Frailty and depressive symptoms in older kidney transplant recipients: opportunities for collaboration between transplant nephrologists and geriatricians.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is one of the key syndromes in geriatric medicine and an important factor for post-transplant outcomes. We aimed to describe the prevalence of frailty and examine the correlates of frailty and depressive symptoms in older kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 112 kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) aged 70 and above. Frailty syndrome was assessed using the Fried frailty criteria, and patients were categorized as frail, pre-frail, or non-frail based on five frailty components: muscle weakness, slow walking speed, low physical activity, self-reported exhaustion, and unintentional weight loss. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The relationship between frailty and depressive symptoms was evaluated using multinomial logistic regression, with the three frailty categories as the dependent variable and the severity of depressive symptoms as the independent variable, while controlling for age, gender, renal graft function, and time since transplant surgery. RESULTS: The participants had a mean age of 73.3 ± 3.3 years, and 49% were female. The prevalence of frailty syndrome was 25% (n = 28), pre-frailty was 46% (n = 52), and 29% (n = 32) of the KTRs were non-frail. The mean score for depressive symptoms was 3.1 ± 2.4 points, with 18% scoring above the clinical depression cutoff. Depressive symptoms were positively correlated with frailty (r = .46, p < .001). Among the frailty components, self-reported exhaustion (r = .43, p < .001), slow walking speed (r = .26, p < .01), and low physical activity (r = .44, p < .001) were significantly positively correlated with depressive symptoms, while muscle strength (p = .068) and unintentional weight loss (p = .050) were not. A multinomial logistic regression adjusted for covariates indicated that, compared to being non-frail, each additional point on the GDS increased the odds of being pre-frail by 39% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.96) and roughly doubled the odds of being frail (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.39-2.89). CONCLUSION: There is a strong association between frailty and depression in KTRs aged 70 years and older. Targeted detection has opened up a new avenue for collaboration between geriatricians and transplant nephrologists.

Factors Affecting Knowledge Levels and Protective Behaviors to Prevent the Development of Skin Cancer in Organ Transplant Recipients as a High-Risk Group.

OBJECTIVES: Organ transplantrecipients are at high risk of skin cancer due to immunosuppressant therapy. This study investigated the factors affecting organ transplant recipients' knowledge and protective behaviors to prevent the development of skin cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of kidney (n = 82) and liver (n = 31) transplant recipients seen at our hospitals in Turkey from June 2019 to February 2020. A sociodemographic and clinical characteristics form, the Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge scale, the Sun Protection Behavior questionnaire, and the General Self-Efficacy scale were used to collect data. RESULTS: The mean age of organ transplant recipients was 46.63 ± 13.24 years. Self-efficacy and awareness that transplant increases the risk of skin cancer are 2 characteristics that affected the participants' knowledge level. The type of graft (kidney) affected participants' behavior in avoiding outdoor exposure between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Green/blue eye color and self-efficacy affected the participants' hatwearing behavior. These details showed that, as the patients' sensitivity and self-efficacy increased, their levels of knowledge and sun protection behaviors were positively affected. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge level of patients was affected by (1) awareness that transplant is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer and (2) high levels of self-efficacy. We observed that (1) organ transplant recipients with high self-efficacy and kidney transplant recipients were more likely to avoid outdoor exposure between 10 am and 4 pm and that (2) organ transplant recipients with green/blue eyes and high levels of selfefficacy were more likely to wear a hat when outdoors. Organ transplant teams should provide education and counseling about skin cancer and sun protection in the follow-up care of transplant recipients.

A compreensão das expectativas dos pacientes candidatos ao transplante hepático / Understanding the expectations of patients who are candidates for liver transplantation / Comprender las expectativas de los pacientes candidatos a un trasplante de hígado

