Comparison of early renal function parameters for the prediction of 5-year graft survival after kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Early graft function (EGF) has an enduring effect on the subsequent course after kidney transplantation. This study compares quantitative parameters of EGF for the prediction of graft survival. METHODS: We involved 300 consecutive transplant recipients from deceased donors from 1989 to 2005. Urine output during 24 h post-transplant (UO), and serum creatinine after 1 week (Cr7) were taken for explanatory variables. We generated Kaplan-Meier (K-M) estimates of graft survival, by quintiles of the explanatory variable. Cox regression was applied to control for various recipient factors. RESULTS: K-M survival estimates indicate a threshold effect of UO and Cr7, which can dissect the risk of graft failure. The thresholds referring to the 2nd quintile correspond to a UO >630 ml and a Cr7 <2.5 mg/dl and were associated with a proportional hazard ratio of 0.52 (95% CI 0.33-0.84) and 0.34 (95% CI 0.18-0.65), respectively. Combining both of the parameters predicted a 5-year graft survival probability >90%, according to a hazard ratio of 0.21 (95% CI 0.09-0.46). Requirement of dialysis post-transplant lost its discriminatory power and was not a significant explanatory variable in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Routine parameters for monitoring of EGF display a threshold effect allowing accurate prediction of 5-year graft survival at the earliest point in time. The quantitative threshold levels for an optimum discriminatory power require validation in a larger, preferably multicentre database.

Comparable transforming capacities and differential gene expression patterns of variant FUS/CHOP fusion transcripts derived from soft tissue liposarcomas.

The chromosomal translocation t(12;16)(q13;p11) is a common genetic alteration in myxoid and round-cell liposarcomas. It results in transcription of various chimeric FUS/CHOP fusion transcripts that encode different oncogenic proteins. Recent reports suggest that these may have different neoplastic transformation activities. To audit this hypothesis, we transfected expression plasmids for the two major variant FUS/CHOP transcripts I and II in NIH 3T3 cells and determined the number of outgrowing foci as well as their growth potential in soft agar. In addition, we compared tumour growth in nude mice upon subcutaneous injection of the respective transfectants. No significant differences in transformation assays in vitro and in vivo were observed, suggesting that both variant transcripts confer comparable transforming activities. The histopathological picture of tumours derived from both cell populations resembles high-grade spindle cell sarcomas. This suggests that both FUS/CHOP variants cause similar patterns of differential gene expression. This hypothesis was confirmed by mRNA-expression profiles of the respective cell clones. Strong overexpression of the pentaxin-related gene (PTX), the osteoblast-specific factor 2 (osf-2), the basic Kruppel-like factor (bklf), the leucoprotease inhibitor, and the cyclophilin B were observed in both types of FUS/CHOP-transfected cell clones. Taken together, our data suggest that different FUS/CHOP variants cause transformation of mesenchymal cells via the same pathways with comparable efficacy.