Meckel-Gruber syndrome together with Dandy-Walker malformation: an atypical case report of a 2nd recurrence in a consanguine marriage.

Meckel-Gruber syndrome is a lethal disorder characterized by occipital encephalocele, polycystic kidneys, and polydactyly. In most cases, it is identified and terminated antenatally. In this report, the authors present a case of Meckel-Gruber syndrome together with Dandy-Walker malformation. A pregnant woman referred at the 28th week of gestation with an abnormal ultrasound scan showing posterior encephalocele and bilaterally enlarged kidneys. Further imaging also indicated communication between the 4th ventricle and posterior cerebellar cerebrospinal fluid space, after which the fetus was diagnosed with Meckel-Gruber syndrome and Dandy-Walker malformation. Pregnancy termination was refused by the parents and the offspring was prematurely born to be the 2nd recurrence of Meckel-Gruber syndrome in this consanguine family. Remarkably, at the 3 different pregnancies, ultrasound was inconclusive before the 7th month of gestation. Though up to date Meckel-Gruber syndrome is ultimately lethal, the lifespan of affected newborns varied greatly. We suggest developing a severity classification to estimate life expectancy in unterminated cases.

[Stanford Type A Acute Aortic Dissection Associated with Polycystic Kidney Disease].

Whereas cerebral aneurysm is a well-known consequence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), acute aortic dissection has been rarely reported. A patient was a 44-year-old male with a diagnosis of ADPKD, who had previously undergone transcatheter arterial embolization for a renal cyst hemorrhage. He presented with sudden onset of back pain, which got worse at emergency service. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed Stanford type A acute aortic dissection. The patient subsequently underwent partial aortic arch replacement with a vascular graft under circulatory arrest. His postoperative course was complicated by pneumonia and required ventilation support for a week. Peak creatinine level was 3.28 mg/dl, but hemodialysis was not required. Patients with ADPKD should be considered a high-risk cohort of aortic dissection.

Severity of polycystic kidney disease revealed by multiparametric MRI.

PURPOSE: We aimed to compare multiple MRI parameters, including relaxation rates ( R 1 $$ {R}_1 $$ , R 2 $$ {R}_2 $$ , and R 1 ρ $$ {R}_{1\rho } $$ ), ADC from diffusion weighted imaging, pool size ratio (PSR) from quantitative magnetization transfer, and measures of exchange from spin-lock imaging ( S ρ $$ {S}_{\rho } $$ ), for assessing and predicting the severity of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) over time. METHODS: Pcy/Pcy mice with CD1 strain, a mouse model of autosomal dominant PKD, were imaged at 5, 9, and 26 wk of age using a 7T MRI system. Twelve-week normal CD1 mice were used as controls. Post-mortem paraffin tissue sections were stained using hematoxylin and eosin and picrosirius red to identify histological changes. RESULTS: Histology detected segmental cyst formation in the early stage (week 5) and progression of PKD over time in Pcy kidneys. In T 2 $$ {T}_2 $$ -weighted images, small cysts appeared locally in cystic kidneys in week 5 and gradually extended to the whole cortex and outer stripe of outer medulla region from week 5 to week 26. Regional PSR, R 1 $$ {R}_1 $$ , R 2 $$ {R}_2 $$ , and R 1 ρ $$ {R}_{1\rho } $$ decreased consistently over time compared to normal kidneys, with significant changes detected in week 5. Among all the MRI measures, R 2 $$ {R}_2 $$ and R 1 ρ $$ {R}_{1\rho } $$ allow highest detectability to PKD, while PSR and R 1 $$ {R}_1 $$ have highest correlation with pathological indices of PKD. Using optimum MRI parameters as regressors, multiple linear regression provides reliable prediction of PKD progression. CONCLUSION: R 2 $$ {R}_2 $$ , R 1 $$ {R}_1 $$ , and PSR are sensitive indicators of the presence of PKD. Multiparametric MRI allows a comprehensive analysis of renal changes caused by cyst formation and expansion.

CEUS utility in the diagnosis of a stage I renal cancer developed on polycystic kidney. A case report.