As doenças hepáticas crônicas trazem alterações metabólicas no organismo que alteram a qualidade de vida do indivíduo. A depender da gravidade clínica, o transplante hepático surge como uma proposta terapêutica que necessita de inclusão no Sistema Nacional de Transplantes e avaliação multiprofissional. O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar as expectativas que os pacientes candidatos ao transplante hepático expressam sobre esta terapêutica. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa, que utilizou o método da pesquisa documental nos Formulários de Avaliação Psicológica Pré Transplante do serviço de psicologia de um hospital universitário em Fortaleza, Ceará. Foram analisados 202 Formulários pelo método de análise de conteúdo de Bardin que se dividiram em três categorias: 1. Diminuição dos sintomas a recuperação à saúde; 2. Esperança frente ao desconhecido; 3. Reconstrução da identidade. A pesquisa permitiu identificar as principais expectativas dos pacientes relacionados ao transplante hepático, delineando os aspectos que são sustentadores para que os sujeitos deem continuidade ao tratamento, a saber: rede social de apoio, possibilidade de melhora clínica e aumento da sobrevida, sentimentos de esperança e desejo de qualidade de vida. O desejo de cura está relacionado à recuperação da cirurgia e não apenas ao desaparecimento da doença hepática. (AU)

Chronic liver diseases bring metabolic changes in the body that affect the individual's quality of life. Depending on the clinical severity, liver transplantation emerges as a therapeutic proposal that requires inclusion in the National Transplant System and multidisciplinary evaluation. The aim of this study was to identify the expectations that patients who are candidates for liver transplantation express about this therapy. This is a descriptive, qualitative study that used the documentary research method in the Pre-Transplant Psychological Assessment Forms of the psychology service at a university hospital in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará. 202 Forms were analyzed using Bardin's content analysis method, which were divided into three categories: 1. Reduction of symptoms and recovery to health; 2. Hope in the face of the unknown; 3. Reconstruction of identity. The research identified the main expectations of patients related to liver transplantation, outlining the aspects that support subjects in continuing treatment, namely: social support network, the possibility of clinical improvement and increased survival, feelings of hope, and desire for quality of life. The desire for a cure is related to recovery from surgery and not just to the disappearance of liver disease. (AU)

Las enfermidades hepáticas crónicas traen alteraciones metabólicas en el organismo que alteran la calidad de vida. Dependiendo de la gravidad, el trasplante de hígado surge como una propuesta terapéutica que necesita de inclusión en el Sistema Nacional de Trasplante. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar las expectativas que los pacientes candidatos al trasplante expresan sobre esta terapia. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo, que se utilizó del método de la búsqueda documental en los Formulários de Evaluación Psicológica Pré Trasplante de un Servicio de Psicología de un Hospital Universitário de la ciudad de Fortaleza (Ceará). Se analizaron 202 Formulários por el método de análisis de contenidos de Bardin que se dividieron en tres categorias: Dismi-nución de los síntomas y la recuperación de la salud; Esperanza frente a lo desconocido; Reconstrucción de la identidad. La búsqueda permitió identificar las expectativas de los pacientes relacionados al trasplante de hígado. Desta-cando los aspectos que son fundamentales para que los sujetos continúen al tratamiento, tenemos: rede social de apoyo, posibilidad de mejora clínica y aumento de supervivencia, sentimientos de esperanza y deseo de calidad de vida. El deseo de cura está relacionado a la recuperación de la cirurgia y desaparición de la enfermedad hepática. (AU)

Education and Psychosocial Factors Predict Odds of Death After Transfer to Adult health Care in Pediatric Liver Transplant Patients.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze demographic, psychosocial, and clinical factors in pediatric liver transplant recipients for their association with death or loss to follow up in adulthood. We aimed to better understand known health disparities in transplant outcomes and identify potentially modifiable risk factors prior to transfer. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of children who underwent liver transplantation at a large tertiary transplant center and were transferred to adult care between 2000 and 2015. RESULTS: During the study period, 101 qualifying patients were transferred. Ninety-three individuals followed with an adult provider, while 8 were lost to follow up. In total 23 of 93 patients died after transfer (24.7%). Several childhood factors were associated with adult death: Black race [odds ratio (OR) 6.59, P < 0.001]; psychiatric illness or substance use (OR 2.81, P = 0.04); failure to graduate high school before transfer (OR 9.59, P < 0.001); posttransplant tacrolimus medication-level variability index >2.5 (OR 5.36, P = 0.04); provider documentation of medication nonadherence (OR 4.72, P = 0.02); acute cellular rejection (OR 4.44, P = 0.03); the presence of diabetes mellitus (OR 5.71, P = 0.001), and chronic kidney disease (OR 2.82, P = 0.04). Failure to graduate HS was associated with loss to follow up ( P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, Black race, substance use, diabetes, and failure to graduate HS retained association with adult death (each P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Complex, intertwined patient characteristics are associated with increased odds of death in pediatric liver transplant recipients transferred to adult care. Early recognition of high-risk patients and intervention for modifiable factors, such as improved HS graduation and substance use prevention, may improve long-term outcomes.

