Minimal Change Disease: Pathogenetic Insights from Glomerular Proteomics.

The mechanism underlying podocyte dysfunction in minimal change disease (MCD) remains unknown. This study aimed to shed light on the potential pathophysiology of MCD using glomerular proteomic analysis. Shotgun proteomics using label-free quantitative mass spectrometry was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) renal biopsies from two groups of samples: control (CTR) and MCD. Glomeruli were excised from FFPE renal biopsies using laser capture microdissection (LCM), and a single-pot solid-phase-enhanced sample preparation (SP3) digestion method was used to improve yield and protein identifications. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a distinct separation between the CTR and MCD groups. Forty-eight proteins with different abundance between the two groups (p-value ≤ 0.05 and |FC| ≥ 1.5) were identified. These may represent differences in podocyte structure, as well as changes in endothelial or mesangial cells and extracellular matrix, and some were indeed found in several of these structures. However, most differentially expressed proteins were linked to the podocyte cytoskeleton and its dynamics. Some of these proteins are known to be involved in focal adhesion (NID1 and ITGA3) or slit diaphragm signaling (ANXA2, TJP1 and MYO1C), while others are structural components of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton of podocytes (ACTR3 and NES). This study suggests the potential of mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomic analysis with LCM glomeruli to yield valuable insights into the pathogenesis of podocytopathies like MCD. The most significantly dysregulated proteins in MCD could be attributable to cytoskeleton dysfunction or may be a compensatory response to cytoskeleton malfunction caused by various triggers.

An Integrated Approach Using HLAMatchmaker and Pirche II for Epitopic Matching in Pediatric Kidney Transplant-A Romanian Single-Center Study.

(1) Background: Renal transplantation (KT) is the most efficient treatment for chronic kidney disease among pediatric patients. Antigenic matching and epitopic load should be the main criteria for choosing a renal graft in pediatric transplantation. Our study aims to compare the integration of new histocompatibility predictive algorithms with classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching regarding different types of pediatric renal transplants. (2) Methods: We categorized our cohort of pediatric patients depending on their risk level, type of donor and type of transplantation, delving into discussions surrounding their mismatching values in relation to both the human leukocyte antigen Matchmaker software (versions 4.0. and 3.1.) and the most recent version of the predicted indirectly identifiable HLA epitopes (PIRCHE) II score. (3) Results: We determined that the higher the antigen mismatch, the higher the epitopic load for both algorithms. The HLAMatchmaker algorithm reveals a noticeable difference in eplet load between living and deceased donors, whereas PIRCHE II does not show the same distinction. Dialysis recipients have a higher count of eplet mismatches, which demonstrates a significant difference according to the transplantation type. Our results are similar to those of four similar studies available in the current literature. (4) Conclusions: We suggest that an integrated data approach employing PIRCHE II and HLAMatchmaker algorithms better predicts histocompatibility in KT than classical HLA matching.

Association between Human Leukocyte Antigen and End-Stage Renal Disease in Patients from Transylvania, Romania.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is the final stage of chronic kidney disease. This study explored the association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and ESRD. The interaction between genetic and environmental factors may also play a role in the development of ESRD. The study included 2392 ESRD patients who were awaiting renal transplantation. Blood samples were genotyped by SSOP and SSP-PCR methods. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HLA-A*11 (p = 0.027), HLA-A*34 (p = 0.017), HLA-A*69 (p = 0.012), HLA-B*41 (p < 0.001), HLA-B*50 (p = 0.004), HLA-DRB1*10 (p = 0.027), and HLA-DRB1*14 (p = 0.004) were positively associated with ESRD (OR > 1); HLA-DRB1*07 (p < 0.001), HLA-DRB1*08 (p = 0.005), and HLA-DRB1*13 (p < 0.001) were protective against ESRD (OR < 1); and the three-locus haplotype HLA-A*02-B*41-DRB1*03, containing one susceptible allele, was strongly associated with ESRD (p < 0.001, OR = 3.15). In conclusion, this retrospective analysis of HLA typing in patients with ESRD of various etiologies suggests that molecular data on the HLA polymorphism should be collected in order to identify high-risk ESRD patients and to improve graft survival after kidney transplantation.

The immunologically high-risk kidney recipient in the early post-COVID-19 period. To do or not to do? A case report.

