OBJECTIVE To establish an HPLC method for the separation of enantiomers of farrerol, and apply it to the determination of the content of enantiomers in Rhododendri Daurici Folium and Rhododendron Micranthum. METHODS HPLC was used to separate the farrerol enantiomers, and the chromatographic conditions of chiral column type, mobile phase ratio, flow rate, and column temperature were optimized. The thermodynamic separation of farrerol enantiomers was discussed. Thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy change, entropy change, enthalpy change and entropy change were calculated. And the contents of two enantiomers in Rhododendri Daurici Folium and Rhododendron Micranthum were determined under the optimum resolution conditions. RESULTS The optimum separation conditions for two enantiomers of farrerol were determined as follows: Chiralcel OJ-RH(4.6 mm×150 mm, 5 μm), equilibrium elution of acetonitrile-water(40∶60), the flow rate of 0.5 mL·min–1, the column temperature of 25 ℃, and the detection wavelength of 295 nm. Under the optimum separation conditions, the resolution of farrerol enantiomers reached 1.5, indicating that the two enantiomers of the farrerol could be completely separated. When the column temperature was between 20 ℃ and 35 ℃, the separation factor decreased with the increase of temperature. The lnα of the two enantiomers of farrerol showed a good linear relationship with 1/T, and the chiral reselution process was controlled by enthalpy. The enantiomer separation method of farrerol was applied to the determination of farrerol enantiomer in Chinese medicinal materials of Rhododendri Daurici Folium and Rhododendron Micranthum. The linear relationship between the two enantiomers of farrerol were good in the range of 0.718–57.44 μg·mL–1 and 1.28–102.24 μg·mL–1, respectively. And the contents of the two enantiomers of farrerol in Rhododendri Daurici Folium were 0.228 2 and 0.466 2 mg·g–1, respectively. And the contents of the two enantiomers of farrerol in Rhododendron Micranthum were 0.416 8 and 0.707 3 mg·g–1, respectively. CONCLUSION This method is simple, efficient and suitable for the determination of farrerol enantiomers in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective:To analyze the clinical and pathological data of 15 patients with light chain amyloidosis initially diagnosed with other kidney diseases, and identify possible misdiagnosis reasons.Methods:It was a retrospective observational study. The clinical and pathological data of 15 patients, whose initial kidney biopsies failed to diagnose light chain-amyloidosis but were confirmed by a subsequent kidney biopsy or pathology consultation at Peking University First Hospital from January 2010 to December 2022 were collected. The results of immunofluorescence, Congo red staining, and electron microscopy of two renal biopsies were analyzed.Results:The median age of 15 patients was 56 years old, with a male-to-female ratio of 7∶8. The main clinical manifestation was massive proteinuria with normal kidney function, and there were 10 cases presenting as nephrotic syndrome. The initial diagnosis based on the first kidney biopsy included minimal change disease (8 cases), IgA nephropathy (3 cases), membranous nephropathy (3 cases), and type Ⅲ collagen glomerulonephritis (1 case). M proteinemia was not evaluated in 13 patients during the first kidney biopsy. Light chain immunofluorescence staining was not performed in 12 cases. Congo red staining was not performed in 13 cases. All fifteen patients received glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppressive therapy after their initial diagnosis, and 5 patients developed severe infection. After 12.0 (7.5, 20.0) months of treatment, none of them achieved clinical remission. Thirteen had evidences for M protein before the second kidney biopsy. The renal tissues of all patients underwent immunofluorescence light chain examination, Congo red staining, and immunoelectron microscopy examination when necessary. The repeat kidney biopsies of 14 cases and pathology consultation of one case consistently indicated light chain-amyloidosis. The kidney tissues in 13 cases were confirmed to be light chain restricted, 11 cases by immunofluorescence, and 2 cases by immune electron microscopy. After diagnosis of light chain-amyloidosis, all patients received targeted plasma cell therapy except for 1 patient lost to follow-up, 6 patients achieved hematologic remission, 5 patients achieved renal remission, 1 patient entered end-stage renal disease, and 3 patients died.Conclusions:In middle and elderly-aged patients with nephrotic syndrome, if conventional immunosuppressive therapy yields unsatisfactory results, it is crucial to focus on identifying evidences of monoclonal immunoglobulinemia, if necessary, kidney biopsy should be actively repeated. Kidney biopsy pathology should include comprehensive examinations such as light chain immunofluorescence, Congo red staining, and electron microscopy to avoid misdiagnosis of light chain-amyloidosis.