Prerenal Transplant Education and Evaluation Positively Impacts Outcomes.

Introduction: An outstanding question in kidney transplantation is how to prepare candidates and their social supports for optimal posttransplant outcomes. Project Aims: This program evaluation assessed whether a pretransplant quality improvement clinic improved clinical outcomes in the year posttransplant compared to recipients receiving standard of care. Design: The Countdown to Transplant Clinic was implemented with kidney transplant candidates expected to receive a transplant within the next few months. The clinic included an enhanced education session on posttransplant lifestyle management, confirmation of support (≥2 adults), and evaluations by transplant social work, psychology, and nephrology. Results: Seventy-five patients participated in the clinic and underwent a transplant. A retrospective chart review of posttransplant laboratory values, rehospitalizations (within 3-months posttransplant), biopsy-confirmed graft failure, and mortality (within 1-year posttransplant) were collected from both groups. Univariate and multivariate propensity score-weighted linear or logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between clinic participation and outcomes. In models adjusting for relevant covariates, participation in The Countdown to Transplant Clinic (vs standard care) was associated with a lower coefficient of variation of serum tacrolimus (all values collected 3-12 months posttransplant), 30-day posttransplant white blood cell counts (but not 90-day), 90-day posttransplant potassium, and 30 and 31 to 90 days rehospitalizations. Clinic participation did not predict serum glucose levels at 30- or 90-days posttransplant. Due to low rates of rejection and mortality, meaningful comparisons were not possible. Conclusion: Participation in a pretransplant, multicomponent clinic may improve certain outcomes of interest posttransplantation. Pilot testing for feasibility for randomized controlled trials is a necessary next step.

Psychosocial outcomes 1-year post total pancreatectomy and autologous islet cell transplant.

BACKGROUND: A paucity of research regarding the psychosocial outcomes after TPIAT exists. METHODS: Adults (>18 years), adolescents (13-18 years), and children (5-12 years) with their parents were administered questionnaires at the time of evaluation for TPIAT and 1-year postsurgery to assess psychosocial outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 13 adults (6 male, 46%; mean age 35.2 years) and 9 children/adolescents (4 female, 44.4%; mean age 11.78 years) with CP were included in the study. A total of 69.2% of the adults and 66.7% of the children and adolescents were insulin dependent at 1-year postsurgery. In adults, improvements on the SF-36 pain (p = .001) and general health (p = .045) subscales were generally observed 1-year postsurgery. Adult patients who underwent robotic-assisted surgery compared to open surgery specifically reported better general health on the SF-36 (p < .05) at 1 year. For children and adolescents, reductions in average pain in the last week (p < .05), pain interference (p < .001), and fatigue were observed (p < .05) at 1-year postsurgery. For the entire sample, using repeated measures ANOVA and covarying for age, significant differences were found 1-year postsurgery in average pain in the last week (p = .034) and pain interference with the following categories: general activity (p < .001), walking (p = .04), normal work (p = .003), sleep (p = .002), and enjoyment in life (p = .007). CONCLUSIONS: While few transplant centers offer this treatment, the improvement in quality of life suggests this may be a viable treatment option for those with CP complicated by intractable pain. (IRB Approval PRO 19080302).

