Endothelial Dysfunction Accelerates Impairment of Mitochondrial Function in Ageing Kidneys via Inflammasome Activation.

Chronic kidney disease is a common problem in the elderly and is associated with increased mortality. We have reported on the role of nitric oxide, which is generated from endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), in the progression of aged kidneys. To elucidate the role of endothelial dysfunction and the lack of an eNOS-NO pathway in ageing kidneys, we conducted experiments using eNOS and ASC-deficient mice. C57B/6 J mice (wild type (WT)), eNOS knockout (eNOS KO), and ASC knockout (ASC KO) mice were used in the present study. Then, eNOS/ASC double-knockout (eNOS/ASC DKO) mice were generated by crossing eNOS KO and ASC KO mice. These mice were sacrificed at 17-19 months old. The Masson positive area and the KIM-1 positive area tended to increase in eNOS KO mice, compared with WT mice, but not eNOS/ASC DKO mice. The COX-positive area was significantly reduced in eNOS KO mice, compared with WT and eNOS/ASC DKO mice. To determine whether inflammasomes were activated in infiltrating macrophages, the double staining of IL-18 and F4/80 was performed. IL-18 and F4/80 were found to be co-localised in the tubulointerstitial areas. Inflammasomes play a pivotal role in inflammaging in ageing kidneys. Furthermore, inflammasome activation may accelerate cellular senescence via mitochondrial dysfunction. The importance of endothelial function as a regulatory mechanism suggests that protection of endothelial function may be a potential therapeutic target.

Roxadustat and thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression.

Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitors belong to a new class of orally administered drugs for treating anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence of hypothyroidism is disproportionately high in patients with CKD on hemodialysis. We report a rapid suppression of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and decrease in free triiodothyronine (T3) and free tetraiodothyronine levels after switching from darbepoetin alfa to roxadustat in a hemodialysis patient with hypothyroidism on levothyroxine therapy. This was reversed after stopping roxadustat. Roxadustat has structural similarity with T3 and is a selective activating ligand for thyroid hormone receptor-ß possibly suppressing TSH release.

Effect of zinc deficiency on chronic kidney disease progression and effect modification by hypoalbuminemia.

Serum zinc (Zn) levels tend to be low in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This cohort study was conducted to investigate the relationship between zinc deficiency and CKD progression. Patients were classified into two groups based on Zn levels < 60 µg/dl (low-Zn group, n = 160) and ≥ 60 µg/dl (high-Zn group, n = 152). The primary outcome was defined as end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or death and was examined over a 1-year observation period. Overall, the mean Zn level was 59.6 µg/dl and the median eGFR was 20.3 ml/min/1.73 m2. The incidence of the primary outcome was higher in the low-Zn group (p<0.001). Various Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for baseline characteristics showed higher risks of the primary outcome in the low-Zn group than in the high-Zn group. Competing risks analysis showed that low Zn levels were associated with ESKD but not with death. Moreover, in propensity score-matched analysis, the low-Zn group showed a higher risk of the primary outcome [adjusted hazard ratio 1.81 (95% confidence interval 1.02, 3.24)]. Furthermore, an interaction was observed between Zn and serum albumin levels (interaction p = 0.026). The results of this study indicate that zinc deficiency is a risk factor for CKD progression.

Renal cell carcinoma sharply captured by imaging technology at an early stage in a hemodialysis patient: Usefulness of noninvasive monochrome superb microvascular imaging.

It has been drawing much attention that type 2 diabetes mellitus is closely associated with increased incidence of numerous cancers and their poor prognosis. Consequently, malignancy has been recently recognized as one of diabetic complications in addition to various conventional complications. Furthermore, it is well known that the prevalence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is drastically increased in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Therefore, screening of RCCs in HD patients is a very important and urgent issue as there are no highly sensitive tumor markers for RCCs. Monochrome superb microvascular imaging (mSMI) is a relatively new Doppler ultrasound technique and is useful especially when evaluating very slow blood flow state, because this allows for imaging microvessels with low velocity in the absence of a contrast agent. Thus, mSMI might be also useful when contrast enhancement is not obvious on CT and/or contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using perflubutane or contrast agents are contraindicated. Moreover, it has been reported that mSMI could effectively detect vascularity of renal malignant tumor than benign renal mass in nondialysis patients. We propose that mSMI of ultrasonography could become one of the very useful methods for detecting RCCs at an early stage with high sensitivity in HD patients.

Metabolic alkalosis due to short bowel syndrome in a hemodialysis patient.

A 53-year-old man on hemodialysis suffered from short bowel syndrome after subtotal colectomy and partial resection of the small intestine. Laboratory tests showed multiple electrolyte disorders and enlarged sodium and chloride ion (Cl-) gaps despite treatment with large volume of sodium chloride replacement via central venous infusion. Blood gas analysis showed slightly high bicarbonate ion levels and metabolic alkalosis was suspected, which is uncommon in end stage kidney disease. The measurement of electrolytes in feces from ileostomy showed relatively high Cl- excretion. The loss of Cl- to feces may have caused the metabolic alkalosis; thus, additional Cl- replacement may have been necessary.

New selectivity index calculated using protein fraction as a substitute for the conventional selectivity index.

BACKGROUND: Selectivity index (SI) of proteinuria, calculated using the clearance ratio of immunoglobulin G to transferrin, predicts the response to glucocorticoids in patients with nephrotic syndrome. However, there is disagreement regarding the suitability of SI. Therefore, alternate indices should be considered. This study investigated whether or not selectivity index protein fraction (SIPF) was inferior to SI for the prediction of the response to glucocorticoids. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with nephrotic syndrome were evaluated. On the basis of molecular weight and protein fraction, as an inexpensive substitute for SI, the clearance ratio of the albumin to γ fractions measured in serum and urine protein fractions was defined as SIPF. The quality of SIPF was examined. Moreover, the best cutoff value of SIPF was determined; and SIPF distribution, according to histopathological diagnosis by renal biopsy, was examined. RESULTS: SIPF was strongly correlated with SI (r = 0.79, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of SIPF and SI was not significantly different (P = 0.18). The best cutoff value of SIPF was 0.45. In the group with SIPF > 0.45, only two patients with minimal change disease (MCD) achieved complete remission. In the group with SIPF ≤ 0.45, all patients with MCD achieved complete remission, although eight patients with other histopathological diagnoses did not achieve complete remission. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of protein fractions as a substitute for SI may be useful for predicting response to glucocorticoids in patients with nephrotic syndrome.