#14#

 

Revisiones-Ciencias Sociales (todas) *** Reviews-Social Sciences (all)

 

INMUNOSUPRESIÓN *** IMMUNOSUPPRESSION

(Conceptos / Keywords: Immunosuppression; Immunosuppressive ag.; Transpl. immunol.; GVH; Antirejection therapy; Lymphocyte depletion; Transpl. conditioning; etc).

 

Enero / January 2001 --- Marzo / March 2004

 

La biblioteca del conocimiento biomédico© es un servicio GRATUITO. Toda la información ha sido obtenida de fuentes públicas, de portales de internet que no requieren registro alguno para su uso, que no requieren estar de acuerdo con sus Términos de uso, que son de libre acceso a todo el mundo, y son a su vez gratuitos. La biblioteca (revisiones, guías, protocolos, medicina basada en la evidencia, etc...) se recopila en base a una patente que permite a Effiloop la catalogación de los artículos por campos de interés así como por el orden de su importancia (se proveen las primeras 200 revisiones). Toda la informacion se ampara en las leyes de libre pensamiento-expresión, y de uso justo. Este documento sólo contiene artículos escritos en Castellano y/o Inglés.

 

The biomedical library© is a FREE service. All the information has been obtained from public sources, from web sites that do not require registration for their use, that do not require an agreement with their Terms of use, that provide free access for all, and are free of charge. The library (reviews, guides, protocols, medicine based medicine, etc) is arranged according to a patent that warrants Effiloop to catalogue the articles by fields of interest as well as to sort articles by true relevance (the first 200 reviews are provided). All the information is provided according to the freedom of speech and fair use laws. Only articles written in Spanish and/or English are included.

Enlace / Link

 

[1]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Fulminant hepatic failure secondary to acetaminophen poisoning: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic criteria determining the need for liver transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Crit Care Med 2003 Jan;31(1):299-305.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.CCM.0000034674.51554.4C

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Bailey B; Amre DK; Gaudreault P

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hopital Ste-Justine, Universite de Montreal, Quebec, Canada. baileyb@med.umontreal.ca

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - OBJECTIVES: To summarize and compare different prognostic criteria used to determine need for liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure secondary to acetaminophen poisoning. DATA SOURCES: Studies published in the literature that investigated criteria for hepatic transplantation secondary to acetaminophen-induced liver failure as identified by a preestablished MEDLINE strategy (1966 through October 2001). STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if 2 x 2 tables could be reconstructed and if they did not assume that patients undergoing transplantation would have eventually died had they not received the transplant. DATA EXTRACTION: Relevant articles were reviewed by two authors independently. Discrepancies or disagreements, if any, on the inclusion or exclusion of studies were resolved by consulting the third author. DATA SYNTHESIS: King’s criteria (pH < 7.30 or prothrombin time of >100 secs plus creatinine of >300 micromol/L plus encephalopathy grade of > or =3) were evaluated in nine studies, pH < 7.30 in four, prothrombin time of >100 secs in three, prothrombin time of >100 secs plus creatinine of >300 micromol/L plus encephalopathy grade of > or =3 in three, creatinine of >300 micromol/L in two, and one each for increase in prothrombin time day 4, factor V of <10%, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score of >15, and Gc-globulin of <100 mg/L. King’s criteria were more sensitive than pH: 69% (95% confidence interval, 63-75) vs. 57% (95% confidence interval, 44-68). Their specificities were, however, comparable: 92% (95% confidence interval, 81-97) vs. 89% (95% confidence interval, 62-97). APACHE II score of >15 had the highest positive likelihood ratio (16.4) and the lowest negative likelihood ratio (0.19) but was evaluated in only one study. The accuracy measures of all other criteria were lower than that of King’s criteria or pH < 7.30. CONCLUSIONS: Presently, available criteria are not very sensitive and may miss patients requiring transplantation. Future studies should further evaluate the efficacy of the APACHE II criteria.  N. Ref:: 33

 

----------------------------------------------------

[2]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Gene therapy progress and prospects: gene therapy in organ transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Gene Ther 2003 Apr;10(8):605-11.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1038/sj.gt.3302020

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Bagley J; Iacomini J

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Transplantation Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - One major complication facing organ transplant recipients is the requirement for life-long systemic immunosuppression to prevent rejection, which is associated with an increased incidence of malignancy and susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Gene therapy has the potential to eliminate problems associated with immunosuppression by allowing the production of immunomodulatory proteins in the donor grafts resulting in local rather than systemic immunosuppression. Alternatively, gene therapy approaches could eliminate the requirement for general immunosuppression by allowing the induction of donor-specific tolerance. Gene therapy interventions may also be able to prevent graft damage owing to nonimmune-mediated graft loss or injury and prevent chronic rejection. This review will focus on recent progress in preventing transplant rejection by gene therapy.  N. Ref:: 47

 

----------------------------------------------------

[3]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The influence of environment and experience on neural grafts.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nat Rev Neurosci 2001 Dec;2(12):871-9.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1038/35104055

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Dobrossy MD; Dunnett SB

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue Box 911, Cardiff CF10 3US, Wales, UK. dobrossymd@cardiff.ac.uk  N. Ref:: 106

 

----------------------------------------------------

[4]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Organ transplantation: what is the state of the art?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Ann Surg 2003 Dec;238(6 Suppl):S72-89.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Collins BH

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. colli005@mc.duke.edu  N. Ref:: 130

 

----------------------------------------------------

[5]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Dialysis, kidney transplantation, or pancreas transplantation for patients with diabetes mellitus and renal failure: a decision analysis of treatment options.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Am Soc Nephrol. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de 1 año de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.jasn.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology: <> 2003 Feb;14(2):500-15.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Knoll GA; Nichol G

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada. gknoll@ottawahospital.on.ca

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease may remain on dialysis or undergo cadaveric kidney transplantation, living kidney transplantation, sequential pancreas after living kidney transplantation, or simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. It is unclear which of these options is most effective. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal treatment strategy for type 1 diabetic patients with renal failure using a decision analytic Markov model. Input data were obtained from the published medical literature, the United Network for Organ Sharing registry, and patient interviews. The outcome measures were life expectancy (in life-years [LY]) and quality-adjusted life expectancy (in quality-adjusted life-years [QALY]). Living kidney transplantation was associated with 18.30 LY and 10.29 QALY; pancreas after kidney transplantation, 17.21 LY and 10.00 QALY; simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation, 15.74 LY and 9.09 QALY; cadaveric kidney transplantation, 11.44 LY and 6.53 QALY; dialysis, 7.82 LY and 4.52 QALY. The results were sensitive to the value of several key variables. Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation had the greatest life expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy when living kidney transplantation was excluded from the analysis. These data indicate that living kidney transplantation is associated with the greatest life expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy for type 1 diabetic patients with renal failure. Treatment strategies involving pancreas transplantation should be considered for patients with frequent metabolic complications of diabetes and for those patients who favor kidney-pancreas transplantation over kidney transplantation alone. For patients without a living donor, simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation is associated with the greatest life expectancy.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[6]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The future of antigen-specific immunotherapy of allergy.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nat Rev Immunol 2002 Jun;2(6):446-53.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1038/nri824

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Valenta R

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Pathophysiology, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna General Hospital-AKH, Australia. Rudolf.valenta@akh-wein.ac.at

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - More than 25% of the population in industrialized countries suffers from immunoglobulin-E-mediated allergies. The antigen-specific immunotherapy that is in use at present involves the administration of allergen extracts to patients with the aim to cure allergic symptoms. However, the risk of therapy-induced side effects limits its broad application. Recent work indicates that the epitope complexity of natural allergen extracts can be recreated using recombinant allergens, and hypoallergenic derivatives of these can be engineered to increase treatment safety. It is proposed that these modified molecules will improve the current practice of specific immunotherapy and form a basis for prophylactic vaccination.  N. Ref:: 120

 

----------------------------------------------------

[7]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Ultraviolet light-induced regulatory (suppressor) T cells: an approach for promoting induction of operational allograft tolerance?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2004 Jan 15;77(1 Suppl):S29-31.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.TP.0000112969.24120.64

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Aubin F; Mousson C

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Dermatology and EA3181, University Hospital, Besancon, France. francois.aubin@ufc-chu.univ-fcomte.fr.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Ultraviolet (UV) light is known to induce skin cancers by causing DNA gene mutations and inducing immunosuppression. Taking advantage of these immunosuppressive capacities, UV light has been used, with different modalities, as an immunosuppressive therapy in a variety of diseases including allograft rejection and graft-versus-host disease. Phototherapy includes UVB irradiation, UVA irradiation, oral psoralen (+)UVA irradiation (PUVA), photodynamic therapy, and extracorporeal photopheresis, which consists of infusion of UVA-irradiated autologous leukocytes collected by apheresis and incubated with 8-methoxypsoralen. According to numerous experimental models and human data, there is increasing evidence that UVB irradiation and extracorporeal photopheresis can induce regulatory T cells and anticlonotypic activity. These therapies induce apoptosis of activated T cells or of extracorporally treated mononuclear cells, and up-regulate the expression of costimulary molecules and adhesion molecules on antigen presenting cells. UVB- or UVA-induced apoptotic cells could secrete immune suppressive cytokines (interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10). The processing and presentation of apoptotic T cell antigens from clones of pathogenic T cells by activated antigen presenting cells might explain the induction of systemic anticlonotypic activity by photopheresis. This induction of cell-mediated suppressive activity opens up future prospects with the aim of expanding regulatory T cells and/or anticlonotypic activity, especially by photopheresis in organ and cell transplantation.  N. Ref:: 40

 

----------------------------------------------------

[8]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Guidelines for preventing opportunistic infections among hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Recommendations of CDC, the Infectious Disease Society of America, and the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Cytotherapy 2001;3(1):41-54.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1080/146532401753156403