Manual pós-transplantes: um guia para desenvolvimento das ações relacionadas aos transplantados de orgãos e tecidos no estado / Post-transplant manual: a guide for the development of actions related to organ and tissue transplants in the state

O presente documento aborda as atividades do setor de Pós-Transplantes da Central Estadual de Transplantes de Goiás - CET-GO, com o propósito de padronizar os processos além de orientar e monitorar os transplantados, contribuindo para o desenvolvimento do setor e para a qualificação deste tipo de serviço. A publicação da portaria N.°78, de 9 de Março de 1999, oficializou o credenciamento da Central Estadual de Transplantes de Goiás ­ CET / GO junto ao Ministério da Saúde e, desde então, foram muitos avanços, com quantidades significativas de recursos para aumentar o número de transplantes no Estado

This document addresses the activities of the Post-Transplant sector of the Central State of Transplants of Goiás - CET-GO, with the purpose of standardizing the processes in addition to guiding and monitoring the transplanted, contributing to the development of the sector and to the qualification of this kind of service. The publication of Ordinance No. 78, of March 9, 1999, officialized the accreditation of the Goiás State Transplant Center - CET / GO with the Ministry of Health and, since then, there have been many advances, with significant amounts of resources to increase the number of transplants in the State

Waiting, strange: transplant recipient experience, medical time and queer/crip temporalities.

People who receive a 'solid' organ transplant from a deceased person may experience imaginative challenges in making sense of how the transfer impacts their own past and future, as shown in existing scholarship. Building on such work, this article considers how the temporalities of medical encounter itself may also become temporally ambiguous, posing representational challenges both pre-transplantation and post-transplantation. The dominant narrative of transplant in transplantation journals and hospital communications, both clinical and patient-facing, presents surgery as a healing moment, yet the recipient's experience of hospital, pharmacology and daily self-monitoring may be disorienting in multiple ways which resist conventional conceptions of medical temporalities of cure. Examining memoirs by Robert Pensack and Richard McCann, this article suggests the transplant temporalities may be fruitfully approached through scholarship of 'queering' time and 'crip' time. While the medical narrative of transplant focuses on the event of transplantation, these texts construct post-transplant time as still profoundly structured by waiting, expectation and suspense, the transformed body less healed than permanently contingent and fragile in different ways. I do not purport to uncover the 'truth' of bleak survival hidden within a story of the miraculous. Rather, I am reaching for a critical practice to recognise subtle entanglements of medicalised time, and identify a tension and synthesis between miracle and the chronic, an insight which may also be of service for other critical approaches to memoir of heroic medicine.

The reliability and validity of the Hungarian version of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire / A Rövid Betegségpercepció Kérdoív magyar változatának megbízhatósági vizsgálata.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: Interdiszciplináris kutatásokkal igazolták, hogy a páciensnek a betegségérol kialakított elképzelései meghatározó szerepet játszanak a gyógyulási folyamat sikerességében. Célkituzés: Vizsgálatunk célja az ezen elképzelések felmérésére kifejlesztett Rövid Betegségpercepció Kérdoív magyar nyelvu változatának megbízhatósági és validitási vizsgálata krónikus betegségben szenvedo, daganattal küzdo és transzplantált páciensek körében. Módszer: Keresztmetszeti vizsgálatunkban 490 páciens vett részt. A kérdoív validitásának vizsgálatára a Spielberger-féle Állapot- és Vonásszorongás Kérdoívet, a Beck Depresszió Kérdoívet és a Poszttraumás Növekedésérzés Kérdoívet alkalmaztuk, illetve felmértük a betegcsoportok életminoségét. Eredmények: A kérdoív belso megbízhatósága, a teszt-reteszt megbízhatósága kiváló. A konstruktumvaliditást vizsgálva közepesen eros összefüggést találtunk a szorongás, a depresszió, a poszttraumás növekedésérzés, az életminoség és a Rövid Betegségpercepció Kérdoív között. A prediktív validitást vizsgálva igazolást nyert, hogy a betegségpercepció összefüggésben áll a vesemuködést jelzo eGFR-szinttel (p = 0,027). A kérdoív diszkrimináns validitását igazolta, hogy képes különbséget tenni a különbözo betegcsoportok között. Következtetés: A Rövid Betegségpercepció Kérdoív magyar verziójának reliabilitása és validitása a vizsgált populáción jónak mutatkozott. A kérdoív megbízható információt ad a pácienseknek a betegségükrol kialakított elképzeléseirol. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(6): 212-218. INTRODUCTION: Interdisciplinary studies confirm that patients' illness perception can have a substantial effect on the healing process. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Hungarian version of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire in chronic disease, cancer, and transplant patients. METHOD: 490 patients were assessed using the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and quality of life questionnaires. RESULTS: The scale showed good internal consistency, and the test-retest reliability was excellent. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire scores moderately correlated with anxiety, depression, posttraumatic growth and quality of life. Examining predictive validity, the questionnaire correlated with eGFR level (p = 0.027). The discriminant validity of the questionnaire was supported by its ability to distinguish between different patient groups. CONCLUSION: The reliability and validity of the Hungarian version of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire in the sample were excellent. The questionnaire turned out to be a useful psychometric tool in the measurement of illness perception. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(6): 212-218.

