lncRNA FOXP4­AS1 predicts poor prognosis and accelerates the progression of mantle cell lymphoma through the miR­423­5p/NACC1 pathway.

Long non­coding RNA (lncRNA) forkhead box P4 antisense RNA 1 (FOXP4­AS1) has been determined to function as an oncogene in various types of cancer. However, the biological function and the underlying mechanisms of FOXP4­AS1 in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) remain to be uncovered. The expression and the associated clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance of FOXP4­AS1 were explored in MCL clinical samples. The effects of FOXP4­AS1 on MCL cellular behaviors, including proliferation, migration and invasion were analyzed using CCK­8, crystal violet and Transwell assays. The downstream molecules of FOXP4­AS1 were explored using bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase assay. Our results showed that FOXP4­AS1 expression was upregulated in MCL patients, and that the high expression of FOXP4­AS1 was correlated with the unfavorable prognosis of patients. Functionally, while FOXP4­AS1 downregulation inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of MCL cells, FOXP4­AS1 overexpression had promotive effects on these cellular processes. Mechanistically, FOXP4­AS1 was found to act as a competing endogenous (ce)RNA for miR­423­5p to regulate the expression of nucleus accumbens­associated 1 (NACC1). The negative regulation of FOXP4­AS1 on miR­423­5p compared to that of miR­423­5p on NACC1 was determined at the mRNA or protein levels in MCL cells. Moreover, an inverse expression correlation between FOXP4­AS1 and miR­423­5p, and that between miR­423­5p and NACC1 was confirmed in MCL clinical samples. In addition, rescue assay showed that miR­423­5p upregulation or NACC1 knockdown abolished the promoting effects of FOXP4­AS1 on MCL cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In conclusion, FOXP4­AS1 promotes MCL progression through the upregulation of NACC1 expression by inhibiting miR­423­5p. FOXP4­AS1 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for patients with MCL.

Outcomes of stage 1-5 chronic kidney disease in Mainland China.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to quantify and compare the risks of death and end stage renal disease (ESRD) in a prospective cohort of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 1-5 under renal management clinic at Peking University Third Hospital and to evaluate the risk factors associated with these two outcomes. METHOD: This was a prospective cohort study. Finally, 1076 patients at CKD stage 1-5 short of dialysis were recruited from renal management clinic. Patients were monitored for up to Dec, 2011 or until ESRD and death. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated (eGFR) according to the using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, 111 patients (10.1%) developed ESRD (initiated dialysis or kidney transplantation (ESRD)) and 24 patients (2.2%) had died. There were more ESRD occurrence rate in patients with baseline diabetic nephropathy, lower eGFR, hemoglobin <100 g/L and 24 h urinary protein excretion ≥ 3.0 g. By multivariate Cox regression model, having heavy proteinuria and CKD stage were the risk factors of ESRD. For all-cause mortality, the most common cause was cardiovascular disease, followed by infectious disease and cancer. But we failed to conclude any significant variable as risk factors for mortality in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that baseline diabetic nephropathy, lower hemoglobin level, lower baseline GFR and heavy proteinuria were the risk factors of ESRD. In this CKD cohort, patients were more likely to develop ESRD than mortality, and cardiovascular mortality was the leading cause of death, and then followed by infectious diseases and cancer in this population.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with better nutritional status, but not with cardiovascular disease or all-cause mortality in patients on haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in the general population. AIMS: To investigate whether metabolic syndrome affects CVD and all-cause mortality in chronic haemodialysis patients. METHODS: This prospective, observational cohort study was carried out at Peking university third hospital from June 2006 to June 2010. Baseline anthropometric and laboratory parameters were evaluated, and causes and times of mortality were documented. Nutritional status of the patients was assessed using subject global assessment (SGA) and serum albumin levels. RESULTS: Of 162 haemodialysis patients recruited, five were lost to follow-up, leaving 157 in the final cohort, who were followed for 36-42 months. Mean age was 62 ± 11 years and 55.4% were men. Forty-six patients (30%) had metabolic syndrome. In the metabolic syndrome versus the non-metabolic syndrome group, there were fewer patients with malnutrition (by SGA) (15.2% vs. 55.0%; P < 0.001), but there were no significant differences in CVD mortality (8.7% vs. 10.8%; P = 0.9) or all-cause mortality (15.2% vs. 22.5%; P = 0.39), nor in mean observed survival time (30.8 ± 7.3 vs. 29.8 ± 8.5 months; P = 0.49) or total survival time (67 ± 43 vs. 78 ± 48 months; P = 0.20). Cox regression analysis showed that independent mortality risk factors were pre-existing CVD, age more than or equal to 66 years and serum albumin less than 37 g/L (indicating malnutrition). CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome was associated with a better nutritional status, but not with CVD or all-cause mortality in the haemodialysis patients in this prospective cohort study.

