Cyclosporin nephrotoxicity in heart and lung transplant patients

Twenty-two patients with heart, lung or heart and lung transplants maintained on cyclosporin for periods ranging from 3 months to 10 years developed renal insufficiency which was investigated by renal biopsy. The histopathological changes were: (i) severe vascular and glomerular damage due to thrombotic microangiopathy (TM); (ii) a form of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS); (iii) glomerular ischaemia. Rather than being separate entities, these changes appeared to represent a spectrum of pathology, some biopsies showing all three forms of glomerular injury. In all cases the glomerular changes were accompanied by arteriolar and arterial pathology, and we identified novel ultrastructural changes in the arteriolar endothelial basal lamina. Tubular atrophy was a consistent feature, the severity of which reflected the severity of the glomerular sclerosis, and which appeared to be a consequence of glomerular loss. Our findings are consistent with the nephrotoxic effects of cyclosporin being mediated chiefly via damage to preglomerular vessels and glomerular capillary endothelium. From an analysis of the clinical aspects of these cases, the effects of cyclosporin appear to be to some extent idiosyncratic, and therefore not entirely preventable, but strict monitoring of blood cyclosporin levels is essential to minimize the risk of permanent renal damage. Monitoring urinary protein in addition to plasma creatinine may detect the onset of FSGS, as proteinuria precedes creatinine elevation.      

Genomic survey of early responses to viruses in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L

Viral diseases are one of the main problems and risk factors in aquaculture. At present diseases are diagnosed by detection of pathogens and clinical symptoms. Identification of genes involved in early responses to viruses is important for better knowledge of antiviral defence and development of diagnostic tools. The aim of this study was to search for gene markers common for viral infections in Atlantic salmon based on microarray analyses of a wide range of samples. Gene expression profiles from fish and cell cultures infected with different viruses and treated with the synthetic double-stranded RNA poly(I:C) were compared in order to identify virus responsive genes (VRG). The list of VRG defined in this study contained 117 genes with known or unidentified functions. Several genes, including the most highly ranked one (receptor transporting protein), had not been previously reported to be involved in antiviral defence. VRG were characterized by a rapid induction and low tissue specificity, and their expression levels were related to the viral load. Immunofluorescence analyses of proteins encoded by VRG in cardiac tissue of salmon with the viral disease cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) revealed a common expression pattern. In head kidney leukocytes VRG showed comparable or equal responses to CpG and poly(I:C), which mimic respectively bacterial DNA and viral RNA. Most VRG showed highly correlated expression with interferon-a (IFNa). Sequence comparison of salmon VRG with those from other species gave an understanding of the evolution of these genes, which showed a remarkably rapid sequence divergence in comparison with the entire proteome. VRG emerged both before and after separation of teleosts and tetrapods, and among genes found exclusively in fish species there were members of several multigene families: tripartite motif proteins, gig1- and gig2-like proteins. Several VRG, including genes with unknown functions and orthologs to mammalian RNA helicase RIG-I and chemokine C-X-C type 10, were present in cyprinid and salmonid fish but not in the phylogenetically advanced orders, suggesting that they have been lost in the evolution of Teleostei. Apparently, a number of genes involved in antiviral responses in salmon have acquired different functional roles in higher vertebrates.     

Blood transfusion practices in military medicine

Background: This observational study was conducted in a small, 45 bed border static hospital, located in a field area, where no blood bank facilities were available. The present study was conducted to elucidate the blood transfusion practices of this hospital.     

Quantitative determination of flavonoids from the aerial part of greater knapweed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Centaurea scabinosa</Emphasis> L.)

Quantitative determination of flavonoids from the aerial part of greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa L.) has been carried out by differential spectrophotometry in combination with a modified method of forming flavonoid complexes with aluminum chloride in HCl. Depending on the plant collection site, the quantitative content of flavonoids in the aerial part of greater knapweed varied within 1.3 – 2.0% (calculated as rutin). The random error of measurement did not exceed 3% at a confidence probability of 0.95. The systematic error of the proposed metohd did not exceed the error of determination. The accumulation dynamics of flavonoids in the aerial part of greater knapweed during the 2006 vegetative peroid have been tracked for plants growing in Tomsk and Kemerovo regions. The maximum content of flavonoids (1.70 ± 0.04% calculated as rutin) was observed in the stage of full flowering, which is therefore the optimum period for collecting the aerial part of the plants for the maximum yield of flavonoids. The maximum amount of flavonoids was accumulated in leaves (1.96 ± 0.04%), which is somewhat greater than the content of flavonoids in the entire aerial part of greater knapweed (1.70 ± 0.04%).     

