Biomarkers of Drug-Induced Kidney Toxicity

Melatonin-loaded lecithin and chitosan nanoparticles are cytotoxic to 4T1 breast cancer cells and safe in a BALB/c mouse model

Melatonin is used as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment. However, its effectiveness is limited because of its low bioavailability. Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) made of chitosan and lecithin have been developed to overcome this limitation and optimize localized drug delivery. These lecithin and chitosan-based NPs loaded with melatonin (NP-MEL) were evaluated for their cytotoxic potential in metastatic breast cancer cells and their safety profile in a murine model. Physicochemical characterization revealed efficient melatonin encapsulation (31 %), a positive zeta potential (48.6 mV), and controlled release at physiological pH. NP-MEL exhibited selective cytotoxicity in vitro, with a toxic concentration capable of killing 50 % of the cells (CC50) of 109.53 μg/mL for 4 T1 cancer cells and a significantly higher CC50 of 1460.59 μg/mL for normal VERO cells, resulting in a selectivity index of 13.33. In vivo experiments with BALB/c mice with tumor implantation treated with NP-MEL (2 mg/kg/day for 21 days) showed no significant changes in weight, clinical signs, or biochemical markers of liver and kidney function, except for changes in gamma-glutamyl transferase levels. Histopathological analyses confirmed the preservation of the liver and kidney architecture in the NP-MEL-treated group, in contrast to the moderate-to-severe kidney damage observed in animals treated with empty NPs. These findings highlight the low toxicity and therapeutic potential of NP-MEL as a controlled and targeted-release system for breast cancer treatment, indicating the need for further preclinical investigation.

Advanced Animal Replacement Testing Strategies Using Stem Cell and Organoids

The increasing ethical concerns and regulatory restrictions surrounding animal testing have accelerated the development of advanced in vitro models that more accurately replicate human physiology. Among these, stem cell-based systems and organoids have emerged as revolutionary tools, providing ethical, scalable, and physiologically relevant alternatives. This review explores the key trends and driving factors behind the adoption of these models, such as technological advancements, the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), and growing regulatory support from agencies like the OECD and FDA. It also delves into the development and application of various model systems, including 3D reconstructed tissues, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells, and microphysiological systems, highlighting their potential to replace animal models in toxicity evaluation, disease modeling, and drug development. A critical aspect of implementing these models is ensuring robust quality control protocols to enhance reproducibility and standardization, which is necessary for gaining regulatory acceptance. Additionally, we discuss advanced strategies for assessing toxicity and efficacy, focusing on organ-specific evaluation methods and applications in diverse fields such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food safety. Despite existing challenges related to scalability, standardization, and regulatory alignment, these innovative models represent a transformative step towards reducing animal use and improving the relevance and reliability of preclinical testing outcomes.

Cockayne syndrome mice reflect human kidney disease and are defective in de novo NAD biosynthesis

Cockayne Syndrome (CS) is a premature aging disorder caused by mutations in the CSA and CSB genes involved in DNA metabolism and other cellular processes. CS patients display many features including premature aging, neurodegeneration, and kidney abnormalities. Nicotinamide dinucleotide (NAD+) deprivation has been observed in CS patient-derived cells. NAD+ has essential roles in regulating cellular health, stress responses, and renal homeostasis. While kidney dysfunction is a common feature in CS patients, its molecular pathogenesis is not understood. Here, we report that severe kidney pathology is present in CS A and B mice. We find that the NAD+ biosynthetic pathways are impaired in kidneys from these mice. Using human renal tubular epithelial cells, we show that CSA/B downregulation causes persistent activation of the ATF3 transcription factor on the quinolinate phosphoribosyl transferase gene locus, a rate-limiting enzyme in de novo NAD+ biosynthesis in the kidney, causing impaired transcription and deficient NAD+ homeostasis.

Predictive role of cystatin C and increased proteinuria in early assessment of acute renal toxicity in patient poisoned by nephrotoxic drugs and poisons

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is prevalent in critical care, often due to nephrotoxic drug exposure, which accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. Current biomarkers, like serum creatinine, lack sensitivity for early detection of nephrotoxicity.

AIM

This study evaluates proteinuria and serum cystatin C as early indicators of nephrotoxicity in acutely poisoned patients at Sohag University Hospitals.

METHODS

This prospective study involved 100 acutely poisoned patients with nephrotoxic effects admitted to Sohag University Hospitals from April to August 2021. Inclusion criteria required symptomatic patients who provided at least four blood or urine samples, including one within 24 h post-ingestion. AKI was classified using the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria, with baseline serum creatinine estimated from the lowest value during hospitalization. Biomarkers, including serum creatinine and cystatin C, were measured using standard assays for analysis.

RESULTS

The study included 100 patients aged 2 to 58 years, predominantly male (72%). Most participants were from rural areas (82%). Serum creatinine levels significantly increased from day 1 (mean ± SD: 1.67 ± 0.6 mg/dL) to day 2 (mean ± SD: 2.98 ± 1.35 mg/dL). Significant predictors of acute renal toxicity included serum creatinine on both days (P < 0.001), proteinuria ACR (P = 0.023), and cystatin C (P < 0.001). Cystatin C had the highest predictive value (AUC = 0.993), while proteinuria ACR and day 2 serum creatinine showed significant predictive capabilities (AUCs of 0.805 and 0.873, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, proteinuria and cystatin C are reliable predictors for early nephrotoxicity detection in acutely poisoned patients at Sohag University Hospitals. These biomarkers effectively indicate and assess the severity of kidney injury caused by toxicity.

Citronellol protects renal function by exerting anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects against acute kidney injury induced by folic acid in mice

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by an abrupt cessation of kidney function. Folic acid-induced renal tubular damage is marked by immense inflammation and apoptosis in the kidney. Citronellol is a type of natural monoterpene alcohol commonly used in traditional medicine. Citronellol possesses pharmacological properties such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. This study aimed to investigate the reno-protective effect of citronellol against folic acid-induced AKI in mice models. Mice were divided into four groups. In addition to control and AKI-induction groups, two treatment groups were mice that received 50 or 100 mg/kg/day of citronellol orally for four consecutive days. On day 4, mice also received a single injection of folic acid (250 mg/kg) and were euthanized after 48 h. Citronellol 50 and 100 mg/kg rescued renal function as indicated by the significant reduction of serum urea, serum creatinine, and gene expression of KIM-1 compared to the non-treated group. In addition, citronellol 50 and 100 mg/kg relieved renal inflammation by significantly downregulating NF-κB, IL-6, and IL-1β gene expressions compared to the non-treated mice. Furthermore, citronellol retarded renal apoptotic events by the significant decline in renal tissue BAX and cleaved caspase-3 levels compared to non-treated mice. Histopathological report of renal tissue provides further evidence that augments the above results. The study highlighted the importance of some natural compounds that could have a place in therapeutic procedures for kidney injury, as observed by the strong renal protective effects of citronellol against AKI and remarkable anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic actions.

Addressing Imbalanced Classification Problems in Drug Discovery and Development Using Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, AutoGluon-Tabular, and H2O AutoML

The classification models built on class imbalanced data sets tend to prioritize the accuracy of the majority class, and thus, the minority class generally has a higher misclassification rate. Different techniques are available to address the class imbalance in classification models and can be categorized as data-level, algorithm-level, and hybrid methods. But to the best of our knowledge, an in-depth analysis of the performance of these techniques against the class ratio is not available in the literature. We have addressed these shortcomings in this study and have performed a detailed analysis of the performance of four different techniques to address imbalanced class distribution using machine learning (ML) methods and AutoML tools. To carry out our study, we have selected four such techniques─(a) threshold optimization using (i) GHOST and (ii) the area under the precision-recall curve (AUPR) curve, (b) internal balancing method of AutoML and class-weight of machine learning methods, and (c) data balancing using SMOTETomek─and generated 27 data sets considering nine different class ratios (i.e., the ratio of the positive class and total samples) from three data sets that belong to the drug discovery and development field. We have employed random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) as representatives of ML classifier and AutoGluon-Tabular (version 0.6.1) and H2O AutoML (version 3.40.0.4) as representatives of AutoML tools. The important findings of our studies are as follows: (i) there is no effect of threshold optimization on ranking metrics such as AUC and AUPR, but AUC and AUPR get affected by class-weighting and SMOTTomek; (ii) for ML methods RF and SVM, significant percentage improvement up to 375, 33.33, and 450 over all the data sets can be achieved, respectively, for F1 score, MCC, and balanced accuracy, which are suitable for performance evaluation of imbalanced data sets; (iii) for AutoML libraries AutoGluon-Tabular and H2O AutoML, significant percentage improvement up to 383.33, 37.25, and 533.33 over all the data sets can be achieved, respectively, for F1 score, MCC, and balanced accuracy; (iv) the general pattern of percentage improvement in balanced accuracy is that the percentage improvement increases when the class ratio is systematically decreased from 0.5 to 0.1; in the case of F1 score and MCC, maximum improvement is achieved at the class ratio of 0.3; (v) for both ML and AutoML with balancing, it is observed that any individual class-balancing technique does not outperform all other methods on a significantly higher number of data sets based on F1 score; (vi) the three external balancing techniques combined outperformed the internal balancing methods of the ML and AutoML; (vii) AutoML tools perform as good as the ML models and in some cases perform even better for handling imbalanced classification when applied with imbalance handling techniques. In summary, exploration of multiple data balancing techniques is recommended for classifying imbalanced data sets to achieve optimal performance as neither of the external techniques nor the internal techniques outperform others significantly. The results are specific to the ML methods and AutoML libraries used in this study, and for generalization, a study can be carried out considering a sizable number of ML methods and AutoML libraries.

Synthesis and mechanistic insights of Coumarinyl-Indolinone hybrids as potent inhibitors of Leishmania major

Leishmaniasis, recognized as a neglected tropical disease, is a major global health issue that impacts millions of individuals across the globe. The limitations of existing treatments underscore the urgent need for novel antileishmanial drugs. In response, this study synthesized and evaluated fifteen hybrid compounds (7a-c, 10a-j, and 13a-b) combining 4-hydroxycoumarin and pyrazolyl indolin-2-one motifs for their in vitro antileishmanial efficacy towards Leishmania major. These molecules demonstrated remarkable activity against the promastigote form, with IC50 values ranging from 1.21 to 7.21 μM, surpassing the reference drug miltefosine (IC50 = 7.83 μM). Assessment against the intracellular amastigote form revealed efficient inhibitory action (IC50: 2.41-9.44 μM vs. 8.07 μM for miltefosine). Compounds 7a and 7b exhibited exceptional antileishmanial activity against both forms while maintaining favorable safety profiles. Mechanistic studies indicated that the most effective compounds act through an antifolate mechanism, targeting pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1) and dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS). Molecular docking and dynamics simulations of compounds 7a and 7b revealed strong in-silico binding and stable dynamics against PTR1, suggesting a high potential for enzyme inhibition. These findings present a promising new class of antileishmanial agents targeting the folate pathway.

Advanced in vitro evaluation of drug-induced kidney injury using microphysiological systems in drug discovery and development

Drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Given concerns about animal welfare and the need for more accurate prediction of human events, there is an urgent need to develop an in vitro evaluation method for DIKI using human cells. Renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) are the main targets of DIKI in drug discovery and development because of their abundant expression of drug transporters that contribute to renal-specific drug distribution. In general, physiological kidney function is significantly reduced in primary cell monolayer culture systems. However, with recent advances in cell engineering and regenerative medicine, human kidney-derived cell culture systems, with higher kidney function compared to conventional systems, have been established. For example, three-dimensional cultured RPTECs show enhanced expression of drug transporters and higher predictive performance than monolayer culture systems. The use of organs-on-a-chip with liver and kidney co-cultures also allows the detection of drug metabolite-induced nephrotoxicity. Kidney organoids differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) have also been established. In this review, we introduce a recently established renal cell culture system that includes a microphysiological system, and review the in vitro methods used to evaluate DIKI in RPTECs.

Early and Sensitive Detection of Cisplatin-Induced Kidney Injury Using Novel Biomarkers

Introduction

We evaluated a panel of novel urinary and serum biomarkers (BMs) for early and sensitive detection of cisplatin drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) in patients with cancer, comparing their diagnostic accuracy with standard BMs (SBMs).

Methods

In this prospective exploratory observational study, 105 patients treated with cisplatin ("treated" with > 65 mg/m2/cycle), 20 non-cisplatin treated cancer controls ("nontreated"), and 34 "healthy" controls were enrolled. The treated group's serum and urine samples were collected predose, after 12 hours, and on days 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, and 21. SBMs and novel BMs (NBMs; 8 urinary, 1 serum) were measured, comparing accuracy, percent changes from baseline (PCFBs), and median time to peak values between treated patients and nontreated cancer controls. Blinded adjudication of the treated group's BM profiles occurred at 2 stages for DIKI diagnosis.

Results

All urinary NBMs had significant PCFBs in the treated group compared with the nontreated cancer control group; most accurately detected cisplatin exposure (area under the receiver operating characteristics [ROC] curve [AUROC] > 0.8). NBMs peaked earlier. In stage 1 adjudication (SBMs) of the treated group, PCFB of urinary NBMs showed no difference between DIKI (n = 24) and no-DIKI (n = 71) groups except for neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cystatin C (CYSC). In treated participants, all BMs showed greater PCFBs than control groups, regardless of stage 1 DIKI adjudication. Stage 2 (SBMs and NBMs), DIKI incidence (n = 63) increased by 41%, with most BMs having an AUROC > 0.80 compared with the nontreated cancer control group.

Conclusion

NBMs accurately and timely detected cisplatin exposure and identified "sub-clinical" DIKI undetected by standard acute kidney injury (AKI) criteria, highlighting the limitations of current functional BMs in estimating the true DIKI incidence.

Biochemical biomarkers for the toxicity induced by Traditional Chinese Medicine: A review update

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used in China for disease treatment and has become a valuable resource for drug development due to its high efficacy and low risk of side-effects. However, growing toxicity reports has garnered significant global attention. A major challenge in addressing TCM-induced toxicity is lack of specific and sensitive biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting its toxicity. Identifying toxicological biomarkers reflecting TCM-induced toxicity is crucial for timely detection and intervention, and provides significant clues for elucidating the underlying toxic mechanism and key target.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This article aims to summarize and classify some potential toxicological biomarkers for side-effects induced by TCM and its contained phytochemical ingredients.

METHODS

The keywords "biomarkers", "traditional Chinese medicine", "Chinese herb", "phytochemical ingredient", "natural product", "toxicity", "hepatotoxicity", "nephrotoxicity", "cardiotoxicity" were used to collect relevant information from literature databases (including PubMed, Web of Science) up to October 2024.

RESULTS

Research has indicated that more sensitive and specific biomarkers are needed for reflecting TCM's side-effects. PA-protein adducts and AA-DNA adducts could be served as diagnostic biomarkers for hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by TCM containing PA and AA, respectively. Multiple miRNAs like miRNA-122-3p, miRNA-5099, and miRNA-21-3p, as well as some endogenous metabolites such as hypoxanthine, choline, and L-valine could be potential biomarkers associated with TCM-induced hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

In this review, different research demonstrates that DNA/protein-adducts, noncoding RNAs, endogenous metabolites and so on show the potential to be new early-warning biomarkers for TCM-induced toxicity with high specificity and sensitivity.

Association of Trace Elements with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Women-A Case-Control Study

Objectives: There are still limited or lacking data on the association of trace elements (TEs) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This case-control study aimed to determine levels of essential TEs (manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo)) and non-essential TEs (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb)) in urine, whole blood, and serum to investigate a possible association with kidney and liver function, endocrine and metabolic parameters, and environmental and lifestyle sources of potential exposure and provide possible recommendations. Methods: In our case-control study, women with PCOS (n = 35) and healthy controls (n = 35) underwent clinical and ultrasonographic examination, filled in questionnaires targeting general, lifestyle, and environmental information, and provided fasting venous blood samples and first morning urine for biochemical, hormonal, and TE analysis. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between TE levels and data obtained through questionnaires. Results: In women with PCOS, lower Mo levels in whole blood (p = 0.024) and serum (p = 0.011) and higher serum Cu levels (p = 0.026) were detected when compared to healthy controls. Results of this study show that amendments in Cu and Mo levels might be related to altered kidney and liver function and disrupted hormonal balance in PCOS women. Cu levels positively correlated with leukocyte count. There was a negative correlation of Mo levels with proteinuria and luteinizing hormone levels. Regarding liver function, Mo negatively correlated with urinary bilirubin levels, and there was a positive association with alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, respectively. Dietary supplement consumption and certain diet habits appeared to be important predictors of exposure to Cu (beef consumption) or Mo (cereal and boiled vegetable consumption) and modify Mo and Cu levels in women. Conclusions: Concentrations of the chemical elements Mo and Cu in biological samples of women appear to be related to PCOS and nutrition. To our knowledge, this is a novel finding for Mo. Additional research is needed to provide more insights into the causality of the PCOS relationship with Mo and Cu in humans.

Antidiabetic Potential of Senna siamea: α-Glucosidase Inhibition, Postprandial Blood Glucose Reduction, Toxicity Evaluation, and Molecular Docking

Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby is used in Thai cuisine. This plant is also used in traditional treatments, including diabetes. Therefore, this study aims to examine the antihyperglycemic effects of S. siamea heartwood extract. The ethanolic extract of S. siamea heartwood exhibited activity against α-glucosidase enzyme with IC50 values of 54.4 μg/mL. Moreover, S. siamea extract (250-1000 mg/kg BW) was tested using normal rats with and without sucrose of 3 g/kg BW administration. The results showed that all extract concentrations significantly reduced fasting blood glucose compared with the control. In addition, results also agreed with the amount of sucrose in the small intestine of rats. In the acute toxicity study, a single dose of the S. siamea extract at 2000 mg/kg BW caused no mortality, and hematological and biochemical parameters also revealed no toxic effects of the extract on rats. The subchronic toxicity study, administration of the extract for 90 days, at 250 mg/kg BW, caused no significant changes in the hematological and biochemical parameters of rats in the treated groups compared with the control group. However, histopathology of the liver and kidney indicated an inflammatory response at 500 and 1000 mg/kg BW of the extract, correlating to hematological and biochemical findings. Finally, molecular docking was conducted to evaluate theoretical interactions between three main stilbenes previously found in S. siamea extract and mammalian α-glucosidases (Wistar rat and human). The simulation supported the in vivo study and suggested the potential for human glucosidase inhibition. Therefore, S. siamea could be a promising candidate against α-glucosidase. This study offers encouraging information on the potential of natural compounds from S. siamea to act as α-glucosidase inhibitors for diabetes treatment through drug development or dietary supplement for hyperglycemia individuals.

