Urology Research

Effect of Different Blood Purification Methods on Residual Renal Function in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Guangcai Zhang — 2024-09-30

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of different blood purification methods in protecting residual renal function (RRF) in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Methods: The study selected 50 patients receiving MHD between September 2023 and September 2024. Using the random number table method, patients were divided into the control group and the study group, each with 25 participants. The control group received hemodiafiltration, while the study group was treated with hemodialysis plus hemoperfusion. The RRF measures of the two groups were compared. Results: There were significant differences in the RRF measures (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Combined hemodialysis and hemoperfusion therapy can effectively improve the RRF index of MHD patients with a significant curative effect.

A Pan-Cancer Analysis of GAPDH as a Common Biomarker for Various Cancers

Yasir Hameed — 2024-10-15

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the expression level of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and explore its prognostic value across 24 different human cancers. This investigation was conducted using comprehensive bioinformatics and in vitro approaches that involved multiple layers of analysis. Methods: GAPDH expression and methylation levels were assessed via bioinformatics tools and validated using cell lines through RNA sequencing and targeted bisulfite sequencing analyses. The potential prognostic significance of GAPDH was evaluated through the use of a Kaplan–Meier plotter. Additionally, cBioPortal was employed to investigate genetic alterations associated with this gene. Pathway analysis was conducted using DAVID. Furthermore, a correlation analysis between GAPDH expression and CD8⁺ T immune cells was performed using TIMER and CDT. Lastly, a gene-drug interaction network analysis was conducted using Cytoscape to examine the relationship between GAPDH and drugs. Results: The GAPDH was found commonly up-regulated in 24 types of human cancers and its up-regulation was significantly correlated with the poor relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of BLCA, CESC, HNSC, KIRP, LIHC, and LUAD. This implies that GAPDH plays a significant role in the development of these cancers. The GAPDH up-regulation was also noticed to be associated with the different clinicopathological features of BLCA, CESC, HNSC, KIRP, LIHC, and LUAD patients. Pathway analysis has shown GAPDH involvement in different diverse pathways. Furthermore, notable correlations were observed between the expression of GAPDH and its promoter methylation level, genetic alterations, as well as the level of CD8⁺T immune cells. Moreover, we identified significant regulatory drugs targeting GAPDH that have the potential to modulate its expression and potentially prevent conditions such as BLCA, CESC, HNSC, KIRP, LIHC, and LUAD. Conclusion: Based on our findings, GAPDH emerged as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for BLCA, CESC, HNSC, KIRP, LIHC, and LUAD.

Clinical Features and Risk Factors of COVID-19-Associated Fungal Infections in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Chonghao Sun — 2024-10-15

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, outcomes, and risk factors of fungal infections in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 54 KTRs with COVID-19 who were hospitalized at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from December 1, 2022, to April 1, 2023. With a mean age of 50 ± 12 years, there were 43 men and 11 women participated. For KTRs with COVID-19, we employed multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors. Results: Twenty (37.0%) patients in this study had fungal infections as a result of COVID-19. Patients with fungal infections had significantly higher rates of mortality (50.0%, 10/20 vs. 2.9%, 1/34, P < 0.001), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (65.0%, 13/20 vs. 26.5%, 9/34, P = 0.005), and acute kidney injury (AKI) (60%, 12/20 vs. 23.5%, 8/34, P = 0.007) than those without fungal infections. The result of the multivariate analysis showed that the incidence of fungal infections in KTRs with COVID-19 was independently correlated with age (increased by 10 years, OR = 2.221), history of diabetes mellitus (OR = 12.293), ARDS (OR = 12.849), and bacterial co-infections (OR = 30.461). Conclusion: Compared to KTRs without fungal infections, those with COVID-19-related fungal infections had worse clinical courses and less favorable results. The conditions including bacterial co-infections, ARDS, older age, and comorbidity of diabetes mellitus increased the incidence of secondary fungal infections.