Rethinking the diagnosis and treatment of renal anastomotic hemangioma after partial nephrectomy

Renal anastomotic hemangioma(AH)is a rare,benign vascular tumor with unique histopathological features,a disease that is clinically rare,and existing clinical cases offer different treatment options.As reported in the text,this is a very unusual case of renal AH with AH secondary to residual renal tissue after renal clear cell carcinoma,describing a rare renal AH and a history of renal clear cell carcinoma,including ultrasound,computed tomography and magnetic re-sonance imaging.However,the available imaging data and the literature do not provide an effective basis for the diagnosis of the disease,raising the lack of un-derstanding and misdiagnosis,where the patient eventually underwent neph-rectomy,but the author is not the most appropriate surgical treatment.The po-stoperative pathological results of the patient are benign lesions,and it is unde-niable that nephrectomy is suspected to be overtreated.By reading the literature,we provide different insights into the treatment of the patient,and we hope that this paper can provide some help for the future clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis in children:Association between proteinuria levels and renal outcomes

BACKGROUND Post-streptococcal acute glomerular nephritis(PSAGN)is mostly a benign condition.The usual sequelae of PSAGN include hypertension,its complications,and acute kidney injury.Severe PSAGN is associated with significant long-term morbidity,and histological abnormalities such as crescentic glomerulonephritis are infrequently reported.PSAGN has also been linked to late-onset chronic kidney disease in some populations due to high levels of proteinuria.METHODS This prospective observational study was conducted at Lady Ridgeway Hospital(Colombo,Sri Lanka)over 15 months.Children with PSAGN were enrolled based on clinical and laboratory criteria.Persistent proteinuria≥2+for 2 weeks and serum creatinine>100μmol/L warranted renal biopsy,assessed via light microscopy and immunofluorescence.Normalization of complement 3(C3)within 6 to 8 weeks was required for inclusion.Data on clinical features,urine protein levels,and renal function were collected from patient records,and potential associations were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and R language for statistical computing.Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee,Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children(Ref No:LRH/ERC/2021/60).RESULTS Forty-four patients were recruited.There were 27(61.4%)male patients and 17(38.6%)female patients.Thirty-seven(84%)of them were above 5 years of age.Twenty(45%)patients had a history of skin sepsis,and eighteen(41%)had a history of throat infection.Among patients with proteinuria≥2+,53%had serum creatinine>100µmol/L,while among those with proteinuria<2+,7%had serum creatinine>100µmol/L.The association of high-degree proteinuria with elevated serum creatinine was significant(χ²=7.8,P=0.005)in PSAGN.The odds ratio of the logistic regression model was 1.049(95%confidence interval:1.003-1.098),indicating a positive direction with statistically significant association(P=0.037).There was no significant association between proteinuria and the degree of hypertension or estimated creatinine clearance.Ten children underwent renal biopsy.Crescents(less than 50%)were demonstrated in five children,while three children had typical diffuse proliferative glomer-ulonephritis.One child had severe acute tubular necrosis,and another had crescentic glomerulonephritis(crescents>50%).The immunofluorescence studies revealed deposition of immunoglobulin G and C3 in all biopsy specimens.CONCLUSION High-degree proteinuria was significantly associated with elevated serum creatinine(>100μmol/L)in children with PSAGN.The majority of children with persistent proteinuria≥2+for more than 2 weeks and the highest recorded serum creatinine>100μmol/L had atypical renal histological findings.

Renal glucosuria in children

The kidneys play a critical role in maintaining glucose homeostasis.Under normal renal tubular function,most of the glucose filtered from the glomeruli is re-absorbed in the proximal tubules,leaving only trace amounts in the urine.Glycosuria can occur as a symptom of generalized proximal tubular dysfunction or when the reabsorption threshold is exceeded or the glucose threshold is reduced,as seen in familial renal glycosuria(FRG).FRG is characterized by persistent glycosuria despite normal blood glucose levels and tubular function and is primarily associated with mutations in the sodium/glucose cotransporter 5A2 gene,which encodes the sodium-glucose cotransporter(SGLT)2.Inhibiting SGLTs has been proposed as a novel treatment strategy for diabetes,and since FRG is often considered an asymptomatic and benign condition,it has inspired preclinical and clinical studies using SGLT2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes.However,patients with FRG may exhibit clinical features such as lower body weight or height,altered systemic blood pressure,diaper dermatitis,amino-aciduria,decreased serum uric acid levels,and hypercalciuria.Further research is needed to fully understand the pathophysiology,molecular genetics,and clinical manifestations of renal glucosuria.