Kidney transplantation is nowadays the treatment of choice for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and it is the most performed organ transplantation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, kidney-transplant recipients appeared to be at higher risk of morbidity and mortality due to severe forms of illness. The result was a decrease in the number of solid organs transplants worldwide, with patients' reduced chance of receiving transplants. The best timing for surgery after COVID-19 infection is still controversial since most of the available data come from study periods with zero or low prevalence of vaccination and COVID-19 variants with high mortality rates. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) Joint Statement on Elective Surgery/Procedures and Anesthesia for Patients after COVID-19 Infection states that elective surgery should be delayed for 7 weeks after a SARS-CoV-2 infection in unvaccinated patients while making no clear statement for vaccinated ones, or those which have already been infected with the virus. Kidney transplant, as opposed to tissue transplant, is not an elective surgery, so the question raised is whether to do it or not. We present the case of a hyper-immunized 47-year-old male patient with end-stage chronic kidney disease who received a second kidney transplant, despite having a mild SARS-COV 2 infection just 2 weeks before his transplantation surgery.

The Perspectives of Biomarkers in Predicting the Survival of the Renal Graft.

Kidney transplantation (KT) is currently the elective approach for patients with end-stage renal disease. Although it is a safe choice for these patients, the early complications can lead to graft dysfunction. One of the most redoubtable complications is delayed graft function (DGF), having no specific treatment. The effects of DGF on the graft survival are large enough to justify the formulation of specific biological protocols. Therefore, discovering biomarkers of acute impairment in renal transplanted patients is required. Creatinine is a poor marker to establish the kidney injury. Estimated glomerular filtration rate together with creatinine is ready to approximately measure the kidney function. Different serum and urine proteins are being studied as possible predictive biomarkers for delayed graft function. This review will concentrate on recent and existing research which provide insight concerning the contribution of some molecules for the estimation and evaluation of graft function after kidney transplantation. Further studies examining various aspects of DGF after KT are urgently needed to address a hitherto less-known clinical question.

The Use of Machine Learning Algorithms and the Mass Spectrometry Lipidomic Profile of Serum for the Evaluation of Tacrolimus Exposure and Toxicity in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Tacrolimus has a narrow therapeutic window; a whole-blood trough target concentration of between 5 and 8 ng/mL is considered a safe level for stable kidney transplant recipients. Tacrolimus serum levels must be closely monitored to obtain a balance between maximizing efficacy and minimizing dose-related toxic effects. Currently, there is no specific tacrolimus toxicity biomarker except a graft biopsy. Our study aimed to identify specific serum metabolites correlated with tacrolinemia levels using serum high-precision liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and standard laboratory evaluation. Three machine learning algorithms were used (Naïve Bayes, logistic regression, and Random Forest) in 19 patients with high tacrolinemia (8 ng/mL) and 23 patients with low tacrolinemia (5 ng/mL). Using a selected panel of five lipid metabolites (phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, arachidyl palmitoleate, and ceramide), Mg2+, and uric acid, all three machine learning algorithms yielded excellent classification accuracies between the two groups. The highest classification accuracy was obtained by Naïve Bayes, with an area under the curve of 0.799 and a classification accuracy of 0.756. Our results show that using our identified five lipid metabolites combined with Mg2+ and uric acid serum levels may provide a novel tool for diagnosing tacrolimus toxicity in kidney transplant recipients. Further validation with targeted MS and biopsy-proven TAC toxicity is needed.

