Sociodemographic disparities in sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor use among US kidney transplant recipients: An observational study of real-world pharmacy records.

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical trials demonstrate benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in patients with chronic kidney disease, but data on use in kidney transplant (KTx) recipients are limited. METHODS: We examined a novel database linking SRTR registry data for KTx recipients (2000-2021) with outpatient fill records from a large pharmaceutical claims warehouse (2015-2021). Adult (≥18 years) KTx recipients treated with SGLT2i were compared to those who received other noninsulin diabetes medications without SGLT2i. Characteristics associated with SGLT2i use were quantified by multivariable logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio, 95%LCLaOR95%UCL). RESULTS: Among 18 988 KTx recipients treated with noninsulin diabetes agents in the study period, 2224 filled an SGLT2i. Mean time from KTx to prescription was 6.7 years for SGLT2i versus 4.7 years for non-SGLT2i medications. SGLT2i use was more common in Asian adults (aOR, 1.091.311.58) and those aged > 30-59 years (compared with 18-30 years) or with BMI > 35 kg/m2 (aOR, 1.191.411.67), and trended higher with self-pay status. SGLT2i use was lower among KTx recipients who were women (aOR, .79.87.96), Black (aOR, .77.881.00) and other (aOR, .52.751.07) race, publicly insured (aOR, .82.921.03), or with less than college education (aOR, .78.87.96), and trended lower in those age 75 years and older. SGLT2i use in KTx patients increased dramatically in 2019-2021 (aOR, 5.015.636.33 vs. prior years). CONCLUSION: SGLT2i use is increasing in KTx recipients but varies with factors including race, education, and insurance. While ongoing study is needed to define risks and benefits of SGLT2i use in KTx patients, attention should also focus on reducing treatment disparities related to sociodemographic traits.

The 50% effective dose of hydromorphone and morphine for epidural analgesia in the hemorrhoidectomy: a double-blind, sequential dose-finding study.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have showed that epidural morphine can be used as a complement to local anesthetics for analgesia after postcesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia, there is little known about the analgesic dosage of epidural morphine and hydromorphone for hemorrhoidectomy. Therefore, we conducted this study to examine the potency ratio of hydromorphone to epidural morphine as well as effective analgesic dose for 50% patients (ED50) undergoing elective hemorrhoidectomy. METHODS: 80 patients under elective hemorrhoidectomy with combined spinal and epidural anesthesia(CSEA) in department of anesthesia, Dongguan Tungwah hospital. To assess the ED50, patients were treated with epidural morphine or epidural hydromorphone randomly using a biased coin method-determined dose with a sequential allocation procedure. Following surgery, standardized multimodal analgesia was administered to all patients. A pain response score of ≤ 3 (on a scale of 0-10) was determined to be the effective dose after 24 h following CSEA. The ED50 in both groups were determined using the probit regression and isotonic regression method. We also measured pain intensity by patient interview using a 10 point verbal numeric rating scale prospectively at 6, 12 and 24 h after CSEA, and adverse effects were also noted. RESULTS: The ED50 was 0.350 mg (95% CI, 0.259-0.376 mg) in hydromorphone group and 1.129 mg (95% CI, 0.903-1.187 mg) in morphine group, respectively, estimated by isotonic regression method. Regression analysis with the probit, the ED50 of epidural hydromorphone was 0.366 mg (95% CI, 0.276-0.388 mg) and epidural morphine was 1.138 mg (95% CI, 0.910-1.201 mg). Exploratory findings showed that there was no difference between the most frequent dosages of epidural hydromorphone or epidural morphine in the occurrence of nausea, vomiting and pruritus. When administered with epidural opioids at ED50 doses or higher, 97.5% (39/40) of epidural morphine patients and 97.5% (39/40) epidural hydromorphone of patients were satisfied with their analgesia. CONCLUSION: Effective hemorrhoidectomy analgesia requires a 3:1 ratio of epidural morphine to epidural hydromorphone. Both drugs provide excellent patient satisfaction.

Variation in adult living donor liver transplantation in the United States: Identifying opportunities for increased utilization.

