Maternal glycaemic control and risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia in Type 1 diabetes pregnancy: a secondary analysis of the CONCEPTT trial.

AIMS: To examine the relationship between maternal glycaemic control and risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia using conventional and continuous glucose monitoring metrics in the Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Type 1 Diabetes Pregnancy Trial (CONCEPTT) participants. METHODS: A secondary analysis of CONCEPTT involving 225 pregnant women and their liveborn infants. Antenatal glycaemia was assessed at 12, 24 and 34 weeks gestation. Intrapartum glycaemia was assessed by continuous glucose monitoring measures 24 hours prior to delivery. The primary outcome was neonatal hypoglycaemia defined as glucose concentration < 2.6 mmol/l and requiring intravenous dextrose. RESULTS: Neonatal hypoglycaemia occurred in 57/225 (25.3%) infants, 21 (15%) term and 36 (40%) preterm neonates. During the second and third trimesters, mothers of infants with neonatal hypoglycaemia had higher HbA1c [48 ± 7 (6.6 ± 0.6) vs. 45 ± 7 (6.2 ± 0.6); P = 0.0009 and 50 ± 7 (6.7 ± 0.6) vs. 46 ± 7 (6.3 ± 0.6); P = 0.0001] and lower continuous glucose monitoring time-in-range (46% vs. 53%; P = 0.004 and 60% vs. 66%; P = 0.03). Neonates with hypoglycaemia had higher cord blood C-peptide concentrations [1416 (834, 2757) vs. 662 (417, 1086) pmol/l; P < 0.00001], birthweight > 97.7th centile (63% vs. 34%; P < 0.0001) and skinfold thickness (P ≤ 0.02). Intrapartum continuous glucose monitoring was available for 33 participants, with no differences between mothers of neonates with and without hypoglycaemia. CONCLUSIONS: Modest increments in continuous glucose monitoring time-in-target (5-7% increase) during the second and third trimesters are associated with reduced risk for neonatal hypoglycaemia. While more intrapartum continuous glucose monitoring data are needed, the higher birthweight and skinfold measures associated with neonatal hypoglycaemia suggest that risk is related to fetal hyperinsulinemia preceding the immediate intrapartum period.

Screening of Living Kidney Donors for Genetic Diseases Using a Comprehensive Genetic Testing Strategy.

Related living kidney donors (LKDs) are at higher risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) compared with unrelated LKDs. A genetic panel was developed to screen 115 genes associated with renal diseases. We used this panel to screen six negative controls, four transplant candidates with presumed genetic renal disease and six related LKDs. After removing common variants, pathogenicity was predicted using six algorithms to score genetic variants based on conservation and function. All variants were evaluated in the context of patient phenotype and clinical data. We identified causal variants in three of the four transplant candidates. Two patients with a family history of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease segregated variants in PKD1. These findings excluded genetic risk in three of four relatives accepted as potential LKDs. A third patient with an atypical history for Alport syndrome had a splice site mutation in COL4A5. This pathogenic variant was excluded in a sibling accepted as an LKD. In another patient with a strong family history of ESRD, a negative genetic screen combined with negative comparative genomic hybridization in the recipient facilitated counseling of the related donor. This genetic renal disease panel will allow rapid, efficient and cost-effective evaluation of related LKDs.

Experiences of closed-loop insulin delivery among pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: To explore the experiences of pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes, and the relationships between perceptions of glucose control, attitudes to technology and glycaemic responses with regard to closed-loop insulin delivery. METHODS: We recruited 16 pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes [mean ± sd age 34.1 ± 4.6 years, duration of diabetes 23.6 ± 7.2 years, baseline HbA1c 51±5 mmol/mol (6.8 ± 0.6%)] to a randomized crossover trial of sensor-augmented pump therapy vs automated closed-loop therapy. Questionnaires (Diabetes Technology Questionnaire, Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey) were completed before and after each intervention, with qualitative interviews at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Women described the benefits and burdens of closed-loop systems during pregnancy. Feelings of improved glucose control, excitement and empowerment were counterbalanced by concerns about device visibility, obsessive data checking and diminished attentiveness to hyper- and hypoglycaemia symptoms. Responding to questionnaires, eight participants felt less worry about overnight hypoglycaemia and that diabetes 'did not run their lives'; however, five reported that closed-loop increased time thinking about diabetes, and three felt it made sleep and preventing hyperglycaemia more problematic. Women slightly overestimated their glycaemic response to closed-loop therapy. Most became more positive in their technology attitudes throughout pregnancy. Women with more positive technology attitudes had higher degrees of overestimation, and poorer levels of glycaemic control. CONCLUSIONS: Women displayed complex psychosocial responses to closed-loop therapy in pregnancy. Perceptions of glycaemic response may diverge from biomedical data.

