BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated anemia (CKD-anemia) is associated with poor survival, and hemoglobin targets are often not achieved with current therapies. Phase 3 trials have demonstrated the treatment efficacy of roxadustat for CKD-anemia. This phase 4 study aims to evaluate the long-term (52-week) safety and effectiveness of roxadustat in a broad real-world patient population with CKD-anemia with and without dialysis in China. METHODS: This Phase 4 multicenter, open-label, prospective study, conducted from 24 November 2020 to 11 November 2022, evaluated the long-term safety and effectiveness of roxadustat for CKD-anemia in China. Patients aged ≥18 years with CKD-anemia with or without dialysis were included. The initial oral dose was 70-120 mg (weight-based followed by dose adjustment) over 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was safety based on adverse events (AEs). The secondary endpoints were hemoglobin changes from baseline and the proportion of patients who achieved mean hemoglobin ≥100 g/L. Effectiveness evaluable populations 1 (EE1) and EE2 included roxadustat-naïve and previously roxadustat-treated patients, respectively. The safety analysis set (SAF) included all patients who received ≥1 occasion. RESULTS: The EE1, EE2, and SAF populations included 1804, 193, and 2021 patients, respectively. In the SAF, the mean age was 50 ± 14 years, and 1087 patients (53.8%) were male. Mean baseline hemoglobin was 96.9 ± 14.0 g/L in EE1 and 100.3 ± 12.9 g/L in EE2. In EE1, the mean (95% confidence interval) hemoglobin changes from baseline over weeks 24-36 and 36-52 were 14.2 (13.5-14.9) g/L and 14.3 (13.5-15.0) g/L, respectively. Over weeks 24-36 and 36-52, 83.3% and 86.1% of patients in EE1 and 82.7% and 84.7% in EE2 achieved mean hemoglobin ≥100 g/L, respectively. In the SAF, 1643 (81.3%) patients experienced treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs). Overall, 219 (10.8%) patients experienced drug-related TEAEs. Thirty-eight (1.9%) patients died of TEAEs (unrelated to the study drug). Vascular access thrombosis was uncommon. CONCLUSIONS: Roxadustat (52 weeks) increased hemoglobin and maintained the treatment target in Chinese patients with CKD-anemia with acceptable safety, supporting its use in real-world settings. REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( www.chictr.org.cn ) ChiCTR2100046322; CDE ( www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn ) CTR20201568.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Anemia/etiology* ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications* ; Glycine/adverse effects* ; Isoquinolines/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Adult ; Hemoglobins/metabolism* ; Treatment Outcome ; China ; Registries ; East Asian People

Objective·To investigate the current situation and distribution characteristics of chronic comorbidities,and to provide reference for further improving the self-management of comorbidities and implementing the whole course and all-round management of comorbidity.Methods·Two thousand and forty-five inpatients in the Department of Geriatrics,Renji Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were enrolled in this study from December 2020 to February 2023.The general vital signs,routine laboratory examination and disease status were collected.The epidemiological distribution characteristics of chronic diseases and comorbidities were analyzed.Results·The incidence of chronic diseases in the surveyed population was 99.6％,and the incidence of comorbidities was 94.2％.The top 5 chronic diseases were hypertension(43.68％),diabetes mellitus(24.81％),malignant tumor(21.48％),hyperlipidemia(18.38％)and coronary heart disease(11.99％).The detection rates of hypertension,diabetes mellitus,coronary heart disease,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,stoke and chronic kidney disease in males were significantly higher than those in females(P＜0.05).The proportion of patients with 5 chronic diseases was the highest(11.99％),followed by 7 chronic diseases(10.26％)and 6 chronic diseases(10.04％).Among the patients of different ages,the comorbidity rate was the highest in the patients aged 50-59 years(27.78％).In different age groups,patients aged 50 to 59 with 2 chronic diseases had the highest incidence of comorbidity,which was as high as 40.82％.Although the overall proportion of comorbidities among male patients(95.37％)was higher than that among females(93.77％),there was no statistically significant difference(P=0.125).However,the proportions of male patients with 2 and 5 chronic diseases were 70.41％and 60.63％,respectively,which were significantly higher than those of female patients(29.59％and 39.37％).The correlations between coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus,hypertension and coronary heart disease,hypertension and diabetes mellitus were higher(r=0.24,r=0.27,r=0.35,all P＜0.05).Conclusion·The prevalence of chronic diseases and comorbidities is high in the middle-aged and elderly population,and the number of comorbidities increases significantly with the increase of age.