Risk factors for delayed graft function and their impact on graft outcomes in live donor kidney transplantation

International Urology and Nephrology - Delayed graft function (DGF) is a manifestation of acute kidney injury uniquely framed within the transplant process and a predictor of poor long-term graft...     

Prenatal diagnosis of tetrasomy 47,XY,+i(12p) confirmed by in situ hybridization

A case of tetrasomy i(12p) detected prenatally is reported. The patient, a black, 32-year-old G3P2002 at 24 weeks' gestation with an unremarkable family history presented herself for prenatal care. Ultrasound examination showed a fetus with diminished femoral and humeral lengths, and hydramnios. A level II scan confirmed the presence of an omphalocele. Amniocentesis at 31 weeks showed 47,XY,+i(12p) karyotype. An infant with multiple congenital anomalies was delivered at 34 weeks. The infant died after 5 h. Genetic and ultrasonographic examinations in the third trimester were helpful in the investigation of this fetus with multiple congenital anomalies. The careful, complete team counselling afforded by this approach enabled the mother and family to be well adjusted to the strong possibility (and subsequent reality) of an abnormal infant.     

Assay of Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Three Dioecious Momordica Species of South East Asia

Phytochemicals including minerals, total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant capacity were measured with ferric reducing antioxidant power and radical scavenging capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl or DPPH) in fruits of three wild/semi domesticated Momordica species (Momordica dioica, M. subangulata subsp. renigera and M. cochinchinensis) of south east Asia. Momordica dioica had significantly high crude protein (1.86 g/100 g), crude fat (1.0 g/100 g), total sugar (11.36 g/100 g), reducing sugar (9.6 g/100 g) and starch (8.72 g/100 g) in comparison to other species. Among the minerals analysed, phosphorus, iron and copper content was maximum in M. subangulata subsp. renigera (0.37 %, 119.80 ppm, 10.80 ppm respectively) while magnesium and zinc content was maximum in M. dioica (0.18 %, 37.40 ppm respectively). Interestingly, in contrast to all other minerals, manganese content was significantly higher in M. cochinchinensis (178 ppm). The total phenol, total flavonoids, DPPH and FRAP values ranged from 26.08 to 106.89 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g, 0.99–12.45 mg catechin equivalent/100 g, 43.56–81.73 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/100 g, 5.75–65.84 mg ascorbic acid equivalent anti-oxidant capacity/100 g, respectively. Among the species studied M. dioica showed the highest antioxidant activity as it contains total phenol (106.89 mg/100 g), total flavonoids (12.45 mg/100 g), DPPH (81.73 mg/100 g) and FRAP (65.84 mg/100 g). From the present study, it is concluded that these traditional vegetables may contribute in a significant way to the food and nutritional security and balanced diets of both rural and urban households besides being a potential source of natural antioxidant.     

In silico Study of Low-Frequency Transcranial Ultrasound Fields in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients

Ultrasound in the sub-megahertz range enhances thrombolysis and may be applied transcranially to ischemic stroke patients. The consistency of transcranial insonification needs to be evaluated. Acoustic and thermal simulations based on computed-tomography (CT) scans of 20 patients were performed. An unfocused 120-kHz transducer allowed homogeneous insonification of the thrombus, and positioning based on external landmarks performed similarly to an optimized placement based on CT data. With a weakly focused 500-kHz transducer, the landmark-based positioning underperformed. The predicted inter-patient variation of in situ acoustic pressure was similar with both the 120 and 500-kHz transducers for the optimized placement (18.0–26.4% relative standard deviation). The simulated maximum acoustic pressure in intervening tissues was 2.6 ± 0.6 and 2.0 ± 0.7 times the pressure in the thrombus for the 120-kHz and 500-kHz transducers, respectively. A 1 W/cm² insonification of the thrombus caused a 3.8 ± 2.2°C increase in the bone for the 120-kHz transducer, and a 13.4 ± 3.3°C increase for the 500-kHz transducer. Contralateral local maxima up to 1.1 times the pressure amplitude in the targeted zone were predicted for the 120-kHz transducer. We established two transducer placement approaches, one based on analysis of a head CT and the other using simple external, visible landmarks. Both approaches allowed consistent insonification of the thrombus.