Clinical Observation on the Treatment of Diabetic Kidney Disease with Damp-heat Stasis Syndrome in Clinical Proteinuria Stage by Kunkui Kidney Preserving Paste

[Objectives]To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Kunkui Kidney Preserving Paste in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease(DKD)patients with damp-heat stasis syndrome in the clinical proteinuria stage.[Methods]Retrospective analysis was made on 30 patients with DKD who were diagnosed with damp-heat stasis syndrome in the clinical proteinuria stage from March 2021 to March 2023 in Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine,and who took Kunkui Kidney Preserving Paste continuously for six months.The urinary albumin/creatinine ratio(UACR),urinary complement C3,and urea nitrogen(BUN)of DKD patients before and after treatment were compared,and estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),blood creatinine(Scr),and cystatin C(CysC)were estimated,and the therapeutic effects on renal function and urinary protein were evaluated.[Results]After treatment,UACR significantly decreased(P<0.01),and urinary complement C3 and Scr decreased(P<0.05),while other indicators showed no significant statistical difference(P>0.05).In terms of evaluating the efficacy of urinary protein therapy,8 cases showed recent relief;8 cases showed significant effect;9 cases were effective,and 5 cases were invalid after treatment,with a total effective rate of 83.33%.In terms of renal function efficacy evaluation,8 cases showed significant effect;4 cases were effective;11 cases were stable,and 7 cases were invalid,with a total effective rate of 76.67%.In the safety evaluation,there were no obvious adverse reactions.[Conclusions]The Kunkui Kidney Preserving Past has significant clinical efficacy and safety in treating DKD patients with damp-heat stasis syndrome in the clinical proteinuria period.It has significant advantages in reducing urinary protein and protecting renal function,which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Application and management of continuous glucose monitoring in diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is a common complication of diabetes mellitus that contributes to the risk of end-stage kidney disease(ESKD).Wide glycemic var-iations,such as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia,are broadly found in diabetic patients with DKD and especially ESKD,as a result of impaired renal metabolism.It is essential to monitor glycemia for effective management of DKD.Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)has long been considered as the gold standard for monitoring glycemia for>3 months.However,assessment of HbA1c has some bias as it is susceptible to factors such as anemia and liver or kidney dysfunction.Continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)has provided new insights on glycemic assessment and management.CGM directly measures glucose level in interstitial fluid,reports real-time or retrospective glucose concentration,and provides multiple glycemic metrics.It avoids the pitfalls of HbA1c in some contexts,and may serve as a precise alternative to estimation of mean glucose and glycemic variability.Emerging studies have demonstrated the merits of CGM for precise monitoring,which allows fine-tuning of glycemic management in diabetic patients.Therefore,CGM technology has the potential for better glycemic monitoring in DKD patients.More research is needed to explore its application and management in different stages of DKD,including hemodialysis,peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Association of physical activity with risk of chronic kidney disease in China:A population-based cohort study

Background:Information on the association between physical activity(PA)and the risk of chronic kidney disease(CKD)is limited.We aimed to explore the associations of total,domain-specific,and intensity-specific PA with CKD and its subtypes in China.Methods:The study included 475,376 adults from the China Kadoorie Biobank aged 30-79 years during 2004-2008 at baseline.An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the information about PA,which was quantified as metabolic equivalent of task hours per day(MET-h/day)and categorized into 4 groups based on quartiles.Cox regression was used to analyze the association between PA and CKD risk.Results:During a median follow-up of 12.1 years,5415 incident CKD cases were documented,including 1159 incident diabetic kidney disease(DKD)cases and 362 incident hypertensive nephropathy(HTN)cases.Total PA was inversely associated with CKD risk,with an adjusted hazard ratio(HR,95%confidence interval(95%CI))of 0.83(0.75-0.92)for incident CKD in the highest quartile of total PA as compared with participants in the lowest quartile.Similar results were observed for risk of DKD and HTN,and the corresponding HRs(95%CIs)were 0.75(0.58-0.97)for DKD risk and 0.56(0.37-0.85)for HTN risk.Increased nonoccupational PA,low-intensity PA,and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA were significantly associated with a decreased risk of CKD,with HRs(95%CIs)of 0.80(0.73-0.88),0.85(0.77-0.94),and 0.85(0.76-0.95)in the highest quartile,respectively.Conclusion:PA,including nonoccupational PA,low-intensity PA,and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA,was inversely associated with the risk of CKD,including DKD,HTN,and other CKD,and such associations were dose dependent.