We present the case of a 49-year-old patient with polycystic kidney disease in which, in the pre-transplant CT-scan evaluation, a Bosniak III cyst was found in the left kidney. After contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examination the cyst wasinterpreted as a Bosniak IV malignant cyst and surgical resection of the kidney was realised. The pathology report showed papillary renal cell carcinoma. This case report emphasizes the role of CEUS in polycystic kidney disease examination.

Prenatal ultrasound in fetuses with polycystic kidney appearance - expanding the diagnostic algorithm.

PURPOSE: Report on the diagnosis of prenatally detected fetal kidneys with bilateral polycystic appearance in a single center between 1999 and 2020 with special focus on renal morphology and biometry, amniotic fluid and extrarenal findings and proposal for an diagnostic algorithm. METHODS: Retrospective observational study including pregnancies with prenatally detected kidneys with bilateral polycystic appearance (n = 98). Cases and outcomes were compared according to prenatal findings with special focus on renal morphology, amount of amniotic fluid, and presence of extrarenal abnormalities. RESULTS: Most frequent diagnoses were autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD, 53.1%), Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS, 17.3%) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD, 8.2%). Other diagnoses included: Joubert-, Jeune-, McKusick-Kaufman- and Bardet-Biedl syndrome, overgrowth syndromes, Mainzer-Saldino syndrome and renal tubular dysgenesis. Renal abnormalities most frequently observed were hyperechogenic parenchyma, kidney enlargement, changes of corticomedullary differentiation and cystic changes of various degree. Oligo- and anhydramnios were mainly seen in ARPKD, RTD and second-trimester MKS. Extrarenal findings included skeletal (35.7%) and cardiac (34.7%) abnormalities as well as abnormalities of the central nervous system (27.6%). CONCLUSION: Gestational age at manifestation, kidney size, visibility of cysts, echogenicity, amniotic fluid volume, and the presence of associated extrarenal malformations allow to differentiate between the most frequent underlying diseases presenting with bilateral polycystic kidneys on prenatal ultrasound by following a diagnostic algorithm.

Kidney stone formation in a novel murine model of polycystic kidney disease.

Individuals with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease have a higher incidence of stone formation than the general population. However, there are no cystic animal models known to develop stones. Cystic mice compound heterozygous for hypomorphic Pkd1V and Pkd1RC alleles develop cystic kidneys within a few weeks of birth but live beyond 20 wk of age, allowing for the study of cystic comorbidities including stone formation. Cystic Pkd1V/RC mice were euthanized at 3, 13, or 26 wk of age, and their kidneys were analyzed by microcomputed tomography (µCT) for stone formation. Mice had occasional mineral aggregates that could be detected by µCT analysis at 3 wk of age. At 13 or 26 wk of age, numerous white masses were visible beneath the kidney surface. µCT analysis confirmed the masses to be large mineral stone deposits throughout the renal cortex, with mineral content increasing with age. Staining of histological sections with alizarin red and von Kossa suggested that the stone deposits were composed primarily of calcium and phosphate. Microdissection confirmed stones localized within cyst lumens. Analysis of individual stones by µCT and infrared spectroscopy confirmed apatite mineral composition. Urinalysis revealed elevated levels of phosphate and citrate at 3 wk of age and lower pH and elevated levels of calcium and citrate at 13 wk of age, suggesting altered phosphate and calcium homeostasis as a potential cause of mineralization and renal stone formation. This is the first animal model exhibiting overt kidney stone formation in the context of cystic kidney disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Compound heterozygous Pkd1V/RC mice were found to form calcium phosphate-containing stones within cysts of the renal cortex by 13 wk of age. This is the first polycystic kidney disease animal model exhibiting spontaneous stone formation. A growing body of evidence suggests a link between renal stone formation and cystic kidney disease. This mouse model may be useful for studying the interplay between stone and cyst formation and the functional role of polycystins in mineral homeostasis.

