Objective To evaluate the role of nutritional parameters in prognosis,especially in the early and late mortality of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI) patients.Methods This study was a prospective cohort study conducted in a hospital comprising 1500 beds in Shanghai, China. One hundred ninety-four patients with hospital-acquired AKI, as determined using the RIFLE staging criteria,were enrolled as subjects after obtaining informed consent.Patients with AKI caused by postrenal obstruction,glomerulonephritis,interstitial nephritis or vasculitis were excluded.Nutritional evaluation,including subjective global assessment (SGA),anthropometric and laboratory examination,was conducted. Other laboratory measurements and clinical data were recorded.The primary outcome was early mortality (≤ 7 days) and late mortality (8-28 days) after enrolling into the study. Results AKI patients at enrollment were characterized by a high prevalence of malnutrition as determined by SGA, anthropometric and laboratory examination.Univariate analysis showed that the SGA,the serum levels of prealbumin,cholesterol and total lymphatic cells, and the Maastricht index were significantly different among early mortality,late mortality and survival groups.The serum prealbumin and cholesterol levels in the early death group were significantly lower than those in the survival and late death groups (P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that SGA,albumin,prealbumin and cholesterol remained independently and significantly associated with early mortality after adjusting for age,sex,dialysis,ventilation,hemoglobin,platelets,bilirubin,and Glasgow coma score.The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve to predict early mortality for albumin,prealbumin and cholesterol were 0.591,0.736 and 0.603,respectively,with that of prealbumin significantly higher than others (P＜0.05). Conclusion Low levels of serum prealbumin,albumin and cholesterol at enrollment are independtly associated with increased early mortality in hospital-acquired AKI patients.

Objective To establish a citrate pharmacokinetics model which is applied to evaluate the risk of citrate accumulation in patients with liver dysfunction in the continuous renal replacement treatment (CRRT) with regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA). Methods The source of citrate for extracorporeal anticoagulation, the body clearance and filter elimination of citrate, which were the three major citrate fluxes of systemic citrate level, were combined into a single-pool, first order kinetic equation. The data from a published clinical study of systemic citrate kinetics in the intensive care unit patients with or without liver cirrhosis were adapted and the citrate kinetic equation was applied to predict the risk of systemic citrate accumulation in patients with normal, impaired and absent liver clearance while different RCA-CRRT protocols were carried out. Results The single pool, first order citrate kinetic modeling equation was as follows:Csys=C(0)·e-[(clb+clf)·t/V]+G/CLb+CLf×(1-e-[(clb+clf)·t/V])There was excellent agreement between published citrate measurements and our predictions. Kinetic modeling showed that the plasma citrate concentration of patients with normal citrate body clearance was no more than 1 mmol/L during common RCA-CRRT. The model predicted that when the single pass fractional extraction of citrate on the artificial kidney was above 66％, systemic steady citrate concentration would be among the safe range even in patients of impaired body metabolism of citrate.Conclusions The citrate kinetic model of RCA-CRRT can predict the risk of systemic citrate accumulation and provide the basis for designing the safe RCA-protocols for the patients with impaired body clearance of citrate.

Objective To explore the glomerular change of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) expression in ATIaR gene knockout mice and its effects on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling under diabetic condition. Methods ATlaR knockout mice were generated previously. Hyperglycemia was induced by peritoneal injection of streptozotocin in ATIaR knockout mice and wild type mice. Normal AT1aR knockout mice and wild type mice were used as control group. Twelve weeks later, kidneys were harvested and frozen quickly in dry ice-acetone. Glomendi were collected by laser capture microdissection and total RNA was extracted, mRNA expression of AT1aR, AT1bR, AT2R, angiotensinogen, ACE, renin, and CYP11B2 was assessed by real-time PCR. ECM accumulation was evaluated by PAS staining. Protein levels of transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1), type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI-1), monocyte chemotactie protein 1(MCP-1) and renin were semi-quantitated by immunostaining. Results Compared to the wild type, mRNA expression of AT1bR, angiotensinogen, renin, CYP11B2 within glomeruli was upregulated significantly in ATlaR knockout mice (P<0.05), but no change of ACE expression was found in these two groups. AT2R protein was poorly detected in AT1aR knockout glomeruli and downregulated in wild type glomemli. ECM accumulation was significanfly increased associated with the parallel increase in TGF-β1, PAI-1, MCP-1 and renin within glomendi (P <0.05). Conclusions AT1aR gene knockout cannot improve ECM deposition in diabetic nephropathy. The compensate change of RAS components may be involved in this scenario: upregulation of AT1bR, downregulation of AT2R. CYP11B2 and renin may function in a novel pathway.