The psychosocial experiences and supportive care preferences of organ transplant recipients and their carers who live in regional Australia.

BACKGROUND: There is no evidence that being a rural or regional organ transplant recipient has adverse physical health outcomes post-surgery compared with those experienced by people living in cities, but the impact of living remotely from transplant centres on psychosocial outcomes has not been explored. OBJECTIVE: To identify the social, emotional, psychological, spiritual, informational and practical issues associated with being a regionally based organ transplant recipient or carer and determine how support services could be improved for this group. DESIGN/ SETTING/ PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two purposively sampled adult Australians who lived outside metropolitan centres and had received an organ transplant (n = 15) or were the primary carer of someone who had received one (n = 7), participated in semi-structured, telephone interviews. Qualitative data were collected until data saturation was reached and were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Five key themes (plus subthemes) were identified: (a) travelling for specialist transplant care takes a toll, (b) unique transplant-related psychological and emotional issues experienced before and after transplants, (c) caring for transplant recipients is a demanding role, (d) lay, peer and professional support, including rural general practitioners and accommodation facilities, help ease the burden, but (e) significant barriers to accessing transplant-focused psychosocial support exist. CONCLUSION: Novel methods of delivering targeted, transplant-specific information and psychosocial care to rural transplant recipients and their carers, employers and rural health professionals require development and evaluation. Strategies might be delivered by peers or professionals via telehealth, telephone, social media or websites for example, depending on preferences and level of need.

Decision making and informed consent in uterus transplant recipients: A mixed-methods study of the Dallas uterus transplant study (DUETS) participants.

BACKGROUND: Uterus transplantation (Utx) has achieved clinical success but little is known about motivations and experiences of UTx recipients. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 UTx recipients in addition to collecting quantitative demographic and clinical data. Closed-ended interview questions were treated as categorical variables. Thematic analysis was performed on qualitative data. Bivariate analysis tested associations between categorical variables. RESULTS: Themes that emerged included: the decision to pursue UTx is a process, primary motivations for UTx are specific to the experience of gestation, and alternative options did not offer the same value as UTx. There was no association between disease etiology, clinical status, or perception of UTx risk with information needs or donor preference. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that UTx is a unique treatment option that some women with AUFI find preferable to adoption and surrogacy and, as such, should be discussed as a parenthood option with women diagnosed with AUFI.

Reasons for disagreement between proxy-report and self-report rating of symptoms in children receiving cancer therapies.

PURPOSE: To qualitatively describe reasons for disagreement in ratings of bothersome symptoms between child self-report and parent proxy-report. METHODS: We enrolled child and parent dyads, who understood English and where children (4-18 years of age) were diagnosed with cancer or were hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. Each child and parent separately reported symptoms using self-report or proxy-report Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi). We then used semi-structured interviews to elicit reasons for discrepancies in symptom reporting. RESULTS: We enrolled 12 dyads in each of four age cohorts, resulting in 48 dyads. Forty-one dyads (85.4%) had disagreement in rating the presence or absence of at least one symptom. Themes identified as reasons for disagreement included (1) perception, differing perception of symptom or availability or palatability of intervention; (2) understanding, difficulty orienting to time frame or concept of bother; (3) lack of communication, including child not acknowledging or talking about experiences; (4) projection, of how the parent felt or how they assumed the child would feel; and (5) discrepancy, in how the amount of symptom bother that was initially reported on SSPedi, by either child or parent, did not align with what was reported during the dyad discussion. CONCLUSION: We identified themes that explained disagreement in ratings of bothersome symptoms between child self-report and parent proxy-report. Some disagreement may be reduced by enhancing communication about symptom reporting between child and parent. Future research should focus on methods of symptom screening that encourage communication between children with cancer and their caregivers.