Solid-organ transplantation in older adults: current status and future research.

An increasing number of patients older than 65 years are referred for and have access to organ transplantation, and an increasing number of older adults are donating organs. Although short-term outcomes are similar in older versus younger transplant recipients, older donor or recipient age is associated with inferior long-term outcomes. However, age is often a proxy for other factors that might predict poor outcomes more strongly and better identify patients at risk for adverse events. Approaches to transplantation in older adults vary across programs, but despite recent gains in access and the increased use of marginal organs, older patients remain less likely than other groups to receive a transplant, and those who do are highly selected. Moreover, few studies have addressed geriatric issues in transplant patient selection or management, or the implications on health span and disability when patients age to late life with a transplanted organ. This paper summarizes a recent trans-disciplinary workshop held by ASP, in collaboration with NHLBI, NIA, NIAID, NIDDK and AGS, to address issues related to kidney, liver, lung, or heart transplantation in older adults and to propose a research agenda in these areas.

Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) is associated with reduced graft survival in pancreas transplantation.

Prior single-center studies have reported that pancreas allograft survival is not affected by preservation in histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) versus University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. To expand on these studies, we analyzed the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database of pancreas transplants from July 2004, through February 2008, to determine if preservation with HTK (N = 1081) versus UW (N = 3311) impacted graft survival. HTK preservation of pancreas allografts increased significantly in this time frame, from 15.4% in 2004 to 25.4% in 2008. After adjusting for other recipient, donor, graft and transplant center factors that impact graft survival, HTK preservation was independently associated with an increased risk of pancreas graft loss (hazard ratio [HR] 1.30, p = 0.014), especially in pancreas allografts with cold ischemia time (CIT) >or=12 h (HR 1.42, p = 0.017). This reduced survival with HTK preservation as compared to UW preservation was seen in both simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplants and pancreas alone (PA) transplants. Furthermore, HTK preservation was also associated with a 1.54-fold higher odds of early (<30 days) pancreas graft loss as compared to UW (OR 1.54, p = 0.008). These results suggest that the increasing use of HTK for abdominal organ preservation should be re-examined.

Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK) is associated with reduced graft survival in deceased donor livers, especially those donated after cardiac death.

Single-center studies have reported that liver allograft survival is not affected by preservation in histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) versus University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. We analyzed the UNOS database of liver transplants performed from July, 2004, through February, 2008, to determine if preservation with HTK (n = 4755) versus UW (n = 12 673) impacted graft survival. HTK preservation of allografts increased from 16.8% in 2004 to 26.9% in 2008; this was particularly striking among donor after cardiac death (DCD) allografts, rising from 20.7% in 2004 to 40.9% in 2008. After adjusting for donor, recipient and graft factors that affect graft survival, HTK preservation was associated with an increased risk of graft loss (HR 1.14, p = 0.002), especially with DCD allografts (HR 1.44, P = 0.025) and those with cold ischemia time over 8 h (HR 1.16, P = 0.009). Furthermore, HTK preservation was associated with a 1.2-fold higher odds of early (< 30 days) graft loss as compared to UW preservation (OR 1.20, p = 0.012), with a more pronounced effect on allografts with cold ischemia time over 8 h (OR 1.31, p = 0.007), DCD allografts (OR 1.63, p = 0.09) and donors over 70 years (OR 1.67, p = 0.081). These results suggest that the increasing use of HTK for abdominal organ preservation should be reexamined.

Kidney transplantation in previous heart or lung recipients.

Outcomes after heart and lung transplants have improved, and many recipients survive long enough to develop secondary renal failure, yet remain healthy enough to undergo kidney transplantation. We used national data reported to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to evaluate outcomes of 568 kidney after heart (KAH) and 210 kidney after lung (KAL) transplants performed between 1995 and 2008. Median time to kidney transplant was 100.3 months after heart, and 90.2 months after lung transplant. Renal failure was attributed to calcineurin inhibitor toxicity in most patients. Outcomes were compared with primary kidney recipients using matched controls (MC) to account for donor, recipient and graft characteristics. Although 5-year renal graft survival was lower than primary kidney recipients (61% KAH vs. 73.8% MC, p < 0.001; 62.6% KAL vs. 82.9% MC, p < 0.001), death-censored graft survival was comparable (84.9% KAH vs. 88.2% MC, p = 0.1; 87.6% KAL vs. 91.8% MC, p = 0.6). Furthermore, renal transplantation reduced the risk of death compared with dialysis by 43% for KAH and 54% for KAL recipients. Our findings that renal grafts function well and provide survival benefit in KAH and KAL recipients, but are limited in longevity by the general life expectancy of these recipients, might help inform clinical decision-making and allocation in this population.

Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) is associated with reduced graft survival of deceased donor kidney transplants.

Single-center studies have reported equivalent outcomes of kidney allografts recovered with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) or University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. However, these studies were likely underpowered and often unadjusted, and multicenter studies have suggested HTK preservation might increase delayed graft function (DGF) and reduce graft survival of renal allografts. To further inform clinical practice, we analyzed the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database of deceased donor kidney transplants performed from July 2004 to February 2008 to determine if HTK (n = 5728) versus UW (n = 15 898) preservation impacted DGF or death-censored graft survival. On adjusted analyses, HTK preservation had no effect on DGF (odds ratio [OR] 0.99, p = 0.7) but was associated with an increased risk of death-censored graft loss (hazard ratio [HR] 1.20, p = 0.008). The detrimental effect of HTK was a relatively late one, with a strong association between HTK and subsequent graft loss in those surviving beyond 12 months (HR 1.43, p = 0.007). Interestingly, a much stronger effect was seen in African-American recipients (HR 1.55, p = 0.024) than in Caucasian recipients (HR 1.18, p = 0.5). Given recent studies that also demonstrate that HTK preservation reduces liver and pancreas allograft survival, we suggest that the use of HTK for abdominal organ recovery should be reconsidered.

The use of antibody to complement protein C5 for salvage treatment of severe antibody-mediated rejection.

Desensitized patients are at high risk of developing acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). In most cases, the rejection episodes are mild and respond to a short course of plasmapheresis (PP) / low-dose IVIg treatment. However, a subset of patients experience severe AMR associated with sudden onset oliguria. We previously described the utility of emergent splenectomy in rescuing allografts in patients with this type of severe AMR. However, not all patients are good candidates for splenectomy. Here we present a single case in which eculizumab, a complement protein C5 antibody that inhibits the formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC), was used combined with PP/IVIg to salvage a kidney undergoing severe AMR. We show a marked decrease in C5b-C9 (MAC) complex deposition in the kidney after the administration of eculizumab.

Subclinical rejection in stable positive crossmatch kidney transplant patients: incidence and correlations.

We reviewed 116 surveillance biopsies obtained approximately 1, 3, 6 and 12 months posttransplantation from 50 +XM live donor kidney transplant recipients to determine the frequency of subclinical cell-mediated rejection (CMR) and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Subclinical CMR was present in 39.7% of the biopsies at 1 month and >20% at all other time points. The presence of diffuse C4d on biopsies obtained at each time interval ranged from 20 to 30%. In every case, where histological and immunohistological findings were diagnostic for AMR, donor-specific antibody was found in the blood, challenging the long-held belief that low-level antibody could evade detection due to absorption on the graft. Among clinical factors, only recipient age was associated with subclinical CMR. Clinical factors associated with subclinical AMR were recipient age, positive cytotoxic crossmatch prior to desensitization and two mismatches of HLA DR 51, 52 and 53 alleles. Surveillance biopsies during the first year post-transplantation for these high-risk patients uncover clinically occult processes and phenotypes, which without intervention diminish allograft survival and function.

p21(Waf1/Cip1) inhibition of cyclin E/Cdk2 activity prevents endoreduplication after mitotic spindle disruption.

During a normal cell cycle, entry into S phase is dependent on completion of mitosis and subsequent activation of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) in G1. These events are monitored by checkpoint pathways. Recent studies and data presented herein show that after treatment with microtubule inhibitors (MTIs), cells deficient in the Cdk inhibitor p21(Waf1/Cip1) enter S phase with a >/=4N DNA content, a process known as endoreduplication, which results in polyploidy. To determine how p21 prevents MTI-induced endoreduplication, the G1/S and G2/M checkpoint pathways were examined in two isogenic cell systems: HCT116 p21(+/+) and p21(-/-) cells and H1299 cells containing an inducible p21 expression vector (HIp21). Both HCT116 p21(-/-) cells and noninduced HIp21 cells endoreduplicated after MTI treatment. Analysis of G1-phase Cdk activities demonstrated that the induction of p21 inhibited endoreduplication through direct cyclin E/Cdk2 regulation. The kinetics of p21 inhibition of cyclin E/Cdk2 activity and binding to proliferating-cell nuclear antigen in HCT116 p21(+/+) cells paralleled the onset of endoreduplication in HCT116 p21(-/-) cells. In contrast, loss of p21 did not lead to deregulated cyclin D1-dependent kinase activities, nor did p21 directly regulate cyclin B1/Cdc2 activity. Furthermore, we show that MTI-induced endoreduplication in p53-deficient HIp21 cells was due to levels of p21 protein below a threshold required for negative regulation of cyclin E/Cdk2, since ectopic expression of p21 restored cyclin E/Cdk2 regulation and prevented endoreduplication. Based on these findings, we propose that p21 plays an integral role in the checkpoint pathways that restrain normal cells from entering S phase after aberrant mitotic exit due to defects in microtubule dynamics.