 

----------------------------------------------------

[9]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The treatment of glomerular disease—a compromise between the standard and the individual approach.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nephrol Dial Transplant. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de los 2 años de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://ndt.oupjournals.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: <> 2003 Jul;18 Suppl 5:v31-3.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Kiperova B

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Medical University of Sofia, University Hospital Alexandrovska, Clinic of Nephrology, Sofia, Bulgaria. bkiperova@yahoo.com

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The possibilities for successful treatment in the earliest stages are still limited. Immunosuppressive treatment leads to complete or partial remission only in some patients. Even then, a non-immunological evolution to chronic renal insufficiency often enters a progressive course. By applying a consistent strategy for their individual evaluation and management, it is possible to improve the outcome of patients with GN. The early referral to a nephrologist and an early histomorphological diagnosis; the precise assessment of the type of injury, i.e. proliferative or non-proliferative; the indices of activity and chronicity; and the prognostic indicators are helpful for the therapeutic approach. The goal of the management of GN has to be to suppress the disease with minimum side effects of the treatment. Many unanswered questions and controversies remain concerning the immunosuppressive therapy. A precise distinction is needed between the problematic assertions and evidence-based protocols. A common task for the treatment of all types of chronic GN should be the protection of renal structure and function: control of blood pressure, action on renal haemodynamics and proteinuria via pharmacological inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system, control of hyperlipidaemia and limitation of fibrosis. Some novel and promising pharmacological approaches to extracellular matrix accumulation and chronic interstitial fibrosis are in progress.  N. Ref:: 15

 

----------------------------------------------------

[10]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Administration of donor apoptotic cells: an alternative cell-based therapy to induce tolerance?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2003 May 15;75(9 Suppl):43S-45S.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.TP.0000067951.90241.54

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Kleinclauss F; Perruche S; Cahn JY; Tiberghien P; Saas P

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - INSERM E0119/UPRES EA2284, Etablissement Francais du Sang Bourgogne Franche-Comte, Universite de Franche-Comte, Besancon, France.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Apoptotic cells are endowed with immunomodulatory properties. The authors propose infusing apoptotic cells as a cell-based therapy product to facilitate allogeneic hematopoietic engraftment after a nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen. Such an approach may be used to obtain macrochimerism in combined hematopoietic cells and solid organ transplantation. In this article, the authors describe the mechanisms of combined hematopoietic and organ allograft transplantation and the potential difficulties. The authors discuss how intravenous apoptotic cell infusion may influence the outcome of combined transplantation. This may prove to be an interesting approach for future development in cell therapy.  N. Ref:: 29

 

----------------------------------------------------

[11]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Hematopoietic cell transplantation for inherited metabolic diseases: an overview of outcomes and practice guidelines.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Bone Marrow Transplant 2003 Feb;31(4):229-39.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1038/sj.bmt.1703839

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Peters C; Steward CG

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, 55455, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - For the past two decades, hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has been used as effective therapy for selected inherited metabolic diseases (IMD) including Hurler (MPS IH) and Maroteaux-Lamy (MPS VI) syndromes, childhood-onset cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), globoid-cell leukodystrophy (GLD), metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), alpha-mannosidosis, osteopetrosis, and others. Careful pre-HCT evaluation is critical and coordinated, multidisciplinary follow-up is essential in this field of transplantation. The primary goals of HCT for these disorders have been to promote long-term survival with donor-derived engraftment and to optimize the quality of life. Guidelines for HCT and monitoring are provided; a brief overview of long-term results is also presented.  N. Ref:: 131

 

----------------------------------------------------

[12]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Choosing treatment for proliferative lupus nephritis.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Arthritis Rheum 2002 Aug;46(8):1981-3.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1002/art.10466

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Balow JE  N. Ref:: 31

 

----------------------------------------------------

[13]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Mechanisms of tolerance induction through the transplantation of donor hematopoietic stem cells: central versus peripheral tolerance.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2003 May 15;75(9 Suppl):21S-25S.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.TP.0000067947.90241.66

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Wekerle T; Blaha P; Koporc Z; Bigenzahn S; Pusch M; Muehlbacher F

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, Waehringer Guertel 18, A 1090 Vienna, Austria. thomas.wekerle@akh-wien.ac.at

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The transplantation of donor hematopoietic stem cells has been used successfully in numerous experimental settings to induce donor-specific tolerance. After appropriate host conditioning, hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation leads to a lasting state of donor macrochimerism that is associated with a robust form of tolerance. One of the key factors in the success of this approach is its reliance on intrathymic clonal deletion to ensure lifelong tolerization of newly developing T cells. Evidence for ongoing central deletion comes from studies following superantigen-reactive T cells and from experiments using mice transgenic for an alloreactive T-cell receptor. In protocols inducing tolerance through macrochimerism, the preexisting mature T-cell repertoire is controlled by either globally destroying all T cells before the hematopoietic cell transplantation or, in more recent models, by tolerizing it through co-stimulation blockade. The peripheral mechanisms induced by hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation and co-stimulation blockade include both extrathymic clonal deletion and the nondeletional mechanisms anergy, suppression, or both. In addition to these immunologic hurdles, a physiologic engraftment barrier has to be surmounted for the successful induction of mixed chimerism. This can be achieved by cytoreductive host treatment or by the infusion of high numbers of donor hematopoietic cells. A detailed delineation of the mechanisms responsible for tolerance induction after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is expected to help in the translation of these experimental protocols to clinical organ transplantation.  N. Ref:: 31

 

----------------------------------------------------

[14]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Low recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: better patient selection or lower immunosuppression?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2002 Dec 27;74(12):1664-5.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.TP.0000039802.85634.9C

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Weber M; Kadry Z; Clavien PA  N. Ref:: 11

 

----------------------------------------------------

[15]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Hereditary hemochromatosis: perspectives of public health, medical genetics, and primary care.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Genet Med 2003 Jan-Feb;5(1):1-8.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.GIM.0000047946.94270.34

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Imperatore G; Pinsky LE; Motulsky A; Reyes M; Bradley LA; Burke W

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - National Canter for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC) is a condition characterized by excess iron in body tissues, resulting in complications such as cirrhosis, cardiomyopathy, diabetes, and arthritis. These complications usually manifest during adulthood. Two methods of screening for the detection of early stage of HHC are available: serum iron measures and molecular testing to detect mutations in the gene. These phenotypic and genotypic screening tests are of particular interest because a simple treatment-periodic phlebotomy-can be used to prevent iron accumulation and clinical complications. HHC might represent the first adult-onset genetic disorder for which universal population-based screening would be appropriate. Therefore, HHC has been proposed as a paradigm for the introduction of adult genetic diseases into clinical and public health practice. However, universal screening for HHC has not been recommended because of the uncertainty about the natural history of the iron overload or HHC and, in particular, uncertainty about the prevalence of asymptomatic iron overload and the likelihood that it will progress to clinical complications. If universal screening is not appropriate based on current data, what other measures might reduce the disease burden of iron overload? New studies provide more systematic information about the penetrance of the C282Y mutation and shed further light on the natural history of the disorder. The authors review these data and consider their implications for public health, medical genetics, and primary care.  N. Ref:: 64

 

----------------------------------------------------

[16]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Donor-derived hematopoietic stem cells in organ transplantation: technical aspects and hurdles yet to be cleared.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2003 May 15;75(9 Suppl):55S-57S.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.TP.0000067954.60639.9C

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Herve P

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Establissement Francais du Sang Borgogne Franche-Comte, Besancon, France. patrick.herve@efs.sante.fr

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The use of hematopoietic stem-cell (HSC) therapy in organ transplantation is a challenge to promote chimerism with the aim of enhancing organ tolerance. Several HSC sources are available, including bone marrow (most of the time), peripheral blood after stem-cell mobilization, and placental blood. HSC collection techniques from vertebral bodies or iliac crests require a number of complex manipulations. The best yield of HSC is obtained from vertebral bodies. HSC harvesting by cytapheresis after cell mobilization with a cytokine such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor should be preferred with a live donor. The number of CD3+ T cells is more than 10-fold higher in peripheral blood than in bone marrow. Cell separation by the immunoselection technique (positive selection of the CD34+ cell population) eliminates erythrocytes, granulocytes, and T cells, thus preventing the possible occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease. In the future, an accreditation will be required for HSC collection and processing. In Europe, the reference tool is the Joint Accreditation Committee of Ishage-Europe or the Foundation for the Accreditation of Haematopoietic Cell Therapy manual, which provides standards for every technical step of these procedures.  N. Ref:: 26

 

----------------------------------------------------

[17]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Ethical considerations on preimplantation genetic diagnosis for HLA typing to match a future child as a donor of haematopoietic stem cells to a sibling.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Hum Reprod 2002 Mar;17(3):534-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Pennings G; Schots R; Liebaers I

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Philosophy, Lok. 5 C 442, Academic Hospital, Free University Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. gpenning@vub.ac.be

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Recently, several requests were made by couples with an affected child who wanted preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to select embryos in the hope of conceiving an HLA identical donor sibling. This article considers the ethical arguments for and against the application of PGD for this goal. Only embryos HLA matched with an existing sibling in need of a compatible donor of haematopoietic stem cells would be transferred. The main arguments are the instrumentalization of the child, the best-interests standard, the postnatal test for acceptability and the experience of the donor child. It is argued that conceiving a child to save a child is a morally defensible decision on the condition that the operation that will be performed on the future child is acceptable to perform on an existing child. The instrumentalization of the donor child does not demonstrate disrespect for its autonomy or its intrinsic worth.  N. Ref:: 29

 