Artificial intelligence-driven strategies for managing renal and urinary complications in inflammatory bowel disease

In this editorial,we discuss the article by Singh et al published in World Journal of Nephrology,stating the need for timely adjustments in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)patients'long-term management plans.IBD is chronic and lifelong,with recurrence and remission cycles,including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.It's exact etiology is unknown but likely multifactorial.Related to gut flora and immune issues.Besides intestinal symptoms,IBD can also affect various extrain-testinal manifestations such as those involving the skin,joints,eyes and urinary system.The anatomical proximity of urinary system waste disposal to that of the alimentary canal makes early detection and the differentiation of such symptoms very difficult.Various studies show that IBD and it's first-line drugs have nephro-toxicity,impacting the patients'life quality.Existing guidelines give very few references for kidney lesion monitoring.Singh et al's plan aims to improve treatment management for IBD patients with glomerular filtration rate decline,specifically those at risk.Most of IBD patients are young and they need lifelong therapy.So early therapy cessation,taking into account drug side effects,can be helpful.Artificial intelligence-driven diagnosis and treatment has a big potential for management improvements in IBD and other chronic diseases.

Gastrointestinal disease in end-stage renal disease

When kidney function declines to a point where it can no longer maintain life and requires renal replacement therapy(i.e.renal transplant or dialysis),it is called end-stage renal disease(ESRD).Patients with ESRD often experience a range of gastrointestinal(GI)symptoms,with prevalence rates reported as high as 77%-79%.These symptoms and pathologies arise from various factors,including electrolyte imbalance,fluid imbalance,toxin buildup,uremia,medications,dietary and lifestyle restrictions,and the effects of dialysis.GI diseases in patients with renal failure can be further categorized into upper GI,small bowel,and lower GI issues.Common conditions include gastroesophageal reflux disease,nausea and vomiting,dysmotility within the esophagus and stomach,upper GI bleeding,peptic ulcer bleeding,angioectasia,irritable bowel syndrome,mesen-teric ischemia,angiodysplasia,diverticular disease,constipation,pancreatitis,and diseases associated with peritoneal dialysis peritonitis and peritoneal stenosis.This review assesses the existing literature on the different GI diseases among individuals with ESRD,shedding light on their pathophysiology and prevalence.

Renal effects and safety of tirzepatide in subjects with and without diabetes:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes(T2D),as well as obesity,are risk factors for chronic kidney disease(CKD)and end-stage renal disease.The renal impacts of glucose-lowering and weight-lowering drugs and their potential benefits in preventing CKD often guide clinicians in choosing them appropriately.Only limited data based on randomized controlled trials(RCTs)is currently available on the renal effects and safety profile of tirzepatide.AIM To explore the renal benefits and safety of tirzepatide vs controls.METHODS RCTs involving patients receiving tirzepatide for any indication in the intervention arm and placebo or active comparator in the control arm were searched through multiple electronic databases.The co-primary outcomes were percent change from baseline(CFB)in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio(UACR)and absolute CFB in estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR;in mL/min/1.73 m^(2));the secondary outcome was tirzepatide’s renal safety profile.RevMan web was used to conduct meta-analysis using random-effects models.Outcomes were presented as mean differences(MD)or risk ratios with 95%confidence intervals.RESULTS Fifteen RCTs(n=14471)with mostly low risk of bias(RoB)were included.Over 26-72 weeks,tirzepatide 10 mg[MD-26.95%(-40.13,-13.76),P<0.0001]and 15 mg[MD-18.03%(-28.58,-7.47),P=0.0008]were superior to placebo in percent reductions of UACR.Tirzepatide,at all doses,outperformed insulin in percent reductions of UACR.Compared to the placebo,the percent UACR reduction was greater in subjects with T2D than those with obesity but without T2D(MD-33.25%vs-7.93%;P=0.001).The CFB in eGFR with all doses of tirzepatide was comparable[5 mg:MD 0.36(-1.41,2.14);10 mg:MD 1.17(-0.22,2.56);15 mg:MD 1.42(-0.04,2.88)];P>0.05 for all vs insulin.Tirzepatide(pooled and separate doses)did not increase the risks of adverse renal events,urinary tract infection,nephrolithiasis,acute kidney injury,and renal cancer compared to the placebo,insulin,and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.CONCLUSION Short-term data from RCTs with low RoB suggests that tirzepatide positively impacts UACR without detrimental effects on eGFR in subjects with T2D and obesity without T2D,with a reassuring renal safety profile.Larger RCTs are warranted to prove the longer-term renal benefits of tirzepatide,which might also prevent eGFR decline and worsening of CKD.

