Kidney transplantation in a child with Pierson syndrome.

Congenital nephrotic syndrome is commonly associated with mutations in genes that encode podocyte and slit diaphragm proteins or the structural and regulatory proteins of the GBM. These mutations lead to the formation of dysfunctional proteins, which account for the resistance of the renal manifestations to conventional treatment methods. Consequently, patients become renal replacement therapy dependent. Mutation of the LAMB2 gene is associated with Pierson syndrome, which is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital nephrotic syndrome and ocular abnormalities. In this report, a 2-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with Pierson syndrome is presented. He had bilateral microcoria and developmental delay in addition to nephrotic syndrome. His renal function deteriorated rapidly, and he underwent a deceased donor kidney transplantation. He showed dramatic improvement after kidney transplantation; in addition to having good renal function, he started to catch up to his peers in terms of growth. Pierson syndrome should be considered during the diagnostic investigations of children with renal manifestations and ocular abnormalities. Children with Pierson syndrome must be evaluated in terms of kidney transplantation as soon as they are diagnosed.

Carbon monoxide releasing molecules inhibit cell death resulting from renal transplantation related stress.

PURPOSE: Organ cold storage and subsequent transplantation are associated with significant ischemia-reperfusion injury, leading to cell death, graft inflammation and decreased graft function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CORM-3s reduce oxidative stress and prevent inflammation in kidneys stored at 4C and subsequently transplanted. Graft survival and function are markedly improved compared to kidneys preserved and stored in University of Wisconsin solution alone. We determined whether CORM-3 has direct antiapoptotic effects on in vitro preparations of human HUVECs exposed to anoxic conditions. We also determined whether direct administration of CORM-3 to renal grafts before and/or after cold storage would prevent renal damage during the transplantation process. RESULTS: CORM-3 supplementation led to a significantly increased frequency of live cells (mean ± SD 72.3% ± 1.9%, p <0.01), reduced apoptosis (14.9% ± 6.1%, p <0.01) and decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential (40.2% ± 7.2%, p <0.05) in HUVECs exposed to 20 hours of cold storage compared to controls (11.6% ± 3.5%, 82.2% ± 2.3% and 78.2% ± 3.2%, respectively). In keeping with this antiapoptotic effect CORM-3 supplementation led to a mean 7.4 ± 2.1-fold up-regulation in Bcl-2 gene expression. CORM-3 supplementation in standard preservation solution was most beneficial at initial ischemic injury and before cold storage exposure. However, additional reflushing before vascular reperfusion showed an additive benefit to graft survival and function after transplantation. This was confirmed by decreased glomerular and tubular necrosis, and apoptosis in double flushed grafts. CONCLUSIONS: CORM-3 supplementation in standard University of Wisconsin solution has a significant impact on decreasing cellular and graft injury, and improving survival through its antiapoptotic effects, which are likely mediated through mitochondrial membrane stabilization.

Wind-bias correction method for narrowband sodium Doppler lidars using iodine absorption spectroscopy.

We present a technique to measure the frequency chirp introduced by the laser pulse amplification process in the transmitter of the Colorado State University sodium lidar system. This chirp causes a systematic radial wind bias that must be removed from the reported wind measurements. An iodine absorption line located near the lidar operating wavelength of 589.16 nm is used for real-time monitoring and measurement of the chirp for the correction of radial wind bias. This technique has been thoroughly characterized in the laboratory and validated by field testing, facilitating simultaneous measurements of temperature and horizontal wind in the mesopause region of the atmosphere (80-105 km).

BK virus replication following kidney transplant: does the choice of immunosuppressive regimen influence outcomes?

The increasing prevalence of BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) observed in recent years, with its consequent impact on kidney allograft survival rates, has focused attention on the relationship between immunosuppression regimens and risk of BK virus reactivation. The adoption of more potent immunosuppressive regimens over the last two decades, notably tacrolimus with mycophenolic acid and corticosteroids, appears to be associated with higher rates of BK activation. There is also evidence of a specific increase in risk for tacrolimus-based immunosuppression vs. cyclosporine, which in vitro data suggest may be at least partly due to differences in antiviral activity. Early concerns that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor use was associated with development of BKVN do not appear to have been borne out. Protocol-driven BK virus screening is recommended to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention, which primarily comprises the controlled reduction or discontinuation of immunosuppressive drugs. Although a consensus on the optimal strategy for immunosuppression modification is still lacking, early diagnosis of BK reactivation and pre-emptive modification of immunosuppression has resulted in a marked improvement in graft outcomes. Typically, intervention consists of reducing calcineurin inhibitor exposure before or after antimetabolite dose reduction, withdrawal of one agent from a triple therapy regimen, or switching between agents within a therapeutic class. A benefit for antiviral therapy is not yet confirmed. While more data are required, the current evidence base is adequate to justify routine screening with early modification of the intensity and nature of the immunosuppression regimen to reduce the toll of BKVN in the kidney transplant population.