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.     

Outcomes of Donor Evaluations for Adult-to-Adult Right Hepatic Lobe Living Donor Liver Transplantation

The purpose of this study is to determine the role of liver biopsy and outcome of patients undergoing donor evaluation for adult-to-adult right hepatic lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Records of patients presenting for a comprehensive donor evaluation between 1997 and February 2005 were reviewed. Liver biopsy was performed only in patients with risk factors for abnormal histology. Two hundred and sixty patients underwent a comprehensive donor evaluation and 116 of 260 (45%) were suitable for donation, 14 of 260 (5.4%) did not complete evaluation and 130 of 260 (50%) were rejected. Four patients underwent unsuccessful hepatectomy surgery due to discovery of intraoperative abnormalities. Between 1997 and 2001, the acceptance rate of donor candidates (63%) was higher than 2002-2005 (36%), p < 0.0001. Sixty-six of the 150 eligible patients (44%) fulfilled criteria for liver biopsy and 28 of 66 (42%) had an abnormal finding. Less than half of the patients undergoing donor evaluation were suitable donors and the donor acceptance rate has declined over time. A large proportion of the patients undergoing liver biopsy have abnormal findings. Our evaluation process failed to identify 4 of 103 who had aborted donor surgeries.     

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A UNOS/OPTN Database Analysis

We previously reported poorer survival among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) compared to non-Hispanic whites at our center. In the current study, we hypothesized that these disparities would exist in a nationwide cohort of wait-listed patients with IPF. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 2635 patients with IPF listed for lung transplantation between 1995 and 2003 at 94 transplant centers in the United States. The age-adjusted mortality rate was higher among non-Hispanic blacks [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.45, p = 0.009] and Hispanics (HR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.06-1.56, p = 0.01) compared to non-Hispanic whites. These findings persisted after adjustment for transplantation, medical comorbidities and socioeconomic status. Worse lung function at the time of listing appeared to explain some of these differences (HR for non-Hispanic blacks after adjustment for forced vital capacity percent predicted = 1.16, 95% CI 0.98-1.36, p = 0.09; HR for Hispanics = 1.21, 95% CI 0.99-1.48, p = 0.056). In summary, black and Hispanic patients with IPF have worse survival than whites after listing for lung transplant.     

Risk of hypoglycaemia with oral antidiabetic agents in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

In patients with Type 2 diabetes, the appropriate intensity of glucose control is determined by age, life expectancy, and the presence of concomitant disease. Geriatric patients are especially susceptible to hypoglycaemia and therefore particular care should be taken in this group characterized by polypharmacy, renal or hepatic dysfunction, cardiovascular multimorbidity and malnutrition. As hypoglycaemia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, treatment regimens for diabetes should minimize the occurrence of hypoglycaemic episodes and be tailored to the patient's individual needs. The pharmacological options for treating Type 2 diabetes have increased considerably and the risk of hypoglycaemia of the currently available drugs varies considerably. Metformin, thiazolidinediones, and acarbose, oral antidiabetic drugs that decrease insulin resistance or postprandial glucose absorption, are associated with a low risk of hypoglycaemia. These drugs can also be used effectively in various combination regimens; however, by improving insulin sensitivity, combinations of metformin and thiolidinediones with sulphonylureas or meglitinides may considerably increase the risk of hypoglycaemia. On account of its complex pharmacoprofile glibenclamide is a problematic substance carrying a high risk of hypoglycaemia. There are limited preliminary data indicating that, under routine conditions, glimepiride may be associated with a lower risk of hypoglycaemia than glibenclamide and is no more likely to cause hypoglycaemia than other shorter-acting agents such as gliclazide and glipizide. Nateglinide and repaglinide as short-acting insulin secretagogues may be associated with a reduced risk of hypoglycaemia compared with glibenclamide, in particular when dosed flexibly. Repaglinide might be beneficial in individuals with renal impairment.     

12例开放性腋动脉损伤的诊治

目的探讨开放性腋动脉损伤的诊治体会。方法1996年-2002年，共诊治12例开放性腋动脉损伤的患者，从受伤到入院时间为3～14h，入院时均处于不同程度的休克状态，桡动脉搏动减弱或消失。在积极抗休克治疗的同时，急诊进行清创、血管神经探查和修复术。其中行腋动脉修补5例，腋动脉直接吻合6例，自体静脉移植修复1例。结果伤后8h内腋动脉再通8例，8～16h内腋动脉再通4例，无病例发生截肢或死亡。术后伤口均Ⅰ期愈合，桡动脉搏动良好。结论对开放性腋动脉损伤早期诊断和及时手术探查是控制休克、获取良好疗效的关键。     

The floating hip injury: which should we fix first?

