Minimizing early catheter failure using a risk stratification model for peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Early catheter failure is the main reason for peritoneal dialysis (PD) failure, which often causes patients to withdraw from PD. Reducing the early catheter failure is critical to increase the acceptance of PD. The purpose of our study was to establish a risk stratification model to minimize early catheter failure. METHODS: A retrospective study with patients underwent PD catheter placement from January 2013 to March 2022 was conducted. The primary outcome event was early catheter failure. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were performed to select potential risk predictors. A risk stratification model and a clinical procedure were established. The effectiveness of the model was evaluated by external validation. RESULTS: A total of 432 patients were finally enrolled in the study. The risk for early catheter failure was associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR], 0.930; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.884 to 0.972; p = 0.002), lower body mass index (BMI) (OR, 0.797; 95% CI, 0.629 to 0.964; p = 0.036), and lower albumin (ALB) levels (OR, 0.881; 95% CI, 0.782 to 0.985; p = 0.036). The risk stratification model was established and performed great discrimination capability with AUC of 0.832 (cut-off value: 0.061, sensitivity: 0.853, specificity: 0.812). The model proved to be effective in external validation; the rate of early catheter failure was dropped off from 4.1% to 0%. CONCLUSIONS: We established an effective risk stratification model, by which patients with high risk of early catheter failure could be precisely identified. The clinical procedure based on the model was proved to be helpful to minimize early catheter failure.

New taxonomic status of the Pseudotachycines procerus guizhouensis Zhu & Shi, 2022 (Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae: Aemodogryllini).

The genus Pseudotachycines belongs to the tribe Aemodogryllini of the subfamily Aemodogryllinae. In the present paper, we examined the morphological features of male and female adults of the subspecies P. procerus guizhouensis, and suggested that this subspecies should be treated as a separate species. We redescribed the male of P. guizhouensis in detail. The morphological information and some related photographs of the female of this species were provided for the first time in this study. The morphological differentiation between P. guizhouensis and P. procerus was discussed.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Triplax ainonia Lewis, 1877 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae).

The beetle Triplax ainonia Lewis, 1877 is a serious pest of cultivated the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus in China. The complete mitochondrial genome of this species was reported for the first time in this study. The mitogenome was 17,555 bp in length and had a base composition of 39.4% A, 36.1% T, 8.7% G and 15.3% C, which indicated that the base composition was AT-biased. Similar to other species of Coleoptera, the mitogenome of T. ainonia contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA unit genes, and a large noncoding region. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitogenomes suggested that the family Erotylidae was a monophyletic group.

Advances in detecting fruit aroma compounds by combining chromatography and spectrometry.

Fruit aroma is produced by volatile compounds, which can significantly enhance fruit flavor. These compounds are highly complex and have remarkable pharmacological effects. The synthesis, concentration, type, and quantity of fruit aroma substances are affected by various factors, both abiotic and biotic. To fully understand the aroma substances of various fruits and their influencing factors, detection technology can be used. Many methods exist for detecting aroma compounds, and approaches combining multiple instruments are widely used. This review describes and compares each detection technology and discusses the potential use of combined technologies to provide a comprehensive understanding of fruit aroma compounds and the factors influencing their synthesis. These results can inform the development and utilization of fruit aroma substances. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

The first case of lipoprotein glomerulopathy complicated with collagen type III glomerulopathy and literature review.

Lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) is a rare autosomal dominant kidney disease caused by pathogenic mutations in the APOE gene. Collagen type III glomerulopathy (CG) is a sporadic condition in adults characterized by abnormal accumulation of type III collagen in the subendothelial space and mesangium of the glomerulus. We report the first case of both LPG and CG in a 21-year-old male. A search of the literature found no confirmed reports of these two concomitant nephropathies. The patient presented with hypertension, proteinuria, hematuria and hyperlipidemia. Renal pathology showed lipid vacuoles in the enlarged glomerular capillary loops and type III collagen in the segmental mesangial area and on the inner side of the glomerular basement membrane by electron microscopy. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous mutation (c.127C>T; p. Arg43Cys) in exon 3 of the APOE gene, known as the APOE-Kyoto of LPG. In addition, two heterozygous COL4A4 mutations (c.4715C>T in exon 47 and c.5065 T>C in exon 48) were observed, the first one was suspected pathogenic and the other one was uncertain significant. There is no special treatment for these diseases. The patient was treated with lipid-lowering agents, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibition and tripterygium glycosides. The patient received double-filtration plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption therapy when renal function deteriorated dramatically. Immunoadsorption was beneficial for this patient.

Description of five new species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) (Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae: Aemodogryllini) from caves in Guizhou, China.