The paper reports a case of coenzyme Q10 deficiency nephrotic syndrome associated with coenzyme Q2 gene mutation and reviews the literature on this topic. The patient presented with hematuria, proteinuria, and a diminution of vision as clinical manifestations. But the proteinuria was not relieved after sufficient doses of glucocorticoids for over 2 months. The patient′s birth history was unremarkable, and his parents were both healthy and not consanguineous. Whole exome sequencing revealed that the patient had a mutation of coenzyme Q2 gene at c.973A>G(p.T325A) and c.517C>T(p.R173C). Combined with renal biopsy pathology, the patient was diagnosed with hereditary nephropathy and started the supplements of coenzyme Q10 after stopping glucocorticoid treatments immediately. After 5 weeks of therapy, the patient′s 24-h urine protein quantification decreased from 6.01 g to 1.53 g.

Objective:To investigate the urinary sediment findings and the clinicopathologic features of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).Methods:It was a retrospective study. The patients with renal biopsy-proven primary IgAN in Peking University First Hospital from January 31, 2013 to July 31, 2015 were selected. According to whether AKI occurred at renal biopsy or not, the patients were divided into AKI group and non-AKI group. Morning urine samples were obtained on the day of renal biopsy. Urine sediments, including various cells and casts, were examined. The clinical data, urinary sediments, and renal pathological changes were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the association between clinical pathological changes, urinary sediment indicators and AKI, or clinical pathological changes and urinary sediment indicators.Results:There were 502 IgAN patients enrolled in this study, with age of (36.1±12.1) years old and 261 males (52.0%). The incidence of AKI was 11.4% (57/502) among the enrolled patients at the time of renal biopsy. Common causes of AKI included gross hematuria-induced AKI (10 cases), acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (10 cases), crescentic IgAN (9 cases), malignant hypertensive renal damage (6 cases), and multiple etioloqy or unknown etiology (22 cases). Compared with non-AKI group, AKI group had higher proportions of males and malignant hypertension, higher levels of proteinuria and urinary erythrocyte counts, and higher frequencies of gross hematuria, leukocyturia, renal tubular epithelial cells, and granular casts (all P<0.05). AKI group also had higher proportions of severe tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T2) and cellular/cellular fibrous crescent formation (C2) than non-AKI group (both P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis results showed that, there were statistically significant differences in the correlation between AKI and gender, 24 h urinary protein, urinary erythrocyte counts, granular casts and renal tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T) scores (all P<0.05). Hematuria, leukocyturia, red blood cell casts, white blood cell casts, granular casts, and fatty casts were correlated with endothelial hypercellularity (E) and cellular/cellular fibrous crescent formation (C) scores, respectively (all P<0.05). Hematuria was correlated with mesangial hypercellularity (M) scores ( OR=2.613, 95% CI 1.520-4.493, P=0.001). Hematuria ( OR=1.723, 95% CI 1.017-2.919, P=0.043) and fatty casts ( OR=2.646, 95% CI 1.122-6.238, P=0.026) were correlated with segmental sclerosis or adhesion (S) scores. Leukocyturia ( OR=1.645, 95% CI 1.154-2.347, P=0.006) and fatty casts ( OR=2.344, 95% CI 1.202-4.572, P=0.012) were correlated with T scores. Epithelial cell cast was correlated with C scores ( OR=1.857, 95% CI 1.174-2.939, P=0.008). Conclusions:AKI is a common complication among IgAN patients with diverse etiology and more severe clinicopathological features. Urinary sediment findings can reflect renal pathological changes to some extent, and therefore assist in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of IgAN patients with AKI.