Andrias davidianus bone peptides alleviates hyperuricemia-induced kidney damage in vitro and in vivo

Hyperuricemia(HUA)is a vital risk factor for chronic kidney diseases(CKD)and development of functional foods capable of protecting CKD is of importance.This paper aimed to explore the amelioration effects and mechanism of Andrias davidianus bone peptides(ADBP)on HUA-induced kidney damage.In the present study,we generated the standard ADBP which contained high hydrophobic amino acid and low molecular peptide contents.In vitro results found that ADBP protected uric acid(UA)-induced HK-2 cells from damage by modulating urate transporters and antioxidant defense.In vivo results indicated that ADBP effectively ameliorated renal injury in HUA-induced CKD mice,evidenced by a remarkable decrease in serum UA,creatinine and blood urea nitrogen,improving kidney UA excretion,antioxidant defense and histological kidney deterioration.Metabolomic analysis highlighted 14 metabolites that could be selected as potential biomarkers and attributed to the amelioration effects of ADBP on CKD mice kidney dysfunction.Intriguingly,ADBP restored the gut microbiome homeostasis in CKD mice,especially with respect to the elevated helpful microbial abundance,and the decreased harmful bacterial abundance.This study demonstrated that ADBP displayed great nephroprotective effects,and has great promise as a food or functional food ingredient for the prevention and treatment of HUA-induced CKD.

Risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease(CKD)patients have been found to be at risk of concurrent cognitive dysfunction in previous studies,which has now become an important public health issue of widespread concern.AIM To investigate the risk factors for concurrent cognitive dysfunction in patients with CKD.METHODS This is a prospective cohort study conducted among patients with CKD between October 2021 and March 2023.A questionnaire was formulated by literature review and expert consultation and included questions about age,sex,education level,per capita monthly household income,marital status,living condition,payment method,and hypertension.RESULTS Logistic regression analysis showed that patients aged 60-79 years[odds ratio(OR)=1.561,P=0.015]and≥80 years(OR=1.760,P=0.013),participants with middle to high school education(OR=0.820,P=0.027),divorced or widowed individuals(OR=1.37,P=0.032),self-funded patients(OR=2.368,P=0.008),and patients with hypertension(OR=2.011,P=0.041)had a higher risk of cognitive impairment.The risk of cognitive impairment was lower for those with a college degree(OR=0.435,P=0.034)and married individuals.CONCLUSION The risk factors affecting cognitive dysfunction are age,60-79 years and≥80 years;education,primary school education or less;marital status,divorced or widowed;payment method,selffunded;hypertension;and CKD.

MicroRNA-630 alleviates inflammatory reactions in rats with diabetic kidney disease by targeting toll-like receptor 4

BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is a major complication of diabetes mellitus.Renal tubular epithelial cell(TEC)damage,which is strongly associated with the inflammatory response and mesenchymal trans-differentiation,plays a significant role in DKD;However,the precise molecular mechanism is unknown.The recently identified microRNA-630(miR-630)has been hypothesized to be closely associated with cell migration,apoptosis,and autophagy.However,the association between miR-630 and DKD and the underlying mechanism remain unknown.AIM To investigate how miR-630 affects TEC injury and the inflammatory response in DKD rats.METHODS Streptozotocin was administered to six-week-old male rats to create a hypergly cemic diabetic model.In the second week of modeling,the rats were divided into control,DKD,negative control of lentivirus,and miR-630 overexpression groups.After 8 wk,urine and blood samples were collected for the kidney injury assays,and renal tissues were removed for further molecular assays.The target gene for miR-630 was predicted using bioinformatics,and the association between miR-630 and toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)was confirmed using in vitro investigations and double luciferase reporter gene assays.Overexpression of miR-630 in DKD rats led to changes in body weight,renal weight index,basic blood parameters and histopathological changes.RESULTS The expression level of miR-630 was reduced in the kidney tissue of rats with DKD(P<0.05).The miR-630 and TLR4 expressions in rat renal TECs(NRK-52E)were measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.The mRNA expression level of miR-630 was significantly lower in the high-glucose(HG)and HG+mimic negative control(NC)groups than in the normal glucose(NG)group(P<0.05).In contrast,the mRNA expression level of TLR4 was significantly higher in these groups(P<0.05).However,miR-630 mRNA expression increased and TLR4 mRNA expression significantly decreased in the HG+miR-630 mimic group than in the HG+mimic NC group(P<0.05).Furthermore,the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and IL-6 were significantly higher in the HG and HG+mimic NC groups than in NG group(P<0.05).However,the levels of these cytokines were significantly lower in the HG+miR-630 mimic group than in the HG+mimic NC group(P<0.05).Notably,changes in protein expression were observed.The HG and HG+mimic NC groups showed a significant decrease in E-cadherin protein expression,whereas TLR4,α-smooth muscle actin(SMA),and collagen IV protein expression increased(P<0.05).Conversely,the HG+miR-630 mimic group exhibited a significant increase in E-cadherin protein expression and a notable decrease in TLR4,α-SMA,and collagen IV protein expression than in the HG+mimic NC group(P<0.05).The miR-630 targets TLR4 gene expression.In vivo experiments demonstrated that DKD rats treated with miR-630 agomir exhibited significantly higher miR-630 mRNA expression than DKD rats injected with agomir NC.Additionally,rats treated with miR-630 agomir showed significant reductions in urinary albumin,blood glucose,TLR4,and proinflammatory markers(TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6)expression levels(P<0.05).Moreover,these rats exhibited fewer kidney lesions and reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells.CONCLUSION MiR-630 may inhibit the inflammatory reaction of DKD by targeting TLR4,and has a protective effect on DKD.

Urinary exosomal microRNA-145-5p and microRNA-27a-3p act as noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease

BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease(DKD),characterized by increased urinary microalbumin levels and decreased renal function,is the primary cause of end-stage renal di-sease.Its pathological mechanisms are complicated and multifactorial;Therefore,sensitive and specific biomarkers are needed.Urinary exosome originate from diverse renal cells in nephron segments and partially mirror the pathological changes in the kidney.The microRNAs(miRNAs)in urinary exosome are remark-ably stable and highly tissue-specific for the kidney.METHODS Type 2 diabetic mellitus(T2DM)patients were recruited from the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University and were divided into two groups:DM,diabetic pa-tients without albuminuria[urinary albumin to creatinine ratio(UACR)<30 mg/g]and DKD,diabetic patients with albuminuria(UACR≥30 mg/g).Healthy subjects were the normal control(NC)group.Urinary exosomal miR-145-5p,miR-27a-3p,and miR-29c-3p,were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The correlation between exosomal miRNAs and the clinical in-dexes was evaluated.The diagnostic values of exosomal miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p in DKD were determined using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis.Biological functions of miR-145-5p were investigated by performing RESULTS Urinary exosomal expression of miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p was more upregulated in the DKD group than in the DM group(miR-145-5p:4.54±1.45 vs 1.95±0.93,P<0.001;miR-27a-3p:2.33±0.79 vs 1.71±0.76,P<0.05)and the NC group(miR-145-5p:4.54±1.45 vs 1.55±0.83,P<0.001;miR-27a-3p:2.33±0.79 vs 1.10±0.51,P<0.001).The exosomal miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p positively correlated with albuminuria and serum creatinine and negatively correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate.miR-27a-3p was also closely related to blood glucose,gly-cosylated hemoglobin A1c,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.ROC analysis revealed that miR-145-5p had a better area under the curve of 0.88[95%confidence interval(CI):0.784-0.985,P<0.0001]in diagnosing DKD than miR-27a-3p with 0.71(95%CI:0.547-0.871,P=0.0239).Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the target genes of miR-145-5p were located in the actin filament,cytoskeleton,and extracellular exosome and were involved in the pathological processes of DKD,including apoptosis,inflammation,and fibrosis.CONCLUSION Urinary exosomal miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p may serve as novel noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers or promising therapeutic targets for DKD.

Navigating nephrotoxic waters:A comprehensive overview of contrast-induced acute kidney injury prevention

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury(CI-AKI)is the third leading cause of acute kidney injury deriving from the intravascular administration of contrast media in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and leading to longer in-hospital stay and increased short and long-term mortality.Its pathophysiology,although not well-established,revolves around medullary hypoxia paired with the direct toxicity of the substance to the kidney.Critically ill patients,as well as those with pre-existing renal disease and cardiovascular comorbidities,are more susceptible to CI-AKI.Despite the continuous research in the field of CI-AKI prevention,clinical practice is based mostly on periprocedural hydration.In this review,all the investigated methods of prevention are presented,with an emphasis on the latest evidence regarding the potential of RenalGuard and contrast removal systems for CI-AKI prevention in high-risk individuals.

Rhabdomyolysis-related acute kidney injury in patients with COVID- 19

BACKGROUND Viral and bacterial infections may be complicated by rhabdomyolysis,which has a spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from asymptomatic laboratory abnor-malities to life-threatening conditions such as renal failure.Direct viral injury as well as inflammatory responses may cause rhabdomyolysis in the course of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).When presented with acute kidney injury(AKI),rhabdomyolysis may be related to higher morbidity and mortality.AIM To compare rhabdomyolysis-related AKI with other AKIs during COVID-19.METHODS A total of 115 patients with COVID-19 who had AKI were evaluated retrospec-tively.Fifteen patients had a definite diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis(i.e.,creatine kinase levels increased to>5 times the upper normal range with a concomitant increase in transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase).These patients were aged 61.0±19.1 years and their baseline creatinine levels were 0.87±0.13 mg/dL.Patients were treated according to national COVID-19 treatment guidelines.They were compared with patients with COVID-19 who had AKI due to other reasons.RESULTS For patients with rhabdomyolysis,creatinine reached 2.47±1.17 mg/dL during follow-up in hospital.Of these patients,13.3%had AKI upon hospital admission,and 86.4%developed AKI during hospital follow-up.Their peak C-reactive protein reached as high as 253.2±80.6 mg/L and was higher than in patients with AKI due to other reasons(P<0.01).Peak ferritin and procalcitonin levels were also higher for patients with rhabdomyolysis(P=0.02 and P=0.002,respective-ly).The mortality of patients with rhabdomyolysis was calculated as 73.3%,which was higher than in other patients with AKI(18.1%)(P=0.001).CONCLUSION Rhabdomyolysis was present in 13.0%of the patients who had AKI during COVID-19 infection.Rhabdomyolysis-related AKI is more proinflammatory and has a more mortal clinical course.

Successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-assisted treatment for a kidney transplant recipient infected with severe COVID-19

Clinical practice has shown that kidney transplant recipients infected with COVID-19 are prone to developing critical illness and have a higher mortality rate.[1]Kidney transplant recipients require long-term oral anti-rejection drugs to suppress the immune response.This result may be related to the strong immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients compared to the general population.[2]Therefore,the treatment of kidney transplant recipients infected with severe COVID-19 is a difficult problem.Here,we report the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)-assisted treatment for a kidney transplant recipient who was infected with severe COVID-19.

Experimental models for preclinical research in kidney disease

Acute kidney injury(AKI)and chronic kidney disease(CKD)are significant public health issues associated with a long-term increase in mortality risk,resulting from various etiologies including renal ischemia,sepsis,drug toxicity,and diabetes mellitus.Numerous preclinical models have been developed to deepen our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches for kidney diseases.Among these,rodent models have proven to be powerful tools in the discovery of novel therapeutics,while the development of kidney organoids has emerged as a promising advancement in the field.This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction methodologies,underlying biological mechanisms,and recent therapeutic developments across different AKI and CKD models.Additionally,this review summarizes the advantages,limitations,and challenges inherent in these preclinical models,thereby contributing robust evidence to support the development of effective therapeutic strategies.

