Balkan endemic nephropathy and associated urinary tract tumours: a review on aetiological causes and the potential role of mycotoxins

2002 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Pfohl-Leszkowicz ◽  
T. Petkova-Bocharova ◽  
I. N. Chernozemsky ◽  
M. Castegnaro
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽  
Endemic Nephropathy

scholarly journals Balkan endemic nephropathy: Role of ochratoxins A through biomarkers

2006 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 519-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Castegnaro ◽  
Delphine Canadas ◽  
Terry Vrabcheva ◽  
Theodora Petkova-Bocharova ◽  
Ivan N. Chernozemsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽  
Endemic Nephropathy

scholarly journals Molecular Markers in Upper Urothelial Carcinoma Associated to Balkan Endemic Nephropathy. Aristolochic Acid as the Major Risk Factor of the Worldwide Disease

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1360-1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljubinka Jankovic Velickovic ◽  
Takanori Hattori ◽  
Vladisav Stefanovic
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Urothelial Carcinoma ◽  
Growth Stage ◽  
Aristolochic Acid ◽  
Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Ki 67 ◽  
High Stage ◽  
Endemic Nephropathy

The role of aristolochic acid in the etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and associated upper urothelial carcinoma (UUC) was recently confirmed. The aim of this study was to determine the marker(s) specific for BEN-associated UUC. A total of 82 patients with UUC (38 from the BEN region and 44 control tumors) were included in the study. The Ki-67 index in BEN tumors correlated with the grade and multifocality (p< 0.05), but in regression analysis, only the grade of BEN tumor. The p53 index was significantly higher in BEN than in control tumors (p< 0.05), as well as the alteration of p53 (p< 0.05). BEN low-stage tumors, tumors without limphovascular invasion (LVI), and tumors of the renal pelvis had a higher p53 index than the control tumors (p< 0.05, 0.01, 0.05, respectively). The Ki-67 index was higher in control tumors with high-stage and solid growth than in BEN UUC (p < 0.050, 0.005). The Ki-67 correlated with the grade, growth, stage, LVI, and multifocality of UUC on the best way, but not with the group. In regression analysis, only multifocality of UUC had predictive influence on Ki-67 activity (p< 0.001). P53 correlated with the grade, growth, and group (p< 0.05). This investigation identifies the p53 pathway as the specific cell cycle marker involved in BEN-associated UUC.

Deadly Remedy

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey C. Kabat
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Upper Urinary Tract ◽  
Kidney Damage ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽  
Herbal Supplements ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Endemic Nephropathy

The dangers of herbal supplements were highlighted when a number of young women attending a weight loss clinic in Brussels, Belgium developed kidney failure. It turned out that the herb Aristolochia had been mistakenly substituted for another benign herb. Scientists linked the type of kidney damage found in the women in Brussels to a long-standing mysterious disease in the Balkans, referred to as Balkan Endemic Nephropathy. Studies using molecular techniques have shown that the cause of both conditions is a compound in the Aristolochia plant, which can cause kidney damage as well as a rare cancer of the upper urinary tract. This research underscores the dangers of certain herbal supplements.

Potential Role of Endothelin and Nitric Oxide in Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Lower Urinary Tract

Endothelium ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. H. Mumtaz ◽  
M. A. Khan ◽  
M. E. Sullivan ◽  
C. S. Thompson ◽  
D. P. Mikhailidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Lower Urinary Tract ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Lower Urinary

scholarly journals Association of SOD2 (rs4880) and GPX1 (rs1050450) Gene Polymorphisms with Risk of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and its Related Tumors

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 435
Author(s):  
Biljana Dragicevic ◽  
Sonja Suvakov ◽  
Djurdja Jerotic ◽  
Zorica Reljic ◽  
Ljubica Djukanovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Polymorphisms ◽  
Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽  
Glutathione Peroxidase 1 ◽  
Endemic Nephropathy ◽  
Urothelial Tumors ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage ◽  
Superoxide Dismutase 2 ◽  
Carcinoma Risk

Background: Experimental data show that superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) is involved in ochratoxin (OTA)-induced nephrotoxicity, whereas clinical data indicate the role of SOD2 rs4880 or glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) rs1050450 polymorphisms in end-stage renal disease and urothelial carcinoma risk, known to be the major complications of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). Therefore, we hypothesized that SOD2 and GPX1 gene polymorphisms would influence the risk of BEN and its associated tumors. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 207 BEN patients and 86 controls from endemic areas. Results: Individuals with both copies of variant SOD2 allele, known for lower mitochondrial antioxidant protection, are at a significantly higher BEN risk (OR = 2.6, p = 0.021). No association was observed between GPX1 gene polymorphism and BEN risk. Combining SOD2 and GPX1 genotypes did not alter the risk of BEN development. Regarding the risk of urothelial tumors in BEN patients, none of the polymorphisms studied was significantly associated with the risk of these tumors. Conclusions: Polymorphism in SOD2 rs4880 gene affects the risk of BEN development. Hence, SOD2 genotyping could, together with a panel of other enzymes, be used as a biomarker of susceptibility in BEN areas.

Karyomegaly of tubular kidney cells in human chronic interstitial nephropathy in Tunisia: respective role of Ochratoxin a and possible genetic predisposition

2004 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wafa Hassen ◽  
Salwa Abid-Essafi ◽  
Abdellatif Achour ◽  
Noureddine Guezzah ◽  
Abdelfettah Zakhama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ochratoxin A ◽  
Food Samples ◽  
Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽  
Unknown Aetiology ◽  
Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Endemic Nephropathy ◽  
Interstitial Nephropathy ◽  
Renal Tubular

Karyomegalic nephropathy associated to bizarre enlargement of nuclei in renal tubular epithelial cells was first described by Mihatch in 1979. We present herein additional cases occurring in three siblings suffering from chronic interstitial nephropathy (CIN) of unknown aetiology where the renal biopsies showed numerous enlarged and hyperchromatic nuclei. CIN of unknown aetiology has been previously characterized and showed striking similarities with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN). Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin suspected to be the causal agent of the BEN as well as the Tunisian CIN of unknown aetiology. OTA is incriminated in the onset of these disclosed cases of karyomegalic nephropathy since high OTA concentrations were found in blood (505.83 ng/ml, 102.63 ng/ml and 1023 ng/ml) and in urine (94.40 ng/ml and 10.18 ng/ml) of two of them. Moreover, we have investigated OTA in blood and urine as well as in food samples of the entire household (21 people). Our findings suggest (i) a link between OTA and the outcome of this karyomegalic nephropathy, and (ii) the possible involvement of a genetic factor since the three cases have the same haplotype B27/35.

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