The prognostic value of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio on the long-term renal survival in patients with IgA nephropathy

Purpose

Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was established showing the poor prognosis in several diseases, such as malignancies and cardiovascular diseases. But limited study has been conducted about the prognostic value of PLR on the long-term renal survival of patients with Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN).

Methods

We performed an observational cohort study enrolling patients with biopsy-proven IgAN recorded from November 2011 to March 2016. The definition of composite endpoint was eGFR decrease by 50%, eGFR?<?15 mL/min/1.73 m², initiation of dialysis, or renal transplantation. Patients were categorized by the magnitude of PLR tertiles into three groups. The Kaplan–Meier curves and multivariate Cox models were performed to determine the association of PLR with the renal survival of IgAN patients.

Results

330 patients with a median age of 34.0 years were followed for a median of 47.4 months, and 27 patients (8.2%) had reached the composite endpoints. There were no differences among the three groups (PLR?<?106, 106?≤?PLR?≤?137, and PLR?>?137) in demographic characteristics, mean arterial pressure (MAP), proteinuria, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at baseline. The Kaplan–Meier curves showed that the PLR?>?137 group was significantly more likely to poor renal outcomes than the other two groups. Using univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses, we found that PLR?>?137 was an independent prognostic factor for poor renal survival in patients with IgAN. Subgroup analysis revealed that the PLR remained the prognostic value for female patients or patients with eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m².

Conclusions

Our results underscored that baseline PLR was an independent prognostic factor for poor renal survival in patients with IgAN, especially for female patients or those patients with baseline eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m².

     

Safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided low-pressure perfusion mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy in children aged 1–7 years: a retrospective observational study

International Urology and Nephrology - This article analyzed the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) with low-pressure perfusion for the treatment of...     

Efficacy of testosterone replacement therapy for treating metabolic disturbances in late-onset hypogonadism: a systematic review and meta-analysis

International Urology and Nephrology - Late onset hypogonadism (LOH) is an age-dependent reduction of testosterone associated with alterations of metabolic profile, including glucose control,...     

Safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine,Qiaoshao formula,combined with dapoxetine in the treatment of premature ejaculation: An open-label,real-life,retrospective multicentre study in Chinese men

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Chinese medicine, Qiaoshao formula combined with dapoxetine was used for the treatment of premature ejaculation in a real-life setting. Nine hundred and five males diagnosed with premature ejaculation were reviewed in this retrospective cohort study. We divided the patients into two groups: dapoxetine alone and Qiaoshao formula combined with dapoxetine according to actual interventions provided to patients in clinics. The perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time and the premature ejaculation profile measures markedly improved in both groups. However, in men with severe premature ejaculation (baseline perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time <1 min) and those with baseline age ≤30 years, the perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time was slightly but significantly longer with combined therapy than with dapoxetine alone (p < .05). Therefore, combined therapy involving the Qiaoshao formula and dapoxetine proved to safe as well as effective for treating premature ejaculation while prolonging the perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time, which significantly improved the overall satisfaction of the patient and likely that of the couple.     

Bone Radiomics Score Derived From DXA Hip Images Enhances Hip Fracture Prediction in Older Women

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-based bone mineral density testing is standard to diagnose osteoporosis to detect individuals at high risk of fracture. A radiomics approach to extract quantifiable texture features from DXA hip images may improve hip fracture prediction without additional costs. Here, we investigated whether bone radiomics scores from DXA hip images could improve hip fracture prediction in a community-based cohort of older women. The derivation set (143 women who sustained hip fracture [mean age 73 years, time to fracture median 2.1 years] versus 290 age-matched women [mean age 73 years] who did not sustain hip fracture during follow-up [median 5.5 years]) were split into the train set (75%) and the test set (25% hold-out set). Among various models using 14 selected features out of 300 texture features mined from DXA hip images in the train set, random forest model was selected as the best model to build a bone radiomics score (range 0 to 100) based on the performance in the test set. In a community-based cohort (2029 women, mean age 71 years) as the clinical validation set, the bone radiomics score was calculated using a model fitted in the train set. A total of 34 participants (1.7%) sustained hip fracture during median follow-up of 5.4 years (mean bone radiomics score 40 ± 16 versus 28 ± 12 in non-fractured, p < 0.001). A one-point bone radiomics score increment was associated with a 4% elevated risk of incident hip fracture (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.04, p = 0.001) after adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), previous history of fracture, and femoral neck T-score, with improved model fit when added to covariates (likelihood ratio chi-square 10.74, p = 0.001). The association between bone radiomics score with incident hip fracture remained robust (aHR = 1.06, p < 0.001) after adjustment for FRAX hip fracture probability. Bone radiomics scores estimated from texture features of DXA hip images have the potential to improve hip fracture prediction. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

Early bioprosthesis failure in mitral valve replacement

The causes of early bioprosthesis failure include infective endocarditis, pannus formation, and structural valve deterioration. We reported a patient who suffered from early mitral bioprosthesis failure due to leaflets restricted by the subvalvular apparatus and early pannus formation. In patients with symptoms relapse and mitral regurgitation recurrence early after mitral valve replacement, early pannus formation needs to be anticipated, and surgical intervention should be performed if symptoms persist after medical treatment.     