The IL-6 antagonist tocilizumab is associated with worse depression and related symptoms in the medically ill.

Because medical illness is associated with increased inflammation and an increased risk for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, anti-cytokine therapy may represent a novel, and especially efficacious, treatment for depression. We hypothesized that blockade of the interleukin (IL)-6 signaling pathway with tocilizumab would decrease depression and related symptomatology in a longitudinal cohort of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) patients, a medically ill population with a significant inflammation and psychopathology. Patients undergoing allogeneic HCT received either a single dose of tocilizumab one day prior to HCT (n = 25), or HCT alone (n = 62). The primary outcome included depressive symptoms at 28 days post HCT; anxiety, fatigue, sleep, and pain were assessed at pretreatment baseline and days +28, +100, and +180 post HCT as secondary outcomes. Multivariate regression demonstrated that preemptive treatment with tocilizumab was associated with significantly higher depression scores at D28 vs. the comparison group (ß = 5.74; 95% CI 0.75, 10.73; P = 0.03). Even after adjustment for baseline depressive symptoms, propensity score, and presence of acute graft-versus-host disease (grades II-IV) and other baseline covariates, the tocilizumab-exposed group continued to have significantly higher depression scores compared to the nonexposed group at D28 (ß = 4.73; 95% CI 0.64, 8.81; P = 0.02). Despite evidence that IL-6 antagonism would be beneficial, blockade of the IL-6 receptor with tocilizumab among medically ill patients resulted in significantly more-not less-depressive symptoms.

Cognitive complaints by hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients and change in neuropsychological performance over time.

PURPOSE: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are at risk for cognitive decline. Cross-sectional studies show patients' complaints of cognitive decline do not correlate well with concurrently measured objective neuropsychological performance, but rather with emotional variables and health-related quality of life. This longitudinal study investigated whether patient self-report of cognitive status would be concordant with objectively measured neuropsychological performance after accounting for change from their own pre-transplant objective baseline. METHODS: Pre-HSCT and at 30 and 100 days post-HSCT, 46 patients underwent computerized neuropsychological testing (CogState) and completed surveys assessing patient-reported cognitive complaints, emotional symptoms (depression, anxiety), sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and physical and functional well-being. Correlations were calculated between cognitive complaints and neuropsychological performance (at each time-point and across time-points), as well as all other patient-reported variables. RESULTS: Patient-reported cognitive complaints were largely independent of concurrently assessed objective neuropsychological performance. Uniquely, our longitudinal data demonstrated significant medium to large effect size associations between subjective cognitive complaints post-HSCT with objectively measured change from pre-HSCT in attention, visual learning, and working memory (p < .05-.01). Subjective cognitive complaints post-HSCT were also associated with depression, anxiety, daytime sleepiness and physical well-being (p < .05-.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients appear better able to assess their cognitive functioning relative to their own baseline and changes across time rather than relative to community norms. Thus, patient complaints of cognitive compromise justify further in-depth neuropsychological, emotional, and functional assessment. Future research into relationships between cognitive complaints and neuropsychological performance should account for changes in performance over time.

Rede de apoio social após o transplante renal: estudo qualitativo na perspectiva dos pacientes, profissionais e gestores / Red de apoyo social después de trasplante de riñon: estudio cualitativo en la perspectiva de pacientes, profesionales y gerentes / Social support network after kidney transplantation: qualitative study from the perspective of patients, professionals and managers

