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Improved recovery following posttransplant acute renal failure in rat renal isografts with an oral endothelin-A receptor antagonist.

BACKGROUND: Delayed renal function after transplantation is a strong predictor of long-term graft survival. As an increased expression of endothelin (ET) has been demonstrated during ischemia/reperfusion injury, we hypothesized that ET-A receptor blockade could improve the recovery of acute renal failure in a rat model of isogeneic kidney transplantation. METHODS: Kidneys of Fisher (F344, RT1(1v1)) rat donors flushed with cooled University of Wisconsin solution were transplanted into bilaterally nephrectomized Fisher rats. Recipient animals were treated orally either with vehicle or the selective ET-A receptor antagonist LU135252 (30 mg/kg/day p.o.) for 14 days. Unilaterally nephrectomized Fisher rats not subjected to ischemia served as controls. No immunosuppression was given. On days 2, 6 and 14, metabolic studies were performed to evaluate endogenous creatinine clearance, fractional sodium excretion, and urinary endothelin excretion. Kidneys were harvested at the end of the experiment for determination of renal ET content and immunohistochemical assessment. RESULTS: Urinary ET excretion was increased in vehicle-treated isografts compared to uninephrectomized controls after 14 days. Treatment with LU135252 resulted in a significant improvement in creatinine clearance and fractional sodium excretion to the level of uninephrectomized rats after 14 days. Isografts treated with selective ET-A receptor blockade demonstrated a marked reduction in cell surface markers for macrophages/monocytes, T cells, MHC-II, and ICAM-1. CONCLUSION: Treatment with the selective ET-A receptor antagonist LU135252 accelerates recovery of renal function after isogeneic renal transplantation and attenuates cellular graft infiltration. This effect could have major implications for the treatment of patients undergoing renal transplantation, as an improved initial renal function may delay the onset of chronic allograft rejection.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Autologous osteochondral grafting (mosaic arthroplasty) for treatment of subchondral cystic lesions in the equine stifle and fetlock joints.

OBJECTIVE: To describe treatment of equine subchondral bone cysts (SBCs) by reconstruction of the articular surface with osteochondral grafts. STUDY DESIGN: Case series of horses with SBCs unresponsive to conservative therapy. ANIMALS: Eleven horses (1-12 years). METHODS: SBCs were identified in 4 locations: medial femoral condyle (5 horses), lateral femoral condyle (1), distal epiphysis of the metacarpus (4), or metatarsus (1). Osteochondral autograft transplantation (mosaic arthroplasty) was performed, taking grafts from the abaxial border of the medial femoral trochlea of the unaffected limb. Graft implantation was achieved through a small arthrotomy or by arthroscopy depending on SBC location. RESULTS: All horses improved postoperatively; 10 horses had successful outcomes with radiographic evidence of successful graft incorporation and 7 returned to a previous or higher activity level. On follow-up arthroscopy (5 horses) there was successful reconstitution of a functional gliding surface. One horse had delayed incorporation of a graft because of a technical error but became sound. One horse had recurrence after 4 years of work and soundness. One stallion was used for breeding and light riding because of medial meniscal injuries on the same limb. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of osteochondral grafts should be considered for SBC when conservative management has not improved lameness and there is a risk of further joint injury and degeneration. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mosaic arthroplasty should be considered for treatment of subchondral bone cysts of the femoral condyle and distal articular surface of the metacarpus/tarsus in horses that are refractory to non-surgical management.

Animals↗

Outcome of renal transplantation in patients treated with erythropoietin.

The introduction of treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has raised the possibility of deleterious effects on early kidney graft function. Due to renal anemia, the great majority of patients waiting for kidney transplantation until now have had a low hematocrit. It has been suggested that a low hematocrit is beneficial for early kidney graft function by protecting the transplanted kidney from so-called reperfusion damage, which results in delayed onset of renal function. We have retrospectively examined the early function of 26 kidney grafts transplanted to uremic patients with rhEPO corrected anemia. Compared with a randomized control group no significant differences were seen in the rate of immediate onset of graft function, graft survival or serum levels of creatinine one year after transplantation. We conclude that the reversing of anemia by rhEPO in recipients of cadaver kidneys does not impair early graft function.

