Internal and external validation of indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate to discard liver grafts before procurement.

Backgrounds/Aims: Thirty percent of liver grafts in donors after brain death (DBD) in Spain are rejected by procurement surgeons owing to marginal graft quality. Poor donor indocyanine green (ICG) clearance has been associated with graft discard and malfunction. This study aimed to internally and externally validate the predictive value of ICG-plasma disappearance rate (ICG-PDR) to reject grafts before donation and set a cut-off to avoid missing any potential effective donors. Methods: Between March 2017 and August 2023, ICG clearance test was performed immediately before procurement in 71 DBD. The surgeon was blinded to test results. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to detect independent predictors of graft discard. Discrimination and calibration of predictors were assessed and a cut-off with 100% specificity was set. External validation was performed on 17 donors evaluated by three other transplantation teams. Results: In the training cohort, 30 of 71 grafts were discarded for transplantation. ICG-PDR was the only donor variable independently associated with graft discard. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve for ICG-PDR was 0.875 (95% confidence interval: 0.768-0.947) and good calibration was observed. Below a PDR of 13.5%/min, no graft was accepted for transplantation. These results were successfully validated using the external cohort of donors. Conclusions: ICG clearance test performed in DBD was internally and externally validated to predict liver graft discard. It could be used as a screening tool before donation to avoid unnecessary costs of travel and human resources.

The link between high factor VIII to protein C ratio values and poor liver function after major hepatectomy.

Our goal was to assess the coagulation profile in the immediate postoperative time after major liver surgery and its association with the liver function. Our hypothesis is that a decreased synthesis of the coagulation factor levels reflects an impaired liver synthesis following hepatic resection and will be associated with poor outcomes. This is a prospective, observational study recruiting consecutive patients scheduled for major liver resection in a tertiary hospital. Coagulation profile was assessed by conventional assays, viscoelastic assays and coagulation factor levels preoperatively and, on postoperative days 1, 2 and 6. Factor VIII to protein C (FVIII/PC) ratio has been used as a surrogate marker of hemostatic imbalance. Liver function was measured with conventional and indocyanine green (ICG) clearance tests, which were obtained preoperatively and on postoperative days 1 and 2. Sixty patients were recruited and 51 were included in the study. There is a clear increase in FVIII/PC ratio after surgery, which was significantly associated with low liver function, being more pronounced beyond postoperative day 2 and in patients with poorer liver function ( P  < 0.001). High FVIII/PC ratio values were significantly associated with higher postoperative morbidity, prolonged ICU and hospital stay and less survival ( P  < 0.05). High FVIII/PC ratio on postoperative day 2 was found to be predictor of posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF; area under the ROC curve = 0.8129). Early postoperative high FVIII/PC ratio values are associated with low liver function, PHLF and poorer outcomes in patients undergoing major hepatic resection.

An Individualized Low-Pneumoperitoneum-Pressure Strategy May Prevent a Reduction in Liver Perfusion during Colorectal Laparoscopic Surgery.

High intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) during laparoscopic surgery is associated with reduced splanchnic blood flow. It is uncertain whether a low IAP prevents this reduction. We assessed the effect of an individualized low-pneumoperitoneum-pressure strategy on liver perfusion. This was a single-center substudy of the multicenter 'Individualized Pneumoperitoneum Pressure in Colorectal Laparoscopic Surgery versus Standard Therapy II study' (IPPCollapse-II), a randomized clinical trial in which patients received an individualized low-pneumoperitoneum strategy (IPP) or a standard pneumoperitoneum strategy (SPP). Liver perfusion was indirectly assessed by the indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate (ICG-PDR) and the secondary endpoint was ICG retention rate after 15 min (R15) using pulse spectrophotometry. Multivariable beta regression was used to assess the association between group assignment and ICG-PDR and ICG-R15. All 29 patients from the participating center were included. Median IAP was 8 (25th-75th percentile: 8-10) versus 12 (12,12) mmHg, in IPP and SPP patients, respectively (p < 0.001). ICG-PDR was higher (OR 1.42, 95%-CI 1.10-1.82; p = 0.006) and PDR-R15 was lower in IPP patients compared with SPP patients (OR 0.46, 95%-CI 0.29-0.73; p = 0.001). During laparoscopic colorectal surgery, an individualized low pneumoperitoneum may prevent a reduction in liver perfusion.