Establishing a renal management clinic in China: initiative, challenges, and opportunities.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been identified as a growing global burden and traditional health care systems are inadequate for the management of CKD patients. This paper describes an initiative to establish a renal management clinic (RMC) in China and discusses the challenges and opportunities in the management of CKD patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We collected and analyzed the data for the first 1,000 CKD patients treated since the establishment of the RMC (from April 2006 to April 2007). They had CKD stages 1-4 and stage 5 (before dialysis), as described by the Kidney Outcome Quality Initiatives (KDOQI). They were managed at the RMC established at the Peking University Third Hospital, by a multidisciplinary team (nephrologists, nurses, and dietitians) who developed care plans, clinical pathways, and a multidimensional patient-education program. RESULTS: The most frequent causes of CKD among these 1,000 patient were glomerulonephritis (35%), hypertensive nephrosclerosis (19%), chronic interstitial nephritis (13%), and diabetic nephropathy (11%). Six percent of the patients had stage 1 CKD, 27% stage 2, 33% stage 3, 20% stage 4, and 13% had stage 5. Five hundred and fifty-four were male and 446 were female; mean age was 55 +/- 18.9 years (range 18-92 years). Seven hundred and seventy patients (77%) had hypertension; 400 patients (40%) had body mass index (BMI) equal to or higher than 25 kg/m(2); 180 (18%) had overt cardiovascular disease; 726 (72.6%) had low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol higher than 2.6 mmol/l; 440 patients (44%) had hyperuriemia; and 274 patients (27.4%) had anemia (hemoglobin <110 g/l). Although the team is multidisciplinary, management of the patients in the RMC is undertaken mainly by nephrologists, whereas nurses and dietitians still do not play an important role. There are no family doctors in China and nephrologists are responsible for management of these patients' kidney disease and related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, overweight. and hyperuricemia is high among Chinese CKD population. Nurses and dietitians do not yet play an important role in the present pattern of RMC. We believe that the present medical care model should be revised because it does not address the concerns of CKD patients and their need for lifestyle changes that would help them to cope with their chronic condition.

[Clinical application of alpha1 adrenoceptor antagonist Naftopidil to the treatment of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and safety of alpha1 adrenoceptor antagonist Naftopidil in the treatment of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis. METHODS: An opened, self-controlled, multicentral clinical trial was conducted. One hundred and six cases of patients who had been diagnosed as chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (NBP) were treated with Naftopidil (25 mg once a day) for 4 weeks. The efficacy was evaluated by the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and the WBC in the examination of prostatic secretion (EPS) after the treatment. RESULTS: After 4 weeks therapy, 105 cases were evaluable. After treatment, NIH-CPSI total score were averagely decreased 12.0 points (P <0.001), symptom score 7.9 points (P <0.001) and QOL score 4.1 points (P <0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in WBC count ([(15.2 +/- 15.1)/HP vs (9.5 +/- 12.0)/HP, P < 0.01] and max flow rate(MFR) [(19.2 +/- 4.8) ml/s vs (22.7 +/- 4.9) ml/s, P < 0.01]. The total effective rate were 84.8% in the whole group. The clinical adverse rate was 3.81%, including 3 cases of mild dizziness and 1 case of mild inappetence. CONCLUSION: alpha1 adrenoceptor antagonist Naftopidil is effective and safe for the treatment of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.