Objective: To explore the effects and mechanisms of NADPH oxidase 4(NOX4) and nucleotide-binding oligomeric structural domain protein-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome on aging-associated renal injury in mice. Methods: The 6, 16, 20, and 24-month-old mice were used in this study. The levels of serum creatinine(SCr) and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) were detected by the kit. Frozen sections of kidney tissue were used to detect the levels of β-Galactosidase(β-Gal) and reactive oxygen species(ROS). The pathological changes of the kidney were observed by H&E, PAS, and Masson staining. The expressions of collagen Ⅳ and NLRP3 were detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blot was used to detect the expression of related proteins in the NOX4-NLRP3 signaling pathway in kidney tissues. Results: The results showed that, compared with 6-month-old mice, the levels of BUN and SCr in serum, β-Gal activity, and ROS level in the renal cortex increased, the glomerular and tubular injury was mild, and there was no obvious renal fibrosis change in 16-month-old mice. However, in 20 and 24-month-old mice, these indexes increased, the damage of glomeruli and renal tubules increased, and renal fibrosis appeared. In addition, expression of NOX4 and NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins mediating ROS production was upregulated in the kidneys of 20-and 24-month-old mice. Conclusion The NOX4-NLRP3 signaling pathway may activate and promote renal aging and renal fibrosis during aging.

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological features of patients with a combination of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis with renal involvement.Methods By searching the Peking Union Medical College Hospital medical database and literature between January 1990 and June 2017,patients had a combination of SS and ANCA associated vasculitis with renal involvement were included.Data of clinical information,autoimmune antibodies,renal manifestations and renal pathology were retrieved and analyzed.Results Eighteen patients were enrolled:4 from our hospital and 14 from literature.SS was diagnosed no later than ANCA associated vasculitis in all the patients,among which 83.3％(15/18) of patients had extra-glandular and extra-renal organs involved.All the patients were tested positive for myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA,and only two were protein 3 (PR3)-ANCA positive concurrently.The positivity rates of antinuclear antibody (ANA),rheumatoid factor (RF),anti-SSA antibody,and anti-SSB antibody were 83.3％(15/18),55.6％(10/18),77.8％(14/18),and 38.9％(7/18),respectively.The renal manifestations were characterized by renal insufficiency with a median serum creatinine of 174 μmol/L,hematuria,moderate proteinuria with a median 24 hour urine protein of 1.70 g,and necrotizing vasculitis with oligo-immune complex and varying degrees of interstitial damage in pathology.Conclusions A combination of Sjogren's syndrome and ANCA associated vasculitis with renal involvement is rare in clinical setting,and almost all of the patients are MPO-ANCA positive,with high probability of ANA positivity and extra-glandular involvement.Physicians should beware of ANCA associated glomerulonephritis in SS patients with inexplicable renal dysfunction and renal biopsy should be carried out in time.

