Circulating levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and miR-210 are associated with photosensitivity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Background: miR-210, a key HypoxamiR, regulates the hypoxia and inflammation-linked hypoxia. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic autoimmune disease, responsible for many pathological disorders, including photosensitivity. Objective: Finding the correlation between the circulating miR-210/HIF-1α levels and photosensitivity in SLE patients and other SLE-associated pathological complications, in a single-center case control study. Methods: Study population of 104 SLE Egyptian patients with photosensitivity, 32 SLE patients without photosensitivity, and 32 healthy subjects. SLE activity was assessed for all patients by SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). The clinical complications/manifestations and the hematological/serological analyses were recorded. HIF-α concentration was investigated by ELISA and miR-210 expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR. Results: The results revealed that circulating miR-210 was significantly increased in SLE/photosensitivity than SLE and controls. The additional occurrence of malar rash, oral ulcers, renal disorders or hypertension resulted in a higher expression of miR-210. SLEDAI activity status showed no effect on miR-210. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets, the patients age and the disease duration were positively correlated with circulatory miR-210. HIF-α concentration was significantly induced in SLE/photosensitivity than SLE and controls. In SLE/photosensitivity, presence of renal disorders and hypertension resulted in highest HIF-α concentrations. A strong positive correlation was recorded between HIF-α concentration and circulatory miR-210 in SLE/photosensitivity patients (r = 0.886). Conclusion:: The dysregulation of circulating miR-210/ HIF-1α levels in SLE/photosensitivity‎ patients is controlled by the presence of additional pathological complications and supposed that hypoxia pathway might interact positively with the pathogenesis and illness progress of SLE.

Identification of Leptospira in Patients With Renal Failure Using Serological, Molecular and Pathological Based Techniques, in Shiraz, Iran

Leptospirosis is a relatively rare bacterial infection that affects people and animals caused by pathogenic species of Leptospira. The present study was conducted using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and hematological and biochemical tests on 200 blood samples of renal disorders patients in Shiraz, Iran. Also nested-PCR assay and Warthin-Starry (WS) silver staining method was performed on 30 nephrectomised kidney sample. The frequency of pathogenic species of Leptospira infection in patients with renal disorders was 20 % and this infection was significantly correlated with BUN, anemia, RDW, MCV, MCH and hemoglobin levels (P < 0.01). MAT analysis showed that serum samples had positive titers against L. Grippotyphosa (13 samples), L. Ballum (6 sample), L. Pomona (3 samples), L. Canicola (2 samples), L. Icterohaemorrhagiae (1 sample) and L. Hardjo (1 sample) serovars. Twenty-three percent of the kidney samples from the patients with pyelonephritis were infected with the pathogenic species of Leptospira. This study showed that pathogenic Leptospira serovars are present in this area and in patients with renal disorders more attention should be paid to this zoonotic disease.

Evaluation of erythrocyte membrane lipids and proteins in renal disorders

Background: Membrane lipids and proteins play a significant part in imparting membrane its rheological properties. These parameters are altered in diseased states. Exploring the conformational changes in renal disorders can widen our understanding of its impact on the circulatory system. This could lead to a new diagnostic parameter to study the progress of a disease.Methods: 120 blood samples collected from 30 kidney donors, 30 stage 3-4 Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (group 1) and 30 stage 5 CKD patients on dialysis (pre and post dialysis) (group 2) were lysed and washed to obtain erythrocyte ghost membranes. The proteins extracted from these membranes were estimated colorimetrically using Micro BCA kit. Phospholipids were separated and quantified using HPTLC. Fatty acids and cholesterol were analysed using GCMS.Results: The erythrocyte membrane protein profile showed lower values in group 2 participants than group 1 participants, but this difference was not significant. Distinct decreases in percentages of palmitic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, dodecanoic acid, cholesterol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were observed in both groups, with the lowest values in patients undergoing dialysis. Sphingomyelin and linoleic acid did not show any such trend across groups.Conclusions: The data is suggestive of an altered membrane structure in participants undergoing dialysis patients than the control group. This could be because of uremic toxins in the circulatory system affecting the membrane lipids. Decreased levels of essential phospholipids can impact the functions and lifespan of the erythrocytes. This could be a reason behind anaemia seen in most patients with CKD.