----------------------------------------------------

[18]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Donor-derived hematopoietic cells in organ transplantation: a major step toward allograft tolerance?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2003 May 15;75(9 Suppl):3S-7S.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.TP.0000067943.90241.73

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Rifle G; Mousson C

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Nephrology-Intensive Care-Transplantation, Hopital du Bocage, 2 boulevard de Lattre de Tassigny, 21034 Dijon, France. gerard.rifle@chu-dijon.fr

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Infusion of donor-derived cells can improve organ allograft survival in animal models. Under certain conditions, it can even induce tolerance (i.e., unlimited organ survival without any maintenance immunosuppressive therapy). Use of nonmyeloablative regimens allows engraftment of donor-derived bone marrow cells, induction of mixed chimerism, and tolerance in rodents. High doses of bone marrow cells together with anti-T-cell antibodies can even result in mixed chimerism without cytoablative host conditioning. Cultured donor-derived CD34+ cells or donor-derived immature (or even mature) dendritic cells associated with monoclonal antibodies directed against co-stimulatory molecules might also induce tolerance. Among the numerous experimental protocols leading to tolerance of solid organs in animal models, how can we find our bearings in human transplantation? Numerous problems have yet to be solved: the type and amount of donor-derived cells (including stromal cells) to be used, the timing for infusion of donor cells in keeping with organ transplantation, the route of infusion (should it be intravenous, into the portal vein?), and the conditioning regimen. The first clinical trials would appear to indicate that tolerance induction in humans using donor-derived cells is a relatively safe solution that is both promising and realistic.  N. Ref:: 42

 

----------------------------------------------------

[19]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Cost advantages of oral drug therapy for managing cytomegalovirus disease.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Health Syst Pharm 2003 Dec 1;60(23 Suppl 8):S9-12.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Somerville KT

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Department of Pharmacy Services, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. troy.somerville@hsc.utah.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Cost advantages of the oral route of drug therapy administration over the intravenous route for managing cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease are described. The overall costs usually are lower for the oral route of administration than for the intravenous route, although the cost to the patient depends on insurance coverage. Other advantages of the oral route include greater safety and convenience, which may improve patient adherence and quality of life. In patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the use of oral ganciclovir instead of intravenous ganciclovir to treat the maintenance phase of CMV retinitis reduced the incidence of neutropenia and sepsis, outpatient and inpatient resource use, and costs. Oral therapy also improved patient quality of life. A cost-effectiveness model for liver transplant recipients found that CMV prophylaxis is warranted for all patients, ganciclovir is preferred over CMV immune globulin i.v. and oral acyclovir for prophylaxis, and the oral route of administration is more cost-effective than the intravenous route for ganciclovir. Valganciclovir, the oral prodrug of ganciclovir, was not included in this model. Oral maintenance therapy is usually cost-effective, safer, and more convenient than intravenous therapy in the management of CMV.  N. Ref:: 8

 

----------------------------------------------------

[20]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Graft function and other risk factors as predictors of cardiovascular disease outcome.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2001 Sep 27;72(6 Suppl):S16-9.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Forsythe JL

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Transplant Unit, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK. john.forsythe@luht.scot.nhs.uk

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The high incidence of cardiovascular disease after renal transplantation is related to a high prevalence and accumulation of risk factors before and after transplantation. Hypertension, posttransplantation diabetes, and hyperlipidemia are well-recognized risk factors for the development of cardiovascular events after renal transplantation and are strongly associated with immunosuppressive therapy. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease in renal transplant recipients, but although a growing matter of study, a direct association with immunosuppressive agents is not yet proven. In addition to treatment intervention, risk management should also involve tailoring the immunosuppressive regimen to minimize the more indirect cardiovascular risk factors such as renal dysfunction and acute rejection.  N. Ref:: 41

 

----------------------------------------------------

[21]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Successful management of disseminated Nocardia transvalensis infection in a heart transplant recipient after development of sulfonamide resistance: case report and review.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Heart Lung Transplant 2003 Apr;22(4):492-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Lopez FA; Johnson F; Novosad DM; Beaman BL; Holodniy M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Nocardia transvalensis is a rarely reported cause of clinically significant disease, and, to our knowledge, has not been reported previously as a cause of infection in the cardiac transplant population. We report a case of N transvalensis new taxon-2 pulmonary infection that disseminated to the brain and skin in a cardiac transplant recipient despite adequate sulfonamide serum levels. Subsequent isolates were resistant to sulfonamides, and molecular ribotyping of the primary and subsequent isolates confirmed that these were the same N transvalensis new taxon-2 strain. The taxonomic and diagnostic considerations, as well as the clinical significance of anti-microbial-resistant nocardia, are reviewed and discussed herein.  N. Ref:: 37

 

----------------------------------------------------

[22]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Electrostatic potential on human leukocyte antigen: implications for putative mechanism of chronic beryllium disease.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Environ Health Perspect. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/montharch.html 

      ●● Cita: Environmental Health Perspectives: <> 2003 Nov;111(15):1827-34.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Snyder JA; Weston A; Tinkle SS; Demchuk E

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The pathobiology of chronic beryllium disease (CBD) involves the major histocompatibility complex class II human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Although occupational exposure to beryllium is the cause of CBD, molecular epidemiologic studies suggest that specific (Italic)HLA-DPB1(/Italic) alleles may be genetic susceptibility factors. We have studied three-dimensional structural models of HLA-DP proteins encoded by these genes. The extracellular domains of HLA-DPA1*0103/B1*1701, *1901, *0201, and *0401, and HLA-DPA1*0201/B1*1701, *1901, *0201, and *0401 were modeled from the X-ray coordinates of an HLA-DR template. Using these models, the electrostatic potential at the molecular surface of each HLA-DP was calculated and compared. These comparisons identify specific characteristics in the vicinity of the antigen-binding pocket that distinguish the different HLA-DP allotypes. Differences in electrostatics originate from the shape, specific disposition, and variation in the negatively charged groups around the pocket. The more negative the pocket potential, the greater the odds of developing CBD estimated from reported epidemiologic studies. Adverse impact is caused by charged substitutions in positions  55,  56,  69,  84, and  85, namely, the exact same loci identified as genetic markers of CBD susceptibility as well as cobalt-lung hard metal disease. These findings suggest that certain substitutions may promote an involuntary cation-binding site within a putatively metal-free peptide-binding pocket and therefore change the innate specificity of antigen recognition.  N. Ref:: 31

 

----------------------------------------------------

[23]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Implications of the advent of homozygous alpha l, 3-galactosyltransferase gene-deficient pigs on transmission of infectious agents.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Xenotransplantation 2003 Jul;10(4):287-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Chapman LE; Wilson CA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. lec3@cdc.gov  N. Ref:: 16

 

----------------------------------------------------

[24]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Formulary considerations for drugs used to prevent cytomegalovirus disease.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Health Syst Pharm 2003 Dec 1;60(23 Suppl 8):S17-21.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Pescovitz MD

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Organ Transplant Program, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA. mpescov@iupui.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Four types of therapeutic strategies for managing cytomegalovirus (CMV) in solid organ transplant recipients, the mechanisms of action and efficacy of drugs used for prophylaxis, and the criteria for evaluating drugs for inclusion in a formulary are described. Universal and selective prophylaxis are simple to implement and effective for CMV prophylaxis, but they are costly and patient nonadherence and viral resistance can develop. Preemptive therapy may cause less resistance and cost less, but it is more complex and associated with a higher incidence of infection, which may have no effect on secondary effects from CMV infection, and higher recurrence of disease than prophylactic therapy. Treatment of active disease may be less costly for the drug than other approaches, but intravenous access is required and the rates of infection recurrence and mortality are higher compared with prophylaxis and preemptive therapy. Criteria for deciding which CMV prophylactic drugs to include in a formulary include efficacy, safety, convenience, and cost. CMV immune globulin i.v. is costly and exhibits reduced efficacy when used alone in patients at high risk for CMV disease. Intravenous ganciclovir is effective, but it is costly because of infusion costs. Intravenous drug therapies are inconvenient and associated with a risk of bacterial and fungal infection. Oral acyclovir is safe to use and inexpensive (since a genetic exists), but it has poor efficacy and is inconvenient because of the need for four large daily doses. Valacyclovir is more convenient and with similar safety and probably better efficacy than acyclovir, but it is more costly. Oral ganciclovir and oral valganciclovir have similar safety and costs, with greater efficacy than acyclovir. The single daily dose and lack of resistance to valganciclovir are advantages over oral ganciclovir, which requires three daily doses and can result in the development of resistance.  N. Ref:: 20

 

----------------------------------------------------

[25]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Costs and consequences of cytomegalovirus disease.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Health Syst Pharm 2003 Dec 1;60(23 Suppl 8):S5-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Schnitzler MA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Washington University, 4547 Clayton Avenue, Box 8084, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. schnitz@wueconc.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The impact of prophylactic oral ganciclovir therapy on the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, patient and graft survival, and costs in patients receiving kidney and liver transplants is described. CMV disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant recipients unless prophylactic drug therapy is used. Prophylactic oral ganciclovir therapy reduces the incidence of CMV disease in kidney and liver transplant recipients. It is more effective for recipients who are seronegative before the transplant and receive organs from seronegative (D-/R-) donors than in seronegative recipients of organs from seropositive (D+/R-) donors. CMV disease remains a problem in the latter. CMV disease increases the risk of graft failure, which decreases the likelihood of patient survival. The extent of matching of the DR subregion of the human leukocyte antigen complex in the donor and recipient may affect graft survival in patients with CMV disease. Graft failure is costly and should be considered in economic analyses of CMV prophylaxis regimens because of the potential impact of prophylaxis on CMV disease. The use of oral ganciclovir for CMV prophylaxis has reduced the incidence of CMV disease in kidney and liver transplant recipients.  N. Ref:: 10

