Mycophenolate Mofetil Is Associated with Altered Expression of Chronic Renal Transplant Histology

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) reduces acute rejection in controlled trials of kidney transplantation and is associated with better registry graft survival. Recent experimental studies have demonstrated additional antifibrotic properties of MMF, however, human histological data are lacking. We evaluated sequential prospective protocol kidney biopsies from two historical cohorts treated with cyclosporine (CSA)-based triple therapy including prednisolone and either MMF (n = 25) or azathioprine (AZA, n = 25). Biopsies (n = 360) were taken from euglycemic kidney-pancreas transplant recipients. Histology was independently assessed by the Banff schema and electron microscopic morphometry. MMF reduced acute rejection and OKT3 use (p < 0.05) compared with AZA. MMF therapy was associated with limited chronic interstitial fibrosis, striped fibrosis and periglomerular fibrosis (p < 0.05-0.001), mesangial matrix accumulation (p < 0.01), chronic glomerulopathy scores (p < 0.05) and glomerulosclerosis (p < 0.05). MMF was associated with delayed expression of CSA nephrotoxicity, reduced arteriolar hyalinosis, striped fibrosis and tubular microcalcification (p < 0.05-0.001). The beneficial effects of MMF remained in recipients without acute rejection. Retrospective analysis shows that MMF therapy was associated with substantially reduced fibrosis in the glomerular, microvascular and interstitial compartments, and a delayed expression of CSA nephrotoxicity. These outcomes may be due to a limitation of immune-mediated injury and suggest a direct effect of reduced fibrogenesis.     

氯沙坦对糖尿病大鼠肾组织TLR4表达的影响

目的观察氯沙坦对糖尿病大鼠肾组织TOLL样受体4（TLR4）表达的影响。方法采用链脲佐菌素（STZ，65mg·kg^-1）腹腔注射建立糖尿病大鼠模型，将其分为对照组、模型组、治疗组。治疗组在造模成功后1周给予氯沙坦20mg·kg^-1灌胃。12周后测3组24h尿蛋白、血肌酐、肾重／体重、血CRP及TNF-α水平；观察肾脏病理形态学变化；应用免疫组化法检测肾组织TLR4、核因子-κB（NF-κB）的蛋白表达。结果模型组24h尿蛋白、血肌酐、尿素氮、肾重／体重明显升高，肾小球肥大、细胞增生，PAS阳性物质沉积增多。血CRP、TNF-α含量及肾组织TLR4、NF-κB的蛋白表达上调。经氯沙坦治疗后，血CRP、TNF-α含量下降，TLR4、NF-κB的表达下调。结论氯沙坦对糖尿病肾病具有保护作用，其作用机制可能是通过下调NF-κB、TLR4的表达，降低血浆CRP、TNF-α含量来实现的。     

冠状动脉介入诊疗中非离子型对比剂对肾功能的影响和氯沙坦的保护价值

目的评价采用非离子低分子对比剂行冠脉造影和介入治疗对于肾功能的影响,并比较单纯冠脉造影和冠脉介入治疗手术前后肾功能的差异;评价氯沙坦对于冠脉介入治疗前后肾功能(血肌酐)和尿微量白蛋白的影响。方法根据冠状动脉造影的结果将我院收治的171例患者分3组,第1组为造影阴性组(CAG,73例),第2组为常规介入治疗组(PCI,52例),第3组为介入治疗 氯沙坦组(46例);研究对比剂对3组肾脏功能和尿微量白蛋白的影响。在检查前及术后的第1、3、7天分别测试尿微量白蛋白和肾功能(血肌酐),然后比较对比剂碘佛醇应用前后各组的差异。结果各组血肌酐均无明显变化,而PCI组尿微量白蛋白比CAG组的患者高(P<0.05);在氯沙坦干预后,PCI后尿微量白蛋白有明显下降(P<0.05)。结论CAG和PCI时,非离子低分子对比剂对肾功能(血肌酐)无明显影响,而尿微量白蛋白在术后有不同程度的升高,在PCI组中更明显;氯沙坦能降低PCI术后的尿微量白蛋白,可能具有预防对比剂肾病的作用。     

低铁与低热量饮食延缓糖尿病肾病的进展

目的探讨低铁与低热量饮食是否能延缓糖尿病肾病的进展。方法以168例Ⅱ型糖尿病肾病患者为研究对象,随机分为两组,对照组予以常规治疗,治疗组在进行同样常规治疗的同时,予低铁、低热量饮食。结果平均随访37±22个月,治疗组患者血清铁水平显著降低,与对照组比较,有显著差异(P<0.01);治疗组血清肌酐189±78μmmol/L,对照组257±115μmmol/L,两组比较,有显著差异(P<0.01)。治疗组有6例患者达到终止随访目标,血红蛋白低于80g/L和或红细胞压积<33%,需进行促红素治疗,占17.6%;对照组有10例达到终止目标,占35.7%,两组比较,有显著差异(P<0.01)。结论低铁饮食治疗能显著降低糖尿病肾病患者铁负荷,配合低热量饮食治疗,能明显延缓糖尿病肾病的进展。     

原发性高尿酸血症肾病的中西医治疗探讨

既往认为高尿酸血症肾病是西方国家的一种常见病,在中国少见。近年来,由于经济情况好转,饮食结构的变化,蛋白质及富含嘌呤成分的食物摄入量增加,中国发病率有增高的趋势。因此文章旨在通过探讨原发性高尿酸血症肾病的诊断及其中西医治疗方法,希望能够对临床及时正确的诊断和恰当周全的治疗该病提供一定的指导。     

