Enhancing Kidney Transplant Outcomes: The Impact of Living Donor Programs.

INTRODUCTION: The protocol for deceased donor kidney transplants has been standardised. The procedure for a living donor has peculiarities derived from the differences in the graft. When a living kidney donor program is implemented, changes occur in both the profile of the kidney transplant candidate and in the postoperative treatments. AIMS: To discover whether a living donor program influences the functional outcomes of kidney grafts in a longstanding classical deceased donor kidney transplant program and to identify the factors associated with transplant outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective observational multicentre study. SAMPLE: Kidney transplant patients in two urology referral centres for renal transplant in Spain between 1994 and 2019. Groups: TV (living transplant): patients given kidney transplants from living donors (n = 150); TCpre11 (deceased transplant previous to 2011): patients given kidney transplants from deceased donors before the living donor program was implemented (n = 650); and TCpost11 (deceased transplant after 2011): patients given kidney transplants from deceased donors after the living donor program was implemented (n = 500). RESULTS: Mean age was 55.75 years (18-80 years), higher in TCpre11. There were 493 female patients (37.92%) and 1007 male patients (62.08%). Mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.69 kg/m2 (17.50-42.78 kg/m2), higher in TCpre11. Mean ischemia time was 17.97 h (6-29 h), higher in TCpost11. Median duration of urethral catheter: 8 days (6-98 days), higher in TCpost11. Median duration of double-J ureteral stent: 58 days (24-180 days), higher in TCpost11. Pretransplant UTIs: 17.77%, higher in TCpre11 (25.69%) than in TV (12%), higher in TV (12%) than TCpost11 (9.2%), and higher in TCpre11 (25.69%) than TCpost11 (9.2%). Acute renal rejection in 9.33% of TV, 14.77% of TCpre11, and 9.8% of TCpost11. Multivariate analysis: TCpost11 featured higher BMI, more smoking, and chronic renal failure progression time. Lower use of nonantibiotic prophylaxis to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, increased duration of urethral catheters due to obstructive problems, and favoured deterioration of kidney function was observed in the deceased donor program. The living donor (LD) program had a strong influence on deceased donor transplants in the prelysis phase. Implementation of a LD program was associated with a decrease in the likelihood of acute rejection in TCpost11 and an increase in the tendency towards normal kidney function. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing living donor transplant programs affects functional outcomes in deceased donor transplants, reducing the probability of acute rejection and increasing the tendency towards normal kidney function. Preventing recurrent urinary tract infections with measures other than antibiotics, smoking cessation, delaying the removal of the double-J stent from the graft, and pre-emptive transplant (transplant prior to dialysis) are associated with improved renal function of the graft.

Amikacin pharmacokinetics in elderly patients with severe infections.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the population pharmacokinetics of amikacin in elderly patients by means of nonlinear mixed effects modelling and to propose initial dosing schemes to optimize therapy based on PK/PD targets. METHOD: A total of 137 elderly patients from 65 to 94 years receiving intravenous amikacin and routine therapeutic drug monitoring at Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa were included. Concentration-time data and clinical information were retrospectively collected; initial doses of amikacin ranged from 5.7 to 22.5 mg/kg/day and each patient provided between 1 and 10 samples. RESULTS: Amikacin pharmacokinetics were best described by a two-compartment open model; creatinine clearance (CrCL) was related to drug clearance (2.75 L/h/80 mL/min) and it was augmented 28% when non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were concomitantly administered. Body mass index (BMI) influenced the central volume of distribution (17.4 L/25 kg/m2). Relative absolute prediction error was reduced from 33.2% (base model) to 17.9% (final model) when predictive performance was evaluated with a different group of elderly patients. A nomogram for initial amikacin dosage was developed and evaluated based on stochastic simulations considering final model to achieve PK/PD targets (Cmax/MIC>10 and AUC/MIC>75) and to avoid toxic threshold (Cmin<2.5 mg/L). CONCLUSION: Initial dosing approach for amikacin was designed for elderly patients based on nonlinear mixed effects modeling to maximize the probability to attain efficacy and safety targets considering individual BMI and CrCL.

Uncovering homeologous relationships between tetraploid Agropyron cristatum and bread wheat genomes using COS markers.

KEY MESSAGE: Using COS markers, the study reveals homeologous relationships between tetraploid Agropyron cristatum and bread wheat to support alien introgression breeding of wheat. Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L. Gaertn.) is a wild relative of wheat that possesses many genes that are potentially useful in wheat improvement. The species comprises a complex of diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid forms. In this study, wheat-A. cristatum chromosome, telosome and translocation lines were used to characterize syntenic relationships between tetraploid A. cristatum and bread wheat. Prior to mapping COS markers, the cytogenetic stock lines were characterized for fertility and by FISH and GISH for karyotype stability. Out of 328 COS markers selected for the study, 279 consistently amplified products in tetraploid A. cristatum, and, out of these, 139 were polymorphic between tetraploid crested wheatgrass and wheat. Sixty-nine markers were found to be suitable for the detection of tetraploid A. cristatum chromosomes 1P-6P in wheat, ranging from 6 to 17 markers per chromosome. BLASTn of the source ESTs resulted in significant hits for 67 markers on the wheat pseudomolecules. Generally, COS markers of the same homeologous group were detected on similar arms in both Agropyron and wheat. However, some intragenomic duplications and chromosome rearrangements were detected in tetraploid A. cristatum. These results provide new insights into the structure and evolution of the tetraploid A. cristatum genome and will facilitate the exploitation of the wild species for introgression breeding of bread wheat.