Evaluation of novel compound variants of CEP290 in prenatally suspected case of Meckel syndrome through whole exome sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Meckel syndrome (MKS) is a fatal disease characterized by multisystem fibrosis during the prenatal or perinatal period. It has an autosomal recessive genetic pattern and is characterized by meningo occipital encephalocele, polycystic kidney dysplasia, polydactyly, and hepatobiliary ductal plate malformation. Germline variations in CEP290 have been shown to cause MKS4. METHODS: In this study, a 23-year-old Chinese woman who was 18 weeks pregnant was examined. The pregnancy was terminated due to occipital meningocele and enlarged cystic dysplastic kidney revealed by ultrasonography. In addition, the patient had a history of adverse pregnancy whereby the fetus presented with double kidney enlargement. Karyotype analysis and chromosomal microarray examination (CMA) were carried out using amniotic fluid samples. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed using tissue specimens of the aborted fetus. RESULTS: Karyotype and CMA analyses showed normal results. However, compound heterozygous mutations of CEP290 c.3175dup and CEP290 c.1201dup were detected through WES. CEP290 c.1201dup is a novel heterozygous mutation of CEP290 that has not been reported previously. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide information on the correlation between MKS phenotype and genotype in CEP290. In addition, these findings indicate that WES is an effective method for detecting genetic causes of multiple structural defects especially those showing normal karyotype and CMA results.

Fetal ciliopathies: a retrospective observational single-center study.

PURPOSE: Report on the diagnosis of prenatally suspected multisystem ciliopathies in a single center between 2002 and 2020. METHODS: Retrospective observational single-center study including pregnancies with prenatal ultrasound features of multisystem ciliopathies, such as hyperechogenic kidneys together with polydactyly and/or other skeletal and extraskeletal findings. Cases were compared according to their prenatal findings and outcomes. RESULTS: 36 cases of multisystem ciliopathies were diagnosed. Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS) was the most common ciliopathy (n = 19/36, 52.8%), followed by disorders that belong to the group of short-rib thoracic dysplasia (SRTD, n = 10/36, 27.8%) McKusick-Kaufmann syndrome (MKKS, n = 4/36, 11.1%), Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS, n = 2/36, 5.5%) and Joubert syndrome (n = 1/36, 2.8%). All cases showed abnormalities of the kidneys, most often hyperechogenic parenchyma (n = 26/36, 72.2%), cystic dysplasia (n = 24/36, 66.7%), and/or bilateral kidney enlargement (n = 22/36, 61.1%). Oligohydramnios was mainly present in fetuses with MKS. Polydactyly (n = 18/36), abnormalities of the CNS (n = 25/36), and heart defects (n = 10/36) were associated in 50%, 69.4%, and 27.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Prenatal detection of renal abnormalities associated with skeletal or brain abnormalities should raise the suspicion for multisystem ciliopathies. Prenatal ultrasound can help to differentiate between different diseases and pave the way for subsequent targeted genetic testing.

Síndrome de Joubert: incidencia y descripción clinicorradiológica de una serie genotipada de siete casos / Joubert syndrome: incidence and clinicoradiological description of a genotyped series of seven cases

Introducción: El síndrome de Joubert se produce por una alteración de las proteínas ciliares esenciales para la estructura y la función de neuronas y órganos como los riñones, el hígado, la retina y el oído. Se conocen unas 34 mutaciones en la actualidad. Objetivo: Calcular la incidencia/prevalencia y describir el fenotipo/genotipo y las alteraciones clinicorradiológicas de esta ciliopatía en nuestra área de salud. Pacientes y métodos: Revisamos las historias clínicas con diagnóstico de síndrome de Joubert en los últimos 10 años para recoger el fenotipo, las características radiológicas y las manifestaciones extraneurológicas en relación con la alteración genética detectada. Resultados: Se incluyeron siete casos, de los cuales cinco eran varones (6-17 años). Presentaban seis mutaciones diferentes. Fue constante la hipotonía, los dedos finos/largos y el retraso en el desarrollo psicomotor. Presentaban rasgos dismórficos, retraso mental, apraxia ocular y nistagmo indistintamente, 3/7; apnea/hiperpnea neonatal, 2/7; hipoplasia de vermis, 7/7; síndrome del molar, 6/7; elongación-adelgazamiento de los pedúnculos cerebelosos, 2/7; estrechez en la unión pontomesencefálica, 6/7, y fastigio del IV ventrículo alto, 4/7. Entre las complicaciones somáticas había: retinopatía, 2/7; coloboma retiniano, 1/7; fibrosis hepática, 1/7; nefronoptisis, 1/7, y quiste renal 1/7. Conclusiones: La incidencia del síndrome de Joubert fue de al menos 1/20.000 recién nacidos/año. Las alteraciones radiológicas pontomesencefálicas y pedunculares fueron constantes. La hipotonía, el retraso psicomotor y los dedos finos/largos afectaron a todos los casos.(AU)

