Higher D-dimer and activated partial thromboplastin time are poor prognostic factors in patients with peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis.

INTRODUCTION: Coagulation system dysfunction is associated with adverse outcomes of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and bacterial infection. We investigated the association between coagulation system and treatment failure of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis (PDRP). METHODS: We collected records of patients aged ≥18 years with PDRP. PDRP episodes were divided into: shortened activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) group and prolonged APTT group, low D-dimer (DD) group and high DD group. The baseline characteristics of the groups were collected and compared. The association between APTT, DD and treatment failure of PDRP was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Thirty episodes of treatment failure were observed in 110 episodes of PDRP in our study. After adjusting for variables, prolonged APTT (OR = 1.166 [1.049-1.296], p = 0.004) or high level of DD (OR = 1.374 [1.057-1.787], p = 0.017) was associated with treatment failure of PDRP. CONCLUSION: Prolonged baseline APTT or high level of DD increased the risk of treatment failure of PDRP.

Identification of the Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) as a Novel Biomarker in the Prognosis for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a biologically and genetically heterogeneous hematological malignance with an unsatisfactory risk stratification system. Recently, through the novel single-cell RNA sequencing technology, we revealed heterogeneous leukemia myeloblasts in RUNX1-RUNX1T1 AML. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), as biomarkers of CD34+CD117bri myeloblasts, were found to be prognostic in RUNX1-RUNX1T1 AML. However, the clinical and genetic features of TRH in AML patients are poorly understood. Here, with data from TCGA AML, TRH was found to be downregulated in patients older than 60 years old, with DNMT3A and NPM1 mutations, while overexpressed in patients with KIT mutations. This was further validated in three other cohorts of primary AML including Beat AML (n = 223), GSE6891 (n = 461), and GSE17855 (n = 237). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the expression of TRH in AML could be used to improve the ELN 2017 risk stratification system. In conclusion, our preliminary analysis revealed that TRH, a novel biomarker for AML patients, could be used to evaluate the survival of AML.

Comprehensive Analysis of CRIP1 Expression in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous hematological malignancy that imposes great challenges in terms of drug resistance and relapse. Previous studies revealed heterogeneous leukemia cells and their relevant gene markers, such as CRIP1 as clinically prognostic in t (8;21) AML patients. However, the expression and role of CRIP1 in AML are poorly understood. We used the single-cell RNA sequencing and gene expression data from t (8;21) AML patients to analyze the immune and regulation networks of CRIP1. Two independent cohorts from GSE37642 and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were employed as validation cohorts. In addition, the methylation data from TCGA were used to analyze the methylation effect of the CRIP1 expression. Gene expression profile from t (8;21) AML patients showed that the CRIP1-high group exhibited an enrichment of immune-related pathways, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α signaling via nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) pathways. Further studies using CIBERSORT showed that the CRIP1-high group had a significantly higher infiltration of exhausted CD8 T cells and activated mast cells. The CRIP1 expression was validated in the GSE37642-GPL96, GSE37642-GPL570, and TCGA datasets. In addition, with the methylation data, four CpG probes of CRIP1 (cg07065217, cg04411625, cg25682097, and 11763800) were identified as negatively associated with the CRIP1 gene expression in AML patients. Our data provide a comprehensive overview of the regulation of CRIP1 expression in AML patients. The evaluation of the TNFα-NFκB signaling pathway as well as the immune heterogeneity might provide new insights for exploring improvements in AML treatment.

Elevated baseline serum IgA may predict earlier proteinuria remission in IgA nephropathy patients.