HMGB1 lactylation drives neutrophil extracellular trap formation in lactate-induced acute kidney injury

Rationale

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome associated with a multitude of conditions. Although renal replacement therapy (RRT) remains the cornerstone of treatment for advanced AKI, its implementation can potentially pose risks and may not be readily accessible across all healthcare settings and regions. Elevated lactate levels are implicated in sepsis-induced AKI; however, it remains unclear whether increased lactate directly induces AKI or elucidates the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

For human, the measurement of lactate in arterial blood gas is performed using the direct determination of L-lactate through an electrode oxidation method by a blood gas analyzer. For mice, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were employed to quantify the concentrations of lactate and AKI biomarkers in blood and cell supernatant. The mouse model of AKI was performed with a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of lactate (30 mg/kg) and low-dose LPS (2 mg/kg) for 24 h. Proteomic analysis was conducted to identify lactylated proteins in kidney tissues. Techniques such as, immunoprecipitation, western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the levels of HMGB1 lactylation, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)and to assess related molecular signaling pathways.

Main results

Our findings indicate that lactate serves as an independent predictor of AKI in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We observed that co-administration of lactate with low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in lactate overproduction, which subsequently elevated serum levels of creatinine (Cre) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Furthermore, the combined application of lactate and low-dose LPS was shown to provoke HMGB1 lactylation within renal tissues. Notably, pretreatment with HMGB1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) effectively diminished lactate-mediated HMGB1 lactylation and alleviated the severity of AKI. Additionally, lactate accumulation was found to enhance the expression levels of NETs in the bloodstream, with circulating NETs levels positively correlating with HMGB1 lactylation. Importantly, pre-administration of HMGB1 inhibitors (glycyrrhizin) or lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A) inhibitors (oxamate) reversed the upregulation of NETs induced by lactate and low-dose LPS in both the blood and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) cell supernatant, thereby ameliorating AKI associated with lactate accumulation.

Conclusions

These findings illuminate the role of lactate-mediated HMGB1 lactylation in inducing AKI in mice through the activation of the HMGB1-NETs signaling pathway.

The Evaluation of Serum KIM-1 in a Pediatric Cohort of Renal Transplantation-A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION

Renal transplantation ensures particular advantages for patients with end-stage kidney disease. However, in some cases, early complications may result in allograft dysfunction, which can ultimately lead to the loss of the graft. Creatinine is a poor biomarker for kidney injury due principally to its inability to help diagnose early acute renal failure and complete inability to help differentiate among its various causes. Different urinary and serum proteins have been intensively investigated as possible biomarkers in this setting. We focused on emerging serum biomarkers such as kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) on a cohort of grafted patients. The motivation of this study was to analyze a predictive biological marker in comparison with standard markers for the evaluation of renal function, with the aim of observing if there are statistically significant differences regarding the performance and promptness of its increase compared to the current monitoring methods in order to improve graft survival, quality of life, and overall patient prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included 21 patients who had their first kidney transplantation (8 females, 13 males), with a follow-up period from transplantation of 3.14 years, without prior immunization, having complete HLA typing and a negative cross-match test before transplantation. We determined serum creatinine and KIM-1 in the whole cohort at the time of the enrollment in the study.

RESULTS

The mean creatinine value was 0.89 mg/dL ± 0.33. The mean value for KIM-1 was 13.56 +/- 21.52 in the Tx group vs. 5.91 +/- 3.26 in the control group with a p-value of 0.06. We defined patients at low risk (LR) of graft loss (serum creatinine < 0.9 mg/dL) and those at high risk (HR) (serum creatinine > 0.91 mg/dL). The mean values for KIM-1 were 6.09 +/- 1.67 in the LR vs. 21.77 +/- 29.71 in the HR group, with a p-value 0.01.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a strong difference for KIM-1 at 24 h postTx between the two groups, showing a high correlation between KIM-1 and the predisposition of the graft dysfunction. Further studies are needed in order to clarify the utility of these novel biomarkers in the prediction of graft survival in renal transplantation patients.

Ameliorative Potential of Sudachitin Against Paraquat Induced Renal Toxicity in Rats Via Regulating Nrf2/Keap1 Pathway: An Inflammatory, Apoptotic and Histopathological Assessment

Paraquat (PQ) is a noxious herbicide which is well known for its adverse effects on vital organs including kidneys. Sudachitin (SCN) is a plant derived flavone that is obtained from Citrus sudachi and demonstrates a range of pharmacological potentials. This investigation was executed to assess the protective effects of SCN to counteract PQ instigated renal damage in albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). Twenty-four rats were apportioned in 4 different groups i. e., control group, PQ (5 mg/kg) intoxicated group, PQ (5 mg/kg)+SCN (20 mg/kg) cotreated group and SCN (20 mg/kg) only administrated group. Our findings revealed that exposure to PQ reduced the expressions of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) and its cytoprotective genes while escalating the expression of keap1. Furthermore, PQ intoxication reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GSR), heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutathione (GSH) contents while increasing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, PQ exposure significantly increased the levels of neutrophil gelatinous-associated lipocalin (NGAL), urea, kidney injury molecule-1(KIM-1) as well as creatine while reducing creatine clearance. Additionally, PQ upregulated the levels of inflammatory markers including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis- α (TNF- α), nuclear factor- κB (NF-κB), interleukin 1beta (IL-1β), and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2). Moreover, PQ administration upregulated the expression of Bax (Bcl-2-associated X protein) and (cysteine-aspartic acid protease) Caspase-3 while downregulating the expressions of (B-cell lymphoma 2 protein) Bcl-2. Besides, PQ exposure prompted various histopathological damages in renal tissues. Nonetheless, SCN substantially restored aforementioned alterations in the renal tissues owing to its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic potential.

Embracing sex-specific differences in engineered kidney models for enhanced biological understanding of kidney function

In vitro models serve as indispensable tools for advancing our understanding of biological processes, elucidating disease mechanisms, and establishing screening platforms for drug discovery. Kidneys play an instrumental role in the transport and elimination of drugs and toxins. Nevertheless, despite the well-documented inter-individual variability in kidney function and the multifaceted nature of renal diseases-spanning from their origin, trigger and which segment of the kidney is affected-to presentation, progression and prognosis, few studies take into consideration the variable of sex. Notably, the inherent disparities between female and male biology warrants a more comprehensive representation within in vitro models of the kidney. The omission of sex as a fundamental biological variable carries the substantial risk of overlooking sex-specific mechanisms implicated in health and disease, along with potential differences in drug responsiveness and toxicity profiles between sexes. This review emphasizes the importance of incorporating cellular, biological and functional sex-specific features of renal activity in health and disease in in vitro models. For that, we thoroughly document renal sex-specific features and propose a strategic experimental framework to integrate sex-based differences into human kidney in vitro models by outlining critical design criteria to elucidate sex-based features at cellular and tissue levels. The goal is to enhance the accuracy of models to unravel renal mechanisms, and improve our understanding of their impact on drug efficacy and safety profiles, paving the way for a more comprehensive understanding of patient-specific treatment modalities.

Nephroprotective Potential of 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Derivative Against Methotrexate-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats by Upregulating Nrf2 and Downregulating NF-κB and TNF-α Signaling Pathways

Nephrotoxicity is a prominent complication of methotrexate (MTX) therapy that limits clinicians in its extensive use. MTX triggers oxidative burden and inflammation, so the nephroprotective potential of the synthetic derivative of 1,3,4-oxadiazole (5b) was explored in this research. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups i.e., control group, MTX group, 5b (5 mg/kg) + MTX group and 5b (10 mg/kg) + MTX group, respectively. All treatments were given, intraperitoneally (i.p.) during 12 days of the animal model. The MTX-induced nephrotoxicity was evaluated by renal function markers i.e., serum creatinine (Cret), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and albumin (Alb). Furthermore, antioxidant markers, catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and reduced glutathione (GSH), and oxidative stress, markers lipid peroxidase (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO), were analyzed. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were also calculated. DNA damage was assessed by the comet assay. Histopathological staining (Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome) was done and immunohistochemistry was performed against Caspase-3, Nrf2, HO-1, TLR-4, TNF-α, and NF-κB. A significant improvement in the serum Cret, BUN, and Alb was observed in (5b) treated groups. Antioxidant markers were elevated, oxidative stress markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines were reduced, moreover, histopathological analysis revealed less tissue damage in (5b) administered groups. Immunohistochemistry showed increased immune expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 and decreased expression of TLR-4, TNF-α, Caspase-3, and NF-κB in 5b (5 mg/kg) + MTX group and 5b (10 mg/kg) + MTX group as compared to the MTX group. Hence, the results of this study favor the use of (5b) against MTX-induced nephrotoxicity.