Objective: To investigate the status and influencing factors of disease uncertainty among caregivers of colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, so as to provide insights into psychological interventions among caregivers. Methods: Caregivers of colorectal cancer patients hospitalized in Hunan Cancer Hospital, the Third Xiangya Hospital and the Second Xiangya Hospital for chemotherapy from March 2020 to December 2021 were recruited. Caregivers' demographics, health status, medical and nursing support and social support, as well as patients' demographics, frequency of chemotherapy and disease stage were collected using questionnaire surveys. Caregivers' disease uncertainty was evaluated using Chinese version of the Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Family Members, and factors affecting caregivers' disease uncertainty were identified using a multivariable linear regression model. Results: A total of 318 caregivers were enrolled, including 115 men (36.16%) and 203 women (63.84%), with a mean age of (45.89±6.57) years, and there were 186 caregivers as patients' spouses (58.49%). The mean score of disease uncertainty was (86.65±10.82) points, and the scores of the unpredictability dimension, uncertainty dimension, complexity, and lack of information dimension were (3.21±0.35), (2.98±0.48), (2.84±0.49) and (2.36±0.59) points, respectively. There were 285 participants with a high level of disease uncertainty (89.62%), and multivariable linear regression analysis identified social support (β′=-0.199), medical and nursing support (β′=-0.118), patient's age (β′=-0.155) and stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ of colorectal cancer (β′=0.151) as factors affecting caregiver's disease uncertainty. Conclusion Caregivers of colorectal cancer patients with chemotherapy have a high level of disease uncertainty, which is affected by social support, medical and nursing support, patient's age and duration of disease.

Objective:To understand the status quo of emotional intelligence, emotional labor, and humanistic caring ability of medical staff, and to clarify their internal relationship.Methods:Convenience sampling was used to select 713 medical staff from a grade A tertiary hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Emotional Intelligence Scale, Humanistic Caring Scale, and Emotional Labor Scale were used to measure the emotional intelligence, humanistic caring ability, and emotional labor of medical staff. SPSS 22.0 software was used to establish a database for statistical description and analysis. Process 3.2 software was used to analyze the mediating effect.Results:In humanistic caring ability, the average score of comprehension dimension was the highest (75.62±8.20) and the average score of patience dimension was the lowest (58.53±5.01). In emotional labor, the average score of the deep action dimension was the highest (23.39±3.85) and the average score of the surface action dimension was the lowest (17.73±3.18). In emotional intelligence, the average score of self-emotion evaluation dimension was the highest (21.76±3.30) and the average score of other-emotion evaluation dimension was the lowest (20.07±3.71). Positive correlations were found between humanistic caring ability and emotional intelligence, between humanistic caring ability and emotional labor, and between emotional intelligence and emotional labor ( P<0.01). Humanistic caring ability had a partial mediating effect between emotional intelligence and emotional labor. Humanistic caring ability had direct and indirect effects on emotional labor, and the effect sizes were 0.279 and 0.029, respectively. Conclusion:Emotional intelligence has a direct positive predictive effect on emotional labor, humanistic caring ability as an intermediary variable indirectly and positively predicts emotional labor. Humanistic caring ability plays a partial mediating role between emotional intelligence and emotional labor. Attention should be paid to the emotional labor of medical staff, and the emotional labor of medical staff should be improved through targeted training on emotional intelligence and humanistic caring ability. These efforts will improve the current situation and establish a harmonious doctor-patient relationship.