[Hematologic neoplasms with testicular involvement]. / Neoplasias hematológicas con implicación testicular.

OBJECTIVE: We report two cases of patients with a previous diagnosis of hematologic tumor who present with testicular recurrence, and we carry out a review of the literature regarding the infrequency of this pathology. METHODS: We present a retrospective review of the medical records of two patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies (acute myelogenous leukemia and multiple myeloma) with occurrence of relapse in the testicle. We reviewed the management and outcome after treatment with bilateral orchiectomy. RESULTS: Case 1: The patient was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and treated with an allogeneic transplant. Two years later, the patient reported an increase in testicular size. The complementary studies lead us to suspect a testicular recurrence that was confirmed after orchiectomy. Currently, the patient awaits the start of a chemotherapy treatment prior to a new allogeneic transplant. Case 2: Patient with the diagnosis of multiple myeloma who started a polychemotherapy treatment without response and underwent allogeneic transplant. After five months with complete remission, there were signs of systemic recurrence, and a study for a new transplant was carried out. During the study, potential testicular recurrence was observed. After a batch of complementary tests, bilateral orchiectomy was performed and the diagnosis was confirmed. Currently, the patient is undergoing an allogeneic transplant protocol after radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Currently the mortality rate in cases of relapse of hematologic malignancy in the testicle has declined despite the sharp rise in its incidence. This is because of, as in our case, early diagnosis and the combined use of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. This has been achieved through an interdisciplinary collaboration of urologists, hematologists, oncologists and radiotherapists.

Eosinophilic ureteritis. Report of a case.

OBJECTIVE: We present the case of a patient with eosinophilic ureteritis. METHODS: The patient was admitted with pain on the right renal fossa, and after several imaging tests, a mass was found on the right ureter, compatible with urothelial neoplasia on the right ureter. RESULTS: Right nephroureterectomy was performed and the histopathological diagnosis was eosinophilic ureteritis CONCLUSION: Eosinophilic ureteritis is a rare entity with an unclear etiology,which is not easily distinguished from urothelial tumours. In the differential diagnosis we must take it into account whenever we find a ureteral mass associated to eosinophilia.

Saturation biopsies for prostate cancer detection: effectiveness, safety and predictive factors.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness and safety of saturation biopsies for prostate cancer detection of and to identify predictive variables for cancer. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective transversal study in which we analyzed 144 saturation biopsies (January '06 - July '09). INCLUSION CRITERIA: at least two sets of biopsies without evidence of malignancy and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)levels >10 ng/ml or PSA kinetics suggestive of malignancy (rate >0.75 ng/ml/year)and patients with atypia in a previous biopsy.The variables analyzed were: age, abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE), total PSA, free/total PSA ratio, prostate volume, PSA density, previous histopathology, number of cylinders obtained and complications. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test, Student's t-test and logistic regression. RESULTS: Mean age was 66 years (SD ± 6.4), mean total PSA 14.4 ng/ml (SD ± 12.6), mean free/total PSA ratio 0.09 (SD ± 0.09), mean prostate volume 61.6 cc (SD ± 27.4), mean PSA density 0.27 (SD ± 0.26) and mean number of cylinders obtained 30.45 (SD ± 3.8). We diagnosed 32% of the patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma. We observed PSA density was higher in the prostate cancer group, 0.39 (SD ± 0.36), compared to 0.21 (SD ± 0.18) in patients without cancer (p=0.003). Adenocarcinoma was found in 58% of the biopsies in patients with suspicious DRE, compared to 28% with normal DRE (p=0.009). Mean prostate volume in the prostate cancer group was 52.5 (SD ± 24.7)compared to 66.0 (SD ± 27.7)in the group without cancer (p=0.006). In the multivariate analysis, the PSA density (p=0.02; 95% CI 1.36 - 37.36) was the only variable that independently predicted the presence of adenocarcinoma. No statistically significant differences were found in either univariate or multivariate analysis for the remaining variables analyzed. The incidence of complications was similar to that described in the literature for other series. CONCLUSIONS: Saturation biopsy is safe and effective for detection of prostate cancer. PSA density was the only factor that was shown to be independent predictive variable for tumor diagnosis.

Libros de medicina en bibliotecas particulares argentinas durante el período hispánico - segunda parte: listado preliminar / Books on medicine in Argentinean private libraries during the hispanic period - second part: preliminary list

Levantamento dos livros de medicina encontrados em bibliotecas particulares argentinas durante o período hispânico. A presente lista constitui uma versäo abreviada do original. O trabalho em sua versäo completa se encontra para consulta no Instituto de Investigaciones Bibliotecológicas da Facultad de Filosofía y Letras da Universidad de Buenos Aires.(MAM)

Libros de medicina en bibliotecas particulares argentinas durante el período hispanico. Primera parte / Books on medicine in Argentinean private libraries during the Hispanic period. First part

Identifica y estudia estadísticamente los libros de medicina existentes en las bibliotecas particulares argentinas durante el período hispánico (siglos XVII a XIX). Compreende el análisis estadístico de la literatura médica de la época y se estudian - entre otros - los siguientes temas: los autores mencionados con mayor frecuencia, su nacionalidad, lengua en la cual fueron escritas las obras, cantidad de volúmenes y formato, principales divisiones temáticas, grado o índice de actualidad de los autores, títulos citados con mayor frecuencia, y las características generales de los propietarios de los libros de medicina.(AU)