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases are common clinical conditions. The number of patients with TMJ diseases is large, and the etiology, epidemiology, disease spectrum, and treatment of the disease remain controversial and unknown. To understand and master the current situation of the occurrence, development and prevention of TMJ diseases, as well as to identify the patterns in etiology, incidence, drug sensitivity, and prognosis is crucial for alleviating patients′suffering.This will facilitate in-depth medical research, effective disease prevention measures, and the formulation of corresponding health policies. Cohort construction and research has an irreplaceable role in precise disease prevention and significant improvement in diagnosis and treatment levels. Large-scale cohort studies are needed to explore the relationship between potential risk factors and outcomes of TMJ diseases, and to observe disease prognoses through long-term follw-ups. The consensus aims to establish a standard conceptual frame work for a cohort study on patients with TMJ disease while providing ideas for cohort data standards to this condition. TMJ disease cohort data consists of both common data standards applicable to all specific disease cohorts as well as disease-specific data standards. Common data were available for each specific disease cohort. By integrating different cohort research resources, standard problems or study variables can be unified. Long-term follow-up can be performed using consistent definitions and criteria across different projects for better core data collection. It is hoped that this consensus will be facilitate the development cohort studies of TMJ diseases.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy and safety of daratumumab plus dexamethasone in the treatment of renal injury patients with light chain amyloidosis, and to provide clinical reference.Methods:It was a single center retrospective observational study. The clinical data before and after daratumumab treatment of renal injury patients with light chain amyloidosis treated with daratumumab plus dexamethasone from December 2021 to August 2022 were retrospectively collected. The hematologic response, kidney response, prognosis, and adverse events were analyzed. The treatment regimen was 16 mg/kg intravenous infusion of daratumumab on day 1 + 20 mg intravenous push of dexamethasone on day 1-2, once every 2 weeks. The follow-up was up to February 28, 2023.Results:The study included 18 patients, with age of (58.4±7.7) years old, and a male to female ratio of 11∶7. Eleven patients were newly diagnosed and 7 patients were retreated. There were 7, 5, 5 and 1 patients, respectively at the stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ of light chain amyloidosis according to 2012 Mayo stage criteria. The median course of disease before onset was 2.5 (1.0, 8.0) months and the follow-up time was (8.7±2.8) months. The patients received (10±3) times of treatment. The overall hematologic response rates were 9/13, 11/13 and 13/13 at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months respectively after treatment, meanwhile 8/13, 10/13 and 12/13 achieved at least very good partial response at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months respectively (the other 5 patients did not undergo detailed evaluation due to baseline difference of serum free κ and λ light chain <20 mg/L). The median duration of hematologic response was 16 (13, 40) days. At 3 months, 6 months and the end of follow-up, 10, 13 and 13 of 18 patients respectively achieved renal response, and the median duration of response was 66 (26, 182) days. During follow-up, the median difference of serum free κ and λ light chain decreased by 93% (72%, 97%). Until the last follow-up, one patient died of organ hemorrhage. Other infusion reactions, leukopenia, neutropenia and infection all improved after symptomatic treatments.Conclusion:Daratumumab plus dexamethasone treatment is effective for light chain amyloidosis nephropathy in inducing hematologic remission and kidney remission, with good safety.

Objective:Exploring the role and mechanism of gremlin-1 in lipotoxicity-mediated pancreatic β-cell dysfunction.Methods:The model of lipid toxicity-mediated pancreatic β-cell dysfunction was constructed using palmitic acid(PA) to treat mouse pancreatic β-cells(MIN6). Initially, to clarify the effects of lipotoxicity on islet β-cells, the cellular lipid deposition and changes in the levels of insulin caused by PA were detected. The effects of PA on gremlin-1 expression and its downstream signaling pathway BMPs/Smads were further investigated using qPCR and Western Blot assay. Subsequently, recombinant mouse gremlin-1 protein and BMP signaling pathway inhibitor LDN193189 were used to intervene the cells to explore the effects of gremlin-1 and its downstream signaling pathway BMPs/Smads on pancreatic islet β-cells.Results:PA could reduce pancreatic β-cell viability and insulin secretion capacity( P<0.05). Meanwhile, PA inhibited the expression and secretion of cell gremlin-1 and upregulated BMP-4 and its downstream Smad-1 and Smad-5( P<0.05). Intervention of cells with recombinant mouse gremlin-1 protein resulted in a significant elevation of insulin secretion and a concomitant decrease in the expression of key molecules in the BMP4/Smads signaling pathway( P<0.05). And inhibition of the BMP4/Smads signaling pathway ameliorated PA-induced pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. Conclusion:Gremlin-1 is involved in the regulation of lipotoxicity-mediated pancreatic islet β-cell dysfunction, and this effect may be associated with activation of BMP4/Smads signaling pathway.

