silica nephropathy

Sugarcane is the most widely cultivated crop in the world, with equatorial developing nations performing most of this agriculture. Burning sugarcane is a common practice to facilitate harvest, producing extremely high volumes of respirable particulate matter in the process. These emissions are known to have deleterious effects on agricultural workers and nearby communities, but the extent of this exposure and potential toxicity remain poorly characterized. As the epidemicof chronic kidney disease of an unknown etiology (CKDu) and its associated mortality continue to increase along with respiratory distress, there is an urgent need to investigate the causes, determine viable interventions to mitigate disease andimprove outcomes for groups experiencing disproportionate impact...

Background. Silica nanoparticles found in sugarcane ash have been postulated to be a toxicant contributing to chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). However, while the administration of manufactured silica nanoparticles is known to cause chronic tubulointerstitial disease in rats, the effect of administering sugarcane ash on kidney pathology remains unknown. Here we investigate whether sugarcane ash can induce CKD in rats. Methods . Sugarcane ash was administered for 13 weeks into the nares of rats (5 mg/day for 5d/week), and blood, urine and kidney tissues were collected at 13 weeks (at the end of ash administration) and in a separate group of rats at 24 weeks (11 weeks after stopping ash administration)...

Due to their low osmolality and high tolerability, the highly water-soluble nonionic iodinated contrast agents, such as Ioversol (IV), are widely used as clinical agents for CT imaging. However, their clinical applications still are severely limited by the rapid renal excretion, serious adverse effects especially contrast-induced nephropathy and inefficient targetability. Various nanocarriers have demonstrated tremendous potential for achieving high imaging efficiency and low side effects. However, few nanoparticulate contrast agents can simultaneously integrate the desirable functions for imaging, including high loading capacity of iodine, high structure stability for systemic circulation, high biocompatibility and high radiopacity...

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), associated with high mobility and disability, is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease worldwide. Dysfunction of the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activation in the glomeruli is the main hypnosis for DN progression. However, the use of mTOR inhibitors for DN treatment remains controversial. In this study, we built a multifunctional selective mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibiting nanoplatform (naming as ESC-HCM-B) that targets the release of mTOR and ROS inhibitors near podocytes, aiming to confirm whether combination therapy is an alternative method for DN treatment...

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) results from the cells' insulin resistance, and to date, insulin therapy and diabetes medications targeting glycemic management have failed to reverse the increase in T2D prevalence. Restoring liver functions to improve hepatic insulin resistance by reducing oxidative stress is a potential strategy for T2D treatment. Herein, the liver-targeted biodegradable silica nanoshells embedded with platinum nanoparticles (Pt-SiO2 ) are designed as reactive oxygen species (ROS) nanoscavengers and functional hollow nanocarriers...

BACKGROUND: We developed urinary cell mRNA profiling for noninvasive diagnosis of acute T cell mediated rejection (TCMR) and BK virus nephropathy (BKVN), two significant post-transplant complications. Our profiling protocol for the multicenter Clinical Trial of Transplantation-04 (CTOT-04) study consisted of centrifugation of urine to prepare cell pellets, washes, addition of an RNA preservative, storage at 800 C and shipment in cold containers to our Gene Expression Monitoring (GEM) Core for RNA isolation and quantification of mRNA in RT-qPCR assays...

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is a prominent pathological manifestation for the progression of almost all chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) to end-stage renal failure. However, there exist few efficient therapies to cure TIF. Our recent results showed that (8R, 12S)-isoandrographolide (ISA), a diterpenoid lactone ingredient of traditional Chinese herbal Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, exhibited anti-pulmonary fibrosis in silica-induced mice. Herein, we investigated the therapeutic effect of ISA on TIF, using mice subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and human kidney proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)...

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious diabetic complication, usually developed from type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and known as type II DN (T2DN). New emerging biomarkers for T2DN are microRNAs (miRNAs) which have been studied for the noninvasive early-stage detection of the disease. In this work, a nucleic acid amplification-free miRNA-124 sensor based on target-induced strand displacement on magnetic beads, and by using methylene blue-loaded silica particles as a label was developed. Measurement methods can be either visual observation, spectrophotometry, or electrochemistry...

Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology [CKDu] is a condition characterized by decline in kidney function and is not associated with diabetic nephropathy or hypertensive nephropathy. In this review, we have done a detailed literature analysis on CKDu in India, and then had a comparison with that of Mesoamerica and Sri Lanka. In India, CKDu became the second most common type of CKD after diabetic nephropathy. Silica was seen in the groundwater of both India and Sri Lanka, whereas in Mesoamerica silica exposure through particulate matter was seen among CKDu communities...