In floating hip injuries, the priority of the steps in fixation has not been well described. We have treated these patients in accordance with the following protocols. In patients with pelvic ring fractures, the external fixation should be performed first, and in patients with acetabular fractures, the femoral fractures should be internally fixated first. The purpose of the present study was to review our experience with these fracture treatments to evaluate our strategy. For 8 years, 31 patients with femoral fractures associated with ipsilateral fractures: 26 unstable pelvic ring fractures and 7 unstable acetabular fractures were surgically treated at our level 1 trauma center. We reviewed the admission, operation, and follow-up records retrospectively and evaluated the order of the fixation and the complications. Two patients with acetabular fractures failed to follow our protocol outlined at the preoperative planning stage. There were no surgical difficulties other than two patients with the hemipelvis dislocated proximally who required traction of the fixated femur. The complications that were thought to be related to our protocol were one fat embolism syndrome and one pubic fracture displacement. One heterotopic ossification seemed to occur due to using a single approach for both fractures. We believe our protocol to be generally effective, however, in patients with acetabular and vertical shear type pelvic ring fractures, the internal or external fixation of the femur should be performed before the internal fixation of the pelvis.     

Electrophysiological studies of brain plasticity of the motor system

Neurological Sciences - Brain plasticity, intended as the pattern of functional and structural changes in responses to environmental physiological or pathological events, is underlined by several...     

平阳霉素及糖皮质激素与激光联合治疗儿童颌面部血管瘤

目的探讨和评价平阳霉素及糖皮质激素与激光联合应用治疗儿童颌面部血管瘤的疗效。方法自2002年3月至2005年2月,采用平阳霉素及糖皮质激素与激光联合治疗儿童颌面部血管瘤78例,瘤体面积0.4cm×0.8cm~5.0cm×8.0cm。7~10d注射一次平阳霉素配制液,剂量为0.5mg/kg,3~5次为一个疗程,一个疗程的总量不超过40mg;小于6岁的患儿配合口服强地松;最后联合可调脉宽倍频ND:YAG激光治疗。结果治疗后经6个月至3年的随访,治愈和基本治愈率88.46%,有效率100%。结论平阳霉素及糖皮质激素与激光联合应用治疗儿童颌面部血管瘤是一种安全、有效、易行的治疗方法。     

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a population-based cancer registry descriptive study of 66 consecutive cases diagnosed between 1982 and 2002

BACKGROUND: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare malignant tumour of the skin, with an estimated incidence of 0.8 to five cases per 1 million people per year. OBJECTIVE: To study epidemiological, immunohistochemical and clinical features, delay in diagnosis, type of treatment and outcome of DFSP from 1982 to 2002. METHODS: Using data from the population-based cancer registry, 66 patients with pathologically proved DFSP were included (fibrosarcomatous DFSP were excluded). Each patient lived in one of the four departments of Franche-Comté (overall population of 1 million people) at the time of diagnosis. The main data sources came from public and private pathology laboratories and medical records. The rules of the International Agency for Research on Cancer were applied. RESULTS: The estimated incidence of DFSP in Franche-Comté was about three new cases per 1 million people per year. Male patients were affected 1.2 times as often as female patients were. The trunk (45%) followed by the proximal extremities (38%) were the most frequent locations. DFSP occurred mainly in young adults between 20 and 39 years of age. Mean age at diagnosis was 43 years, and the mean delay in diagnosis was 10.08 years. Our 66 patients initially underwent a radical local excision. Among them, 27% experienced one or more local recurrences during 9.6 years of follow-up. There was one regional lymph node recurrence without visceral metastases. These recurrences were significantly related to the initial peripheral resection margins. We observed a local recurrence rate of 47% for margins less than 3 cm, vs. only 7% for margins ranging from 3 to 5 cm [P=0.004; OR=0.229 (95%, CI=0.103-0.510)]. The mean time to a first local recurrence was 2.65 years. Nevertheless, there was no death due to the DFSP course at the end of the follow-up, and the final outcome was favourable. CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes the importance of wide local excision with margins of at least 3 cm in order to prevent local recurrence. However, the recent development of inhibitors of signal transduction by the PDGFB pathway should soon modify the surgical strategy, which is often too mutilating.