Usefulness of Indocyanine Green Plasma Disappearance Rate in Liver Donors and Recipients: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Determination of indocyanine green (ICG) plasma disappearance rate (PDR) is a simple, inexpensive, and noninvasive tool to assess liver perfusion, absorption, and elimination. Its application in the liver transplant process has not been widely incorporated in clinical practice. This study aims to assess the usefulness of ICG PDR in the donor selection setting and in the early post-transplant phase and to analyze its variation between these 2 time points. METHODS: We performed a single-center prospective observational study. ICG clearance test was performed in 50 brain-dead donors (T0-PDR) to assess concordance with graft suitability. Rejected grafts biopsy specimens were analyzed to correlate histology with T0-PDR. In the recipients, ICG PDR was performed before wound closure (T1-PDR). The association of T0, T1, and T0-T1 variation with the development of early allograft dysfunction (EAD) was investigated. RESULTS: A total of 23 of 50 grafts were discarded because of poor macroscopic quality. A T0-PDR below 15.5%/min could predict graft rejection with 100% specificity and 69.6% sensitivity. All the biopsy specimens from donors with PDR < 10 %/min showed liver fibrosis. A total of 25 of the remaining 27 grafts were implanted; 5 patients (20%) developed EAD. T1-PDR performed better than T0-T1 variation to predict dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: ICG PDR could be used in the donors as a filter to discard poor-quality grafts before procurement and, in the early post-transplant phase, to predict EAD.

A Machine Learning Enhanced Mechanistic Simulation Framework for Functional Deficit Prediction in TBI.

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI), and the underlying brain networks identified with it, have recently appeared as a promising avenue for the evaluation of functional deficits without the need for active patient participation. We hypothesize here that such alteration can be inferred from tissue damage within the network. From an engineering perspective, the numerical prediction of tissue mechanical damage following an impact remains computationally expensive. To this end, we propose a numerical framework aimed at predicting resting state network disruption for an arbitrary head impact, as described by the head velocity, location and angle of impact, and impactor shape. The proposed method uses a library of precalculated cases leveraged by a machine learning layer for efficient and quick prediction. The accuracy of the machine learning layer is illustrated with a dummy fall case, where the machine learning prediction is shown to closely match the full simulation results. The resulting framework is finally tested against the rsfMRI data of nine TBI patients scanned within 24 h of injury, for which paramedical information was used to reconstruct in silico the accident. While more clinical data are required for full validation, this approach opens the door to (i) on-the-fly prediction of rsfMRI alterations, readily measurable on clinical premises from paramedical data, and (ii) reverse-engineered accident reconstruction through rsfMRI measurements.

Mechanistic models versus machine learning, a fight worth fighting for the biological community?

Ninety per cent of the world's data have been generated in the last 5 years (Machine learning: the power and promise of computers that learn by example Report no. DES4702. Issued April 2017. Royal Society). A small fraction of these data is collected with the aim of validating specific hypotheses. These studies are led by the development of mechanistic models focused on the causality of input-output relationships. However, the vast majority is aimed at supporting statistical or correlation studies that bypass the need for causality and focus exclusively on prediction. Along these lines, there has been a vast increase in the use of machine learning models, in particular in the biomedical and clinical sciences, to try and keep pace with the rate of data generation. Recent successes now beg the question of whether mechanistic models are still relevant in this area. Said otherwise, why should we try to understand the mechanisms of disease progression when we can use machine learning tools to directly predict disease outcome?

Síndrome de obstrucción congénita de vía aérea superior: diagnóstico prenatal / Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome: prenatal diagnosis

Introducción: el síndrome de obstrucción congénita de la vía aérea superior (CHAOS) es una condición infrecuente que consiste en el estrechamiento severo u obstrucción completa de la vía aérea superior, de pronóstico nefasto en ausencia de intervención, y con hallazgos ecográficos característicos que conducirán al diagnóstico. Caso clínico: gestante en semana 20.3 que acude a la ecografía morfológica donde se evidencia pulmones aumentados de tamaño, hiperecongénicos, dilatación del árbol traqueobronquial, aplanamiento diafragmático y compresión cardiaca. Asocia ascitis e hidramnios. Con todo ello, se establece el diagnóstico del síndrome de obstrucción congénita. Discusión: el correcto diagnóstico prenatal del síndrome de obstrucción congénita, con hallazgos ecográficos constantes, es esencial para optimizar el manejo gestacional y planificar el tratamiento. La cesárea EXIT y la cirugía endoscópica se proponen entre las alternativas terapéuticas disponibles en la actualidad. Es imprescindible identificar la causa de la obstrucción, así en algunos casos muy seleccionados, la fetoscopia puede ser curativa. No obstante, la morbilidad y mortalidad en la mayor parte de casos es alta (AU)

Background: Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome is a rare life-threatening condition. It is characterized by severe narrowing or complete obstruction of the upper airway, grim prognosis in absence of intervention, and with characteristic sonographic findings that lead to diagnosis. Clinical case: Pregnant in week 20.3 that goes to the routine ultrasound that demonstrated enlarged echogenic lungs, dilated tracheobronchial tree, flattened diaphragms and cardiac compression. It associates fetal ascites and polyhydramnios. In all, the diagnosis established is congenital high airway. Discussion: The accurate prenatal diagnosis of congenital high airway, with constant sonographic findings, is essential to optimize gestational management and treatment planning. EXIT procedure and endoscopic surgery are proposed among the therapeutic alternatives available today. It is essential to identify the cause of the obstruction, as fetoscopy can be curative in some highly-selected cases. However, morbidity and mortality are high in most cases (AU)

A multicenter study of the early detection of synaptic dysfunction in Mild Cognitive Impairment using Magnetoencephalography-derived functional connectivity.

Synaptic disruption is an early pathological sign of the neurodegeneration of Dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT). The changes in network synchronization are evident in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) at the group level, but there are very few Magnetoencephalography (MEG) studies regarding discrimination at the individual level. In an international multicenter study, we used MEG and functional connectivity metrics to discriminate MCI from normal aging at the individual person level. A labeled sample of features (links) that distinguished MCI patients from controls in a training dataset was used to classify MCI subjects in two testing datasets from four other MEG centers. We identified a pattern of neuronal hypersynchronization in MCI, in which the features that best discriminated MCI were fronto-parietal and interhemispheric links. The hypersynchronization pattern found in the MCI patients was stable across the five different centers, and may be considered an early sign of synaptic disruption and a possible preclinical biomarker for MCI/DAT.