Understanding Cisplatin Pharmacokinetics and Toxicodynamics to Predict and Prevent Kidney Injury

Cisplatin is a common platinum-based chemotherapeutic that induces acute kidney injury (AKI) in about 30% of patients. Pharmacokinetic/toxicodynamic (PKTD) models of cisplatin-induced AKI have been used to understand risk factors and evaluate potential mitigation strategies. While both traditional clinical biomarkers of kidney function [e.g., serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and creatinine clearance (CrCl)] and newer subclinical biomarkers of kidney injury [e.g., urinary kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), beta-2 microglobulin (B2M), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), calbindin, etc.] can be used to detect cisplatin-induced AKI, published PKTD models are limited to using only traditional clinical biomarkers. Previously identified risk factors for cisplatin nephrotoxicity have included dose, age, sex, race, body surface area, genetics, concomitant medications, and comorbid conditions. However, the relationships between concentrations and the pharmacokinetics (PK) of platinum and biomarkers of kidney injury have not been well elucidated. This review discusses the evaluation of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in clinical studies, mouse models, and in vitro models, and examines the available human PK and toxicodynamic (TD) data. Improved understanding of the relationships between platinum PK and TD, in the presence of identified risk factors, will enable the prediction and prevention of cisplatin kidney injury. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: As cisplatin treatment continues to cause AKI in a third of patients, it is critical to improve the understanding of the relationships between platinum PK and nephrotoxicity as assessed by traditional clinical and contemporary subclinical TD markers of kidney injury. Prediction and prevention of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity will be advanced by the evolving development of PKTD models that incorporate kidney injury biomarkers with enhanced sensitivity and include covariates that can impact risk of developing cisplatin-induced AKI.

Effects of Laser Acupuncture on Metabolic Functions of Sedentary People: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Laser acupuncture regulates energy flow and restores body fluid metabolism. Objective: To evaluate the effects of the laser acupuncture protocol (LAP) on hepatic and renal metabolism in sedentary people. Methods: Longitudinal, double-blind, and randomized clinical trial with 29 participants, adults, both sexes, sedentary, without pre-existing metabolic diseases, subdivided into control and laser groups. Based on the STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture 2010 guidelines, 10 laser applications (660 nm ±10 nm wavelength, 100 mW power. The irradiation tip has a diameter of 5 mm, which corresponds to an area of 0.19 cm2, totaling a power density of 0.52 W/cm2 and considering the irradiation time of 90 s, the energy density applied was 47.3 J/cm2) were performed on the acupoints of metabolic functions (LR3, SP6, ST36, and LI4) and blood samples were collected for fasting glycemia, lipid profile (HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides), liver function (AST/GOT and ALT/GPT), and renal function (serum creatinine and urea). A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni corrected post hoc comparisons was applied to compare statistical differences between groups and times, adopting p < 0.05 as the null hypothesis. Results: The laser stimulated changes in serum lipid profile values and renal and hepatic functions. There was a significant (p = 0.014) reduction in LDL ("bad" cholesterol) from 105.75 ± 32.83 pre- to 84.32 ± 18.38 mg/dL postintervention, associated with cardioprotective function. Positive significant (p = 0.035) impacts were also observed in the reduction of creatinine (0.86 ± 0.12 mg/dL to 0.75 ± 0.12 mg/dL) and the enzyme AST/GOT (33.73 ± 12.95 U/L to 20.80 ± 4.99 U/L, p = 0.002). Conclusion: LAP applied to basal metabolism acupoints promoted positive metabolic changes in the lipid profile (LDL), and in main markers of the liver (AST/GOT) and kidney (creatinine) functions, contributing to risk control of cardiovascular diseases.

Diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP to predict the incidence of CSA-AKI: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a severe complication following cardiac surgery. Early identification and diagnosis are critical. In this study, we aim to systematically assess the diagnostic value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for CSA-AKI.

METHODS

The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from January 1971 to October 2023 to identify prospective observational and retrospective observational studies. Data extraction and study screening were carried out independently by 2 authors. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 standards, and all statistical analyses were conducted by Stata 15.0.

RESULTS

Seven studies including 37,200 patients were identified. The pooled sensitivity of 0.67 (95% credible interval [CI] = 0.56-0.77), specificity of 0.55 (95% CI = 0.45-0.64), area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.65 (95% CI = 0.60-0.69), positive likelihood ratio of 1.5 (95% CI = 1.2-1.8), negative likelihood ratio of 0.60 (95% CI = 0.46-0.79), and diagnostic odds ratio of 2 (95% CI = 2-4) suggested that patients with higher preoperative NT-proBNP levels (pg/mL) are at higher risk of developing acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery. However, NT-proBNP lacks sufficient sensitivity and specificity to reliably predict CSA-AKI.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP to predict the incidence of CSA-AKI is limited. However, we provide novel perspectives on the early detection of CSA-AKI biomarkers, and it is urgent to identify more precise and practical biomarkers for the early diagnosis of CSA-AKI.

Exploring and comparing renal adverse effects between PARP inhibitors based on a real-world analysis of post-marketing surveillance data

Objective

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) are emerging targeted therapeutic agents in oncology, primarily indicated for ovarian and metastatic breast cancer. Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been observed in patients undergoing PARPi treatment, while there is still a lack of comprehensive comparisons of AKI associated with different PARPis. Our study aimed to extensively characterize the renal adverse effects (RAEs) of PARPi using real-world data.

Methods

Disproportionality analysis and Bayesian analysis were employed for data mining to identify suspected RAE cases after different PARPis use within the Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System from January 2004 to September 2023. The time to onset, fatality, and hospitalization rates of PARPi-related RAEs were also investigated.

Results

We identified 1,696 PARPi-related RAEs, predominantly affecting patients over 85 (56.31%). Veliparib exhibited a more pronounced association with RAEs compared to others, as indicated by the highest reporting odds ratio (ROR = 29.20, 95% CI = 8.79-96.97), proportional reporting ratio (PRR = 19.80, χ2 = 72.62), and empirical Bayes geometric mean (EBGM = 19.80, the lower 90% one-sided CI = 7.25). The median time to RAEs onset was 15 (interquartile range: 6-55.75) days following the initiation of PARPi therapy. PARPi-related RAEs generally led to a 28.15% hospitalization rate and a 4.34% fatality rate.

Conclusion

Although the majority present with reversible creatinine elevation, PARPi-related RAEs merits broader attention, given its potential for clinical consequences. We should strive to early identify those individuals who may have irreversible kidney damage. The focus should be directed toward monitoring renal function in individuals receiving PARPi, especially in senile people and those with a predisposition to AKI.

Gut Microbiota and Neonatal Acute Kidney Injury

OBJECTIVE

 To characterize the relationship between gut microbiota and neonatal acute kidney injury biomarkers based on the gut-kidney axis.

STUDY DESIGN

 The Pubmed database was primarily searched to include relevant literature on gut microbiota and neonatal acute kidney injury biomarkers, which was subsequently organized and analyzed and a manuscript was written.

RESULTS

 Gut microbiota was associated with neonatal acute kidney injury biomarkers. These biomarkers included TIMP-2, IGFBP-7, VEGF, calbindin, GST, B2MG, ghrelin, and clusterin.

CONCLUSION

 The gut microbiota is strongly associated with neonatal acute kidney injury biomarkers, and controlling the gut microbiota may be a potential target for ameliorating neonatal acute kidney injury.

KEY POINTS

· There is a bidirectional association between gut microbiota and AKI.. · Gut microbiota is closely associated with biomarkers of nAKI.. · Manipulation of gut microbiota may improve nAKI..

Department of Pharmacology, Mahatma Gandhi Vidyamandirs Pharmacy College, Mumbai Agra Road, Panchavati, Nashik – 422 003, Maharashtra, India, M. M, Aswale MP, Department of Pharmacology, Mahatma Gandhi Vidyamandirs Pharmacy College, Mumbai Agra Road, Panchavati, Nashik – 422 003, Maharashtra, India, Kulkarni AN, Department of Rasashastra, A.S.S. Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Nashik – 422 003, Maharashtra, India, Pande SP, Department of Rasashastra, A.S.S. Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Nashik – 422 003, Maharashtra, India, Kulkarni RA, Department of Rasashastra, A.S.S. Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Nashik – 422 003, Maharashtra, India. ASSESSMENT OF SUBCHRONIC ORAL TOXICITY AND SAFETY PROFILE OF SUVARNAPARPATI IN WISTAR RATS

Suvarnaparpati is an ayurvedic metallic formulation used in gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders and as an antipyretic. The inclusion of heavy metals like mercury, sulfur and calcinated gold in Suvarnaparpati raises concerns and may lead to safety issues. Consequently, this research explores the sub-chronic oral toxicity of Suvarnaparpati in Wistar rats, adhering to OECD guideline 408, to analyse its safety profile. 24 Wistar rats were segmented into four groups. Animals received suvarnaparpati treatment continuously for 90 days at specified doses of 20.59 mg kg-1 (therapeutic dose-TD), 83.12 mg kg-1. (TD × 4) and 205.3 mg kg-1 (TD × 10). The effect of this formulation was examined on the water intake, food intake, urine analysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, organ-to-body weight ratio and histopathology of various organs, after 90 days of oral administration. Suvarnaparpati does not exhibit dose-related toxicity in Wistar rats of either sex across the said doses and may therefore be considered safe for human consumption.

Acute hyperbilirubinemia determines an early subclinical renal damage: Evaluation of tubular biomarkers in cholemic nephropathy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Cholemic nephropathy is a cause of acute kidney injury occurring in patients with jaundice. The aim of this study was to evaluate early renal function impairment in patients with mild acute hyperbilirubinemia in the absence of alterations of the common parameters used in clinical practice (serum creatinine or urea) and with normal renal morphology. We studied urinary biomarkers of tubular damage urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (u-NGAL), urinary beta-2-microglobulin (u-B2M), urinary osteopontin (u-OPN), urinary trefoil factor 3 (u-TFF3) and urinary Cystatin C (u-Cys).