Myricetin induces M2 macrophage polarization to alleviate renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy via PI3K/Akt pathway

BACKGROUND Development of end-stage renal disease is predominantly attributed to diabetic nephropathy(DN).Previous studies have indicated that myricetin possesses the potential to mitigate the pathological alterations observed in renal tissue.Never-theless,the precise molecular mechanism through which myricetin influences the progression of DN remains uncertain.AIM To investigate the effects of myricetin on DN and explore its potential therapeutic mechanism.METHODS Db/db mice were administered myricetin intragastrically on a daily basis at doses of 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg for a duration of 12 wk.Subsequently,blood and urine indexes were assessed,along with examination of renal tissue pathology.Kidney morphology and fibrosis were evaluated using various staining techniques including hematoxylin and eosin,periodic acid–Schiff,Masson’s trichrome,and Sirius-red.Additionally,high-glucose culturing was conducted on the RAW 264.7 cell line,treated with 25 mM myricetin or co-administered with the PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002 for a period of 24 h.In both in vivo and in vitro settings,quantification of inflammation factor levels was conducted using western blotting,real-time qPCR and ELISA.RESULTS In db/db mice,administration of myricetin led to a mitigating effect on DN-induced renal dysfunction and fibrosis.Notably,we observed a significant reduction in expressions of the kidney injury markers kidney injury molecule-1 and neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin,along with a decrease in expressions of inflammatory cytokine-related factors.Furthermore,myricetin treatment effectively inhibited the up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha,interleukin-6,and interluekin-1βinduced by high glucose in RAW 264.7 cells.Additionally,myricetin modulated the M1-type polarization of the RAW 264.7 cells.Molecular docking and bioinformatic analyses revealed Akt as the target of myricetin.The protective effect of myricetin was nullified upon blocking the polarization of RAW 264.7 via inhibition of PI3K/Akt activation using LY294002.CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that myricetin effectively mitigates kidney injury in DN mice through the regulation of macrophage polarization via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

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.

Renal resistive index measurements by ultrasound in patients with liver cirrhosis:Magnitude and associations with renal dysfunction

BACKGROUND The hemodynamic alterations seen in liver cirrhosis lead to renal vasoconstriction,ultimately causing acute kidney injury(AKI).The renal resistive index(RRI)is the most common Doppler ultrasound variable for measuring intrarenal vascular resistance.AIM To evaluate the association of the RRI with AKI in patients with liver cirrhosis and to identify risk factors for high RRI.METHODS This was a prospective observational study,where RRI was measured using Doppler ultrasound in 200 consecutive hospitalized patients with cirrhosis.The association of RRI with AKI was studied.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was utilized to determine discriminatory cut-offs of RRI for various AKI phenotypes.Multivariate analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of high RRI.RESULTS The mean patient age was 49.08±11.68 years,with the majority(79.5%)being male;the predominant etiology of cirrhosis was alcohol(39%).The mean RRI for the study cohort was 0.68±0.09,showing a progressive increase with higher Child-Pugh class of cirrhosis.Overall,AKI was present in 129(64.5%)patients.The mean RRI was significantly higher in patients with AKI compared to those without it(0.72±0.06 vs 0.60±0.08;P<0.001).A total of 82 patients(41%)had hepatorenal syndrome(HRS)-AKI,29(22.4%)had prerenal AKI(PRA),and 18(13.9%)had acute tubular necrosis(ATN)-AKI.The mean RRI was significantly higher in the ATN-AKI(0.80±0.02)and HRS-AKI(0.73±0.03)groups than in the PRA(0.63±0.07)and non-AKI(0.60±0.07)groups.RRI demonstrated excellent discriminatory ability in distinguishing ATN-AKI from non-ATN-AKI(area under ROC curve:93.9%).AKI emerged as an independent predictor of high RRI(adjusted odds ratio[OR]:11.52),and high RRI independently predicted mortality among AKI patients(adjusted OR:3.18).CONCLUSION In cirrhosis patients,RRI exhibited a significant association with AKI,effectively differentiated between AKI phenotypes,and predicted AKI mortality.

Ipsilateral retroperitoneal papillary renal cell carcinoma 27 years after simple nephrectomy for a renal abscess:A case report

BACKGROUND Cases of severe inflammatory renal disease and renal cell carcinoma(RCC)that occur simultaneously in the same kidney have been occasionally reported.However,extrarenal RCC that does not originate from the native kidney has rarely been reported.To our knowledge,this is the first reported case of RCC developing in the ipsilateral retroperitoneal space after a simple nephrectomy(SN)for inflammatory renal disease.CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old woman was referred to our hospital following the incidental discovery of a left retroperitoneal mass without specific symptoms.Her medical history revealed a left SN 27 years ago due to a renal abscess.Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen revealed three oval masses in the left retroperitoneum.The masses were successfully excised,and subsequent pathology confirmed papillary RCC.After surgery,the patient remained disease-free for 11 years without adjuvant therapy.CONCLUSION Clinicians should be vigilant of RCC in patients with retroperitoneal masses,especially after SN for inflammatory renal disease.

Interplay between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and renal function: An intriguing pediatric perspective

Over recent years,the nomenclature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has undergone significant changes.Indeed,in 2020,an expert consensus panel proposed the term“Metabolic(dysfunction)associated fatty liver disease”(MAFLD)to underscore the close association of fatty liver with metabolic abnormalities,thereby highlighting the cardiometabolic risks(such as metabolic syndrome,type 2 diabetes,insulin resistance,and cardiovascular disease)faced by these patients since childhood.More recently,this term has been further replaced with metabolic associated steatotic liver disease.It is worth noting that emerging evidence not only supports a close and independent association of MAFLD with chronic kidney disease in adults but also indicates its interplay with metabolic impairments.However,comparable pediatric data remain limited.Given the progressive and chronic nature of both diseases and their prognostic cardiometabolic implications,this editorial aims to provide a pediatric perspective on the intriguing relationship between MAFLD and renal function in childhood.

Efficacy and safety of Nafamostat mesylate in patients with endstage renal failure

BACKGROUND Recent studies on dialysis anticoagulation therapy in patients with renal failure have shown that Nafamostat mesylate,a broad-spectrum potent serine protease inhibitor,has strong anticoagulation and anti-fiber activity.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Nafamostat mesylate in patients with end-stage renal failure.METHODS Seventy-five patients with end-stage renal failure who received hemodialysis at our hospital between January 2020 and August 2021 were selected and divided into the observation group(Nafamostat mesylate for injection,n=33)and control group(heparin sodium injection,n=32).General patient data,indicators of clinical efficacy,dialyzer hemocoagulation parameters,coagulation function indices,and hemoglobin concentration and platelet count before and after treatment,and the occurrence of adverse reactions after treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The two groups showed no significant differences in general patient data(P>0.05).The post-treatment effectiveness rate in the control group was lower than that in the observation group(P<0.05).The two groups showed no significant difference in the number of patients in grade I(P>0.05),while the number of patients in grade 0 was lower in the control group,and the number of patients in grades II and III was higher in the control group(P<0.05).The post-treatment prothrombin time,activated partial thromboplastin time,thrombin time,and international normalized ratio values in the control group were higher than those in the observation group,while the fibrinogen level in the control group was lower than that in the observation group(P<0.05).The two groups showed no significant difference in the platelet count and hemoglobin level before and after treatment(P>0.05).The total number of post-treatment adverse reactions in the observation group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Treatment of patients showing end-stage renal failure with Nafamostat mesylate can significantly improve therapeutic efficacy and has high safety and clinical value.

Renal tubular epithelial cell quality control mechanisms as therapeutic targets in renal fibrosis

Renal fibrosis is a devastating consequence of progressive chronic kidney disease,representing a major public health challenge worldwide.The underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis remain unclear,and effective treatments are still lacking.Renal tubular epithelial cells(RTECs)maintain kidney function,and their dysfunction has emerged as a critical contributor to renal fibrosis.Cellular quality control comprises several components,including telomere homeostasis,ubiquitin-proteasome system(UPS),autophagy,mitochondrial homeostasis(mitophagy and mitochondrial metabolism),endoplasmic reticulum(ER,unfolded protein response),and lysosomes.Failures in the cellular quality control of RTECs,including DNA,protein,and organelle damage,exert profibrotic functions by leading to senescence,defective autophagy,ER stress,mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction,apoptosis,fibroblast activation,and immune cell recruitment.In this review,we summarize recent advances in understanding the role of quality control components and intercellular crosstalk networks in RTECs,within the context of renal fibrosis.

