Living-Related Versus Deceased Donor Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Multivariate Analysis of Technical and Immunological Complications in 235 Recipients

Timely access to a living donor (LD) reduced pretransplant mortality in pediatric liver transplantation (LT). We hypothesized that this strategy may provide better posttransplant outcome. Between July 1993 and April 2002, 235 children received a primary LT from a LD (n = 100) or a deceased donor (DD) (n = 135). Demographic, surgical and immunological variables were compared, and respective impact on posttransplant complications was studied using a multivariate analysis. Five-year patient survival rates were 92% and 85% for groups LD and DD, respectively (p = 0.181), the corresponding graft survival rates being 89% and 77% (p = 0.033). At multivariate analysis: (1) type of donor (DD) was correlated with higher rate of artery thrombosis (p < 0.012); (2) biliary complication rate at 5 years was 29% and 23% for groups LD and DD, respectively (p = 0.451); (3) lower acute rejection incidence could be correlated with type of donor (DD) (p = 0.001), and immunosuppressive therapy (tacrolimus) (p < 0.001). We conclude that (1) according to the multivariate analysis, LT with LD provided similar patient and graft outcome, when compared to DD; (2) a higher rate of artery thrombosis and a lower rate of rejection were observed in group DD; (3) this study confirms the efficacy of tacrolimus for immunoprophylaxis, whatever the type of organ donor is.     

Employment Consequences of COVID-19 for People with Disabilities and Employers

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation - Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the lives of people with disabilities (PWD). How the pandemic affects the employment of PWD...     

Iron oxide nanoparticles supported on biogenic silica derived from bamboo leaf ash for rhodamine B photodegradation

This research demonstrates the use of biogenic silica derived from bamboo leaf ash as a support for iron oxide nanoparticles. The preparation includes silica extraction from bamboo leaf ash and iron oxide nanoparticle impregnation into the silica gel under hydrothermal conditions, which is followed by calcination at 400 °C for 2 h. The physicochemical characterization includes X-ray diffraction analysis, gas sorption analysis, scanning electron microscopic analysis and transmission electron microscopic analysis. The light absorption capability and the band gap energy of the materials were determined by diffuse-reflectance UV–visible spectrophotometry. The materials obtained by varying the Fe content to 5 and 10% wt. were evaluated in rhodamine B photocatalytic degradation and photooxidation systems. It was found that the materials have a combined hematite and magnetite nanostructure, with the ratio of 9:10, and the particle sizes range from 10 to 40 nm. With a band gap energy of 2.27 eV, the prepared materials produce the successive photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B. It was clarified that the formation of composite enhances stability and reusability of photocatalyst as shown by the stable initial rate at wide pH range and reuse for 5 cycles. Degradation mechanism is enhanced by the addition of H₂O₂ as an oxidant, and the investigation of the effect of scavengers shows that the degradation rate not only depends on radical formation but also on other species related to the formation of oxidizing agent.     

Density and morphology of corneal endothelial cell after phacoemulsification using ringer lactate versus balanced salt solution as irrigating solutions

AIM: To compare the difference in corneal endothelial cell density and morphology after phacoemulsification using ringer lactate (RL) and balanced salt solution (BSS) irrigating solutions. METHODS: The prospective randomized controlled trial study was conducted between February 2017 and April 2017 in Dr. YAP Eye Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. There were a total of 52 subjects (52 eyes) who were senile cataract patients further grouped into two, 26 patients undergoing the phacoemulsification procedure using RL irrigating solution and the other 26 patients with BSS irrigating solution, both conducted by one operator. On the 1, 7, and 28d post operative, an evaluation was done to measure the density and corneal endothelial cell morphology, as well as the variable of inflammation in the two groups. RESULTS: Fifty-two eyes had undergone phacoemulsification with posterior intraocular lens implantation. Both groups were evaluated for the endothelial cell reduction and corneal endothelial cell morphology change, along with postoperative inflammation. On the 28d postoperative, endothelial cell reduction in the BSS group (173.96 cell/mm2, 8.12%) was lower than the RL group (253.20 cell/mm2, 10.25%), percentage of corneal endothelial cell variation coefficient increase in the BSS group (2.92%, 8.36%) was lower compared to the RL group (3.42%, 9.96%), decrease of hexagonal cells of corneal endothelium cells presentation percentage in the BSS group (4.30%, 8.17%) was lower compared to the RL group (4.84%, 8.97%), and the percentage increase of central corneal thickness in the BSS group (4.69 μm, 0.89%) was almost equal to the RL group (4.53 μm, 0.90%). All of the results regarding difference in density and corneal cell endothelium morphology between the two groups did not reveal any statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Inflammatory variable in the two groups were even. CONCLUSION: BSS and RL were equal in their capability of maintaining endothelial cell loss and endothelial cell morphologic change in senile cataract patients after phacoemulsification.     

Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 and Connective Tissue Growth Factor: Novel Targets for Treatment of Renal Fibrosis?

Renal fibrosis is the major determinant in progression of kidney disease and results from an inappropriate response to acute and chronic kidney injury. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is the driving force behind renal fibrosis and has since long been regarded as the key factor to be targeted in prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis. Despite the impressive results obtained in experimental renal fibrosis, TGF-β1 blockade has not yet translated into an effective and safe therapeutic in human patients. Therefore, it remains important to explore the role of additional growth factors which are involved in renal regeneration and fibrosis. Recently, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-7 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) have both emerged as novel modulators of profibrotic TGF-β1 activity. The expression of BMP-7 is decreased in various models of renal disease, while CTGF is strongly upregulated in experimental and human renal fibrosis. In experimental kidney injury, administration of BMP-7 or inhibition of CTGF have been sufficient to result in striking improvement of renal function and structure. This review summarizes the current knowledge of BMP-7 and CTGF in the kidney, and discusses their therapeutic potential in renal fibrosis.     

Is the utilisation of dental care based on need or socioeconomic status? A study of dental care in Indonesia from 1999 to 2009

Objective: One of the goals of Indonesian health policy is ‘Health for All’; this includes dental health care. Therefore, it is important to continually evaluate and dynamically assess the effects of government policies, particularly whether these policies promote or obstruct social justice. This study is intended to describe the need for and utilisation of dental care and how disparities in dental care provision to people of varying socioeconomic status (SES) have changed over time. Methods: We used secondary cross‐sectional data from the Indonesian Socioeconomic Surveys for 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. The concentration index was used to describe disparities in need for and utilisation of dental care. Results: The concentration index showed a significant concentration of dental care utilisation among groups of higher SES. Conclusions: The use of dental care services is more dependent on ability to pay than on need for care. In addition, inequality in dental care in Indonesia persisted from 1999 to 2009.     

Early psychosis in Indonesia: reflections on illness and treatment

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of more than 22?years of research conducted in the central Javanese province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, by teams of researchers associated with Gadjah Mada University and Harvard University, led by the authors of this essay. This work is placed in the context of the very limited literature on early psychosis and mental health services in Indonesia. It provides an overview of mental health services in Indonesia and of this team’s research trajectory, then addresses four key domains: the cultural phenomenology of early experiences of psychotic illness; patterns of onset, with a particular focus on extremely rapid onset psychoses; patterns of care-seeking for first episode illness; and mental health services and patterns of utilization. It then discusses the importance of rapid onset psychosis for research on early psychosis, and the question of whether collinearity of rapidity of onset and rapidity of care-seeking raises questions about the long-standing finding that a short duration of untreated psychosis leads to better outcomes. It concludes by discussing difficulties of prioritizing early intervention models in settings with very low mental health resources.     

Efficacy and complications of covered Wallstents in malignant distal biliary obstruction

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the efficacy and the complications associated with the use of the covered Wallstent in the setting of unresectable malignant biliary obstruction. METHODS: Between March 2001 and January 2003, all patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction that required drainage were treated with a covered Wallstent. Every 2 months, the patients were evaluated clinically and biochemical tests of liver function were obtained. Data were recorded for the following variables: early complications (within 30 days of stent placement), early and late stent occlusion, duration of stent patency, need for subsequent biliary intervention, and patient survival. RESULTS: A total of 88 covered Wallstents were inserted in 80 patients. Stent patency rates at 3, 6, and 12 months were 90%, 82%, and 78%, respectively. Complications included stent migration (5), stent occlusion (12), episodes of cholecystitis (3), and episodes of post-ERCP pancreatitis (5). Biliary intervention was required in 9 patients subsequent to placement of the initial covered Wallstent. CONCLUSIONS: Deployment of a covered Wallstent is safe and relatively easy. It achieves biliary drainage with an acceptable risk to benefit ratio in the majority of patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction.