Colonization and Infection With Extensively Drug Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Liver Transplant Recipients

Background

Infections due to extensively drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) after solid organ transplantation are increasing in prevalence and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Surveillance culture (SC) seems to be an important tool for extensively drug resistant GNB control. The aim of this study was to evaluate colonization rates and subsequent infections by XDR-GNB in liver transplant recipients.

Solid Organ Transplantation After Retrieval From Deceased Donors With Abdominal Aortic Grafts

Introduction

Organ procurement from deceased donors has been steadily augmented over the last 20 years. With a more aged donor population, a higher incidence of intraabdominal pathologies, including abdominal aortic aneurysms and atherosclerotic aortic disease, is commonly being encountered. The objective of our study was to report our institutional experience with abdominal aortic grafts during solid organ harvesting.

Human Leukocyte Antigen Compatibility and De Novo Donor-Specific Antibodies in Long-term Renal Transplant Patients With Stable Graft Function

Purpose

De novo donor-specific antibodies (DSA) are associated with antibody-mediated rejection leading to late renal transplant failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether HLA compatibility is associated with sensitization along with other risk factors.

Historical development of root analogue implants: a review of published papers

The timetable for placing a dental implant can be crucial in the reduction of resorption of the socket after an extraction. The association of immediate implantation with an implant that copies the anatomy of the extracted root seems to add benefits in limiting the hard and soft tissue changes that may occur. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the historical development of all types of root analogue implants from their beginning to the present day. To our knowledge the first individualised ones were described in 1969. Later, the use of titanium instead of the polymers that were used to start with offered better bony integration, and showed that the selection of materials was a key factor in their success. Root analogue implants made from zirconia were also described when attempts were being made to improve aesthetics in the anterior regions. The more recent introduction of digital technology such as DICOM has allowed the fabrication of these implants in less time, and the combination with digital diagnostic options such as cone-beam computed tomography facilitated the fabrication of some types of implants before extraction that could be inserted immediately into the alveolar socket with optimal and safe 3-dimensional positioning. Currently digital planning allows the clinician to design the ideal implant and abutment, which reduces the need for tissue grafting in the surgical phase and gingival conditioning in the prosthetic phase.     

Serum albumin enhances the impairment of platelet aggregation with thromboxane synthase inhibition by increasing the formation of prostaglandin D2

Dazoxiben, a thromboxane synthase inhibitor, inhibits arachidonic acid induced aggregation in platelet-rich plasma from some donors only (“responders”). We have studied the effect of dazoxiben in vitro on platelet aggregation and prostaglandin (PG) metabolism and the influence of the incubation period and of exogenously added serum albumin (SA). SA, which increases the production of anti-aggregatory PGD₂ from cyclic endoperoxides, induced “non-responder” human platelets to respond. With rabbit platelets, however, that are insensitive to PGD₂, exogenous SA failed to potentiate dazoxiben-induced inhibition. The ratio between PGD₂ and TXB₂ + PGE₂ formed was crucial in determining the response of human platelets to dazoxiben: whenever this ratio was high, platelet aggregation was inhibited. SQ 22536, an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, and NO164, a PGD₂ antagonist, reversed the inhibition by dazoxiben in human platelet-rich plasma, stressing the importance of a PGD₂ mediated rise of cyclic AMP for the effectiveness of a thromboxane synthase inhibitor.     

Elective mutism--an atypical antecedent of schizophrenia

Elective mutism (EM) is a rare psychiatric condition of childhood involving refusal to speak in social situations. We herewith describe such a case which developed into a full-blown schizophrenic illness. This may be the first detailed report of such an outcome in the literature.     

Chemopreventive Effect of Lactobacttlus rhamnosus on Growth of a Subcutaneously Implanted Bladder Cancer Cell Line in the Mouse

Lactic acid bacteria are known to have beneficial effects on the host, such as preventing carcinogenesis. The present study was designed to evaluate the chemopreventive effects of Lactobacttlus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) in suppressing bladder cancer formation in a murine subcutaneous model of bladder cancer involving the inoculation of MB49 cells in C57B/L6 mice. After tumor implantation, one group of mice (n=8) was fed LGG immediately. The remaining mice that had tumors between 0.03–0.1 cm³ were divided into two groups: those fed LGG after 7 days (n=7) and those fed saline (n=7). A second group of mice without any inoculation of MB49 cells was fed either LGG (n=10) or saline (n=10) and served as non-tumor-bearing controls. LGG was administered orally at 1.6×l0⁸ colony-forming units daily. Mice fed LGG immediately after tumor cell implantation formed smaller tumors and some did not develop tumors (2 out of 8 mice), when the tumor burden was small. The level of spleen CD3, CD4 and CD8a T lymphocytes, as well as natural killer cells in mice fed immediately with LGG was also higher than that in control tumor-bearing mice. There was an increase in lymphocytes and granulocytes in tumor sections, especially from the immediately fed group as compared to the controls. Our results suggest that oral consumption of LGG may prevent tumor growth via modulation of the immune system. The potential of LGG as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of bladder cancer could be further explored.