In the United States, living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is limited to transplant centers with specific experience. However, the impact of recipient characteristics on procedure selection (LDLT vs. deceased donor liver transplant [DDLT]) within these centers has not been described. Transplant registry data for centers that performed ≥1 LDLT in 2002-2019 were analyzed using hierarchal regression modeling to quantify the impact of patient and center factors on the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of LDLT (vs DDLT). Among 73,681 adult recipients, only 4% underwent LDLT, varying from <1% to >60% of total liver transplants. After risk adjustment, the likelihood of receiving an LDLT rose by 73% in recent years (aOR 1.73 for 2014-2019 vs. 2002-2007) but remained lower for older adults, men, racial and ethnic minorities, and obese patients. LDLT was less commonly used in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or alcoholic cirrhosis, and more frequently in those with hepatitis C and with lower severity of illness (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score < 15). Patients with public insurance, lower educational achievement, and residence in the Northwest and Southeast had decreased access. While some differences in access to LDLT reflect clinical factors, further exploration into disparities in LDLT utilization based on center practice and socioeconomic determinants of health is needed.

Factors enabling transplant program participation in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) Living Donor Collective: A national survey.

BACKGROUND: The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) Living Donor Collective (LDC), the first effort to create a lifetime registry for living donor candidates in the United States, requires transplant programs to register donor candidates while the SRTR conducts follow-up. METHODS: To better understand facilitators and barriers to program participation, we conducted a brief electronic survey of U.S. transplant program staff from October 26, 2021 to December 17, 2021. RESULTS: We received 132 responses, with at least one response from 87 living donor programs (46 kidney programs, 33 kidney and liver programs, and eight liver programs alone). We found 86% of program representatives strongly agreed or agreed that funding adequate to cover the cost of data collection would facilitate LDC participation, 92% agreed or strongly agreed with importance of electronic data submission options, and 74% reported that elimination of requirements to submit duplicative pre-operative information to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) would be helpful. Other potentially enabling factors include reduction in duration of OPTN postdonation follow-up requirements, ease-of-use, protection from data use for regulation, adequate data security, and equity in data access. CONCLUSION: This survey identifies potential targets to strengthen participation in the effort to create a national living donor registry in the United States. Collaboration and investment to overcome barriers to LDC participation among transplant programs are vital to generate long-term data on living donation for donor candidates, donors, and patients in need of transplant.

Long noncoding RNA LINC01296 regulates the cell proliferation, migration and invasion in neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a childhood cancer that often occurs in the sympathetic nervous system. Previous reports showed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) could affect the progress of NB, but the mechanism is still indistinct. In this study, we unfolded the roles of LINC01296 in NB tissues and cells. The level of LINC01296, microRNA-584-5p (miR-584-5p), miR-34a-5p and mRNA of tripartite motif-containing 59 (TRIM59) were indicated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in NB tissues. The capacities of NB cells were validated by MTT assay, Edu assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry analysis. The interplay between miR-584-5p/miR-34a-5p and LINC01296 or TRIM59 were detected by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Finally, the in vivo experiment was implemented to verify the effect of LINC01296 in vivo. The level of LINC01296 and TRIM59 were increased, whereas miR-584-5p and miR-34a-5p levels were reduced in NB tissues in contrast to that in normal tissues. For functional analysis, LINC01296 deficiency inhibited the cell vitality, cell proliferation, migration and invasion in NB cells, whereas promoted cell apoptosis. Moreover, miR-584-5p and miR-34a-5p were validated to act as a tumor repressive effect in NB cells by restraining TRIM59. The results also showed that LINC01296 could regulate the development of NB. In mechanism, LINC01296 acted as a miR-584-5p and miR-34a-5p sponge to modulate TRIM59 expression. In addition, LINC01296 knockdown also attenuated tumor growth in vivo. LINC01296 promotes the progression of NB by increasing TRIM59 expression via regulating miR-584-5p and miR-34a-5p, which also offered an underlying targeted therapy for NB treatment.

Hydroxychloroquine and maintenance immunosuppression use in kidney transplant recipients: Analysis of linked US registry and claims data.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an antimalarial drug with immunomodulatory effects used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and scleroderma. The antiviral effects of HCQ have raised attention in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, although safety is controversial. We examined linkages of national transplant registry data with pharmaceutical claims and Medicare billing claims to study HCQ use among Medicare-insured kidney transplant recipients with SLE or scleroderma (2008-2017; N = 1820). We compared three groups based on immunosuppression regimen 7 months-to-1 year post transplant: (a) tacrolimus (Tac) + mycophenolic acid (MPA) + prednisone (Pred) (referent group, 77.7%); (b) Tac + MPA + Pred + HCQ (16.5%); or (c) other immunosuppression + HCQ (5.7%). Compared to the referent group, recipients treated with other immunosuppression + HCQ had a 2-fold increased risk of abnormal ECG or QT prolongation (18.9% vs. 10.7%; aHR,1.12 1.963.42 , p = .02) and ventricular arrhythmias (15.2% vs. 11.4%; aHR,1.00 1.813.29 , p = .05) in the >1-to-3 years post-transplant. Tac + MPA + Pred + HCQ was associated with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias (13.5% vs. 11.4%; aHR,1.02 1.542.31 , p = .04) and pancytopenia (35.9% vs. 31.4%; aHR,1.03 1.311.68 , p = .03) compared to triple immunosuppression without HCQ. However, HCQ-containing regimens were not associated with an increased risk of death or graft failure. HCQ may be used safely in selected kidney transplant recipients in addition to their maintenance immunosuppression, although attention to arrhythmias is warranted.

