Increasing access to renal transplantation in India through our single‐center kidney paired donation program: a model for the developing world to prevent commercial transplantation

Because access to transplantation with HLA‐desensitization protocols and ABO incompatible transplantation is very limited due to high costs and increased risk of infections from more intense immunosuppression, kidney paired donation (KPD) promises hope to a growing number of end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patient in India. We present a government and institutional ethical review board approved study of 56 ESRD patients [25 two‐way and 2 three‐way pairs] who consented to participate in KPD transplantation at our center in 2013, performed to avoid blood group incompatibility (n = 52) or positive cross‐match (n = 4). All patients had anatomic, functional, and immunologically comparable donors. The waiting time in KPD was short as compared to deceased donor transplantation. Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy was performed in 54 donors. Donor relationships were spousal (n = 40), parental (n = 13), others (n = 3), with median HLA match of 1. Graft survival was 97.5%. Three patients died with functioning graft. 16% had biopsy‐proven acute rejection. Mean serum creatinine was 1.2 mg/dl at 0.73 ± 0.32 months follow‐up. KPD is a viable, legal, and rapidly growing modality for facilitating LDRT for patients who are incompatible with their healthy, willing living donor. To our knowledge, this is the largest single‐center report from India.     

Expression of modulators of extracellular matrix structure after anterior cruciate ligament injury

The ability of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) to heal after injury declines within the first 2 weeks after ACL rupture. To begin to explore the mechanism behind this finding, we quantified the expression of genes for collagen I and III, decorin, tenascin‐C, and alpha smooth muscle actin, as well as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1 and ‐13 gene expression within multiple tissues of the knee joint after ACL injury in a large animal model over a 2‐week postinjury period. Gene expression of collagen I and III, decorin, and MMP‐1 was highest in the synovium, whereas the highest MMP‐13 gene expression levels were found in the ACL. The gene expression for collagen and decorin increased over the 2 weeks to levels approaching that in the ligament and synovium; however, no significant increase in either of the MMPs was found in the provisional scaffold. This suggests that although the ACL and synovium up‐regulate both anabolic and catabolic factors, the provisional scaffold is primarily anabolic in function. The relative lack of provisional scaffold formation within the joint environment may thus be one of the key reasons for ACL degradation after injury.     

Palliative care experience of US adult nephrology fellows: a national survey

Palliative care (PC) training and experience of United States (US) adult nephrology fellows was not known. It was also not clear whether nephrology fellows in the US undergo formal training in PC medicine during fellowship. To gain a better understanding of the clinical training and experience of US adult nephrology fellows in PC medicine, we conducted a national survey in March 2012. An anonymous on-line survey was sent to US adult nephrology fellows via nephrology fellowship training program directors. Fellows were asked several PC medicine experience and training questions. A total of 105 US adult nephrology fellows responded to our survey (11% response rate). Majority of the respondents (94%) were from university-based fellowship programs. Over two-thirds (72%) of the fellows had no formal PC medicine rotation during their medical school. Half (53%) of the respondents had no formal PC elective experience during residency. Although nearly 90% of the fellows had a division or department of PC medicine at their institution, only 46.9% had formal didactic PC medicine experience. Over 80% of the respondent's program did not offer formal clinical training or rotation in PC medicine during fellowship. While 90% of the responding fellows felt most comfortable with either writing dialysis orders in the chronic outpatient unit, seeing an ICU consult or writing continuous dialysis orders in the ICU, only 35% of them felt most comfortable “not offering” dialysis to a patient in the ICU with multi-organ failure. Nearly one out of five fellows surveyed felt obligated to offer dialysis to every patient regardless of benefit. Over two-thirds (67%) of the respondents thought that a formal rotation in PC medicine during fellowship would be helpful to them. To enhance clinical competency and confidence in PC medicine, a formal PC rotation during fellowship should be highly considered by nephrology training community.     

