Conversion from Cyclosporine to Tacrolimus Improves Quality-of-Life Indices, Renal Graft Function and Cardiovascular Risk Profile

Long-term use of cyclosporine after renal transplantation results in nephrotoxicity and an increased cardiovascular risk profile. Tacrolimus may be more favorable in this respect. In this randomized controlled study in 124 renal transplant patients, the effects of conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus on renal function, cardiovascular risk factors, and perceived side-effects were investigated after a follow-up of 2 years. After conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus renal function remained stable, whereas continuation of cyclosporine was accompanied by a rise in serum creatinine from 142 +/- 48 micromol/L to 157 +/- 62 micromol/L (p < 0.05 comparing both groups). Conversion to tacrolimus resulted in a sustained reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and a sustained improvement in the serum lipid profile, leading to a reduction in the Framingham risk score from 5.7 +/- 4.3 to 4.8 +/- 5.3 (p < 0.05). Finally, conversion to tacrolimus resulted in decreased scores for occurrence of and distress due to side-effects. In conclusion, conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus in stable renal transplant patients is beneficial with respect to renal function, cardiovascular risk profile, and side-effects. Therefore, for most renal transplant patients tacrolimus will be the drug of choice when long-term treatment with a calcineurin inhibitor is indicated.     

Treatment of parainfluenza virus 3 pneumonia in a cardiac transplant recipient with intravenous ribavirin and methylprednisolone.

A 59-year-old man developed a lower respiratory tract infection 10 years after orthotopic cardiac transplantation. He did not respond to broad-spectrum antibiotic and antifungal treatment. Parainfluenza virus type 3 was the causative organism, and he was successfully treated with intravenous ribavirin and methylprednisolone.     

Intervention strategies for supporting achievement in education among 16-18 year olds

The 16-18 year period is a crucial time for the personal and professional development of young people. Over the past ten years a range of educational innovations have been introduced which are having a profound effect on many in this age group including National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) based on nationally agreed standards of professional competence and intended as occupational awards. More recently, General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) have developed beyond the pilot stage, adding a broader vocational perspective and providing enhanced opportunities for progression to higher education. These have opened the door to new opportunities for progression to higher education for the 16 18 age group. The new qualifications are more easily identified through comparison with the corresponding and more traditional qualifications, as shown in table one. Traditionally, British universities have had a history of fairly high completion rates owing to stringent entry requirements and full funding for students. This is not the case in the vocational education system where access to GNVQ and NVQ programmes is facilitated through less rigid entry requirements, and, particularly in relation to GNVQs, the students tend to be school-leavers. In addition, the vocational awards are complex in terms of structure and make considerable demands on student autonomy. While the issue of student funding in vocational education is currently under review, students have not usually been funded through maintenance grants, though local education authorities have offered a small number of discretionary grants, usually to mature students.     

Isolated human hepatocytes in culture display markedly different gene expression patterns depending on attachment status

In vitro human hepatocyte cultures are a key tool in the investigation of xenobiotic toxicity and metabolism. In most in vitro hepatocyte studies, the cells are allowed to adhere to an extracellular matrix, such as collagen. Unfortunately, the ability of freshly isolated hepatocytes to adhere to collagen varies from donor to donor. We used microarray analysis to determine what gene expression differences exist between hepatocytes in suspension and hepatocytes attached to collagen. Results from different donors showed a considerable difference in gene expression patterns between the two hepatocyte populations. In addition, we also compared the gene expression profiles of hepatocytes in culture with liver tissue. The results showed that both hepatocytes in suspension and hepatocytes attached to collagen display significant gene expression differences compared with liver tissue. Finally, we show that both populations of hepatocytes are responsive to dexamethasone and regulate some of the same genes. Overall, our results suggest that either significant gene expression changes occur in isolated hepatocytes or that suspended and attached cells represent different populations of hepatocytes found in intact livers.     

Interpersonal stressors and resources as predictors of parental adaptation following pediatric traumatic injury

The authors examined the relationship of preinjury interpersonal resources and stressors to parental adaptation following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) and orthopedic injury. Parents of children with severe TBI (n = 53), moderate TBI (n = 56), and orthopedic injuries (n = 80) were assessed soon after injury, 6 and 12 months after the initial evaluation, and at an extended follow-up with a mean of 4 years postinjury. General linear model analyses provide support for both main and moderating effects of stressors and resources on parental adjustment. Support from friends and spouse was associated with less psychological distress, whereas family and spouse stressors were associated with greater distress. The results also reveal a marked decline in injury-related stress over follow-up for families in the severe TBI group who reported a combination of high stressors and high resources. The decline suggests that interpersonal resources attenuated long-term family burden because of severe TBI. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for intervention following TBI.     

Adolescents'' opinions about genetic risk information, prenatal diagnosis, and pregnancy termination

Advances in genetics create increasing possibilities of diagnosing and preventing genetic disease. In most countries, the community is poorly informed about the role of genetic factors in human disease and about genetic testing and its social, emotional, and ethical implications. School education about genetics may improve this situation. Students are, of course, the adults of the future and the potential users of the new genetic tests. To gain further insight into the perception of genetic risk of adolescents and their perception of the new genetic techniques and as a starting point for setting up an adequate information campaign in Flanders, we assessed the opinions and beliefs of students with regard to health, genetic diseases, genetic risk, and genetic testing.

A standardised interview and questionnaire were administered within the scope of the two yearly medical check up of 166 fifth grade students. They were randomly selected from the group of all fifth grade high school students in seven different schools.

This paper focuses on the attitudes of adolescents towards obtaining genetic information, towards prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy termination. Adolescents in Flanders are interested in being informed about genetic risks and genetic diseases and in making use of prenatal diagnosis because they want to make informed reproductive decisions in the future and to be emotionally prepared for the birth of an affected child. They adopt a critical attitude towards pregnancy termination. The association between these attitudes and several relevant factors was investigated. This showed significant correlations between some attitudes and general health related prevention, perceived burden of genetic diseases, the importance of the value “own health”, the perceived role of society, and the regularity of religious practice. Some points for special attention were formulated with regard to information campaigns for adolescents.