Relationship between Renalase Expression and Kidney Disease： an Observational Study in 72 Patients Undergoing Renal Biopsy

The relationship between the levels of renalase and changes in proteinuria, hypertension, renal function, renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis and B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2） expression was investigated in patients （chronic nephritis, primary nephrotic syndrome or other kidney disease） that underwent renal biopsy. The study group comprised 72 patients undergoing renal biopsy. Patient profiles and renal function were collected. Concentrations of renalase and Bcl-2 were measured by immunohistochemistry. Tubular injury was detected by periodic acid Schiff staining （PAS） and renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assay. The expression of renalase was significantly lower in renal biopsy specimens than in normal kidney tissues. There was a positive linear relationship between renalase and some serum and cardiac indices; a negative correlation was found between age, eGFR, Ccr and 24-h urinary protein. Renal tubule injury index and tubular epithelial cell apoptosis index showed a negative linear correlation with renalase. The results showed that renalase probably increased the expression of Bel-2. By two independent samples t-test, renalase levels were significantly increased in the non-hypertension group than in the hypertension group. One-way ANOVA showed that renalase expression was higher in samples with Lee＇s grade Ⅲ than in those with Lee＇s grade V. The expression of renalase was significantly decreased in patients who underwent renal biopsy, and was also associated with blood and renal function. The research proved that renalase may reduce renal tubular injury and apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, finally achieving the purpose of delaying the progress of renal failure.

Systemic lupus erythematosus and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis overlap syndrome in a 77-year-old man: A case report

BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodyassociated vasculitis(AAV)are classically thought to cause renal impairment and small vessel vasculitis with different pathophysiologies.Their overlap constitutes a rare rheumatologic disease.To date,only dozens of such cases with biopsyproven glomerulonephritis have been reported worldwide typically in women of childbearing age.Here,we present a unique clinical case due to its rarity and individualized treatment of a Chinese man in his eighth decade of life.CASE SUMMARY A 77-year-old man was admitted to several hospitals for shortness of breath and received nonspecific treatments over the past 3 years.As his symptoms were not completely relieved,he visited our hospital for further treatment.Laboratory examinations revealed kidney dysfunction,severe anaemia,hypocomplementemia,glomerular proteinuria,and microscopic haematuria.Antinuclear antibodies,as well as anti-dsDNA antibodies,were positive.Computed tomography of the chest showed right pleural effusion.Renal biopsy was performed,and histology suggested crescentic glomerulonephritis,pauci-immune type.After treatment with plasmapheresis,glucocorticoid,and cyclophosphamide,the disease was in remission,and the patient remained in a stable condition for over 3 years post-hospital discharge.CONCLUSION Due to its complexity and rarity,SLE and AAV overlap syndrome is easily misdiagnosed.An accurate diagnosis and treatment at the earliest stage may significantly improve the condition and reduce irreversible organ injury.

Goodpasture syndrome and hemorrhage after renal biopsy: A case report

BACKGROUND Goodpasture syndrome(GS) is a rare disease, the morbidity of which is estimated to be 0.5-0.8 per million per year. Hemorrhage is the most serious complication in renal biopsy. Despite the fact that both GS and hemorrhage after renal biopsy are rare, it has not been reported that they are likely to occur in the same patient.CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old man with diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage and rapid progressive renal function caused by anti-glomerular basement membrane disease presented atypical symptoms without hemoptysis, accompanied by life-threatening hypoxemia. Plasmapheresis was performed, and glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide were administered. The patient started to show signs of improvement. Percutaneous renal biopsy is an appropriate diagnostic measure that is commonly safe, but this patient experienced hemorrhage after operation,thus necessitating embolization of the renal artery to stop the bleeding. The patient’s condition was improved, and the serum anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody level was 106 AU/m L(normal range: < 24 AU/m L) and slowly decreased. His discharge medications were oral daily prednisone(30 mg)and continued maintenance hemodialysis.CONCLUSION GS is a rare organ-specific autoimmune disease that is invariably ubiquitous in the lung and kidney areas. Renal biopsy is the appropriate procedure for the treatment of GS disease, although it is an invasive measure.

SYNTHESIS OF MAIN CHAIN LIQUID CRYSTALLINE COPOLYESTERS WITH X-SHAPED TWO-DIMENSIONAL MESOGENIC UNIT AND CROWN ETHER CYCLE

A novel series of main chain liquid crystalline copolyesters with X-shaped two-dimensional mesogenic unit and crown ether cycle of cis-4,4＇-bis（4-hydroxyphenylazo） dibenzo-18-crown-6 was prepared via solution condensation polymerization from 4,4＇-（a;arhexanedioyloxy） dibenzoyl dichloride （MI）, 2,5-bis（p-octyloxybenzoyloxy） hydro-quinone （M2） and cis-4,4＇-bis（4-hydroxyphenylazo） dibenzo-18-crown-6 （M3）. Monomer MI was synthesized by esterification and substitution of adipoyl chloride with p-hydroxybenzoic acid, monomer M2 was synthesized by esterfication and reduction reaction of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoquinone and p-octanoxybenzoyl chloride and monomer M3 was synthesized by diazotization and coupling reaction of cis-diaminodibenzo-18-crown-6 with phenol. The molecular weights of copolyesters are not high, and the intrinsic viscosity [η] of copolyesters ranges from 0.25-0.35. The monomers＇ structures were identified by using elemental analysis, IR, UV, ^1H-NMR, MS, etc. All the copolyesters are yellowish powders and insoluble in THF and CHC13 at room temperature except cPg. The properties of copolyesters were investigated by using GPC, [η] , DSC, TG, WAXD and POM. It was found that all the copolyesters entered into liquid crystal phase when they were heated to above their melting temperature （Tin）. The typical smectic and nematic phase texture can be observed on POM. Their mesophase transition temperature and thermal stability change regularly with varying the content of cis-4,4＇-bis（4-hydroxyphenylazo） dibenzo-18-crown-6 unit in the copolyesters.

