Removal of V(V) from a Mixed Solution Containing Vanadium and Chromium Using a Micropocrous Resin in a Column: Migration Regularity of the Mass Transfer Zone and Analysis of Dynamic Properties.

In China, both vanadium(V) and chromium(VI) are present in wastewater resulting from vanadate precipitation (AVP wastewater) and from leaching vanadium-chromium reduction slag. Addressing environmental preservation and the comprehensive utilization of metal resources necessitates the extraction and separation of V(V) and Cr(VI) from these mixed solutions. However, their separation is complicated by very similar physicochemical properties. This study establishes a method for the dynamic selective adsorption of V(V) from such mixtures. It evaluates the impact of various operating conditions in columns on dynamic adsorption behavior. This study examines the migration patterns of the mass transfer zone (MTZ) and forecasts its effective adsorption capacity through multivariate polynomial regression and a neural network (NN) model. The NN model's outcomes are notably more precise. Its analysis reveals that C 0 is the most critical factor, with Q and H following in importance. Furthermore, the dynamic properties were analyzed using two established models, Thomas and Klinkenberg, revealing that both intraparticle and liquid film diffusion influence the rates of exchange adsorption, with intraparticle diffusion being the more significant factor. Using 3 wt % sodium hydroxide as the eluent to elute V(V)-loaded resin at a flow rate of 4 mL/min resulted in a chromium concentration of less than 3 mg/L in the V(V) eluate, indicating high vanadium-chromium separation efficiency in this method. These findings offer theoretical insights and economic analysis data that are crucial for optimizing column operation processes.

Identification and functional analyses of a novel FOXL2 pathogenic variant causing blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome.

AIM: To discover the molecular pathogenic basis of the blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES), and to predict the clinical subtype according to in vitro experiments, which is significant to the prognosis. METHODS: A 3-year-old sporadic female patient with typical clinical manifestations of BPES was enrolled. The coding region of forkhead box L2 (FOXL2) gene was sequenced, and the functional assays were performed in vitro by Western blotting, subcellular localization experiment, luciferase reporter assay, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: A novel FOXL2 point pathogenic variant (c.274G>T) was detected, resulting in a truncated protein (p.E92*). Functional studies demonstrated that the FOXL2 pathogenic variant induced the subcellular mislocalization and the abnormal transcriptional activity on promoters of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR or STARD1) gene and the odd-skipped related 2 transcription factor (OSR2) gene. CONCLUSION: A novel pathogenic variant is identified to expand the spectrum of the known FOXL2 mutations. The in vitro experiments provide reference data and more insights to the molecular pathogenesis of BPES. The predicted high risk of ovarian insufficiency makes it significant for the patient enrolled to have further follow-up and therapy concerning female endocrinology.

Erratum to "The Characteristics and Significance of Locally Infiltrating B Cells in Lupus Nephritis and Their Association with Local BAFF Expression".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2013/954292.].

The Characteristics and Significance of Locally Infiltrating B Cells in Lupus Nephritis and Their Association with Local BAFF Expression.

Introduction. Dysfunction of the B lymphocyte is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN). Intrarenal B cells have been found in several forms of inflammatory kidney disease. B-cell activating factor (BAFF) regulates B lymphocyte proliferation and survival, and contributes to human autoimmune disease. Their role in renal inflammation is not well defined. Methods. Clinical parameters and renal biopsies from 62 LN patients were prospectively analyzed. We performed standard immunohistochemistry on serial paraffin tissue sections using monoclonal antibodies to CD20 and BAFF to investigate the characteristics and significance of locally infiltrating B cells and local BAFF expression in patients with LN. Results. Intrarenal B cells and/or BAFF were mainly distributed in the renal interstitium. Compared to the LN-non-B-cell/BAFF expression group, proteinuria (g/24 hour), blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine levels, LN renal activity, and chronicity indices, were all significantly greater in the LN-B-cell/BAFF expression groups. The expression of BAFF was strongly associated with the quantity of B-cell infiltrate in the interstitium. Conclusion. As BAFF expression was strongly associated with B-cell infiltration, we hypothesize that altered B-cell differentiation and tolerance induced by excess BAFF may be central to the pathogenesis of LN.

[Analysis of associated factors for remission and relapse in proliferative and membranous lupus nephritis patients: a 4-year follow-up study].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the related factors of remission and relapse in lupus nephritis (LN) patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted for proliferation and membrane LN patients diagnosed from 2003 to 2010. Their clinical, laboratory and pathological parameters were collected. According to the response to treatment, they were divided into 3 groups of complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR) and no response (NR). Those in remission were divided into 2 groups of relapsing and non-relapsing during maintenance period. Associated factors for remission and relapse were analyzed. RESULTS: (1) Among a total of 105 patients, there were 99 females and 6 males with an average follow-up period of (51 ± 30) months. Eighty-six patients achieved remission after 6-month treatment. (2) The outcomes were CR (n = 36), PR (n = 50) and NR (n = 19). Proteinuria in PR group was higher than that in CR group (4.7 (3.1-7.6) vs 1.7 (1.4-3.8), P < 0.01) while proteinuria of CR group was lower than that of NR group (1.7 (1.4-3.8) vs 3.0 (2.3-5.9), P < 0.01). Serum albumin level of CR group was significantly higher than those of PR (30.6 (27.8-34.6) vs 22.4 (19.3-29.4), P < 0.01) and NR groups (30.6 (27.8-34.6) vs 23.1 (18.9-28.6), P < 0.01). Serum creatinine was significantly higher in NR group than those of CR (128.9 (69.9-184.3) vs 58.1 (53.0-70.9), P < 0.01) and PR group (128.9 (69.9-184.3) vs 67.5 (53.5-129.1), P < 0.05). Acute index (AI) and chronic index (CI) were lower in CR group than those of PR and NR groups. (3) A total of 86 cases achieved remission (CR/PR) while 20 cases (23.3%) had relapse. During the maintenance period, the relapse rate was higher in the group on prednisone alone than those on combined therapy of prednisone plus immunosuppressant (P < 0.05). Sixty patients (90.9%) in non-relapse group and 12 cases (60.0%) in recurrence group had good compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Initial proteinuria, serum creatinine, serum albumin, estimated glomerular filtration rate and AI were related with remission of induction period. Prednisone-alone therapy is an independent risk factor for relapse during maintenance period. Poor compliance of patients may be one of the risk factors for relapse during maintenance period. It may be useful to maintain sustained remission and reduce relapse in LN patients by improving their compliance and using steroids plus immunosuppressant during maintenance period.

Association of intrarenal B-cell infiltrates with clinical outcome in lupus nephritis: a study of 192 cases.

BACKGROUND: Lupus nephritis (LN) remains a major cause of morbidity and end-stage renal disease. Dysfunction of B lymphocytes is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of SLE/LN. Intrarenal B cells have been found in several forms of inflammatory kidney diseases although their role in LN renal is not well defined. METHODS: Intrarenal B cells were analyzed in 192 renal biopsies from patients diagnosed with lupus nephritis. Immunohistochemical staining of serial sections was performed for each LN patient using CD20, CD3, and CD21 antibodies. RESULTS: Intrarenal B cells were more likely to be associated with class IV LN and were mainly distributed in the renal interstitium, with very few in the glomerulus. The systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI), blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine levels were all significantly greater in the LN-B cell groups (all P < 0.05). LN renal activity and chronicity indices correlated with B-cells infiltrates (all P < 0.0001). Renal biopsies were classified into four distinct categories according to the organizational grade of inflammatory cell infiltrates. Germinal center- (GC-) like structures were not identified in any LN biopsies. CONCLUSION: It is hypothesized that intrarenal B cells enhance immunological responses and exaggerate the local immune response to persisting autoimmune damage in the tubulointerstitium.

[Differentially expressed urine protein of contrast induced acute kidney injury by two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the differentially expressed proteins of contrast-induced nephropathy through a comparison of urinary proteome so as to further elucidate the pathogenesis and discover the disease biomarker. METHODS: The urine samples of 12 patients were collected before and after coronary angiography. Two dimensional electrophoresis was performed after the urine samples were labeled by different dyes. The differences of urine proteome were analyzed by Decyder software and the differentially expressed spots identified by mass spectrometry. RESULTS: A total of 56 differentially expressed spots were detected. Among them, 39 spots were up-regulated and 17 spots down-regulated. And mannose binding lectin and mannose binding lectin associated serine protease 2, key proteins in complement body activation, were both significantly up-regulated. CONCLUSION: Urine proteomic study methods are constructed based on 2D-DIGE and mass spectrometry. The lectin pathway of complement body may be associated with contrast-induced acute kidney injury.