Is fluoroscopy-free single-use flexible ureteroscopy a feasible treatment for kidney stones with abnormal renal anatomy?

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the fluoroscopy-free single-use flexible ureteroscopy procedure in the treatment of kidney stones with abnormal renal anatomy compared to normal renal anatomy.Methods:Forty patients with abnormal (Group A) and 80 patients with normal (Group B) renal anatomy who had 10–20 mm renal stones were included. They were treated with LithoVue single-use flexible ureteroscopy (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) after ureteric dilatation by two different size semi-rigid ureteroscopes. This technique was chosen as the aim was to exclude any ureteric pathology (e.g., stone or stricture), confirm the placement of a safe guidewire, avoid balloon dilatation of the ureter, and achieve safe insertion of a 12 Fr, 35/45 cm ureteric access sheath with optical and tactile sign and without fluoroscopy image for guidance.Results:The mean ages were 43 years and 45 years in Group A and Group B, respectively. The mean stone burden was 14.62 (standard deviation: 5.35) mm^(3) and 14.79 (standard deviation: 4.58) mm^(3) in Group A and Group B, respectively. There is no significant difference between both groups according to the mean operative time, hospital stay, or stone-free rate. The stone-free rate was about 93% in both groups when the stone size was between 10 mm and 15 mm, and less than 54% when the stone size was more than 15 mm to 20 mm. In the majority of cases (80.0% in Group A and 92.5% in Group B), we completed the procedure without fluoroscopy. The perioperative complication rates were comparable in the two groups.Conclusion:Fluoroscopy-free single-use flexible ureteroscopy, when performed by expert urologists, is a feasible treatment for pre-stented patients with kidney calculi of ≤15 mm with abnormal renal anatomy.

Assessment of Renal Erythropoietic Status of the Newly Diagnosed Diabetic Patients without Renal Impairment in Benin City, Nigeria

Diabetes mellitus is a carbohydrate metabolism disorder which is caused due to impairment in insulin secretion and/or the activity of insulin, leading to chronic hyperglycemia with defective carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. This study aimed at assessing the erythropoietin (EPO), hemoglobin and renal parameters levels among the newly diagnosed diabetic patients and providing valuable insights into the management and progression of the disease. A case-control study was conducted on samples of 60 consenting participants including newly diagnosed diabetic patients (n − 30), and healthy controls (n − 30) of age ranging between 20 - 50 years. EPO level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the renal parameters (electrolytes) were measured using Ion-Selective Electrodes. Hemoglobin, urea and creatinine were measured using cyanmethemoglobin and colorimetric methods respectively under standard protocols. Demographic and clinical data, including age, gender, diabetes duration, iron rich diet consumption, medication history and family history were collected via questionnaires. Independent sample t-test indicated significantly higher mean hemoglobin (p < 0.05), packed cell volume (p = 0.05) and fasting blood glucose (p < 0.001) in newly diagnosed diabetic patients compared with their healthy control. No significant differences were observed in EPO, creatinine, urea, potassium, bicarbonate, sodium, and chloride between the two groups. In this study, the values of haemoglobin, packed cell volume, EPO and all renal biomarkers were normal, this may be due to the early diagnosis of the disease. It also suggests the extensive capacity of the kidney which is able to withstand metabolic disturbances in the newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus condition. Routine medical check and lifestyle modification are recommended to a newly diagnosed diabetic patients. Also further research is warranted to explore the clinical implications of these assessments in predicting diabetes complications, disease progression and guiding therapeutic interventions.

Metallothionein 1E Alleviates Cadmium-induced Renal Cytotoxicity through Promoting Mitochondrial Functional Recovery

The pervasive utilization of industrial substances has escalated human exposure to cadmium(Cd),a metal associated with long-term negative health outcomes such as renal dysfunction,neurological disorders,and various cancers^([1]).Once ingested by humans,Cd interacts with cysteine-rich metallothioneins(MTs)which have metal-binding and antioxidant properties and is subsequently transported to the kidney^([2]).

