Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin naturally occurring in different foods. OTA is arguably a risk factor for Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). The aims of this study are to (1) test the OTA-BEN association in BEN-groups and controls and (2) determine whether urine β2-microglobulin, a marker of impaired ability of the kidneys to re-absorb, is related to OTA. BEN patients had significantly higher ...

The aim of the present study was to investigate β2-microglobulin (β2-M) expression in normal oral mucosa and progressive oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to assess the clinical significance of β2-microglobulin expression. The study included 10 cases of normal oral mucosa epithelium specimens, 55 cases of primary OSCC specimens, and 25 cases of OSCC metastasis specimens. Immunohistochemis...

PURPOSE Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) remains the leading cause of renal graft loss after the first year following renal transplantation. This study aimed to identify novel urinary proteomic profiles, which could distinguish and predict CAN in susceptible individuals. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The study included 34 renal transplant patients with histologically proven CAN and 36 patients with ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Kidney disease progression, assessed by change in eGFR on the basis of creatinine, is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death. This study aimed to evaluate whether changes in multiple filtration markers, individually and combined, were associated with cardiovascular disease and death. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Creatinine, c...