Introduction: Joubert syndrome is produced by an alteration of the ciliary proteins essential for the structure and function of neurons and organs such as the kidneys, liver, sight, and hearing. Some 34 mutations are currently known. Objective: Calculate the incidence / prevalence, describe the phenotype / genotype and radiological alterations of this ciliopathy in our health area. Patients and methods: We reviewed the medical records with a diagnosis of Joubert Syndrome in the last 10 years to collect phenotype, radiological characteristics, and extra-neurological manifestations in relation to the genetic alteration detected. Results: 7 cases were included: 5 children (6 -17 years). They had 6 different mutations. Hypotonia, thin / long fingers and delayed psychomotor development were constant. They presented dysmorphic features, mental retardation, ocular apraxia, and nystagmus indistinctly in 3/7; Neonatal apnea/hyperpnea 2/7; hypoplasia of vermis 7/7; Molar syndrome was evident in 6/7 and in 2/7 there was elongation-thinning of cerebellar peduncles. Pontomesencephalic junction tightness 6/7; fastigium of the IV ventricle high in 4/7. Among the somatic complications, retinopathy 2/7, retinal coloboma 1/7, liver fibrosis 1/7, nephronoptysis 1/7 and renal cyst 1/7. Conclusions: The incidence of Joubert syndrome was at least 1 / 20,000 newborns / year. The pontomesencephalic and peduncular radiological alterations were constant. Hypotonia, psychomotor retardation, and thin / long fingers affected all cases.(AU)

CystAnalyser: A new software tool for the automatic detection and quantification of cysts in Polycystic Kidney and Liver Disease, and other cystic disorders.

The Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is characterized by progressive renal cyst development and other extrarenal manifestation including Polycystic Liver Disease (PLD). Phenotypical characterization of animal models mimicking human diseases are commonly used, in order to, study new molecular mechanisms and identify new therapeutic approaches. The main biomarker of disease progression is total volume of kidney and liver in both human and mouse, which correlates with organ function. For this reason, the estimation of the number and area of the tissue occupied by cysts, is critical for the understanding of physiological mechanisms underlying the disease. In this regard, cystic index is a robust parameter commonly used to quantify the severity of the disease. To date, the vast majority of biomedical researchers use ImageJ as a software tool to estimate the cystic index by quantifying the cystic areas of histological images after thresholding. This tool has imitations of being inaccurate, largely due to incorrectly identifying non-cystic regions. We have developed a new software, named CystAnalyser (register by Universidade de Santiago de Compostela-USC, and Fundación Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago-FIDIS), that combines automatic image processing with a graphical user friendly interface that allows investigators to oversee and easily correct the image processing before quantification. CystAnalyser was able to generate a cystic profile including cystic index, number of cysts and cyst size. In order to test the CystAnalyser software, 795 cystic kidney, and liver histological images were analyzed. Using CystAnalyser there were no differences calculating cystic index automatically versus user input, except in specific circumstances where it was necessary for the user to distinguish between mildly cystic from non-cystic regions. The sensitivity and specificity of the number of cysts detected by the automatic quantification depends on the type of organ and cystic severity, with values 76.84-78.59% and 76.96-89.66% for the kidney and 87.29-93.80% and 63.42-86.07% for the liver. CystAnalyser, in addition, provides a new tool for estimating the number of cysts and a more specific measure of the cystic index than ImageJ. This study proposes CystAnalyser is a new robust and freely downloadable software tool for analyzing the severity of disease by quantifying histological images of cystic organs for routine biomedical research. CystAnalyser can be downloaded from https://citius.usc.es/transferencia/software/cystanalyser (for Windows and Linux) for research purposes.

