Correlation of acute tubular injury in reperfusion biopsy with renal transplant outcomes

Acute tubular injury (ATI) is common at reperfusion, but its relationship to graft outcomes is unclear. Prior studies lack standardization of morphological assessments and included elements of acute and chronic tubular injury. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ATI on graft outcomes. Reperfusion biopsies from 2004 to 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. ATI was assessed by a new standardized scoring system. We also assessed chronic injury (CI) by the Banff criteria. Outcomes evaluated included glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at 1 and 5 years and delayed graft function (DGF), acute rejection (AR), graft and patient survival. ATI did not correlate with DGF, AR, graft or overall survival. Mild–moderate ATI was not predictive of GFR post‐transplant. Moderate–severe CI was associated with lower GFR at 5 years with a mean difference of ?7.14 mL/min/1.73 m² (P=.04) and overall survival (HR 2.44, P=.01). Other predictors of graft function included donor age, DGF, and AR. Histologic criteria of ATI at implantation in the absence of donor demographics or clinical information do not provide sufficient predictability in outcomes after transplantation. On the other hand, histologic assessment of CI correlates with GFR and overall survival.     

Effect of male body mass index on clinical outcomes following assisted reproductive technology: a meta‐analysis

Overweight and obese males might exhibit a great risk of infertility. However, according to the current studies, the association between elevated male body mass index (BMI) and the clinical adverse results after assisted reproductive technology (ART) remains controversial. Hence, we conducted a meta‐analysis to evaluate the effects of raised male BMI on clinical outcomes following ART. PubMed, EMBASE and three Chinese databases were used to identify relevant studies. The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate. Secondary outcomes included live birth rate and sperm parameters. A total of 5262 male participants from 10 cohort studies were subjected to meta‐analysis. Results indicated that overweight or obese had no significant impact on clinical pregnancy rate [in vitro fertilisation (IVF): odds ratio (OR), 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.39–1.39; intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.92–1.15], live birth rate (IVF: OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.78–1.06; ICSI: OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.50–1.99) and sperm concentration (SMD, ?0.28; 95% CI, ?0.65 to 0.08) compared with normal weight following IVF/ICSI treatments. Exclusion of any single study and almost all the sensitivity analyses showed that our results were reliable. At present, the role of male BMI in the process of ART is only partly understood and should be further investigated.     

Luteal phase support in intrauterine insemination cycles: a prospective randomized study of 300 mg versus 600 mg intravaginal progesterone tablet

Vaginal progesterone (P) has been suggested to be used for luteal phase support (LPS) in controlled ovarian stimulation (COH)–intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles, however, no concensus exists about the best P dose. Therefore, considering the fecundability rate as the primary end point, our main objective was to find the optimal dose of P in COH–IUI cycles, comparing the two groups of women, each of which comprised of 100 women either on 300?mg or 600?mg of intravaginal P tablets, in a prospective randomized study design. The mean age of the women, duration of infertility, basal and day of hCG injection hormone levels in the female and sperm parameters were similar in the two study groups. Also, duration and dose of gonadotropin given, number of follicles, endometrial thickness, the total, ongoing and multiple pregnancy rates were comparable in both groups. We, therefore, claim that 300?mg of intravaginal micronized P should be the maximum dose of LPS in IUI cycles.     

胆道闭锁肝门肠吻合术手术改进的初步探讨

目的 对胆道闭锁(BA)肝门肠吻合术(PE)进行手术改进并评价治疗效果.方法 对2012年3月至2014年2月进行PE的Ⅲ型BA病例的临床资料进行回顾性分析.本研究病例的PE方式分为扩大肝门部病变切除范围PE手术(EPE)、Nakamura的Kasai改进手术(MKPE)和本研究的改进Kasai手术(OMKPE)3种并根据PE方式将病例分组.对病例的术前临床资料、术后黄疸清除率、胆管炎发作率和自体肝生存率按PE方式分组比较,并按不同手术年龄(≤90d和＞90d两组)再进行组间比较.结果 87例获得完整随访,其中EPE 34例,MKPE 19例,OMKPE 34例.各组手术年龄、体重、术前肝功能指标、肝外胆管Ohi亚型和术中肝纤维化Weerasooriya分级比较均无统计学差异(P＞0.05).OMKPE的术后黄疸清除率和自体肝生存率为73.5％和73.5％高于EPE的38.2％和38.2％ (P＜0.05),但MKPE的为57.9％和58.9％,与OMKPE和EPE比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),其中≤90 d手术年龄组中OMKPE的术后黄疸清除率和自体肝生存率为90.9％和90.9％以及MKPE的为90％和90％,高于EPE的46.2％和38.5％(P＜0.05),但OMKPE与MKPE比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),＞90 d手术年龄组中OMKPE的术后黄疸清除率和自体肝生存率为65.2％和65.2％,高于MKPE的22.2％和22.2％以及EPE的12.5％和12.5％ (P＜0.05)但MKPE与EPE比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).胆管炎发作率各组比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 对比EPE和MKPE,OMKPE手术更有利于提高BA术后黄疸清除率和延长自体肝生存,尤其适用于＞90 d大龄患儿.     