Objective To study the effect of oxidative modification of hydrochlorous acid (HOCl) on human serum albumin (HSA) and the relationship between the AOPPs and HOCl-treated HSA. Methods Purified HSA (60 mg/ml) was treated with HOCl (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 mmol/L). Size-exclusion chromatography was applied to estimate molecular weights of oxidized products of HSA by HOCl and spectrum scan from 190 nm -400 nm was performed to observe the spectrum characteristics of all variants of HSA. Results Major products of HSA after exposure to HOC1 were dimer and hexmer of HSA. The first-order process could be employed to describe the oxidative dynamics of monomer and dimer of HSA oxidized by HOCl. To AOPPs formation mediated by oxidant was identified as pseudo first-order reaction. However, formation hexmer was much in accordance with second-order reaction. Hexmer was also a major contributor to AOPPs in all types of modified HSA. Spectral analysis showed that red shift of absorbance maximum of polymers of HSA occurred, suggesting that a possibility that polymers of HSA were cross linked by tyrosine residues in protein. Conclusions Protein aggregation is primary consequence of HSA after its exposure to HOCl. Hexmer of HSA is the major contributor to AOPPs.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the mixed endothelin receptor antagonist, bosentan, combined with the long-acting calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, compared to the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, cilazapril, on the progressive renal injury in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) with diabetes.

METHODSDiabetic hypertensive rats (SHR-DM) were induced by streptozotozin injected in male SHR (7-week-old),and divided into an untreated and three treated groups: 1) cilazapril treated group; 2) bosentan+amlodipine treated group; and 3) amlodipine treated group. Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR rats served as normotensive and hypertensive control, respectively. The mean arterial blood pressure, renal function, endothelin and angiotensin II levels as well as the protein expression of renal extracellular matrix components and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 were determined at the end of the 4th week.

RESULTSMean arterial blood pressure significantly increased in SHR and SHR-DM rats compared to WKY rats. All the therapies reduced the blood pressure to normal levels. However, the enhanced urinary protein excretion, the decreased creatinine clearance as well as the increased plasma and intrarenal endothelin and angiotens in II levels were found in the untreated SHR-DM and prevented by treatment with bosentan+amlodipine and cilazapril. Similarly, these two kinds of therapies in SHR-DM abolished the overexpression of renal TGF-beta1 by Western blot analysis and reduced the accumulation of collagen type IV, laminin and fibronectin proteins by an immunochemical approach. Amlodipine monotherapy had no detectable effects on the above parameters.

CONCLUSIONBosentan combined with amlodipine can offer similar renoprotective effects on that of cilazapril and may be a potent therapy to attenuate renal injury by reducing renal protein levels of TGF-beta1 in diabetes with a hypertensive state.

Amlodipine ; administration & dosage ; Angiotensin II ; analysis ; Animals ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; administration & dosage ; Collagen Type IV ; analysis ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; prevention & control ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Endothelin Receptor Antagonists ; Hypertension ; complications ; drug therapy ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Sulfonamides ; administration & dosage ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; analysis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Purpose To evaluate apoptosis in renal tissue of diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis and therelationship between the existence of apoptosis cells in renal tissue and histopathological or clinical changes.Methods Apoptosis was detected by in situ nick-end labeling techniques (TUNEL) in renal biopsies from 25patients with type Ⅳ LN, 12 patients with IgAN, 4 patients with MsPGN, and 3 patients with APSGN. Normalrenal tissue obtained at nephrectorny for hypemephroma in 4 adults was used as control. In addition, proliferatingcells were identified by proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in these patients. Results Compared to otherproliferative glomerulonephritis and control,the patients with lupus nephritis had less apoptosis cells, higher ratio ofPCNA+ cells/TdT+ cells/(P/T) in renal tissues;Ratio of P/T in glomeruli and tubulointerstitium correlated withthe chronicity index, r=0. 498 3(P = 0. 013 2), r = 0. 839 9(P＜ 0.001 ), r = 0. 661 4(P = 0. 003 3),respectively. Ratio of P/T in glomerulus and tubule had positive correlation with 24 hour urinary protein, r =0.855 4(P＜0.001),r=0.713 4(P=0. 001); negative correlation with Ccr, r = - 0. 488 0(P =0. 013 3)and r = - 0. 722 9(P = 0. 001), which in tubules positively correlated with Scr, r = 0. 410 7 (P = 0.041 4 ).Conclusions Apoptosis is insufficient in proliferative lupus nephritis. Intense proliferation without followingincrease in apoptosis may be related to chronic progressive renal histopatholcgical changes.