Impaired Hedgehog-Gli1 Pathway Activity Underlies the Vascular Phenotype of Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) has been linked to abnormal structure/function of ciliary proteins, leading to renal dysfunction. Recently, attention has been focused in the significant vascular abnormalities associated with PKD, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. Here, we seek to define the molecular events regulating the angiogenic imbalance observed in PKD. Using micro computed tomography (n=7) and protein expression analysis (n=5), we assessed the vascular density and the angiogenic profile of noncystic organs in a well-established PKD rat model (Polycystic Kidney-PCK rat). Heart and lungs of PCK rats have reduced vascular density and decreased expression of angiogenic factors compared with wild type. Similarly, PCK-vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs; n=4) exhibited lower levels of vascular markers. Then, using small interfering RNA (n=4), we determined the role of the ciliary protein fibrocystin in wild type-VSMCs, a critical component/regulator of vascular structure and function. Reduction of fibrocystin in wild type-VSMCs (n=4) led to an abnormal angiogenic potential similar to that observed in PCK-VSMCs. Furthermore, we investigated the involvement of the hedgehog signaling, a pathway closely linked to the primary cilium and associated with vascular development, in PKD. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that impairment of the hedgehog signaling mediates, in part, this abnormal angiogenic phenotype. Lastly, overexpression of Gli1 in PCK-VSMCs (n=4) restored the expression levels of proangiogenic molecules. Our data support a critical role of fibrocystin in the abnormal vascular phenotype of PKD and indicate that a dysregulation of hedgehog may be responsible, at least in part, for these vascular deficiencies.

Cirugía retrógrada intrarrenal como herramienta para el manejo de la litiasis en anomalías renales: aportación con cuatro casos / Retrograde intrarenal surgery as a tool for lithiasis management in renal anomalies. Four cases description

OBJETIVO: El manejo de la litiasis en anomalías renales es un desafío para el urólogo debido a su infrecuencia; motivo por el cual, el objetivo es presentar nuestra experiencia en Cirugía Retrógrada Intrarrenal (RIRS) en 4 casos con el uso del videoureterorrenoscopio flexible. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Analizamos retrospectivamente la base de datos de las primeras 100 RIRS por litiasis desde la incorporación del videoureterorrenoscopio flexible (FLEX-X 8.4 Fr-STORZ®). Un total de 4 (4%) pacientes presentaban una anomalía renal asociada;un riñón en herradura, un riñón poliquístico, una ectopía renal cruzada fusionada y un divertículo calicial. Las variables analizadas fueron; demográficas (edad y género); tamaño de la litiasis, tratamientos previos, presentación clínica, tasa libre de litiasis y tasa de complicaciones perioperatorias según la clasificación Dindo-Clavien. RESULTADOS: Entre febrero 2017- marzo del 2018, 4 (4%) pacientes presentaban litiasis asociada a alguna malformación renal. Todos los procedimientos fueron ambulatorios y las litiasis accesibles a la deflexión del endoscopio a pesar de la malformación. La edad promedio fue de 56 años (43 a 65 años) siendo 3 hombres y 1 mujeres. El tamaño medio de la litiasis fue de 16,25 milímetros (6 a 23 mm). Todos los pacientes habían sido tratados previamente con Litotricia Extracopórea por Ondas de Choque (LEOC) y, el paciente con ectopía renal cruzada, mediante un abordaje percutáneo sin éxito. El tiempo promedio de cirugía fue de 57 minutos (43 a 79 minutos) siendo la tasa libre de litiasis del 100%. Como complicaciones, un paciente presentó dolor lumbar a las 48 horas de la cirugía que no cedió con analgésicos vía oral requiriendo tratamiento endovenoso aunque sin hospitalización (Clavien II). CONCLUSIÓN: La cirugía retrógrada intrarrenal es factible, segura y efectiva para el manejo de la litiasis en anomalías renales. No obstante, se necesitan mayor número de casos y estudios comparativos con la litotricia percutánea y extracorpórea como para optarlo como tratamiento de primera línea y no como alternativa a los anteriores