The goals of this work were to investigate the correlations of elevated serum IgA with renal pathology and outcome of proteinuria in IgA nephropathy patients. Retrospective cohort analysis enrolled 90 IgA nephropathy patients (proteinuria ≥0.5 g/24 hr, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 ml/min/1.73 m2) who were admitted to The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from 2013.01 to 2017.04. The elevated serum IgA level was found in 20 (22.2%) patients. In clinical characteristics, serum IgG, ratio of IgA/C3 and recurrent mucosal infection rate were increased obviously in high serum IgA group compared with normal serum IgA group (serum IgG, 14.90±3.50 g/L vs. 10.27±3.49 g/L, P<0.001, IgA/C3, 4.45±1.21 vs. 2.77±0.75, P<0.001, recurrent mucosae infection rate, 40.0% vs. 14.3%, P=0.027). In kidney biopsy, mesangial proliferation was significantly more common in normal serum IgA group (81% vs. 50% in high serum IgA group, P=0.028). The proportion of crescent less than 25% more often occurred in elevated IgA group (81.3% vs. 63.8% in normal IgA group). The Kaplan-Meier curves showed that proteinuria remission rate for patients with high serum IgA was 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% and 95% after 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 months compared with patients with normal serum IgA (proteinuria remission rate, 45%, 64%, 75%, 86% and 93%, P=0.020). Cox proportional hazard regression model indicated that elevated serum IgA (RR=1.984, P=0.040) and steroids therapy (RR=2.192, P=0.030) were independent predictors for proteinuria remission in IgA nephropathy patients. In view of our data, more active treatments may improve outcome of IgA nephropathy patients with elevated serum IgA. We conclude that elevated serum IgA may indicate a higher proteinuria remission rate within a shorter period of time in IgA nephropathy patients.

RETRACTED: Role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors in radiation nephropathy.

The following article has been included in a multiple retraction: Tian-Biao Zhou, Hong-Yan Li, Zong-Pei Jiang, Jia-Fan Zhou, Miao-Fang Huang and Zhi-Yang Zhou Role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors in radiation nephropathy Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System ( JRAAS) 1470320314563424, first published 18 December 2014. DOI: 10.1177/1470320314563424 . This article has been retracted at the request of the Editors and the Publisher. After conducting a thorough investigation, SAGE found that the submitting authors of a number of papers published in the JRAAS (listed below) had supplied fabricated contact details for their nominated reviewers. The Editors accepted these papers based on the reports supplied by the individuals using these fake reviewer email accounts. After concluding that the peer-review process was therefore seriously compromised, SAGE and the journal Editors have decided to retract all affected articles. Online-first articles (these articles will not be published in an issue) Wenzhuang Tang, Tian-Biao Zhou and Zongpei Jiang Association of the angiotensinogen M235T gene polymorphism with risk of diabetes mellitus developing into diabetic nephropathy JRAAS 1470320314563426, first published 18 December 2014. DOI: 10.1177/1470320314563426 . Tian-Biao Zhou, Hong-Yan Li, Zong-Pei Jiang, Jia-Fan Zhou, Miao-Fang Huang and Zhi-Yang Zhou Role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors in radiation nephropathy JRAAS 1470320314563424, first published 18 December 2014. DOI: 10.1177/1470320314563424 . Weiqiang Zhong, Zongpei Jiang and Tian-Biao Zhou Association between the ACE I/D gene polymorphism and T2DN susceptibility: The risk of T2DM developing into T2DN in the Asian population JRAAS1470320314566019, first published 26 January 2015. DOI: 10.1177/1470320314566019 . Tian-Biao Zhou, Xue-Feng Guo, Zongpei Jiang and Hong-Yan Li Relationship between the ACE I/D gene polymorphism and T1DN susceptibility/risk of T1DM developing into T1DN in the Caucasian population JRAAS 1470320314563425, first published 1 February 2015. DOI: 10.1177/1470320314563425 . Chun-Hua Yang and Tian-Biao Zhou Relationship between the angiotensinogen A1166C gene polymorphism and the risk of diabetes mellitus developing into diabetic nephropathy JRAAS 1470320314566221, first published 1 February 2015. DOI: 10.1177/1470320314566221 . Chun-Hua Yang and Tian-Biao Zhou Association of the ACE I/D gene polymorphism with sepsis susceptibility and sepsis progression JRAAS 1470320314568521, first published 3 February 2015. DOI: 10.1177/1470320314568521 . Articles published in an issue Guohui Liu, Tian-Biao Zhou, Zongpei Jiang and Dongwen Zheng Association of ACE I/D gene polymorphism with T2DN susceptibility and the risk of T2DM developing into T2DN in a Caucasian population JRAAS March 2015; 16: 165-171, first published 14 November 2014. DOI: 10.1177/1470320314557849 . Weiqiang Zhong, Zhongliang Huang, Yong Wu, Zongpei Jiang and Tian-Biao Zhou Association of aldosterone synthase ( CYP11B2) gene polymorphism with IgA nephropathy risk and progression of IgA nephropathy JRAAS September 2015; 16: 660-665, first published 20 August 2014. DOI: 10.1177/1470320314524011 .