Commentary on Urinary l-erythro-β-hydroxyasparagine: a novel serine racemase inhibitor and substrate of the Zn2+-dependent d-serine dehydratase

The analysis of the urine contents can be informative of physiological homoeostasis, and it has been speculated that the levels of urinary d-serine (d-ser) could inform about neurological and renal disorders. By analysing the levels of urinary d-ser using a d-ser dehydratase (DSD) enzyme, Ito et al. (Biosci. Rep.(2021) 41, BSR20210260) have described abundant levels of l-erythro-β-hydroxyasparagine (l-β-EHAsn), a non-proteogenic amino acid which is also a newly described substrate for DSD. The data presented support the endogenous production l-β-EHAsn, with its concentration significantly correlating with the concentration of creatinine in urine. Taken together, these results could raise speculations that l-β-EHAsn might have unexplored important biological roles. It has been demonstrated that l-β-EHAsn also inhibits serine racemase with Ki values (40 μM) similar to its concentration in urine (50 μM). Given that serine racemase is the enzyme involved in the synthesis of d-ser, and l-β-EHAsn is also a substrate for DSD, further investigations could verify if this amino acid would be involved in the metabolic regulation of pathways involving d-ser.

Commentary on “Urinary L-erythro-β-hydroxyasparagine - a novel serine racemase inhibitor and substrate of the Zn2+-dependent D-serine dehydratase”

The analysis of the urine contents can be informative of physiological homeostasis, and it has been speculated that the levels of urinary D-serine (D-ser) could inform about neurological and renal disorders. By analysing the levels of urinary D-ser using a D-ser dehydratase (DSD) enzyme, Ito et al. have described abundant levels of L-β-EHAsn, a non-proteogenic amino acid which is also a newly described substrate for DSD. The data presented supports the endogenous production L-β-EHAsn, with its concentration significantly correlating with the concentration of creatinine in urine. Taken together, these results could raise speculations that L-β-EHAsn might have unexplored important biological roles. It has been demonstrated that L-β-EHAsn also inhibits serine racemase with Ki values (40 μM) similar to its concentration in urine (50 μM). Given that serine racemase is the enzyme involved in the synthesis of D-ser, and L-β-EHAsn is also a substrate for DSD, further investigations could verify if this amino acid would be involved in the metabolic regulation of pathways involving D-ser.

Electrolyte and renal disorders in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma

Purpose: Disturbances of electrolytes and renal function have been linked to the prognosis of critically ill patients and recently also of cancer patients. This study aimed to assess electrolyte and renal disorders in glioblastoma patients and evaluate their prognostic effect. Methods: Medical records of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma between 2005 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed for electrolyte and renal function parameters and for demographic, clinical and outcome parameters. Results: Electrolyte and renal function disorders were associated with poorer survival in univariate and Kaplan–Meier analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed hypochloremia as an independent prognostic factor for overall and 1-year survival. Conclusion: Only hypochloremia showed an association with glioblastoma prognosis, independent of other known prognostic factors, as age or molecular status.

Studying the electrolyte changes in ileal urine at the time of radical cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion

To the Editor, Radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer is a life-changing surgery, associated with high morbidity and mortality rate. Ileal neobladder seems as an attractive way for urine management post cystectomy but would carry the risk of retaining urine in the ileal pouch for a long time, resulting in serum electrolyte changes, that may add to the patients’ morbidity. EAU guidelines recommend against ileal neobladder for patients with liver and renal disorders, as well as for patients > 80 years old [...].

VARIABLES RELATED TO GINGIVITIS IN CHILDREN WITH PYELONEPHRITIS AND NEPHROTIC SYNDROME

Purpose: The purpose of the research is to be investigated and assessed the significance of variables related to gingivitis in children with diagnosed pyelonephritis and nephrotic syndrome. Materials and Methods: The subject of the study is represented by participants in the age interval from 0 to 18 years. They are divided into two main groups, namely a group of 92 children with diagnosed pyelonephritis and 24 children with nephrotic syndrome. There is a group of 41 healthy children. Clinical, para-clinical, sociological and statistical methods are implemented in association with the study’s aim. The model of the research is based on an investigation of the significance of definite variables: gingival index GI Lõe-Silness, level of salivary leucocytes, salivary blood and salivary glucose. In addition to these indicators are recorded some patterns of environmental matter. Results: Among the participants with the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome is recorded the maximal value of GI= 2.04. A similar maximal value of GI=2.00 corresponds to the group of children with pyelonephritis. In both of the subgroups of children suffering from renal disorders is registered the considerable maximal value of salivary blood equal to 250.00 RBC/µl, compared to the maximal value of 50.00 RBC /µl for healthy participants. It is ascertained that the variables of salivary blood and salivary leucocytes correspond to the condition of gingivitis in children with diagnosed pyelonephritis and nephrotic syndrome. Conclusion: A definite impingement of excretory system disorders upon gingiva, especially among children suffering from nephrotic syndrome, is ascertained.