Urinary Exosomal MicroRNAs in Incipient Diabetic Nephropathy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-protein-encoding RNAs, regulate gene expression via suppression of target mRNAs. MiRNAs are present in body fluids in a remarkable stable form as packaged in microvesicles of endocytic origin, named exosomes. In the present study, we have assessed miRNA expression in urinary exosomes from type 1 diabetic patients with and without incipient diabetic nephropathy. Results showed that miR-130a and miR-145 were enriched, while miR-155 and miR-424 reduced in urinary exosomes from patients with microalbuminuria. Similarly, in an animal model of early experimental diabetic nephropathy, urinary exosomal miR-145 levels were increased and this was paralleled by miR-145 overexpression within the glomeruli. Exposure of cultured mesangial cells to high glucose increased miR-145 content in both mesangial cells and mesangial cells-derived exosomes, providing a potential mechanism for diabetes-induced miR-145 overexpression. In conclusion, urinary exosomal miRNA content is altered in type 1 diabetic patients with incipient diabetic nephropathy and miR-145 may represent a novel candidate biomarker/player in the complication.     

Treatment of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus including Nephritis with Chlorambucil

Six female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.) have been treated with chlorambucil. In five the decision was taken after failure by corticosteroids to control progressive renal disease in the face of unacceptable corticosteroid toxicity. After the introduction of chlorambucil renal function improved and all patients remain well six, six, five, three, and two-and-a-half years later, respectively. On renal biopsy five had focal proliferative glomerulonephritis. Repeat biopsy in two cases showed quantitative improvement. The sixth patient was treated with chlorambucil because of failure by corticosteroids to control peripheral vascular lesions and haemolysis and she remains well four years later. In four patients is it probable that amenorrhoea was related to chlorambucil treatment, but there were no other important side effects although one patient developed a degree of marrow depression during treatment. Chlorambucil may hold advantages over the immunosuppressive drugs normally recommended in this condition, azathioprine and cyclophosphamide, as it appears less liable to cause important marrow suppression and, unlike cyclophosphamide is not associated with alopecia and haemorrhagic cystitis.     

系统性红斑狼疮病人的临床护理及出院指导

目的:探讨系统性红斑狼疮患者的护理经验。方法:回顾性分析45例系统性红斑狼疮患者临床及护理资料;在护理过程中采用心理护理、对症处理及出院指导等护理措施,强调加强心理护理和健康教育指导,根据不同年龄、不同性格、不同文化和社会背景,分别给予耐心解释和心理疏导。结果:改变了病人的心理状态和认知能力,使病人保持平和心态,树立坚持长期治疗,战胜疾病的信心。45例病人中除3例因经济问题放弃治疗,其余患者均达到临床缓解。经定期复查,70%的病人得到长期缓解。结论:本组病例采取的护理措施切实可行,行之有效。     

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus associated with Haemobartonella-like Organisms

SYSTEMIC lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe disease affecting thousands of human beings each year in the United States¹. Its aetiology is not known, although infections and autoimmune processes have been suggested. Immunological mechanisms have been associated with the pathogenesis of anaemia in certain haemotropic infections of domestic animals² caused by the haemobartonella group. This communication describes the possible association between a haemo-bartonella-like agent and SLE.     

Molecular Characterization of Circulating Plasma Cells in Patients with Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a generalized autoimmune disease characterized by abnormal B cell activation and the occurrence of increased frequencies of circulating plasma cells (PC). The molecular characteristics and nature of circulating PC and B cells in SLE have not been completely characterized. Microarray analysis of gene expression was used to characterize circulating PC in subjects with active SLE. Flow cytometry was used to sort PC and comparator B cell populations from active SLE blood, normal blood and normal tonsil. The gene expression profiles of the sorted B cell populations were then compared.SLE PC exhibited a similar gene expression signature as tonsil PC. The differences in gene expression between SLE PC and normal tonsil PC and tonsil plasmablasts (PB) suggest a mature Ig secreting cell phenotype in the former population. Despite this, SLE PC differed in expression of about half the genes from previously published gene expression profiles of normal bone marrow PC, indicating that these cells had not achieved a fully mature status. Abnormal expression of several genes, including CXCR4 and S1P₁, suggests a mechanism for the persistence of SLE PC in the circulation. All SLE B cell populations revealed an interferon (IFN) gene signature previously only reported in unseparated SLE peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These data indicate that SLE PC are a unique population of Ig secreting cells with a gene expression profile indicative of a mature, but not fully differentiated phenotype.     

