Association of Physical Function and Survival in Older-Adult Renal Transplant Recipients

There is an increase in older-adult renal transplant recipients in United States. The objective of this study was to assess the association between physical function (PF) and patient survival in renal transplant recipients who are aged 65 years or older. Using United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data from 2007 to 2016, renal transplant recipients aged 65 years or older were included. Multivariable Cox regression was used to assess associations between survival and functional status adjusted for age, sex, race, donor quality, diabetes, and dialysis vintage. The study identified 26,721 patients. Patient survival was significantly higher in recipients who needed no assistance and lowest in patients in need of total assistance (P < .0001). In deceased donor (DD) transplants, the relative risk for mortality was 2.06 (1.74-2.43) for total assistance and 1.17 (1.08-1.28) for moderate assistance compared to no assistance (P < .0001). In living donor (LD) transplants, the relative risk of mortality was 1.38 (0.78-2.42) for patients needing total assistance and 1.37 (1.14-1.65) for patients needing moderate assistance compared to patients who did not need assistance (0.003). PF is an independent predictor of post-transplant mortality. Assessment of older potential renal transplant recipients should include assessment and standardization of functional status to counsel about post-transplant survival.     

The grades that clinical teachers give students modifies the grades they receive

Prior studies have shown a correlation between the grades students receive and how they rate their teacher in the classroom. In this study, the authors probe this association on clinical rotations and explore potential mechanisms. All In-Training Evaluation Reports (ITERs) for students on mandatory clerkship rotations from April 1, 2013 to January 31, 2015 were matched with the corresponding student’s rating of their teacher (SRT). The date and time that ITERs and SRTs were submitted was used to divide SRTs into those submitted before versus after the corresponding ITER was submitted. Multilevel, mixed effects linear regression was used to examine the association between SRT, ITER rating, and whether the ITER was submitted before or after SRT. Of 2373 paired evaluations, 1098 (46.3%) SRT were submitted before the teacher had submitted the ITER. There was a significant interaction between explanatory variables: when ITER ratings had not yet been submitted, the regression coefficient for this association was 0.25 (95% confidence interval [0.17, 0.33], p < 0.001), whereas the regression coefficient was significantly higher when ITER ratings were submitted prior to SRT (0.40 [0.31, 0.49], p < 0.001). Finding an association between SRT and ITER when students do not know their ITER ratings suggests that SRTs can capture attributes of effective teaching, but the effect modification when students have access to their ITER rating supports grade satisfaction bias. Further studies are needed to explain the mechanism of grade satisfaction and to identify other biases that may impact the validity of SRT.     

Preemptive rofecoxib and dexamethasone for prevention of pain and trismus following third molar surgery *

Objective The goal of this preliminary randomized prospective clinical trial was to compare the analgesic efficacy and the reduction in trismus of preoperative rofecoxib, intraoperative dexamethasone, and both rofecoxib and dexamethasone following third molar extraction surgery. Study design Thirty-five subjects requiring surgical removal of at least 1 partial bony impacted mandibular third molar were invited to participate in this double-blind and double-dummy placebo-controlled clinical trial. Subjects were randomly assigned into 1 of 4 treatment groups: (1) placebo po preoperatively and placebo IV intraoperatively; (2) rofecoxib 50 mg po preoperatively and placebo IV intraoperatively; (3) placebo po preoperatively and dexamethasone10 mg IV intraoperatively; and (4) rofecoxib 50 mg po preoperatively and dexamethasone 10 mg IV intraoperatively. Subjects completed a diary assessing postoperative pain onset and intensity using categorical and visual analogue scales. Interincisal opening was assessed 1, 2, 3, and 7 days postoperatively using a Therabite ruler. Results This randomized controlled clinical trial enrolled 35 subjects. Two subjects did not meet the inclusion criteria and 4 did not return completed diaries. The mean age of the remaining 29 subjects (11 males, 18 females) was 22.8 years (+/- 0.6 year). The active treatments tended to delay the need for initial pain medication. When compared to other active treatments and to placebo, the combination of preoperative rofecoxib and intraoperative dexamethasone significantly reduced initial pain intensity ( P < .05). Baseline interincisal opening was 52.6 mm (+/- 6.2). The greatest decrease in interincisal opening was 43.3% for the placebo group at 24 hours. Preoperative rofecoxib alone showed a decrease in interincisal opening of 42.3% ( P = ns) at 24 hours. Intraoperative dexamethasone alone showed a decrease in the interincisal opening of 24.1% of baseline ( P < .05 vs placebo). The group receiving the combination of rofecoxib and dexamethasone showed a decrease in interincisal opening of 23.7% of baseline ( P < .05 vs placebo). Conclusions The results of this trial indicate that the use of intraoperative dexamethasone is an effective therapeutic strategy for limiting trismus following surgical removal of impacted third molars. The combination of preoperative rofecoxib 50 mg and intraoperative dexamethasone 10 mg was most effective in minimizing pain and trismus following third molar surgery.     