Combined miRNA and SERS urine liquid biopsy for the point-of-care diagnosis and molecular stratification of bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer (BC) has the highest per-patient cost of all cancer types. Hence, we aim to develop a non-invasive, point-of-care tool for the diagnostic and molecular stratification of patients with BC based on combined microRNAs (miRNAs) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) profiling of urine. METHODS: Next-generation sequencing of the whole miRNome and SERS profiling were performed on urine samples collected from 15 patients with BC and 16 control subjects (CTRLs). A retrospective cohort (BC = 66 and CTRL = 50) and RT-qPCR were used to confirm the selected differently expressed miRNAs. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed using machine learning algorithms (logistic regression, naïve Bayes, and random forest), which were trained to discriminate between BC and CTRL, using as input either miRNAs, SERS, or both. The molecular stratification of BC based on miRNA and SERS profiling was performed to discriminate between high-grade and low-grade tumors and between luminal and basal types. RESULTS: Combining SERS data with three differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-34a-5p, miR-205-3p, miR-210-3p) yielded an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.92 ± 0.06 in discriminating between BC and CTRL, an accuracy which was superior either to miRNAs (AUC = 0.84 ± 0.03) or SERS data (AUC = 0.84 ± 0.05) individually. When evaluating the classification accuracy for luminal and basal BC, the combination of miRNAs and SERS profiling averaged an AUC of 0.95 ± 0.03 across the three machine learning algorithms, again better than miRNA (AUC = 0.89 ± 0.04) or SERS (AUC = 0.92 ± 0.05) individually, although SERS alone performed better in terms of classification accuracy. CONCLUSION: miRNA profiling synergizes with SERS profiling for point-of-care diagnostic and molecular stratification of BC. By combining the two liquid biopsy methods, a clinically relevant tool that can aid BC patients is envisaged.

COVID-19 and kidney transplantation: the impact of remdesivir on renal function and outcome - a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of remdesivir on overall mortality, ICU mortality, and renal functional outcome in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who received kidney transplant. METHODS: We reviewed 165 patients with KTx hospitalized owing to COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021. A total of 38 patients with KTx received a 5-day RDV treatment, whereas 127 received standard of care (SOC). Overall and ICU mortality along with functional outcome were assessed. RESULTS: The 2 groups had similar baseline characteristics. RDV treatment was completed in all patients without any adverse effects attributable to RDV. In terms of overall mortality, there was no difference between the RDV and SOC groups (18% vs 23%, p >0.05), but the ICU mortality was significantly reduced in the RDV group (39% vs 83%, p <0.05). RDV seems to have no nephrotoxic effect on patients with KTx because there was no difference in the incidence of AKI between RDV and SOC groups (50% vs 43%, p >0.05), and the discharge eGFR values significantly improved in the RDV group compared with the admission values (57 ± 23 vs 44 ± 22, p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Five-day RDV treatment appears safe in KTx recipients, and without obvious nephrotoxic effects. Also, RDV may decrease ICU mortality attributed to COVID-19.

SERS Liquid Biopsy Profiling of Serum for the Diagnosis of Kidney Cancer.

Renal cancer (RC) represents 3% of all cancers, with a 2% annual increase in incidence worldwide, opening the discussion about the need for screening. However, no established screening tool currently exists for RC. To tackle this issue, we assessed surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) profiling of serum as a liquid biopsy strategy to detect renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most prevalent histologic subtype of RC. Thus, serum samples were collected from 23 patients with RCC and 27 controls (CTRL) presenting with a benign urological pathology such as lithiasis or benign prostatic hypertrophy. SERS profiling of deproteinized serum yielded SERS band spectra attributed mainly to purine metabolites, which exhibited higher intensities in the RCC group, and Raman bands of carotenoids, which exhibited lower intensities in the RCC group. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the SERS spectra showed a tendency for the unsupervised clustering of the two groups. Next, three machine learning algorithms (random forest, kNN, naïve Bayes) were implemented as supervised classification algorithms for achieving discrimination between the RCC and CTRL groups, yielding an AUC of 0.78 for random forest, 0.78 for kNN, and 0.76 for naïve Bayes (average AUC 0.77 ± 0.01). The present study highlights the potential of SERS liquid biopsy as a diagnostic and screening strategy for RCC. Further studies involving large cohorts and other urologic malignancies as controls are needed to validate the proposed SERS approach.

Favipiravir in Kidney Transplant Recipients With COVID-19: A Romanian Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Favipiravir (FPV) is an orally administrable antiviral drug that selectively inhibits RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and has been repurposed for COVID-19 treatment. There is limited information on the use of FPV in kidney transplant recipients (KTx), who often have multiple comorbidities and run a higher risk for death from COVID-19. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all KTx at our institution who got sick with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, and who received FPV (loading dose of 1800 mg × 2 on day 1, maintenance dose 2  ×  800 mg/d for 5-14 days) as part of their COVID treatment. We analyzed demographics, clinical course, laboratory data, management, and outcome. RESULTS: Nine KTx with COVID-19 received FPV; all were hospitalized. The median age was 52 years (range, 32-60 years), and women were predominant (77.7%). Eight KTx had pulmonary involvement on chest radiograph. On admission 1 patient had mild, 5 had moderate, 2 had severe, and 1 had critical disease. Leukopenia and increased creatinine were universally noted. Three patients had disease progression under treatment. Seven patients (77.7%) required additional oxygen, and 4 (57.1%) needed intensive care unit admission. Three KTx died, resulting in an overall mortality of 33.3%. Survivors did not show increased transaminases or creatinine during or after FPV treatment; leukocytes, neutrophils, and platelets improved on discharge compared with admission values. CONCLUSIONS: FPV appears well tolerated by KTx with COVID-19, but its clinical benefit remains unclear. Larger analyses are needed.