Study of Two Techniques for Midline Laparotomy Fascial Wound Closure

To study the results of two techniques, simple interrupted closure and continuous with intermittent Aberdeen knot technique for midline laparotomy fascial wound closure. A random selection of 200 midline laparotomy cases was done. In one group (group A) of 100 cases, midline fascial wound closure was done with continuous sutures with intermittent Aberdeen knot technique using Prolene No. 1 suture material. In the other group (group B) of 100 cases, closure was done with the technique of simple interrupted sutures with Prolene No.1 suture material. Comparison of both the techniques regarding preoperative status and postoperative complication such as incisional hernia, wound dehiscence, suture sinus formation, stitch granuloma, and chronic wound pain was done according to clinical examination and recorded in the pro forma prepared. In group A, postoperative complications were incisional hernia 3 %, wound dehiscence 4 %, and suture sinus formation 1 %. In group B, postoperative complication were incisional hernia 5 %, wound dehiscence 4 %, and suture sinus formation 1 %. All these complications were statistically insignificant, in both group comparisons. While the complication such as stitch granuloma 3 %, chronic wound pain 3 %, and wound infection 4 % in group A was significantly less than in group B where the complication of stitch granuloma was 12 %, chronic wound pain 13 %, and wound infection 13 % (P value 0.03, P value 0.018, and P value 0.048, respectively). Both the techniques, simple interrupted suture closure and continuous with intermittent Aberdeen knot closure for midline laparotomy fascial wounds, show a similar rate of postoperative complication such as incisional hernia, wound dehiscence, and suture sinus formation. But the continuous suturing with intermittent Aberdeen knot technique is a better option to prevent complications such as stitch granuloma, chronic wound pain, and wound infection, which are higher in the simple interrupted fascial wound closure technique.     

紧皮小鼠脊柱侧凸进展情况及其相关因素

【摘要】 目的：观察紧皮小鼠（TSK鼠）脊柱侧凸进展情况及其相关因素,为临床预测脊柱侧凸进展情况提供参考。方法：36只2周龄TSK鼠按处死时间不同随机分为6组,每组6只,正常条件下饲养。饲养过程中在4、6、8、10、12和14周龄时称量小鼠体重并记录。分别在4、6、8、10、12和14周龄处死,提取脊柱骨骼标本并妥善保存。利用显微CT（micro-CT）对脊柱标本进行扫描,获得二维断层图像后导入Image J进行格式转换,用Mimics软件（14.11）三维建模,测量脊柱冠状位Cobb角和相关参数（脊柱后凸角度、全部13根肋骨的长度、全部6个腰椎的椎体宽度和高度）。利用Pearson相关性分析分别计算脊柱冠状位Cobb角与脊柱后凸角度、双侧肋骨长度差值、腰椎椎体宽度、腰椎椎体前缘高度、腰椎椎体后缘高度、腰椎椎体前后缘高度差值和体重的相关性。结果：TSK鼠4、6、8、10、12和14周龄时的脊柱冠状位Cobb角分别为7.69°±4.57°（3.26°~14.92°）、14.20°±7.52°（2.11°~21.66°）、11.50°±4.40°（4.78°~18.54°）、14.40°±6.23°（4.54°~22.12°）、17.38°±10.93°（4.12°~29.24°）和21.71°±7.73°（13.07°~33.88°）。脊柱冠状位Cobb角与脊柱后凸角度、双侧肋骨长度差值、腰椎椎体宽度、腰椎椎体前缘高度、腰椎椎体后缘高度、腰椎椎体前后缘高度差值和体重的相关系数分别为-0.053（P=0.769）、-0.138（P=0.444）、-0.186（P=0.301）、0.567（P=0.001）、0.554（P=0.001）、0.086（P=0.643）和0.482（P=0.005）,脊柱冠状位Cobb角与腰椎椎体前缘高度、后缘高度和体重有相关性,与脊柱后凸角度、双侧肋骨长度差值、腰椎椎体宽度和腰椎椎体前、后缘高度差值无相关性。结论：TSK鼠脊柱冠状位Cobb角随年龄增大逐渐增加。TSK鼠脊柱侧凸进展情况与腰椎椎体前缘高度、后缘高度和体重密切相关,而与脊柱后凸角度、双侧肋骨长度差值、腰椎椎体宽度和腰椎椎体前、后缘高度差值无相关性。     

