Risk factors for developing osteoporosis in diabetic kidney disease and its correlation with calcium-phosphorus metabolism,FGF23,and Klotho

BACKGROUND The progression of diabetic kidney disease(DKD)affects the patient’s kidney glomeruli and tubules,whose normal functioning is essential for maintaining normal calcium(Ca)and phosphorus(P)metabolism in the body.The risk of developing osteoporosis(OP)in patients with DKD increases with the aggravation of the disease,including a higher risk of fractures,which not only affects the quality of life of patients but also increases the risk of death.AIM To analyze the risk factors for the development of OP in patients with DKD and their correlation with Ca-P metabolic indices,fibroblast growth factor 23(FGF23),and Klotho.METHODS One hundred and fifty-eight patients with DKD who were admitted into the Wuhu Second People’s Hospital from September 2019 to May 2021 were selected and divided into an OP group(n=103)and a normal bone mass group(n=55)according to their X-ray bone densitometry results.Baseline data and differences in Ca-P biochemical indices,FGF23,and Klotho were compared.The correlation of Ca-P metabolic indices with FGF23 and Klotho was discussed,and the related factors affecting OP in patients with DKD were examined by multivariate logistic regression analysis.RESULTS The OP group had a higher proportion of females,an older age,and a longer diabetes mellitus duration than the normal group(all P<0.05).Patients in the OP group exhibited significantly higher levels of intact parathyroid hormone(iPTH),blood P,Ca-P product(Ca×P),fractional excretion of phosphate(FeP),and FGF23,as well as lower estimated glomerular filtration rate,blood Ca,24-hour urinary phosphate excretion(24-hour UPE),and Klotho levels(all P<0.05).In the OP group,25-(OH)-D3,blood Ca,and 24-hour UPE were negatively correlated with FGF23 and positively correlated with Klotho.In contrast,iPTH,blood Ca,Ca×P,and FeP exhibited a positive correlation with FGF23 and an inverse association with Klotho(all P<0.05).Moreover,25-(OH)-D3,iPTH,blood Ca,FePO4,FGF23,Klotho,age,and female gender were key factors that affected the lumbar and left femoral neck bone mineral density.CONCLUSION The Ca-P metabolism metabolic indexes,FGF23,and Klotho in patients with DKD are closely related to the occurrence and development of OP.

Future of non-invasive graft evaluation:A systematic review of proteomics in kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND Despite the developments in the field of kidney transplantation,the already existing diagnostic techniques for patient monitoring are considered insufficient.Protein biomarkers that can be derived from modern approaches of proteomic analysis of liquid biopsies(serum,urine)represent a promising innovation in the monitoring of kidney transplant recipients.AIM To investigate the diagnostic utility of protein biomarkers derived from proteomics approaches in renal allograft assessment.METHODS A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines,based on research results from the PubMed and Scopus databases.The primary focus was on evaluating the role of biomarkers in the non-invasive diagnosis of transplant-related com-plications.Eligibility criteria included protein biomarkers and urine and blood samples,while exclusion criteria were language other than English and the use of low resolution and sensitivity methods.The selected research articles,were categorized based on the biological sample,condition and methodology and the significantly and reproducibly differentiated proteins were manually selected and extracted.Functional and network analysis of the selected proteins was performed.RESULTS In 17 included studies,58 proteins were studied,with the cytokine CXCL10 being the most investigated.Biological pathways related to immune response and fibrosis have shown to be enriched.Applications of biomarkers for the assessment of renal damage as well as the prediction of short-term and long-term function of the graft were reported.Overall,all studies have shown satisfactory diagnostic accuracy of proteins alone or in combination with conventional methods,as far as renal graft assessment is concerned.CONCLUSION Our review suggests that protein biomarkers,evaluated in specific biological fluids,can make a significant contribution to the timely,valid and non-invasive assessment of kidney graft.

Endothelial dysfunction in the kidney transplant population:Current evidence and management strategies

The endothelium modulates vascular homeostasis owing to a variety of vasoconstrictors and vasodilators.Endothelial dysfunction(ED),characterized by impaired vasodilation,inflammation,and thrombosis,triggers future cardiovascular(CV)diseases.Chronic kidney disease,a state of chronic inflammation caused by oxidative stress,metabolic abnormalities,infection,and uremic toxins damages the endothelium.ED is also associated with a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate.After kidney transplantation,endothelial functions undergo immediate but partial restoration,promising graft longevity and enhanced CV health.However,the anticipated CV outcomes do not happen due to various transplant-related and unrelated risk factors for ED,culminating in poor CV health and graft survival.ED in kidney transplant recipients is an underrecognized and poorly studied entity.CV diseases are the leading cause of death among kidney transplant candidates with functioning grafts.ED contributes to the pathogenesis of many of the CV diseases.Various biomarkers and vasoreactivity tests are available to study endothelial functions.With an increasing number of transplants happening every year,and improved graft rejection rates due to the availability of effective immunosuppressants,the focus has now shifted to endothelial protection for the prevention,early recognition,and treatment of CV diseases.

Expanding role of antibodies in kidney transplantation

The role of antibodies in kidney transplant(KT)has evolved significantly over the past few decades.This role of antibodies in KT is multifaceted,encompassing both the challenges they pose in terms of antibody-mediated rejection(AMR)and the opportunities for improving transplant outcomes through better detection,prevention,and treatment strategies.As our understanding of the immunological mechanisms continues to evolve,so too will the approaches to managing and harnessing the power of antibodies in KT,ultimately leading to improved patient and graft survival.This narrative review explores the multifaceted roles of antibodies in KT,including their involvement in rejection mechanisms,advancements in desensitization protocols,AMR treatments,and their potential role in monitoring and improving graft survival.

Rhabdomyolysis-related acute kidney injury in COVID-19:A critical concern

Rhabdomyolysis is a severe condition characterized by the breakdown of muscle tissue leading to the release of intracellular components into the bloodstream.This condition,when associated with acute kidney injury(AKI),can result in significant morbidity and mortality,particularly in the context of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).This editorial discusses a retrospective study on patients with COVID-19 who developed rhabdomyolysis-related AKI.The study highlights that patients with rhabdomyolysis exhibited higher inflammatory markers,such as Creactive protein,ferritin,and procalcitonin,and experienced worse clinical outcomes compared to those with other causes of AKI.The findings underscore the importance of early recognition and management of rhabdomyolysis in COVID-19 patients to improve prognosis and reduce mortality rates.

Comparative study of living donor kidney transplants:Right vs left

BACKGROUND Transplant teams often hesitate to use the right kidney(RK)in living donor(LD)transplants due to the complexities of anastomosing the short,thin-walled right renal veins,which can potentially lead to graft loss or graft dysfunction.Nevertheless,circumstances may arise where selecting the RK over the left kidney(LK)is unavoidable.Consequently,it is crucial to thoroughly examine the implications of such a choice on the overall transplant outcome.AIM To compare transplant outcomes between recipients of RK and LK while examining the factors that influence these outcomes.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed data from adult patients who received LD kidney transplants involving meticulous patient selection and surgical techniques at our center from January 2020 to December 2023.We included all kidney donors who were over 18,fit to donate,and had undergone diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid split function and/or computed tomography based volumetry.The variables examined comprised donor and recipient demographics,and outcome measures included technical graft loss(TGL),delayed or slow graft function(SGF),and post-transplant serum creatinine(SC)trends.We used a logistic regression model to assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes considering the donor kidney side.RESULTS Of the 250 transplants performed during the period,56(22%)were RKs.The recipient demographics and transplant factors were comparable for the right and LKs,except that the donor warm and cold ischemia time were shorter for RKs.TGL and SGF each occurred in 2%(n=1)of RKs and 0.5%(n=1)of LKs,the difference being insignificant.These complications,however,were not related to the venous anastomosis.One RK(2%)developed delayed graft function after 48 hours,which was attributable to postoperative hypoxia rather than the surgical technique.The post-transplant SC trend and mean SC at the last follow-up were similar across both kidney sides.CONCLUSION The donor kidney side has little impact on post-transplant adverse events and graft function in LD transplants,provided that careful patient selection and precise surgical techniques are employed.

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.

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.