Anemia↗

Renal tubular cell necrosis and apoptosis in transplanted kidneys.

Renal wedge biopsies were taken from donors' kidneys immediately at the end of cold ischaemia and 30 min after transplantation in 11 cases. Five renal grafts showed immediate and six showed delayed renal function clinically. The ratio of apoptotic and necrotic renal tubular cells and Ki67 activity was determined in both biopsies. Necrotic and apoptotic as well as proliferating renal tubular cells were seen in all samples. Both apoptotic and proliferative activity was decreased in samples taken 30 min after transplantation in cases of immediate renal function compared to the samples taken before transplantation. This phenomenon was not observed in cases of delayed renal function.

Apoptosis↗

Alpha-human-ANP response to preanesthetic volume expansion and subsequent renal transplantation in diabetic and nondiabetic uremic patients.

alpha-Human atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations were measured in 11 diabetic patients with uremia and in 16 nondiabetic uremic controls undergoing renal transplantation after preanesthetic volume expansion with 1000 ml saline solution within 10 min. Two diabetic and seven nondiabetic patients received grafts from living donors and the rest from cadaveric donors. Volume expansion induced a significant increase in the cardiac filling pressures (P less than 0.001), which were kept at that level especially at declamping, which was preceded by mannitol infusion. The baseline mixed venous ANP levels were significantly higher in the diabetic (252 +/- 6 pg/ml) than in the nondiabetic group (103 +/- 14 pg/ml; P less than 0.05). In the nondiabetic group, ANP increased to 177 +/- 40 pg/ml as a response to volume loading (P less than 0.05); it was not clearly changed in the diabetic group. Arterial ANP increased from 267 +/- 55 to 343 +/- 75 pg/ml in the diabetic group (P less than 0.05 and from 102 +/- 17 to 147 +/- 31 pg/ml in the nondiabetic group (P less than 0.05). During transplantation, mixed venous ANP decreased to 125 +/- 55 pg/ml in the diabetic and to 80 +/- 10 pg/ml in the nondiabetic group (P less than 0.001). About 30% of circulating ANP was taken up by the transplant irrespective of postoperative graft function. Two patients in each group showed delayed diuresis requiring postoperative dialysis therapy (22% of all cadaveric transplantations). ANP levels at declamping had no correlation to the outcome of kidney function.

Adult↗

Improving the rate of organ donation.

BACKGROUND: Organ shortage is a major problem in transplantation. Many potential donors are still lost due to a lack of information and communication. Many transplantation centers report a major donor increase after introducing new donor policies. The aim of this study was to evaluate in retrospective fashion a new donor policy in our region. METHODS: For the past 10 years all reported donors from intensive care units (ICUs) in our region were evaluated. Our new policy had 2 main steps: accepting more marginal grafts and using a transplantation representative. The goal was the improved communication with ICUs to support physicians involved in donor care. A public information program was also implemented. RESULTS: In the first year, numbers of donors obviously improved (+60.5%) and remained stable the following year. The mean donor age increased to 41.56 years. The donor pool showed mainly an improved kidney-donation rate (+53%) with also an increase in multiorgan donation (+37%). One year posttransplantation survival was not negatively influenced by this donor pool. As expected, transplantation activities increased notably, particularly liver transplantation (+31.11%) but also kidney transplantation (+26.73%). DISCUSSION: Many donors are lost because physicians in charge of brain dead patients are not fully informed about modified donation criteria. The reason for this is a lack of information and communication by transplantation units. Improved surgical techniques and better preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative treatment have yielded better results with marginal grafts. Immediate graft function in recipients of suboptimal grafts may be delayed, but without a significantly negative impact on patient and graft survival. Because the age of organ recipients is steadily increasing with fewer contraindications for transplants, more organs will be needed.

Brain Death↗

Endogenous ANP in postischemic acute renal allograft failure.

Circulating atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels and glomerular binding sites for ANP were examined in 23 subjects undergoing renal transplantation. Subjects were divided into two groups, group 1 (n = 12) with prompt and group 2 (n = 11) with delayed allograft function. Sixty to 180 min after graft reperfusion, renovascular resistance was threefold higher and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) depressed by 79% in group 2 vs. group 1. Corresponding median plasma ANP (114 vs. 140 pg/ml) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) levels (22 vs. 28 pmol/ml) were similarly elevated in the two groups [P = not significant (NS)]. Autoradiographic analysis of glomeruli in an allograft biopsy revealed the median density of total receptors (24 vs. 28 fmol/mm3), A receptors (15 vs. 19 fmol/mm3), and C receptors (6 vs. 9 fmol/mm3) for ANP to also be similar in group 2 vs. group 1, respectively (P = NS). By postoperative day 3, allograft GFR averaged only 6 +/- 2 in group 2 vs. 59 +/- 4 ml/min in group 1. Median plasma ANP levels doubled in each group to 262 and 251 pg/ml, respectively (P = NS). However, median values for plasma levels (38 vs. 17 pmol/ml) and the fractional clearance of cGMP (1.9 vs. 1.2) were significantly higher in group 2 than group 1. We conclude that, despite an adequate density of glomerular ANP receptors and enhanced cGMP generation, neither renal vasoconstriction nor hypofiltration is alleviated by a progressive elevation of plasma ANP levels in renal transplant recipients with sustained postischemic injury. We infer that constricted afferent arterioles are unresponsive to the vasorelaxant action of endogenous ANP in this form of postischemic, acute renal failure.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Hyperacute graft-v-host disease in patients not given immunosuppression after allogeneic marrow transplantation.

Sixteen patients with leukemia in relapse or second to third remission, 5 to 27 years old (median, 17), were given cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg X 2) and total body irradiation (2.25 Gy for each of seven days) followed by unmodified marrow grafts from HLA-identical siblings. Patients did not receive posttransplant immunosuppression and were followed a median of nine months (range, 5-17). Prompt engraftment was sustained in 12 patients with a median time of 16 days (range, 10 to 63) to achieve 500 neutrophils/mm3. One patient failed to engraft, one had delayed engraftment, and two had late poor graft function. All 15 with engraftment developed moderate to life-threatening graft-v-host disease (GVHD, eight grade II and seven grade III-IV). This syndrome was hyperacute (median onset eight days [range, 7 to 29] posttransplant) and manifest by severe skin disease (14 patients at stage 3 and one at stage 4), fever (ten patients), and liver (four patients, stage 3-4) or gut (four patients, stage 3-4) involvement. Serial tissue biopsies confirmed acute GVHD in 13 of 15 patients. Ten were treated with antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine (four survive), and four with corticosteroids (two survive). Actuarial survival to 17 months was 37%. Causes of death included interstitial pneumonia (four), infection (three), graft failure (one), venocclusive disease (one), and relapse of leukemia (one). Age-matched controls receiving standard methotrexate after transplant had comparable relapse-free survival but only a 25% incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD (P less than .0001). We conclude that deleting posttransplant immunosuppression is associated with frequent and severe hyperacute GVHD, infectious complications, and occasional poor graft function.

Acute Disease↗

[Intraoperative oxygen consumption and organ function in liver transplantation].

