C‐peptide and diabetic kidney disease

Kidney disease is a serious development in diabetes mellitus and poses an increasing clinical problem. Despite increasing incidence and prevalence of diabetic kidney disease, there have been no new therapies for this condition in the last 20 years. Mounting evidence supports a biological role for C‐peptide, and findings from multiple studies now suggest that C‐peptide may beneficially affect the disturbed metabolic and pathophysiological pathways leading to the development of diabetic nephropathy. Studies of C‐peptide in animal models and in humans with type 1 diabetes all suggest a renoprotective effect for this peptide. In diabetic rodents, C‐peptide reduces glomerular hyperfiltration and albuminuria. Cohort studies of diabetic patients with combined islet and kidney transplants suggest that maintained C‐peptide secretion is protective of renal graft function. Further, in short‐term studies of patients with type 1 diabetes, administration of C‐peptide is also associated with a lowered hyperfiltration rate and reduced microalbuminuria. Thus, the available information suggests that type 1 diabetes should be regarded as a dual hormone deficiency disease and that clinical trials of C‐peptide in diabetic nephropathy are both justified and urgently required.     

Emerging roles of basophils in allergic inflammation

Basophils have long been neglected in immunological studies because they were regarded as only minor relatives of mast cells. However, recent advances in analytical tools for basophils have clarified the non-redundant roles of basophils in allergic inflammation. Basophils play crucial roles in both IgE-dependent and -independent allergic inflammation, through their migration to the site of inflammation and secretion of various mediators, including cytokines, chemokines, and proteases. Basophils are known to produce large amounts of IL-4 in response to various stimuli. Basophil-derived IL-4 has recently been shown to play versatile roles in allergic inflammation by acting on various cell types, including macrophages, innate lymphoid cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Basophil-derived serine proteases are also crucial for the aggravation of allergic inflammation. Moreover, recent reports suggest the roles of basophils in modulating adaptive immune responses, particularly in the induction of Th2 differentiation and enhancement of humoral memory responses. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in understanding the roles of basophils in allergic inflammation.     

An unusual case of intestinal pseudo-obstruction presenting in an adolescent with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: A diagnostic challenge

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with multiple systemic manifestations. The disease itself typically causes only 2–30% of SLE-associated gastrointestinal conditions.

Effect of Low‐Density Lipoprotein Apheresis for Nephrotic Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy as Initial Induction Therapy

Low‐density lipoprotein apheresis (LDL‐A) has been used for nephrotic syndrome (NS) caused by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in Japan. Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) can also cause treatment‐resistant NS. Therefore, we investigated the effect of LDL‐A during initial induction for it. This retrospective, observational, and single‐center study enrolled consecutive iMN patients who received steroids from March 2000 to May 2015. We compared data between 11 patients treated with LDL‐A (LDL‐A group) and 27 patients without (non‐LDL‐A group) at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks later. Reduction rate of proteinuria and increase rate of serum albumin in LDL‐A group were significantly higher than the other after 4 weeks (P = 0.036 and 0.030) and 8 weeks (P = 0.030 and <0.001), respectively. There was no adverse event caused by LDL‐A and immunosuppressant dose was not significantly different. In conclusion, LDL‐A may be an effective choice for initial induction of nephrotic iMN.     

1型糖尿病血管并发症防治:挑战与希望

1型糖尿病(T1DM)血管并发症临床上表现为微血管和大血管并发症,是患者致死、致残的最主要原因。血糖控制不良以及糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)水平升高是血管并发症发展的主要危险因素。胰岛素强化降糖治疗可以作为T1DM患者预防血管并发症发生的三级预防手段。新型口服降糖药及干细胞治疗与T1DM血管并发症的研究已起步,有望为T1DM血管并发症的防治提供更多的手段与循证医学证据。深入理解T1DM血管并发症的发生发展机制对预防和治疗T1DM患者心血管事件具有重要的意义。     

IgA肾病患者清晨高血压与肾功能关系的研究

目的:分析IgA肾病患者不同肾功能水平的动态血压及清晨血压情况。方法:纳入经肾组织活检确诊的189例IgA肾病非透析患者,根据估算肾小球滤过率(estimated glomerular filtration rate,eGFR)进行慢性肾脏病(chronic kidney disease,CKD)分期,利用携带式动态血压检测仪收集患者动态血压,包括24 h收缩压(systolic blood pressure,SBP)和舒张压(diastolic blood pressure,DBP)、日间SBP(daytime SBP,dSBP)和日间DBP(daytime DBP,dDBP)、夜间SBP(nighttime SBP,nSBP)和夜间DBP(nighttime DBP,nDBP),分析不同CKD分期的IgA肾病患者清晨高血压的发生率。结果:IgA肾病患者24 h动态血压监测结果显示,与CKD1、2期患者相比,CKD4、5期患者24 hSBP、dSBP、nSBP均升高(均P<0.05),而24 hDBP、dDBP、nDBP无明显差异(均P>0.05)。CKD1~5期IgA肾病患者清晨高血压的发生率分别为23.5%、25.7%、30.0%、52.8%和63.6%。与CKD1~3期的IgA肾病患者相比,CKD4、5期患者的清晨高血压发生率均升高(均P<0.05)。CKD4、5期患者的清晨平均SBP分别为(142.4±24.6)mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)和(146.3±22.6)mmHg,显著高于CKD1、2期[(123.8±18.2)mmHg和(129.4±22.4)mmHg](均P<0.05),而清晨平均DBP均无明显差异(均P>0.05)。结论:CKD4~5期的IgA肾病患者清晨高血压的发生率明显升高,应重视患者24 h血压监测,加强清晨高血压的控制,尤其是对中晚期CKD患者。     

Contrast medium volume to creatinine clearance ratio: a predictor of contrast-induced nephropathy in the first 72 hours following percutaneous coronary intervention

Objectives : To investigate the predictive value of the contrast media volume to creatinine clearance (V/CrCl) ratio for the risk of contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN) (i.e., within 48–72 hr) and to determine a relatively safe V/CrCl cut‐off value to avoid CIN in patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background : The V/CrCl ratio is a pharmacokinetic risk factor for an early abnormal increase in serum creatinine (i.e., within 24 hr) after PCI. Methods : V/CrCl ratios were obtained from 1,140 consecutive consenting patients after unselective PCI. Receiver‐operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify the optimal sensitivity for the observed range of V/CrCl. The predictive value of V/CrCl for the risk of CIN was assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Results : Fifty‐five (4.8%) patients out of 1,140 developed CIN. There was a significant association between higher V/CrCl ratio values and risk of CIN in the overall population: 1.4%, 1.4%, 5.7%, and 10.9% for quartile 1 (Q1) of the V/CrCl value (<1.56, n = 283), Q2 (1.56–2.27, n = 289), Q3 (2.28–3.42, n = 282), and Q4 (>3.42, n = 285) of contrast, respectively (P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis indicated that a V/CrCl ratio of 2.62 was a fair discriminator for CIN (C‐statistic 0.73). After adjusting for other known predictors of CIN, V/CrCl ratios > 2.62 remained significantly associated with CIN (odds ratio: 2.20; 95% confidence interval: 1.00–4.81, P < 0.05). Conclusion : A V/CrCl ratio > 2.62 was a significant and independent predictor of CIN after PCI in unselected patients. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc