Renal function and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations predict parathyroid hormone levels in renal transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: Recent guidelines suggest supplementation with ergocalciferol (vitamin D(2)) in chronic kidney disease stages 3 and 4 patients with elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels <75 nmol/l. These guidelines are also applied to renal transplant patients. However, the prevalence rates of 25OHD deficiency and its association with PTH levels in renal transplant populations have not been extensively examined. We aimed to document the prevalence rates of 25OHD deficiency [defined by serum levels <40 nmol/l (<16 ng/ml)] and insufficiency [<75 nmol/l (<30 ng/ml)] in a single renal transplant centre, and examine its relationship with PTH levels. METHODS: Serum 25OHD and PTH concentrations were measured in 419 transplant patients attending a single renal transplant clinic over a 4-month period. Demographic and biochemical data were also collected, including serum creatinine, calcium, phosphate and albumin. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: In 27.3% of the patients, 25OHD deficiency was present, and 75.5% had insufficiency. On univariate analysis, 25OHD, serum albumin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were significantly associated with PTH levels (P < 0.0001, P = 0.004 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Multiple linear regression demonstrated that only 25OHD, eGFR and serum phosphate were significantly predictive of PTH levels (R(2) = 0.19, P < 0.0001). In this model, a 75 nmol/l increase in 25OHD will only result in a maximal reduction in PTH of 2.0 pmol/l. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 25OHD deficiency and insufficiency are common in renal transplant patients and may exacerbate secondary hyperparathyroidism. However, 25OHD, eGFR and phosphate only account for 19% of the variability in PTH levels. In addition, even a large increase in serum 25OHD levels is likely to result in only a small reduction in PTH. Therefore, alternative approaches to managing hyperparathyroidism in renal transplant recipients rather than supplementation with ergocalciferol are warranted.     

Smart Prep技术在肾动脉CTA中的临床应用

目的:探讨Smart Prep技术在肾动脉多层螺旋CT血管造影中的应用。方法:20例行同层动态增强扫描,通过时间-密度曲线获得肾动脉的有效浓度阈值。65例行肾动脉CTA造影,经肘静脉团注370mgI/ml优维显1.5ml/kg后,应用Smart Prep软件实时监控靶血管浓度,当感兴趣区对比剂浓度达有效浓度阈值时触发增强扫描完成数据采集,重组和重建图像显示肾动脉。结果:65例肾动脉CTA造影均获成功,58例(89.2%)增强时相处于最佳扫描时期。增强扫描的延迟时间15~38s不等,个体差异明显,而肾动脉CT值持续位于有效浓度阈值(100HU)以上。结论:Smart Prep技术实时监控肾动脉对比剂浓度变化并及时触发增强扫描,它不受个体差异影响即可确保增强扫描的实施,优于小剂量试验。     

Outcomes of Donor Evaluations for Adult-to-Adult Right Hepatic Lobe Living Donor Liver Transplantation

The purpose of this study is to determine the role of liver biopsy and outcome of patients undergoing donor evaluation for adult-to-adult right hepatic lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Records of patients presenting for a comprehensive donor evaluation between 1997 and February 2005 were reviewed. Liver biopsy was performed only in patients with risk factors for abnormal histology. Two hundred and sixty patients underwent a comprehensive donor evaluation and 116 of 260 (45%) were suitable for donation, 14 of 260 (5.4%) did not complete evaluation and 130 of 260 (50%) were rejected. Four patients underwent unsuccessful hepatectomy surgery due to discovery of intraoperative abnormalities. Between 1997 and 2001, the acceptance rate of donor candidates (63%) was higher than 2002-2005 (36%), p < 0.0001. Sixty-six of the 150 eligible patients (44%) fulfilled criteria for liver biopsy and 28 of 66 (42%) had an abnormal finding. Less than half of the patients undergoing donor evaluation were suitable donors and the donor acceptance rate has declined over time. A large proportion of the patients undergoing liver biopsy have abnormal findings. Our evaluation process failed to identify 4 of 103 who had aborted donor surgeries.     

马兜铃酸对大鼠肾功能和组织病理学影响及川芎嗪与苯那普利的干预作用

目的:通过动物实验,观察大鼠灌胃马兜铃酸(AA)后,肾功能及肾脏组织病理学改变,及川芎嗪、苯那普利对肾损害的干预作用.方法:雄性Wistar大鼠98只,SPF级,随机分为4组:正常对照组20只,实验组分为模型组、川芎嗪组、苯那普利组,每组26只;各实验组按AA 20 mg·kg-1·d-1关木通浸膏灌胃,2 h后按分组灌胃给药.川芎嗪50 mg·kg-1·d-1,苯那普利1.8 mg·kg-1·d-1;正常对照组、模型组灌胃饮用水.各组每周测量体重,分别于第4、8、12周处死动物;腹主动脉采血分离血清,检测肾功能;取肾组织进行病理形态学检查.结果:AA灌胃4周后各组血肌酐/体重水平明显增加,与正常对照组比较有统计学差异;与模型组比较,川芎嗪、苯那普利组血肌酐/体重水平显著降低,提示有改善肾功能作用.肾脏组织病理学可见模型组早期有明显的肾小管坏死,部分小管结构紊乱较严重,空泡变性明显;后期出现间质灶性纤维化,纤维化面积＞30%.川芎嗪、苯那普利治疗组的肾功能和组织学损害程度较轻微,纤维化程度约15%～20%.结论:马兜铃酸对大鼠肾脏具有肾毒性,可导致小管间质损害和肾纤维化.川芎嗪、苯那普利对马兜铃酸肾损害有保护作用,能减轻马兜铃酸造成的肾组织病理损害,减少肾纤维化程度.     