Loneliness,social isolation and incident chronic kidney disease among patients with diabetes

Background Individuals with diabetes have a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease(CKD)and higher levels of social isolation and loneliness compared with those without diabetes.Recently,the American Heart Association highlighted the importance of considering social determinants of health(SDOH)in conjunction with traditional risk factors in patients with diabetes.Aims To investigate the associations of loneliness and social isolation with incident CKD risk in patients with diabetes in the UK Biobank.Methods A total of 18972 patients with diabetes were included in this prospective study.Loneliness and Social Isolation Scales were created based on self-reported factors.An adjusted Cox proportional hazard model was used to investigate the associations of loneliness and social isolation with CKD risk among patients with diabetes.The relative importance in predicting CKD was also calculated alongside traditional risk factors.Results During a median follow-up of 10.8 years,1127 incident CKD cases were reported.A higher loneliness scale,but not social isolation,was significantly associated with a 25%higher risk of CKD,independent of traditional risk factors,among patients with diabetes.Among the individual loneliness factors,the sense of feeling lonely emerged as the primary contributing factor to the elevated risk of CKD.Compared with individuals not experiencing feelings of loneliness,those who felt lonely exhibited a 22%increased likelihood of developing CKD.In addition,feeling lonely demonstrated greater relative importance of predicting CKD compared with traditional risk factors such as body mass index,smoking,physical activity and diet.Conclusions This study indicates the significant relationship between loneliness and CKD risk among patients with diabetes,highlighting the need to address SDOH in preventing CKD in this population.

Artificial kidney: Challenges and opportunities

This review aims to present the developments occurring in the field of artificial organs and particularly focuses on the presentation of developments in artificial kidneys.The challenges for biomedical engineering involved in overcoming the potential difficulties are showcased,as well as the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in this marriage of medicine and technology.In this review,modern artificial kidneys and the research efforts trying to provide and promise artificial kidneys are presented.But what are the problems faced by each technology and to what extent is the effort enough to date?

Pathological mechanism of immune disorders in diabetic kidney disease and intervention strategies

Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most severe chronic microvascular complications of diabetes and a primary cause of end-stage renal disease.Clinical studies have shown that renal inflammation is a key factor determining kidney damage during diabetes.With the development of immunological technology,many studies have shown that diabetic nephropathy is an immune complex disease,and that most patients have immune dysfunction.However,the immune response associated with diabetic nephropathy and autoimmune kidney disease,or caused by ischemia or infection with acute renal injury,is different,and has a complicated pathological mechanism.In this review,we discuss the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy in immune disorders and the intervention mechanism,to provide guidance and advice for early intervention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

Oxalate regulates crystal-cell adhesion and macrophage metabolism via JPT2/PI3K/AKT signaling to promote the progression of kidney stones

Oxalate is an organic dicarboxylic acid that is a common component of plant foods.The kidneys are essential organs for oxalate excretion,but excessive oxalates may induce kidney stones.Jupiter microtubule associated homolog 2(JPT2)is a critical molecule in Ca^(2+)mobilization,and its intrinsic mechanism in oxalate exposure and kidney stones remains unclear.This study aimed to reveal the mechanism of JPT2 in oxalate exposure and kidney stones.Genetic approaches were used to control JPT2 expression in cells and mice,and the JPT2 mechanism of action was analyzed using transcriptomics and untargeted metabolomics.The results showed that oxalate exposure triggered the upregulation of JPT2,which is involved in nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NAADP)-mediated Ca^(2+)mobilization.Transcriptomic analysis revealed that cell adhesion and macrophage inflammatory polarization were inhibited by JPT2 knockdown,and these were dominated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT signaling,respectively.Untargeted metabolomics indicated that JPT2 knockdown inhibited the production of succinic acid semialdehyde(SSA)in macrophages.Furthermore,JPT2 deficiency in mice inhibited kidney stones mineralization.In conclusion,this study demonstrates that oxalate exposure facilitates kidney stones by promoting crystal-cell adhesion,and modulating macrophage metabolism and inflammatory polarization via JPT2/PI3K/AKT signaling.