Objective:To summarize and analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with DNAJ heat shock protein family member B9 (DNAJB9)-positive fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN).Methods:The clinical and pathological data of 5 patients with DNAJB9-positive FGN diagnosed in Peking University First Hospital from January 2011 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Results:Among the 5 patients, the female to male ratio was 4∶1, and the median age was 29 years old (24-71 years old). The clinical manifestations included 2 cases with nephrotic syndrome and 3 cases with proteinuria. One patient had gross hematuria, and 4 cases had mild microscopic hematuria. None of the 5 patients had evidence of monoclonal gammopathy. The renal pathological pattern of FGN showed mesangial-proliferative glomerulonephritis, mesangial nodular sclerosis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and atypical membranous nephropathy. Crescents formation could be accompanied. Immunofluorescence staining showed smudgy and granular IgG and C3 deposition in the mesangial region and capillary wall, and the subtypes of IgG were mainly IgG1 and IgG4. Under electron microscopy, fibrillary deposits with a diameter of 8-30 nm were observed in the mesangial and subendothelial area, accompanied by deposition in basement membrane and occasionally subepithelial area. The renal prognosis of FGN patients was poor. One patient entered end-stage renal disease within one week, and another patient entered end-stage renal disease within one year despite immunosuppressant therapy in 2 cases with nephrotic syndrome at onset. One patient had worsening proteinuria despite renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blocker treatment. Two patients achieved complete renal remission and stable renal function after RAS blocker treatment.Conclusions:Most FGN patients in China are young people. The main clinical manifestations are proteinuria or mild microscopic hematuria. The diagnosis depends on the discovery of fibrillary deposits in the mesangial area and subendothelial area with a diameter of about 10-30 nm under the electron microscope. DNAJB9 protein immunohistochemical staining can be used as an important marker for the diagnosis of FGN. The prognosis of FGN kidney is poor, and there is no effective targeted treatment option now.

Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment responses and kidney outcomes of patients with atypical membranous nephropathy (MN), and to provide information for the clinical practice.Methods:The clinical data of patients with atypical MN and synchronous primary MN who were diagnosed, treated and followed up in Peking University First Hospital from January 2008 to June 2020 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Clinicopathological features, treatment responses and kidney prognosis were compared between the two groups. The expression of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in kidney tissues was detected by immunofluorescence. Serum anti-PLA2R antibody was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Clinicopathological indexes were compared between PLA2R-related MN group and non-PLA2R-related MN group. Kaplan-Meier (Log-rank test) survival curve and multivariate Cox regression analysis methods were used to analyze the influencing factors of kidney prognosis in patients with atypical MN. The primary endpoint of renal adverse outcome was renal insufficiency, defined as end-stage renal disease or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline>30% baseline and<60 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1. Results:A total of 65 atypical MN patients were enrolled in this study. Compared with primary MN ( n=324), patients with atypical MN had younger age ( Z=-4.229, P<0.001), higher proportion of hematuria ( χ2=5.555, P=0.018), higher level of urinary protein ( Z=2.228, P=0.026) and lower level of eGFR ( t=-5.108, P<0.001); the proportion of IgG4 deposition in kidneys was lower ( χ2=8.081, P=0.004), and the proportions of IgA ( χ2=16.969, P<0.001) and IgM ( χ2=9.281, P=0.002) deposition were higher. There was no significant difference on gender, serum albumin, positive proportion of anti-PLA2R antibody, anti-PLA2R antibody level and kidney C3/C1q deposition between the two groups (all P>0.05). The proportions of atypical MN patients receiving renin-angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors (49.3% vs 57.1%), calcineurin inhibitors (27.7% vs 19.1%) and cyclophosphamide (21.5% vs 23.8%) were comparable to those of primary MN patients (all P>0.05). The rates of clinical remission (80.0% vs 77.2%), partial remission (44.6% vs 44.1%), complete remission (35.4% vs 33.1%), spontaneous remission (36.9% vs 42.6%), response to cyclophosphamide (85.7% vs 81.8%), response to calcineurin inhibitor (88.9% vs 79.0%), and relapse (30.8% vs 26.8%) in atypical MN patients were comparable to those in primary MN patients (all P>0.05). During the follow-up 30.0(21.5, 61.5) months, 15 atypical MN patients (23.1%) had eGFR reduction>30%, among whom 7 patients (10.8%) had eGFR reduction>50% and 3 patients (4.6%) had end-stage kidney disease. There was no significant difference on poor kidney prognosis between the two groups (all P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that patients with age>39 years old ( χ2=10.092, P=0.001), eGFR≤100 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1( χ2=5.491, P=0.019), tubular interstitial lesion ( χ2=6.999, P=0.008) and no nephropathy remission ( χ2=22.952, P<0.001) had earlier poor renal prognosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that no nephropathy remission ( HR=12.604, 95% CI 2.691-59.037, P=0.001) was an independent influencing factor for poor renal prognosis in atypical MN patients. Conclusion:No significant difference is found between atypical MN and primary MN on treatment responses and kidney prognosis, which implies that clinical practice of atypical MN can be performed by referring to the guidelines and experience of primary MN.