The genus Tachycines contains two subgenera: T. (Tachycines) and T. (Gymnaeta), and the species of this genus occur mainly in Southeast and East Asia, including Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, India, and China. Many species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) are cavernicolous. In this study, five new cave species of this subgenus, namely Tachycines (Gymnaeta) lingulatus sp. nov., Tachycines (Gymnaeta) multispinus sp. nov., Tachycines (Gymnaeta) microtuberculatus sp. nov., Tachycines (Gymnaeta) ovalius sp. nov., and Tachycines (Gymnaeta) conicus sp. nov., from Guizhou Province, China are identified and described. Morphological information of males and females of the five new species are provided.

A new species of the genus Megatachycines (Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae: Aemodogryllini) from Guizhou, China.

Zhu et al. (2022) proposed the genus Megatachycines based on the description of a new species and the reviewed genus Microtachycines. In this study, a new species of Megatachycines, namely Megatachycines rectangularis sp. nov., from Guizhou Province, China is described. This new species is similar to Megatachycines elongatus, and the morphological differentiation between the two species is discussed. Morphological information including diagnosis of the new species, description of male genitalia, and some related photographs of males and females are provided.

Pathogenic Role of MicroRNA Dysregulation in Podocytopathies.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the regulation of various important biological processes by regulating the expression of various genes at the post-transcriptional level. Podocytopathies are a series of renal diseases in which direct or indirect damage of podocytes results in proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome. Despite decades of research, the exact pathogenesis of podocytopathies remains incompletely understood and effective therapies are still lacking. An increasing body of evidence has revealed a critical role of miRNAs dysregulation in the onset and progression of podocytopathies. Moreover, several lines of research aimed at improving common podocytopathies diagnostic tools and avoiding invasive kidney biopsies have also identified circulating and urine miRNAs as possible diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for podocytopathies. The present review mainly aims to provide an updated overview of the recent achievements in research on the potential applicability of miRNAs involved in renal disorders related to podocyte dysfunction by laying particular emphasis on focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), minimal change disease (MCD), membranous nephropathy (MN), diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Further investigation into these dysregulated miRNAs will not only generate novel insights into the mechanisms of podocytopathies, but also might yield novel strategies for the diagnosis and therapy of this disease.

Natural product therapies in chronic kidney diseases: An update.

Chronic kidney disease is one of the major worldwide public health problems. Traditional Chinese medications have been widely used for chronic kidney disease treatment. As the development of modern phytochemistry technology, natural products have been isolated from traditional Chinese medications, which provide a more precise method for the investigation of traditional Chinese medications. In this article, we selected eight natural products from traditional Chinese medications for chronic kidney disease therapy to summarize the recent advances for the development of new medications.

Description of a new species of the subgenus Tachycines (Tachycines) (Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae: Aemodogryllini) from Guizhou, China.

In this study, we identify and describe a new species of the subgenus Tachycines (Tachycines), namely Tachycines (Tachycines) nigrocorporis sp. nov., which was collected from Guizhou Province, China, bringing the species number of this subgenus to twenty-two. The morphological differentiation between this new species and other species of Tachycines (Tachycines) is discussed. The morphological photographs of the new species are provided.

Biomarkers for detecting and improving AKI after liver transplantation: From diagnosis to treatment.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a well-established treatment for patients with liver failure. The shortage of donor organs and postoperative complications remain major obstacles for improving patient survival. Among these complications, acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most frequent types, contributing to graft loss. The timely detection and reversal of AKI can reduce its adverse influences on graft and patient outcomes. Traditional markers for detecting AKI are often limited with regard to their accuracy and specificity, and the discovery of better AKI markers and therapeutic targets assumes great importance. During past decades, studies directed toward early detection and treatment of AKI in OLT have been available. This review summarizes the evidence of these biomarkers for the prediction, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis stratification of AKI associated with OLT.

A new cave species of the genus Gymnaetoides (Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae: Aemodogryllini) from Guizhou, China.

In this study, a new species of the genus Gymnaetoides Qin, Liu Li, 2017, namely Gymnaetoides polaoensis sp. nov., from a karst cave in Guizhou Province, China is described. This new species is the first cave-dwelling species belonging to the genus Gymnaetoides. The morphological photographs of the males of this new cave species are provided.

Three new cave species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae) from northern Guizhou, China.

Some species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) are cavernicolous. In this paper, three new species of this subgenus, namely Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zaoshu sp. nov., Tachycines (Gymnaeta) shuangcha sp. nov., and Tachycines (Gymnaeta) tongrenus sp. nov., from karst caves in Guizhou Province, China are described. The results of this study expand our knowledge of the geographical distribution of the cave species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) in China. The morphological photographs of the three new cave species are provided.

A new species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) from karst caves of southern Guizhou, China.

Some species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) inhabit caves. In this study, a new species of, Gymnaeta namely Tachycines (Gymnaeta) lalinus sp. nov., from two karst caves in Guizhou Province, China is described. This new species resembles the cave species Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zorzini from Guizhou Province, but can be separated from the latter by morphological characters of the male genitalia, the number of spines on hind tibiae, and coloration.

