Diuretic Use in Post-Kidney Transplant Patients: A Retrospective Chart Review.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of delayed graft function (DGF) significantly enhances the possibility of both acute and chronic rejection of the transplanted organ, thereby reducing patient quality of life and survival rates. To prevent and manage oliguria in renal transplant patients, loop diuretics are presently commonly used. In our study, we assessed the possible impact of furosemide on the incidence of DGF among kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: A review of medical records was conducted to examine demographic characteristics and kidney transplant outcomes in an adult (older than 18 years old) population. The primary objective was to determine the incidence of delayed graft function (DGF), whereas the secondary objective was to compare the creatinine levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at day 30 and day 90 post-transplantation in patients who were administered furosemide vs those who were not. RESULTS: This study included 330 patients who underwent kidney transplantation. Furosemide was administered to 169 (51.3%), whereas 161(48.7%) patients did not receive continued dose of diuretic postoperatively. The rate of DGF was significantly higher in patients who received furosemide than in those who did not (furosemide 44% vs 4%; P < .001). The eGFR was lower in the furosemide group compared to the no furosemide group at day 30 (56 ± 24 vs 71 ± 24 mL/min/1.73 m2, P < .001) and day 90 (66 ± 27 vs 78 ± 25 mL/min/1.73 m2, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that there is no benefit in treating an oliguric AKI with furosemide. Administration of furosemide, especially in high doses, may increase the risk of toxicity, delay dialysis, and increase the length of stay.

A microarray patch SARS-CoV-2 vaccine induces sustained antibody responses and polyfunctional cellular immunity.

Sustainable global immunization campaigns against COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases require effective, broadly deployable vaccines. Here, we report a dissolvable microarray patch (MAP) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that targets the immunoresponsive skin microenvironment, enabling efficacious needle-free immunization. Multicomponent MAPs delivering both SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit antigen and the TLR3 agonist Poly(I:C) induce robust antibody and cellular immune responses systemically and in the respiratory mucosa. MAP vaccine-induced antibodies bind S1 and the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain, efficiently neutralize the virus, and persist at high levels for more than a year. The MAP platform reduces systemic toxicity of the delivered adjuvant and maintains vaccine stability without refrigeration. When applied to human skin, MAP vaccines activate skin-derived migratory antigen-presenting cells, supporting the feasibility of human translation. Ultimately, this shelf-stable MAP vaccine improves immunogenicity and safety compared to traditional intramuscular vaccines and offers an attractive alternative for global immunization efforts against a range of infectious pathogens.

Research Techniques Made Simple: Skin-Targeted Drug and Vaccine Delivery Using Dissolvable Microneedle Arrays.

Skin-targeted drug delivery is broadly employed for both local and systemic therapeutics and is an important tool for discovery efforts in cutaneous biology. Recently, emerging technologies support efforts toward skin-targeted biocargo delivery for local and systemic therapeutic benefit. Effective targeting of bioactive molecules, including large (molecular weight > 500 Da) or complex (hydrophilic and charged) molecules, to defined cutaneous microenvironments is intrinsically challenging owing to the protective barrier function of the skin. Dissolvable microneedle arrays (MNAs) have proven to be a promising technology to address the unmet need for controlled, minimally invasive, and reliable delivery of a wide range of biocargos to the skin. In this paper, we describe the unique properties of the skin that make it an attractive target for vaccine delivery, for immune-modulating therapies, and for systemic drug delivery and the structural characteristics of the skin that present obstacles to efficient intracutaneous and transdermal delivery of bioactive molecules. We provide an overview of MNA fabrication and the characteristics and mechanisms of dissolvable MNA cargo delivery to the cutaneous microenvironment. We present a representative example of a clinical application of MNAs and discuss future directions for MNA development and applications.