Ciprofloxacin for BK viremia prophylaxis in kidney transplant recipients: Results of a prospective,double‐blind,randomized, placebo‐controlled trial

In kidney transplantation, BK virus infection has historically resulted in high rates of graft dysfunction and graft loss. Unlike other opportunistic infections, no therapies have been shown to prevent BK. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ciprofloxacin for the prevention of BK viremia in kidney transplant recipients. Two hundred kidney transplant recipients were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial comparing a 3‐month course of ciprofloxacin (n = 133) vs placebo (n = 67) for the prevention of BK viremia. The primary endpoint of BK viremia at month 6 posttransplant occurred in 25 (18.8%) patients in the ciprofloxacin group and 5 (7.5%) in the placebo group (P = .03). Higher rates of BK viremia (23.3% vs 11.9%; P = .06) and BK nephropathy (5.8% vs 1.5%; P = .26) remained at 12 months in the ciprofloxacin group. Ciprofloxacin use was associated with a significantly higher rate of fluoroquinolone‐resistant gram‐negative infections (83.3% vs 50%; P = .04). A 3‐month course of ciprofloxacin was ineffective at preventing BK viremia in kidney transplant recipients and was associated with an increased risk of fluoroquinolone‐resistant infections. Clinical trial registration number: NCT01789203.     

In reply: Apneic oxygenation during emergency airway management

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie -     

Dexmedetomidine protects against myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion-induced renal damage in rats

Background

Myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (MI/R) may induce renal damage. Our aim was to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) administration at two different timings either before or after ischaemia on renal damage induced by MI/R.

The MRI finding of the nerve root sedimentation sign: Its clinical validity and operative relativity for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis

Background

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is increasingly being recognised as a cause of disabling low back and lower extremities pain in adult population. Advanced spinal imaging thought as confirmation tool for the diagnosis and as preoperative tool to delineate the extent and precise location of the pathology. Nerve roots normally sediment, due to gravity, to the dorsal part of the dural sac, which was known as negative sedimentation sign. If there is MRI finding of nerve roots in the ventral part of the dural sac the sedimentation sign is positive.

Objectives

To evaluate the presence of the MRI finding of positive sedimentation sign in patients clinically suspected to have lumbar spinal stenosis and to follow up operated cases to identify the absence of the radiological signs in the operated cases.

Material and methods

70 patients clinically suspected to have lumbar spinal stenosis evaluated by MRI lumbosacral spine in supine position. A panel of two radiologists reviewed radiological data. MRI features were agreed by both radiologists in 48 patients. Out of these 48 patients; 25 were operated upon for central decompressive laminectomy, partial medial facetectomy and foraminotomy with instrumented fusion and fixation if indicated. Visual analogue score (VAS) collectively preoperative and postoperative was compared and the walking distance postoperative was reported and follow up MRI studies were done one year after the operation.

Results

Operated patients’ mean age was 58.2 years; nineteen patients were operated upon for simple decompressive laminectomy for the affected levels. Walking distance preoperative range 100–700 metres, improved postoperative to be 1474.0 ± 601.1. VAS for pain preoperative was 9.28 ± 0.84, improved at 12 month follow up to be 0.84 ± 0.62. Postoperative MRI done to evaluate the cross sectional area (CSA) became more than 80 mm² in the absence of the sedimentation sign and was negative in 22 cases.

Conclusion

The MRI finding of positive sedimentation sign is a good positive sign to rule in lumbar spinal stenosis with high specificity and sensitivity; negative sedimentation sign can be used in postoperative follow up of decompression patients.     

Glial dysfunction in abstinent methamphetamine abusers

Persistent neurochemical abnormalities in frontal brain structures are believed to result from methamphetamine use. We developed a localized ¹³C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) assay on a conventional MR scanner, to quantify selectively glial metabolic flux rate in frontal brain of normal subjects and a cohort of recovering abstinent methamphetamine abusers. Steady-state bicarbonate concentrations were similar, between 11 and 15 mmol/L in mixed gray-white matter of frontal brain of normal volunteers and recovering methamphetamine-abusing subjects (P>0.1). However, glial ¹³C-bicarbonate production rate from [1-¹³C]acetate, equating with glial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle rate, was significantly reduced in frontal brain of abstinent methamphetamine-addicted women (methamphetamine 0.04 μmol/g per min (N=5) versus controls 0.11 μmol/g per min (N=5), P=0.001). This is equivalent to 36% of the normal glial TCA cycle rate. Severe reduction in glial TCA cycle rate that normally comprises 10% of total cerebral metabolic rate may impact operation of the neuronal glial glutamate cycle and result in accumulation of frontal brain glutamate, as observed in these recovering methamphetamine abusers. Although these are the first studies to define directly an abnormality in glial metabolism in human methamphetamine abuse, sequential studies using analogous ¹³C MRS methods may determine ‘cause and effect'' between glial failure and neuronal injury.     