OBJECTIVE: The management of Stone disease in renal abnormalities is a challenge for urologist due to its rarity. The aim of the current manuscript is to report our experience in Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS) in 4 complex-abdnormal cases using the flexible videoureterorrenoscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data was prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed regarding our first 100 RIRS for stone disease with flexible videoureterorrenoscope (FLEX-X 8.4 Fr- STORZ®) between 2017 and 2018. Four patients presented with renal anomalies and stone disease; one horseshoe kidney, polycystic kidney, a renal ectopia fused and a caliceal diverticulum. We analyzed demographic variables (age and gender), stone size, previous treatment received, clinical presentation, stone free rate and complication rate using Dindo-Clavien classification. RESULTS: 4 (4%) cases of renal stone disease associated to renal anomalies were identified. All procedures were ambulatory. The mean age was 56 years (43 to 65) being 3 male and 1 female. The average Stone size was 16.25 mm (6 to 23). All cases represented recurrent stone disease, initially treated with a primary treatment such as extracorporeal shock wave or percutaneous lithotripsy. The mean surgical time was 57 minutes (43 to 79) and the stone free rate 100%. As complications, one patient presented low back pain at 48 hours after surgery, which did not yield with oral analgesics requiring intravenous treatment, although without admission (Clavien II). CONCLUSION: Retrograde intrarenal surgery for the management of renal stone in kidney anomalies is safe, feasible and effective. However; more cases and comparative studies with percutaneous and extracorporeal lithotripsy are needed to optimize treatment decisión making

TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome, with emphasis on a case with an atypical mild polycystic kidney phenotype and a novel genetic variant / Síndrome de genes contiguos TSC2/PKD1 con énfasis en un caso con un fenotipo atípico de riñón poliquístico leve y una nueva variante genética

About 80% of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) present renal involvement, usually as angiomyolipomas followed by cystic disease. An early diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in such patients is frequently related to the TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome (PKDTS). Molecular confirmation of PKDTS is important for a prompt diagnosis, which can be complicated by the phenotypic heterogeneity of PKD and the absence of a clear phenotype-genotype correlation. Herein, we report three PKDTS pediatric patients. The case 3 did not present a classic PKDTS phenotype, having only one observable cyst on renal ultrasound at age 4 and multiple small cysts on magnetic resonance imaging at age 15. In this patient, chromosomal microarray analysis showed a gross deletion of 230.8 kb that involved TSC2, PKD1 and 13 other protein-coding genes, plus a heterozygous duplication of a previously undescribed copy number variant of 242.9kb that involved six protein-coding genes, including SSTR5, in the 16p13.3 region. Given the observations that the case 3 presented the mildest renal phenotype, harbored three copies of SSTR5, and the reported inhibition of cystogenesis (specially in liver) observed with somatostatin analogs in some patients with autosomal dominant PKD, it can be hypothesized that other genetic factors as the gene dosage of SSTR5 may influence the PKD phenotype and the progression of the disease; however, future work is needed to examine this possibility

Un 80% de los pacientes con complejo de esclerosis tuberosa (CET) presentan afectación renal, generalmente angiomiolipomas, seguidos de enfermedad quística. Un diagnóstico temprano de la enfermedad renal poliquística (ERP) en estos pacientes se relaciona con frecuencia con el síndrome de genes contiguos TSC2/PKD1 (PKDTS). La confirmación molecular de PKDTS es importante para establecer un diagnóstico oportuno, que puede complicarse por la heterogeneidad fenotípica de PKD y la ausencia de una clara correlación entre fenotipo y genotipo. En este artículo presentamos los casos de 3 pacientes pediátricos con PKDTS. El caso 3 no presentó un fenotipo PKDTS clásico, con solo un quiste observable en la ecografía renal a los 4 años y numerosos quistes pequeños en la resonancia magnética a los 15 años. En este paciente, el análisis de microarreglos para análisis cromosómico global mostró una eliminación total de 230,8 kb que involucró a TSC2, PKD1 y otros 13 genes codificantes de proteínas, más una duplicación heterocigota para una variante de número de copias no descrita previamente de 242,9 kb que involucró a 6 genes codificantes de proteínas, entre ellos SSTR5, en la región 16p13.3. Dado que el caso 3 mostraba el fenotipo renal menos severo, contaba con tres copias del gen SSTR5 y a que se ha observado una inhibición en la cistogénesis (especialmente en el hígado) con los análogos de somatostatina en algunos pacientes con ERP autosómica dominante, podemos hipotetizar que existen otros factores genéticos como la dosis génica de SSTR5 que pudieran influir en el fenotipo y la progresión de la ERP; sin embargo, se necesitan estudios adicionales para investigar esta posibilidad

Phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging to assess renal perfusion: a systematic review and statement paper.