Liver transplantation has become established as a reasonable and promising treatment option in terminal stages of liver diseases. Since there is no permanent artificial liver support available, primary "non-function" (PNF) of the graft is one of the most threatening complications. Therefore, an early and, if possible, intraoperative assessment of liver function is essential. Pathological changes in total oxygen consumption (VO2) are considered as an early indicator for the occurrence of PNF. Previously, PNF was analyzed using extensive calculations according to the Fick method, but since inauguration of the PhysioFlex anaesthesia device (Dräger, Lübeck, Germany), which is based on a closed anaesthesia circuit, continuous monitoring of oxygen consumption has become possible. The aim of the study was to investigate whether continuous VO2 monitoring using PhysioFlex allows immediate detection of pathological changes in graft function in the very early neohepatic phase of liver tranplantation. Therefore, 51 liver transplants were investigated at the University Hospital of Magdeburg with regard to a correlation between intraoperative VO2 values and ischaemic time periods of the donor organ and the postoperative liver function. A regular course of oxygen consumption was found in uncomplicated transplants and prompt liver function within normal ranges. PNF was not observed in any transplants. Changes in oxygen consumption were caused by early retransplants or by the delayed start of graft-based metabolism intraoperatively and transient diminished liver function found postoperatively, e.g., in pre-existing hepatorenal syndrome. In addition, VO2 indicated precisely the anhepatic and neohepatic phases during the course of liver transplantation. There was no correlation between the course of glucose content of the blood and the metabolic index of glucose and oxygen consumption or between both parameters and initial graft function. Furthermore, the duration of ischaemic time periods was not closely associated with oxygen consumption during the reperfusion phase. However, there was a correlation between intraoperative VO2 and postoperative bilirubin values, while a correlation between VO2 and GLDH as a further relevant parameter of postoperative graft function could not be confirmed, most likely because of the great variance in these values. In conclusion, the results suggest that changes in total oxygen consumption may, in part, be caused by changes in liver metabolism, depending on the various phases of liver transplantation. In addition, oxygen analysis allows monitoring of the critical phases of liver transplantation such as the anhepatic and early neohepatic periods with regard to immediate detection of early changes in graft metabolism. For routine use of this parameter, steady measurement of the mean value displayed on the PhysioFlex for selectable time periods would be helpful in addition to the continuous VO2 analysis, since there is a greater variance in the single VO2 values, which are documented by the anaesthesiologist, than in the online-detected and automatically calculated values of specific periods of transplantation.

Adolescent↗

Low dose antithymocyte globulins in renal transplantation: daily versus intermittent administration based on T-cell monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Despite the long history of use of antithymocyte globulins (ATG) in renal transplantation, ideal doses and duration of ATG administration based on the monitoring of T lymphocytes have yet to be defined. METHODS: Two immunosuppressive regimens based on low-dose rabbit ATG (Thymoglobuline; Imtix-Sang-stat, Lyon, France) were assessed during the first year after transplantation: daily ATG (DATG; n=23) where 50 mg of ATG was given every day and intermittent ATG (IATG; n=16) where similar doses of ATG were given for the first 3 days and then intermittently only if CD3+ T lymphocytes (measured by flow cytometry) were > 10/mm3. Both groups received steroids, azathioprine, and cyclosporine. RESULTS: ATG-induced depletion was similar for peripheral blood lymphocytes and T cells in both groups: it began at day 1 after transplantation, was submaximal at day 3, and reached maximum intensity between days 6 and 8, from which time cell counts progressively increased. However, T-cell depletion was still present at day 20. The total ATG dose per patient (381.5+/-121 vs. 564+/-135 mg/patient) and the mean cumulative daily dose of ATG (0.60+/-0.17 vs. 0.80+/-0.14 mg/kg/day) were significantly lower in the IATG group (P=0.0001 and 0.0006, respectively). The overlap of ATG and cyclosporine treatment was 6.7+/-3 vs. 7.4+/-4.3 days (P=NS), and the mean duration of ATG therapy was 11.3+/-3.2 vs. 11.6+/-2.7 days in the IATG and DATG groups, respectively (P=NS). ATG was given in an average of one dose every 1.6 days in the IATG group compared with one dose daily in the DATG group (P=7 x 10(-7)). There was no significant difference in renal graft function, the number of acute graft rejections, or ATG-related side effects and complications. Despite the daily immunological follow-up, there was a net saving of $760/patient in the cost of treatment in the IATG group. CONCLUSION: IATG had the advantage of a reduction in the dose of ATG and in the cost of treatment, while offering similar T-cell depletion and effective immunosuppression. This approach could be proposed as an induction protocol, particularly for patients with poor graft function in whom cyclosporine introduction has to be delayed or those with increased risk of cytomegalovirus infections or secondary malignancies.