 

----------------------------------------------------

[26]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - IMGT databases, web resources and tools for immunoglobulin and T cell receptor sequence analysis, http://imgt.cines.fr.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Leukemia 2003 Jan;17(1):260-6.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1038/sj.leu.2402637

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Lefranc MP

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Laboratoire d’ImmunoGenetique Moleculaire, LIGM, Universite Montpellier II, UPR CNRS 1142, Institut de Genetique Humaine, IGH, Montpellier, France.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - IMGT, the international ImMunoGeneTics database(®) (http://imgt.cines.fr), is a high-quality integrated information system specializing in immunoglobulins (IG), T cell receptors (TR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of human and other vertebrates, created in 1989, by LIGM, at the Universite Montpellier II, CNRS, Montpellier, France. IMGT provides a common access to standardized data which include nucleotide and protein sequences, oligonucleotide primers, gene maps, genetic polymorphisms, specificities, 2D and 3D structures. IMGT includes several databases (IMGT/LIGM-DB, IMGT/3Dstructure-DB, IMGT/HLA-DB), Web resources (‘IMGT Marie-Paule page’) and interactive tools (IMGT/V-QUEST, IMGT/JunctionAnalysis). IMGT expertly annotated data and tools described in this paper are particularly useful for the analysis of the IG and TR rearrangements in leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and in translocations involving the antigen receptor loci. IMGT is freely available at http://imgt.cines.fr.  N. Ref:: 51

 

----------------------------------------------------

[27]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Complexities of CD28/B7: CTLA-4 costimulatory pathways in autoimmunity and transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Annu Rev Immunol 2001;19:225-52.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1146/annurev.immunol.19.1.225

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Salomon B; Bluestone JA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - The Committee on Immunology, Ben May Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Recent advances in the understanding of T cell activation have led to new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of immunological disorders. One attractive target of intervention has been the blockade of T cell costimulatory pathways, which result in more selective effects on only those T cells that have encountered specific antigen. In fact, in some instances, costimulatory pathway antagonists can induce antigen-specific tolerance that prevents the progression of autoimmune diseases and organ graft rejection. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of these complex costimulatory pathways including the individual roles of the CD28, CTLA-4, B7-1 (CD80), and B7-2 (CD86) molecules. We present evidence that suggests that multiple mechanisms contribute to CD28/B7-mediated T cell costimulation in disease settings that include expansion of activated pathogenic T cells, differentiation of Th1/Th2 cells, and the migration of T cells into target tissues. Additionally, the negative regulatory role of CTLA-4 in autoimmune diseases and graft rejection supports a dynamic but complex process of immune regulation that is prominent in the control of self-reactivity. This is most apparent in regulation of the CD4(+)CD25(+)CTLA-4(+) immunoregulatory T cells that control multiple autoimmune diseases. The implications of these complexities and the potential for use of these therapies in clinical immune intervention are discussed.  N. Ref:: 163

 

----------------------------------------------------

[28]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Advanced medical therapy does not render heart transplantation obsolete for ambulatory end-stage heart failure patients: a debate.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Heart Lung Transplant 2001 Jul;20(7):725-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Copeland JG

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center, Tucson, Arizona 85724-5071, USA. jgc@u.arizona.edu  N. Ref:: 8

 

----------------------------------------------------

[29]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - A systematic review of psychosocial factors affecting survival after bone marrow transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Psychosomatics 2003 May-Jun;44(3):181-95.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Hoodin F; Weber S

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Psychology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilani, MI 48197, USA. flora.hoodin@emich.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - An electronic database search identified 15 studies of psychosocial factors affecting survival after bone marrow transplantation. The studies were assessed for methodological quality by two reviewers using the procedures of Bland and colleagues. Although some studies found that psychological variables affect survival after bone marrow transplantation, the reviewers’ analysis of the methodologically sound studies suggested that survival after bone marrow transplantation is not substantively affected by depressed mood or other psychopathology in adults or by social support in adults or children. Longer survival may be related to lower “anxious preoccupation,” higher “fighting spirit,” and better quality of life ratings before and soon after transplant in adults. Overall, however, the literature is insufficiently developed to provide definitive evidence for a relationship between psychological variables and survival after bone marrow transplantation. Future primary studies in this area should be designed to maximize replicability and generalizability.  N. Ref:: 50

 

----------------------------------------------------

[30]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - European best practice guidelines for renal transplantation. Section IV: Long-term management of the transplant recipient. IV.5.6. Cardiovascular risks. Smoking.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nephrol Dial Transplant. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de los 2 años de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://ndt.oupjournals.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: <> 2002;17 Suppl 4:29.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - GUIDELINE: Cigarette smoking is associated with a high frequency of post-transplant cardiovascular disease and may adversely influence patient and graft survival. Active measures against tobacco smoking are recommended.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[31]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Evidence-based recommendations for immunosuppression in IgA nephropathy: handle with caution.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nephrol Dial Transplant. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de los 2 años de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://ndt.oupjournals.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: <> 2003 Feb;18(2):241-5.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Floege J

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Nephrology and Immunology, University of Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52057 Aachen, Germany. juergen.floege@post.rwth-aachen.de  N. Ref:: 27

 

----------------------------------------------------

[32]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Genetic polymorphisms influencing therapy and susceptibility to rejection in organ allograft recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - BioDrugs 2002;16(1):11-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Poli F; Piccolo G; Scalamogna M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Centro Trasfusionale e di Immunologia dei Trapianti, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Solid organ transplantation during the past 30 years has developed from an experimental procedure into routine clinical practice. The current repertoire of immunosuppressive agents has made a major contribution to transplant survival; however, problems in different areas still need to be overcome. Several gene polymorphisms are supposed to influence immunosuppressive therapy and susceptibility to rejection. Therefore, a priority of transplant biologists is to estimate individual patient risk and to characterise the genetic profile of patients in need of a transplant in order to optimise the use of a scarce resource such as organs from cadaver donors, and to avoid serious drug-induced adverse effects. Polymorphisms in genes encoding tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) and thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) can have significant effects on an individual’s risk of rejection, as well as their ability to tolerate immunosuppressive therapy. Genotyping of known polymorphisms in these genes may in the future contribute to our ability to individualise immunosuppressive therapy in organ transplant recipients.  N. Ref:: 72

 

----------------------------------------------------

[33]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - More on the regulation of tobacco smoke: how we got here and where next.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Ann Oncol 2003 Mar;14(3):353-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Gray N; Kozlowski LT

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. nigel@uicc.ch

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The modern cigarette is unnecessarily dangerous. Despite being lower in tar yield, and consequently in squamo-carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene, the nitrosamine yields are often higher than they need to be. Also, reductions in tar levels have not led to the consequential reductions in mortality that were anticipated several decades ago. The modern cigarette is also smoother, easier to smoke and to learn how to smoke, highly addictive and facilitates compensatory smoking. Compensatory smoking leads to excess inhalation of carcinogens and toxins in the hunt for nicotine. Its labelling is misleading in that supposedly low-yielding cigarettes may, due to compensation occurring as a result of cigarette design, lead to inhalation of much higher amounts of nicotine, carcinogens and toxins than the smoker is led to expect. Regulation of the product is needed to provide the persistent smoker with a cigarette lower in risk, accurately labelled, providing a relatively consistent and known dose of nicotine, and less likely to facilitate compensatory smoking. This will not produce a safe cigarette but should result in a reduction in harm if seriously implemented.  N. Ref:: 41

 

----------------------------------------------------

[34]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Topical treatment of sclerodermoid chronic graft vs. host disease.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2002 Feb;81(2):143-9.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Currie DM; Ludvigsdottir GK; Diaz CA; Kamani N

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Sclerodermoid chronic graft vs. host disease is a severe adverse immunologic reaction following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, with deposition of collagen in the skin and possibly other soft tissues, resulting in loss of range of motion and functional capabilities. We present a case of a 14-yr-old girl who received a matched, unrelated donor bone marrow transplant for myelodysplastic syndrome complicated by sclerodermoid chronic graft vs. host disease, causing severe contractures of the shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, hips and knees. This case report and review of the literature regarding chronic graft vs. host disease suggest that a controlled trial of a multimodality therapeutic approach, including topical treatment, is warranted to determine whether this approach improves function in these patients.  N. Ref:: 16

 

----------------------------------------------------

[35]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Treatment of periodontal disease in the immunodeficient patient.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Periodontol 2000 2002;28:190-205.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Holmstrup P; Glick M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.  N. Ref:: 170

 

----------------------------------------------------

[36]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Effects of catecholamine application to brain-dead donors on graft survival in solid organ transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2001 Aug 15;72(3):455-63.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Schnuelle P; Berger S; de Boer J; Persijn G; van der Woude FJ

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - University Hospital Mannheim, Theodor Kutzer Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. schnuell@rumms.uni-mannheim.de

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - BACKGROUND: In a recent single-center study, donor use of catecholamines was identified to reduce kidney allograft rejection. This study investigates the effects of donor employment of adrenergic agents on graft survival in a large data base, including liver and heart transplants. METHODS: The study was based on the registry of the Eurotransplant International Foundation including 2415 kidney, 755 liver, and 720 heart transplants performed between January 1 and December 31, 1993. A total of 1742 donor record forms referring to the cadaveric donor activities in 1993 were systematically reviewed with regard to employment of adrenergic agents. Catecholamine use was simply coded dichotomously and divided into three strata according to zero, single, and combined application. Multivariate Cox regression including age, gender, cause of brain death, cold ischemia, HLA-mismatching, number of previous transplants, and urgency in liver transplants was applied for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Donor employment of catecholamines was associated with increased 4-year graft survival after kidney transplantation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.74-0.98). The benefit is conferred in a dose-dependent manner and compares in quantitative terms with prospective HLA matching on class I and class II antigens (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84-0.97). Use of norepinephrine was predictive of initial nonfunction after heart transplantation (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.14-2.43), but did not compromise liver grafts (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.67-1.32). CONCLUSIONS: Optimizing the management of brain-dead organ donors, including the possibility of selective administration of adrenergic agents, may provide a major benefit on graft survival without adverse side effects for the recipients. Further investigation on best use of adrenergic drugs, optimum dosage, and duration is warranted.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[37]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Epidemiology of Candida species infections in critically ill non-immunosuppressed patients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Lancet Infect Dis 2003 Nov;3(11):685-702.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Eggimann P; Garbino J; Pittet D