Hypertension control is the most important and effective treatment for chronic kidney diseases.Compared with hypertension patients without kidney diseases,it requires a stricter blood pressure control in those with kidney diseases.The treatment principles are:(i)To lower the blood pressure is the top priority;and(ii)the impacts of various antihypertensive drugs on individual patients.The antihypertensive drugs should be chosen taking into consideration of the following factors:the extent of hypertension,whether the hypertension occurs abruptly or permanently,the heart and renal functions and any significant metabolic disorders.Among the existing drugs,diuretic is usually hampered by renal dysfunction;ACEI/ARB seems to be more effective on patients with proteinuria,but it should be used with caution in patients with severe renal insufficiency;CCB is effective and can quickly lower blood pressure,therefore it is an essential drug for hypertension treatment;?-blocker is not considered as a main drug for hypertension with kidney diseases.Combination use of anti-hypertensive drug is common to many CKD with hypertension,among them ACEI/ARB+diuretic,ACEI/ARG+CCB are the most common combinations.ACEI+ARB exhibit a better proteinuria reduction effect;however it is not indicated in patients with severe cardiovascular lesion.Hypertension treatment should take into consideration of individual differences and should be adjusted according to individual responses.Salt intake control also plays an important role in the successful treatment of hypertension with kidney diseases.

Uninephrectomy was performed in a ll rats of this study, and diabetic model was induced in partial rats by streptozo tocin. Then these rats were divided into uninephrectomy group, diabetes group an d benazepril-treated diabetes group. After 4 weeks, renal tubulo-interstitial morphological change was observed and type Ⅳ collagen, fibronectin and transfor ming growth factor ? 1 (TGF-? 1) proteins as well as TGF-? 1 mRNA were d etermined. The results suggested that benazepril played a protective role in ren al tubulo-interstitial injury, which was associated partially with down-regula ted overexpression of TGF-? 1.

AIM: To explore if all trans retinoic acid (atRA) retards glomerulosclerosis of rats with 5/6 nephrectomy. METHODS: Wistar male rats were operated by subtotal nephrectomy and were randomly divided into A1 (5 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) atRA), A2 (10 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) atRA), A3 (20 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) atRA) and NX (vehicle) groups. Each group included 8 rats. 8 health rats were assigned as sham-operation group (sham group). Animals were sacrificed 10 weeks after treatment. The concentrations of plasma atRA were measured by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Glomerulosclerosis was evaluated by glomerulosclerosis index system. The expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF?1) was measured by renal immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. RESULTS: The concentrations of atRA in atRA groups were much higher than that in NX and sham groups. Compared to NX, the remnant kidney sclerosis was ameliorated significantly in A1, A2 and A3 groups. The expressions of TGF?1 decreased parallelized to the levels of glomerulosclerosis. CONCLUSION: atRA has a beneficial effect on retarding the progression of renal fibrosis in the 5/6 nephrectomic rats, possibly through downregulating the glomerular TGF?1 expression.

AIM: To study the effects of chronic metabolic acidosis on glomerulus, mesangial cells and the production of extracellular matrix. METHODS: Chronic metabolic acidosis was induced by addition of 0.28 mol/L NH_4Cl to drinking water for 3, 7, or 14 days in male Wistar rats (n=10). Light microscope combined with computer software (Motic Images Advanced 3.2) was used to determine the effect of chronic acid loading on renal morphologic changes. The expressions of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p27 in glomeruli were detected by Western blotting or immunohistochemistry. Fibronectin (FN) mRNA was detected by real-time PCR. The proliferation of mesangial cells in vitro was determined by ~3H:-TdR incorporation. The concentration of FN in cultured supernatant was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: On day 1, 3, 7 and 14, the arterial pH and plasma HCO_3~-: in experimental rats were significantly decreased. There was a significantly increased in the kidney weight and the ratio of kidney to body weigh in experimental rats on day 3, 7 and 14. The glomerular area and cell numbers also increased significantly. Immunoblotting demonstrated decreased p27 expression and increased PCNA expression in isolated glomeruli, and the expression of PCNA increased in a time-dependent manner following the time of chronic metabolic acidosis. Immunohistochemistry showed increased positive PCNA expression mainly localized to mesangial cells. The expression of FN mRNA was significantly elevated in experimental rats on day 7 and 14. In vitro, acid loading induced mesangial cell proliferation and synthesis of FN. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that chronic metabolic acidosis induces mesangial cell proliferation, and its mechanism may be associated with the downregulation of cell cycle kinase inhibitor p27.