Incidental renal cell carcinoma post bilateral nephrectomy in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

BACKGROUND Renal cell carcinoma(RCC)is more common in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease(ADPKD)than in the general population.Diagnosing RCC in ADPKD is challenging due to the presence of multiple renal cysts,often leading to delays and difficulties in distinguishing RCC from cyst infection or hemorrhage.A total of 38 kidneys were excised from 19 patients,with a mean age of 56.8 years and an average hemodialysis duration of 84.2 months.Eight patients underwent open nephrectomies,and 11 underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrec-tomies.RCC was detected in 15.8%of kidneys,affecting 21.1%of patients.Two patients had multifocal RCC in both kidneys.All RCC cases were pT1 stage,with the largest lesion averaging 16.5 mm in diameter.The average operative duration was 120 minutes,with intraoperative blood loss averaging 184.2 mL.Five patients required blood transfusions.Postoperative complications occurred in five patients,with a mean hospital stay of 17.1 days.The mean follow-up period was 28.1 months.CONCLUSION The prevalence of RCC is higher in patients with ADPKD with ESRD than in those with ESRD alone.Thus,clinicians should be cautious and implement surveillance programs to monitor the development of RCC in patients with ADPKD,particularly those on dialysis.

Utilising continuous glucose monitoring for glycemic control in diabetic kidney disease

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Zhang et al.Chronic kidney disease(CKD)presents a significant challenge in managing glycemic control,especially in diabetic patients with diabetic kidney disease undergoing dialysis or kidney transplantation.Conventional markers like glycated haemoglobin(HbA1c)may not accurately reflect glycemic fluctuations in these populations due to factors such as anaemia and kidney dysfunction.This comprehensive review discusses the limitations of HbA1c and explores alternative methods,such as continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)in CKD patients.CGM emerges as a promising technology offering real-time or retrospective glucose concentration measure-ments and overcoming the limitations of HbA1c.Key studies demonstrate the utility of CGM in different CKD settings,including hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients,as well as kidney transplant recipients.Despite challenges like sensor accuracy fluctuation,CGM proves valuable in monitoring glycemic trends and mitigating the risk of hypo-and hyperglycemia,to which CKD patients are prone.The review also addresses the limitations of CGM in CKD patients,emphasizing the need for further research to optimize its utilization in clinical practice.Altogether,this review advocates for integrating CGM into managing glycemia in CKD patients,highlighting its superiority over traditional markers and urging clinicians to consider CGM a valuable tool in their armamentarium.

Clinical efficacy and safety of flexible ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy for large kidney stones:A retrospective comparative study

BACKGROUND Renal stones ranging 20–40 mm are very common in China.Although no largesample clinical studies have confirmed the clinical efficacy and safety of this method,there is also a lack of comparative data with traditional treatment.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy(FURS)and percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL)by postoperative stone clearance and changes in soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1(sVCAM-1)and kidney injury molecule 1(KIM-1)levels in patients with large kidney stones(>2 cm in diameter).METHODS This single-center observational study was performed at a Chinese hospital between January 1,2021,and October 30,2023.All 250 enrolled patients were diagnosed with large kidney stones(>2 cm)and divided into a FURS group(n=145)and a PCNL group(n=105)by the surgical method.The FURS group was treated with flexible ureteroscopy and the PCNL group was treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy.The operation time,time to palinesthesia,intraoperative blood loss,drop in hemoglobin,length of hospital stay,stone clearance rate,and complications were recorded in the two groups.Preoperative and postoperative serum sVCAM-1 levels,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),urine KIM-1 levels,preoperative and postoperative pain visual analog scale(VAS)and Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life Questionnaire(WISQOL)scores were also documented.RESULTS All 250 eligible patients completed the follow-up.There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups(P>0.05).The operation time in the FURS group was significantly greater than that in the PCNL group.The time to ambulation,intraoperative blood loss,decrease in hemoglobin,and length of hospital stay were significantly lower in the FURS group than in the PCNL group.The FURS group also had a significantly higher stone clearance rate and a lower incidence of postoperative complications.There was no significant difference in antibiotic use between the groups.Postoperative serum sVCAM-1 levels,urine KIM-1 levels,and VAS scores were lower in the FURS group than in the PCNL group,but postoperative ESR and WISQOL scores were greater in the FURS group than in the PCNL group.CONCLUSION FURS demonstrated superior clinical efficacy in treating large kidney stones(>2 cm in diameter)compared PCNL.It not only improved the postoperative stone clearance rate and reduced complications and recovery time but also positively affected serum SCM-1,ESR,and urine KIM-1 levels,subsequent improvement of patient quality of life.