Application and prospects of high-throughput screening for in vitro neurogenesis

Over the past few decades,high-throughput screening(HTS)has made great contributions to new drug discovery.HTS technology is equipped with higher throughput,minimized platforms,more automated and computerized operating systems,more efficient and sensitive detection devices,and rapid data processing systems.At the same time,in vitro neurogenesis is gradually becoming important in establishing models to investigate the mechanisms of neural disease or developmental processes.However,challenges remain in generating more mature and functional neurons with specific subtypes and in establishing robust and standardized three-dimensional(3D)in vitro models with neural cells cultured in 3D matrices or organoids representing specific brain regions.Here,we review the applications of HTS technologies on in vitro neurogenesis,especially aiming at identifying the essential genes,chemical small molecules and adaptive microenvironments that hold great prospects for generating functional neurons or more reproductive and homogeneous 3D organoids.We also discuss the developmental tendency of HTS technology,e.g.,so-called next-generation screening,which utilizes 3D organoid-based screening combined with microfluidic devices to narrow the gap between in vitro models and in vivo situations both physiologically and pathologically.

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin G deposits in a young woman: A case report

BACKGROUND Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin G(IgG)deposits(PGNMID)is a newly recognized rare disease.The renal pathology is characterized by prominent manifestations of membranous hyperplasia,which are easy to misdiagnose.The clinical symptoms are severe.Massive proteinuria and hypoproteinemia are conspicuous,and most patients are accompanied by renal insufficiency and microscopic hematuria.CASE SUMMARY A 27-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital for macroscopic hematuria and proteinuria 4 years prior,and renal biopsy in the hospital suggested moderate-tosevere mesangial proliferating glomerulonephritis(MsPGN).She had taken a glucocorticoid,cyclophosphamide,mycophenolate mofetil,and other treatments and achieved brief partial remission.Recently,the patient visited our hospital due to massive proteinuria.Repeated renal biopsy and re-evaluation of the first biopsy obtained 4 years previously revealed monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition in the glomeruli.A bone marrow examination was performed to exclude hematologic malignancy,and a diagnosis of PGNMID was established.The patient showed remission after four cycles of a bortezomib+cyclophosphamide+dexamethasone scheme.CONCLUSION PGNMID is usually misdiagnosed as MsPGN or membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.Although it often occurs in middle-aged and elderly individuals,it cannot be readily excluded in young people,even when serum immunofixation electrophoresis is negative.IgG subtype and light chain staining are necessary when this disease is highly suspected.An accurate diagnosis at the earliest stage may avoid the overuse of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants.

Scanning-Position Error-Correction Algorithm in Dual-Wavelength Ptychographic Microscopy

We propose a new algorithm for the error correction of scanning positions in ptychographic microscopy.Since the scanning positions are varied mechanically by moving the illuminating probes laterally,the scanning errors will accumulate at multiple positions,greatly reducing the reconstruction quality of a sample.To correct the scanning errors,we use the correlation analysis for the diffractive data combining with the additional constraint of dual wavelengths.This significantly improves the quality of ptychographic microscopy.Optical experiments verify the proposed algorithm for two samples including a resolution target and a fibroblast.

Evaluation of blood pressure lowering effect by generic and brand-name antihypertensive drugs treatment:a multicenter prospective study in China

Background:Generic drugs are bioequivalent to their brand-name counterparts;however,concerns still exist regarding the effectiveness and safety of generic drugs because of small sample sizes and short follow-up time in most studies.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term antihypertensive efficacy,cost-effectiveness and cardiovascular outcomes of generic drugs compared with brand-name drugs.Methods:In a multicenter,community-based study including 7955 hypertensive patients who were prospectively followed up for an average of 2.5 years,we used the propensity-score-matching method to match the patients using brand-name drugs to those using generic drugs in a ratio of 1:2,2176 patients using brand-name drugs and 4352 patients using generic drugs.Results:There were no significant differences between generic drugs and brand-name drugs in blood pressure(BP)-lowering efficacy,BP control rate,and cardiovascular outcomes including coronary heart disease and stroke.The adjusted mean(95%confidence interval[CI])of systolic BP(SBP)-lowering was-7.9 mmHg(95%CI,-9.9 to-5.9)in the brand-name drug group and-7.1 mmHg(95%CI,-9.1 to-5.1)in the generic drug group after adjusting for age,sex,body mass index,number of antihypertensive drugs and traditionally cardiovascular risk factors.Among patients aged<60 years,brand-name drugs had a higher BP control rate(47%vs.41%;P=0.02)and a greater effect in lowering SBP compared with generic drugs,with the between-group difference of 1.5 mmHg(95%CI,0.2-2.8;P=0.03).BP control rate was higher in male patients using brand-name drugs compared with those using generic drugs(46%vs.40%;P=0.01).Generic drugs treatment yielded an average annual incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of$315.4 per patient per mmHg decrease in SBP compared with brand-name drugs treatment.Conclusions:Our data suggested that generic drugs are suitable and cost-effective in improving hypertension management and facilitating public health benefits,especially in low-and middle-income areas.

Polysulfide Electrocatalysis on Framework Porphyrin in High-Capacity and High-Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur batteries with an ultrahigh theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh kg^(−1) are highly consid-ered as desirable next-generation energy storage devices that will meet the growing demand of energy consumption worldwide.However,complicated sul-fur redox reactions and polysulfide shuttling signifi-cantly postpone the applications of lithium-sulfur batteries with rapid capacity decay and low Coulom-bic efficiency.