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Medical Clinic II, the Medical Intensive Care Unit and the Infection Control Programme, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - A substantial proportion of patients become colonised with Candida spp during hospital stay, but only few subsequently develop severe infection. Clinical signs of severe infection manifest early but lack specificity until late in the course of the disease, thus representing a particular challenge for diagnosis. Mostly nosocomial, invasive candidiasis occurs in only 1-8% of patients admitted to hospitals, but in around 10% of patients housed in intensive care units where it can represent up to 15% of all nosocomial infections. We review the epidemiology of invasive candidiasis in non-immunocompromised, critically ill patients with special emphasis on disease trends over time, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, risk factors, and impact. Recent epidemiological data suggesting that the emergence of non-albicans candida strains with reduced susceptibility to azoles, previously linked to the use of new antifungals for empiric and prophylactic therapy in immunocompromised patients, may not have occurred in the critically ill. Management of invasive candidiasis in these patients will be addressed in the December issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases.  N. Ref:: 177

 

----------------------------------------------------

[38]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Why study kidney transplant risk factors?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2003 Feb 15;75(3):266-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Matas AJ; Humar A

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.  N. Ref:: 10

 

----------------------------------------------------

[39]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - “Least incompatible” units for transfusion in autoimmune hemolytic anemia: should we eliminate this meaningless term? A commentary for clinicians and transfusion medicine professionals.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transfusion 2003 Nov;43(11):1503-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Petz LD  N. Ref:: 22

 

----------------------------------------------------

[40]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The impact of the model for end-stage liver disease on recipient selection for adult living liver donation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Liver Transpl 2003 Oct;9(10 Suppl 2):S54-9.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1053/jlts.2003.50223

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Freeman RB

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Transplant Surgery, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA. rfreeman@tufts-nemc.org  N. Ref:: 11

 

----------------------------------------------------

[41]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - International Federation of Clinical Chemistry/International Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology working group on immunosuppressive drug monitoring.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Ther Drug Monit 2002 Feb;24(1):59-67.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Holt DW; Armstrong VW; Griesmacher A; Morris RG; Napoli KL; Shaw LM

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Analytical Unit, St George’s Hospital Medical School, London, UK. d.holt@sghms.ac.uk

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Issues surrounding the measurement and interpretation of immunosuppressive drug concentrations have been summarized in a number of consensus documents. The Scientific Division of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry has formed a working group in collaboration with the International Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology. This paper sets out the goals of the working group in light of the developments that have occurred in the field of immunosuppressive drug monitoring since the publication of the last consensus documents.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[42]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Transplant center characteristics and clinical outcomes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: what do we know?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Bone Marrow Transplant 2003 Mar;31(6):417-21.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1038/sj.bmt.1703873

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Loberiza FR Jr; Serna DS; Horowitz MM; Rizzo JD

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry, Health Policy Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Center effects are differences in outcome among treatment centers that cannot be explained by identifiable differences in patients treated or specific treatments applied and are presumed to result from differences in the ways health care is delivered. This paper will briefly review studies of association between treatment center factors and clinical outcomes in general medicine and surgery and look more closely at studies involving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We will also attempt to identify conceptual domains to study further the processes and mechanisms that may be associated with better outcomes.  N. Ref:: 26

 

----------------------------------------------------

[43]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - ICOS costimulation in inflammatory bowel disease.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Gastroenterol 2002 Nov;37 Suppl 14:78-81.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Kanai T; Totsuka T; Tezuka K; Watanabe M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - For years, medical researchers have striven to develop selective immunotherapies that could specifically ameliorate pathogenic immune responses without immunocompromising the patient. Blockade of many known receptors on T cells can inhibit the initiation of immune responses. However, this approach is problematic in that it is not possible to predict the onset of disease in patients. Current immunotherapies are unsatisfactory for the sporadic exacerbating type of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), because they require either long-term treatment or acute treatment with high-dose immunosuppressants. With regard to this issue, the inducible and inflammatory site-specific molecule, inducible costimulator (ICOS), may be particularly useful as an ideal targeting molecule for the strategy of treatment of human IBD patients.  N. Ref:: 31

 

----------------------------------------------------

[44]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Genetically haploidentical stem cell transplantation for acute leukemia.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Bone Marrow Transplant 2001 Apr;27(7):669-76.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1038/sj/bmt/1702856

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Rowe JM; Lazarus HM

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Rambam Medical Center, Technion, Haifa 31096, Israel.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Genetically haploidentical stem cell transplants have been performed for several decades, mostly for patients with advanced acute leukemia. Such transplants are an option for those patients who do not have a histocompatible sibling donor. The historical data have been disappointing due to graft-versus-host disease, engraftment failure and delayed immune reconstitution. Recent modifications and new technological developments have led to more encouraging clinical results. Haploidentical transplantation is immediately available to the majority of patients with acute leukemia and is an acceptable alternative to matched unrelated donor transplantation.  N. Ref:: 74

 

----------------------------------------------------

[45]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The CD154-CD40 costimulatory pathway in transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2002 Jan 15;73(1 Suppl):S36-9.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Yamada And A; Sayegh MH

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Transplantation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Transplantation Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The CD154-CD40 pathway is one of the critical costimulatory pathways that are required for full activation of T cells during alloimmune responses. Blockade of this pathway with anti-CD154 antibodies has been reported to prolong allograft survival in experimental transplantation models and to induce tolerance in some instances. However, anti-CD154 monotherapy cannot induce tolerance in “stringent” models such as skin and islet transplantation and is not sufficient to prevent chronic graft vasculopathy in vascularized organ transplantation. Therefore, combined therapies of anti-CD154 antibodies plus donor-specific transfusion, bone marrow infusion, or B7 blockade by CTLA4-Ig have been tried, and synergistic effects for tolerance induction have been reported. Furthermore, the efficacy of CD154 blockade in primate models has been confirmed for islet and kidney transplantation. The mechanisms of CD154 blockade in vivo include CTLA4-dependent anergy or regulation, T-cell apoptosis, and induction of regulatory cells. Finally, anti-CD154 antibody therapy has been reported to result in unexpected thromboembolic complications in both primates and humans, although the etiology of these conditions remains unclear. In addition, not all antibodies cause this side effect. Clinical trials with humanized anti-CD154 monoclonal antibodies are underway in severe autoimmune diseases, but its development in transplantation is unclear at this time.  N. Ref:: 50

 

----------------------------------------------------

[46]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Immunization of children after solid organ transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Pediatr Clin North Am 2003 Dec;50(6):1435-49, ix-x.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Lopez MJ; Thomas S

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0718, USA. jamlopez@umich.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The array of immunizations commonly used in childhood has risen in an attempt to prevent many of the potentially serious infections of infancy and childhood. In this article, the authors provide rational guidelines for vaccination of these children. The authors briefly review the susceptibilities caused by immunosuppression in these patients, discuss the problems with various immunizations, and make individual recommendations regarding the use of each vaccine. Most recommendations are based on inferences from populations that may not be directly comparable to the transplantation population (patients with HIV or cancer or patients who have undergone bone marrow transplant), from case reports, and from small series of patients. The best recommendations ultimately must await the results of controlled trials of immunization.  N. Ref:: 87

 

----------------------------------------------------

[47]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Selected populations at increased risk from respiratory syncytial virus infection.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Pediatr Infect Dis J 2003 Feb;22(2 Suppl):S40-4; discussion S44-5.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.inf.0000053884.21238.13

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Meissner HC

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the principal cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and young children worldwide. Deficits in cellular immunity appear to promote severe RSV disease in children with malignancies, those undergoing chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant recipients. Respiratory syncytial virus infection appears to exacerbate pulmonary symptoms of cystic fibrosis. In such patients RSV disease may result in a prolonged hospital course, which is often complicated by the need for mechanical ventilation. Retrospective analyses of hospital admissions for RSV bronchiolitis among Native American and Alaskan Native children younger than 1 year of age have demonstrated rates of 62 per 1000 or higher, compared with the national average of 34 per 1000. Among these ethnic groups, specific host factors as well as environmental factors appear to contribute to these comparatively high rates of hospitalization for RSV infection. Respiratory syncytial virus has the potential to cause disease in all age groups. A 3-year observational study found that individuals who lived in a community setting, or who cared for young children on a consistent basis, experienced acute respiratory infections more commonly than those living independently or whose interaction with children was limited.  N. Ref:: 31

 

----------------------------------------------------

[48]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Donor morbidity associated with right lobectomy for living donor liver transplantation to adult recipients: a systematic review.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Liver Transpl 2002 Feb;8(2):110-7.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1053/jlts.2002.31315

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Beavers KL; Sandler RS; Shrestha R