Outcome implications of benzodiazepine and opioid co-prescription in kidney transplant recipients.

The outcomes of benzodiazepine and opioid co-prescription are not well-defined in transplant populations. We examined linked national transplant registry and pharmaceutical records to characterize benzodiazepine and opioid use in the years before and after transplant in large US cohort of kidney transplant recipients (2007-2016; N = 98 620), and associations (adjusted hazard ratio, LCL aHRUCL ) with death and graft failure. Among the cohort, 15.6% filled benzodiazepine prescriptions in the year before transplant, and 14.0% filled benzodiazepine prescriptions in the year after transplant (short-acting, 9.5%; long-acting, 3.3%; both 1.1%). Use of short-acting benzodiazepines in the year before transplant was associated with a 22% increased risk of death in the year after transplant (aHR, 1.08 1.221.38 ), while use of all classes in the year after transplant was associated with increased risk of death from >1 to 5 years (aHR: short-acting 1.29 1.391.48 ; long-acting 1.12 1.251.40 ; both 1.46 1.742.07 ). Recipients who used benzodiazepines were also more likely to fill opioid prescriptions. Recipients who filled both classes of benzodiazepine and the highest level of opioids had a 2.9-fold increased risk of death compared to recipients who did not use either. Co-prescription of benzodiazepines and opioids in kidney transplant recipients is associated with increased mortality. Ongoing research is needed to understand mechanisms of risk relationships.

Economic impacts of alternative kidney transplant immunosuppression: A national cohort study.

Understanding the economic implications of induction and maintenance immunosuppression (ISx) is important in developing personalized kidney transplant (KTx) care. Using data from a novel integrated data set including financial records from the University Health System Consortium, Medicare, and pharmacy claims (2007-2014), we estimated the differences in the impact of induction and maintenance ISx regimens on transplant hospitalization costs and Medicare payments from KTx to 3 years. Use of thymoglobulin (TMG) significantly increased transplant hospitalization costs ($12 006; P = .02), compared with alemtuzumab and basiliximab. TMG resulted in lower Medicare payments in posttransplant years 1 (-$2058; P = .05) and 2 (-$1784; P = .048). Patients on steroid-sparing ISx incurred relatively lower total Medicare spending (-$10 880; P = .01) compared with patients on triple therapy (tacrolimus, antimetabolite, and steroids). MPA/AZA-sparing, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors-based, and cyclosporine-based maintenance ISx regimens were associated with significantly higher payments. Alternative ISx regimens were associated with different KTx hospitalization costs and longer-term payments. Future studies of clinical efficacy should also consider cost impacts to define the economic effectiveness of alternative ISx regimens.

Prescription opioid use before and after heart transplant: Associations with posttransplant outcomes.

Impacts of the prescription opioid epidemic have not yet been examined in the context of heart transplantation. We examined a novel database in which national U.S. transplant registry records were linked to a large pharmaceutical claims warehouse (2007-2016) to characterize prescription opioid use before and after heart transplant, and associations (adjusted hazard ratio, 95%LCL aHR95%UCL ) with death and graft loss. Among 13 958 eligible patients, 40% filled opioids in the year before transplant. Use was more common among recipients who were female, white, or unemployed, or who underwent transplant in more recent years. Of those with the highest level of pretransplant opioid use, 71% continued opioid use posttransplant. Pretransplant use had graded associations with 1-year posttransplant outcomes; compared with no use, the highest-level use (>1000 mg morphine equivalents) predicted 33% increased risk of death (aHR 1.10 1.331.61 ) in the year after transplant. Risk relationships with opioid use in the first year posttransplant were stronger, with highest level use predicting 70% higher mortality (aHR 1.46 1.701.98 ) over the subsequent 4 years (from >1 to 5 years posttransplant). While associations may, in part, reflect underlying conditions or behaviors, opioid use history is relevant in assessing and providing care to transplant candidates and recipients.