Objectives To analyze the spectrum of renal diseases associated with monoclonal gammopathy and unrelated renal diseases.Methods Hospitalized patients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital who underwent renal biopsy between January,2013 and December,2015.They had monoclonal gammopathy on serum protein electrophoresis (SPE),serum immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE),urine IFE and/or serum free light chain (FLC).64 patients met the inclusion criteria and were classified as monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) (n=36),monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) (n=17) and hematologic malignancy (n=11).Results Renal lesions in MGRS subgroup included light chain amyloidosis (n=28,77.8％),light chain deposition disease (n=7,19.4％),and fibrillary glomerulopathy (n=l,2.8％).eGFR in light chain amyloidosis subgroup differed significantly,compared with light chain deposition disease [eGFR 93 ml· min-1 · (1.73m2)-1 vs 28 ml· min-1 · (1.73 m2) 1,P ＜ 0.01],as well as HTN incidence (35.7％ vs 100.0％,P ＜ 0.01).Renal diseases in MGUS subgroup included membranous nephropathy (n=10,58.8％),focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (n=3,17.6％),diabetic glomerulopathy (n=l,5.9％),Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (n=l,5.9％),anti-glomerular basement membrane disease concurrent with membranous nephropathy (n=l,5.9％) and glomerulomegaly (n=l,5.9％).Various renal lesions related/unrelated to hematologic malignancy were seen in third subgroup,including light chain cast nephropathy (n=3,27.3％),tubulo-interstitial lesions (n=2,18.2％),light chain amyloidosis (n=1,9.1％),light chain deposition disease(n=1,9.1％),IgA nephropathy (n=1,9.1％),mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (n=l,9.1％),endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis (n=1,9.1％) and acute tubular necrosis (n=1,9.1％).Positive rates of SPE,serun IFE and urine IFE in MGRS subgroup were 40.6％,52.8％ and 69.4％,respectively.Positive rates of SPE,serum IFE and urine IFE in MGUS subgroup were 68.8％,100.0％ and 37.5％,respectively.Positive rates of SPE,serum IFE and urine IFE in hematologic malignancy subgroup were 54.5％,72.7％ and 81.8％ respectively.MGRS and MGUS subgroups differed significantly in positive rate of serum IFE (P ＜ 0.001).Abnormal rates of serum FLC ratio in above three subgroups were 83.3％,17.6％ and 90.9％,respectively,with that in MGUS group being significantly lower than the rates in other two groups (P ＜ 0.001,respectively).Conclusions The significance of monoclonal gammopathy in patients with renal disease should be evaluated by other clinical data,as well as renal pathology.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of IgAN patients with massive proteinuria,as well as their treatment response to glucocorticoids and long-term prognosis.Methods Clinical and pathological parameters were collected in patients diagnosed with IgA nephropathy in our hospital from Jan 2003 to Oct 2015.Patients were followed up for at least six months under the treatment with full dosage of glucocorticoids.Responses of patients with and without nephrotic syndrome were compared.Results A total of 156 patients were enrolled for the analysis (86 patients in the nephropathic proteinuria group,and 70 patients in the nephrotic syndrome group).Patients presented with nephrotic syndrome showed higher proportion of IgM deposition in renal slides.There exited no difference in treatment response to glucocorticoids between the two groups.Patients with full or partial remission showed a better prognosis by Kaplan-Meier analysis than no remission group (P ＜ 0.001).The ratio of segmental sclerosis was negatively correlated with treatment response to glucocorticoids by multiple linear regression (3 value=-0.330,P ＜ 0.001).Multivariate Cox regression model showed that glomerular density (HR=0.45,P=0.02) and eGFR (HR=0.95,P=0.001)were independent influential factors for renal survival.Conclusions Patients presented with nephrotic syndrome show higher proportion of IgM deposition in renal slides.Patients in remission after treatment with 6-month glucocorticoids present a better prognosis than no remission patients,and glomerular density as well as eGFR are independent influential factors for renal survival.

Objective To observe the circadian blood pressure (BP) rhythms and the phase of heart circadian gene expression in adriamycin (ADR)-induced nephropathy rats,thus exploring the effect of circadian systems on circadian BP variation in nephrotic rats.Methods Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (8 weeks) were housed in a 12∶12 hour light/dark cycle in two weeks,and randomly divided into ADR group and control group.ADR rats were injected 6.5 mg/kg adriamycin via vein to establish nephrotic rats model two weeks later,while control rats were injected the equal volume of saline.Five rats in each group were implanted with the radio-telemetry into abdominal aortic.After seven days,systolic blood pressure (SBP),diastolic blood pressure (DBP),mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded every one minute during 72 hours via radio-telemetry.Three rats in each group were sacrificed in six time points (zeitgeber time=02:00,06:00,10:00,14:00,18:00,22:00) to get the blood sample and heart tissue,respectively.The mRNA expressions of core clock gene CLOCK,BMAL1,Per1,Per2,Cry1 and Cry2 in heart issue were evaluated by the real-time quantitative PCR.The plasma levels of renin activity angiotensin Ⅱ and aldosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay.All the data were analyzed by a partial Fourier analysis and stepwise regression.Results (1) There was no significant difference in 24 h average of SBP,DBP and MAP between two groups.In control group,there was higher SBP (3.22 mmHg),DBP (1.16 mmHg) and MAP (3.19 mmHg) in dark period than those in light period,only SBP and MAP showing statistical difference (all P ＜ 0.05).However,SBP,DBP and MAP had no significant difference between dark and light in ADR group (all P ＞ 0.05).(2) Control rats had (8.0+24.0) h rhythm of SBP,and their DBP,MAP and HR appeared 24.0-hour normal circadian pattern (all P ＜ 0.05).In ADR group,the rhythm of SBP completely disappeared.And their DBP and MAP remained 24.0 h circadian rhythm,but the peak time advanced 1.5 h to 3.0 h compared with SD rats.(3) In SD controls,daily rhythms period of the core clock genes (CLOCK,BMAL1,Cry1,Cry2,Per1 and Per2) mRNA expression in the heart were (4.8+ 12.0) h,24.0 h,12.0 h,(12.0+24.0) h,(4.8+12.0) h and 12.0 h (all P ＜ 0.05),respectively.In ADR rats,the rhythm of CLOCK,BMAL1,Cry2,Per1 and Per2 mRNA completely disappeared (all P ＞ 0.05).The circadian rhythm of Cry1 mRNA remained,but the period was changed from 12.0 h to (4.8+6.0) h.(4) The plasma renin and aldosterone concentration presented 12.0 h and 24.0 h daily rhythms in SD rats (all P ＜ 0.05).These diurnal changes however completely disappeared in ADR rats (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions ADR nephrotic rats lose the circadian rhythm of BP with the disturbances of cardiac circadian clock system.The disrupted diurnal rhythm of the core clock genes (CLOCK,BMAL1,Cry2,Per1 and Per2) mRNA expression in the heart may regulate the pathological circadian rhythms of heart tissue,which is involved with disturbances of circadian rhythm of BP.

