Modified Zhenwu Tang delays chronic renal failure progression by modulating oxidative stress and hypoxic responses in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

Background: Tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is a critical pathological feature of chronic renal failure (CRF), with oxidative stress (OS) and hypoxic responses in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells playing pivotal roles in disease progression. This study explores the effects of Modified Zhenwu Tang (MZWT) on these processes, aiming to uncover its potential mechanisms in slowing CRF progression. Methods: We used adenine (Ade) to induce CRF in rats, which were then treated with benazepril hydrochloride (Lotensin) and MZWT for 8 weeks. Assessments included liver and renal function, electrolytes, blood lipids, renal tissue pathology, OS levels, the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway, inflammatory markers, and other relevant indicators. In vitro, human renal cortical proximal tubular epithelial cells were subjected to hypoxia and lipopolysaccharide for 72 h, with concurrent treatment using MZWT, FM19G11, and N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Measurements taken included reactive oxygen species (ROS), HIF pathway activity, inflammatory markers, and other relevant indicators. Results: Ade treatment induced significant disruptions in renal function, blood lipids, electrolytes, and tubulointerstitial architecture, alongside heightened OS, HIF pathway activation, and inflammatory responses in rats. In vivo, MZWT effectively ameliorated proteinuria, renal dysfunction, lipid and electrolyte imbalances, and renal tissue damage; it also suppressed OS, HIF pathway activation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in proximal tubular epithelial cells, and reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines and collagen fibers. In vitro findings demonstrated that MZWT decreased apoptosis, reduced ROS production, curbed OS, HIF pathway activation, and EMT in proximal tubular epithelial cells, and diminished the output of inflammatory cytokines and collagen. Conclusion: OS and hypoxic responses significantly contribute to TIF development. MZWT mitigates these responses in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells, thereby delaying the progression of CRF.

[Effect of treatment of non-nephrotic syndrome IgA nephropathy with Shenyanning].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effect of Shenyanning (SYN) on non-nephrotic syndrome IgA nephropathy (IgAN). METHODS: Seventy primary IgAN patients were equally randomized into two groups, the treatment group and the control group, they were orally treated with SYN Decoction (one dose per day) and Losartan (50 mg per day) respectively for 1 year. Efficacy of treatment, Chinese medicine syndrome scores, end-point events occurrence as well as changes of related laboratory indices were observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the treatment group was obviously higher than that in the control group (77.1% vs. 54.3%, P < 0.05). After treatment, the Chinese medicine syndrome scores, urinary protein and urinary red-cell count reduced significantly in the treatment group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and showed significant difference as compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); while the endogenous creatinine clearance was changed insignificantly in both groups. Beside, the occurrence of end-point events in the treatment group was slightly lower than that in the control group, though showed no statistical difference between them. CONCLUSION: The curative effect of SYN in treating IgAN was obviously better than that of simple Western medicine.

[Effect of treatment in 39 patients with diabetic nephropathy by safflor yellow and benazepril in combination].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of combined treatment with safflor yellow powder injection and benazepril in treating patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS: Seventy-six patients with DN were randomly assigned to the treatment group (39 cases) and the control group (37 cases). Conventional treatment for lowering blood glucose was given to both groups, but to the control group 10 mg benazepril was given orally once a day additionally, while to those in the treatment group the same dosage of benazepril po. and 150 mg/d of safflor yellow powder injection by adding in 250 mL 0.9% normal saline for intravenous dripping. The therapeutic course for them all was 15 days, and all patients received two courses with an interval of 5 days. Changes of clinical symptoms, urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), blood and urinary levels of beta2 -microglobulin (beta2 -MG), urinary level of alpha1-microglobulin (alpha1 -MG), D-dimer (D-D) and plasma fibrinogen (FIB) were observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group (84.62% vs 59.45 %, P < 0.05). The total score of syndrome in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Levels of UAER, 132-MG in serum and in urine, alpha1-MG in urine were decreased significantly after after 2 courses of treatment in both groups, showing significant difference as compared with before treatment (P < 0.05 or P <0.01), and the decrements were more significant in the treatment group than those in the control group (P <0.05); while decrease of FIB, D-D only happened in the treatment group (P <0.01), so the post-treatment data in the treatment group were significantly lower as compared with those in the control group (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: Combined therapy with safflor yellow injection and benazepril is superior to benazepril alone in reducing urinary albumin, improving renal function and blood hyperviscosity manner for patients with DN, suggesting the combination of the two could play their respective superiorities and act in cooperation for retarding the progression of DN.