Fiberglass or silica exposure and increased nephritis or ESRD (end-stage renal disease)

The U.S. multiplant cohort mortality study of workers producing manufactured mineral fibers is finding increasing mortality from nephritis and/or nephrosis. We examine other data sets to see if similar effects can be identified. In a case-referent study among Michigan patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), men with exposures to silica have elevated odds ratio for ESRD. In a California occupational mortality study based on 1979–81 data, a number of the construction trades, farmers, and farm laborers show excess mortality for renal disease. The highest mortality ratio is found in the category including insulation workers. This ratio remains significantly elevated when adjusted for estimated exposures to smoking, alcohol, and for socio-economic status. California mortality data from 20 years earlier (1959–61) fail to show much excess renal disease in construction workers, but do for farmers. In Singapore, granite workers with a long-term exposure to silica have excess excretion of albumin and similar compounds compared to less exposed controls, leading to the presumption that silica exposure can lead to silica nephrotoxicity. Balkan nephropathy has been associated with consumption of well water high in silica. In the Negev of Israel, dust storms are a vehicle for increasing respiratory uptake of silica. The Beduin, thought to be a population with maximal exposures, have higher rates of ESRD than do Jews in the age groups over 60 years. Although high blood concentrations of silica are found in persons with renal failure, the close association with elevated creatinine has been interpreted as evidence that the buildup of silica is due to renal failure, rather than vice-versa. The evidence is consistent with, but not yet compelling, that exposure to silica, which can be readily absorbed (or dissolved) from the lung, may increase the long-term risk of renal disease including renal failure. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis in Brazil

Summary: A survey of the medical records and renal biopsy reports of 41 patients with a diagnosis of membranous glomerulonephritis seen at the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo was undertaken between 1961 and April 1992. Twenty-three of these patients were found to have idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis (IMG) and 22 of them were treated with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants. Data for these 22 patients showed that the age at clinical presentation was 36.3± 17.5 years, white skin colour predominated (14 patients), and 15 were males; nephrotic syndrome was the clinical presentation in 20 patients and proteinuria was accidentally discovered in two patients. On the first hospital visit 11 patients presented proteinuria of up to 3 g/24 h and 16 presented serum creatinine below 1.5 mg/dL, and 14 developed renal hypertension during follow up. Clinicalmorphological correlation permitted us to conclude (in agreement with the literature) that advanced patient age, intensity of proteinuria, serum creatinine levels above 1.5 mg/dL on the occasion of the first hospital visit, and arterial hypertension are clinical-laboratory factors indicating a poor prognosis for IMG. More advanced staging of glomerular damage, presence of segmental mesangial sclerosis and tubulointerstitial involvement are microscopic factors indicating a poor prognosis for IMG.     

Determination of functional kidney volume by single-photon emission computed tomography in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Functional parenchymal kidney volume was determined by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) using a rotating gamma camera in phantom experiments and in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The results from the patient examinations were corrected according to the phantom studies and were thereafter set in relation to renal haemodynamics, blood pressure, and urinary albumin excretion. Functional parenchymal kidney volume was significantly greater in diabetic patients compared to that of 11 healthy controls (P < 0.003). Urinary albumin excretion was increased and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) per renal parenchymal volume significantly less in patients with a duration of diabetic disease of more than 15 years compared to patients with shorter duration of disease (P < 0.03 and P < 0.05 respectively). Diabetic patients with a GFR of more than 120 ml/min had greater renal parenchymal volume than patients with lower GFR (P < 0.02). Patients with increased GFR, renal plasma flow (RPF), renal blood flow, or filtration fraction had significantly greater functional parenchymal volume than the healthy subjects (P < 0.01 for all comparisons). We conclude that by application of SPECT for DMSA we were able to show that IDDM patients have greater renal parenchymal volumes than healthy subjects. GFR/kidney volume was increased in IDDM patients with a duration of disease of < 15 years compared to patients with long-standing diabetes. The SPECT technique seems suitable for prospective long-term follow-up studies of functional kidney volume in IDDM patients.     

Bacterial superantigen enhances cytokine production by T-helper lymphocyte subset-2 cells and modifies glomerular lesions in experimental immunoglobulin a nephropathy

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of bacterial suporantigens, which can derange the immune response and contribute to the renal lesions of immunoglobulin A (lgA) nephropathy. Methods Twenty-five micrograms of a bacterial superantigen, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), was injected into IgA nephropathy-prone ddY mice intrathymically when they reached 6 weeks of age. Evaluation included measurement of albumin excretion in urine, immunoglobulin concentration, and lymphokine production in vitro, as well as analysis of T-cell receptor expression in splenic T-cell subsets and examination of renal histology by light and fluorescence microscopy. Results At 40 weeks of age, the serum level of IgA in these mice was substantially increased and the number of Vβ8⁺ CD4⁺splenic T-cells was significantly decreased compared with measurements in untreated controls. Both control and SEB-treated mice excreted less than 30 μg/mL of urinary albumin. In mice given SEB, the amount of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (T helper 1 [Th1]-type cytokines) produced by the in vitro-stimulated lymphocytes significantly decreased. whereas that of interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) (Th2-type cytokines) markedly increased compared with measurements in control mice. At 40 weeks of age, mice given SEB showed marked glomerular hypercellularity and enhanced glomerular C3 deposition by renal histology, compared with control mice. Conclusion These results suggest that bacterial superantigen SEB may modify glomerular lesions through activating Th2 cells, while inducing deletion of Th1 cells in this experimental model.