[Analysis of incidence and risk factor in hospitalized patients with acute kidney injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiology and the risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized patients in order to help clinicians better understand and prevent AKI. METHODS: All patients hospitalized in Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which is a three-level General Hospital in Shanghai, during January to December of 2008 were screened by Lab Administration Network. Study group was comprised of the patients with full clinical data of AKI, as defined by Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN). The incidence, etiology and distribution characteristics of hospitalized patients with AKI were retrospectively analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors in severity of AKI. RESULTS: Nine hundred and thirty-four patients suffering from AKI for 1 001 episodes were enrolled. The incidence of AKI in hospitalized patients was 2.4% (934/38 734). The ratio of male to female was 1.88:1. The mean age was (60.82 ± 16.94) years old. Higher incidence was seen with an increase in age. Three hundred and thirty-one(35.4%) patients with AKI were found in medical department, 592(63.4%) patients in surgical department and 11(1.2%) patients in department of gynecologic and obstetrics. Analysis of the causes of AKI showed that pre-AKI accounted for 52.0%, followed by renal parenchyma AKI (44.7%) and postrenal AKI (3.3%). The most common reason for AKI was acute tubular necrosis (ATN, 37.5%), followed by absolute (33.6%) and relative inadequacy of blood volume (13.4%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that chronic kidney disease (CKD) [odds ratio (OR)=2.085, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.536-2.830,P<0.01], renal injurious drugs (OR=1.438, 95%CI: 1.087-1.901 ,P<0.05), and failure of organs other than kidney (OR=1.327, 95%CI: 1.014-1.737,P<0.05) were independent risk factors for stage II-III AKI. CONCLUSION: AKI is one of the most common clinical syndromes in hospitalized patients. With the increase of age, the incidence increases gradually. The most common reasons for hospitalized AKI are pre-AKI and ATN. CKD, renal injurious drugs and failure of other organs are independent risk factors of medium to serious AKI.

[Impact of therapeutic time on the prognosis in critically ill patients with acute renal failure who needed renal replacement therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of therapeutic time on the prognosis in critically ill patients with acute renal failure (ARF) who needed renal replacement therapy (RRT), and to analyze the risk factors of death. METHODS: All data were retrieved from the Database of Early Diagnosis and Treatment in Acute Renal Failure in Shanghai. Eighty-eight patients were collected with 56 males and 32 females who accepted continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH). The mean age was (55.73 ± 16.33) years old. Patients were divided into two groups according to therapeutic time: short time group (6-12 hours, n=49) and long time group (>12 hours, n=39). The differences between two groups before and after treatment were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the Log-rank test was performed to evaluate the prognosis of ARF patients on 15, 30 and 60 days. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors affected the patient survival. RESULTS: There were no significant difference of age, surgery, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, multiple organ failure (MOF) and severity of disease between two groups before treatment. Compared with that before treatment, blood pH, HCO(-)(3) were increased, and K(+), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr) were decreased after treatment (all P <0.05). There were no significant difference of Na(+) concentration and heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) after treatment. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed the survival rate of short time group and long time group were 64.4% vs. 51.4%, 52.8% vs. 46.2% and 50.4% vs.41.0% on 15, 30 and 60 days respectively. No significant difference in survival rate was noted (P=1.234). Cox regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors of short time mortality were diabetes [hazard ratio (HR)=2.134, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.093-4.167,P<0.05] and MOF(HR 1.564, 95%CI 1.233-1.984,P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The mortality of ARF in critical ill patients remains high, despite accepted renal replacement therapy. The therapeutic time of CVVH may not affect the patient survival not with standing the duration of renal replacement therapy. In our group, diabetes and MOF were the independent risk factors of patients death.

[Analysis of drug-induced acute renal failure in Shanghai].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and prognosis of drug-induced acute renal failure (ARF) in Shanghai. METHODS: The registration forms of ARF patients admitted in 17 hospitals of and over the middle class in Shanghai from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2006 were screened prospectively. The data, such as epidemiology, survival, mortality, and morbidity were analyzed. RESULTS: 347 of the 1200 ARF patients (28.9%), 224 males and 123 females, aged (58+/-20), suffered from drug-induced ARF. 51.0% of the 347 patients were older than 60. 60.2% of the drug-induced ARF in the non-surgical departments were community-acquired, while 55.7% of the drug-induced ARF in the surgical departments were hospital-acquired. Among the non-surgical departments, the incidence of hospital-acquired drug-induced ARF was the lowest in the department of nephrology (9.5%), while higher in the departments of hematology, cardiology, and neurology, and among the surgical departments, it was the lowest in department of renal surgery, while higher in the departments of liver transplantation, neurosurgery, and cardiovascular surgery. The most common complication was chronic kidney disease (CKD) (n=69, 19.9%), followed by cerebrovascular disease (n=59, 17.0%), diabetes mellitus (n=43, 12.4%), and hypertension (n=41, 11.8%). Renal biopsy showed acute tubular necrosis (18, 37.5%), acute interstitial nephritis (11, 22.9%), and acute infectious tubulo-interstitial nephritis (6, 12.5%). Antibiotics (47.8%) were the head causes of drug-induced ARF, especially aminoglycoside (17.0%) and cephalosporins (12.7%), followed by diuretics (22.2%) and radiocontrasts (13.3%). 22.5% of the drug-induced ARF patients had used two or more drugs. 119 patients (34.3%) needed renal replacement treatment. 100 of the 347 patients (28.8%) died. 188 of the surviving patients (54.2%) had their renal function recovered completely, the renal function of 42 of them (12.1%) was recovered partially, and 17 of then (4.9%) required dialysis when discharged. CONCLUSION: Drug-induced ARF is common with higher incidence in the patients with complications. Antibiotics, diuretic agents, and contrast medium are the main causes.

