Objective:To investigate the association of monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR) with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).Methods:It was a retrospective cohort study. The clinical data of 495 incident CAPD patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cut-off value of baseline MLR was determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting all-cause death in the first year of CAPD, and then the patients were divided into high MLR group and low MLR group. The differences of clinical data and laboratory tests were compared between the two groups. The endpoint events were death (all-cause death and CVD death), conversion to hemodialysis, conversion to kidney transplantation, or follow-up until March 31, 2020. The survival curve was drawn by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Log-rank test was used to compare the survival difference between the two groups. A Cox regression model was established to analyze the relevant factors of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in CAPD patients.Results:The study included 495 patients, with age of (43.79±12.16) years and 308 (62.22%) males. The median age of dialysis was 17(10, 30) months. By the end of follow-up, 61(12.32%) of 495 patients had died, 51(10.51%) had been converted to hemodialysis, and 28(5.66%) had been converted to kidney transplantation. Of the 61 patients who died, 36(59.02%) died of cardiovascular events. ROC curve analysis results showed that the optimal cut-off value was 38.24%, so there were 246 cases in the high MLR group (MLR>38.24%) and 249 cases in the low MLR group (MLR≤38.24%). The all-cause mortality rates were 6.83% in the low MLR group and 17.89% in the high MLR group, and the CVD mortality rates were 3.21% in the low MLR group and 11.38% in the high MLR group, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the survival rate of the low MLR group was significantly higher than that of the high MLR group (all-cause mortality, Log-rank χ2=18.369, P<0.001; CVD mortality, Log-rank χ2=16.142, P<0.001). Using all-cause death as the end event, the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 99.5%, 89.4% and 79.9%, respectively, with a median survival time of 64 months in the low MLR group. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 95.0%, 68.3% and 49.6%, respectively, with a median survival time of 54 months in the high MLR group. Using CVD death as the end event, the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 99.5%, 95.2% and 91.2%, respectively, with a median survival time of 69 months in the low MLR group. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 97.8%, 78.6%, and 60.8%, respectively, with a median survival time of 60 months in the high MLR group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that MLR was independently associated with all-cause mortality ( HR=2.744, 95% CI 1.484-5.075, P=0.001) and CVD death ( HR=3.249, 95% CI 1.418- 7.443, P=0.005) in CAPD patients. According to the competing risk model analysis, MLR was still independently associated with all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in CAPD patients. Conclusion:MLR is associated with all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in CAPD patients, and can be used as a valuable indicator for judging the prognosis of CAPD patients.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of using positive anti-M-type phospholipase A 2 receptor(PLA 2R)antibody detection as a surrogate for renal biopsy in the diagnosis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy(IMN)in elderly Chinese. Methods:From June 2021 to March 2022, clinicopathological data of ninety-six elderly patients(≥60 years old)with positive anti-PLA 2R antibody detection(ELISA≥14 RU/ml), complete renal pathology records, and the exclusion of secondary disease and diabetes mellitus were collected from the Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University.Patients were divided into high eGFR group(≥60 ml·min -1·1.73 m -2)and low eGFR group(<60 ml·min -1·1.73 m -2), and the data were analyzed retrospectively. Results:Of the 96 patients, 95(99.0%)had IMN(1 in stage Ⅰ, 59 in stage Ⅱ, 34 in stage Ⅲ, and 1 in stage Ⅳ), and 1(1.0%)had atypical membranous nephropathy(AMN).For the IMN patients, 81(85.3%)had high eGFR and most IMN patients(66.7%)were in stage Ⅱ, with 10(12.3%)showing additional pathological findings, including mild mesangial proliferative IgA nephropathy(2 cases)and subacute tubulointerstitial nephropathy(2 cases).There were 14 patients(14.7%)with low eGFR, and most of them(57.1%)had stage Ⅲ IMN, with 10(71.4%)showing additional pathological findings.This percentage was higher than that in the high eGFR group( χ2=21.642, P<0.05).The most common additional pathological findings were acute tubular injury(4 cases)and ischemic kidney injury(2 cases). Conclusions:Positive anti-PLA 2R antibody detection is highly predictive of IMN in elderly Chinese patients, but it often co-exists with other pathological entities.The advantages of renal biopsy in detecting other pathological conditions and the risks associated with the procedure should be evaluated.

Objective:To detect serum level of complement factor B (CFB), and to explore its correlations with clinical parameters and prognosis in children with primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN).Methods:A total of 204 children with primary IgAN confirmed by kidney biopsy in the Department of Nephrology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2014 to April 2017 were included in IgAN group.During the same period, 84 healthy children were included in healthy control group.Their mean age was (11.0±3.5) years and (10.9±3.2) years, respectively.Patients in IgAN group were divided into low CFB group (102 cases) and high CFB group (102 cases) according to the medium serum level of CFB measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Spearman′ s coefficient was employed to analyze correlation amongst various parameters.Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional ha-zards models were used to evaluate the relationship between serum CFB level and prognosis in children with IgAN. Results:Serum CFB levels were significantly higher in IgAN group than that in healthy control group [290.9 (186.2-453.9) mg/L vs.218.9 (155.0-321.3) mg/L, Z=-3.372, P=0.001]. Serum levels of CFB were negatively correlated with serum albumin ( r=-0.388, P<0.001) and estimated glomerular filtration rate ( r=-0.416, P<0.001), but positively correlated with serum creatinine ( r=0.305, P<0.001) and 24 h urinary protein ( r=0.456, P<0.001) in IgAN group.The incidences of crescents (C1-2) (70.6% vs.29.4%, χ2=34.588, P<0.001) and C 3 deposition (+ + -+ + + ) (63.7% vs.44.1%, χ2=7.892, P=0.005) were significantly higher in high CFB group than those in low CFB group. Kaplan- Meier analysis showed that high CFB levels predicted worse renal outcome in pediatric IgAN patients ( χ2=17.509, P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the high CFB level was the independent risk factor for the poor renal outcome ( HR=2.517, 95% CI: 1.284-4.932, P=0.007). Conclusions:High serum levels of CFB are associated with decreased renal function, increased urinary protein excretion, crescentic formation and poor renal outcome in pediatric IgAN patients.

Objective:To investigate changes in serum C3d and C5b-9 levels in elderly patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy(IMN)and their correlations with prognosis.Methods:Two hundred thirty-one elderly patients with IMN and 96 non-elderly patients with IMN confirmed by kidney biopsy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled.During the same period, 118 healthy individuals receiving health checkups were included as controls.Patients were divided into the low C3d group( n=112)and the high C3d group( n=113)according to the median level of serum C3d.Serum C3d and C5b-9 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results:Serum C3d and C5b-9 levels in elderly IMN patients were 0.23(0.15, 0.45)mg/L and 0.28(0.20, 1.23)mg/L, respectively, which were higher than those in healthy controls[0.18(0.13, 0.22)mg/L, 0.22(0.16, 0.26)mg/L, respectively]( Z=-4.261 and -6.213, P<0.001). Serum C3d levels in elderly and non-elderly IMN patients were correlated negatively with the estimated glomerular filtration rate( r=-0.155 and -0.426, P=0.019 and 0.000), but positively with serum creatinine, anti-phospholipase A2 receptor(PLA2R)antibody levels and 24 h urinary protein( r=0.184, 0.326, 0.407, 0.321 and 0.145, P=0.005, 0.001, 0.000, 0.001 and 0.027). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the cumulative renal survival rate in elderly IMN patients was lower in the high C3d group than in the low C3d group(47.8% vs.70.8%, Log Rank χ2=7.399, P=0.007). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high C3d levels were an independent risk factor for poor renal outcomes in elderly IMN patients( HR=2.288, 95% CI: 1.082-4.839, P=0.030). Conclusions:High serum C3d levels are associated with increases in urinary protein excretion and anti-PLA2R antibody levels, renal function decline, and poor renal outcomes in elderly IMN patients.