METHODS

This is a case-control study investigating the following urinary biomarkers of tubular damage: u-NGAL, u-B2M, u-OPN, u-TFF3 and u-Cys, in patients with mild acute hyperbilirubinemia. Seventy-four patients were included in this study: 36 patients with jaundice and 38 patients without jaundice.

RESULTS

Subjects with jaundice (total bilirubin 12.4 ± 7.3 mg/dL) showed higher u-NGAL, u-B2M, u-OPN, u-TFF3 and u-Cys compared with controls. After logistic regression analyses, including the following independent variables: age, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), haemoglobin, diabetes, hypertension and jaundice, we observed a higher risk of elevated u-NGAL values (OR = 3.8, 95% CI 1.07-13.5, p = .03) and u-B2M (OR = 9.4, 95% CI 2.3-38.9, p = .0018) in jaundiced subjects. Moreover, urinary biomarkers had a direct correlation with serum cholestasis indexes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated increased urinary biomarkers of tubular damage (u-NGAL, u-B2M, u-OPN, u-TFF3, and u-Cys) in patients with mild hyperbilirubinemia in comparison with a control group. These findings suggest early renal tubular damage in the absence of alterations of the normal parameters used in clinical practice (eGFR, serum urea and renal morphology).

AST-120 alleviates renal ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting HK2-mediated glycolysis

OBJECTIVE

Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), which is associated with high incidence and mortality. AST-120 is an oral carbonaceous adsorbent that can alleviate kidney damage. This study aimed to explore the effects of AST-120 on renal IRI and the molecular mechanism.

METHODS

A renal IRI mouse model was established and administrated AST-120, and differentially expressed genes were screened using RNA sequencing. Renal function and pathology were analyzed in mice. Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) cell model was generated, and glycolysis was evaluated by detecting lactate levels and Seahorse analysis. Histone lactylation was analyzed by western blotting, and its relationship with hexokinase 2 (HK2) was assessed using chromatin immunoprecipitation.

RESULTS

The results showed that HK2 expression was increased after IRI, and AST-120 decreased HK2 expression. Knockout of HK2 attenuated renal IRI and inhibits glycolysis. AST-120 inhibited renal IRI in the presence of HK2 rather than HK2 absence. In proximal tubular cells, knockdown of HK2 suppressed glycolysis and H3K18 lactylation caused by H/R. H3K18 lactylation was enriched in HK2 promoter and upregulated HK2 levels. Rescue experiments revealed that lactate reversed IRI that suppressed by HK2 knockdown.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, AST-120 alleviates renal IRI via suppressing HK2-mediated glycolysis, which suppresses H3K18 lactylation and further reduces HK2 levels. This study proposes a novel mechanism by which AST-120 alleviates IRI.

Association between 35 blood and urine biomarkers and oral leukoplakia: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Background

Several existing studies have shown a correlation between some of the blood and urine biomarkers and oral leukoplakia (OLK). However, the causality of this relationship remains uncertain. Thus, this study aimed to examine the causal association between 35 blood and urine biomarkers and OLK.

Methods

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 35 blood and urine biomarkers were selected as instrumental variables (IVs) using a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR) study to assess the causal relationship between the biomarkers and the risk of oral leukoplakia. We used the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method as the main analysis. Furthermore, several sensitivity analyses were performed to assess heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and stability.

Results

Based on the selection criteria of the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method, the analysis found that 5 blood and urine biomarkers were significantly associated with the development of leukoplakia, of which the results of IVW showed that abnormalities of Apolipoprotein B (Apo B), Cholesterol, Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL), Triglycerides (TG) promoted the development of oral leukoplakia, and Non Albumin Protein (NAP) had a protective effect on the development of oral leukoplakia. We then performed a Bonferroni correction for these results, and after correction Apo B was still causally associated with the development of oral leukoplakia (IVW P<0.0007), whereas the other four biomarkers could only provide some evidence of predisposition.

Conclusion

Our two-sample Mendelian randomization study supports the existence of a causal relationship between these five blood and urine biomarkers and the occurrence of oral leukoplakia, and provides evidence for a number of risk and protective factors for the development of oral leukoplakia; however, the definitive mechanisms for the occurrence and development of oral leukoplakia still remain to be elucidated, and further studies on these relevant mechanisms are still needed.

Simultaneous Detection of Biomarkers in Urine Using a Multicalibration Potentiometric Sensing Array Combined with a Portable Analyzer

Domestic monitoring devices make real-time and long-term health monitoring possible, allowing people to track their health status regularly. Uric acid (UA), creatinine, and urea in urine are three important biomarkers for various diseases, especially kidney diseases. This work proposed a 10-channel potentiometric sensing array containing a UA electrode group, a creatinine electrode group, a urea electrode group, a pH electrode group, and one pair of reference channels, which could be connected with a portable potentiometric analyzer, realizing the simultaneous detection of UA, creatinine, urea, and pH in urine. The prepared Pt/carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-uricase, creatinine deiminase, Au@urease, and polyaniline were employed as the sensing materials, showing responses to four targets with high sensitivity and selectivity. To improve the accuracy of domestic monitoring, a calibration channel was integrated into each electrode group to calibrate the basic potential of the sensing channels, and the influences of pH and temperature on the responses were investigated through the pH electrode group and an external temperature probe to calibrate the slope and intercept. With the preset of the deduced calibration parameters and computational formula for the four targets in the analyzer in Lab Mode, the concentrations of UA, creatinine, and urea and the pH of the human urine samples were directly displayed on the screen of the analyzer in Practical Mode. The agreement of these results with those obtained from commercial kits and pH meters reveals the high potential of these methods for developing domestic devices to facilitate health monitoring.

Drug-induced kidney injury: challenges and opportunities

Drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) is a frequently reported adverse event, associated with acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal failure. Prospective cohort studies on acute injuries suggest a frequency of around 14%-26% in adult populations and a significant concern in pediatrics with a frequency of 16% being attributed to a drug. In drug discovery and development, renal injury accounts for 8 and 9% of preclinical and clinical failures, respectively, impacting multiple therapeutic areas. Currently, the standard biomarkers for identifying DIKI are serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. However, both markers lack the sensitivity and specificity to detect nephrotoxicity prior to a significant loss of renal function. Consequently, there is a pressing need for the development of alternative methods to reliably predict drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) in early drug discovery. In this article, we discuss various aspects of DIKI and how it is assessed in preclinical models and in the clinical setting, including the challenges posed by translating animal data to humans. We then examine the urinary biomarkers accepted by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency for monitoring DIKI in preclinical studies and on a case-by-case basis in clinical trials. We also review new approach methodologies (NAMs) and how they may assist in developing novel biomarkers for DIKI that can be used earlier in drug discovery and development.

Health-related quality of life and DNA methylation-based aging biomarkers among survivors of childhood cancer

BACKGROUND

Childhood cancer survivors are at high risk for morbidity and mortality and poor patient-reported outcomes, typically health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, associations between DNA methylation-based aging biomarkers and HRQOL have not been evaluated.

METHODS

DNA methylation was generated with Infinium EPIC BeadChip on blood-derived DNA (median for age at blood draw = 34.5 years, range = 18.5-66.6 years), and HRQOL was assessed with age at survey (mean = 32.3 years, range = 18.4-64.5 years) from 2206 survivors in the St Jude Lifetime Cohort. DNA methylation-based aging biomarkers, including epigenetic age using multiple clocks (eg, GrimAge) and others (eg, DNAmB2M: beta-2-microglobulin; DNAmADM: adrenomedullin), were derived from the DNAm Age Calculator (https://dnamage.genetics.ucla.edu). HRQOL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey to capture 8 domains and physical and mental component summaries. General linear models evaluated associations between HRQOL and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA; eg, EAA_GrimAge) or other age-adjusted DNA methylation-based biomarkers (eg, ageadj_DNAmB2M) after adjusting for age at blood draw, sex, cancer treatments, and DNA methylation-based surrogate for smoking pack-years. All P values were 2-sided.

RESULTS

Worse HRQOL was associated with greater EAA_GrimAge (physical component summaries: β = -0.18 years, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.251 to -0.11 years; P = 1.85 × 10-5; and 4 individual HRQOL domains), followed by ageadj_DNAmB2M (physical component summaries: β = -0.08 years, 95% CI = -0.124 to -0.037 years; P = .003; and 3 individual HRQOL domains) and ageadj_DNAmADM (physical component summaries: β = -0.082 years, 95% CI = -0.125 to -0.039 years; P = .002; and 2 HRQOL domains). EAA_Hannum (Hannum clock) was not associated with any HRQOL.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall and domain-specific measures of HRQOL are associated with DNA methylation measures of biological aging. Future longitudinal studies should test biological aging as a potential mechanism underlying the association between poor HRQOL and increased risk of clinically assessed adverse health outcomes.