Antiphospholipid antibody profiles in lupus nephritis with glomerular microthrombosis: a prospective study of 124 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Glomerular microthrombosis (GMT) is a common vascular change in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). The mechanism underlying GMT is largely unknown. Although several studies have reported the association of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) with GMT, the relation between GMT and aPL remains controversial. Previous studies have demonstrated that some aPL could bind to several hemostatic and fibrinolytic proteases that share homologous enzymatic domains. Of the protease-reactive aPL, some can inhibit the anticoagulant activity of activated protein C and the fibrinolytic function of plasmin, and hinder the antithrombin inactivation of thrombin. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of GMT in LN patients and examine the relation between the aPL profiles (including some protease-reactive aPL) and GMT. METHODS: Renal biopsy specimens were examined for the presence of glomerular microthrombi. Plasma samples from 25 LN patients with GMT (LN-GMT group) and 99 LN patients without GMT (LN-non-GMT group) were tested for lupus anticoagulant and antibodies against cardiolipin, beta2 glycoprotein I, plasmin, thrombin, tissue plasminogen activator, and annexin II. RESULTS: The prevalence of GMT in LN patients was 20.2%. Compared with the LN-non-GMT group, the LN-GMT group had an elevated systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index; elevated renal tissue injury activity and chronicity indices; elevated serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and proteinuria levels; a lower serum C3 level and much intense glomerular C3, C1q staining; and a higher frequency of hypertension (P < 0.05 for all). Additionally, the detection rate of lupus anticoagulant, immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-beta2 glycoprotein I and anti-thrombin antibodies were higher in the LN-GMT group than in the LN-non-GMT group (P < 0.05 for all). No statistical differences were found in the detection rates of IgG anti-cardiolipin, plasmin, tissue plasminogen activator, or annexin II antibodies (P > 0.05 for all). No detectable difference in IgM autoantibodies to the above antigens was observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: GMT occurs in approximately 20.2% of LN patients. Patients with GMT have severer renal tissue injuries and poorer renal functions than patients without GMT. The lupus anticoagulant and antibodies against beta2 glycoprotein I and thrombin may play a role in GMT.

[Analysis of independent risk factor in patients with poor prognosis after liver transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognosis after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), and to elucidate the risk factors of poor prognosis in these patients. METHODS: Adult recipients of OLT in Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University were retrospectively analyzed. Data in pre-, intra- and post-OLT periods of these patients were collected. Acute kidney injury net (AKIN) criteria were used to analyze the post-OLT acute kidney injury (AKI). By following up all the patients for over a year, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate the prognosis within 28 days and 1 year. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors of patient death, especially the influence of AKI on patient prognosis. RESULTS: There were 193 patients enrolled, the average age was (48.07+/-10.02) years old. The ratio of male to female was 4:1. One hundred and sixteen patients (60.1%) were found to have AKI after OLT. Twenty-eight-day mortality of post-OLT AKI patients was higher than that without AKI patients [15.5%(18/116) vs. 0, P<0.05], 1 year survival rate of post-OLT AKI patients was lower than that without AKI patients [(70.7% (82/116) vs. 90.9 (70/77), P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed the survival rate of non-AKI (77 patients), AKI stage 1, 2 and 3 patients (58, 25 and 33 patients respectively) post-OLT were 90.9%, 81.0%, 84.0% and 42.4%, respectively. All the non-survivors were discovered to have AKI within 28 days post-OLT. Cox regression analysis showed pre-OLT hypertension [hazard ratio (HR)=4.398, 95% confidence interval (CI)ú 1.535-12.604, P=0.006], post-OLT AKI (HR=12.100, 95%CI: 1.565-93.540, P=0.017), infection (HR=4.709, 95%CI: 1.813-12.226, P=0.001) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score > or =10 (HR=3.627, 95%CI: 1.244-10.573, P=0.018) were risk factors of 1 year death. CONCLUSION: AKI is an independent risk factor of poor prognosis after liver transplantation. Prevention of AKI may improve the survival rate of OLT patients.

[Effects of Astragalus on expression of renal angiopoietin receptor Tie-2 in diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of angiopoietin receptor Tie-2 in the renal tissue of diabetic rats and the effects of Astragalus. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, diabetes group and Astragalus-treated group. The expression of receptor Tie-2 in the renal tissue was assessed by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Glomerule Tie-2 protein expression was significantly elevated in the diabetes group as compared with the normal control group (P<0.01). Glomerule Tie-2 protein expression in the Astragalus-treated group was decreased as compared with the diabetes group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Tie-2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the early stage diabetic renal injury. The reno-protection effect of Astragalus may be mediated by down-regulating the expression of Tie-2 in the kidney tissue of diabetic rats.