WNT4 Expression in Primary and Secondary Kidney Diseases: Dependence on Staging

Background/Aims: WNT4 protein is important for kidney development. Its expression was found to be altered in experimental models of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the expression of the WNT4 gene has yet not been studied in human renal biopsy samples from patients with broad spectrum of glomerular disease and at different stages of CKD. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess the WNT4 gene expression in renal biopsies of 98 patients using the real-time PCR technique. Materials: In order to assess the relative amounts of mRNA, in samples of patients with manifestation of different renal diseases and separately at different stages of CKD, by QPCR, total RNA was isolated from human kidney tissues collected during renal biopsies. Results of blood and urine samples assessment were used to calculate the correlations of biochemical parameters with WNT4 gene expression in both studied groups. Results: After pathomorphological evaluation, 49 patients were selected as presenting the most common cases in the studied group. Among the patients who developed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS; n = 13), IgA nephropathy (IgAN; n = 10), IgAN with morphological presentation of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (IgAN/FSGS; n = 8), membranous nephropathy (MN; n = 12), and lupus nephritis (LN; n = 6) were included in the analysis. We found that the level of WNT4 mRNA was higher in kidney specimens obtained from patients with MN as compared to those diagnosed with LN or IgAN. A correlation between WNT4 gene expression and serum albumin and cholesterol levels was observed in patients with FSGS, while WNT4 mRNA levels correlated with plasma sodium in patients diagnosed with LN. After consideration of 98 patients, based on the KDIGO classification of CKD, 20 patients were classified as CKD1 stage, 23 as stage 2, 13 as stage 3a, 11 as stage 3b, 13 as stage 4, and 18 as stage 5. WNT4 gene expression was lower in the CKD patients in stage 2 as compared to CKD 3a. Correlations of WNT4 mRNA level at different stages of CKD with indices of kidney function and lipid metabolism such as serum levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol, TG, urea, creatinine, sodium, and potassium were also found. Conclusions: Our results suggest that altered WNT4 gene expression in patients with different types of glomerular diseases and patients at different stages of CKD may play a role in kidney tissue disorganization as well as disease development and progression

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Burroughs\u27s Folios as an Archival Machine for Artistic Creation

In his article Burroughs\u27s Folios as an Archival Machine for Artistic Creation Tomasz D. Stompor discusses the significance of archival material as a scholarly resource for the analysis of William S. Burroughs\u27s cut-up experiments. Stompor retraces the history of the author\u27s filing system as both a referential repository and a device for documentation and investigates its function as an eperimental machine for the production of cut-up texts and layout

Deep Green – Automatisierte Distribution von Open Access Inhalten

&lt;p&gt;Der Beitrag von Dr. Tomasz Stompor zu "Deep Green – Automatisierte Distribution von Open Access Inhalten" war Teil eines Online-Workshops am 21.11.2023, der sich an Verantwortliche in Bibliotheken und der Forschungsadministrationen von Fachhochschulen und Hochschulen für Angewandte Wissenschaften richtete.&nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ziel des Workshops war es, Good-Practice-Beispiele zu Zweitveröffentlichungsservices und dies betreffende Workflows aufzuzeigen, über die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen zu informieren und eigene Handlungsspielräume zu entdecken bzw. Ideen für Kooperationsangebote zu eröffnen.&lt;/p&gt

Combined effect of flavonoid compounds and cytostatics in cancer treatment

Aim. The aim of the study was to review the literature on the combination of cytostatics with flavonoids as a promising way to improve the cancer therapy. Material and methods. A review of Polish and foreign literature was performed. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Polish Medical Bibliography. Literature analysis. Effective strategies to inhibit the progression of cancer are needed. Compounds of natural origin, including plant polyphenols, are a part of our diet. Due to their availability, and antioxidant properties, they may serve as efficacious adjuvants in cancer therapy, enhancing the effectiveness of chemotherapeutics. Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and supplements, and the risk of all causes of death from cancer. Based on their diverse biological activity, flavonoids may be potential adjuvant therapeutic agents that act synergistically with cytostatics for treatment of many types of cancer. This review of the results is a summary the research on anticancer activity of flavonoids and may also raise consciousness of consumers, who will be able to compose their diet armed with the knowledge of preventive and therapeutic anticancer properties of food ingredients. There is need for further research on polyphenols of plant origin, including interactions among food components that coexist. Another important aspect is to understand how the activity of phytocompounds depends on concentration and the presence of additional factors (e.g. microflore, metal ions), which could possibly make a compound harmful, instead of having positive theraputics effect. Elucidation of the mechanisms involved in biological activity of the described phytocompounds is essential for a better understanding of their influence on an organism

Neural tube defects: risk factors and prevention

Neural tube defects are abnormalities that can occur in the brain (anencephaly, encephalocele), spine (spina bifida, myelomeningocele, myelodysplasia), both brain and spine (craniorachischisis) or spinal column of a developing embryo that are present at birth. They arise when the neural tube, the embryonic precursor of the brain and spinal cord, fails to close during neurulation. Many cases of neural tube defects occur worldwide each year in more than 300,000 newborn babies and are a significant cause of infant death and lifelong disability. Most neural tube defects are preventable. The prevalence of these abnormalities has decreased in the past 20 to 30 years due to periconceptional folate supplementation, food fortification and decreased exposure to environmental factors. Women who are planning to conceive should be informed about the importance of folic acid in fetal development and encouraged to take 400 μg/day of folic acid supplements. Numerous research studies have shown that taking this dosage of folic acid before and during early pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects. For that reason it is important to increase the awareness of women in childbearing age about the necessity of primary prevention and folate intake which is a strong factor that has wide implications in public health in reducing the mortality and morbidity of offspring