Comparison of the Impact of VRP-034 and Polymyxin B upon Markers of Kidney Injury in Human Proximal Tubule Monolayers In Vitro

In this study, we assessed the impact of commercially available polymyxin B against VRP-034 (novel formulation of polymyxin B) using a validated in vitro human renal model, aProximateTM. Freshly isolated primary proximal tubule cells (PTCs) were cultured in Transwell plates and treated with various concentrations of the formulations for up to 48 h. The functional expression of megalin-cubilin receptors in PTC monolayers was validated using FITC-conjugated albumin uptake assays. Polymyxin B and VRP-034 were evaluated at six concentrations (0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30, and 60 µM), and nephrotoxicity was assessed through measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and novel injury biomarkers [kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and clusterin]. Additionally, histological analysis using annexin V apoptosis staining was performed. Our results indicated a significant decrease in TEER with polymyxin B at concentrations ≥10 μM compared to VRP-034. Toxic effects were observed from ATP and LDH release only at concentrations ≥30 μM for both formulations. Furthermore, injury biomarker release was higher with polymyxin B compared to VRP-034, particularly at concentrations ≥10 µM. Histologically, polymyxin B-treated PTCs showed increased apoptosis compared to VRP-034-treated cells. Overall, VRP-034 demonstrated improved tolerance in the aProximateTM model compared to polymyxin B, suggesting its potential as a safer alternative for renal protection.

Trilobolide-6-O-isobutyrate from Sphagneticola trilobata acts by inducing oxidative stress, metabolic changes and apoptosis-like processes by caspase 3/7 activation of human lung cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer, a chronic and heterogeneous disease, is the leading cause of cancer-related death on a global scale. Presently, despite a variety of available treatments, their effectiveness is limited, often resulting in considerable toxicity and adverse effects. Additionally, the development of chemoresistance in cancer cells poses a challenge. Trilobolide-6-O-isobutyrate (TBB), a natural sesquiterpene lactone extracted from Sphagneticola trilobata, has exhibited antitumor effects. Its pharmacological properties in NSCLC lung cancer, however, have not been explored.

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the impact of TBB on the A549 and NCI-H460 tumor cell lines in vitro, examining its antiproliferative properties and initial mechanisms of cell death.

METHODS

TBB, obtained at 98 % purity from S. trilobata leaves, was characterized using chromatographic techniques. Subsequently, its impact on inhibiting tumor cell proliferation in vitro, TBB-induced cytotoxicity in LLC-MK2, THP-1, AMJ2-C11 cells, as well as its effects on sheep erythrocytes, and the underlying mechanisms of cell death, were assessed.

RESULTS

In silico predictions have shown promising drug-likeness potential for TBB, indicating high oral bioavailability and intestinal absorption. Treatment of A549 and NCI-H460 human tumor cells with TBB demonstrated a direct impact, inducing significant morphological and structural alterations. TBB also reduced migratory capacity without causing toxicity at lower concentrations to LLC-MK2, THP-1 and AMJ2-C11 cell lines. This antiproliferative effect correlated with elevated oxidative stress, characterized by increased levels of ROS, superoxide anion radicals and NO, accompanied by a decrease in antioxidant markers: SOD and GSH. TBB-stress-induced led to changes in cell metabolism, fostering the accumulation of lipid droplets and autophagic vacuoles. Stress also resulted in compromised mitochondrial integrity, a crucial aspect of cellular function. Additionally, TBB prompted apoptosis-like cell death through activation of caspase 3/7 stressors.

CONCLUSION

These findings underscore the potential of TBB as a promising candidate for future studies and suggest its viability as an additional component in the development of novel anticancer drugs prototypes.

Fibroblast activation protein-sensitive polymeric nanobeacon for early diagnosis of renal fibrosis

Early diagnosis and treatment of renal fibrosis (RF) significantly affect the clinical outcomes of chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). As the typical fibrotic ailment, RF is characterized by remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and the activation of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) plays a crucial role in the mediation of extracellular matrix protein degradation. Therefore, FAP can serve as a biomarker for RF. However, up to now, no effective tools have been reported to diagnose early-stage RF via detecting FAP. In this work, a polymeric nanobeacon integrating an FAP-sensitive amphiphilic polymer and fluorophores was proposed, which was used to diagnose early RF by sensing FAP. The FAP can be detected in the range of 0 to 200 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.132 ng/mL. Furthermore, the fluorescence imaging results demonstrate that the polymeric nanobeacon can sensitively image fibrotic kidneys in mice with unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO), suggesting its potential for early RF diagnosis and guidance of FAP-targeted treatments. Importantly, when employed alongside with non-invasive diagnostic techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and serological tests, this nanobeacon exhibits excellent biocompatibility, low biological toxicity, and sustained imaging capabilities, making it a suitable fluorescent tool for diagnosing various FAP-related fibrotic conditions. To our knowledge, this study represents the first attempt to image RF in early stage by detecting FAP, offering a promising fluorescent molecular tool for diagnosing various FAP-associated diseases in the future.

The hepatoprotective effect of 4-phenyltetrahydroquinolines on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats through autophagy inhibition

BACKGROUND

The liver serves as a metabolic hub within the human body, playing a crucial role in various essential functions, such as detoxification, nutrient metabolism, and hormone regulation. Therefore, protecting the liver against endogenous and exogenous insults has become a primary focus in medical research. Consequently, the potential hepatoprotective properties of multiple 4-phenyltetrahydroquinolines inspired us to thoroughly study the influence of four specially designed and synthesized derivatives on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Seventy-seven Wistar albino male rats weighing 140 ± 18 g were divided into eleven groups to investigate both the toxicity profile and the hepatoprotective potential of 4-phenyltetrahydroquinolines. An in-vivo hepatotoxicity model was conducted using CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight, a 1:1 v/v mixture with corn oil, i.p.) every 72 h for 14 days. The concurrent treatment of rats with our newly synthesized compounds (each at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight, suspended in 0.5% CMC, p.o.) every 24 h effectively lowered transaminases, preserved liver tissue integrity, and mitigated oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, the histopathological examination of liver tissues revealed a significant reduction in liver fibrosis, which was further supported by the immunohistochemical analysis of α-SMA. Additionally, the expression of the apoptotic genes BAX and BCL2 was monitored using real-time PCR, which showed a significant decrease in liver apoptosis. Further investigations unveiled the ability of the compounds to significantly decrease the expression of autophagy-related proteins, Beclin-1 and LC3B, consequently inhibiting autophagy. Finally, our computer-assisted simulation dockingonfirmed the obtained experimental activities.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that derivatives of 4-phenyltetrahydroquinoline demonstrate hepatoprotective properties in CCl4-induced liver damage and fibrosis in rats. The potential mechanism of action may be due to the inhibition of autophagy in liver cells.

Source Tracing of Kidney Injury via the Multispectral Fingerprint Identified by Machine Learning-Driven Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Analysis

Early diagnosis of drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) is essential for clinical treatment and intervention. However, developing a reliable method to trace kidney injury origins through retrospective studies remains a challenge. In this study, we designed ordered fried-bun-shaped Au nanocone arrays (FBS NCAs) to create microarray chips as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) analysis platform. Subsequently, the principal component analysis (PCA)-two-layer nearest neighbor (TLNN) model was constructed to identify and analyze the SERS spectra of exosomes from renal injury induced by cisplatin and gentamycin. The established PCA-TLNN model successfully differentiated the SERS spectra of exosomes from renal injury at different stages and causes, capturing the most significant spectral features for distinguishing these variations. For the SERS spectra of exosomes from renal injury at different induction times, the accuracy of PCA-TLNN reached 97.8% (cisplatin) and 93.3% (gentamicin). For the SERS spectra of exosomes from renal injury caused by different agents, the accuracy of PCA-TLNN reached 100% (7 days) and 96.7% (14 days). This study demonstrates that the combination of label-free exosome SERS and machine learning could serve as an innovative strategy for medical diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.

The changing landscape of HIV-associated kidney disease

The HIV epidemic has devastated millions of people globally, with approximately 40 million deaths since its start. The availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed the prognosis of millions of individuals infected with HIV such that a diagnosis of HIV infection no longer automatically confers death. However, morbidity and mortality remain substantial among people living with HIV. HIV can directly infect the kidney to cause HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) - a disease characterized by podocyte and tubular damage and associated with an increased risk of kidney failure. The reports of HIVAN occurring primarily in those of African ancestry led to the discovery of its association with APOL1 risk alleles. The advent of ART has led to a substantial decrease in the prevalence of HIVAN; however, reports have emerged of an increase in the prevalence of other kidney pathology, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and pathological conditions associated with co-morbidities of ageing, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Early initiation of ART also results in a longer cumulative exposure to medications, increasing the likelihood of nephrotoxicity. A substantial body of literature supports the use of kidney transplantation in people living with HIV, demonstrating significant survival benefits compared with that of people undergoing chronic dialysis, and similar long-term allograft and patient survival compared with that of HIV-negative kidney transplant recipients.