Relationship between chemokine receptor 5 Δ32/W gene polymorphism and lupus nephritis.

Results from the published studies on the association between chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) Δ32/W gene polymorphism and lupus nephritis (LN) are still conflicting. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between CCR5 Δ32/W gene polymorphism and LN and to explore whether CCR5 Δ32 allele, Δ32/Δ32 and W/W genotypes could become a predictive marker for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) developing into LN. Association studies were identified from the databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and CBM-disc (China Biological Medicine Database) as of March 1, 2014, and eligible investigations were synthesized using meta-analysis method. Results were expressed with odds ratios (OR) for dichotomous data, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated. Five investigations were identified for the analysis of association between CCR5 Δ32/W gene polymorphism and LN. In the overall populations, Asians, Caucasian population, the association between CCR5 Δ32/W gene polymorphism and LN susceptibility was not found. Interestingly, a trend toward an association of Δ32 allele and W/W genotype with LN risk was observed in African population. However, this meta-analysis only included one study for the study in Africans. We also found that the gene distribution of CCR5 Δ32/W gene polymorphism between SLE group and LN group were not different. In conclusion, our results indicate that CCR5 Δ32/W gene polymorphism was not associated with LN risk and might be no a significant genetic molecular marker to predict the SLE patients developing into LN. However, more investigations are required to further clarify this association.

Retracted Association of STAT4 gene polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus / lupus nephritis risk.

OBJECTIVE: The association of STAT4 gene polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) / lupus nephritis (LN) results from the published studies is still conflicting. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between STAT4 rs7574865, rs16833431, rs11889341, rs8179673, rs10168266, rs7582694, rs3821236, rs7601754 gene polymorphism and SLE / LN, and to explore whether STAT4 gene polymorphism could become a predictive marker for SLE / LN risk. METHODS: Association studies were identified from the databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and CBM-disc (China Biological Medicine Database) as of September 1, 2013, and eligible investigations were synthesized using meta-analysis method. RESULTS: 24 investigations were identified for the analysis of association between STAT4 gene polymorphism and SLE, consisting of 31190 patients with SLE and 43940 controls. In STAT4 rs7574865, there was a marked association between T allele or TT genotype and SLE susceptibility (T: OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.30-1.79, P<0.00001; TT: OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.34-1.92, P<0.00001), and GG homozygous was associated with SLE risk (OR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.51-0.75, P<0.00001). Furthermore, rs8179673, rs7582694, or rs3821236 minor allele frequency was associated with the risk of SLE, but this association was not found in rs16833431, rs11889341, rs10168266, rs7601754, however, the number of included studies was small and the results were less robust. In addition, STAT4 rs7574865 gene polymorphism was not associated with the LN risk. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that T allele or TT homozygous is a significant risk genetic molecular marker to predict the SLE susceptibility and GG genotype is a valuable marker to against the SLE risk, but the association was not found for LN. However, more investigations are required to further clarify the association of the T allele or TT homozygous with SLE / LN susceptibility.