Characteristics of nocardiosis patients with different immune status from a Chinese tertiary general hospital during 8-year period

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Huang ◽  
Liying Sun ◽  
Yan Yan

Abstract Background: Nocardia is an opportunistic pathogen from environment, which is generally thought to infect immunosuppressed patients (ISPs), but recent studies showed it could also cause infections in immunocompetent patients (ICPs). Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics, patients’ outcome, Nocardia species identification and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of nocardiosis between ICPs and ISPs. Methods: The detailed clinical data were collected from all the non-repetitive nocardiosis patients during 2011 and 2018, from a tertiary general hospital in Beijing, China. Then each Nocardia isolate was identified to species level by DNA sequencing. The antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by E-test method, and interpreted following CLSI M24 document. The clinical and microbiological characteristics between ICPs and ISPs were compared statistically. Results: A total of 23 non-repetitive nocardiosis patients with detailed clinical data were enrolled in this study. Among them, 9 were ICPs and 14 were ISPs. All the skin and soft tissue infections occurred in ICPs (33.3% versus 0%, P<0.05). Bronchiectasis occurred more frequently in ICPs (44.4% versus 21.4%), while chronic kidney diseases and co-infection with aspergillosis occurred more frequently in ISPs (35.7% versus 0%, 35.7% versus 0%, respectively), although they did not reach the statistical significance. There were no significant difference in other clinical characteristics, Nocardia species identification, and antibiotic susceptibility between ISPs and ICPs (P>0.05). Conclusion: Nocardiosis could occur in both ISPs and ICPs. Skin and soft tissue infection and bronchiectasis occurred more frequently in ICPs. Chronic kidney diseases and co-infection with aspergillosis occurred more frequently in ISPs. These characteristics should be noticed by physicians in diagnosis of nocardiosis.

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinrui Li ◽  
Liang Ma ◽  
Ping Fu

: Mitochondria are potent source of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are vulnerable to oxidative damage. Mitochondria dysfunction could result in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) decrease and cell death. The kidney is an ATPconsuming organ, and the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and renal disease has been long noted. Mitochondrial targeting is a novel strategy for kidney diseases. At present, there are several ways to target mitochondria such as the addition of a triphenylphosphonium cation, mitochondria-targeted peptides, and nanocarrier. There are also a variety of choices for the payload, such as nitroxides, quinone derivates, vitamins and so on. This review summarized chemical and also clinical characteristics of various mitochondria-targeted antioxidants and focused on their application and perspectives in kidney diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4132
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kiliś-Pstrusińska ◽  
Anna Wiela-Hojeńska

Currently in Europe, despite the many advances in production technology of synthetic drugs, the interest in natural herbal medicines continues to increase. One of the reasons for their popular use is the assumption that natural equals safe. However, herbal medicines contain pharmacologically active ingredients, some of which have been associated with adverse effects. Kidneys are particularly susceptible to injury induced by toxins, including poisonous constituents from medicinal plants. The most recognized herb-induced kidney injury is aristolochic acid nephropathy connected with misuse of certain Traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Data concerning nephrotoxicity of plant species of European origin are scarce. Here, we critically review significant data of the nephrotoxicity of several plants used in European phytotherapy, including Artemisia herba-alba, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Euphorbia paralias, and Aloe). Causative mechanisms and factors predisposing to intoxications from the use of herbs are discussed. The basic intention of this review is to improve pharmacovigilance of herbal medicine, especially in patients with chronic kidney diseases.


Author(s):  
Melissa C. Stein ◽  
Fabian Braun ◽  
Christian F. Krebs ◽  
Madeleine J. Bunders

AbstractAcute and chronic kidney diseases are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in the global population. Many nephropathies are considered to be immune-mediated with dysregulated immune responses playing an important role in the pathogenesis. At present, targeted approaches for many kidney diseases are still lacking, as the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. With the recent development of organoids—a three-dimensional, multicellular culture system, which recapitulates important aspects of human tissues—new opportunities to investigate interactions between renal cells and immune cells in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases arise. To date, kidney organoid systems, which reflect the structure and closer resemble critical aspects of the organ, have been established. Here, we highlight the recent advances in the development of kidney organoid models, including pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids and primary epithelial cell-based tubuloids. The employment and further required advances of current organoid models are discussed to investigate the role of the immune system in renal tissue development, regeneration, and inflammation to identify targets for the development of novel therapeutic approaches of immune-mediated kidney diseases.


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