Exposure to Nickel-Cadmium Contamination of Drinking Water Culminates in Liver Cirrhosis, Renal Azotemia, and Metabolic Stress in Rats

Drinking water polluted by heavy metals has the potential to expose delicate biological systems to a range of health issues. This study embraced the health risks that may arise from subchronic exposure of thirty-four male Wistar rats to nickel (Ni)-cadmium (Cd)-contaminated water. It was done by using the Box-Behnken design (BBD) with three treatment factors (Ni and Cd doses at 50-150 mg/L and exposure at 14-21-28 days) at a single alpha level, resulting in seventeen experimental combinations. Responses such as serum creatinine (CREA) level, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level, BUN/CREA ratio (BCR), aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT) activities, and the De Ritis ratio (DRR), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) level, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, were evaluated. The results revealed that these pollutants jointly caused hepatocellular damage by raising AST and ALT activities and renal dysfunction by increasing CREA and BUN levels in Wistar rats' sera (p < 0.05). These outcomes were further supported by BCR and DRR values beyond 1. In rats' hepatocytes and renal tissues, synergistic interactions of these metals resulted in higher MDA levels and significant impairments of CAT and SOD activities (p < 0.05). In order to accurately forecast the effects on the responses, the study generated seven acceptable regression models (p < 0.05) with r-squared values of > 80% at no discernible lack of fit (p > 0.05). The findings hereby demonstrated that Wistar rats exposed to these pollutants at varied doses had increased risks of developing liver cirrhosis and azotemia marked by metabolic stress.

CD44 expression in renal tubular epithelial cells in the kidneys of rats with cyclosporine-induced chronic kidney disease

Renal tubular epithelial cell (TEC) injury is the most common cause of drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI). Although TEC regeneration facilitates renal function and structural recovery following DIKI, maladaptive repair of TECs leads to irreversible fibrosis, resulting in chronic kidney disease (CKD). CD44 is specifically expressed in TECs during maladaptive repair in several types of rat CKD models. In this study, we investigated CD44 expression and its role in renal fibrogenesis in a cyclosporine (CyA) rat model of CKD. Seven-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a low-salt diet were subcutaneously administered CyA (0, 15, or 30 mg/kg) for 28 days. CD44 was expressed in atrophic, dilated, and hypertrophic TECs in the fibrotic lesions of the CyA groups. These TECs were collected by laser microdissection and evaluated by microarray analysis. Gene ontology analysis suggested that these TECs have a mesenchymal phenotype, and pathway analysis identified CD44 as an upstream regulator of fibrosis-related genes, including fibronectin 1 (Fn1). Immunohistochemistry revealed that epithelial and mesenchymal markers of TECs of fibrotic lesions were downregulated and upregulated, respectively, and that these TECs were surrounded by a thickened basement membrane. In situ hybridization revealed an increase in Fn1 mRNA in the cytoplasm of TECs of fibrotic lesions, whereas fibronectin protein was localized in the stroma surrounding these tubules. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed increased serum CD44 levels in CyA-treated rats. Collectively, these findings suggest that CD44 contributes to renal fibrosis by inducing fibronectin secretion in TECs exhibiting partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition and highlight the potential of CD44 as a biomarker of renal fibrosis.

Generation of a drug-induced renal injury list to facilitate the development of new approach methodologies for nephrotoxicity

Drug-induced renal injury (DIRI) causes >1.5 million adverse events annually in the USA alone. Although standard biomarkers exist for DIRI, they lack the sensitivity or specificity to detect nephrotoxicity before the significant loss of renal function. In this study, we describe the creation of DIRIL - a list of drugs associated with DIRI and nephrotoxicity - from two literature datasets with DIRI annotation, confirmed using FDA drug labeling. DIRIL comprises 317 orally administered drugs covering all 14 anatomical, therapeutic and chemical (ATC) classification categories. Of the 317 drugs, 171 were DIRI-positive and 146 were DIRI-negative. DIRIL will be a relevant and invaluable resource for discovery of new approach methods (NAMs) to predict the occurrence and possible severity of DIRI earlier in drug development.

Intestinal Trefoil Factor 3: a new biological factor mediating gut-kidney crosstalk in diabetic kidney disease

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of TFF3 in the pathogenesis of Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD), and explore the dynamic changes of TFF3 expression pattern in renal injury process.

METHODS

DKD animal model was established by streptozotocin (STZ) (40 mg/kg/d, ip, for 5 days, consecutively) combined with the high fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. While animals were sacrificed at different time stages in DKD process (4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively).

RESULTS

STZ combined with high-fat diet induced weight gain, increased blood glucose and decreased glucose tolerance in DKD mice. Compared to the control group, the DKD group exhibits extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation and the renal injury was aggravated in a time-dependent manner. The TFF3 expression level was decreased in kidney, and increased in colon tissue.

CONCLUSION

TFF3 is not only expressed in colon, but also expressed in renal medulla and cortex. TFF3 might be play a pivotal role in renal mucosal repair by gut-kidney crosstalk, and protect renal from high glucose microenvironment damage.

Predictive Performance of Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin, Liver Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein, and Cystatin C for Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality in Severely Ill Patients

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common condition in severely ill patients associated with poor outcomes. We assessed the associations between urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL), urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (uLFABP), and urinary cystatin C (uCysC) concentrations and patient outcomes.

Methods

We assessed the predictive performances of uNGAL, uLFABP, and uCysC measured in the early phase of intensive care unit (ICU) management and at discharge from the ICU in severely ill patients for short- and long-term outcomes. The primary outcome was the occurrence of AKI during ICU stay; secondary outcomes were 28-day and 1-yr allcause mortality.

Results

In total, 1,759 patients were admitted to the ICU, and 728 (41.4%) developed AKI. Median (interquartile range, IQR) uNGAL, uLFABP, and uCysC concentrations on admission were 147.6 (39.9-827.7) ng/mL, 32.4 (10.5-96.0) ng/mL, and 0.33 (0.12-2.05) mg/L, respectively. Biomarker concentrations on admission were higher in patients who developed AKI and associated with AKI severity. Three hundred fifty-six (20.3%) and 647 (37.9%) patients had died by 28 days and 1-yr, respectively. Urinary biomarker concentrations at ICU discharge were higher in non-survivors than in survivors. The areas under the ROC curve (95% confidence interval) of uLFABP for the prediction of AKI, 28-day mortality, and 1-yr mortality (0.70 [0.67-0.72], 0.63 [0.59-0.66], and 0.57 [0.51-0.63], respectively) were inferior to those of the other biomarkers.

Conclusions

uNGAL, uLFABP, and uCysC concentrations on admission were associated with poor outcomes. However, their predictive performance, individually and in combination, was limited. Further studies are required to confirm our results.

Role of CD44 expressed in renal tubules during maladaptive repair in renal fibrogenesis in an allopurinol-induced rat model of chronic kidney disease

The kidney is a major target organ for the adverse effects of pharmaceuticals; renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) are particularly vulnerable to drug-induced toxicity. TECs have regenerative capacity; however, maladaptive repair of TECs after injury leads to renal fibrosis, resulting in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We previously reported the specific expression of CD44 in failed-repair TECs of rat CKD model induced by ischemia reperfusion injury. Here, we investigated the pathophysiological role of CD44 in renal fibrogenesis in allopurinol-treated rat CKD model. Dilated or atrophic TECs expressing CD44 in fibrotic areas were collected by laser microdissection and subjected to microarray analysis. Gene ontology showed that extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes were upregulated and differentiation-related genes were downregulated in dilated/atrophic TECs. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified CD44 as an upstream regulator of fibrosis-related genes, including Fn1, which encodes fibronectin. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that dilated/atrophic TECs expressing CD44 showed decreases in differentiation markers of TECs and clear expression of mesenchymal markers during basement membrane attachment. In situ hybridization revealed an increase in Fn1 mRNA in the cytoplasm of dilated/atrophic TECs, whereas fibronectin was localized in the stroma around these TECs, supporting the production/secretion of ECM by dilated/atrophic TECs. Overall, these data indicated that dilated/atrophic TECs underwent a partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (pEMT) and that CD44 promoted renal fibrogenesis via induction of ECM production in failed-repair TECs exhibiting pEMT. CD44 was detected in the urine and serum of APL-treated rats, which may reflect the expression of CD44 in the kidney.

Association of piperacillin and vancomycin exposure on acute kidney injury during combination therapy

Objectives

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a well-documented adverse effect observed with piperacillin/tazobactam in combination with vancomycin. The pharmacokinetics of these antibiotics when given in combination have not been previously evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare the exposure of vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam in patients with and without AKI.

Methods

Ninety adult patients, who received at least 72 h of vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam combination therapy and had available serum concentrations of vancomycin and piperacillin were included in the study. Nephrotoxicity was defined as a 1.5-fold increase in serum creatinine within 7 days from baseline. Median daily AUCs were calculated in those with nephrotoxicity (vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam 'N') versus those without nephrotoxicity (vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam 'WN') during the first 7 days of combination therapy.

Results

The overall incidence of AKI in those receiving vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam was 20% (18/90). The median daily vancomycin AUCs did not differ between the vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam 'WN' and vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam 'N' groups. Although not statistically significant, the median daily vancomycin AUCs in the vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam 'N' group were numerically greater on Day 5 and trended downwards thereafter. For the piperacillin group, the median daily AUCs did not vary between groups, except on Day 7 where the vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam 'WN' group had statistically greater median piperacillin AUC than the vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam 'N' group (P = 0.046).

Conclusions

Utilizing serum creatinine-defined AKI, our study did not find any significant differences in vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam exposure between the groups with and without nephrotoxicity. These data indicate that vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam should not be avoided due to the risk of overexposure; instead, clinicians should continue to use these therapies cautiously.