Objective:To investigate the expression level of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in podocytes of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and its role in podocyte injury and proteinuria.Methods:(1) Sixty-five patients who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (with or without albuminuria) were enrolled in this study and 25 age-and sex-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled. According to the ratio of urinary excretion of albumin/creatinine (ACR), the type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were classified into without proteinuria group (ACR<30 mg/g, n=24), microalbuminuria group (ACR 30-300 mg/g, n=18) and clinical proteinuria group (ACR>300 mg/g, n=23). Another 25 patients with DKD confirmed by renal biopsy were selected as the DKD group. Normal kidney tissue samples were taken from the same period of urinary surgical department for 10 cases of renal tumors in patients with renal resection. The test indicators in each group were compared. The VDR expression in blood, urine samples and kidney tissues of patients was detected by real-time quantitative PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry, and then were compared among different groups. The correlation between VDR and ACR was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. (2) Male db/db mice with genetic background of C57BLKs/J and db/m mice born in littermates were randomly divided into normal control group (group A), DKD control group (group B), DKD treated with dimethyl sulfoxide group (group C), DKD treated with paricalcitol (VDR agonist) group (group D). The C and D groups were treated by continuous intraperitoneal injection for 8 weeks, and the group A and B were not treated. The mice were started to intervene continuously for 8 weeks at the age of 10 weeks. At 22 weeks of age (12 weeks after starting intervention), the biochemical indexes of the mice's body weight, blood and urine were compared. The changes of β-catenin and VDR were detected by Western blotting. The expressions of podocyte marker protein podocin and podocyte injury protein α-SMA were observed by immunofluorescence. Results:(1) Compared with the normal healthy control group, the plasma levels of VDR mRNA and protein in diabetic patients without proteinuria, microalbuminuria and clinical proteinuria were lower (all P<0.05). Compared with the diabetic patients without proteinuria, the plasma levels of VDR mRNA and protein in diabetic patients with microalbuminuria and clinical proteinuria were lower (all P<0.05). (2) Compared with the normal healthy control group, the plasma levels of VDR mRNA and protein in diabetic patients without proteinuria and DKD patients were lower (all P<0.05). Compared with diabetic patients without proteinuria, the plasma levels of VDR mRNA and protein in the DKD group were also lower (both P<0.05). (3) Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of VDR in kidney tissue of DKD group was significantly lower than that of normal control group. (4) The relative level of VDR mRNA in plasma of patients with DKD was negatively correlated with ACR ( r=-0.342, P<0.05). (5) The levels of VDR in urine supernatant of each group showed opposite trends with the plasma levels. (6) Western blotting results showed that the expression of β-catenin protein in groups B and C was higher than that in group D (both P<0.05), and the expression of VDR protein was lower than that in group D (both P<0.05). Immunofluorescence results showed that the expression of podocin in groups B and C was lower than that in group D (both P<0.05), and the expression of α-SMA was higher than that in group D (both P<0.05). Conclusion:VDR overexpression relieves podocyte injury and proteinuria in DKD.

Objective:To compare the prognosis of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients without diabetes mellitus and identify related influencing factors.Methods:Patients who started hemodialysis with an arteriovenous graft or fistula or PD in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 1, 2013 to February 1,2019 were included. They were followed up until May 1, 2019. The patients were divided into HD group and PD group according to the initial dialysis modality. Kaplan-Meier method was used to obtain survival curves, the Cox regression model was used to evaluate influence factors for survival rates, and the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to eliminate influence of the confounders in the groups.Results:There were 371 patients with maintenance dialysis enrolled in this study, including 113 cases (30.5%) in HD group and 258 cases (69.5%) in PD group. At baseline, the scores of standard mean difference ( SMD) in age, body mass index (BMI), combined with cerebrovascular disease, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), blood potassium, plasma albumin and hemoglobin between the two groups were greater than 0.1. The score of SMD decreased after IPTW, and the most data were less than 0.1, which meant that the balance had been reached between the two groups. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the cumulative survival rates had no significant difference for all-cause death before using IPTW between the two groups (Log-rank χ2=0.094, P=0.759). After adjusting for confounders with IPTW, the Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the cumulative survival rates still had no significant difference for all-cause death between the two groups (Log-rank χ2=2.090, P=0.150). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that there was no significant difference between HD and PD on survival rates in ESRD patients without diabetes mellitus for all-cause death (PD/HD, HR=1.171, 95% CI 0.426-3.223, P=0.760). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that there was no significant difference between HD and PD on survival rates in ESRD patients without diabetes mellitus (PD/HD, HR=1.460, 95% CI 0.515-4.144, P=0.477), and high plasma albumin ( HR=0.893, 95% CI 0.813-0.981, P=0.019) was an independent protective factor for survival in ESRD patients without diabetes mellitus. There was still no significant difference between HD and PD on survival rates in ESRD patients without diabetes mellitus after using IPTW (PD/HD, HR=1.842, 95% CI 0.514-6.604, P=0.348). Conclusion:The difference of cumulative survival rates between HD and PD is not significant in ESRD patients without diabetes mellitus.