Objetivo: Descrever as perspectivas de receptores de transplante renal, profissionais da saúde e gestores sobre a rede de apoio social. Método: Estudo qualitativo realizado com transplantados renais, profissionais e gestores. Os dados coletados foram entrevistas individuais gravadas em áudio a partir de dois instrumentos que compuseram perguntas por meio das escalas Assessment for Chronic Illness Care (ACIC) e Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC), adaptadas para a cultura brasileira. Resultados: Os dados revelaram a participação das entidades não-governamentais e dos profissionais de saúde e o vínculo que estabelecem com os receptores de transplante renal, sobretudo, com o profissional médico, com a enfermagem, além de outras categoriais profissionais. Também, outros dados trazidos foi o parecer dos profissionais de saúde sobre o vínculo que estabelecem com a família da pessoa. Conclusão: O vínculo estabelecido continua forte mesmo após o transplante renal, o que demonstra o sucesso no estabelecimento de vínculos emocionais pela equipe multiprofissional, incluindo a enfermagem.(AU)

Objective: To describe the perspectives of kidney transplant recipients, health professionals and managers on the social support network. Method: A qualitative study conducted with kidney transplant recipients, professionals and managers. The data collected was audiorecorded individual interviews from two instruments that composed questions using the Assessment for Chronic Illness Care (ACIC) and Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) scales, adapted for the Brazilian culture. Results: The data revealed the participation of non-governmental entities and health professionals and the link that they establish with kidney transplant recipients, especially with the medical and nursing professionals, in addition to other professional categories. Also, other data brought up was the opinion of health professionals about the bond that they establish with the family of the person. Conclusion: The established bond remains strong even after kidney transplantation, which demonstrates the success in establishing emotional bonds by the multi-professional team, including nursing(AU)

Objetivo: Describir las perspectivas de los receptores de trasplantes de riñón, profesionales sanitarios y gestores acerca de la red de apoyo social. Método: Estudio cualitativo realizado con trasplantados renales, profesionales y gestores. Los datos recolectados fueron entrevistas individuales grabadas en audio a partir de dos instrumentos que componían preguntas adaptadas a través de escalas Assessment for Chronic Illness Care (ACIC) y Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC), adaptadas a la cultura brasileña. Resultados: Los datos revelaron la participación de entidades no gubernamentales y profesionales de salud y el vínculo que establecen con el receptores de trasplante de riñón, especialmente con el profesional médico, con la enfermería, además de otras categorías profesionales. Asimismo, otro dato aportado fue la opinión de profesionales de salud sobre el vínculo que establecen con la familia de la persona. Conclusión: El vínculo establecido mantiene fuerte incluso después del trasplante renal, lo que demuestra el éxito en el establecimiento de vínculos emocionales por parte del equipo multiprofesional, incluida la enfermería.(AU)

The experiences of adult heart, lung, and heart-lung transplantation recipients: A systematic review of qualitative research evidence.

AIM: To review evidence about the experience of being the recipient of a donated heart, lungs, or heart and lungs. DESIGN: A systematic review (registered with PROSPERO: CRD42017067218), in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. DATA SOURCES: Seven databases and Google Scholar were searched in May 2017 and July 2019 for papers reporting English-language research that had used qualitative methods to investigate experiences of adult recipients. REVIEW METHODS: Quality was assessed and results were analysed thematically. RESULTS: 24 papers (reporting 20 studies) were eligible and included. Their results were organised into three chronological periods: pre-transplant (encompassing the themes of 'dynamic psychosocial impact', 'resources and support'), transplant ('The Call', 'intensive care unit'), and post-transplant ('dynamic psychosocial impact', 'management', 'rejection'). Sub-themes were also identified. It was evident that contemplating and accepting listing for transplantation entailed or amplified realisation of the precipitating illness's existential threat. The period surrounding transplantation surgery was marked by profound, often surreal, experiences. Thereafter, although life usually improved, it incorporated unforeseen challenges. The transplantation clinic remained important to the recipient. The meaning of the clinic and its staff could be both reassuring (providing care and support) and threatening (representing onerous medical requirements and potential organ rejection). CONCLUSION: This review has implications for the psychosocial care of transplant recipients and indicates the need for further research to gain insight into the experience of receiving a donated heart and/or lung. IMPACT: Medical consequences of heart and lung transplantation are well documented; this is the first systematic review of research using qualitative methods to investigate the experience of heart, lung, and heart-and-lung transplantation. The psychosocial impact of transplantation was found to be dynamic and complex, with notable features evident before, during, and after transplantation. Clinic staff remained significant to recipients. It is clear that recipients need continuing psychosocial as well as medical support.

Weight Gain, Energy Intake, Energy Expenditure, and Immunosuppressive Therapy in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Weight gain after kidney transplantation is a common health problem. The factors in weight gain after kidney transplant include many factors such as age, ethnicity, gender, change in lifestyle (eg, kilocalorie intake and physical activity level), and immunosuppressive therapy. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between weight gain and energy intake in dietary, energy expenditure in physical activity, and immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplant recipients. DESIGN: This prospective, observational study included 51 participants who underwent kidney transplant, during 6 months from the start of the study. Anthropometric measurements were performed at first week, third- and sixth-month follow-ups of transplant recipients. Participants also completed 3-day "Dietary Record Form" and the "Physical Activity Record Form" at each follow-up. Simple frequency, analysis of variance analysis, and correlation analysis were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Weight gain in sixth month follow-up compared to baseline value was positively related to energy intake in first week (r = 0.59), third month (r = 0.75), and sixth month (r = 0.67) follow-ups, and energy expenditure in first week (r = 0.35) and sixth month (r = 0.34) follow-ups. However, weight gain was negatively related to mycophenolate mofetil dose (mg/d) in sixth month (r = -0.31) follow-up (P < .05). DISCUSSION: The results of this study provide an opportunity to reflect and discuss on modifiable risk factors such as energy intake and energy expenditure that affect weight gain posttransplantation in participants. It also examines the relationship between immunosuppressive therapy. Additionally, these results can be effective in designing interventions and managing risk factors to achieve weight management goals.

Introduction to the Best-Case/Worst-Case Framework Within Transplantation Surgery to Improve Decision-Making for Increased Risk Donor Organ Offers.

Public Health Service increased risk donor kidneys are discarded 50% more often than nonincreased risk donor kidneys despite equivalent patient and graft survival outcomes. Patient and provider biases as well as challenges in risk interpretation contribute to the underuse of increased risk donor organs. As the ultimate decision to accept or reject an increased risk donor organ results from the patient-provider conversation, there is an opportunity to improve this dialogue. This report introduces the best-case/worst-case communication guide for structuring high-stake conversations on increased risk kidney offers between transplant providers and their patients. Through best case/worst case, providers focus on eliciting patient values and long-term goals. The patient's unique context can then inform an individualized discussion of "best," "worst," and "most likely" outcomes and support the provider's ultimate recommendation. Transplant providers are encouraged to adopt this communication strategy to enhance shared decision-making and improve patient outcomes.

High-intensity interval training and health-related quality of life in de novo heart transplant recipients - results from a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIT) compared with moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after heart transplantation (HTx) is scarce. No available studies among de novo HTx recipients exists. This study aimed to investigate the effect of HIT vs. MICT on HRQoL in de novo recipients. METHODS: The HITTS study randomized eighty-one de novo HTx recipients to receive either HIT or MICT (1:1). The HIT intervention were performed with 2-4 interval bouts with an intensity of 85-95% of maximal effort. The MICT group exercised at an intensity of 60-80% of their maximal effort with a duration of 25 min. HRQoL was assessed by the Short Form-36 version 2 (SF-36v2) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, mean 11 weeks after surgery and after a nine months' intervention. The participants recorded their subjective effect of the interventions on their general health and well-being on a numeric visual analogue scale. Clinical examinations and physical tests were performed. Differences between groups were investigated with independent Student t-tests and with Mann-Whitney U tests where appropriate. Within-group differences were analyzed with Paired-Sample t-tests and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests. Correlations between SF-36 scores and VO2peak were examined with Pearson's correlations. RESULTS: Seventy-eight participants completed the intervention. Both exercise modes were associated with improved exercise capacity on the physical function scores of HRQoL. Mental health scores remained unchanged. No differences in the change in HRQoL between the groups occurred except for Role Emotional subscale with a larger increase in the HIT arm. Better self-reported physical function was associated with higher VO2peak and muscle strength. CONCLUSION: HIT and MICT resulted in similar mean changes in HRQoL the first year after HTx. Both groups experienced significant improvements in the physical SF-36v2. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01796379 Registered 18 February 2013.