Search

Patients with chronic nephropathies were particularly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. These patients suffer from multiple comorbidities and some specific treatments may put them at risk towards severe complications. Hemodialysis patients necessitating an in-center hemodialysis maintenance regimen were unable to be confined and despite strict prevention protocols suffered high infection and subsequently fatality rates. Renal transplant patients, because of their immunosuppressive drugs, also represent an at-risk population of acquiring the SARS-CoV-2., Competing Interests: Les auteurs n’ont déclaré aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.

Impact of gliflozines in the treatment of non-diabetic nephropathies and cardiac failure has lately been demonstrated. Tolvaptan has now been recognized in Switzerland as a treatment of hyponatremia. In hemodialysis, some progress has been made in the management of dysfunctional arterio-venous fistulas. A glimmer of hope in the treatment of uremic pruritus? Conservative management of a stable coronary heart disease is also advocated in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Therapy with immune cells may either minimize or remove the need for immunosuppression in renal transplant patients. A new predictive score combining several markers can predict long-term graft failure., Competing Interests: Les auteurs n’ont déclaré aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.

Regulation of mTOR signaling depends on an intricate interplay of post-translational protein modification. Recently, mEAK-7 (mTOR associated protein, eak-7 homolog) was identified as a positive activator of mTOR signaling via an alternative mTOR complex. However, the upstream regulation of mEAK-7 in human cells is not known. Because microRNAs are capable of modulating protein translation of RNA in eukaryotes, we conducted a bioinformatic search for relevant mEAK-7 targeting microRNAs using the Exiqon miRSearch V3.0 algorithm. Based on the score obtained through miRSearch V3.0, the top predicted miRNA (miR-1911-3p) was studied. miR-1911-3p mimics decreased protein levels of both mEAK-7 and mTORC1 downstream effectors p-S6 and p-4E-BP1 in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines H1975 and H1299. miR-1911-3p levels and MEAK7 mRNA/mEAK-7/mTOR signaling levels were negatively correlated between normal lung and NSCLC cells. miR-1911-3p directly interacted with MEAK7 mRNA at the 3'-UTR to negatively regulate mEAK-7 and significantly decreased mTOR localization to the lysosome. Furthermore, miR-1911-3p significantly decreased cell proliferation and migration in both H1975 and H1299 cells. Thus, miR-1911-3p functions as a suppressor of mTOR signaling through the regulation of MEAK7 mRNA translation in human cancer cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2020 The Author(s).)

The treatment of active antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) is still a matter of debate, the place of rituximab remaining controversial. The French multicenter double-blind RITUX-ERAH study included 38 patients with ABMR in the first year of renal transplantation. All patients received plasma exchanges, intravenous immunoglobulins, and corticosteroids and were randomly assigned rituximab or placebo infusion at day 5. Additional rituximab infusions were allowed. In the intention-to-treat analysis, 12-month graft survival and renal function were not different between the rituximab and placebo groups. Long-term data are needed to conclude. Evaluation of the 7-year outcomes of the RITUX-ERAH study patients according to the rituximab or placebo treatment received. Eleven patients received placebo and 27 at least one infusion of rituximab. Seven years after ABMR, death-censored kidney allograft survival and renal function were not different between the groups. The evolution of anti-HLA sensitization was similar. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of infectious or neoplastic complications, but to be noted, seven cancers developed in six patients treated with rituximab (mean period of 44 months post-ABMR). In this cohort, there was no benefit 7 years after ABMR of rituximab in addition to plasma exchanges, intravenous immunoglobulins, and steroids., (© 2020 Steunstichting ESOT. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A fructose-enriched diet has been shown to be associated with an increase in fatty infiltration of liver, kidney, and pancreas. Our objective was to determine the concentration threshold at which a fructose-enriched diet induces damage in these organs. We hypothesized that a 20% fructose-enriched diet will induce steatosis or histopathological changes in the kidneys or pancreas. In this study, 40 Wistar male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 10, and each group was assigned a diet of equal quantity (15 g/rat) but of varying fructose amount. The first group (control group) was fed a standardized diet. The second and third groups were fed 10% and 20% fructose-enriched diets, respectively, whereas the fourth group was fed a high-fructose diet (30% fructose). At week 16, the 30% fructose group had the highest percentage of fat-enriched cells (10%) and a significant decrease in adiponectin as compared with week 1 (P < .05). Twenty percent of this group developed interstitial fibrosis, but none presented changes in the pancreatic islet structure or fibrosis. The 10% fructose group showed the absence of perisinusoidal and interstitial fibrosis, whereas these were present in the 20% fructose group, but neither group showed significant steatosis (5%) or pancreatic damage. The results suggest that a 20% fructose-enriched diet could be considered as the threshold for inducing kidney and liver damage in the rat. Nutritional interventions to reduce fructose to less than 20% of the total energy intake should be considered to prevent metabolic risks and organ damage., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Platinum is the most employed electrocatalyst for the reactions taking place in energy converters, such as the oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, despite being a very low abundant element in the earth's crust and thus extremely expensive. The search for more active electrocatalysts with ultra-low Pt loading is thus a very active field of investigation. Here, surface-limited redox replacement (SLRR) that utilizes the monolayer-limited nature of underpotential deposition (UPD) was used to prepare ultrathin deposits of Pt, using Te as sacrificial metal. Cyclic voltammetry and anodic potentiodynamic scanning experiments have been performed to determine the optimal deposition conditions. Physicochemical and electrochemical characterization of the deposited Pt was carried out. The deposit comprises a series of contiguous Pt islands that form along the grain interfaces of the Au substrate. The electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of the Pt deposit obtained after 5 replacements, estimated to be 18 m²/g, is in agreement with the ECSA of extended surface catalysts on flat surfaces.

Background: We have found that the use of microfat grafts can improve the contour of the face., Objective: We describe our technique for facial contour augmentation using microlipofilling and present the results of 32 cases treated between 1995 and 2002., Methods: We conducted a preoperative evaluation, including photographic and radiologic studies, to determine for which patients the procedure was appropriate and to identify the need for additional procedures. Fat was harvested with the use of 10-mL syringes with 14-gauge needles. Only 5 mL of fat was harvested in each syringe. After the donated fat was washed and fragmented, it was infiltrated by means of a percutaneous approach with 18- or 20-gauge needles to reduce trauma and avoid scarring. Thin (2-mm-wide) rolls of fat grafts were placed in well-vascularized tissues to prevent absorption. The amount of fat infiltrated depended on the flatness of the area., Results: All patients had satisfactory outcomes after follow-up ranging from 1 to 5 years. Complications were rare., Conclusions: With appropriate placement, facial contour augmentation with microlipofilling is a safe, simple, inexpensive aesthetic procedure that provides consistent, long-term aesthetic improvement.

The aim of this study was to estimate associations between level of maternal education as the dependent variable and several variables present in birth certificates under the official Brazilian Ministry of Health model. A total of 3,843 birth certificates were analyzed from Guaratinguetá, São Paulo State, for singleton hospital deliveries in 1998. Statistically significant associations were found between low maternal educational level and low birth weight, 3 or more live births, history of stillbirth, and prenatal care including up to 6 visits. No association was found between abortions and preterm delivery as described in other studies, perhaps due to insufficient information. Maternal educational level can thus be considered an obstetric marker for some risk factors for the mother and infant.

The unusual occurrence of polyarteritis nodosa presenting as non-giant cell temporal arteritis and a clinical picture suggestive of acute cholecystitis is reported.