Renal Allograft Biopsies with Borderline Changes: Predictive Factors of Clinical Outcome

The clinical outcome and appropriate management for patients showing 'borderline changes' on allograft biopsy after renal transplantation is still controversial. In an attempt to identify predictive factors of clinical outcome of patients with such lesions, we reviewed the clinical course of 91 patients with borderline changes. Multivariate analysis revealed significant and independent effects of histological stage (i + t < or = or > 2) and time to borderline changes (< or = or > 3 months after transplant) on serum creatinine levels at 1 year from borderline changes episodes (respectively, p = 0.04 and p = 0.02) and only a significant effect of time to borderline changes on serum creatinine levels at 2 years (p = 0.005). Renal function at 1 year and 2 years as 5- and 8-year graft survival were not significantly different in the group of patients treated with antirejection therapy (T group, n = 49) compared with the untreated group (UT group, n = 42). This study strongly suggests that borderline changes with histological score (i + t) > 2 and late episodes of borderline changes should be considered to be of poor prognosis.     

Invasive Fungal Infections in Low-Risk Liver Transplant Recipients: A Multi-Center Prospective Observational Study

Prevention of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients utilizing postoperative systemic antifungal prophylaxis, typically with fluconazole, is justified among those at high risk for IFI. Use of postoperative antifungal prophylaxis for low-risk OLT recipients is widely practiced but not universally accepted nor supported by data. We conducted a prospective observational study among 200 OLT recipients who were at low risk for IFI and did not receive postoperative antifungal prophylaxis. Patients were considered low risk if they had /=units of 40 blood products or return to the operating room for intra-abdominal bleeding; return to the operating room for anastomotic leak or vascular insufficiency; preoperative serum creatinine of >/=2 mg/dL; and perioperative Candida colonization. Patients were followed 100 d post-transplantation for evidence of IFI. Of 193 eligible patients, 7 (4%) developed an IFI. Three (2%) IFIs were due to Candida spp. and potentially preventable by standard fluconazole prophylaxis. Three patients developed invasive aspergillosis; one developed late onset disseminated cryptococcosis. Liver transplant recipients at low risk for IFI can be identified utilizing pre-determined criteria, and post-transplantation antifungal prophylaxis can be routinely withheld in these patients.     

超早期磁共振血管成像无大血管闭塞的急性缺血性卒中患者的预后

目的研究超早期磁共振血管成像(MRA)无大血管闭塞的急性缺血性卒中患者的临床结局及预测结局的因素。方法选择超早期(发病6 h内)完成急诊磁共振成像(MRI)检查且MRA无大血管闭塞的急性缺血性卒中患者31例,收集其临床及影像学数据,在MRI检查前完成NIHSS评分,随访发病后24 h的NIHSS评分及3个月时mRS评分。结果31例患者中28例MRI弥散加权成像(DWI)提示梗死灶,治疗后24 h时NIHSS显著改善者17例,3个月随访mRS0-2分者28例,未发现预测结局的因素。结论超早期MRA无大血管闭塞的急性缺血性卒中患者中大部分DWI可见责任梗死灶,即使未溶栓,大多数患者临床结局也较好。     

血管内皮生长因子及炎性因子在油酸性犬急性呼吸窘迫综合征中的变化

目的探讨油酸性急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）beagle犬血浆及肺泡灌洗液血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1（ICAM-1）、白细胞介素-8（IL-8）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF—α）水平的改变。方法12只英国纯种beagle犬，静脉注射油酸0．15mL／kg，在注射油酸前、后1h，出现ARDS的典型表现时，抽血测VEGF、sICAM-1、IL-8、TNF—α，并对此时相作肺泡灌洗液VEGF、sICAM—1、IL-8、TNF-α的测定。结果beagle犬静脉注射油酸后1h血浆TNF—α升高（P〈0．05），血浆反肺泡灌洗液IL8、sICAM-1和VEGF在1h较油酸前没有明显变化（P〉0．05），beagle犬油酸型ARDS模型建立后血浆及肺泡灌洗液VECF、sICAM-1、IL-8、TNF—α均显著高于建模前（P〈0．05）。结论VEGF、sICAM-1、IL-8、TNF～α在beagle犬油酸型ARDS发生发展过程中可能均起重要作用，其水平的高低可能与ARDS严重程度及预后有关。     

Coccidioidomycosis After Renal Transplantation in an Endemic Area

Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection of the desert southwestern United States of particular concern for immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients. The clinical course of coccidioidomycosis can be severe in immunosuppressed patients, with high rates of dissemination and mortality, and antifungal prophylaxis is routinely administered to high-risk patients. We sought to determine the impact of coccidioidomycosis on patients who received their renal transplant at our hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. A retrospective records review of the first 205 patients who received a renal transplant between June 1999 and December 2003 identified 6 patients (3%) who had contracted coccidioidomycosis after transplantation. All six cases occurred more than 6 months after transplantation. Two of these six patients had disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Two patients, one with pulmonary infection and one with disseminated infection, died. None of the six patients with coccidioidomycosis after transplantation had identified risk factors before transplantation. No high-risk patient who received targeted antifungal prophylaxis had a reactivation of coccidioidomycosis after transplantation. Treatment for acute rejection and induction with antithymocyte globulin did not appear to increase the risk of subsequent coccidioidomycosis.     

慢性肾衰竭急性加重的临床特征及相关因素分析

目的：探讨慢性肾衰竭（CRF）急性加重因素及其治疗措施对预后的影响。方法：对2001年1月～2005年6月住院治疗的CRF急性加重患者42例，按其加重原因、基础疾病、治疗方式和疗效进行回顾性总结。结果：CRF急性加重因素依次为各种感染（45．2％）、原发病加重（19．0％）、高血压未控制（14．3％）、水电解质紊乱（11．9％）、肾毒性药物（11．9％）、心功能不全（9．5％）、尿路梗阻（4．8％）、血高粘滞状态（2．4%），7例同时存在≥2种上述病因（16．7％）。CRF急性加重原发病以慢性肾小球肾炎（52．4％）和糖尿病肾病（11．9％）为主。积极治疗后肾功能恢复达到或接近原来水平者40例，死亡2例，死亡2例的年龄均在60岁以上。结论：对于CRF肾功能急剧恶化的患者，应积极寻找其加重因素，并采取非透析和透析相结合治疗，改善肾功能，降低病死率，延长患者生命。     

Development and evaluation of a new PCR assay for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa D genotype

This report describes a new PCR-based assay for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa genotype D in occupational saturation diving systems in the North Sea. This genotype has persisted in these systems for 11 years (1993-2003) and represents 18% of isolates from infections analysed during this period. The new PCR assay was based on sequences obtained after randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR analysis of a group of isolates related to diving that had been identified previously by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The primer set for the D genotype targets a gene that codes for a hypothetical class 4 protein in the P. aeruginosa PAO1 genome. A primer set able to detect P. aeruginosa at the species level was also designed, based on the 23S-5S rDNA spacer region. The two assays produced 382-bp and 192-bp amplicons, respectively. The PCR assay was evaluated by analysing 100 P. aeruginosa isolates related to diving, representing 28 PFGE genotypes, and 38 clinical and community P. aeruginosa isolates and strains from other species. The assay identified all of the genotype D isolates tested. Two additional diving-relevant genotypes (TP2 and TP27) were also identified, as well as three isolates of non-diving origin. It was concluded that the new PCR assay is a useful tool for early detection and prevention of infections with the D genotype.