Defective G1-S cell cycle checkpoint function sensitizes cells to microtubule inhibitor-induced apoptosis.

Defective cell cycle checkpoint function has been linked to enhanced sensitivity of tumor cells to certain genotoxic agents. To determine whether loss of the G1-S checkpoint function would sensitize tumor cells to microtubule inhibitor (MTI)-induced apoptosis, we examined the effect of the MTIs, Taxol and vincristine, on the cell cycle kinetics and survival of two isogenic cell lines, HCT116 p21+/+ and HCT116 p21-/-, which differ only at the p21 locus. p21-deficient cells displayed a dose-dependent, enhanced chemosensitivity to MTIs in both monolayer and soft agar assays as well as in mice xenograft tumors. The increased sensitivity of the p21-deficient cells to MTIs correlated with prolonged cyclin B1/Cdc2 activity and the occurrence of endoreduplication. Furthermore, sensitivity of p53-deficient cells to MTI-induced apoptosis was significantly reduced by induction of ectopic p21 protein. The results suggest that the status of G1-S checkpoint function in tumor cells may be an important determinant in the efficacy of MTIs used clinically.

Increased p53 phosphorylation after microtubule disruption is mediated in a microtubule inhibitor- and cell-specific manner.

p53 is present at low levels in unstressed cells. Numerous cellular insults, including DNA damage and microtubule disruption, elevate p53 protein levels. Phosphorylation of p53 is proposed to be important for p53 stabilization and activation after genotoxic stress; however, p53 phosphorylation after microtubule disruption has not been analysed. The goal of the current study was to determine if p53 phosphorylation increases after microtubule disruption, and if so, to identify specific p53 residues necessary for microtubule inhibitor-induced phosphorylation. Two dimensional gel analyses demonstrated that the number of p53 phospho-forms in cells increased after treatment with microtubule inhibitors (MTIs) and that the pattern of p53 phosphorylation was distinct from that observed after DNA damage. p53 phosphorylation also varied in a MTI-dependent manner, as Taxol and Vincristine induced more p53 phospho-forms than nocodazole. Further, MTI treatment increased phosphorylation of p53 on serine-15 in epithelial tumor cells. In contrast, serine-15 phosphorylation of p53 did not increase in MTI-treated primary cultures of human fibroblasts. Analysis of ectopically expressed p53 phospho-mutant proteins from Taxol- and nocodazole-treated cells indicated that multiple p53 amino terminal residues, including serine-15 and threonine-18, were required for Taxol-mediated phosphorylation of p53. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that distinct p53 phospho-forms are induced by MTI treatment as compared to DNA damage and that p53 phosphorylation is mediated in a MTI- and cell-specific manner. Oncogene (2001) 20, 113 - 124.

Cell cycle checkpoint signaling: cell cycle arrest versus apoptosis.

Although toxicants may initiate cell damage or stress, the cellular proteins that are involved in control of cell cycle and apoptosis are the final arbiters of cell fate. The biochemical pathways that restrain cell cycle transition and/or induce cell death after stress are known as cell cycle checkpoints. These checkpoints maintain the fidelity of DNA replication, repair, and division. Herein, select cell cycle checkpoint signaling pathways will be discussed and how different components of these pathways are regulated by exogenous and endogenous agents, with focus on the p53 tumor suppressor signaling. The p53 protein is known to play a key role in growth arrest and apoptosis after cell stress, primarily through its ability to regulate the transcription of select downstream target genes in the cell. Further elucidation of the signaling pathways that control growth arrest and apoptosis will continue to provide insights to the complex cellular responses to environmental toxicants.

Case report: Eculizumab rescue of severe accelerated antibody-mediated rejection after ABO-incompatible kidney transplant.