Objective To assess the predictive value of Berden classification in ANCA associated glomerulonephritis.Methods Patients with confirmed ANCA associated glomerulonephritis were included,by retrieving the medical database in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2000 to May 2015.Their detailed information during hospitalization and follow-up was recorded.The patients were divided into four categories based on Berden classification.The differences in clinical characters,renal function and response for treatment were compared.Results Among the 88 patients with ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis,19 (21.6％),21 (23.9％),32 (36.4％)and 16 (18.2％) patients were classified as focal,mixed,crescentic and sclerotic category.22 patients developed ESRD,and 19 patients died during follow up (1 patient developed ESRD before died).The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at baseline was 68.04,25.45,30.04,15.16 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1 (P ＜ 0.05) in focal,crescentic,mixed and sclerotic category,respectively.During follow-up period,focal category always had the best renal function,while sclerotic category had the worst renal function.Crescentic category and mixed category were similar and in the middle.Remission rate at 6m was 62.5％,73.7％,57.5％,30.8％(P ＞ 0.05).And crescentic category had the greatest improvement in eGFR at 6m.Conclusions Focal category had relatively preserved renal function and favorable renal outcome,while the sclerotic category had the worst renal outcome.Crescentic and mixed category had an intermediate outcome.We support the use of the Berden classification in predicting the renal prognosis of patients with ANCA associated glomerulonephritis.

Objective To evaluate the predictive factors and renal outcomes of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).Methods In this retrospective study,clinical data of 101 IMN patients with T2DM and 96 patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) were consecutively collected.Logistic regression was used to assess potential clinical factors indicating IMN and COX regression was employed to analyze risks of IMN in developing to endstage renal disease (ESRD),as compared with that of DN,in patients with T2DM.Results In a multivariate model,age ≥55 years old,presence of nephrotic syndrome,estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ＞ 60 ml · min-1 · (1.73 m2)-1,duration of diabetes≤5 years and absence of diabetic retinopathy,were associated with IMN,as compared with DN,in patients with T2DM.In T2DM patients presented with nephrotic syndrome,age≥55 years old,eGFR ＞ 60 ml· min1· (1.73 m2)-1,duration of diabetes≤5 years and absence of diabetic retinopathy,were also associated with IMN,as compared with DN.Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) showed eGFR 65.5 ml · min-1 · (1.73 m2) 1 was an optimal cutoff in differentiating DN and IMN.DN was associated with 16.8 times as high risk of incident ESRD as compared with IMN in T2DM patients.Conclusions In patients with T2DM,age≥55 years,presence of nephrotic syndrome,early stage of CKD,duration of diabetes≤5 years and absence of retinopathy,may indicate IMN rather than DN.T2DM patients with IMN have much better renal prognosis as compared with DN.