Effect of host gender on blood digestion in fleas: mediating role of environment

We investigated mechanisms of male-biased parasitism by studying the rate of digestion and survival time after a single blood meal in fleas Xenopsylla ramesis parasitizing males and females of the rodent Meriones crassus. Assuming that male hosts represent better patches for fleas than female hosts, we predicted that fleas (1) will digest blood of a male host faster than blood of a female host and (2) will survive longer after a single blood meal taken from a male host. To understand the possible role of environmental factors in mediation of the relationship between flea performance and host gender, we tested our predictions in male and female fleas under low (75%) and high (95%) relative humidity (RH). Host gender affected duration of digestion only at the middle and late stages of digestion and only interacting with either flea gender or RH or both. At the early stage of digestion, fleas of the same gender at the same RH digested blood at similar rates, independent of host gender. The rate of digestion did not differ between male and female fleas at 75% RH, but the duration of early stage was significantly shorter in female than in male fleas at 95% RH. At the middle stage of digestion, male fleas at both RH digested blood of male and female hosts at similar rates, but at lower RH, female fleas digested blood from male hosts at a significantly faster rate than blood from female hosts. At the late stage of digestion, both male and female fleas digested blood faster from male hosts than from female hosts at 75% RH, but the opposite was true at 95% RH. Survival time of fleas after completion of digestion was affected by RH, being longer at 95%, and flea gender, being longer in females. Fleas fed on female hosts died faster than fleas fed on male hosts, but this was found only at 95% humidity. We concluded that the relationship between flea performance and host gender was mediated by external conditions.     

Expression of Ca-Binding Protein Recoverin in Normal, Surviving, and Regenerating Retina of Pleurodeles Waltl Adult Triton

Immunohistochemical study of the expression of recoverin (photoreceptor protein) in the retina of Pleurodeles waltl adult triton was carried out in health, during regeneration after removal, and under conditions of long-lasting detachment. Studies with polyclonal (monospecific) antibodies to recoverin showed that normally it is present in the internal segment, connective cilium, in distal portions of the external segments of cones and rods, and in Landolt clubs of displaced bipolar cells. Detachment of the retina is associated with translocation of recoverin from the photoreceptor processes to perikaryons, and the content of recoverin-positive displaced bipolar cells increases. During regeneration of the retina after its excision via conversion of the pigmented epithelial cells, recoverin is synthesized in the prospective photoreceptor perikaryons and then accumulates in the forming inner segments. Hence, recoverin can serve as a reliable marker in studies of photoreceptor differentiation and functioning during regeneration or survival of the retina.     

Correction of immunometabolic disorders in chronic bacterial prostatitis

Patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis were found to have disorders in blood parameters of complement system activity, neutrophil function and metabolic status. The above disorders are resistant to adequate correction with standard treatment but can be successfully managed with combined use ofimmunomodulators (ferrovir, galavit), antioxidants (mexidol, olifen) and membranoprotectors (phosphogliv, essentiale). Thus, immunometabolic status in chronic prostatitis can be corrected with the above combined treatment.     

IN.PACT AV access randomized trial: Japan cohort outcomes through 12 months

Purpose

There is a lack of adjudicated and prospectively randomized published outcomes on the use of drug-coated balloons (DCB) to treat dysfunctional arteriovenous fistula in Asian patients. This post hoc subgroup analysis of 112 Japanese participants from the global IN.PACT AV Access trial reports outcomes through 12 months.

Materials and Methods

Participants were treated with DCB (n = 58) or standard non-coated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloons (n = 54). Outcomes included target lesion primary patency (TLPP), access circuit primary patency, and safety.

Results

Through 6 months, TLPP was 86.0% (49/57) in the DCB group and 49.1% (26/53) in the PTA group (p < 0.001). Through 12 months, TLPP was 67.3% (37/55) in the DCB group and 43.4% (23/53) in the PTA group (p = 0.013).

Conclusion

In this post hoc analysis of Japanese participants from the IN.PACT AV Access trial, participants treated with DCB had higher TLPP through 6 and 12 months compared with PTA.