Adult↗

Clinical experience with allograft implantation. The first ten years.

Since 1971 the Orthopaedic Oncology Service at the Massachusetts General Hospital has performed 150 resections and allograft implantations for the management of mostly tumorous bone conditions. The procedures used cadaveric segments harvested from donors and stored at -80 degrees after exposure of the cartilage to 10% glycerol as a cryopreservative. Following resection of the tumor, the selected part was implanted and held with plates and screws or intramedullary rods, and the patients were observed closely for alterations suggestive of "rejection" (none was seen), presence of recurrences or metastases, functional status of the part, and relationship of complications to outcome. Of 91 patients followed up for two or more years, the grafts performed acceptably (excellent or good functional result) in 70% or more. The results were better in patients with low-grade tumors or benign conditions and in resections and transplantations that did not involve a joint. Complications were a major factor in determining outcome. In patients with skin sloughs (9 patients), infection (13.2%), and, to a lesser extent, allograft fracture (16.5%), the prognosis for retention of the graft and functional restoration was compromised, but nonunion or delayed union (11%) had little effect on end results. The program remains somewhat experimental, in that continued research is required to improve the predictability of bony revascularization and the viability of articular cartilage, and to avoid the problems associated with infection and fracture.

Adolescent↗

The asystolic donor syndrome: transaminitis and thrombocytopenia after non-heartbeating renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The use of kidneys from non-heartbeating donors (NHB) remains controversial. An increased incidence of delayed primary function and primary nonfunction is common. We report a characteristic syndrome of transaminitis and thrombocytopenia after NHB renal transplantation, which may be predictive of graft outcome. METHODS: Two case histories are presented, followed by a retrospective analysis of 38 NHB renal grafts performed at Guy's Hospital from 1988 to 1994. Changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and platelet count were compared between recipients of kidneys from NHB and heartbeating donors (HB). To control for possible effects of antilymphocyte globulin (ALG), two matched control groups receiving HB kidneys with (n=32) and without (n=32) ALG were also compared. RESULTS: ALT was elevated in 32 of 38 (84%) of NHB recipients and 19 of 64 (30%) controls (P<0.001). Mean peak ALT was 172+/-20 U/L in NHB and 42+/-6 U/L in HB kidneys (P<0.001). Use of ALG did not influence mean peak ALT. Elevated ALT predicted impaired graft function (P<0.02) and was associated with an increased length of delayed primary function (P<0.001) and risk of transplant nephrectomy (P<0.05). Thrombocytopenia (<100 x 10(9) cells/L) occurred in 18 of 38 (47%) NHB recipients and in 20 of 64 (31%) controls (P<0.05). Mean nadir platelet count (x 10(9) cells/L) was 113+/-10 in NHB, 128+/-9 in HB with ALG, and 164+/-9 in HB without ALG (both P<0.05 vs. NHB). Patients who underwent graft nephrectomy (n=9) had a disproportionate fall in platelet count (mean nadir, 80+/-11 x 10(9) cells/L; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Transaminitis and thrombocytopenia occur commonly after NHB kidney transplantation and are predictive of graft outcome. Recognition of these changes may assist the early management of NHB renal recipients, and also reduce investigation of "anomalous" results in this setting.

Alanine Transaminase↗

The role of C-reactive protein in graft dysfunction after renal transplantation.