Variation in use of procurement biopsies and its implications for discard of deceased donor kidneys recovered for transplantation.

The use of procurement biopsies in deceased donor kidney acceptance is controversial. We analyzed Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data (n = 59 328 allografts, 2014-2018) to describe biopsy practices across US organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and examine relationships with discards, using hierarchical modeling to account for OPO and donor factors. Median odds ratios (MORs) provide the median of the odds that allografts with identical reported traits would be biopsied or discarded from 2 randomly drawn OPOs. Biopsies were obtained for 52.7% of kidneys. Biopsy use rose in a graded manner with kidney donor profile index (KDPI). Biopsy rates differed significantly among OPOs (22.8% to 77.5%), even after adjustment for KDPI and other donor factors. Discard rates also varied from 6.6% to 32.1% across OPOs. After adjustment for donor factors and OPO, biopsy was associated with more than 3 times the likelihood of discard (adjusted odds ratio [95%LCL aOR95%UCL ], 3.29 3.513.76 ). This association was most pronounced for low-risk (KDPI <20) kidneys (aOR, 5.45 6.477.69 ), with minimal impact at KDPI >85 (aOR, 0.88 1.151.51 ). Adjusted MORs for kidney discard and biopsy were greatest for low-risk kidneys. Reducing the rate of unnecessary biopsy and improving the accuracy of histologic assessments in higher KDPI organs may help reduce graft discard rates.

An economic assessment of contemporary kidney transplant practice.

Kidney transplantation is the optimal therapy for end-stage renal disease, prolonging survival and reducing spending. Prior economic analyses of kidney transplantation, using Markov models, have generally assumed compatible, low-risk donors. The economic implications of transplantation with high Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) deceased donors, ABO incompatible living donors, and HLA incompatible living donors have not been assessed. The costs of transplantation and dialysis were compared with the use of discrete event simulation over a 10-year period, with data from the United States Renal Data System, University HealthSystem Consortium, and literature review. Graft failure rates and expenditures were adjusted for donor characteristics. All transplantation options were associated with improved survival compared with dialysis (transplantation: 5.20-6.34 quality-adjusted life-years [QALYs] vs dialysis: 4.03 QALYs). Living donor and low-KDPI deceased donor transplantations were cost-saving compared with dialysis, while transplantations using high-KDPI deceased donor, ABO-incompatible or HLA-incompatible living donors were cost-effective (<$100 000 per QALY). Predicted costs per QALY range from $39 939 for HLA-compatible living donor transplantation to $80 486 for HLA-incompatible donors compared with $72 476 for dialysis. In conclusion, kidney transplantation is cost-effective across all donor types despite higher costs for marginal organs and innovative living donor practices.

Clinical and economic consequences of first-year urinary tract infections, sepsis, and pneumonia in contemporary kidney transplantation practice.

We examined United States Renal Data System registry records for Medicare-insured kidney transplant recipients in 2000-2011 to study the clinical and cost impacts of urinary tract infections (UTI), pneumonia, and sepsis in the first year post-transplant among a contemporary, national cohort. Infections were identified by billing diagnostic codes. Among 60 702 recipients, 45% experienced at least one study infection in the first year post-transplant, including UTI in 32%, pneumonia in 13%, and sepsis in 12%. Older recipient age, female sex, diabetic kidney failure, nonstandard criteria organs, sirolimus-based immunosuppression, and steroids at discharge were associated with increased risk of first-year infections. By time-varying, multivariate Cox regression, all study infections predicted increased first-year mortality, ranging from 41% (aHR 1.41, 95% CI 1.25-1.56) for UTI alone, 6- to 12-fold risk for pneumonia or sepsis alone, to 34-fold risk (aHR 34.38, 95% CI 30.35-38.95) for those with all three infections. Infections also significantly increased first-year costs, from $17 691 (standard error (SE) $591) marginal cost increase for UTI alone, to approximately $40 000-$50 000 (SE $1054-1238) for pneumonia or sepsis alone, to $134 773 (SE $1876) for those with UTI, pneumonia, and sepsis. Clinical and economic impacts persisted in years 2-3 post-transplant. Early infections reflect important targets for management protocols to improve post-transplant outcomes and reduce costs of care.

Gout after living kidney donation: correlations with demographic traits and renal complications.