Comparing the First and Second Wave of COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Recipients: An East-European Perspective.

BACKGROUND: The present study examined whether patient characteristics, management, and outcome of kidney transplant recipients (KTx) with COVID-19 changed in the second versus the first pandemic wave. METHODS: We reviewed all available data (demographics, medical history, comorbidities, therapeutic interventions, and outcome) on our KTx with COVID-19 during the first wave (March-September 2020, n = 33) and the second wave (October 2020-February 2021, n = 149) of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-two out of our 1,503 KTx in active follow-up got COVID-19 during 12-month period, corresponding to a prevalence of 12.1%. No difference was found in age, gender distribution, comorbidities, body mass index, or baseline immunosuppression between the 2 COVID-19 waves. Bilateral COVID pneumonia was more frequent during the first wave. More KTx were managed as outpatients during the second wave (15 vs. 39%, p < 0.01). Calcineurin inhibitors were more sparingly reduced during the second wave, whereas antimetabolites were similarly reduced (91 vs. 86, p = ns). Admission to intensive care units was comparable between the first (27%) and second waves (23%). During the first wave, 8 out of 9 patients (89%) requiring intensive care died, whereas the mortality of the ICU patients in the second wave was 68% (23 deaths) (p = 0.2). The overall mortality was 24% during the first wave and 16% during the second wave (p = 0.21), while in-hospital mortality was identical between the CO-VID-19 waves (27%). Increasing age and poor allograft function were significant predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Most patient characteristics and outcome were comparable between the first 2 COVID-19 waves. More KTx were managed as outpatients without an overall negative impact on outcome.

SERS liquid biopsy: An emerging tool for medical diagnosis.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is emerging as a novel strategy for biofluid analysis. In this review, we delineate four experimental SERS protocols that are frequently used for the profiling of biofluids: 1) liquid SERS for the detection of purine metabolites; 2) iodide-modified liquid SERS for the detection of proteins; 3) dried SERS for the detection of both purine metabolites and proteins; 4) resonant Raman for the detection of carotenoids. To explain the selectivity of each experimental SERS protocol, we introduce a heuristic model for the chemisorption of analytes mediated by adsorbed ions (adions) onto the SERS substrate. Next, we show that the promising results of SERS liquid biopsy stem from the fact that the concentration levels of purine metabolites, proteins and carotenoids are informative of the cellular turnover rate, inflammation, and oxidative stress, respectively. These processes are perturbed in virtually every disease, from cancer to autoimmune maladies. Finally, we review recent SERS liquid biopsy studies and discuss future steps that are required for translating SERS in the clinical setting.

COVID-19 after kidney transplantation: Early outcomes and renal function following antiviral treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The lack of effective treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has mandated the repurposing of several drugs, including antiretrovirals and remdesivir (RDV). These compounds may induce acute kidney injury and are not recommended in patients with poor renal function, such as kidney transplant (KTx) recipients. METHODS: The records of 42 KTx recipients with COVID-19 were reviewed. Some of them were receiving antiretrovirals (n = 10) or RDV (n = 8) as part of COVID-19 management. Most patients were male (71%) and their median age was 52 years. The median glomerular filtration rate in these patients was 56 ml/min. Regarding disease severity, 36% had mild disease, 19% had moderate disease, 31% had severe disease, and 12% had critical disease. Subgroups, i.e., patients receiving antiretrovirals, RDV, or no antivirals, were comparable in terms of patient age, comorbidities, and immunosuppression. RESULTS: Seven patients (16.6%) died during hospitalization. Acute kidney injury was found in 24% of KTx recipients at admission. Upon discharge, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) increased in 32% and decreased in 39% of the KTx recipients compared with the admission rate. The decrease was more prevalent in the RDV group (80%) compared with KTx recipients without any antiviral treatment (29%) (p < 0.05). Most patients (62%) returned to baseline eGFR values within 1 month of discharge. The proportion was similar between the patients receiving antiviral treatment and those not receiving this treatment. CONCLUSIONS: KTx recipients run a high risk of COVID-19-related renal impairment. Antivirals appear to be safe for use without major risks for kidney injury.

