Klf15 Is Critical for the Development and Differentiation of Drosophila Nephrocytes

Insect nephrocytes are highly endocytic scavenger cells that represent the only invertebrate model for the study of human kidney podocytes. Despite their importance, nephrocyte development is largely uncharacterised. This work tested whether the insect ortholog of mammalian Kidney Krüppel-Like Factor (Klf15), a transcription factor required for mammalian podocyte differentiation, was required for insect nephrocyte development. It was found that expression of Drosophila Klf15 (dKlf15, previously known as Bteb2) was restricted to the only two nephrocyte populations in Drosophila, the garland cells and pericardial nephrocytes. Loss of dKlf15 function led to attrition of both nephrocyte populations and sensitised larvae to the xenotoxin silver nitrate. Although pericardial nephrocytes in dKlf15 loss of function mutants were specified during embryogenesis, they failed to express the slit diaphragm gene sticks and stones and did not form slit diaphragms. Conditional silencing of dKlf15 in adults led to reduced surface expression of the endocytic receptor Amnionless and loss of in vivo scavenger function. Over-expression of dKlf15 increased nephrocyte numbers and rescued age-dependent decline in nephrocyte function. The data place dKlf15 upstream of sns and Amnionless in a nephrocyte-restricted differentiation pathway and suggest dKlf15 expression is both necessary and sufficient to sustain nephrocyte differentiation. These findings explain the physiological relevance of dKlf15 in Drosophila and imply that the role of KLF15 in human podocytes is evolutionarily conserve

Hemossiderose pulmonar idiopática tratada com azatioprina: relato de caso em criança Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis treated with azathioprine in a child

A hemossiderose pulmonar idiopática (HPI), principal causa de hemossiderose pulmonar em crianças, cursa com sangramento alveolar intermitente e presença de hemossiderófagos no escarro ou no lavado gástrico. O tratamento é baseado nos corticoesteróides e citostáticos, em condições especiais. Descreve-se o caso de uma menina de sete anos com HPI, que conseguiu controle parcial da doença mediante altas doses de corticoesteróide. O tratamento, no entanto, necessitou ser suspenso gradualmente visto a paciente ter desenvolvido fácies cushingóide. Foi iniciada a associação da azatioprina ao corticóide até a substituição total por azatioprina isolada, cujo uso foi mantido por quatro anos, com ótimo resultado.<br>Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH), the main cause of pulmonary hemosiderosis in children, is characterized by intermittent alveolar bleeding and hemosiderin-laden macrophages in sputum and in gastric lavage. The treatment is based on corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs, under special conditions. We describe the case of a 7-year-old girl with IPH who achieved partial clinical remission with high doses of corticosteroids. However, the treatment had to be discontinued because the patient developed Cushing's syndrome. Treatment was started with an azathioprine-corticosteroid combination and then changed to azathioprine alone, which was maintained for four years, with excellent results

Impact of creatinine production on the agreement between glomerular filtration rate estimates using cystatin C-derived, and 4- and 6-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations

BACKGROUND. It has recently been reported that patient selection has a strong impact on the agreement between glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimates from serum cystatin C and creatinine. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of creatinine production rate (CPR) on this subject. MATERIAL AND METHODS. GFR was estimated from serum cystatin C and from creatinine using the 4- and 6-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations in 50 healthy subjects, 43 patients with renal failure, 794 kidney and 104 liver transplant recipients, 61 patients with heart failure, 59 patients with biliary obstruction, and 113 critically ill patients. RESULTS. In the 295 patients with impaired CPR (< 900 mg/24 h/1.73 m(2)), discordances of more than 40% between GFR(MDRD4) and GFR(cystatinC) were observed in 38% of cases, between GFR(MDRD6) and GFR(cystatinC) in 22%, and between GFR(CKD-EPI) and GFR(cystatinC) in 27% (in all cases due to GFR overestimation from creatinine). In the 929 patients with maintained CPR (> 900 mg/24 h/1.73 m(2)), greater discordances than 40% between GFR(MDRD4) and GFR(cystatinC) were observed in 8% of cases, between GFR(MDRD6) and GFR(cystatinC) in 9%, and between GFR(CKD-EPI) and GFR(cystatinC) in 7% (in the major part of cases due to GFR overestimation from cystatin C). CONCLUSION. The main source of differences of more than 40% between GFR estimates from serum creatinine and cystatin C is a GFR overestimation in patients with low CPR and GFR underestimation in patients with high CPR by the creatinine-derived equations

Some oriental influences on western culture; a preliminary budget of papers to be presented at the third general session of the Institute of Pacific relations, Kyoto, Japan, October 28th to November 9th, 1929.

In vol. XVI of "Documents of the third conference, Institute of Pacific relations, Kyoto, Japan, 1929", a made up set of independent papers, reports, etc., with type-written collective title-pages and contents.pt. I. Japan as tutor to the West [by] C. W. Young.--pt. II. Oriental influence on American textiles [by] M. D. C. Crawford. Why porcelain is called china [by] Bruno Lasker. The influence of aboriginal Indian culture on American life, with reference to traces of oriental origins [by] Clark Wissler.--pt. III. Canton and Salem, the impact of Chinese culture upon New England during the post-Revolutionary era, by Ping Chia Kuo.Mode of access: Internet