Objective:To develop and validate a predictive model for the differential diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:A retrospective study with patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent renal biopsy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from February 2012 to January 2015 was conducted. The dataset was randomly split into development (70.0%) and validation (30.0%) cohorts. Baseline predictors for model development was selected by using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. The model's performance in the two cohorts, including discrimination and calibration, was evaluated by the C-statistic, calibration curve and the P value of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Results:Among the 931 patients with type 2 diabetes, 478 cases (51.3%) diagnosed as DN alone, 214 cases (23.0%) as NDRD alone and 239 cases (25.7%) as DN plus superimposed NDRD (MIX). Among NDRD and MIX patients, membranous nephropathy was the most common pathological type, followed by IgA nephropathy. The variables selected in the final predictive model were age, duration of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cystatin C. The model performed well with good discrimination and calibration. The C-statistics were 0.913(95% CI 0.892-0.935) in the derivation cohort and 0.897(95% CI 0.876-0.919) in the validation cohort. The model had the best P value of 0.934 of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Conclusions:A simple predictive model with high accuracy is constructed for predicting the presence of NDRD and MIX for type 2 diabetic patients. The nomogram can be used as a decision support tool to provide a non-invasive method for differential diagnosis of DN and NDRD, which may help clinicians assess the risk-benefit ratio of kidney biopsy for type 2 diabetic patients with renal impairment.

Objective: To explore the value of baseline geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) in evaluating the prognosis of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods: The clinical data of patients who underwent PD catheterization and started PD therapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 1, 2013 to December 30, 2018 were collected retrospectively. The follow-up endpoint was death or hemodialysis. The follow-up deadline was March 1, 2019. The GNRI cut-off value was determined according to the ROC curve, and the patients were divided into GNRI≤90.5 group and GNRI>90.5 group. The differences of clinical data and laboratory tests were compared between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare the difference in PD rate between the two groups during follow-up, and the factors that affecting patients PD withdrawal were analyzed by Cox regression. Results: The GNRI cut-off value was determined to be 90.5 based on the ROC curve. Until the deadline for follow-up, the drop-out rate of GNRI≤90.5 group was significantly higher than the GNRI>90.5 group (35.88% vs 21.58%, P=0.003). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a higher rate of maintaining PD in the GNRI>90.5 group than that in GNRI≤90.5 group during follow-up (P=0.021). Cox univariate regression showed that male, GNRI and serum Alb were protective factors for PD patients, and Scr was a risk factor. After multiple factors correction, male and GNRI were also the protective factors for PD patients. Conclusion As an objective indicator of nutritional evaluation, baseline GNRI can be used as a prognostic indicator for PD patients.

Objective To investigate the incidence situation of metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD),and analyze the correlation between MS and prognosis of patients.Methods The patients who received peritoneal dialysis from June 1,2002 to April 30,2018 and followed up regularly were divided into MS group and non-MS group according to the diagnostic criteria of MS.Follow-up was until July 31,2018.The differences of clinical data,metabolic indexes and clinical outcomes between the two groups were compared.The survival rates of the two groups were compared by Kaplan-Meier survival curve,and the risk factors of all-cause death and cardiovascular disease (CVD) death were analyzed by Cox regression analysis.Results A total of 516 patients with CAPD were enrolled in this study,including 340 males (65.9％)and 176 females (34.1％).Their age was (47.29± 12.20) years.The median follow-up time was 20 (9,39) months.According to the diagnostic criteria of MS,the patients were divided into MS group (210 cases,40.7％) and non-MS group (306 cases,59.3％).At baseline,there was no significant difference in age,educational background,duration of peritoneal dialysis,smoking history and drinking history between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05),but the patients in MS group were more exposed to high glucose peritoneal dialysate (P ＜ 0.05).The body mass index (BMI),blood phosphorus,blood glucose,blood potassium,triglyceride,cholesterol and systolic blood pressure in MS group were significantly higher than those in non-MS group (all P ＜ 0.05),and HDL-C level was significantly lower in MS group than in non-MS group (P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences in other indicators between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the cumulative survival rate in MS group was significantly lower than that in non-MS group,and the difference was statistically significant (Log-rank x2=14.87,P ＜ 0.001).If CVD death was taken as the end event,the cumulative survival rate in the non-MS group was significantly higher than that in the MS group (Log-rank x2=14.49,P ＜ 0.001).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that MS and high 4 h dialysate creatinine/serum creatinine ratio (4hD/Pcr) were independent risk factor for all-cause death (HR=1.982,95％CI 1.240-3.168,P=0.004;HR=3.855,95％CI 1.306-11.381,P=0.015) and CVD death (HR=2.499,95％CI 1.444-4.324,P=0.001;HR=5.799,95％ CI 1.658-20.278,P=0.006) in patients with CAPD.Conclusion The prevalence of MS in patients with CAPD is high,and MS and high 4hD/Pcr are independent risk factor for all-cause and CVD death in CAPD patients.They can be used as valuable indicators to predict the treatment outcomes and long-term prognosis of patients with CAPD.