血β2微球蛋白水平在系统性红斑狼疮中的临床意义

目的：探讨系统性红斑狼疮（systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE）患者血β2-MG水平与疾病活动的相关性及其临床意义。方法：随机抽取2012年2月-2012年7月我科收治的62例SLE患者（SLE组）和同期在我院门诊体检的健康体检者40例（对照组）,检测和比较两组血清β2-MG、自身抗体、补体水平,并对SLE患者进行SLEDAI评分,分析SLE患者血清β2-MG水平与自身抗体、补体水平和SLEDAI评分的相关性。结果：SLE组血β2-MG水平（3．11±0．40μg／mL）显著高于对照组（2．23±0．23μg/mL）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;其中发生口腔溃疡、浆膜炎及蛋白尿的SLE患者的血β2-MG水平与无此三种表现的患者相比显著升高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。SLE患者的血β2-MG水平与抗ds—DAN抗体、SLEDAI均呈显著正相关（分别为r=0．289,r=0．361,P〈0．01）,与C3呈负相关（r=-0．271,P〈0．05）。结论：SLE患者血β2-MG水平高于正常,可作为SLE疾病活动指标用于监测疾病活动。     

系统性红斑狼疮早发动脉粥样硬化的研究进展

系统性红斑狼疮(systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE)是累及多系统多器官的自身免疫病,近年来的流行病学研究发现SLE患者已成为心血管痰病(cardiovascular disease,CVD)的高危人群,早发动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis,AS)是SLE患者最常见的CVD之一.传统心血管危险因素如高血压、高脂血症、肥胖等不能完全解释SLE早发AS,非传统危险因素如自身抗体、免疫复舍物、内皮功能障碍、系统性炎症反应等在SLE早发AS的发病机制中的作用越来越受到关注,深入研究这些非传统危险因素在SLE早发AS的致病作用,将有助于防治SLE患者的CVD,提高SLE患者生存率.     

系统性红斑狼疮合并甲状腺功能减退症50例临床分析

目的:分析系统性红斑狼疮合并甲状腺功能减退症50例临床症状和治疗效果.方法:选取2010年6月至2012年6月间于我院接受诊断和治疗的系统性红斑狼疮合并甲状腺功能减退症患者50例作为观察组,同时选取同期入院的单纯系统性红斑狼疮患者50例作为对照组,分析两组临床症状的差异.观察组患者分别给予系统性红斑狼疮合并甲状腺功能减退症联合治疗和甲状腺功能减退症单独治疗,观察比较治疗前后甲状腺功能差异.结果:观察组患者关节病变发病率为64.00％明显高于对照组的22.00％(P＜0.05):观察组患者雷诺现象的发病率为36.00％明显高于对照组的6％(P＜0.05).联合治疗患者治疗后促甲状腺素水平明显低于单独治疗(P＜0.05),联合治疗患者治疗后游离甲状腺素和游离甲状腺三碘原氨酸水平均明显高于单独治疗(p＜0.05).结论:系统性红斑狼疮合并甲状腺功能减退症患者的关节病变和雷诺现象发病率明显较高,联合治疗后甲状腺功能减退症恢复较佳.     

Acute Renal Failure in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Acute anuric renal failure complicating systemic lupus erythematosus does not usually respond to treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. We describe four cases treated by dialysis, corticosteroids, and heparin in anticoagulant doses in which there was remarkable improvement in renal function after prolonged anuria. One patient died later from a gastric haemorrhage. The other three were alive and well 55, 54, and 30 months from the onset of anuria. In two cases a second renal biopsy showed a striking improvement in the lesions. Large doses of corticosteroid and heparin may be the best treatment in acute anuric lupus nephritis.