The protective effect and molecular mechanism of glycyrrhizic acid glycosides against Tripterygium glycosides induced nephrotoxicity based on the RhoA/ROCK1 signalling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tripterygium glycosides (TG), which are extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (TwHF), has promising applications in the treatment of renal diseases; however, since its active components exerts bidirectional kidney toxicity, its clinical application is severely restricted.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Recent investigations have demonstrated definite toxicity-reducing effects from glycyrrhizic acid glycosides (GA) when combined with TG; however, the mechanism remains unclear. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the specific molecular mechanism by which GA alleviates TG-induced renal toxicity from the perspective of tight junctions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dynamic analyses, which investigated the changes in kidney toxicity biomarkers for different combinations and concentrations of TG and GA, were conducted for three weeks on SD rats and renal tissue structural changes were examined after three weeks of administration. Additionally, the transcription and translation levels of the relevant tight junctions and RhoA/ROCK1/MLC signalling proteins were analysed in HK-2 cells.

RESULTS

Our study showed that TG can cause transient tubulotoxicity at certain doses, and that the combined application of GA and TG can repair tight junction structures by regulating the key factors in the RhoA/ROCK1/MLC signalling pathway, thus reducing TG-induced nephrotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this study provides a new strategy to reduce TG-induced toxicity by protecting renal tight junctions.

An early warning model to predict acute kidney injury in sepsis patients with prior hypertension

Background

In the context of sepsis patients, hypertension has a significant impact on the likelihood of developing sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI), leading to a considerable burden. Moreover, sepsis is responsible for over 50 % of cases of acute kidney injuries (AKI) and is linked to an increased likelihood of death during hospitalization. The objective of this research is to develop a dependable and strong nomogram framework, utilizing the variables accessible within the first 24 h of admission, for the anticipation of S-AKI in sepsis patients who have hypertension.

Methods

In this study that looked back, a total of 462 patients with sepsis and high blood pressure were identified from Nanfang Hospital. These patients were then split into a training set (consisting of 347 patients) and a validation set (consisting of 115 patients). A multivariate logistic regression analysis and a univariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the factors that independently predict S-AKI. Based on these independent predictors, the model was constructed. To evaluate the efficacy of the designed nomogram, several analyses were conducted, including calibration curves, receiver operating characteristics curves, and decision curve analysis.

Results

The findings of this research indicated that diabetes, prothrombin time activity (PTA), thrombin time (TT), cystatin C, creatinine (Cr), and procalcitonin (PCT) were autonomous prognosticators for S-AKI in sepsis individuals with hypertension. The nomogram model, built using these predictors, demonstrated satisfactory discrimination in both the training (AUC = 0.823) and validation (AUC = 0.929) groups. The S-AKI nomogram demonstrated superior predictive ability in assessing S-AKI within the hypertension grade I (AUC = 0.901) set, surpassing the hypertension grade II (AUC = 0.816) and III (AUC = 0.810) sets. The nomogram exhibited satisfactory calibration and clinical utility based on the calibration curve and decision curve analysis.

Conclusion

In patients with sepsis and high blood pressure, the nomogram that was created offers a dependable and strong evaluation for predicting S-AKI. This evaluation provides valuable insights to enhance individualized treatment, ultimately resulting in improved clinical outcomes.

Unveiling drug induced nephrotoxicity using novel biomarkers and cutting-edge preventive strategies

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity is still a significant obstacle in pharmacotherapy of various diseases and it accounts for around 25 % of serious side-effects reported after drug administration. Furthermore, some groups of drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antiviral drugs, antifungal drugs, immunosuppressants, and chemotherapeutic drugs have the "preference" for damaging the kidney and are often referred to as the kidney's "silent killer". Clinically, the onset of acute kidney injury associated with drug administration is registered in approximately 20 % of patients and many of them develop chronic kidney disease vulnerability. However, current knowledge about the mechanisms underlying this dangerous phenomenon is still insufficient with many unknowns. Hence, the valuable use of these drugs in clinical practice is significantly limited. The main aim of this study is to draw attention to commonly prescribed nephrotoxic drugs by clinicians or drugs bought over the counter. In addition, the complex relationship between immunological, vascular and inflammatory events that promote kidney damage is discussed. The practical use of this knowledge could be implemented in the engineering of novel biomarkers for early detection of drug-associated kidney damage such as Kidney Injury Molecule (KIM-1), lipocalin associated with neutrophil gelatinase (NGAL) and various microRNAs. In addition, the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) for the development of computer algorithms that could detect kidney damage at an early stage should be further explored. Therefore, this comprehensive review provides a new outlook on drug nephrotoxicity that opens the door for further clinical research of novel potential drugs or natural products for the prevention of drug-induced nephrotoxicity and accessible education.

iPSCs as a groundbreaking tool for the study of adverse drug reactions: A new avenue for personalized therapy

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), obtained by reprogramming different somatic cell types, represent a promising tool for the study of drug toxicities, especially in the context of personalized medicine. Indeed, these cells retain the same genetic heritage of the donor, allowing the development of personalized models. In addition, they represent a useful tool for the study of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in special populations, such as pediatric patients, which are often poorly represented in clinical trials due to ethical issues. Particularly, iPSCs can be differentiated into any tissue of the human body, following several protocols which use different stimuli to induce specific differentiation processes. Differentiated cells also maintain the genetic heritage of the donor, and therefore are suitable for personalized pharmacological studies; moreover, iPSC-derived differentiated cells are a valuable tool for the investigation of the mechanisms underlying the physiological differentiation processes. iPSCs-derived organoids represent another important tool for the study of ADRs. Precisely, organoids are in vitro 3D models which better represent the native organ, both from a structural and a functional point of view. Moreover, in the same way as iPSC-derived 2D models, iPSC-derived organoids are appropriate personalized models since they retain the genetic heritage of the donor. In comparison to other in vitro models, iPSC-derived organoids present advantages in terms of versatility, patient-specificity, and ethical issues. This review aims to provide an updated report of the employment of iPSCs, and 2D and 3D models derived from these, for the study of ADRs. This article is categorized under: Cancer > Stem Cells and Development.

Research-based Analytical Procedures to Evaluate Diabetic Biomarkers and Related Parameters: In Vitro and In Vivo Methods

BACKGROUND

The degenerative tendency of diabetes leads to micro- and macrovascular complications due to abnormal levels of biochemicals, particularly in patients with poor diabetic control. Diabetes is supposed to be treated by reducing blood glucose levels, scavenging free radicals, and maintaining other relevant parameters close to normal ranges. In preclinical studies, numerous in vivo trials on animals as well as in vitro tests are used to assess the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of the test substances. Since a substance that performs poorly in vitro won't perform better in vivo, the outcomes of in vitro studies can be utilized as a direct indicator of in vivo activities.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study is to provide research scholars with a comprehensive overview of laboratory methods and procedures for a few selected diabetic biomarkers and related parameters.

METHOD

The search was conducted on scientific database portals such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, BASE, DOAJ, etc. Conclusion: The development of new biomarkers is greatly facilitated by modern technology such as cell culture research, lipidomics study, microRNA biomarkers, machine learning techniques, and improved electron microscopies. These biomarkers do, however, have some usage restrictions. There is a critical need to find more accurate and sensitive biomarkers. With a few modifications, these biomarkers can be used with or even replace conventional markers of diabetes.

Potential Biomarkers for the Earlier Diagnosis of Kidney and Liver Damage in Acute Intermittent Porphyria

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an inherited metabolic disorder associated with complications including kidney failure and hepatocellular carcinoma, probably caused by elevations in the porphyrin precursors porphobilinogen (PBG) and delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). This study explored differences in modern biomarkers for renal and hepatic damage between AIP patients and controls. Urine PBG testing, kidney injury panels, and liver injury panels, including both routine and modern biomarkers, were performed on plasma and urine samples from AIP cases and matched controls (50 and 48 matched pairs, respectively). Regarding the participants' plasma, the AIP cases had elevated kidney injury marker-1 (KIM-1, p = 0.0002), fatty acid-binding protein-1 (FABP-1, p = 0.04), and α-glutathione S-transferase (α-GST, p = 0.001) compared to the matched controls. The AIP cases with high PBG had increased FABP-1 levels in their plasma and urine compared to those with low PBG. In the AIP cases, KIM-1 correlated positively with PBG, CXCL10, CCL2, and TCC, and the liver marker α-GST correlated positively with IL-13, CCL2, and CCL4 (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, KIM-1, FABP-1, and α-GST could represent potential early indicators of renal and hepatic damage in AIP, demonstrating associations with porphyrin precursors and inflammatory markers.

Hepatorenal Syndrome-Novel Insights into Diagnostics and Treatment

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a disorder associated with cirrhosis and renal impairment, with portal hypertension as its major underlying cause. Moreover, HRS is the third most common cause of acute kidney injury, thus creating a major public health concern. This review summarizes the available information on the pathophysiological implications of HRS. We discuss pathogenesis associated with HRS. Mechanisms such as dysfunction of the circulatory system, bacterial infection, inflammation, impaired renal autoregulation, circulatory, and others, which have been identified as critical pathways for development of HRS, have become easier to diagnose in recent years. Additionally, relatively recently, renal dysfunction biomarkers have been found indicating renal injury, which are involved in the pathophysiology of HRS. This review also summarizes the available information on the management of HRS, focusing on vasoconstrictive drugs, renal replacement therapy, and liver transplant together with currently being investigated novel therapies. Analyzing new discoveries for the underlying causes of this condition assists the general research to improve understanding of the mechanism of pathophysiology and thus prevention of HRS.