Ectopic Calcification and Hypophosphatemic Rickets: Natural History of ENPP1 and ABCC6 Deficiencies

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI) is a rare disorder caused by ENPP1 or ABCC6 variants. GACI is characterized by low pyrophosphate, arterial calcification, and high mortality during the first year of life, but the natural course and possible differences between the causative genes remain unknown. In all, 247 individual records for patients with GACI (from birth to 58.3 years of age) across 19 countries were reviewed. Overall mortality was 54.7% (13.4% in utero or stillborn), with a 50.4% probability of death before the age of 6 months (critical period). Contrary to previous publications, we found that bisphosphonate treatment had no survival benefit based on a start-time matched analysis and inconclusive results when initiated within 2 weeks of birth. Despite a similar prevalence of GACI phenotypes between ENPP1 and ABCC6 deficiencies, including arterial calcification (77.2% and 89.5%, respectively), organ calcification (65.8% and 84.2%, respectively), and cardiovascular complications (58.4% and 78.9%, respectively), mortality was higher for ENPP1 versus ABCC6 variants (40.5% versus 10.5%, respectively; p = 0.0157). Higher prevalence of rickets was reported in 70.8% of surviving affected individuals with ENPP1 compared with that of ABCC6 (11.8%; p = 0.0001). Eleven affected individuals presenting with rickets and without a GACI diagnosis, termed autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets type 2 (ARHR2), all had confirmed ENPP1 variants. Approximately 70% of these patients demonstrated evidence of ectopic calcification or complications similar to those seen in individuals with GACI, which shows that ARHR2 is not a distinct condition from GACI but represents part of the spectrum of ENPP1 deficiency. Overall, this study identified an early mortality risk in GACI patients despite attempts to treat with bisphosphonates, high prevalence of rickets almost exclusive to ENPP1 deficiency, and a spectrum of heterogenous calcification and multiple organ complications with both ENPP1 and ABCC6 variants, which suggests an overlapping pathology. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.     

Tacrolimus versus cyclophosphamide for patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy and treated with steroids: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundThe therapeutic effects of tacrolimus (TAC) versus cyclophosphamide (CTX) were not fully illustrated for patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN).MethodsThe PubMed, EmBase, Cochrane library, and CNKI were systematically searched throughout March 2020 for randomized controlled trials evaluating the therapeutic effects of TAC versus CTX for IMN patients treated with steroids. The pooled relative risks (RRs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the random-effects model.ResultsTwelve trials recruited a total of 868 IMN patients were identified and contained in final meta-analysis. Patients in TAC group was associated with an increased incidence of overall remission (12 trials: 868 patients; RR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.11–1.31; p < 0.001) and complete remission (12 trials: 868 patients; RR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.25–1.80; p < 0.001). Moreover, we noted TAC therapy significantly reduced urinary protein excretion (9 trials: 567 patients; WMD: −1.06; 95%CI: −1.41 to −0.71; p < 0.001), and increased serum albumin (9 trials: 567 patients; WMD: 5.37; 95%CI: 2.97 to 7.77; p < 0.001) than CTX therapy. Furthermore, no significant difference between TAC and CTX for serum creatinine was detected (6 trials: 378 patients; WMD: 0.15; 95%CI: −3.46 to 3.75; p = 0.936). Finally, the risk of alopecia (p = 0.008), infection (p = 0.045), leukocytosis (p = 0.002), and elevated ALT/AST (p = 0.011) in TAC group was significantly lower than CTX group, whereas TAC was associated with an increased risk of tremor than CTX (p = 0.010).ConclusionsThis study found IMN patients treated with TAC combined with steroids provides a better therapeutic effect and less adverse events than those treated with CTX combined with steroids, with moderate-certainty evidence.     

透析中运动干预对维持性血液透析患者的影响

目的 探讨维持性血液透析患者透析中运动干预的实施效果.方法 将患者随机分为观察组29例和对照组30例,对照组按常规进行透析护理,包括生命体征监测、记录治疗参数和健康教育,透析中不进行运动干预;观察组在常规护理基础上根据自制的透析中运动方案进行运动干预,其中有氧运动40 min、阻力运动20 min.比较两组干预前和干预6个月后的透析充分性、运动能力、炎症指标和生活质量.结果 干预6个月后观察组透析充分性、运动能力、炎症指标测评结果和生理健康评分显著优于对照组(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).结论 对维持性血液透析患者进行透析中运动干预,能够提高患者透析充分性,增强运动能力,改善炎症指标,提升生理健康水平.