BACKGROUND: The demographic and clinical correlates of gout after living kidney donation are not well described. METHODS: Using a unique database that integrates national registry identifiers of U.S. living kidney donors (1987-2007) with billing claims from a private health insurer (2000-2007), we identified post-donation gout based on medical diagnosis codes or pharmacy fills for gout therapies. The frequencies and demographic correlates of gout after donation were estimated by Cox regression with left- and right-censoring. We also compared the rates of renal diagnoses among donors with and without gout, matched in the ratio 1:3 by age, sex, and race. RESULTS: The study sample of 4,650 donors included 13.1% African Americans. By seven years, African Americans were almost twice as likely to develop gout as Caucasian donors (4.4 vs. 2.4%; adjusted hazard ratio, aHR, 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-3.2). Post-donation gout risk also increased with older age at donation (aHR per year 1.05) and was higher in men (aHR 2.80). Gout rates were similar in donors and age- and sex-matched general non-donors (rate ratio 0.86; 95% CI 0.66-1.13). Compared to matched donors without gout, donors with gout had more frequent renal diagnoses, reaching significance for acute kidney failure (rate ratio 12.5; 95% CI 1.5-107.0), chronic kidney disease (rate ratio 5.0; 95% CI 2.1-11.7), and other disorders of the kidney (rate ratio 2.2; 95% CI 1.2-4.2). CONCLUSION: Donor subgroups at increased risk of gout include African Americans, older donors, and men. Donors with gout have a higher burden of renal complications after demographic adjustment.

Associations of pre-transplant prescription narcotic use with clinical complications after kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The impact of narcotic use before kidney transplantation on post-transplant clinical outcomes is not well described. METHODS: We examined integrated national transplant registry, pharmacy records, and Medicare billing claims to follow 16,322 kidney transplant recipients, of whom 28.3% filled a narcotic prescription in the year before transplantation. Opioid analgesic fills were normalized to morphine equivalents (ME) and expressed as mg/kg exposures (approximate quartiles: 0.1-1.7, 1.8-5.4, 5.5-23.7, and ≥ 23.8 mg/kg, respectively). Post-transplant cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, accidents, substance abuse, and noncompliance events were identified using diagnosis codes on Medicare billing claims. Adjusted associations of ME level with post-transplant complications were quantified by multivariate Cox regression. RESULTS: The incidence of complications at 3 years post-transplant among those with the highest pre-transplant ME exposure compared to no use included: ventricular arrhythmias, 1.1 vs. 0.2% (p < 0.001); cardiac arrest, 4.7 vs. 2.7% (p < 0.05); hypotension, 14 vs. 8% (p < 0.0001); hypercapnia, 1.6 vs. 0.9% (p < 0.05); mental status changes, 5.3 vs. 2.7% (p < 0.001); drug abuse/dependence, 7.0 vs. 1.7% (p < 0.0001); alcohol abuse, 1.8 vs. 0.6% (p = 0.0001); accidents, 0.9 vs. 0.3% (p < 0.05); and noncompliance, 3.5 vs. 2.3% (p < 0.05). In multivariate analyses, transplant recipients with the highest level of pre-transplant narcotic use had approximately 2 to 4 times the risks of post-transplant ventricular arrhythmias, mental status changes, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and accidents compared with non-users, and 35-45% higher risks of cardiac arrest and hypotension. CONCLUSION: Although associations may reflect underlying conditions or behaviors, high-level prescription narcotic use before kidney transplantation predicts increased risk of clinical complications after transplantation.

Gender differences in use of prescription narcotic medications among living kidney donors.

Prescription narcotic use among living kidney donors is not well described. Using a unique database that integrates national registry identifiers for living kidney donors (1987-2007) in the United States with billing claims from a private health insurer (2000-2007), we identified pharmacy fills for prescription narcotic medications in periods 1-4 and >4 yr post-donation and estimated relative likelihoods of post-donation narcotic use by Cox regression. We also compared narcotic fill rates and medication possession ratios (MPRs, defined as (days of medication supplied)/(days observed)), between donors and age- and sex-matched non-donors. Overall, rates of narcotic medication fills were 32.3 and 32.4 per 100 person-years in periods 1-4 and >4 yr post-donation. After age and race adjustment, women were approximately twice as likely as men to fill a narcotic prescription in years 1-4 (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR, 2.28; 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.86-2.79) and >4 yr (aHR 1.70; 95% CI 1.50-1.93). MPRs in donors were low (<2.5% days exposed), and lower than among age- and sex-matched non-donors. Prescription narcotic medication use is more common among women than men in the intermediate term after live kidney donation. Overall, total narcotic exposure is low, and lower than among non-donors from the general population.