TRPC6 Knockout Alleviates Renal Fibrosis through PI3K/AKT/GSK3B Pathway

Objective Renal fibrosis is the ultimate pathway of various forms of acute and chronic kidney damage.Notably,the knockout of transient receptor potential channel 6(TRPC6)has shown promise in alleviating renal fibrosis.However,the regulatory impact of TRPC6 on renal fibrosis remains unclear.Methods In vivo,TRPC6 knockout(TRPC6−/−)mice and age-matched 129 SvEv(WT)mice underwent unilateral renal ischemia-reperfusion(uIR)injury surgery on the left renal pedicle or sham operation.Kidneys and serum were collected on days 7,14,21,and 28 after euthanasia.In vitro,primary tubular epithelial cells(PTECs)were isolated from TRPC6−/−and WT mice,followed by treatment with transforming growth factorβ1(TGFβ1)for 72 h.The anti-fibrotic effect of TRPC6−/−and the underlying mechanisms were assessed through hematoxylin-eosin staining,Masson staining,immunostaining,qRT-PCR,and Western blotting.Results Increased TRPC6 expression was observed in uIR mice and PTECs treated with TGFβ1.TRPC6−/−alleviated renal fibrosis by reducing the expression of fibrotic markers(Col-1,α-SMA,and vimentin),as well as decreasing the apoptosis and inflammation of PTECs during fibrotic progression both in vivo and in vitro.Additionally,we found that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta(GSK3β)signaling pathway,a pivotal player in renal fibrosis,was down-regulated following TRPC6 deletion.Conclusion These results suggest that the ablation of TRPC6 may mitigate renal fibrosis by inhibiting the apoptosis and inflammation of PTECs through down-regulation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3βpathway.Targeting TRPC6 could be a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing chronic kidney disease.

Management of ruptured renal angiomyolipoma with bilateral staghorn calculi

Dear Editor,We present a case of ruptured renal angiomyolipoma(AML)and bilateral renal staghorn calculi.We discuss about the management of this patient by angioembolization,partial nephrectomy,and pyelolithotomy,followed by contralateral interval percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL).Our case is a 40-year-old male who presented with history of dull aching and dragging sensation in bilateral flanks of 6-month duration.He was admitted and evaluated at other hospital for dizziness,sweating,and loss of consciousness.He was found to have bilateral staghorn calculi and left AML and was referred to our institute for further management after initial stabilization.The proper written and informed consent was taken from the patient for management as well as publication of the report and images,maintaining the patient’s anonymity.

A chemical odyssey:Exploring renal stone diversity by age and sex in Punjab,Pakistan

Dear Editor,Renal calculosis is one of the most common urological disorders worldwide,with a prevalence ranging from 1%to 13%across different regions[1].Renal stones are crystal concretions that form on the inner surface of the kidney,resulting from disruptions in the metabolism,the excretion of stone constituents,or the formation of Randall's plaques and plugs.These stones are a result of various endogenous factors.

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: Epidemiological, Clinical Aspects and Predictive Factors of Poor Renal Prognosis (About 300 Cases)

Introduction: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common, multisystemic, and progressive hereditary disease. It accounts for 6 to 8% of incident cases of end-stage chronic renal disease (ESRD) in developed countries. The aim of this study is to describe the predictive factors for the development of end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the course of this disease. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study including 300 cases of ADPKD collected at the Nephrology Department of Ibn-Sina Hospital in Rabat over a period of 30 years (1993 to 2023). Included in the study are all patients with ADPKD meeting the ultrasound diagnostic criteria. The analysis focused on demographic, clinical, paraclinical, evolutionary data, as well as prognostic factors associated with renal function deterioration. Results: The mean age of patients at diagnosis is 51.53 +/− 17 years [16 - 93] with a male predominance. The median serum creatinine at diagnosis is 15.5 mg/l [10 - 34]. 21% of patients had ESRD (eGFR 300 mg/24h (21%). The most common cystic complication is hemorrhage (12.3%). 21.3% of patients had hepatorenal polycystic disease. In adjusted analysis, the predictive risk factors for the occurrence of ESRD were smoking (p = 0.019), anemia (p Conclusion: ADPKD can progress insidiously to ESRD. Identification and early treatment of predictive factors for poor renal prognosis could contribute to a better outcome for this disease.