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7080, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The aim if this study is to determine donor morbidity associated with right lobectomy for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) to adult recipients through a systematic review of the published literature. Data sources were English-language reports on donor outcome after LDLT. MEDLINE (1995 to June 2001) was searched using the MeSH terms “living donors” and “liver transplantation.” Limits were set for human only and English language only. Bibliographies of retrieved references were cross-checked to identify additional reports; 211 reports were obtained. Population studies and consecutive and nonconsecutive series were included. All studies reported at least one of the following outcomes specific to living donors (LDs) of right hepatic lobes to adult recipients: surgical and hospital complications, length of hospital stay, readmissions, recovery time, return to predonation occupation, health-related quality of life, or mortality. Abstracts of relevant articles were reviewed independently using predetermined criteria, and appropriate articles were retrieved. Study design and results were summarized in evidence tables. Summary statistics of combined data were performed when possible. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Data on donor morbidity associated with right lobectomy are limited. On the basis of reported data, morbidity associated with LD right lobectomy ranges from 0% to 67%. In conclusion, reported morbidity associated with right lobe donation for LDLT varies widely. Standardized definitions of morbidity and better methods for observing and measuring outcomes are necessary to understand and potentially improve morbidity. Future studies assessing LD outcomes should report donor outcome more explicitly.  N. Ref:: 26

 

----------------------------------------------------

[49]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Vaccines for persons at high risk due to medical conditions, occupation, environment, or lifestyle, 2003.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Fam Pract 2003 Jan;52(1 Suppl):S22-35.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Zimmerman RK; Middleton DB; Smith NJ

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15621, USA. zimmer@pitt.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The safety and efficacy of current vaccines are reviewed for high-risk populations, such as those with underlying medical conditions or occupational or lifestyle circumstances. The morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases are high among persons with underlying medical conditions; thus, influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines are recommended for those with cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For the same reasons, influenza vaccine is recommended for pregnant women and for persons with asthma. Health-care workers are at risk for acquiring and transmitting hepatitis B, measles, and influenza; hence, vaccination against these diseases is recommended.  N. Ref:: 75

 

----------------------------------------------------

[50]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Treatment of atopic dermatitis and impact on quality of life: a review with emphasis on topical non-corticosteroids.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Pharmacoeconomics 2003;21(3):159-79.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Schiffner R; Schiffner-Rohe J; Landthaler M; Stolz W

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Dermatology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. jr.schiffner@t-online.de

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disease with increasing prevalence and rising costs. Stigmatisation and pruritus are only some aspects of potential quality-of-life (QOL) impairments. AD is not curable and repeated treatments are often necessary. At present, treatment with topically-applied corticosteroids is state-of-the-art for mild to moderate flare-ups. However, many patients are worried about the use of corticosteroids due to the widespread fear of adverse effects. In this review the present literature is analysed concerning impact on quality of life for topically-applicable alternatives to the state-of-the-art treatment. For comparison reasons, data from other treatment modalities are additionally given. Characteristics of studies were analysed using ‘general’ (year and mode of publication, type and aim of study, number of patients, and clinical measurement) and ‘QOL specific’ criteria (type and number of QOL measurements including relevance for study aim and age group, validation in used language, sensitivity to change, and improvement at end of study). QOL data are published only in the minority of studies evaluating treatment efficacy and do not cover the variety of possible therapies. Data are available for tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, UVA/UVB combination and UVB narrowband (topical non-corticosteroidal treatments), as well as for topical corticosteroids, cyclosporin, and inpatient treatment. All studies provided a marked improvement in quality of life after therapy. One study assessed quality of life after a treatment-free follow-up period obtaining a clear increase in impact on quality of life. Since studies used different QOL measurements and vary in inclusion criteria, treatment schedules and presentation of results, a comparison of QOL improvement is not recommended. A single randomised study compared topically applied non-corticosteroidal treatment (UVA/UVB combination) with another treatment modality (cyclosporin) and found no difference in QOL improvement. At present, there is a clear lack of controlled randomised studies evaluating different active treatment modalities and their impact on quality of life. Consensus meetings are desirable to formulate guidelines for the selection and correct use of QOL measurements. Patients’ fear of side effects (e.g. concerning corticosteroids) should be integrated in QOL questionnaires for evaluation of possible compliance problems and real costs. Since relapse after treatment is frequent in AD, QOL measurements should also be performed after a treatment-free follow-up period. At present, we can not answer the question ‘which treatment best improves quality of life in AD?’.  N. Ref:: 128

 

----------------------------------------------------

[51]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Assessment of functional outcome in hand transplantation patients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Hand Clin 2003 Aug;19(3):505-9, x.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Herzberg G; Parmentier H; Erhard L

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Unit, Edouard Herriot Hospital, 5 Place d’Arsonval-Pavillon M, 69437, Lyon Cedex 03, France. guillaume.herzberg@chu-lyon.fr

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The purpose of this article is to report the criteria used for functional evaluation of hand transplant patients in a one-page clinical examination chart. A satisfactory immunologic status is mandatory for a functional evaluation to take place.  N. Ref:: 17

 

----------------------------------------------------

[52]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Clinical audit and long-term evaluation of renal transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2001 Dec 27;72(12 Suppl):S94-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Short CD; Russell S; Valentine A

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Renal transplant recipients now have an increased life expectancy, and this has highlighted the need for increased concern about the long-term complications associated with transplantation. To better manage renal transplant recipients over the long term, it is essential to schedule periodic clinic visits to detect problems and intervene in a timely fashion. Besides enabling early detection and possible treatment, periodic visits permit continuing patient education. Unfortunately, there is no scientifically based consensus that indicates what the optimal frequency and timing of such visits should be, although the AST has recently issued some guidelines. At the MINT, an Annual Review Clinic has been implemented to provide better service to renal transplant recipients over the long term. The clinic offers a comprehensive medical assessment, identifies and quantifies risk factors for CVD, and initiates referrals to appropriate specialists. The Annual Review Clinic increases patient awareness in a number of areas specific to transplantation, promotes a positive approach to healthcare, enables collection of structured data for analysis, and, with hope, engenders a significant degree of patient well-being and satisfaction. The medical community needs to continue long-term patient evaluation and clinical audit as means to improve long-term patient and graft survival, as well as patient quality of life.  N. Ref:: 31

 

----------------------------------------------------

[53]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The testicular-derived Sertoli cell: cellular immunoscience to enable transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Cell Transplant 2003;12(4):335-49.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Emerich DF; Hemendinger R; Halberstadt CR

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Sertoli Technologies, Inc, Cranston RI 02921, USA. ED3FJM@aol.com

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - There is a renewed enthusiasm for the potential of cellular transplantation as a therapy for numerous clinical disorders. The revived interest is largely due to the unprecedented success of the “Edmonton protocol,” which produced a 100% cure rate for type I diabetics following the transplantation of human islet allografts together with a modified immunosuppressive regimen. While these data provide a clear and unequivocal demonstration that transplantation is a viable treatment strategy, the shortage of suitable donor tissue together with the debilitating consequences of lifelong immunosuppression necessitate a concerted effort to develop novel means to enable transplantation on a widespread basis. This review outlines the use of Sertoli cells to provide local immunoprotection to cografted discordant cells, including those from xenogeneic sources. Sertoli cells are normally found in the testes where one of their functions is to provide local immunologic protection to developing germ cells. Isolated Sertoli cells 1) engraft and self-protect when transplanted into allogeneic and xenogeneic environments, 2) protect cografted allogeneic and xenogeneic cells from immune destruction, 3) protect islet grafts to reverse diabetes in animal models, 4) enable survival and function of cografted foreign dopaminergic neurons in rodent models of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and 5) promote regeneration of damaged striatal dopaminergic circuitry in those same PD models. These benefits are discussed in the context of several potential underlying biological mechanisms. While the majority of work to date has focused on Sertoli cells to facilitate transplantation for diabetes and PD, the generalized ability of these unique cells to potently suppress the local immune environment opens additional clinical possibilities.  N. Ref:: 134

 

----------------------------------------------------

[54]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Kidney transplantation from living-unrelated donors: comparison of outcome with living-related and cadaveric transplants under current immunosuppressive protocols.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Urology 2003 Dec;62(6):1002-6.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Chkhotua AB; Klein T; Shabtai E; Yussim A; Bar-Nathan N; Shaharabani E; Lustig S; Mor E

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - National Centre of Urology, Tbilisi, Georgia.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - OBJECTIVES: Living-unrelated donors may become an additional organ source for patients on the kidney waiting list. We studied the impact of a combination of calcineurin inhibitors and mycophenolate-mofetil together with steroids on the outcomes of living-related (LRD), unrelated (LUR), and cadaver transplantation. METHODS: Between September 1997 and January 2000, 129 patients underwent LRD (n = 80) or LUR (n = 49) kidney transplantation, and another 173 patients received a cadaveric kidney. Immunosuppressive protocols consisted of mycophenolate-mofetil with cyclosporine-Neoral (41%) or tacrolimus (59%) plus steroids. We compared the patient and graft survival data, rejection rate, and graft functional parameters. RESULTS: LRD recipients were younger (33.6 years) than LUR (47.8 years) and cadaver (43.7 years) donor recipients (P <0.001). HLA matching was higher in LRD patients (P <0.001). Acute rejection developed in 28.6% of LUR versus 27.5% of LRD transplants and 29.7% of cadaver kidney recipients (P = not significant). The creatinine level at 1, 2, and 3 years after transplant was 1.63, 1.73, and 1.70 mg% for LRD patients; 1.48, 1.48, and 1.32 mg% for LUR patients; and 1.75, 1.68, and 1.67 mg% for cadaver kidney recipients (P = not significant), respectively. No difference in patient survival rates was found among the groups. The 1, 2, and 3-year graft survival rates were significantly better in recipients of LRD (91.3%, 90.0%, and 87.5%, respectively) and LUR transplants (89.8%, 87.8%, and 87.8%, respectively) than in cadaver kidney recipients (81.5%, 78.6%, 76.3%, respectively; P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Despite HLA disparity, the rejection and survival rates of LUR transplants under current immunosuppressive protocols are comparable to those of LRD and better than those of cadaveric transplants.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[55]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Hospital infection control in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Emerg Infect Dis. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.cdc.gov/ 