Management of cap striae following challenging small incision lenticule extraction surgery – A case report

A 24-year-old female underwent small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for myopic astigmatism OU. In the left eye, cap-lenticular adhesion along with tearing of the cap occurred, resulting in a gaped incision and transverse striae involving the visual axis on the first post op day. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 20/32. The case was managed with interface wash and stretching of the cap, in order to iron out the striae. Post intervention, the UDVA improved to 20/20, striae resolved, and interface remained clear through a follow-up of nine months, suggesting that cap striae in SMILE may be similarly managed as the flap striae in laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), resulting in satisfactory visual outcomes.     

Poor kidney allograft survival associated with positive B cell – Only flow cytometry cross matches: A ten year single center study

The presence of donor specific antibody (DSA) to class 1 or class 2 HLA as detected respectively in T cell or B cell – only flow cytometry cross matches (FCXMs) are risk factors for renal allograft survival, though the comparative risk of these XMs has not been definitively established. Allograft survival and FCXM data in 624 microcytotoxicity (CDC) XM negative kidney transplants were evaluated. Short and long term allograft survival was significantly less in recipients with T⁻ B⁺ FCXMs (1 year, 74%, 10 year, 58%) compared to T⁺ B⁺ FCXMs (1 year, 84%, 10 year, 68%) and to T⁻ B⁻ FCXM (1 year, 90%, 10 year, 85%). Risk factors were positive FCXM, deceased donor (DD) transplantation and donor age, but not race, gender, recipient age or previous transplant. Recipients with T⁻ B⁺ and T⁺ B⁺ FCXMs were at 4.5 and 2.5 fold greater risk, respectively, of DD allograft failure compared to patients with T⁻ B⁻ FCXMs. The quantitative value of FCXM did not correlate with the duration of graft survival. We conclude that patients with DSA to class 2 HLA have a greater risk of early and late allograft failure compared to patients with DSA to class 1 HLA.     

Actinomycotic Endocarditis of the Eustachian Valve: A Rare Case and a Review of the Literature

Eustachian valve endocarditis caused by Actinomyces species is extremely rare. A literature review revealed only one reported case—caused by Actinomyces israelii in an intravenous drug abuser.Our patient, a 30-year-old woman who at first appeared to be in good health, presented with fever, a large mobile mass on the eustachian valve, and extensive intra-abdominal and pelvic masses that looked malignant. Histopathologic examination of tissue found in association with an intrauterine contraceptive device revealed filamentous, branching microorganisms consistent with Actinomyces turicensis. This patient was treated successfully with antibiotic agents.In addition to presenting a new case of a rare condition, we discuss cardiac actinomycotic infections in general and eustachian valve endocarditis in particular: its predisposing factors, clinical course, sequelae, and our approaches to its management.     

In utero presentation of aggressive systemic mastocytosis in a neonate

Mastocytosis is a clinically heterogenous disease characterized by mast cell hyperplasia in skin, bone marrow and/or visceral organs. Cutaneous mastocytosis is more frequently observed in children, whereas indolent systemic mastocytosis is more commonly observed in adults. Aggressive systemic presentation, particularly of the neonate, is exceptionally rare. We present a rare case of congenital aggressive systemic mastocytosis. The patient was a 37‐week‐old male, born by caesarean section owing to hepatosplenomegaly and ascites diagnosed in utero, who exhibited extensive cutaneous and systemic manifestations of mastocytosis at birth. Mutation analysis of c‐KIT identified D816V mutation in exon 17. Although initial bilateral bone marrow aspirates demonstrated no mast‐cell infiltrates or haematological neoplasm, subsequent bone‐marrow biopsies postmortem exhibited multifocal mast‐cell aggregates. Clinical course was complicated by bacteraemia and cardiorespiratory failure, leading to death at 10 weeks.     

Effects and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy

QUESTION: I have several patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who are pregnant or planning pregnancies. What information can I give them regarding the possible effects of IBD on pregnancy and the medications used to treat IBD during pregnancy? ANSWER: Women with IBD appear to be at increased risk of giving birth prematurely, having low-birth-weight infants, and having cesarean sections. Neither 5-aminosalicylic acid nor sulfasalazine has been found to increase the rate of major malformations, fetal mortality, or morbidity. There is conflicting evidence regarding the use of corticosteroids and azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine. There are limited data on the use of infliximab during pregnancy, although no pattern of defects or complications has been reported to date.