蛇床子素与金雀异黄酮对大鼠峰值骨量影响的比较研究

研究蛇床子素（Osthole,OST）与金雀异黄酮（Genistein,GEN）对大鼠峰值骨密度与骨质量的影响。方法：采用随机分组法将36只1月龄SD雌性大鼠（125±3）g分为3组：对照组（CON,等体积蒸馏水,n=12）,蛇床子素组（OST,9mg·kg^-1d^-1i．g．,n=12）,金雀异黄酮组（GEN,10mg·kg^-1d^-1i．g．;n=12）。每周监测体重,每月用双能x射线骨密度仪（DEXA）检测全身骨密度。3个月后处死所有动物,采用酶联免疫法测定血清骨钙素（Osteocalcin,0C）和抗酒石酸性磷酸酶5b（Tartaficacid phosphatase 5b,TRACP 5b）含量,用DEXA测定股骨骨密度,用μCT分析股骨组织微结构,树脂包埋不脱钙骨组织切片技术做胫骨骨形态分析,用万能材料试验机测定股骨生物力学,称量心、肝、胃、肾、肾上腺和子宫湿重,计算器官指数,并做常规病理学检测。结果：大鼠的体重、器官指数差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;病理学观察未见异常发生;第1、2个月全身骨密度无明显差异（P〉0．05）,第3个月后OST组全身骨密度显著高于CON组、GEN组,上述3组中股骨骨密度与全身骨密度的变化呈相同趋势（P〈0．05）。与对照组相比,OST组、GEN组血清OC水平升高,而与CON组、GEN组相比,0ST组的TRACP5b含量下降（P〈0．05）;OST组的骨体积百分率、骨小梁厚度和骨小梁数量均高于CON组,但骨小梁分离度和模型系数均显著低于CON组（P〈0．05）,OST组与GEN组的上述指标虽未出现统计学差异（P〉0．05）,但平均值OST组高于GEN组;OST组骨小梁厚度和骨小梁数量均高于CON组、GEN组,但骨小梁分离度低于CON组、GEN组;OST组股骨最大载荷、弹性模量和屈服强度均明显高于CON组（P〈0．05）,OST组与GEN组虽未出现统计学差异（P〉0．05）,但平均值OST组高于GEN组。结论：口服蛇床子素能有效提高大鼠峰值骨量,从而?     

不稳定性齿突游离小骨的诊断及治疗：26例患者临床分析

目的通过临床病例分析探讨不稳定性齿突游离小骨的临床特点及后路融合手术的治疗效果。方法回顾性分析2005年5月-2012年5月本院采用手术治疗有临床症状的不稳定性齿突游离小骨患者26例。分析总结病史特点、临床表现、影像学表现及手术治疗效果。结果 26例患者中男16例,女10例。年龄36-66岁,平均43.3岁。15例既往有明确外伤史,21例患者有颈部症状,所有患者均有不同程度的神经损伤症状,术前神经功能日本骨科学会（Japanese Orthopaedic Association,JOA）评分8-15分,平均10.1分。所有患者影像学均有寰枢椎脱位表现,其中22例为可复性,有2例伴有上颈椎其他畸形。24例行后路寰枢椎融合术,2例行枕颈融合术,术中无椎动脉、脊髓损伤发生,术后平均随访26个月（12-36个月）,26例患者均达到骨性融合,无内固定松动、断裂等并发症。术后12个月,颈部症状及神经功能明显改善,JOA评分为12-17分,平均15.1分（P〈0.05）。结论不稳定性齿突游离小骨容易损伤脊髓,应尽早手术重建其稳定性,经后路融合手术安全有效。     

Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Background

Surgery alone is often inadequate for advanced-stage gastric cancer. Surgical complications may delay adjuvant therapy. Understanding these complications is needed for multidisciplinary planning.