Extravascular Lung Water and Pulmonary Vascular Permeability Index Measured at the End of Surgery Are Independent Predictors of Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation in Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary edema (PE) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) may compromise the postoperative course and prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) and intensive care unit length of stay. Hemodynamic monitoring with transpulmonary thermodilution permits quantification of extravascular lung water index (ELWI) and calculation of the pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI), which is the ratio between the ELWI and the pulmonary blood volume. This ratio can discriminate between PE hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic PE. We investigated the relationship between ELWI and PVPI values, measured at the end of surgery, and prolonged MV (PMV) in patients after OLT. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 93 consecutive patients who underwent OLT. We recorded preoperative data including spirometry, echocardiography, severity liver disease with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, and the Child-Pugh classification scores. Intraoperatively, we performed hemodynamic measurements with transpulmonary thermodilution and pulmonary arterial catheters after the induction of anesthesia, 10 minutes before reperfusion, and at the end of surgery. Moreover, we recorded the length of surgery, the amount of IV volume infused, the results of blood coagulation analyses, and blood transfusion. Postoperatively, we recorded the duration of MV and intensive care unit length of stay, mortality, and graft function. Patients were then classified as requiring PMV (>48 hours after surgery) or not. Statistical analyses, preoperative and intraoperative variables between patients with and without PMV, were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the ability of preoperative and intraoperative variables to predict PMV. RESULTS: Twelve patients required PMV after surgery. Patients who required PMV exhibited increased ELWI (11.6 ± 3 mL/kg vs 9.3 ± 2 mL/kg, P = 0.0099) and PVPI values (2.94 ± 1 vs 1.8 ± 0.6, P = 0.000015) at the end of surgery. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve were 0.890 ± 0.04 for PVPI with a 99% confidence interval of 0.782 to 0.958 and 0.730 ± 0.08 for ELWI with a 99% confidence interval of 0.594 to 0.839. Using a cutoff of 2.3 for PVPI allowed a sensitivity = 91.7%, a specificity = 83.8, a positive predictive value = 45.8%, and a negative predictive value = 98.5% for predicting PMV. A cutoff of 12 for ELWI allowed a sensitivity of 50%, specificity of 85%, positive predictive value of 33.3%, and negative predictive value of 91.9% for PMV. CONCLUSIONS: PVPI and ELWI values obtained at the end of OLT are useful for predicting the need for postoperative PMV.

Neurite, a finite difference large scale parallel program for the simulation of electrical signal propagation in neurites under mechanical loading.

With the growing body of research on traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, computational neuroscience has recently focused its modeling efforts on neuronal functional deficits following mechanical loading. However, in most of these efforts, cell damage is generally only characterized by purely mechanistic criteria, functions of quantities such as stress, strain or their corresponding rates. The modeling of functional deficits in neurites as a consequence of macroscopic mechanical insults has been rarely explored. In particular, a quantitative mechanically based model of electrophysiological impairment in neuronal cells, Neurite, has only very recently been proposed. In this paper, we present the implementation details of this model: a finite difference parallel program for simulating electrical signal propagation along neurites under mechanical loading. Following the application of a macroscopic strain at a given strain rate produced by a mechanical insult, Neurite is able to simulate the resulting neuronal electrical signal propagation, and thus the corresponding functional deficits. The simulation of the coupled mechanical and electrophysiological behaviors requires computational expensive calculations that increase in complexity as the network of the simulated cells grows. The solvers implemented in Neurite--explicit and implicit--were therefore parallelized using graphics processing units in order to reduce the burden of the simulation costs of large scale scenarios. Cable Theory and Hodgkin-Huxley models were implemented to account for the electrophysiological passive and active regions of a neurite, respectively, whereas a coupled mechanical model accounting for the neurite mechanical behavior within its surrounding medium was adopted as a link between electrophysiology and mechanics. This paper provides the details of the parallel implementation of Neurite, along with three different application examples: a long myelinated axon, a segmented dendritic tree, and a damaged axon. The capabilities of the program to deal with large scale scenarios, segmented neuronal structures, and functional deficits under mechanical loading are specifically highlighted.

