PubMed · 15577920
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Francis Vella, Daniel Mietchen, Toni Gabaldón, Eurodoc Council. 2004. Perceptions about postdocs.. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.embor.7400304
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Genetic transmission plays a major role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Family, twin, and adoption studies have consistently shown that risks in relatives are many times greater than the general population risk of approximately 1%. McGue, Gottesman, and Rao (1983; Am J Hum Genet 35:1161-1178) calculated risk estimates of 12.8% for offspring and 3.5% for nieces/nephews of schizophrenia patients based on a large data set of Western European families. The present study evaluated corresponding risk levels in Palau, an isolated population in Micronesia where the prevalence of narrowly (broadly) defined schizophrenia is 1.99% (2.67%) and cases cluster in extended pedigrees, 20 of which contain 80% of affected individuals. We hypothesized that offspring in these extended families would have a higher risk for schizophrenia than offspring in smaller schizophrenia pedigrees from more genetically heterogeneous populations. RDC diagnostic data based on complete ascertainment of cases and their families covering the past two generations were used to quantify empirical recurrence risks in the offspring and nieces/nephews of Palauan schizophrenia patients. Risks to 1st- and 2nd-degree offspring were approximately double the rates found in the smaller Western European families: 23.4% in the offspring of an affected parent, 6.4% in offspring with one affected aunt/uncle, and 15.0% in offspring with two or more affected aunts/uncles. Recurrence rates in offspring of an affected parent were 1.6 times higher in males (27.9%) than in females (17.7%). The high risk levels we found in Palauan offspring reflect the elevated population prevalence, strong familial aggregation, and multi-lineal transmission pattern of schizophrenia in Palau.
BACKGROUND: The increasing number of live kidney donors in the last decade has stimulated interest in the surgical technique of donor nephrectomy. In this study, we evaluated the current status of the surgical approach in European transplant centers. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 131 centers in 12 European countries. Questions included the number of donors, the technique used, and the inclusion and exclusion criteria for a technique. RESULTS: Ninety-two replies (70%) were included. In the responding centers, approximately 1450 live donor nephrectomies were performed in 2004 (more than 80% of all live kidney donations in these countries). The number of living donors ranged from 0 to 95 per center. Nineteen institutions (21%) removed kidneys using endoscopic techniques only. Twenty-two centers (24%) performed both open and laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. Vessel length, difficult anatomy and right-sided donor nephrectomy were common reasons to choose an open technique. Twelve centers had performed laparoscopic donor nephrectomy but quit their program for various reasons. In 51 centers (55%), only open donor nephrectomy was carried out. Lack of evidence that endoscopic techniques provide better results was the main reason for these centers to stick to an open approach. Incisional hernias occurred after all types of open surgery in up to 30% of the donors per center. Twenty-nine clinics still carry out the classic flank incision. CONCLUSION: The surgical technique of live donor nephrectomy varies greatly between transplant centers in European countries. To define the optimal surgical approach a European registration of donor nephrectomies would be helpful.
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