Sonographic Assessment of Renal Size in Healthy Adults

Objective

To assess the normal sonographic values of renal length and cortical thickness in healthy adults and establish reference ranges in our population for comparison when examining renal disease.

Subjects and Methods

Sonographic assessment of renal length and cortical thickness were performed from January 2006 to December 2011 in 252 healthy individuals who were self-referred to the El-Reshaid Renal Clinic in Kuwait. They were screened for the absence of renal abnormalities. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) and body surface area calculated. Patients were divided into 5 age groups: 18–30, 31–40, 41–50, 51–60 and 61–80 years, in order to generate reference graphs for renal length and cortical thickness.

Results

The mean renal lengths for the right and left kidney were 10.68 ± 1.4 and 10.71 ± 1.0 cm, respectively (p = 0.56) without a significant change with age. The minimum cortical thickness was 0.6 cm. The renal length correlated with the weight of the patients (p < 0.01) and their BMI (p < 0.01) but not with their height. There was no difference in renal size or cortical thickness in patients older than 60 years despite an age-related decline in the glomerular filtration rate (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Renal length and cortical thickness did not vary significantly with age. Renal length correlated well with weight and BMI but not with height. Hence, establishing normal ranges of renal parameters is essential for comparison in situations where possible renal disease is being investigated.Key Words: Renal disease, Ultrasound, Renal length, Cortical thickness     

18-Month mortality and perinatal exposure to zidovudine in West Africa

OBJECTIVES: To study mortality in African children born to HIV-1-infected mothers exposed peripartum to zidovudine. METHODS: A randomized placebo-controlled trial in Abidjan and Bobo-Dioulasso. Pregnant women received either 300 mg zidovudine twice daily from 36-38 weeks' gestation, 600 mg during labour, and 300 mg twice daily for 7 days post-partum or a matching placebo. Determinants of mortality were studied up to 18 months, overall and among the infected children: treatment, centre, timing of infection, mother and child HIV disease. RESULTS: There were 75 infant deaths among 407 live births. The risk of death at 18 months was 176/1000 in the zidovudine arm and 221 for placebo. Relative hazard (RH, zidovudine versus placebo) was 0.47 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2-1.0] up to 230 days of life. Maternal CD4 lymphocyte count < 200/mm3 (RH 2.92; CI 1.4-6.1) and child HIV-1 infection (RH 12.6; CI 6.6-24.3) increased mortality of all children born to HIV-1-infected mothers. There were 101 children infected (40 in the zidovudine group), and 51 died. Their 18 month probability of death was 590/1000 in the zidovudine group and 510 in the placebo group. Among infected children, maternal zidovudine reduced the risk of death on or before day 230 (RH 0.18; CI 0.1-0.5). Maternal CD4 lymphocyte count < 200/mm3 (RH 3.25; CI 1.3-8.4), maternal death (RH 9.65; CI 1.7-56.0), diagnosis of paediatric infection on or before day 12 (RH 18.1; CI 4.8-69.0) and between days 13 and 45 (RH 7.63; CI 2.0-29.5), clinical paediatric AIDS (RH 5.37; CI 2.3-12.7) were risk factors for death in HIV-1-infected children. CONCLUSION: Mother-to-child transmission reduction by zidovudine is safe and beneficial to African children. The mortality of HIV-1-infected children is high. Peripartum maternal zidovudine exerts a protective effect for at least 8 months.     

Contraceptive use,protected sexual intercourse and incidence of pregnancies among African HIV-infected women. DITRAME ANRS 049 Project,Abidjan 1995-2000

The aim of this paper is to describe the adherence of African HIV+ women to the counselling provided after announcement of the result of the HIV test during pregnancy, focusing on early weaning to reduce post-natal transmission, protected sexual intercourse to avoid sexual transmission, and contraceptive use to avoid unexpected pregnancies. In 1999-2000, a questionnaire on sexual and reproductive behaviours was administered to 149 HIV+ women followed in post-partum, informed and counselled in the ANRS 049 DITRAME project in Abidjan. C?te d'Ivoire. Duration of breastfeeding, post-partum amenorrhea and abstinence, contraceptive use and condom use were measured. Incidence of pregnancies during the first 24 months post partum was estimated and modelled by a Cox regression model. Average duration of breastfeeding was 7.9 months, average duration of post partum abstinence was 12.0 months, and 39% of women used contraceptives at the time of the survey. Frequency of condom use was 13%. Incidence of pregnancies was 16.5 per 100 women-years at risk. Half of these pregnancies were not desired and a third were terminated by induced abortion. The significant determinants of the pregnancy occurrence were the death of the previous child, the cessation of breastfeeding, the cessation of the post partum abstinence, and higher education. In conclusion, if counselling on early weaning can be followed by the HIV+ women, it is not easily the case for condom and contraceptive use. Hence, pregnancy incidence in the post-partum follow-up was high. The main strategy of these HIV+ women to avoid unexpected pregnancies as well as sexual transmission of HIV seems to be an increase of the duration of post-partum abstinence. The most educated women who cannot easily adopt this strategy are particularly exposed to unwanted pregnancies.     