Prevalence of abnormal anal cytology and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions among a cohort of HIV-infected men who have sex with men.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of anal cancer among HIV-infected patients is higher than that in other populations. Anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions are considered precursors to invasive squamous-cell carcinomas and are strongly associated to high-risk human papillomavirus infection. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions through screening based on cytology and high-resolution anoscopy with biopsy in a cohort of HIV-infected men who have sex with men. DESIGN: This investigation is an observational cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING: The study was conducted in the HIV unit of a tertiary hospital in Spain. PATIENTS: Three hundred HIV-infected men who have sex with men participated. Physical examination led to a diagnosis of perianal squamous-cell carcinoma and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in 2 patients who were then excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Anal liquid cytology was performed. Patients with cytological abnormalities underwent high-resolution anoscopy and biopsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome measured was biopsy-proven high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. RESULTS: The median age was 41 ± 10.5 years. The mean and nadir CD4 cell counts were 651 ± 205 cells/mm(3) (interquartile range, 438-800) and 273 ± 205 cells/mm(3) (interquartile range, 131-362). High-risk human papillomavirus was detected in 80.9% of patients, and human papillomavirus 16 was detected in 35.9% of patients. The mean number of human papillomavirus genotypes was 4.6 ± 2.9 (CI, 2-6). Anal cytology was abnormal in 40.9% of patients (n = 122/298; interquartile range, 35.4%-46.6%). High-resolution anoscopy and biopsies were performed in 119 patients. The results of histological analyses were as follows: normal, 7.7% (n = 23); condyloma, 4.3% (n = 13); anal intraepithelial neoplasia 1, 5.7% (n = 17); anal intraepithelial neoplasia 2, 14% (n = 42); and anal intraepithelial neoplasia 3, 8% (n = 24). The overall prevalence of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions among patients with abnormal cytology was 54% (95% CI, 45.1%-62.8%). A diagnosis of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions was associated with human papillomavirus 16 and human papillomavirus 51 infection, and with detection of a higher number of human papillomavirus genotypes. LIMITATIONS: High-resolution anoscopy was only performed in patients with abnormal cytology. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus infection and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions is high in our cohort. Physical examination enabled straightforward diagnosis of perianal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and squamous-cell carcinoma in 2 patients.

A machine learning method for the prediction of receptor activation in the simulation of synapses.

Chemical synaptic transmission involves the release of a neurotransmitter that diffuses in the extracellular space and interacts with specific receptors located on the postsynaptic membrane. Computer simulation approaches provide fundamental tools for exploring various aspects of the synaptic transmission under different conditions. In particular, Monte Carlo methods can track the stochastic movements of neurotransmitter molecules and their interactions with other discrete molecules, the receptors. However, these methods are computationally expensive, even when used with simplified models, preventing their use in large-scale and multi-scale simulations of complex neuronal systems that may involve large numbers of synaptic connections. We have developed a machine-learning based method that can accurately predict relevant aspects of the behavior of synapses, such as the percentage of open synaptic receptors as a function of time since the release of the neurotransmitter, with considerably lower computational cost compared with the conventional Monte Carlo alternative. The method is designed to learn patterns and general principles from a corpus of previously generated Monte Carlo simulations of synapses covering a wide range of structural and functional characteristics. These patterns are later used as a predictive model of the behavior of synapses under different conditions without the need for additional computationally expensive Monte Carlo simulations. This is performed in five stages: data sampling, fold creation, machine learning, validation and curve fitting. The resulting procedure is accurate, automatic, and it is general enough to predict synapse behavior under experimental conditions that are different to the ones it has been trained on. Since our method efficiently reproduces the results that can be obtained with Monte Carlo simulations at a considerably lower computational cost, it is suitable for the simulation of high numbers of synapses and it is therefore an excellent tool for multi-scale simulations.

3D segmentations of neuronal nuclei from confocal microscope image stacks.

In this paper, we present an algorithm to create 3D segmentations of neuronal cells from stacks of previously segmented 2D images. The idea behind this proposal is to provide a general method to reconstruct 3D structures from 2D stacks, regardless of how these 2D stacks have been obtained. The algorithm not only reuses the information obtained in the 2D segmentation, but also attempts to correct some typical mistakes made by the 2D segmentation algorithms (for example, under segmentation of tightly-coupled clusters of cells). We have tested our algorithm in a real scenario-the segmentation of the neuronal nuclei in different layers of the rat cerebral cortex. Several representative images from different layers of the cerebral cortex have been considered and several 2D segmentation algorithms have been compared. Furthermore, the algorithm has also been compared with the traditional 3D Watershed algorithm and the results obtained here show better performance in terms of correctly identified neuronal nuclei.

Factores sociodemográficos asociados a la progresión de la infección por VIH e impacto del TARGA en una cohorte de pacientes seroconvertores en Madrid (1986-2009) / Socio-demographic factors associated with the progression of HIV infection and the impact of HAART in a seroconverter cohort in Madrid (1986-2009)

Introducción El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar el impacto poblacional del TARGA e identificar los factores sociodemográficos que lo modifican, lo que resulta fundamental para orientar las intervenciones. Métodos Cohorte abierta y prospectiva de seroconvertores al VIH reclutados en el Centro Sanitario Sandoval (1986-2009) y seguidos en colaboración con hospitales de referencia de la Comunidad de Madrid. Se calculó la incidencia acumulada de sida y muerte mediante decrementos múltiples y se identificaron factores asociados mediante modelos predictivos de Fine & Gray. El periodo calendario (..) (AU)

Background The objective of this work is to study the impact of HAART at a population level and to identify socio-demographic factors that may affect it, which is essential for deciding interventions. Methods An open, prospective cohort of HIV seroconverters recruited in the Centro Sanitario Sandoval (1986-2009), and followed up in collaboration with referral hospitals in the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid. Cumulative incidence of AIDS and death was calculated by the multiple decrements method, and predictive Fine & Gray models were developed to identify associated factors. A calendar period (..) (AU)

[Socio-demographic factors associated with the progression of HIV infection and the impact of HAART in a seroconverter cohort in Madrid (1986-2009)]. / Factores sociodemográficos asociados a la progresión de la infección por VIH e impacto del TARGA en una cohorte de pacientes seroconvertores en Madrid (1986-2009).

BACKGROUND: The objective of this work is to study the impact of HAART at a population level and to identify socio-demographic factors that may affect it, which is essential for deciding interventions. METHODS: An open, prospective cohort of HIV seroconverters recruited in the Centro Sanitario Sandoval (1986-2009), and followed up in collaboration with referral hospitals in the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid. Cumulative incidence of AIDS and death was calculated by the multiple decrements method, and predictive Fine & Gray models were developed to identify associated factors. A calendar period (<1997; ≥ 1997) was introduced as a proxy of HAART availability. RESULTS: A total of 479 HIV seroconverters were identified. Hazard Ratio (HR) for progression to AIDS was 0.215 (95% CI: 0.11-0.519; P<.01) for the period ≥ 1997. Risk increased with age at the time of seroconversion (for each year older HR=1.071; 95% CI: 1.038-1.105; P<.01), but only prior to 1997. In the following period, only a high educational level showed to be a protective factor (HR=0.982; 95% CI: 0.936-1.031; P=.06). HR for progression to death was 0.134 (95% CI: 0.052-0.346; P<.01) for the period after 1997, 0.383 (95% CI: 0.168-0.875; P=.02) in people with high educational level and 1.048 (95% CI: 1.014-1.084; P<.01) for each year increase in age at seroconversion, both latter effects being homogeneous throughout the two periods. CONCLUSION: HAART has had a great impact on the risk of progression to AIDS and death, but this benefit appears to be influenced by age at HIV infection and educational level of the patient, which highlights the importance of a global approach to case management and of the implementation of policies that address social inequities in health.