PURPOSE: We investigated whether serial daily measurements of serum C-reactive protein could help differentiate episodes of transplant dysfunction due to rejection, infection, cyclosporin A nephrotoxicity or acute tubular necrosis in renal allograft recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Morning serum was obtained daily from 134 patients during the first 30 days after renal transplantation. All episodes of graft dysfunction were recorded and compared to transplant biopsies. C-reactive protein concentrations were correlated with postoperative graft function and the various causes of graft dysfunction. RESULTS: All patients demonstrated an increase in C-reactive protein in response to surgery and a maximum level was reached on day 2 after transplantation. Mean C-reactive protein concentration was significantly increased for delayed (61.50 microg./ml.) compared to primary (mean 38.01) graft function (p = 0.001, Mann-Whitney U test). There were significant increases in C-reactive protein for bacterial infections other than asymptomatic bacteriuria (33.98 microg./ml), interstitial graft rejection (16.43) and acute tubular necrosis (30.50) compared to uneventful courses. C-reactive protein was unchanged for viral infections or cyclosporin A toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Serial C-reactive protein measurements help to identify renal transplant dysfunction of different origins. However, rejection, infection and acute tubular necrosis show similar patterns of C-reactive protein increase. Thus, C-reactive protein is unable to discriminate the causes of renal graft dysfunction. Biopsy remains the gold standard for the differential diagnosis of renal allograft dysfunction.

Adolescent↗

Striatal grafts alleviate bilateral striatal lesion deficits in operant delayed alternation in the rat.

In order to assess the capacity of striatal grafts to alleviate cognitive deficits of the frontal type that arise following bilateral striatal lesions, control, lesion and grafted rats were tested in an operant test of delayed alternation. Bilateral striatal lesions induced a marked impairment in choice accuracy, and signal detection analysis indicated that the lesion animals were reliably impaired on both parametric and non-parametric indices of discriminative sensitivity but not of response bias. The impairment was apparent at all intertrial interval delays, including the very shortest, suggesting the deficit is one of frontal-type executive function rather than of short-term memory. The grafted animals exhibited a significant alleviation of the deficit, again apparent at all delays. Histological analyses indicated good graft survival, and injections of a dextran amine anterograde tracer bilaterally into the host prefrontal cortex indicated reformation of extensive projections into the grafted tissues. Since performance of the operant delayed alternation task is dependent upon the integrity of corticostriatal connections, which is disrupted bilaterally by the lesions and restored to the grafts in the transplanted animals, the results corroborate the hypothesis that striatal grafts can alleviate complex cognitive functions of the frontal type by a mechanism that involves functional integration of the grafted neurons into the neural circuits of the host brain.

Animals↗

Treatment of comminuted intraarticular distal femur fractures with limited internal and external tensioned wire fixation.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the treatment of C3 distal femur fractures with limited internal fixation and tensioned wire circular external fixation. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study, from June 1992 to July 1996. SETTING: Urban Level I trauma center. PATIENTS: Sixteen fractures in sixteen patients: nine male, seven female. Fractures: C3.1 one, C3.2 one, C3.3 fourteen. Twelve fractures were open: one GI, seven GII, two GIIIA, one GIIIB, and one GIIIC. INTERVENTION: Fractures were treated with limited open fixation of the condylar joint surface and tensioned wire circular external fixation of the metaphysis and shaft for axial alignment. Three fractures had acute autologous bone grafts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The patient's extremity function was evaluated by the authors by using the Sanders et al. Distal Femur Functional Evaluation. RESULTS: Sixteen of sixteen fractures healed. Two patients had delayed bone grafting for delayed union. Average frame time was twenty-five weeks. Average range of motion was 0 to 92 degrees. Five patients had less than 90 degrees of flexion. Five patients required a quadricepsplasty. Average follow-up was thirty-five months. One patient developed a pintract infection. One patient developed septic arthritis, and another developed osteomyelitis. The average Sanders et al. Function knee score was twenty-eight, with a maximum possible score of forty. CONCLUSIONS: C3 fractures of the distal femur are associated with severe soft tissue injuries and bone loss. Loss of function appears to be directly related to these factors. Treatment with limited internal fixation and tensioned wire external fixation has equivalent results to other methods but has a higher incidence of infection and complications. Joint motion is retarded by binding of the soft tissues with fixation wires and pins. The technique is recommended only for salvage of severely comminuted and open fractures of the distal femur with extensive soft tissue injury. Distal femur fractures with moderate comminution and soft tissue injury should be treated with alternate methods.

Adolescent↗

[Urological complications in patient after kidney transplantation. Correction of ureter stenosis with consequent proper renal graft function].

Urological complications constitute significant problem following renal transplantation. Incidence ranges from 4 to 14% in graft recipients. The most important aspects concerning these complications are early diagnosis and prompt treatment, any delay in diagnosis and management may lead to deterioration of renal graft function or graft loss. The following case report discusses management of hydronephrosis in renal graft caused by ureter stenosis due to scarring and fibrosis of its distal end after remote kidney transplantation. The patient was a 33-year-old woman with previous history of end stage renal failure in the course of chronic glomerulonephritis. A triple drug immunosuppressive regimen consisting of Azathioprine (AZT), Cyclosporine A and Encorton (AZT + CsA + Encorton) was administered during a period of three years after kidney transplantation. At this time AZT administration was discontinued due to chronic viral hepatitis type B. Episodes of expansion sensation (discomfort) and graft pain were reported by the patient which after 3 days were followed by a period of oliguria and then anuria. The patient was admitted to the Department of Nephrology CMUJ, where ultrasound imaging revealed graft hydronephrosis. In the presence of such clinical and biochemical indications due to acute graft failure, one hemodialysis session, was performed. The patient was transferred to the Urological Department CMUJ where ureter exploration was attempted, but was unsuccessful. Subsequently percutaneous nephrostomy was performed which lead to immediate diuresis. Next, distal ureter stenosis (located by the urinary bladder) was surgically removed and reimplantation of the ureter was carried out. Due to early diagnosis and surgical reconstruction of the transplanted ureter, renal graft function returned to normal requiring only one hemo-dialysis session.

Adult↗

Late results of free-muscle flaps and delayed bone grafting in the secondary treatment of open distal tibial fractures.

Since no current studies reflect the long-term function of patients accurately categorized and uniformly managed for the same degree and location of tibial injury, seven individuals with type IIIB open distal tibial fractures were studied prospectively for 2 to 4 years after debridement, free-muscle transfer, and delayed autologous bone grafting. Lymphedema, transient drainage, poor ankle motion, limb shortening, nonunion, and delayed union were all significant problems. On average, the patients endured over six operations, 2 months of hospitalization, and a year's course of physical rehabilitation. The study indicates that, although popular, such a regimen is not without important shortcomings. This experience has influenced our selection of and counseling for patients in whom we are contemplating such management.

Adult↗

[Lymphocytes. Roles in cellular immunity and humoral immunity].

The lymphocytes are now considered as ubiquitous cells which play a role in delayed hypersensitivity, the rejection of grafts and antibody synthesis. The lymphocytes are essential in the immune process, for they may both recognise the antibody and initiate the response. They act either by themselves or after differentiation into specialised cells and, usually, in coordination with other cells with phagocytic functions. After briefly recalling the morphology, localisation, circulation, sites of production and heterogeneity of the lymphocytes, the authors discuss their function, describe lymphocytic transformation, and the role of T lymphocytes in delayed hypersensitivity, in the rejection of grafts and the direct cytotoxic effect. Antibody synthesis with B lymphocytes and the intervention of mononucleated cells with phagocytic activity, the cooperation of T lymphocytes are developed. The exploration of lymphocytic functions includes the recognition of an antigen by the lymphocyte, fixation of marked antigens, rosette formation, the demonstration of delayed hypersensitivity (inhibition of macrophage migration, cytotoxicity, skin tests), the estimation of antibodies and measurement of lymphocyte transformation. Certain factors, due to antigen-host reaction, regulate the lymphocytic immune reaction. One may experimentally intervene by immunostimulation and immunosuppression.

Antibody Formation↗