      ●● Cita: Emerging Infectious Diseases: <> 2001 Mar-Apr;7(2):263-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Dykewicz CA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. cad3@cdc.gov

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Guidelines for Preventing Opportunistic Infections Among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients contains a section on hospital infection control including evidence-based recommendations regarding ventilation, construction, equipment, plants, play areas and toys, health-care workers, visitors, patient skin and oral care, catheter-related infections, drug-resistant organisms, and specific nosocomial infections. These guidelines are intended to reduce the number and severity of hospital infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.  N. Ref:: 37

 

----------------------------------------------------

[56]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - SCAI statement on drug-eluting stents: practice and health care delivery implications.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2003 Mar;58(3):397-9.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1002/ccd.10513

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Hodgson JM; King SB 3rd; Feldman T; Cowley MJ; Klein LW; Babb JD

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Heart and Vascular Center, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA. jhodgson@metrohealth.org

 

----------------------------------------------------

[57]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Current status of lung transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Eur Respir J Suppl 2003 Nov;47:57s-64s.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Lau CL; Patterson GA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. lauch@msnotes.wustl.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Two decades have passed since the first successful clinical lung transplant was performed in 1983, and, in the interim, lung transplantation has become the preferred treatment option for a variety of end-stage pulmonary diseases. Remarkable progress has been made in the field through refinement of technique and improved understanding of transplant immunology and microbiology. Unfortunately, donor shortages continue to limit the more widespread application of lung transplantation. In order to address this issue, marginal donors, living lobar and split lung donor techniques, and nonheartbeating donors have been used clinically to increase the number of donor lungs available. Chronic rejection of the lung allograft is currently the major hurdle limiting longterm survival. To date, prevention of known risk factors and treatment strategies have not lessened the devastating toll this process has on lung transplant survival. Better understanding of the cause of chronic rejection is needed in order to develop novel strategies for its treatment. Promotion of immune tolerance is a promising area that could potentially eliminate chronic rejection. The present article discusses recent advances in lung transplantation. It also details the major issues facing the field today. Only through continued clinical and experimental investigation will lung transplantation eventually reach its full potential.  N. Ref:: 95

 

----------------------------------------------------

[58]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - General health management and long-term care of the renal transplant recipient.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Kidney Dis 2001 Dec;38(6 Suppl 6):S10-24.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Cohen D; Galbraith C

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA. djc5@columbia.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The steady improvement in short-term success rates in renal transplant patients has translated into better long-term success rates and a large number of patients with long-functioning renal transplants. The necessity for the lifelong administration of immunosuppressive medications to prevent rejection, coupled with the presence in many patients of a variety of other medical problems dating from the period of renal insufficiency prior to the time of renal transplantation, has created a large group of patients with a unique and complex set of long-term medical care needs. Due to the constraints of managed care, considerations of geography, or patient preference, the long-term care of an increasing number of renal transplant recipients has shifted away from the transplant center to the community-based nephrologist or internist. For optimal care to be delivered, it is important that the physicians managing these patients be cognizant of the complex and interacting medical issues involved in their care. Appropriate management can significantly prolong the life of the allograft as well as that of the patient. Guidelines for understanding and managing some of the more important and common general medical problems facing the long-term renal transplant recipient (eg, infectious complications, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, malignancy, pregnancy, bone disease, dental care, preventive care) are addressed in this section.  N. Ref:: 47

 

----------------------------------------------------

[59]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Mechanisms involved in ultraviolet light-induced immunosuppression.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Eur J Dermatol 2003 Nov-Dec;13(6):515-23.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Aubin F

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Dermatology and Cell Biology, University Hospital, 2 Place Saint Jacques, 25030 Besancon, France. francois.aubin@ufc-chu.univ-fcomte.fr

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Ultraviolet radiation (UV) represents one of the most important environmental factors affecting human health, especially with regard to its hazardous effects on the generation of skin cancer, suppression of the immune system and premature skin aging. At molecular level, various chromophores have been identified, and DNA remains the major chromophore in the skin. Epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) are considered as the main targets of UV, as UV inhibits their antigen-presenting activity and their capacity to stimulate allogeneic type 1 T cells. Keratinocytes are also a target of UV light and they produce and release numerous soluble and immunosuppressive mediators. In human skin, IL-10 is mainly produced by dermis CD11b + macrophages and neutrophils that infiltrate epidermis after intense UV. UV-induced immunosuppression is transferable with suppressor T cells whose phenotype is still debated (Natural Killer T cells and T regulatory type 1 cells). Although the mechanisms by which immune regulatory suppressor T cells act still remain unclear, there is increasing evidence that apoptosis of epidermal LC or reactive T cells may play an important role through the Fas/FasL system.  N. Ref:: 101

 

----------------------------------------------------

[60]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Expanding the donor pool: effect on graft outcome.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Am Soc Nephrol. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de 1 año de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.jasn.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology: <> 2002 Oct;13(10):2590-9.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Ramos E; Aoun S; Harmon WE

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Nephrology Division, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. eramos@medicine.umaryland.edu  N. Ref:: 106

 

----------------------------------------------------

[61]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Rejection rate in living donor kidney transplantation with and without basiliximab in tacrolimus/mycophenolate mofetil-based protocol.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplant Proc 2003 Mar;35(2):653-4.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Rahamimov R; Yussim A; After T; Lustig S; Bar-Nathan N; Shaharabani E; Shapira Z; Shabthai E; Mor E

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Transplantation, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah-Tiqwa, Israel. rutir@clalit.org.il

 

----------------------------------------------------

[62]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Clinical trials, immunosuppression and renal transplantation: new trends in design and analysis.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Pediatr Nephrol 2002 Aug;17(8):573-84. Epub 2002 Jun 13.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1007/s00467-002-0909-z

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Landais P; Daures JP

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Laboratoire de Biostatistique et d’Informatique Medicale, Hopital Necker Enfants Malades, Faculte Paris 5, 149 rue de Sevres, 75743 Paris Cedex 15, France. landais@necker.fr

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Clinical trials provide a framework to search for more effective and less toxic immunosuppressive agents to control renal transplant rejection. Some methodological aspects are presented. Patient selection and the choice of study endpoints are discussed with emphasis on standardized definitions and classification of histopathology, and on qualification and quantification of chronic rejection. Choosing a Bayesian or a frequentist approach and the afferent hypotheses is discussed together with the interpretation of a P-value and a confidence interval. Strategies for limiting the number of patients, increasing power and feasibility are reviewed, including discussion of surrogate endpoints. New approaches to statistical analysis are then presented, including intention-to-treat versus per-protocol analysis, analysis of correlated data, dependent censoring, and meta-analysis applied to renal transplantation. Pharmacoeconomics are finally introduced as necessary for implementation of decision making regarding therapeutic strategies. Reporting research increases its standards, and the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) and QOROM (Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses) criteria are to be integrated in the process of clinical trial procedures. In conclusion, observational studies are presented as part of an evidence-based approach in the hierarchy of evidence, keeping in mind that high quality, randomized, controlled trials are still necessary to decrease uncertainty in the field of renal transplantation.  N. Ref:: 100

 

----------------------------------------------------

[63]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome: utility of the new guidelines in single lung transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Heart Lung Transplant 2003 Apr;22(4):427-32.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Nathan SD; Barnett SD; Wohlrab J; Burton N

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Inova Transplant Center, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Virginia 22042, USA. steven.nathan@inova.com

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome is defined by a >20% decrease from baseline in the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)). Recently, a consensus panel under the auspices of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation proposed a new stage, designated “potential BOS” or BOS 0-p. This study sought to validate retrospectively this new stage in a cohort of single-lung transplant recipients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of serial pulmonary function tests in 43 single-lung transplant recipients was performed. Baseline FEV(1) and midflow rate (FEF(25-75%)) were determined and compared with the most recent set of pulmonary function tests in clinically stable patients. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the FEF(25-75%) at <or=75% of baseline for subsequently detecting BOS Stage 1 was 80%, with a specificity of 82.6%. For the patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the sensitivity was 62.5% and the specificity was 100.0%, whereas in the patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, the sensitivity was 91.7% and the specificity was 69.2%. Different cutoff points for the FEF(25-75%) also were tested and are shown in receiver operator curves. Likelihood ratios for the different cutoff points also were calculated. Five of 9 (55.6%) patients qualified for BOS 0-p using the FEV(1) parameter (FEV(1) of 81-90% of baseline) alone. CONCLUSION: The FEF(25-75%) seems to be a useful criterion for predicting BOS development in single-lung transplant recipients. The FEF(25-75%) might best be used with likelihood ratios for different values rather than for 1 defined cutoff point of or=75% of baseline. The value of the second criterion that constitutes BOS 0-p (FEV(1), 81-90%of baseline) remains uncertain.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[64]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Utility of intravenous immune globulin in kidney transplantation: efficacy, safety, and cost implications.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Transplant 2003 Jun;3(6):653-64.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Jordan S; Cunningham-Rundles C; McEwan R

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Pediatric Nephrology & Transplant Immunology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. sjordan@cshs.org

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Intravenous immunoglobulin preparations (IVIG) are known to be effective in the treatment of various autoimmune and inflammatory disorders into their immunomodulatory, immunoregulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties. Recently, IVIG has been utilized in the management of highly sensitized patients awaiting renal transplantation. The mechanisms of suppression of panel reactive antibodies (PRA) in patients awaiting transplantation are currently under investigation and appear to be related to anti-idiotypic antibodies present in IVIG preparations. In this review, the various immunomodulatory mechanisms attributable to IVIG and their efficacy in reducing PRAs will be described. In addition, the use of IVIG in solid organ transplant recipients will be reviewed. The adverse events, safety considerations, and economic impact of IVIG protocols for patients awaiting solid organ transplantation will be discussed.  N. Ref:: 67