Hypertension and isolated office hypertension in HIV-infected patients determined by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: prevalence and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence and risk factors for hypertension and isolated office hypertension diagnosed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 310 patients. A 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring procedure was performed on the nondominant arm in those patients showing office systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg. RESULTS: Twenty patients (6.5%) had a prior diagnosis of hypertension. Hypertension was confirmed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in 26 patients and isolated office hypertension in 17 patients. Isolated office hypertension and hypertension prevalence were 5.5% (95% confidence interval: 3 to 8) and 14.8% (95% confidence interval; 10.8 to 18.8), respectively. Isolated office hypertension was present in 39% of patients with office hypertension. In the univariate analysis, variables significantly associated with hypertension were age, waist circumference, established cardiovascular disease, family history of hypertension, lipoatrophy, metabolic syndrome, duration of infection, CD4 nadir, HIV RNA <50 copies/mL, and antiretroviral treatment. In the multivariate analysis, family history of hypertension [odds ratio (OR): 2.24; P = 0.027], increasing age (OR: 1.08; P < 0.001), and number of different antiretroviral regimens (OR: 1.2; P = 0.001) were associated with hypertension and female gender (OR: 0.27; P = 0.02) had a protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hypertension using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in HIV-infected patients was 15%. Because isolated office hypertension occurs in 39% of HIV-infected patients with office hypertension, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring could be useful to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension. Hypertension is strongly associated with family history of hypertension, male gender, age, and number of antiretroviral regimens.

Early noninvasive measurement of the indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate accurately predicts early graft dysfunction and mortality after deceased donor liver transplantation.

Early diagnosis of graft dysfunction in liver transplantation is essential for taking appropriate action. Indocyanine green clearance is closely related to liver function and can be measured noninvasively by spectrophotometry. The objectives of this study were to prospectively analyze the relationship between the indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate (ICGPDR) and early graft function after liver transplantation and to evaluate the role of ICGPDR in the prediction of severe graft dysfunction (SGD). One hundred seventy-two liver transplants from deceased donors were analyzed. Ten patients had SGD: 6 were retransplanted, and 4 died while waiting for a new graft. The plasma disappearance rate was measured 1 hour (PDRr60) and within the first 24 hours (PDR1) after reperfusion, and it was significantly lower in the SGD group. PDRr60 and PDR1 were excellent predictors of SGD. A threshold PDRr60 value of 10.8%/minute and a PDR1 value of 10%/minute accurately predicted SGD with areas under the receiver operating curve of 0.94 (95% confidence interval, 0.89-0.97) and 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.92-0.98), respectively. In addition, survival was significantly lower in patients with PDRr60 values below 10.8%/minute (53%, 47%, and 47% versus 95%, 94%, and 90% at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively) and with PDR1 values below 10%/minute (62%, 62%, and 62% versus 94%, 92%, and 88%). In conclusion, very early noninvasive measurement of ICGPDR can accurately predict early severe graft dysfunction and mortality after liver transplantation.

Accidental allergic reactions in children allergic to cow's milk proteins.

BACKGROUND: Cow's milk is the main cause of food allergy in children. Patients allergic to food frequently experience accidental exposure. There are few studies analyzing this problem, most of them concerning peanut allergy. OBJECTIVE: We sought to calculate the frequency of accidental exposure reactions in children allergic to cow's milk during a 12-month period, to analyze the clinical characteristics and circumstances surrounding the reactions, and to identify risk factors for severe reactions. METHODS: Eighty-eight children allergic to cow's milk (44 boys; median age, 32.5 months) were included in the study. A systematized questionnaire about accidental exposure was used. Reactions were classified as mild, moderate, and severe. Cow's milk- and casein-specific IgE antibody titers were determined. RESULTS: Thirty-five (40%) children had 53 reactions in the previous year (53% mild, 32% moderate, and 15% severe). Most reactions took place at home (47%) under daily life circumstances (85%). Specific IgE levels to cow's milk were higher in children with severe reactions than in those with moderate (median, 37.70 vs 7.71 KUA/L; P = .04) or mild (3.37 KUA/L; P = .04) reactions. The frequency of severe reactions was 10-fold higher in asthmatic children (odds ratio, 10.2; 95% CI, 1.13-91.54). CONCLUSIONS: Reactions to accidental exposure are frequent in children with cow's milk allergy. The proportion of severe reactions was 15%. The risk factors for such reactions included very high levels of specific IgE to cow's milk and casein and asthma.