Background: The variations and their correlation of inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic kidney disease (CKD) have not been thoroughly understood. Materials and methods: Biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress were measured in a cohort of 176 patients with CKD ranging from stage 1 to 5 and 67 healthy controls. Correlation analysis in levels between inflammation and oxidative stress was also performed with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. Concentrations of serum creatinine (Scr), hs-CRP (hypersensitive C reactive protein) and MDA (malondialdehyde) of these participants were measured again after 12 month follow-up. Results: In the present study, with the development of CKD, serum levels of hs-CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and MDA were significantly increased, and the serum levels of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and GSH-PX (glutathione peroxidase) were significantly decreased in these participants. eGFR was inversely associated with MDA and positively with SOD and GSH-PX when adjusting for age and hypertension therapy. IL-6 and hs-CRP were positively correlated with MDA, and negatively associated with SOD and GSH-PX. Notably, after 12-month follow-up, the increase in Scr was positively associated with the increase in hs-CRP (p50.01) and MDA (p50.05), respectively. Conclusions: Inflammation and oxidative stress interacted with each other and played pivotal roles in the development of CKD. Variation in eGFR was parallel with the changes of oxidative stress and inflammation when CKD developing.

BackgroundIn December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease broke out in Wuhan, China, however, the factors affecting the mortality remain unclear. MethodsThirty-two days of data that were shared by China National Health Commission and China Weather Net were collected using standard forms. The difference in the mortality of confirmed and severe cases before and after the use of "Fangcang, Huoshenshan, and Leishenshan" makeshift hospitals (MSHs) was tested using Mann-Whitney U test. We also studied whether air temperature (AT) could affect the above outcomes of COVID-19 cases by performing Spearman's analysis. ResultsEight days after the use of MSHs, the mortality of confirmed cases was significantly decreased both in Wuhan (U = 1, P < 0.001) and Hubei (U = 0, P < 0.001), while in non-Hubei regions, as a contrast, the mortality of confirmed cases remained unchanged (U = 40, P = 0.139). However, another eight days later, changes in the mortality in non-Hubei regions also became significant (U = 73, P = 0.039).Mortality of confirmed cases was found to be significantly correlated with AT both in Wuhan (r = -0.441, P = 0.012) and Hubei (r = -0.440, P = 0.012). ConclusionsOur findings indicated that both the use of MSHs and the rise of AT were beneficial to the survival of COVID-19 cases.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the major cause of kidney malignancy-related deaths. Rho GTPases are key regulators in cancer cell metastasis. ARHGAP24, a Rac-specific member of the Rho GTPase-activating protein family, acts as a functional target of cancer cell migration and invasion. In the present study, we identified ARHGAP24 expression is downregulated in renal cancer tissues and is highly correlated with long-term survival in RCC patients. Therefore, we investigated the biological functions of ARHGAP24 in renal cancer cells. Ectopic expression of ARHGAP24 resulted in inhibited cell proliferation and arrested cell cycle in two renal cancer cell lines (786-0 and Caki-2); the results were confirmed by ARHGAP24 knocking down. In addition, ARHGAP24 significantly reduced the cell invasion ability and induced apoptosis in renal cancer cells. In addition, overexpressing ARHGAP24 impaired tumor formation in vivo. In summary, our results illustrated that ARHGAP24 plays a unique role in RCC progression as a tumor repressor.

Natriuretic peptide is probably the preferred pharmacologic strategy to prevent AKI in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, especially in those at high risk of AKI.

Background In December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) broke out in Wuhan, China; however, the factors affecting the mortality of COVID-19 remain unclear. Methods Thirty-two days of data (the growth rate/mortality of COVID-19 cases) that were shared by Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Weather Net were collected by two authors independently. Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to test the difference in the mortality of confirmed/severe cases before and after the use of “Fangcang, Huoshenshan, and Leishenshan” makeshift hospitals (MSHs). We also studied whether the above outcomes of COVID-19 cases were related to air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), or air quality index (AQI) by performing Pearson’s analysis or Spearman’s analysis. Results Eight days after the use of MSHs, the mortality of confirmed cases was significantly decreased both in Wuhan (t = 4.5, P < 0.001) and Hubei (U = 0, P < 0.001), (t and U are the test statistic used to test the significance of the difference). In contrast, the mortality of confirmed cases remained unchanged in non-Hubei regions (U = 76, P = 0.106). While on day 12 and day 16 after the use of MSHs, the reduce in mortality was still significant both in Wuhan and Hubei; but in non-Hubei regions, the reduce also became significant this time (U = 123, P = 0.036; U = 171, P = 0.015, respectively). Mortality of confirmed cases was found to be negatively correlated with AT both in Wuhan (r =  − 0.441, P = 0.012) and Hubei (r =  − 0.440, P = 0.012). Also, both the growth rate and the mortality of COVID-19 cases were found to be significantly correlated with AQI in Wuhan and Hubei. However, no significant correlation between RH and the growth rate/mortality of COVID-19 cases was found in our study. Conclusions Our findings indicated that both the use of MSHs, the rise of AT, and the improvement of air quality were beneficial to the survival of COVID-19 patients.