Objective:To access the clinical efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in treatment of IgA nephropathy (IgAN).Methods:The data of IgAN patients who were diagnosed by renal biopsy in the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University from May 2016 to August 2020 and had been treated with HCQ for more than 6 months without other immunosuppressants were retrospectively analyzed. The efficacy and side effects were compared between groups according to the baseline urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) or whether combined with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASi).Results:A total of 121 patients were enrolled, including 45 males (37.19%). At baseline, the median UPCR was 0.69(0.45, 1.00) g/g; the median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 93.46(73.14, 115.67) ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1; the median serum creatinine was 80.00(61.00, 98.00) μmol/L, and the serum albumin was (44.39±3.36) g/L. After HCQ treatment, UPCR and red blood cells were significantly decreased compared with baseline (all P<0.05). Triglyceride, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also significantly decreased during the follow-up period. Serum creatinine, eGFR, serum albumin and serum uric acid remained stable. After 6 months of follow-up, the total remission rate was 56.88%, including 15.60% of partial remission and 41.28% of complete remission; at the end of follow-up, the median follow-up time was 280.00(214.00, 411.00) days and the total remission rate was 56.20%, including 9.92% of partial remission and 46.28% of complete remission. Group analysis showed that the remission rate was 60.53% ( n=76) and 48.48% ( n=33) at 6 months (Mann-Whitney U test, Z=-2.331, P=0.020) and 57.65% ( n=85) and 52.78% ( n=36) at the end of follow-up (Mann-Whitney U test, Z=-1.673, P=0.094) between patients with baseline UPCR<1 g/g and patients with baseline UPCR≥1 g/g; and the remission rate was 66.67% ( n=30) and 53.16% ( n=79) at 6 months (Mann-Whitney U test, Z=1.062, P=0.288) and 61.29% ( n=31) and 54.44% ( n=90) at the end of follow-up (Mann-Whitney U test, Z=0.930, P=0.352) between patients with single HCQ and patients with HCQ+RAASi. For side effects, the eGFR of 2 patients decreased by more than 30% compared with baseline, 1 patient relapsed and 1 patient developed blurred vision. Conclusions:HCQ is safe and effective for the treatment of IgAN.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of adult primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).Methods:Adult FSGS patients treated with rituximab in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University College of Medicine were retrospectively enrolled. One or two doses of rituximab (375 mg/m 2) were used aiming to achieve B cell depletion (defined as<5 B cells per microliter in peripheral blood) and the interval between the two doses was 2 weeks. The evaluated major outcomes were remission and relapse of nephropathy, and the secondary outcome measures were adverse events and renal outcomes. Results:A total of 14 patients (9 males) were enrolled, among whom 7 cases were steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) or frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (FRNS), 6 cases were steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and one patient was new onset FSGS with contraindication to steroid. After treatment with rituximab, 7 patients with SDNS/FRNS achieved complete remission. At 6 months, the daily oral steroid dose reduced significantly compared with the baseline [(33.3±5.2) mg/d vs (6.7±6.6) mg/d, P<0.01]; while one patient still received tacrolimus 1.0 mg/d, the other 6 patients stopped using immunosuppressants; and the total number of relapse/total follow-up months decreased from 0.257 times/month to 0.058 times/month after the use of rituximab. For the other 6 SRNS patients and one patient with contraindication to steroid, three SRNS patients achieved partial remission and one patient with contraindication to steroid achieved complete remission at 34.50(20.25, 95.25) days after use of rituximab, and the other 3 SRNS patients failed to achieve remission, of whom one patient developed end stage renal disease at 23 months. Conclusions:Rituximab may reduce the risk of relapse and help steroid or immunosuppressant-tapering in adult steroid-dependent/frequently relapsing idiopathic FSGS. However, it is not effective in SRNS patients.