ABO-incompatible (ABOI) living donor kidney transplantation has become a well-accepted practice with standard protocols using perioperative antibody-depleting therapies to lower blood group titers to an acceptable threshold for transplantation. However, a subset of patients will experience accelerated antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after ABOI kidney transplantation and require aggressive intervention to prevent allograft loss. Here in we report the successful use of terminal complement inhibition with eculizumab to rescue an ABOI kidney allograft with accelerated AMR refractory to salvage splenectomy and daily plasmapheresis. This case emphasizes the fact that, despite close postoperative surveillance and aggressive intervention, graft loss from accelerated AMR after ABOI kidney transplantation remains a very real risk. Eculizumab may offer a graft-saving therapeutic option for isolated cases of severe AMR after ABOI kidney transplantation refractory to standard treatment.

Case report: successful treatment of recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with a novel rituximab regimen.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is the cause of renal failure in more than 10% of pediatric patients undergoing renal transplantation. Recurrent FSGS is a major cause of pediatric allograft failure, with the risk increasing for patients undergoing retransplantation. Standard therapy for recurrent posttransplantation FSGS includes the use of intensive plasmapheresis (PP) in conjunction with cyclophosphamide or high-dose cyclosporine. However, many patients exhibit refractory disease, with rapid progression to allograft loss despite these interventions. Prior studies have reported conflicting data on the efficacy of adding rituximab therapy to the standard treatment regimen for recurrent posttransplantation FSGS. Here we present a successful therapeutic protocol with rapid elimination of PP after initiation of rituximab therapy for an adolescent patient with recurrent FSGS in the immediate postoperative period. The patient has maintained excellent allograft function through 12 months posttransplantation.

Syk: a new player in the field of breast cancer.

Breast tumor development and progression are thought to occur through a complex, multistep process, including oncogene activation (eg HER2/neu) and mutation or loss of tumor suppressor genes (eg p53). Determining the function of genetic alterations in breast carcinoma tumorigenesis and metastasis has been the focus of intensive research efforts for several decades. One group of proteins that play a critical role in breast cancer cell signaling pathways are tyrosine kinases. Overexpression of the tyrosine kinase HER2/neu is observed in many human breast cancers and is positively correlated with enhanced tumorigenesis. Recently, another tyrosine kinase, Syk, has been implicated as an important inhibitor of breast cancer cell growth and metastasis. This recent finding was unexpected, since Syk function has been predominantly linked to hematopoietic cell signaling, and is discussed further in this commentary.

Cell cycle checkpoints as therapeutic targets.

Most human breast tumors arise from multiple genetic changes which gradually transform differentiated and growth-limited cells into highly invasive cells that are unresponsive to growth controls. The genetic evolution of normal breast cells into cancer cells is largely determined by the fidelity of DNA replication, repair, and division. Cell cycle arrest in response to DNA damage is an important part of the mechanism used to maintain genomic integrity. The control mechanisms that restrain cell cycle transition after DNA damage are known as cell cycle checkpoints. This review will focus on cell cycle checkpoint signaling pathways commonly mutated in human breast tumors and suggest how different components of these checkpoint pathways offer the potential for chemotherapeutic intervention.

Mitotic phosphorylation of Bcl-2 during normal cell cycle progression and Taxol-induced growth arrest.

There is increasing evidence that prolonged mitotic arrest initiates apoptosis; however, little is known about the signaling pathways involved. Several studies have associated deregulated Cdc2 activity with apoptosis. Herein, we report that the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, undergoes cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation during mitosis when there is elevated Cdc2 activity. We found that paclitaxel (Taxol(R)) treatment of epithelial tumor cells induced a prolonged mitotic arrest, elevated levels of mitotic kinase activity, hyperphosphorylation of Bcl-2, and subsequent cell death. The Taxol-induced Bcl-2 phosphorylation was dose-dependent. Furthermore, phosphorylated Bcl-2 remained complexed with Bax in Taxol-treated cells undergoing apoptosis. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed a Bcl-2-associated kinase capable of phosphorylating histone H1 in vitro. However, the kinase was likely not cyclin B1/Cdc2, since cyclin B1/Cdc2 was not detectable in Bcl-2 immunoprecipitates, nor was recombinant Bcl-2 phosphorylated in vitro by cyclin B1/Cdc2. The results of this study further define a link between mitotic kinase activation and the apoptotic machinery in the cell. However, the role, if any, of prolonged Bcl-2 phosphorylation in Taxol-mediated apoptosis awaits further definition of Bcl-2 mechanism of action. Taxol may increase cellular susceptibility to apoptosis by amplifying the normal downstream events associated with mitotic kinase activation.