OBJECTIVE: Phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) is a non-invasive method used to compute blood flow velocity and volume. This systematic review aims to discuss the current status of renal PC-MRI and provide practical recommendations which could inform future clinical studies and its adoption in clinical practice. METHODOLOGY: A comprehensive search of all the PC-MRI studies in human healthy subjects or patients related to the kidneys was performed. RESULTS: A total of 39 studies were included in which PC-MRI was used to measure renal blood flow (RBF) alongside other derivative hemodynamic parameters. PC-MRI generally showed good correlation with gold standard methods of RBF measurement, both in vitro and in vivo, and good reproducibility. Despite PC-MRI not being routinely used in clinical practice, there are several clinical studies showing its potential to support diagnosis and monitoring of renal diseases, in particular renovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. DISCUSSION: Renal PC-MRI shows promise as a non-invasive technique to reliably measure RBF, both in healthy volunteers and in patients with renal disease. Future multicentric studies are needed to provide definitive normative ranges and to demonstrate the clinical potential of PC-MRI, likely as part of a multi-parametric renal MRI protocol.

The role of serum E-selectin level and E-selectin gene S128R polymorphism on the enlargement of renal cyst in patients with polycystic kidney disease: Genetic background of renal cyst growth
.

BACKGROUND: To determine the role of E-selectin gene S128R polymorphism on the enlargement of renal cysts in patients with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 76 PKD patients with no comorbidity were enrolled in the study. Serum E-selectin levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). E-selectin gene S128R (561 A>C, rs: 5361) polymorphism was examined by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length (PCR-RFLP). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at baseline evaluation and at the end of the 1st year to determine cyst enlargement and total kidney volume (TKV). RESULTS: No significant difference was identified between AA genotype and AC or CC variants of E-selectin gene S128R polymorphism in terms of age, disease duration, baseline cyst volume, cyst volume at the 12th month, baseline dominant cyst volume, and dominant cyst volume at the 12th month. In contrast, a significant difference was determined between the groups with regard to the change of TKV (2.9 ± 13.4 vs. 5.2 ± 16.3 mm3; respectively, p = 0.01). In the correlation analysis, the serum E-selectin level was significantly correlated to glucose, alanine transaminase, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, total protein, albumin, and end diastolic volume (p = 0.0001, p = 0.001, p = 0.03, p = 0.021, p = 0.023, p = 0.002, p = 0.003, and p = 0.047, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated a 1.32-fold higher risk of cyst enlargement in patients with CC polymorphism when compared to AA genotype (p = 0.052), but not between AA and AC genotypes or CC and AC genotypes. CONCLUSION: PKD patients with CC variants of the E-selectin gene S128R polymorphism are at greater risk of cyst enlargement. The results of the present study should be confirmed with further studies with large sample size and longer duration of follow-up.

Defining the human kidney N-glycome in normal and cancer tissues using MALDI imaging mass spectrometry.

Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) presents challenges to clinical management because of late-stage detection, treatment resistance, and frequent disease recurrence. Metabolically, ccRCC has a well-described Warburg effect utilization of glucose, but how this affects complex carbohydrate synthesis and alterations to protein and cell surface glycosylation is poorly defined. Using an imaging mass spectrometry approach, N-glycosylation patterns and compositional differences were assessed between tumor and nontumor regions of formalin-fixed clinical ccRCC specimens and tissue microarrays. Regions of normal kidney tissue samples were also evaluated for N-linked glycan-based distinctions between cortex, medullar, glomeruli, and proximal tubule features. Most notable was the proximal tubule localized detection of abundant multiantennary N-glycans with bisecting N-acetylglucosamine and multziple fucose residues. These glycans are absent in ccRCC tissues, while multiple tumor-specific N-glycans were detected with tri- and tetra-antennary structures and varying levels of fucosylation and sialylation. A polycystic kidney disease tissue was also characterized for N-glycan composition, with specific nonfucosylated glycans detected in the cyst fluid regions. Complementary to the imaging mass spectrometry analyses was an assessment of transcriptomic gene array data focused on the fucosyltransferase gene family and other glycosyltransferase genes. The transcript levels of the FUT3 and FUT6 genes responsible for the enzymes that add fucose to N-glycan antennae were significantly decreased in all ccRCC tissues relative to matching nontumor tissues. These striking differences in glycosylation associated with ccRCC could lead to new mechanistic insight into the glycobiology underpinning kidney malignancies and suggest the potential for new therapeutic interventions and diagnostic markers.