Epstein-Barr Virus–Related Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Transplant Recipients: A Case Series

Background

Solid organ transplantation is associated with a higher risk of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–related lymphoproliferative disease due to immunosuppressive regimen. Little evidence is currently available on post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) in the lung transplant (LuTx) setting, particularly in cystic fibrosis (CF) recipients.

Acute hypotensive and renin-stimulating actions of captopril before and during treatment with a beta-blocking drug

There is no general agreement on the relation between the hypotensive effect of captopril and the pretreatment plasma renin levels of hypertensive patients. To determine whether the hypotensive effect of captopril was directly related to plasma renin, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor was administered acutely to 10 essential hypertensive patients with normal or suppressed plasma renin activity before and after inhibition of renin secretion with propranolol. Captopril was equally effective in reducing blood pressure both when administered alone (25 mg: -29/-17; 50 mg: -37/-23 mm Hg) and after chronic treatment with propranolol (25 mg: -33/-20; 50 mg: -30/-20 mm Hg). The increase in renin induced by captopril was not decreased by propranolol therapy. The persistence of the hypotensive effect of captopril after renin suppression by propranolol suggests that this drug has some blood pressure decreasing properties independent of plasma renin.     

Psychological distress,job satisfaction,and work engagement among Palestinian teachers: a cross-sectional study

Background

Work engagement is a positive, fulfilling affective and motivational state of work-related wellbeing and a protective factor for workers' mental health. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between psychological distress (conceptualised as the target variable), job satisfaction, and work engagement in contexts of low-intensity warfare and political violence. According to the salutogenic perspective, the relationship between job satisfaction and psychological distress is influenced by the level of work engagement.

Evaluation of photorefractive keratectomy retreatments after regressed myopic laser in situ keratomileusis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) enhancements in eyes previously treated by myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) showing an undercorrection due to either a refractive regression or a primary undercorrection, when an in-the-bed enhancement was not advisable because of residual stromal thickness limitations. DESIGN: Noncomparative, prospective, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen eyes of 17 patients previously treated by LASIK for a spherical equivalent (SE) correction of -8.125 to -12.50 diopters (D; mean, -9.45 +/- 1.01 D), that after a follow-up of 6 to 14 months ended up with a refraction of -1.50 to -3.75 D (SE; mean, -2.48 +/- 0.74 D). Intended flap thickness was 160 microm for all eyes. In all cases, the residual stromal bed under the flap was considered too thin (255-305 microm) to allow an in-the-bed enhancement without exceeding an assumed safety thickness limit (250 microm). INTERVENTION: Eyes were treated by PRK at least 6 months after LASIK. The PRK ablation parameters (diameter, attempted correction) were selected to avoid theoretical flap perforation. The deepest ablation was 60 microm, for a -3.75-D correction. We used a Bausch & Lomb 217 C excimer laser (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, New York). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Refraction, uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp evidence of corneal opacity or other visible complications, and corneal topography. RESULTS: Although the initial postoperative period was characterized by very satisfactory refractive results (mean SE error at 1 month, -0.04 +/- 0.37 D; range, +0.75 to -0.625 D), during follow-up, a dense haze (grade 3 and 4) developed in 14 eyes (82.3%) that induced a further myopic regression (SE, -1.725 to -5.50 D; mean, -3.11 D) and BCVA loss (two to six lines). These 14 eyes underwent a further surgical treatment to remove the severe haze at 3 to 10 months after PRK. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we strongly advise against PRK as a possible option to correct eyes previously treated by myopic LASIK that resulted in an undercorrection.     

Liver Transplantations and Brain Dead Donors With Alcohol Abuse

Background and aim

Liver grafts from donors with chronic and active history of alcohol abuse are usually immediately ruled out for use in liver transplantation (LT). The aim of our study is to evaluate the use of those grafts.

Computational fluid dynamic comparison between patch-based and primary closure techniques after carotid endarterectomy

Objective

The aim of the study was to provide, by means of computational fluid dynamics, a comparative analysis after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) between patch graft (PG) and primary closure (PC) techniques performed in real carotid geometries to identify disturbed flow conditions potentially involved in the development of restenosis.

Chromatographic and colorimetric detection of glycosylated hemoglobins: a comparative analysis of two different methods.

The measurement of glycosylated hemoglobins in diabetic patients represents a new approach to the problem of the long-term glycemie control.Chromatographic procedures are usually employed to separate the glycosylated components of hemoglobin; we performed a comparative analysis of two different methods: Chromatographic and colorimetric. Chromatographic separation on small ion-exchange resin columns gives high precision (coefficient of variation = 1.7%) over the whole range of normal and diabetic values of percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin (3.2–15.9%).An alternative technique is the measurement of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural released by oxalic acid hydrolysis of the hexoses bound to hemoglobin, as proposed by Fluckiger and Winterhalter (Fluckiger, R. and Winterhalter, K.H. (1976) FEES Lett. 71, 356–360). Normal values, expressed as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural absorbance per 10 g of total hemoglobin, range from 133 to 235, with mean ± S.D. = 189 ± 26; while diabetic patients show a range from 220 to 443 and mean ± S.D. = 318 ± 65.This last method gives satisfactory precision over the entire range of values examined (coefficient of variation = 4.2%) and has proved simple and inexpensive.The correlation between the two methods is very high (n = 20; r = 0.98; p < 0.001) with a regression line, y = 25. Ix + 40.3.The storage of the hemolysates at ?20°C for up to 70 days for the colorimetric method and up to 260 for the Chromatographic procedure does not decrease the precision of either technique.