A new species of the subgenus Tachycines (Tachycines) (Othoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) from Guizhou, China.

Adelung (1902) erected the genus Tachycines with Tachycines asynamorus as the type species. In this paper, a new species of the genus Tachycines, subgenus Tachycines, namely Tachycines (Tachycines) huaxi sp. nov., from Guizhou, China is described. This new species is similar to Tachycines (Tachycines) asynamorus. The morphological differentiation between the two species is discussed.

Sexual pair-formation in a cicada mediated by acoustic behaviour of females and positive phonotaxis of males.

The functions of female song found in a few cicadas have rarely been studied. In the cicada Subpsaltria yangi we investigated the acoustic behaviour and signal structure of songs produced by females, the phonotaxis of males, and mate choice, as well as the selective pressure imposed on this species by predators. Pair-formation in S. yangi occurs when males signal, females respond, then males move to signaling females, which is opposite to that in most other cicadas where females move to calling males. Females only mate once and are sexually unreceptive after copulation. Most males mate once, but ~25% mate multiply. Females display little direct evidence of mate preference or choice of males, and all mate encounters led to a successful mating. Only males are attacked by a robber fly, Philonicus albiceps, while flying to females. This imposes strong selection on males - only males who can evade predators mate. Males are also attracted to human simulations of female calls. This behaviour exposes the mating system to impacts from anthropogenic noise systems which could disrupt mating activity of this species. Our results improve the understanding of mate choice/competition in cicadas, and are valuable for future studies of the evolution of sound communication in the Cicadoidea.

Urinary angiopoietin-2 is associated with albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims. To evaluate the levels of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), Ang-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum and urine, and their association with albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods. In 113 type 2 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, and macroalbuminuria and 30 healthy controls, the levels of Ang-1, Ang-2, and VEGF in serum and urine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Urinary and serum levels of Ang-2 were significantly higher in diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria than in healthy controls. Increased urinary Ang-2 level was positively associated with the degree of albuminuria. Urinary Ang-1 levels were significantly higher in normoalbuminuria patients and lower in macroalbuminuria patients than in controls. The levels of urinary VEGF increased in the albuminuria subgroup, though serum levels of Ang-1 and VEGF did not change. Urinary Ang-2 levels were correlated positively with albuminuria and negatively with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified albuminuria (P < 0.001) and GFR (P = 0.001) as significant predictors of urinary Ang-2. Conclusions. Our data suggest that urinary Ang-2 is stepwise increased with renal damage in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with albuminuria.

How do "mute" cicadas produce their calling songs?

Insects have evolved a variety of structures and mechanisms to produce sounds, which are used for communication both within and between species. Among acoustic insects, cicada males are particularly known for their loud and diverse sounds which function importantly in communication. The main method of sound production in cicadas is the tymbal mechanism, and a relative small number of cicada species possess both tymbal and stridulatory organs. However, cicadas of the genus Karenia do not have any specialized sound-producing structures, so they are referred to as "mute". This denomination is quite misleading, as they indeed produce sounds. Here, we investigate the sound-producing mechanism and acoustic communication of the "mute" cicada, Karenia caelatata, and discover a new sound-production mechanism for cicadas: i.e., K. caelatata produces impact sounds by banging the forewing costa against the operculum. The temporal, frequency and amplitude characteristics of the impact sounds are described. Morphological studies and reflectance-based analyses reveal that the structures involved in sound production of K. caelatata (i.e., forewing, operculum, cruciform elevation, and wing-holding groove on scutellum) are all morphologically modified. Acoustic playback experiments and behavioral observations suggest that the impact sounds of K. caelatata are used in intraspecific communication and function as calling songs. The new sound-production mechanism expands our knowledge on the diversity of acoustic signaling behavior in cicadas and further underscores the need for more bioacoustic studies on cicadas which lack tymbal mechanism.

Stridulatory sound-production and its function in females of the cicada Subpsaltria yangi.

Acoustic behavior plays a crucial role in many aspects of cicada biology, such as reproduction and intrasexual competition. Although female sound production has been reported in some cicada species, acoustic behavior of female cicadas has received little attention. In cicada Subpsaltria yangi, the females possess a pair of unusually well-developed stridulatory organs. Here, sound production and its function in females of this remarkable cicada species were investigated. We revealed that the females could produce sounds by stridulatory mechanism during pair formation, and the sounds were able to elicit both acoustic and phonotactic responses from males. In addition, the forewings would strike the body during performing stridulatory sound-producing movements, which generated impact sounds. Acoustic playback experiments indicated that the impact sounds played no role in the behavioral context of pair formation. This study provides the first experimental evidence that females of a cicada species can generate sounds by stridulatory mechanism. We anticipate that our results will promote acoustic studies on females of other cicada species which also possess stridulatory system.