The Impact of On-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery vs. Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery on Sexual Function

IntroductionErectile dysfunction and ischemic heart disease are common health problems that affect elderly individuals. Despite advances in treatment strategies, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been used for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for over three decades for surgical myocardial revascularization.AimTo discuss the difference between the on pump and the newer alternative—the off-pump CABG (OPCABG) surgery—on the sexual function.MethodsThis prospective study included 100 patients who underwent CABG.Main Outcome MeasuresThe patients were evaluated by an abridged form of International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-5), Pharmaco-Penile Duplex Ultrasound and finally by the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation. The patients were underwent either on-pump CABG or OPCABG. Six months after surgery, the erectile function was revaluated according to the same preoperative measures.ResultsPatients included in the study were classified into two matched groups: group I—patients who underwent on-pump CABG (N = 50); and group II—patients who underwent OPCABG (N = 50). The frequency of intercourse was significantly higher in OPCABG (P < 0.05) after surgery. The mean ± standard deviation of the IIEF-5 scores of the on-pump group postoperatively became 12.48 ± 7.19 whereas it became 15.88 ± 6.67 in the off-pump group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the number of patients who reported postoperative improvement of their IIEF-5 score was significantly higher in OPCABG group (N = 23) compared with the conventional on-pump CABG group (N = 13) (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in the duplex ultrasound after surgery between both groups.ConclusionsThe OPCABG has a diminished impact on the sexual function of patients compared with the conventional on-pump CABG. Therefore, the type of operation can be considered a predictive factor of sexual function following CAB surgery. Mohamed OA, Bennett CJ, Farid RM, Helmy T, Mahran A, and Hamed HA. The impact of on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery vs. off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery on sexual function. J Sex Med **;**:**–**.     

Vascular Risk Factors as Predictors of Sexual Function Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

IntroductionA strong association between cardiovascular risk factors and erectile dysfunction (ED) was suggested. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the gold standard for surgical myocardial revascularization.AimWe herein evaluate the impact of vascular risk factors on postoperative sexual functions in patients undergo CABG.Main Outcome MeasuresED severity by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and penile duplex study.MethodsThe present study included 100 patients who underwent CABG. The patients were evaluated by an abridged form of the IIEF-5 questionnaire, followed by CABG. Six months after surgery the erectile function of all patients was revaluated utilizing the IIEF-5.ResultsNumber of risk factors was significantly associated with postoperative change in IIEF-5 score (P = 0.02). A post hoc analysis of the association revealed that patients with one risk factor were significantly more likely to have increased IIEF-5 scores (N = 18), whereas those with two or more risk factors were significantly more likely to have decreased IIEF-5 scores (N = 21, P < 0.05). Furthermore, those with no risk factors were significantly more likely to be stable (N = 8) compared with those with more than two risk factors, who were more likely to have decreased scores (P < 0.05). The hierarchical logistic regression results showed that when examining all risk factors simultaneously, because of multicollinearity, only hyperlipidemia was significantly associated with postoperative ED (odds ratio [OR] = 11.33, confirdence interval [CI] = 1.25, 102.82). Frequency of intercourse was also significantly associated with postoperative ED after controlling for risk factors (OR = 0.71, CI = 0.52, 0.97).ConclusionsThis data clearly shows that the number of cardiovascular risk factors is an essential predictive factor for sexual function following surgery. Only hyperlipidemia may play a predictive role for the future sexual function of patients undergo CABG. Mohamed OA, Hamed HA, Roaiah MF, Helmy T, Mahran A, and Bennett CJ. Vascular risk factors as predictors of sexual function following coronary artery bypass graft. J Sex Med 2009;6:2017–2023.     

Deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: Efficacy, safety and mechanisms of action

Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a neuromodulation therapy that has been used successfully in the treatment of symptoms associated with movement disorders, has recently undergone clinical trials for individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Although the small patient numbers and open label study design limit our ability to identify optimum targets and make definitive conclusions about treatment efficacy, a review of the published research demonstrates significant reductions in depressive symptomatology and high rates of remission in a severely treatment-resistant patient group. Despite these encouraging results, an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms of action underlying the therapeutic effects of DBS for TRD is highlighted, paralleling the incomplete understanding of the neuroanatomy of mood regulation and treatment resistance. Proposed mechanisms of action include short and long-term local effects of stimulation at the neuronal level, to modulation of neural network activity.