National assessment of early biliary complications following liver transplantation: incidence and outcomes.

Despite improved overall liver transplant outcomes, biliary complications remain a significant cause of morbidity. A national data set linking transplant registry and Medicare claims data for 17,012 liver transplant recipients was used to identify all recipients with a posttransplant biliary diagnosis code within the first 6 months after transplantation. Patients were further categorized as follows: a diagnosis without a procedure, a diagnosis and an associated radiological or endoscopic procedure, or a diagnosis treated with surgery. Overall, 15.0% had a biliary diagnosis, 11.2% required a procedure, and 2.2% had a surgical revision. Factors independently associated with biliary complications included donation after cardiac death (DCD), donor age, recipient age, split grafts, and long cold ischemia times. Graft loss was significantly more common for patients with biliary diagnoses [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.89, confidence interval (CI) = 1.63-2.19], interventions (aHR = 2.08, CI = 1.77-2.44), and surgical procedures (aHR = 1.80, CI = 1.31-2.49). Mortality after transplantation was also markedly increased for patients with biliary diagnoses (aHR = 2.18, CI = 1.97-2.40), procedures (aHR = 2.21, CI = 1.99-2.46), and surgeries (aHR = 1.77, CI = 1.41-2.23). In stratified analyses, the impact of early biliary complications was greater for DCD liver recipients, but they remained highly significant for recipients of allografts from brain-dead donors as well. Reducing biliary complications should improve posttransplant survival and reduce graft loss.

Understanding antihypertensive medication use after living kidney donation through linked national registry and pharmacy claims data.

BACKGROUND: Use of antihypertensive medications (AHM) after living kidney donation is not well described. METHODS: We examined a database wherein national transplant registry data for 4,650 living kidney donors in 1987-2007 were linked to pharmacy claims from a US private health insurer (2000-2007 claims) to identify post-donation AHM fills. Cox regression with left- and right-censoring was used to estimate the frequencies and relative likelihood (adjusted hazards ratios, aHR) of post-donation AHM fills according to donor demographic traits. Medication possession ratio (MPRs), defined as (days of AHM dispensed)/(days observed), were also compared among donors and non-donor general beneficiaries. RESULTS: Overall, 17.8% of the sample filled at least one AHM by 5 years post-donation. As compared with White living donors, African-Americans had 37% higher relative likelihood of any AHM use after donation (aHR 1.37, p < 0.0007), including significantly higher likelihoods of filling diuretics (aHR 2.25, p < 0.0001), ACEi/ARBs (aHR 1.46, p < 0.01), calcium channel blockers (aHR 1.56, p = 0.03), and vasodilators/other agents (aHR 2.17, p = 0.03). MPRs for any AHM and subcategories were lower among donors compared with age- and sex-matched non-donors. However, AHM MPRs rose in donors with multiple hypertension diagnoses, and prescription fill exposure for all AHM classes except diuretics was similar among donors and general non-donors with ≥ 3 hypertension diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: While AHM requirements are lower after kidney donation than among unscreened general persons, racial variation in AHM use occurs in privately insured donors. Demonstration of pharmaceutical care needs of insured donors supports the need for long-term follow-up and healthcare access for all donors.

Brain areas involved in the acupuncture treatment of AD model rats: a PET study.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture may effectively treat certain symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although several studies have used functional brain imaging to investigate the mechanisms of acupuncture treatment on AD, these mechanisms are still poorly understood. We therefore further explored the mechanism by which needling at ST36 may have a therapeutic effect in a rat AD model. METHODS: A total of 80 healthy Wistar rats were divided into healthy control (n = 15) and pre-model (n = 65) groups. After inducing AD-like disease, a total of 45 AD model rats were randomly divided into three groups: the model group (n = 15), the sham-point group (n = 15), and the ST36 group (n = 15). The above three groups underwent PET scanning. PET images were processed with SPM2. RESULTS: The brain areas that were activated in the sham-point group relative to the model group were primarily centred on the bilateral limbic system, the right frontal lobe, and the striatum, whereas the activated areas in the ST36 group were primarily centred on the bilateral limbic system (pyriform cortex), the bilateral temporal lobe (olfactory cortex), the right amygdala and the right hippocampus. Compared with the sham-point group, the ST36 group showed greater activation in the bilateral amygdalae and the left temporal lobe. CONCLUSION: We concluded that needling at a sham point or ST36 can increase blood perfusion and glycol metabolism in certain brain areas, and thus may have a positive influence on the cognition of AD patients.