[Sandimmun vs Neoral, comparison between two types of cyclosporine in patients with kidney transplantation]. / Sandimmun vs Neoral: comparación entre dos tipos de Ciclosporina en pacientes con trasplante de riñón.

We present a comparative trial between Sandimmun, the original cyclosporine presentation, and a modified one, called Neoral, in microemulsion, to increase the blood absortion and stability of the product. We built for each product, an absorption kinetic curve and we applied it to three patients with stable renal function, using the same dosage that was used for ciclosporine. We observed a greater absorption and stability in the blood levels of Neoral. We analyzed hundred blood samples in 25 patients and we found a higher level of this product; this lead us to make possible that in 72% of the patients we could diminish the daily dosis in 5 to 10%. The patient's renal function was stable and no complications or secondary effects were present with Neoral.

Sandimmun vs Neoral: comparación entre dos tipos de Ciclosporina en pacientes con trasplante de riñón / Sandimmun vs Neoral: comparison between two types of cyclosporine in patients with kidney transplantation

We present a comparative trial between Sandimmun, the original cyclosporine presentation, and a modified one, called Neoral, in microemulsion, to increase the blood absortion and stability of the product. We built for each product, an absorption kinetic curve and we applied it to three patients with stable renal function, using the same dosage that was used for ciclosporine. We observed a greater absorption and stability in the blood levels of Neoral. We analyzed hundred blood samples in 25 patients and we found a higher level of this product; this lead us to make possible that in 72% of the patients we could diminish the daily dosis in 5 to 10%. The patient's renal function was stable and no complications or secondary effects were present with Neoral.

[Immunologic profile of patients with renal transplantation in Panama]. / Perfil inmunologico del paciente con trasplante renal en Panama.

We are presenting the immunologic pattern of 100 patients with kidney transplant made from 1990-2000 at CHM CSS Dr.AAM. Eighty nine were alive related donors. Most of them were from blood group O, donors and receptors. They came from Panama, Chiriqui and Colon. Many of the donors were siblings. The grades of compatibility in frequency were D, C, A & B. For locus HLA-A the most common gen was A2 for transplanted patients and for the rest of the Panamanian population is A24. For the locus HLA-B were B35 and B38 respectively and for the locus HLA-C the most common gen was C4, and C3 for the rest of the population.

Uso de hierro intravenoso en pacientes renales crónicos con anemia. Mayores niveles de hemoglobina a más bajo costo / Use of intravenous iron in chronic renal patients with anemia. Higher levels of hemoglobin at a lower cost

It is presented the experience with 90 patients receiving Eritropoietin s.c. and oral iron who were in chronic haemodialysis. After basic laboratories, including iron kinetic, in all of them was stopped oral iron and started i.v. iron 60 mgs per week, but keeping the same eritropoietin doses. The results showed an increased haemoglobin level from 6.5 to 11 g/dl mean values and a decreased doses of eritropoietin between 25 to 50%. This represent an important elevation of haemoglobin levels at a significant low cost

[Use of intravenous iron in chronic renal patients with anemia. Higher levels of hemoglobin at a lower cost]. / Uso de hierro intravenoso en pacientes renales crónicos con anemia. Mayores niveles de hemoglobina a más bajo costo.

It is presented the experience with 90 patients receiving Eritropoietin s.c. and oral iron who were in chronic haemodialysis. After basic laboratories, including iron kinetic, in all of them was stopped oral iron and started i.v. iron 60 mgs per week, but keeping the same eritropoietin doses. The results showed an increased haemoglobin level from 6.5 to 11 g/dl mean values and a decreased doses of eritropoietin between 25 to 50%. This represent an important elevation of haemoglobin levels at a significant low cost.

[Kidney transplantation, a viable alternative for end-stage kidney failure]. / Transplante renal, una alternativa viable para la insuficiencia renal terminal.

End stage renal disease patients is a serious problem all around the world. The number of patients and the cost of treatment are increasing. Kidney transplantation is the only alternative to solve the problem. In Panama, kidney transplantation is performed since 1990. At the present time 55 living related donors transplantations have been performed. It is necessary to increase the number of transplantations and to begin the cadaveric donor transplant program.

Uso de eritropoyetina en pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica y en hemodiálisis / Use of erythropoietin in patients with chronic renal insufficiency and in hemodialysis

Erythropoietin (EP) injected subcutaneously (SC) 2 or 3 times a week, respectively, or intravenously (IV) 3 times a week, increased the hemoglobin and the hematocrit of all the patients so treated. The total units of EP used was less when it was administered SC. EP once or twice a week, respectively, administered SC also increased the hemoglobin and hematocrit in each case, and the total amount of EP used was also less

[Use of erythropoietin in patients with chronic renal insufficiency and in hemodialysis]. / Uso de eritropoyetina en pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica y en hemodiálisis.

Erythropoietin (EP) injected subcutaneously (SC) 2 or 3 times a week, respectively, or intravenously (IV) 3 times a week, increased the hemoglobin and the hematocrit of all the patients so treated. The total units of EP used was less when it was administered SC. EP once or twice a week, respectively, administered SC also increased the hemoglobin and hematocrit in each case, and the total amount of EP used was also less.

[Gene frequency and haplotypes of the HLA system in the Panamanian population]. / Frecuencia de genes y haplotipos del sistema HLA en la poblacion Panameña.

The authors determined the frequency of genes and haplotypes of the HLA system in 965 panamanian men and women not related to each other, between 6 and 65 years of age. The HLA-A locus genes with the highest frequency (f) were A2, with f 0.1763; A24, f 0.1584; A30, f 0.1340; A23, f 0.1069; A3, f 0.0774. The other 20 genes each had less than 0.07. The genes with the highest frequency for locus HLA-B were B35, f 0.1946; B44, f 0.0904; B7, f 0.0774; B60 and B61, f 0.0582. For locus HLA-C, the most frequent genes were Cw3 with f 0.1549 and Cw4, f 0.1444. For locus HLA-DR, the most frequent genes were DR2 with f 0.1283; DR3, f 0.0620; DR7, f 0.0409. The most frequent haplotypes in the panamanian population were A2-B35 with f 0.0382; A3-B35, f 0.0191; A24-35, f 0.0287; A24-B61, f 0.0239; A29-B44, f 0.0287; A30-B42, f 0.0239; A23-B44, f 0.0191; A1-B8, f 0.0143. The authors conclude that the panamanian population exhibits a high degree of polymorphism for loci HLA-A, B and C, while for locu HLA-DR the frequency is the median when compared with that in caucasian, negro and oriental groups; and that, according to locus, predominant genes originating from these groups and found, corroborating the multiracial origen of the panamanian population.

Frecuencia de genes y haplotipos del sistema HLA en la poblacion Panameña / Gene frequency and haplotypes of the HLA system in the Panamanian population

The authors determined the frequency of genes and haplotypes of the HLA system in 965 panamanian men and women not related to each other, between 6 and 65 years of age. The HLA-A locus genes with the highest frequency (f) were A2, with f 0.1763; A24, f 0.1584; A30, f 0.1340; A23, f 0.1069; A3, f 0.0774. The other 20 genes each had less than 0.07. The genes with the highest frequency for locus HLA-B were B35, f 0.1946; B44, f 0.0904; B7, f 0.0774; B60 and B61, f 0.0582. For locus HLA-C, the most frequent genes were Cw3 with f 0.1549 and Cw4, f 0.1444. For locus HLA-DR, the most frequent genes were DR2 with f 0.1283; DR3, f 0.0620; DR7, f 0.0409. The most frequent haplotypes in the panamanian population were A2-B35 with f 0.0382; A3-B35, f 0.0191; A24-35, f 0.0287; A24-B61, f 0.0239; A29-B44, f 0.0287; A30-B42, f 0.0239; A23-B44, f 0.0191; A1-B8, f 0.0143. The authors conclude that the panamanian population exhibits a high degree of polymorphism for loci HLA-A, B and C, while for locu HLA-DR the frequency is the median when compared with that in caucasian, negro and oriental groups; and that, according to locus, predominant genes originating from these groups and found, corroborating the multiracial origen of the panamanian population

C-type natriuretic peptide receptors and signaling in rectal gland of Squalus acanthias.

Recent evidence suggests that the newly described natriuretic peptide, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), may be the circulating form of natriuretic peptide in the shark. In the shark CNP has a major site of action in the rectal gland, which augments chloride secretion in response to stimulation by volume loading or CNP infusion. We therefore examined the shark rectal gland for natriuretic peptide receptors and determined the presence of guanylate cyclase-linked receptors and non-guanylate cyclase-linked receptors for CNP in this tissue. CNP binds with uniform high affinity (dissociation constant of 78 +/- 11 pM) to receptors of high density (receptor density of 61 +/- 0.7 fmol/mg protein) in plasma membranes prepared from the rectal gland. By use of rat atrial natriuretic peptide (rANP) as a competing ligand, two classes of receptors become apparent in this population, both of which have similar affinity for CNP, but different affinities for rANP. The low-molecular-weight natriuretic peptide receptor-specific peptide, des-[Gln116,Ser117,Gly118, Leu119,Gly120]rANP-(102-121), binds to 50% of the receptors in the rectal gland, but fails to bind to the remaining 50% even at micromolar concentrations. Porcine brain natriuretic peptide (pBNP) binds with uniformly diminished affinity to all receptors, whereas the unrelated peptide, porcine vasoactive intestinal peptide, does not bind these receptors. The importance of the integrity of the ring structure of CNP is underlined by the significant loss of affinity when the peptide ring is opened.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)