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in Africa in the year 2000

OBJECTIVES: Various approaches to preventing mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV have recently been, or are being, evaluated in developing countries, especially in Africa. New findings from these trials are now becoming available, the implications of which, for population-based intervention programmes, need urgent consideration. METHOD: A critical review of 18 randomized trials and other relevant studies from developing and industrialized countries. RESULTS: Most African results relate to trials of antiretroviral agents (ARV). They demonstrate efficacy in reducing transmission in the first 6 months of life with short regimens of zidovudine (ZDV), with or without lamivudine (3TC), and nevirapine (NVP) alone. Preliminary results suggest the long-term efficacy of zidovudine. Antiseptic and nutritional interventions have been shown to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity but not MTCT of HIV. HIV confidential voluntary counselling and testing for pregnant women, a short regimen of peripartum ARV with alternatives to breastfeeding such as early weaning or breast milk substitutes from birth currently represent the best option to reduce MTCTof HIV in Africa. However, the prevention of postnatal transmission requires further research, particularly in view of the consequences of different feeding options and the possibility of post-perinatal exposure prophylaxis of newborns with ARV. Issues relating to the implementation of currently validated strategies are discussed.     

Mother-to-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus by breast milk: presumed innocent or presumed guilty?

This article reviews the virological and epidemiological data available on transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by breast milk. Colostrum and breast milk are considered major modes of transmission for many animal retroviruses as well as human T-cell leukemia virus, mainly as the consequence of ingestion of infected cells. Several cases that strongly suggest transmission of HIV-1 through breast-feeding have now been reported. In addition, recent evidence suggests that postpartum HIV-1 seroconversion of a mother may be associated with a high risk of postnatal transmission to offspring via breast milk. Preventive measures such as pasteurization of breast milk have not been fully examined. While the World Health Organization continues to promote breast-feeding in areas where no safe alternative exists, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that American women who are infected by HIV-1 not practice breast-feeding if a safe alternative is available. Large-scale, carefully controlled, prospective studies of the risk of HIV-1 infection associated with breast-feeding are of the utmost priority. Feasible and ethically acceptable feeding alternatives should be developed for countries where formula feeding has a strong negative effect on child morbidity and mortality.     

Increased plasma concentration of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and MIF mRNA in mononuclear cells in the obese and the suppressive action of metformin

The objective of the study was to determine whether plasma migration inhibitor factor (MIF) concentration and mononuclear cell (MNC) mRNA are elevated in obesity and whether treatment with metformin reduces plasma MIF concentration. Forty obese subjects [body mass index (BMI), 37.5 +/- 4.9 kg/m(2)] and 40 nonobese healthy subjects (BMI, 22.6 +/- 3.4 kg/m(2)) had their plasma MIF, glucose, insulin, free fatty acids (FFAs) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations measured. Sixteen obese patients and 16 nonobese healthy subjects had RNA prepared from MNCs. Eight obese subjects with normal glucose concentration were treated with metformin 1 g (Glucophage XR; 1000 mg twice daily) twice daily for 6 wk. Eight obese subjects were used as controls. Plasma concentration of glucose, insulin, FFAs, and MIF was measured by appropriate assays. mRNA for MIF was measured by real-time PCR. Forty obese subjects had a fasting concentration of MIF of 2.8 +/- 2.0 ng/ml, whereas 40 nonobese subjects had a fasting MIF concentration of 1.2 +/- 0.6 ng/ml (P < 0.001). Plasma MIF concentrations were significantly related to BMI (r = 0.52; P < 0.001). mRNA for MIF was correlated to plasma FFAs (r = 0.40; P < 0.05) and plasma CRP (r = 0.42; P < 0.05) concentrations. Eight obese subjects had their fasting blood samples taken before and after taking a slow-release preparation of metformin at 1, 2, 4, and 6 wk. The mean plasma concentration fell from 2.3 +/- 1.4 to 1.6 +/- 1.2 ng/ml at 6 wk (P < 0.05). Obese subjects not on treatment with metformin showed no change. During the period of treatment with metformin, the body weight did not change and the plasma concentration of glucose, insulin, and FFAs did not alter. We conclude that: 1) plasma MIF concentrations and MIF mRNA expression in the MNCs are elevated in the obese, consistent with a proinflammatory state in obesity; 2) these increases in MIF are related to BMI, FFA concentrations, and CRP; 3) metformin suppresses plasma MIF concentrations in the obese, suggestive of an antiinflammatory effect of this drug; and 4) this action of metformin may contribute to a potential antiatherogenic effect, which may have implications for the reduced cardiovascular mortality observed with metformin therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.