Objective:To analyze clinical data of 3 children with LMX1B-associated disease characterized by asymptomatic glomerular proteinuria, thus improving the recognition of asymptomatic proteinuria with genetic causes. Methods:Three patients with LMX1B-associated disease presented with prominent asymptomatic proteinuria diagnosed by the next-generation sequencing in Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital from April 2014 to October 2017 were included in this study.Clinical data, including renal and extrarenal manifestations, renal biopsy, and family history, were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results:All 3 children were girls, the age of onset were 2 years, 1 year, and 4 years, respectively, and the diagnosis age were 11 years, 5 years and 6 years, respectively.All of them had glomerular proteinuria, and nephrotic-level proteinuria occurred in one patient.Microscopic hematuria was found in 2 patients.All of them had normal renal function.Only one patient underwent renal biopsy.Electron microscopy of the first time of biopsy revealed segmental thinning of the glomerular basement membrane.Re-biopsy 4 years later showed irregular thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, moth-eaten appearance and collagen fibrillar material deposition.No abnormalities of nails, limbs and joints were observed by physical examination.Two patients had a family history of renal disease.Conclusions:Genetic factors should be considered in children with obscure onset asymptomatic proteinuria without definite clinical causes.Genetic testing can help diagnose and guide treatment as early as possible.

GB7 acetate is a galbulimima alkaloid obtained from Galbulimima belgraveana.However,information regarding its structure,biological activities,and related mechanisms is not entirely available.A series of spectroscopic analyses,structural degradation,interconversion,and crystallography were performed to identify the structure of GB7 acetate.The MTT assay was applied to measure cell proliferation on human colorectal cancer HCT 116 cells.The expressions of the related proteins were measured by Western blotting.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM),acridine orange(AO)and monodansylcadaverine(MDC)staining were used to detect the presence of autophagic vesicles and autolysosomes.A transwell assay was performed to demonstrate metastatic capabilities.Oxygen consumption rate(OCR)and extracellular acidification rate(ECAR)assays were performed to determine the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation(OXPHOS)and glycolysis activity of HCT 116 cells.The data showed that GB7 acetate suppressed the proliferation and colony-forming ability of HCT 116 cells.Pretreatment with GB7 acetate significantly induced the formation of autophagic vesicles and autolysosomes.GB7 acetate upregulated the expressions of LC3 and Thr172 phosphorylated adenosine 5'-monophosphate(AMP)-activated pro-tein kinase α(p-AMPKα),which are key elements of autophagy.In addition,GB7 acetate suppressed the metastatic capabilities of HCT 116 cells.Additionally,the production of matrix metallo-proteinase-2(MMP-2)and MMP-9 was reduced,whereas the expression of E-cadherin(E-cad)was upregulated.Furthermore,GB7 acetate significantly reduced mitochondrial OXPHOS and glycolysis.In conclusion,the structure of the novel Galbulimima alkaloid GB7 acetate was identified.GB7 acetate was shown to have anti-proliferative,pro-autophagic,anti-metastatic,and anti-metabolite capabilities in HCT 116 cells.This study might provide new insights into cancer treatment efficacy and cancer chemoprevention.