Anti-brush border antibody (ABBA) disease, also called anti-low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (anti-LRP2) nephropathy, occurs due to the formation of antibodies against brush border antigens of the renal proximal convoluted tubule. We report a case of ABBA disease in a male farmer in his 30s who presented with 2 years of polyuria, dysuria, nocturia, and urinary urgency. He described a history of long-term occupational exposure to pesticides and silica, evolving into possible pneumoconiosis, and prior pulmonary tuberculosis...

There is a pressing need to find reliable biomarkers for the early diagnosis of silica-induced nephropathy. Abundant genes are upregulated in damaged kidneys with subsequent protein products appearing in the urine. Liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) are among the most promising. Our objective was to study the importance of L-FABP and KIM-1 genes and their urinary proteins in the early detection of silica-induced renal injury, as compared with other conventional biomarkers...

Although synergistic therapy for diabetes mellitus has displayed significant promise for the effective treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN), developing a simple and effective strategy to construct multifunctional nanoparticles is still a huge challenge. Moreover, the complicated pathological mechanism of DN involves various pathway dysfunctions that limit the effectiveness of a single therapeutic approach. Herein, hollow mesoporous silica nanocomposite (HMSN) particles doped with trace cerium oxide that exhibit renoprotective activity have been designed, which not only have the ability to prevent ROS-associated DN pathogenesis but also have high drug loading capacity...

There is a recognized association between silica exposure and Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV); however, no clear association between silica exposure and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. We describe the case of a 26-year-old male stonemason who presents with hilar lymphadenopathy, haematuria and acute kidney injury related to silica exposure, AAV and IgA nephropathy. He was asymptomatic on presentation; urinalysis revealed glomerular haematuria (>1000 red blood cells/L) and proteinuria (protein-to-creatinine ratio 84 mg/mmol)...

There has been increased reporting of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in certain agricultural communities in the world. In India, an increased prevalence of CKDu has been observed in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Goa, and Maharashtra. Although no single causative factor has been proved, several have been proposed: water-borne agrochemicals, silica, chemical flavors in betel nuts, and pesticides. The renal biopsy findings have been similar to those seen in Sri Lanka and Mesoamerican nephropathy in that the predominant findings have been tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis with little or no involvement of the glomerular and vascular compartments...

1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDZ) is used industrially to treat the surface of silica, as an intermediate adhesion promoter or silylating agent in the semiconductor industry, as a chemical modifier of inorganic fillers, and as a water scavenger silicone sealant. In animal studies, HMDZ is considered to be slightly to at most moderately toxic following acute administration via oral, dermal, and inhalation routes of exposure. HMDZ is neither an eye irritant nor was it dermally irritating under semiocclusive conditions; however, it caused dermal necrosis in two studies under occlusive conditions...

Particulate matter (PM) has been found to damage vital body organs, including the lungs and heart, through vascular damage and oxidative stress. Recently, renal function and chronic urologic diseases have also been found to be related to PM. To investigate this, we reviewed the characteristics of PM related to renal toxicity, including recent studies on the associations of urologic diseases with PM. PM can include constituents that cause renal toxicity, such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and crystalline silica, which result in renal tubular or interstitial damage...

Infections, high temperature and many of the toxic substances can cause kidney damage. Acute kidney injury is a well known complication of some work-related diseases, e.g., lead intoxication. Chronic kidney disease can also be caused by some occupational factors. Three work-related nephropathies, in which causal connection with work has been proved, are discussed in this article. There are different risk factors of nephrolithiasis, lead nephropathy and silica nephropathy, but each of them can cause chronic kidney disease...

A 68-yr-old male, smoker, is admitted for proteinuria (2,800 mg/24 h) and reduced renal function (serum creatinine 2 mg/dl, GFR 35 ml/min). Renter, he started working 20-yr-old as a sandstone cave miner. Despite the high levels of silica dusts, he reported no mandatory use of airways protection devices during the first 25 yr of activity. No clinical or radiological signs of silicosis or pneumoconiosis where reported until the year of retirement (1997). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (91 mm/h) and C reactive protein (35 mg/l) suggested a pro-inflammatory status...

BACKGROUND: The worldwide seroprevalence of human BK polyomavirus (BKV) in adults is 80%. About 10%-60% of renal transplant recipients experience BKV infection, nephropathy of the graft may occur in 5% of the cases, and up to 45% lose the graft. The aim of this work was to describe the prevalence of BK viruria during the 1st year after transplantation. METHODS: An epidemiologic multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out in consecutive patients at each site with kidney transplantation from August 2011 to July 2012...

Occupational exposure to heavy metals, organic solvents and silica is associated with a variety of renal manifestations. Improved understanding of occupational renal disease provides insight into environmental renal disease, improving knowledge of disease pathogenesis. Silica (SiO2) is an abundant mineral found in sand, rock, and soil. Workers exposed to silica include sandblasters, miners, quarry workers, masons, ceramic workers and glass manufacturers. New cases of silicosis per year have been estimated in the US to be 3600-7300...