L-arginine reverses the antinatriuretic effect of cyclosporin in renal transplant patients

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporin has been shown to facilitate renal vasoconstriction and to have an antinatriuretic effect. The existence of an interference of cyclosporin with the vasodilating properties of endothelium mediated by nitric oxide production could mediate these effects. On the other hand, the infusion of the nitric oxide precursor L-arginine has been shown to induce renal vasodilatation and to facilitate natriuresis in normal volunteers. We have investigated the renal effects of the administration of an infusion of L-arginine in renal transplant patients chronically treated with cyclosporin. To facilitate the analysis of the data the effects of the administration of a similar dose of cyclosporin on renal function during the infusion of a vehicle were also investigated during the administration of a vehicle of L-arginine. DESIGN: Ten male renal transplant patients, chronically treated with cyclosporin and with a stable renal function were studied during 2 consecutive days after the administration of the usual morning dose of cyclosporin. The first day they received an intravenous infusion of vehicle and the second the infusion of graded doses of L-arginine (50, 100, 150 mg/kg/h) during 3 consecutive h. RESULTS: The first day, after cyclosporin administration a significant fall (P < 0.01) was observed in natriuresis and kaliuresis in the absence of changes in renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate. After the administration of L-arginine significant (P < 0.01) increases of renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, and natriuresis were seen. The increase in blood levels of cyclosporin after its administration did not differ between days 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that L-arginine facilitates renal vasodilatation and natriuresis in renal transplant patients. Furthermore, the observed increase in sodium excretion could indicate that L-arginine counteracts the antinatriuretic effect of cyclosporin.      

Long-term acceptance of continuous positive airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnea

We studied the long-term acceptability of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in 168 consecutive patients, 147 with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and 21 with snoring. Follow-up was between 1.5 and 78 months. At latest follow-up 107 of 168 (64%) were still using CPAP. Acceptance of CPAP was least for patients with snoring alone (6 of 21 persisted) and best for patients with both excessive daytime somnolence and severe hypoxemia (minimum SaO2 less than 75%), of whom 40 of 45 (89%) persisted with treatment. Patients with excessive daytime somnolence but without severe hypoxemia were less tolerant of CPAP (39 of 71, 55%, persisted) than patients with no symptoms of excessive somnolence but with severe hypoxemia (21 of 30, 70%, persisted). The most common reasons for discontinuing CPAP were intolerance of the mask (26 of 61), the inconvenience of treatment (16 of 61), and the lack of symptomatic benefit from treatment (10 of 61). We concluded that long-term acceptance of CPAP was difficult to predict in advance but that it was most likely in patients with the most severe sleep apnea. Because intolerance of the mask and inconvenience were the most common reasons for ceasing treatment, improvements in the design of CPAP systems and careful patient training may improve the acceptability of CPAP substantially.     

Improved, computer-generated system for pyocin typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

We applied numerical clustering algorithms to the selection of a new indicator strain set for the pyocin typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The new indicator set is composed of selected indicator strains from the sets described in 1966 by Gillies and Govan (J. Pathol. Bacteriol. 91:339-345) and in 1974 by Jones, Zakanycz, Thomas, and Farmer (Appl. Microbiol. 27:400-406) and is designated the G-F set. This indicator set consists of 14 indicator strains which typed 99.5% of 114 test cultures, has a high degree of discrimination (10 patterns encompass 50% of the test strains), and provides 62.3% reproducibility of the same typing pattern in duplicate tests done on different days. The G-F set of indicator strains provides slightly higher percentages of typable cultures than either of the other two sets, has greater discriminatory capability, and is more reproducible than they are. We recommend that the G-F set of indicator strains be used instead of the two other sets for pyocin typing of P. aeruginosa. We also tested a recently described overlay procedure for pyocin testing of P. aeruginosa and found it to be superior to previous methods in that it is easier to perform, it provides answers in only 24 h instead of 48 h, and it can be used to type mucoid strains (which previous techniques could not readily do). Thus, the application of numerical clustering algorithms and use of a revised typing procedure have produced an improved system for pyocin typing of P. aeruginosa. Similar procedures may be applicable to other typing systems.     

Role of computed tomography in screening for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis

One hundred patients with cirrhosis underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) using a delayed contrast technique to determine liver and spleen volume. These scans were reviewed to screen this "at risk" population for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fifteen of the 100 screened patients had focal abnormalities suspicious for HCC. On biopsy, only 1 patient was shown to have HCC. The other 14 patients had either fatty infiltration or focal regeneration. In the same time interval, a total of 10 patients had histologically proven HCC. All presented with symptoms and died within 4 months of diagnosis. The results show that focal hepatic lesions can be detected by CT but in this population the lesions may not be due to HCC. The incidence of HCC was approximately 1%, probably reflecting a truly low incidence in this population.