A systematic study of Erzhu Erchen decoction against damp-heat internalized type 2 diabetes based on data mining and experimental verification

Background:Erzhu Erchen decoction(EZECD),which is based on Erchen decoction and enhanced with Atractylodes lancea and Atractylodes macrocephala,is widely used for the treatment of dampness and heat(The clinical manifestations of Western medicine include thirst,inability to drink more,diarrhea,yellow urine,red tongue,et al.)internalized disease.Nevertheless,the mechanism of EZECD on damp-heat internalized Type 2 diabetes(T2D)remains unknown.We employed data mining,pharmacology databases and experimental verification to study how EZECD treats damp-heat internalized T2D.Methods:The main compounds or genes of EZECD and damp-heat internalized T2D were obtained from the pharmacology databases.Succeeding,the overlapped targets of EZECD and damp-heat internalized T2D were performed by the Gene Ontology,kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis.And the compound-disease targets-pathway network were constructed to obtain the hub compound.Moreover,the hub genes and core related pathways were mined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis based on Gene Expression Omnibus database,the capability of hub compound and genes was valid in AutoDock 1.5.7.Furthermore,and violin plot and gene set enrichment analysis were performed to explore the role of hub genes in damp-heat internalized T2D.Finally,the interactions of hub compound and genes were explored using Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results:First,herb-compounds-genes-disease network illustrated that the hub compound of EZECD for damp-heat internalized T2D could be quercetin.Consistently,the hub genes were CASP8,CCL2,and AHR according to weighted gene co-expression network analysis.Molecular docking showed that quercetin could bind with the hub genes.Further,gene set enrichment analysis and Gene Ontology represented that CASP8,or CCL2,is negatively involved in insulin secretion response to the TNF or lipopolysaccharide process,and AHR or CCL2 positively regulated lipid and atherosclerosis,and/or including NOD-like receptor signaling pathway,and TNF signaling pathway.Ultimately,the quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analysis showed that quercetin could down-regulated the mRNA and protein experssion of CASP8,CCL2,and AHR.It was consistent with the results in Comparative Toxicogenomics Database databases.Conclusion:These results demonstrated quercetin could inhibit the expression of CASP8,CCL2,AHR in damp-heat internalized T2D,which improves insulin secretion and inhibits lipid and atherosclerosis,as well as/or including NOD-like receptor signaling pathway,and TNF signaling pathway,suggesting that EZECD may be more effective to treat damp-heat internalized T2D.

Potential efficacy and mechanism of medicinal plants on chronic kidney disease-associated vascular calcification:a review

Vascular calcification is a crucial risk factor that affects the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease patients.Modern medicine relies on calcium-phosphorus binding agents,calcium mimetics,active vitamin D,and hemodialysis to prevent and treat vascular calcification,however,their efficacy is unsatisfactory and adverse reactions often occur.Medical plant therapy can act as an integrative regulator in patients with chronic kidney disease-associated vascular calcification,which can significantly improve patients’symptoms,but its specific mechanism has not been fully elucidated yet.In this paper,we reviewed the domestic and international theoretical studies on the pathogenesis mechanism of chronic kidney disease-associated vascular calcification in recent years,summarized eight active ingredients of medicinal plants as well as four compound formulas for improving chronic kidney disease-associated vascular calcification,and explored the mechanism of action of herbal medicine,which will provide a new strategy for promoting the prevention and treatment of vascular calcification.