Chinese medicine group. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the sham-operation group and the model group. All medication was performed once daily. The obstructive kidneys were extracted ten days after medication. The pathomorphological changes were observed. The contents of serum aldosterone and MCP-1, and the protein or mRNA expression of MCP-1, α-SMA, and NF-KB were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operation group, infiltration of a large amount of inflammatory cells and collagen deposition significantly increased, serum contents of aldosterone and MCP-1 obviously increased (P < 0.01), the expression of MCP-1 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated (P <0.01), the protein expression of α-SMA and NF-KB were significantly enhanced in the model group (P <0.01). Com- pared with the model group, infiltration of inflammatory cells and renal collagen deposition were attenua- ted in the Chinese medicine group and the Western medicine group, the serum MCP-1 level were reduced, and the mRNA and protein expression of MCP-1 were significantly down-regulated (P <0.01), the protein expression of α-SMA and NF-KB were obviously inhibited (P <0. 01). At the same time, serum aldosterone level was reduced in the Chinese medicine group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSinflammatory lesions of the renal tissue could promote the progress of interstitial fibrosis in rats with obstructive nephropathy. SD could attenuate interstitial fibrosis through reducing serum contents of aldosterone and MCP-1, down-regulating MCP-1/ NF-KB, and inhibiting the expression of α-SMA.

Animals ; Chemokine CCL2 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; genetics ; NF-kappa B ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ureteral Obstruction ; drug therapy ; genetics

This study investigated whether tempol, an anti-oxidant, protects against renal injury by modulating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt-Forkhead homeobox O (FoxO) signaling. Mice received unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) surgery with or without administration of tempol. We evaluated renal damage, oxidative stress and the expression of PI3K, Akt, FoxO3a and their target molecules including manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), catalase, Bax, and Bcl-2 on day 3 and day 7 after UUO. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis, collagen deposition, alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive area, and F4/80-positive macrophage infiltration were significantly lower in tempol-treated mice compared with control mice. The expression of PI3K, phosphorylated Akt, and phosphorylated FoxO3a markedly decreased in tempol-treated mice compared with control mice. Tempol prominently increased the expressions of MnSOD and catalase, and decreased the production of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation in the obstructed kidneys. Significantly less apoptosis, a lower ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 expression and fewer apoptotic cells in TUNEL staining, and decreased expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 were observed in the obstructed kidneys from tempol-treated mice compared with those from control mice. Tempol attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in the obstructed kidneys of UUO mice, and the modulation of PI3K-Akt-FoxO3a signaling may be involved in this pathogenesis.
Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Collagen/metabolism ; Cyclic N-Oxides/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Fibrosis ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Kidney Diseases/drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation/drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/*metabolism ; Severity of Illness Index ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; Spin Labels ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Ureteral Obstruction/complications/drug therapy/*metabolism/pathology