Meta-analysis of the association between chronic periodontitis and chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND Many scholars have performed several clinical studies have investigated the association between chronic periodontitis(CP)and chronic kidney disease(CKD).However,there are still differences between these research results,and there is no unified conclusion.Therefore,a systematic review is required to understand this issue fully.AIM To explore the correlation between CP and CKD.METHODS Literature on the correlation between CP and CKD,as well as the clinical attachment level(CAL)and pocket probing depth(PPD)of CKD and non-CKD,were retrieved from PubMed,Embase,the Cochrane Library,and Web of Science repositories until January 2024.After the effective data were extracted,data processing and statistics were performed using Stata 12.0.RESULTS Of the 22 studies,13 were related to CP and CKD,and 9 reported CAL and PPD in patients with CKD and healthy controls.Meta-analysis of the correlation between CP and CKD revealed that CKD probability in people with CP was 1.54 times that of healthy individuals[relative risk=1.54,95%confidence interval(CI):1.40-1.70],and CP incidence in patients with CKD was 1.98 times that of healthy individuals[overall risk(OR)=1.98,95%CI:1.53-2.57].Meta-analysis of CAL and PPD evaluations between CKD patients and healthy individuals showed that CAL and PPD levels were higher in CKD patients[standard mean difference(SMD)of CAL=0.65,95%CI:0.29-1.01;SMD of PPD=0.33,95%CI:0.02-0.63].CONCLUSION A bidirectional association exists between CP and CKD.CKD risk is increased in CP patients and vice versa.Periodontal tissue or tooth loss risks increase over time in CKD patients.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids:Current progress and challenges

Human pluripotent stem cell(hPSC)-derived kidney organoids share similarities with the fetal kidney.However,the current hPSC-derived kidney organoids have some limitations,including the inability to perform nephrogenesis and lack of a corticomedullary definition,uniform vascular system,and coordinated exit path-way for urinary filtrate.Therefore,further studies are required to produce hPSC-derived kidney organoids that accurately mimic human kidneys to facilitate research on kidney development,regeneration,disease modeling,and drug screening.In this review,we discussed recent advances in the generation of hPSC-derived kidney organoids,how these organoids contribute to the understanding of human kidney development and research in disease modeling.Additionally,the limitations,future research focus,and applications of hPSC-derived kidney organoids were highlighted.

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.

Impact of body mass index on adverse kidney events in diabetes mellitus patients: A systematic-review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The incidence of chronic kidney disease among patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)remains a global concern.Long-term obesity is known to possibly influence the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.However,no previous meta-analysis has assessed the effects of body mass index(BMI)on adverse kidney events in patients with DM.AIM To determine the impact of BMI on adverse kidney events in patients with DM.METHODS A systematic literature search was performed on the PubMed,ISI Web of Science,Scopus,Ovid,Google Scholar,EMBASE,and BMJ databases.We included trials with the following characteristics:(1)Type of study:Prospective,retrospective,randomized,and non-randomized in design;(2)participants:Restricted to patients with DM aged≥18 years;(3)intervention:No intervention;and(4)kidney adverse events:Onset of diabetic kidney disease[estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)of<60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and/or microalbuminuria value of≥30 mg/g Cr],serum creatinine increase of more than double the baseline or end-stage renal disease(eGFR<15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or dialysis),or death.RESULTS Overall,11 studies involving 801 patients with DM were included.High BMI(≥25 kg/m2)was significantly associated with higher blood pressure(BP)[systolic BP by 0.20,95%confidence interval(CI):0.15–0.25,P<0.00001;diastolic BP by 0.21 mmHg,95%CI:0.04–0.37,P=0.010],serum albumin,triglycerides[standard mean difference(SMD)=0.35,95%CI:0.29–0.41,P<0.00001],low-density lipoprotein(SMD=0.12,95%CI:0.04–0.20,P=0.030),and lower high-density lipoprotein(SMD=–0.36,95%CI:–0.51 to–0.21,P<0.00001)in patients with DM compared with those with low BMIs(<25 kg/m2).Our analysis showed that high BMI was associated with a higher risk ratio of adverse kidney events than low BMI(RR:1.22,95%CI:1.01–1.43,P=0.036).CONCLUSION The present analysis suggested that high BMI was a risk factor for adverse kidney events in patients with DM.

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.