Renal Tumors in Young Adults: Is Preoperative Computer Tomography Imaging Suggestive for the Nature of the Tumors?

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 2-3% of all adult malignant neoplasms and is even rarer in patients under 45 years old. Clear-cell carcinoma represents most of the pathological subtypes. Our study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative computer tomography imagistic evaluation and histopathological diagnosis of renal tumors in young adults. Patients younger than 45 years old with renal tumors who were referred for medical treatment at the Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca from 2012 to 2019 were considered eligible for the study. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed, and patients with complete data regarding preoperative diagnostic, histopathological evaluation, and follow-up data, regardless of gender, were included in the study. Sixteen patients younger than 45 years fulfilled all the inclusion criteria and were evaluated. With two exceptions, the evaluated patients were in a T1 and T2 stage, with no vascular invasion or of the adjacent organs. Two-thirds of our patients had a clear-cell renal cell carcinoma. None of our patients fitted in the low complexity surgery category of the R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry Score and 37.5% of them benefited from partial nephrectomy. Half of the suppositions made based on imaging were concordant with the histopathology report. Fifteen of the patients showed no recurrence during the respective follow-up interval. Computer tomography imaging reports showed on our sample a higher concordance with the histopathological report in the more common subtypes (namely Renal Clear Cell RCC), with typical appearances.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the initial evaluation of the kidney graft function: a pilot study.

AIM: Our study aimed to assess the usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the initial evaluation of the graft function. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the early postoperative period on patients with kidney transplantation, between September 2017 to November 2018. Two groups of patients were investigated; delayed graft function (DGF) and early graft function (EGF). All patients were examined by grey scale, Doppler ultrasound and CEUS. RESULTS: Nineteen patients, aged from 23 to 64 years (mean age 50 years), 7 in the DGF group and 12 in the EGF group were evaluated. The resistive index (RI) show significantly higher values in the DGF group at the level of upper interlobar artery (p=0.025) and medium interlobar artery (p=0.02). The CEUS investigation shows a greater region of interest (ROI) area (p=0.02) and lower values for wash-out area under the curve (WoAUC) (p=0.047) and respectively wash-in and wash-out area under the curve (WiWoAUC) (p=0.031) for the DGF group. The quality of fit (QoF) proved lower in the DGF group either for evaluation of global graft (p=0.012), cortex (p=0.025), or medulla (p=0.009).A significant relationship among all patients was found between the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) [ml/min] and the renal artery fall time (FT) [s] (p=0.012), WoAUC [a.u.] (p=0.03), and WiWoAUC [a.u.] (p=0.024). The arterial QoF [%] was associated with the arterial ROI area (p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Intensity CEUS parameters WoAUC and WiWoAUC may be useful to diagnose and follow-up grafts with delayed function. Additional studies on larger cohorts are required for the recommendation of CEUS as a routine evaluation of the transplanted kidney.

Difficulties in diagnosing HIV-associated nephropathy in kidney transplanted patients. The role of ultrasound and CEUS.

A 62-year-old woman who underwent kidney transplantation in 2014 was diagnosed with HIV infection in 2018. Grey scale and Doppler ultrasound evaluation revealed a normal aspect of the allograft. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound detected a quick cortical contrast uptake followed by a rapid cortical wash-out. This behavior was interpreted as a sign of inflammation. Ten months after ultrasound evaluation the graft presented severe disfunction and the patient was reintroduced into the hemodialysis program.

Shear-Wave Elastography Variability Analysis and Relation with Kidney Allograft Dysfunction: A Single-Center Study.