Objective To discuss the relationship between serum anti-Phosphalipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibodies and glomerular IgG4 subclass in patients with membranous nephropathy and evaluate the diagnostic value of the two markers.Methods Patients diagnosed as membranous nephropathy from October 2011 to April 2014 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were included and divided into IMN and SMN groups accoding to their clinical diagnosis.Serum anti-PLA2R antibodies and glomerular IgG subclasses were both detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay.Receiver operator characteristic curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of anti-PLA2R antibodies and glomerular IgG4.Results Prevalence of serum anti-PLA2R antibodies of IMN patients was 69.5％ (41/59); prevalence of MLN patients was 4.8％ (1/21).Within the IMN group,thirty-five patients showed positive results of both serum anti-PLA2R antibodies and glomerular IgG4; Six patients were positive for serum anti-PLA2R antibodies but negative for glomerular IgG4; Seventeen patients were positive for glomerular IgG4 but negative for serum anti-PLA2R antibodies; one patient was negative for both tests.The sensitivity of serum anti-PLA2R antibody was 69.5％ and the specificity was 95.2％; the sensitivity of glomerular IgG4 was 89.8％ and the specificity was 52.3％.The sensitivity of the combined marker consisting of serum anti-PLA2R antibody and glomerular IgG4 was 59.3％ and the specificity was 100％.Four out of the six patients secondary to HBV infection,one out of the three patients secondary to Sj(o)gren syndrome,one out of the three patients secondary to malignant tumor showed positive results of serum anti-PLA2R antibodies.Conclusions Serum antiPLA2R antibodies were of high prevalence among IMN patients; the prevalence among SMN patients varied with etiologies.Results of serum anti-PLA2R antibodies and glomerular IgG4 were helpful to rule out secondary etiologies in the diagnosis of membrnous nephropathy.

Objective To investigate the application of ultrasound and 64-slice spiral CT in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods Sixty-five patients with pathologically or clinally confirmed acute appendicitis were underwent ultrasound and CT examina-tion before operation or conservative treatment.Compared with pathology,the accuracy of CT and B-ultrasound imaging were ana-lyzed.Results Fifty-eight cases were correctly diagnosed by CT and 48 cases were correctly diagnosed by ultrasound,the accuracy was 89.23% (58/65)and 73.85% (48/65),respectively.There was a statistically significant difference between two groups (χ2 =5.1 1,P =0.024).Conclusion The accuracy of multi-slice spiral CT is higher than ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Objective To investingate the effect of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) on epithelial -mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs).Methods (1)HPMCs were randomly divided into control group,LDL group (100 mg/L) and LDL (100 mg/L) + lactoferrin (100 mg/L,LDL receptor blocking agent) group.After co-cultured for 24 h,the expression of LDL receptor in HPMCs was examined by immunofluorescence staining,and the LDL uptake by HPMCs was observed with oil red O staining.(2)HPMCs were cultured with different concentrations of LDL (0,25,50,100 mg/L).After co-cultured for 24 h,the change of cell morphology was observed by inverted phase contrast microscope,and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was examined by immunofluorescence.(3) HPMCs were randomly divided into control group (5.6 mmol/L glucose),mannitol group (M,2.18％ mannitol),low glucose group (LG,30 mmol/L),high glucose group (HG,120 mmol/L) and HG + LDL group (120 mmol/L glucose + 100 mg/L LDL).Cocultured for 48 h,the mRNA expression of α-SMA,E-cadherin and type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) was detected by real-time quantitative PCR,the protein expression of α-SMA was detected by Western blotting,the content of type I collagen (Col I) and PAI-1 in supernatant was detected by ELISA.Results (1) After co-cultured with LDL for 24 h,the expressin of LDL receptor was found on the cell membrane of HPMCs.Oil red staining showed that LDL could be uptaken into the cells and abolished by LDL receptor blocker.(2) HPMCs tended to be loosely intercellular connected to each ofher,and prsesnted significant formation of fibroblast-like spindle morphology.The cytoplasm immunofluorescence intensity of α-SMA gradually increased with the increase of LDL concentration.Compared to the control group,the expressions of α-SMA mRNA and protein were significantly increased,and the expression of E-cadherin mRNA was decreased in HG + LDL group(all P ＜ 0.05).But the expressions of the parameters above-mentioned were not significant different between HG group and HG + LDL group or between HG group and control group.(3) Compared with HG group or control group,the concentrations of Col Ⅰ [(19.27±0.17) μg/L vs (14.09±0.30) μg/L or (14.81±0.91) μg/L,all P ＜ 0.05] and PAI-1 [(498.24±76.91) ng/L vs (342.19±30.43) ng/L or (220.39±33.82) ng/L,all P ＜ 0.05] in supernatant of HPMCs were significantly up-regulated in HG + LDL group,meanwhile the expression of PAI-1 mRNA was significantly higer than that in control group (P =0.022).Conclusions HPMCs uptake LDL into cells via LDL receptors.LDL can induce HPMCs transdifferentiation in the condition of high glucose,increase the secretion of Col Ⅰ,inhibit the degradation of ECM through up-regulating the expression of PAI-1,and lead to ECM accumulation.