Kaempferol Inhibits the Invasion and Migration of Renal Cancer Cells through the Downregulation of AKT and FAK Pathways.

Kaempferol, which is isolated from several natural plants, is a polyphenol belonging to the subgroup of flavonoids. Kaempferol exhibits various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. In this study, kaempferol can significantly inhibit the invasion and migration of 786-O renal cell carcinoma (RCC) without cytotoxicity. We examined the potential mechanisms underlying its anti-invasive activities on 786-O RCC cells. Western blot was performed, and the results showed that kaempferol attenuates the manifestation of metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) protein and activity. The inhibitive effect of kaempferol on MMP-2 may be attributed to the downregulation of phosphorylation of Akt and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). By examining the SCID mice model, we found that kaempferol can safely inhibit the metastasis of the 786-O RCC cells into the lungs by about 87.4% as compared to vehicle treated control animals. In addition, the lung tumor masses of mice pretreated with 2-10 mg/kg kaempferol were reduced about twofold to fourfold. These data suggested that kaempferol can play a promising role in tumor prevention and cancer metastasis inhibition.

Low Magnesium Exacerbates Osteoporosis in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with Diabetes.

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of serum Mg on bone mineral metabolism in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with or without diabetes. A total of 56 CKD patients not receiving dialysis were recruited and divided into two groups, one group of 27 CKD patients with diabetes and another group of 29 CKD patients without diabetes. Biochemical determinations were made, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was measured. Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum Mg was inversely correlated with serum Ca (P = 0.023) and positively correlated with serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) (P = 0.020), alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.044), and phosphate (P = 0.040) in the CKD patients with diabetes. The CKD patients with diabetes had lower serum albumin and a higher proportion of hypomagnesemia and osteoporosis than the nondiabetic patients did (P < 0.05). Serum Mg was inversely correlated with eGFR in the CKD patients with or without diabetes (P < 0.05). Serum Mg showed an inverse correlation with 25-hydroxyvitamin D in CKD patients without diabetes (P = 0.006). Furthermore, the diabetic CKD patients with low serum Mg had a lower iPTH (P = 0.007) and a higher serum Ca/Mg ratio (P < 0.001) than the other CKD patients. The lower serum Mg subgroup showed a higher incidence of osteoporosis than the moderate and higher serum Mg subgroups did (66.7%, 39.4%, and 29.4%, resp.). In conclusion, low serum Mg may impact iPTH and exacerbates osteoporosis in CKD patients, particularly with diabetes.

Pulmonary-renal syndrome in a patient with bacterial endocarditis.

Pulmonary-renal syndrome is defined as a combination of pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis. We report an unusual case of bacterial endocarditis presenting with pulmonary hemorrhage and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as the initial manifestations of the disease. A 37-year-old man was admitted with fever, hemoptysis, and dyspnea. Admission examinations revealed severe renal failure requiring dialysis therapy. Chest radiograph showed extensive pulmonary reticulonodular infiltrates. Echocardiography revealed ventricular septal defect. Furthermore, blood cultures grew viridians group streptococci. The kidney and lung biopsies demonstrated diffuse cresentic glomerulonephritis and alveolar hemorrhage, respectively. Bacterial endocarditis was diagnosed according to the Duke criteria and the patient was treated with intravenous antibiotic therapy. The pulmonary infiltrates disappeared gradually. However, renal function did not improve, even after trial of a course of immunosuppressive therapy. The patient survived and remained on regular hemodialysis. We conclude that bacterial endocarditis should be included in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary-renal syndrome.