Development of the New Lung Allocation System in the United States

This article reviews the development of the new U.S. lung allocation system that took effect in spring 2005. In 1998, the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Final Rule. Under the rule, which became effective in 2000, the OPTN had to demonstrate that existing allocation policies met certain conditions or change the policies to meet a range of criteria, including broader geographic sharing of organs, reducing the use of waiting time as an allocation criterion and creating equitable organ allocation systems using objective medical criteria and medical urgency to allocate donor organs for transplant. This mandate resulted in reviews of all organ allocation policies, and led to the creation of the Lung Allocation Subcommittee of the OPTN Thoracic Organ Transplantation Committee. This paper reviews the deliberations of the Subcommittee in identifying priorities for a new lung allocation system, the analyses undertaken by the OPTN and the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients and the evolution of a new lung allocation system that ranks candidates for lungs based on a Lung Allocation Score, incorporating waiting list and posttransplant survival probabilities.     

骨调素和单核细胞趋化蛋白在大鼠梗阻性肾病中的表达及可能作用

目的:探讨骨调素(OPN)和单核细胞趋化蛋白(MCP-1)在大鼠梗阻性模型中的表达及其在肾脏纤维化发病机制中的作用.方法:采用-单侧输尿管结扎制造梗阻性肾病模型,分别于造模后7 d、14 d取肾组织,应用HE染色观察肾脏病理改变,免疫组化方法检测肾组织畔OPN和MCP-1蛋白的表达,应用逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)法观察肾组织中OPN mRNA和MCP-1 mRNA的变化.结果:OPN、MCP-1表达主要位于肾小管上皮细胞,随着梗阻时间的延长,肾组织中OPN、MCP-1蛋白和mRNA表达明显增加.结论:OPN、MCP-1蛋白和mRNA在梗阻性肾病大鼠肾组织表达明显增加介导炎症过程,参与肾间质纤维化.     

Outcomes at 3 years of a prospective pilot study of Campath-1H and sirolimus immunosuppression for renal transplantation

Campath-1H (alemtuzumab) induction was used for renal transplantation in combination with sirolimus as immunosuppression. We previously reported a high (28%) rate of early rejection with this regimen, and now report 3-year outcomes. Twenty-nine patients were recipients of either deceased donor or non-HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) identical living donor primary renal allografts. Clinical parameters including infection, malignancy, kidney function, and kidney histology were followed prospectively for 3 years. Three-year cumulative graft and patient survival were 96% and 100%, respectively. Twenty patients were maintained on steroid-free immunosuppressive regimens, and 15 patients were maintained on monotherapy for immunosuppression (12 on sirolimus). No serious infectious complications were observed and two patients developed basal cell skin cancer. The 3-year results of our initial pilot study demonstrate good graft (96%) and patient (100%) outcomes. Campath-1H induction has yielded a high proportion of patients maintained on immunosuppressive monotherapy (57%) without serious infectious- and no malignancy-related complications. The reported regimen yielded novel insights into both Campath-1H and sirolimus therapy in renal transplantation. Because of the higher incidence of early rejection, we recommend a modified strategy of immunosuppression including a brief course of a calcineurin inhibitor.     

Focal peritubular capillary C4d deposition in acute rejection.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse peritubular capillary (PTC) C4d deposition has been shown to be associated with relatively poor graft outcome. The significance of focal PTC C4d staining in the early post-transplant period is uncertain. METHODS: Sixty-five biopsies from 53 patients with acute rejection were graded (Banff '97 criteria), stained for C4d, monocytes and T cells, and divided into three groups according to PTC C4d: (i) focal C4d (F) (14 biopsies, 14 patients), (ii) diffuse C4d (D) (23 biopsies, 15 patients) and (iii) no C4d (N) (28 biopsies, 24 patients). The three groups were compared with respect to a variety of biopsy and clinical parameters including outcome. RESULTS: The incidence of transplant glomerulitis and glomerular monocyte infiltration were significantly greater in F (64% and 2.0+/-2.0) and D (57% and 3.4+/-2.0) than in N (11% and 0.2+/-0.2). A significantly higher proportion of F (93%) demonstrated acute cellular rejection (Banff '97 grade > or = 1A) than did D (35%). The F and D groups included significantly more females (50 and 67%, respectively) than did N (21%). The percentage of patients with a second or third transplant was higher in F (29%) and D (40%) than in N (8%) (P = 0.0589). The proportion of patients with glomerular filtration rate < 30 ml/min at 12, 24 and 48 months was higher in the D and F groups than in the N, and there was a statistically significant increasing trend in odds of this outcome occurring at 48 months across the three groups (D > F > N group) (P = 0.0416). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the biopsy findings and clinical course in patients with focal PTC C4d staining are similar to those associated with diffuse C4d.     

中药口服与灌肠配合氦-氖激光治疗老年人慢性肾功能衰竭临床观察

观察调中益肾活血通腑中药口服与灌肠配合低能量氦 -氖激光血管内照射(ILIB)疗法对老年人慢性肾功能衰竭 (CRF)的疗效。治疗组予中药口服与灌肠配合ILIB疗法 ,并与阳性对照药依那普利作比较。结果 :两组病例在Scr、BUN、尿蛋白方面均有显著降低 ,但治疗组在改善临床症状、提高红细胞SOD及血浆免疫球蛋白方面均优于对照组。结论 :调中益肾活血通腑中药口服与灌肠配合ILIB疗法具有明显改善老年CRF的肾功能、调整胃肠机能、提高机体免疫能力的作用。