母亲声音刺激对早产儿心率和行为状态的影响

目的探讨母亲声音刺激对早产儿心率及行为状态的影响。方法采用随机化数字表法将62例早产儿随机分为观察组(32例)和对照组(30例)。对照组给予常规治疗与护理,观察组在对照组基础上进行母亲声音刺激,持续7d后评价效果。结果观察组干预后1min、1h、2h的心率及干预后1h、2h的行为状态评分显著低于对照组(均P0.01);观察组干预后各时间点的心率和行为状态评分显著低于干预前5min(均P0.01)。结论母亲声音刺激可降低早产儿心率,达到更好的行为状态。     

De Novo Belatacept in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Positive Kidney Transplant Recipient

Benefits of belatacept‐based immunosuppressive regimens in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–positive renal transplant recipients include avoidance of drug interactions between calcineurin inhibitors and highly active antiretroviral agents and decreased likelihood or severity of nonimmune toxicities such as new‐onset diabetes after transplant, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. We report a successful case of de novo belatacept at >18 mo from transplant in an HIV‐positive black man aged 50 years who received his first transplant from a living related kidney donor. To our knowledge, this case is the first reported of belatacept use in an HIV‐positive renal transplant recipient.     

Micro and Nano Material Carriers for Immunomodulation

Modulation of the immune system through the use of micro and nano carriers offers opportunities in transplant tolerance, autoimmunity, infectious disease, and cancer. In particular, polymeric, lipid, and inorganic materials have been used as carriers of proteins, nucleic acids, and small drug molecules to direct the immune system toward either suppressive or stimulatory states. Current technologies have focused on the use of particulates or scaffolds, the modulation of materials properties, and the delivery of biologics or small drug molecules to achieve a desired response. Discussed are relevant immunology concepts, the types of biomaterial carriers used for immunomodulation highlighting their benefits and drawbacks, the material properties influencing immune responses, and recent examples in the field of transplant tolerance.     

Cell Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: A Translational Approach to Assess the Role of Local and Systemic Immunosuppression

Neural transplantation is a promising therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases; however, many patients receiving intracerebral fetal allografts exhibit signs of immunization to donor antigens that could compromise the graft. In this context, we intracerebrally transplanted mesencephalic pig xenografts into primates to identify a suitable strategy to enable long‐term cell survival, maturation, and differentiation. Parkinsonian primates received WT or CTLA4‐Ig transgenic porcine xenografts and different durations of peripheral immunosuppression to test whether systemic plus graft‐mediated local immunosuppression might avoid rejection. A striking recovery of spontaneous locomotion was observed in primates receiving systemic plus local immunosuppression for 6 mo. Recovery was associated with restoration of dopaminergic activity detected both by positron emission tomography imaging and histological examination. Local infiltration by T cells and CD80/86+ microglial cells expressing indoleamine 2,3‐dioxigenase were observed only in CTLA4‐Ig recipients. Results suggest that in this primate neurotransplantation model, peripheral immunosuppression is indispensable to achieve the long‐term survival of porcine neuronal xenografts that is required to study the beneficial immunomodulatory effect of local blockade of T cell costimulation.     

Protecting the Kidney in Liver Transplant Recipients: Practice‐Based Recommendations From the American Society of Transplantation Liver and Intestine Community of Practice

Both acute and chronic kidney disease are common after liver transplantation and result in significant morbidity and mortality. The introduction of the Model for End‐stage Liver Disease score has directly correlated with an increased prevalence of perioperative renal dysfunction and the number of simultaneous liver–kidney transplantations performed. Kidney dysfunction in this population is typically multifactorial and related to preexisting conditions, pretransplantation renal injury, perioperative events, and posttransplantation nephrotoxic immunosuppressive therapies. The management of kidney disease after liver transplantation is challenging, as by the time the serum creatinine level is significantly elevated, few interventions affect the course of progression. Also, immunological factors such as antibody‐mediated kidney rejection have become of greater interest given the rising liver–kidney transplant population. Therefore, this review, assembled by experts in the field and endorsed by the American Society of Transplantation Liver and Intestine Community of Practice, provides a critical assessment of measures of renal function and interventions aimed at preserving renal function early and late after liver and simultaneous liver–kidney transplantation. Key points and practice‐based recommendations for the prevention and management of kidney injury in this population are provided to offer guidance for clinicians and identify gaps in knowledge for future investigations.