Material and Methods

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database was queried for patients who underwent gastrectomy for malignancy (ICD-9 code 151.x) from 2005 to 2010. Thirty-day mortality and morbidity were evaluated.

Results

Overall, 2,580 patients underwent gastrectomy for malignancy, divided as total gastrectomy 999 (38.7 %) and partial gastrectomy 1,581 (61.3 %). Overall, serious morbidity occurred in 23.6 %, and the 30-day mortality was 4.1 %. Patients receiving a total gastrectomy were younger and healthier than those receiving a partial gastrectomy for the following measured criteria: age, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertension. Serious morbidity and mortality were significantly higher in the total gastrectomy group than the partial gastrectomy group (29.3 vs. 19.9 %, p < 0.001; and 5.4 vs. 3.4 %, p < 0.015, respectively). The inclusion of additional procedures increased the risk of mortality for the following: splenectomy (odds ratio [OR] 2.8; p < 0.001), pancreatectomy (OR 3.5; p = 0.001), colectomy (OR 3.6; p < 0.001), enterectomy (OR 2.7; p = 0.030), esophagectomy (OR 3.5; p = 0.035). Abdominal lymphadenectomy was not associated with increased morbidity (OR 1.1; p = 0.41); rather, it was associated with decreased mortality (OR 0.468; p = 0.028).

Conclusions

Gastrectomy for cancer as currently practiced carries significant morbidity and mortality. Inclusion of additional major procedures increases these risks. The addition of lymphadenectomy was not associated with increased morbidity or mortality. Strategies are needed to optimize surgical outcomes to ensure delivery of multimodality therapy for advanced-stage disease.     

Response to glucose tolerance testing and solid high carbohydrate challenge: comparison between Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, and duodenal switch

Background

Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is common after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and may result in weight regain. The purpose of our investigation was to compare the effect of RYGB, vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), and duodenal switch (DS) on insulin and glucose response to carbohydrate challenge.

Methods

Patients meeting National Institutes of Health criteria for bariatric surgery selected their bariatric procedure after evaluation and education in this prospective nonrandomized study. Preoperatively and at 6, 9, and 12 months’ follow-up, patients underwent blood draw to determine levels of fasting glucose, fasting insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), C-peptide, and 2-h oral glucose challenge test. Homoeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA)-IR, fasting to 1-h and 1- to 2-h ratios of glucose and insulin, were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Student’s paired t test. All procedures were performed via a laparoscopic technique at a single institution.

Results

Data from a total of 38 patients (13 RYGB, 12 VSG, 13 DS) were available for analysis. At baseline, all groups were similar; the only statistically significant difference was that DS patients had a higher preoperative weight and body mass index (BMI). All operations caused weight loss (BMI 47.7 ± 10–30.7 ± 6.4 kg/m² in RYGB; 45.7 ± 8.5–31.1 ± 5.5 kg/m² in VSG; 55.9 ± 11.4–27.5 ± 5.6 kg/m² in DS), reduction of fasting glucose, and improved insulin sensitivity. RYGB patients had a rapid rise in glucose with an accompanying rise in 1-h insulin to a level that exceeded preoperative levels. This was followed by a rapid decrease in glucose level. In comparison, DS patients had a lower increase in glucose and 1-h insulin, and the lowest HbA1c. These differences were statistically significant at various data points. For VSG, the results were intermediary.

Conclusions

Compared to gastric bypass, DS results in greater weight loss and improves insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis without causing a hyperinsulinemic response. Because the response to challenge after VSG is intermediary, pyloric preservation alone cannot account for this difference.