Objective:To analyze the weight score and clinical application of 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) classification criteria in lupus nephritis patients.Methods:Lupus nephritis patients with renal biopsy results who were admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University College of Medicine between January 2014 and December 2018 were enrolled retrospectively. According to whether these patients were treated with glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressants at the time of renal biopsy, they were divided into untreated group and post-treatment group. The weight scores were compared between the two groups, and the relationship between each weight score and remission after treatment was analyzed. Taking no remission as the end event, Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the influence of each weighted integral on the end event.Results:A total of 153 patients were enrolled, including 131 (85.6%) females. These were 70 (45.8%) patients in the untreated group and 83 (54.2%) patients in the post-treatment group. The patients in the untreated group had higher scores of fever (>38.3℃), blood system involvement, low complement and positive specific antibodies than those in post-treated group (all P<0.05). In a median follow-up of 34 (6-50) months, 99 patients (64.7%) achieved complete remission, 38 patients (24.8%) achieved partial remission and 16 patients (10.5%) had no remission. With no remission as the endpoint event, univariate Cox regression analysis showed that proliferative lupus nephritis (renal score of 10 points vs 8 points) and neuropsychiatric involvement were the risk factors (both P<0.05), while multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that neuropsychiatric involvement ( HR=4.758, 95% CI 1.324-17.101, P=0.017) was an independent risk factor. Conclusion:The weight scores of 2019 EULAR/ACR SLE classification diagnostic criteria have certain predictive value for remission of patients with lupus nephritis.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of individualized rituximab rescue therapy for active lupus nephritis with acute kidney injury (AKI).Methods:The clinical data of lupus nephritis patients with AKI treated with rituximab at the Kidney Disease Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from April 2017 to June 2020 were collected, and the renal remission rate and adverse events after rituximab treatment were analyzed retrospectively. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative incidence of patients' remission.Results:There were 13 patients enrolled, including 8 females, and aged (35.23±15.92) years old. The urinary protein/creatinine ratio was (5.22±1.57) g/g before rituximab treatment. Four patients were on dialysis at admission, and 9 patients without dialysis had serum creatinine of (223.22±85.73) μmol/L. Eight patients were confirmed as proliferative lupus nephritis by renal biopsies, including 7 cases with crescent formation and 1 case with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), and the other 5 cases without renal biopsies were clinically diagnosed as TMA. The dose of rituximab was (815±516) mg (200-2 100 mg), and all the patients reached the state of peripheral blood B cells clearance (CD19 + B cell count was<5/μl). After the first treatment of rituximab, the median time to B-cell clearance was 21(15, 35) days, and 8 patients reached B-cell depletion (CD19 + B cell count was 0). The remission rate was 12/13 (two cases reached complete remission, and 10 cases reached partial remission). Three cases stopped dialysis, and 1 case (with glomerulosclerosis of 52.94%) entered maintaining dialysis. The relapse times in the maintenance remission period of 7 patients with refractory lupus nephritis declined significantly from (1.57±0.53) times in a median history of 60(20, 109) months to (0.43±0.79) times in a median history of 18(10, 23) months after the use of rituximab ( P=0.015). After using rituximab, the incidence of infection was 7/13. The median time from the use of rituximab to infection was 26(4, 44) days. Pulmonary infection (5/13) was the most common type and all infected patients recovered after anti-infection treatment. Conclusions:Rituximab can be used in the treatment of active lupus nephritis with AKI, especially in patients with crescent formation and TMA, but the infection should be paid close attention to and prevented.

Objective To investigate the effect of fenofibrate on glucolipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity in lipoprotein lipase heterozygous knockout ( LPL+/-) mice, and to explore its mechanism. Methods LPL+/- mice and wild type ( WT) C57 mice were selected and divided into 3 groups ( n=6 each group):LPL+/-( FB) group, LPL+/-(W)group,andWTgroup.MiceinLPL+/-(FB)groupweregavagedwithfenofibrate(50mg·kg-1·d-1)for8 weeks. Mice in LPL+/-( W) and WT groups were orally fed with the same volume water as that in LPL+/-( FB) group for 8 weeks. Body weight was observed. Plasma triglyceride ( TG ) and free fatty acid ( FFA ) were measured. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test in 3 groups of mice were performed. The glucose area under the curve ( AUCG) and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index ( HOMA-IR) were calculated. Insulin-stimulated Ser473 Akt phosphorylation in liver and skeletal muscle was measured by Western blot. Reactive oxygen species ( ROS) levels in liver and skeletal muscle were determined by dihydroethidium staining method and superoxide dismutase ( SOD) and catalase ( CAT) mRNA expression levels were detected by real-time PCR. Results Compared with LPL+/-( W) mice, body weight of LPL+/-( FB) mice was lowered, plasma TG and FFA levels were decreased by about 46.0％and 76.5％respectively, and fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR were decreased while there were no significant differences in fasting glucose level and AUCG between two groups. Insulin-stimulated Ser473 Akt phosphorylation levels in liver and skeletal muscle of LPL+/-mice were enhanced by fenofibrate. ROS level in skeletal muscle of LPL+/-( FB) mice was lower than that in LPL+/-( W) mice while there was no significant difference in ROS of liver between two groups. Fenofibrate significantly increased SOD and CAT mRNA expressions in skeletal muscle of LPL+/-mice, but not in liver. Conclusion Fenofibrate reduces body weight, ameliorates lipid metabolism, and improves insulin sensitivity in LPL+/- mice, with reduced oxidative stress.