Shear-wave elastography (SWE) showed the absence or presence of significant differences among stable kidney allograft function and allograft dysfunction. We evaluated the variability of kidney allograft stiffness in relation to allograft dysfunction, respectively, in terms of a correlation of stiffness with patients' characteristics. A single-center prospective study on patients who had undergone renal transplantation was conducted between October 2017 and November 2018. Patients were clinically classified as having a stable allograft function or allograft dysfunction. SWE examinations performed by the same radiologist with a LOGIQ E9 were evaluated. Ten measurements were done for Young's modulus (kPa) at the level of allograft cortex and another ten at the level of medulla. Eighty-three SWE examinations from 63 patients, 69 stable allografts, and 14 allografts with dysfunction were included in the analysis. The intra-examinations stiffness showed high variability, with the quantile covariation coefficient ranging from 2.21% to 45.04%. The inter-examinations stiffness showed heterogeneity (from 28.66% to 42.38%). The kidney allograft cortex stiffness showed significantly higher values in cases with dysfunction (median = 28.70 kPa, interquartile range (IQR) = (25.68-31.98) kPa) as compared to those with stable function (median = 20.99 kPa, interquartile range = (16.08-27.68) kPa; p-value = 0.0142). Allograft tissue stiffness (both cortex and medulla) was significantly negatively correlated with body mass index (-0.44, p-value < 0.0001 for allograft cortex and -0.42, p-value = 0.0001 for allograft medulla), and positively correlated with Proteinuria/Creatinuria ratio (0.33, p-value = 0.0021 for allograft cortex and 0.28, p-value = 0.0105 for allograft medulla) but remained statistically significant only in cases with stable function. The cortical tissue stiffness proved significantly higher values for patients with allograft dysfunction as compared to patients with stable function, but to evolve as an additional tool for the evaluation of patients with a kidney transplant and to change the clinical practice, more extensive studies are needed.

Angle grinder as surgical tool for incarcerated penoscrotal steel ring.

Penile strangulation with concomitant scrotal entrapment by a steel ring is an extremely rare urological emergency that requires immediate intervention. Any delay may lead to irreversible complications. Metal rings increase penile engorgement and are usually associated with an attempt to improve sexual pleasure or to maintain a prolonged erection. The removal of steel rings can be challenging and may require a multidisciplinary approach. We present a unique case report of an 18-year-old male with a penoscrotal steel ring retained for 24 hours that was safely removed using an angle grinder as a surgical tool.

First Reported Case in Romania of a Successfully Treated Severe COVID-19 in a Kidney Transplant Recipient: A Focus on Acute Kidney Injury.

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel virus SARS-CoV-2 is expanding worldwide, kidney involvement seems to be part of the spectrum of its effects. Moreover, the prognosis of the disease seems to be worse in immunocompromised patients when compared to the general population, with 4-5 times higher mortality rates. However, the overall impact on long-term function of the kidney graft is unknown. We report on a case of a 46-year-old kidney transplant recipient who was successfully treated for severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The clinical course was complicated by transient acute kidney injury, most likely due to tubulo-interstitial involvement, with return to the baseline of the creatinine level by the time of discharge. We discuss the characteristics and differential diagnosis of acute kidney injury, as well as management of immunosuppression in connection with overall clinical status and evolution of kidney function. The case is illustrative for dilemmas that transplant professionals may face in the absence of evidence-based, efficient COVID-19 therapy. The risk-benefit balance of the yet to be approved treatment strategies may be weighed differently in organ transplant recipients owing to their immunocompromised status and potential drug interactions with immunosuppressive therapy.

SERS assessment of the cancer-specific methylation pattern of genomic DNA: towards the detection of acute myeloid leukemia in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

In this label-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) study of genomic DNA, we demonstrate that the cancer-specific DNA methylation pattern translates into specific spectral differences. Thus, DNA extracted from an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line presented a decreased intensity of the 1005 cm-1 band of 5-methylcytosine compared to normal DNA, in line with the well-described hypomethylation of cancer DNA. The unique methylation pattern of cancer DNA also influences the DNA adsorption geometry, resulting in higher adenine SERS intensities for cancer DNA. The possibility of detecting cancer DNA based on its SERS spectrum was validated on peripheral blood genomic DNA samples from n = 17 AML patients and n = 17 control samples, yielding an overall classification of 82% based on the 1005 cm-1 band of 5-methylcytosine. By demonstrating the potential of SERS in assessing the methylation status in the case of real-life DNA samples, the study paves the way for novel methods of diagnosing cancer. Graphical abstract.