 

----------------------------------------------------

[65]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Loss of living donor renal allograft survival advantage in children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Kidney Int 2001 Jan;59(1):328-33.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Baum MA; Stablein DM; Panzarino VM; Tejani A; Harmon WE; Alexander SR

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Nephrology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - BACKGROUND: Because of concerns of increased risk of graft loss with recurrent disease, living donor (LD) transplantation in children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) has been controversial. METHODS: The North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study (NAPRTCS) database from January 1987 to January 2000 was examined to determine differences in demographics, treatment, and outcomes in children with FSGS compared with other renal diseases. RESULTS: Data on 6484 children, 752 (11.6%) with FSGS, demonstrated that FSGS patients were more likely to be older and black, and were less likely to receive either pre-emptive or LD transplant (P < 0.001). No differences existed in human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) matching or immunosuppression regimens. Acute tubular necrosis occurred in more FSGS patients following LD (11.8 vs. 4.6%) or cadaveric (CD; 27.9 vs. 16.3%) transplants (P < 0.001). Graft survival was worse for LD FSGS patients (5 years 69%) compared with no FSGS (82%, P < 0.001) and was not significantly different than CD graft survival in the FSGS (60%) and No FSGS groups (67%). The LD to CD ratios of relative risk of graft failure were higher in FSGS patients (test for interaction, P = 0.01). Recurrence of original disease was the only cause of graft failure that differed between groups (P < 0.001). A greater percentage of LD FSGS graft failures was attributed to recurrence (P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: The impact of FSGS on graft survival in children is greatest in LD transplants, resulting in loss of expected LD graft survival advantage. The rationale for LD grafts in children with FSGS should be based on factors other than better outcomes typically associated with LD transplantation.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[66]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Sunlight, immunosuppression and skin cancer: role of histamine and mast cells.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2001 Jan-Feb;28(1-2):1-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Hart PH; Grimbaldeston MA; Finlay-Jones JJ

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. prue.hart@flinders.edu.au

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - 1. The development into tumours of skin cells transformed by ultraviolet (UV) B radiation of wavelengths 290-320 nm is enhanced by the ability of UVB to suppress an immune response that would otherwise destroy them. Ultraviolet B-induced immunomodulation may be by multiple mechanisms, but generally manifests in an antigen-presenting cell defect and an altered cytokine environment in the draining lymph nodes. 2. Immune responses to microbial or self-antigens may be dysfunctional by similar mechanisms following UVB exposure. 3. Earliest-acting intermediates in the initiation of UVB-induced immunosuppression are the UVB absorbers (photoreceptors) of the skin, notably DNA resulting in immunoregulatory cytokine production, and trans-urocanic acid (UCA), which, upon isomerization to its cis isomer, signals downstream immunosuppressive events. 4. In mice, dermal mast cells are critical to UVB-induced systemic immunomodulation. In mice, there is a functional link as well as a linear relationship between the prevalence of histamine-staining dermal mast cells and the log of the dose of UVB required for 50% immunosuppression. Studies with histamine receptor antagonists support histamine as the main’ product of mast cells involved. Histamine acts in large part via a prostanoid-dependent pathway. 5. Approximately 50% of humans and greater than 90% of patients with non-melanoma skin cancer are UVB susceptible for suppression of a contact hypersensitivity response. Neither cytokine polymorphisms nor UVB-induced levels of cis-UCA in irradiated skin have been linked to UVB susceptibility. Patients with basal cell carcinomas (BCC) have an increased dermal mast cell prevalence in non-sun-exposed buttock skin. We propose that mast cells function in humans, as in mice, by initiating immunosuppression and, thereby, allowing a permissive environment for BCC development.  N. Ref:: 71

 

----------------------------------------------------

[67]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Inflammatory bowel disease, azathioprine and skin cancer: case report and literature review.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2001 Feb;13(2):193-4.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Austin AS; Spiller RC

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital NHS Trust, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - A 42-year-old blond Caucasian woman taking azathioprine for 8 years developed an intra-epidermal carcinoma of the shin. She regularly used a sun bed to maintain a tan. Although the increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in immunosuppressed transplant recipients is well recognized, patients with Crohn’s disease are not currently warned of the risk of exposure to ultraviolet light. Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease who take azathioprine, especially those with a fair complexion, should be informed of the potential dangers of sun bathing and should be advised to limit sun exposure.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[68]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Donor and recipient outcomes after adult living donor liver transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Liver Transpl 2003 Oct;9(10 Suppl 2):S42-4.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1053/jlts.2003.50219

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Humar A

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. humar001@umn.edu  N. Ref:: 11

 

----------------------------------------------------

[69]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Pulmonary considerations in the immunocompromised patient.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Emerg Med Clin North Am 2003 May;21(2):499-531, x-xi.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Belleza WG; Browne B

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, 419 West Redwood Street, Suite 208, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The compromised patient who presents to the emergency department with pulmonary complaints is becoming a common occurrence. An immunocompromised state can result from a disease process such as HIV or from medications used to prevent graft rejection in solid organ recipients or to treat conditions such as collagen vascular disease. The emergency department physician should be familiar with the more common complications that can afflict this unique patient group. This article addresses the presentation, evaluation, and treatment of the more common pulmonary complications that can occur in solid organ transplant recipients, cancer patients, patients suffering from collagen vascular disease, and patients with HIV disease.  N. Ref:: 79

 

----------------------------------------------------

[70]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Preimplantation renal biopsy: structure does predict function.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2003 Feb 15;75(3):264-6.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - D’Agati VD; Cohen DJ

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.  N. Ref:: 11

 

----------------------------------------------------

[71]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The FDA guidelines for the treatment of psoriasis using cyclosporine A: are they adequate?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Cutis 2002 Nov;70(5):288-90.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Zackheim HS

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, USA. hszackheim@orca.ucsf.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - I present a review of the current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for using cyclosporine A (CSA) to treat psoriasis, with particular emphasis on the period for which CSA may be administered. My concern is that, without violating the guidelines, CSA could be given for a prolonged period with only very brief time-outs. I also review the risks for renal toxicity, malignancy, and other side effects from prolonged administration.  N. Ref:: 18

 

----------------------------------------------------

[72]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Blocking the CD80 and CD86 costimulation molecules: lessons to be learned from animal models.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplantation 2002 Jan 15;73(1 Suppl):S23-6.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Jonker M; Ossevoort And MA; Vierboom M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Immunobiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The induction of tolerance for allografts, obviating the need for immunosuppression, is the ultimate goal in transplantation. Immunoregulatory antibodies preventing graft rejection are promising candidates for the induction of tolerance. Costimulation blockade could be a useful approach to inducing donor-specific nonresponsiveness in organ transplantation. Rodent studies and in vitro studies using human or nonhuman primate peripheral blood mononuclear cells indicated that this approach might indeed lead to specific T-cell anergy. Nonhuman primate studies, in which the B7 costimulation pathway was blocked, have so far not led to permanent drug-free graft acceptance. The results are promising, however, because during the treatment period with B7 costimulation blockade alone or combined with anti-CD40 or cyclosporine, no graft loss was observed and donor-specific antibody formation was prevented. Based on these findings, new approaches to inducing drug-free graft acceptance should be investigated.  N. Ref:: 15

 

----------------------------------------------------

[73]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Allogeneic and autologous transplantation for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders: definitions and current practice in Europe.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Bone Marrow Transplant 2002 Apr;29(8):639-46.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1038/sj.bmt.1703535

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Urbano-Ispizua A; Schmitz N; de Witte T; Frassoni F; Rosti G; Schrezenmeier H; Gluckman E; Friedrich W; Cordonnier C; Socie G; Tyndall A; Niethammer D; Ljungman P; Gratwohl A; Apperley J; Niederwieser D; Bacigalupo A

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Dept of Hematology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, España.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The Accreditation Sub-Committee of the EBMT regularly publishes special reports on current practice of haemopoietic stem cell transplantation for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders. Major changes have occurred since the last report in 1998. Haemopoietic stem cell transplantation today includes allogeneic and autologous stem cells derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood and cord blood. With reduced intensity conditioning regimens in allogeneic transplantation, the age limit has increased, permitting the inclusion of older patients. New indications have emerged, such as autoimmune disorders and AL amyloidosis for autologous, and solid tumours for allogeneic transplants. Other indications, such as autologous transplantation for breast cancer have been challenged. An updated report with revised tables and operating definitions is presented here.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[74]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Diabetes mellitus in transplantation: 2002 consensus guidelines.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplant Proc 2003 Jun;35(4):1265-70.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Moore R; Boucher A; Carter J; Kim SJ; Kiberd B; Loertscher R; Mongeau JG; Prasad GV; Vautour L

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, UK.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Diabetes mellitus is a serious complication following organ transplantation that is underdiagnosed, possibly due to the inadequate definitions used in published literature and the lack of standardized screening. Diabetes in transplantation amplifies the already increased risk of cardiovascular disease among transplant patients, and increases the risk of graft loss and death. Patients at risk of developing diabetes in transplantation should therefore be prospectively identified and given individualized immunosuppressive therapy to minimize the risk of developing this disease. These guidelines are intended to: (1) help identify patients at risk for diabetes after transplantation; (2) set down a standard definition of posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM); (3) create a standard monitoring protocol for the diagnosis of PTDM; and (4) optimize the management of patients at risk of developing or who develop diabetes after transplantation. With improved diagnosis, individualization of therapy, and proper early management, the incidence of diabetes in transplantation, and the accompanying additional burden of illness the disease carries, may be diminished. In turn, this will help achieve the therapeutic goals of reducing the risk of graft complications, improving quality of life, and reducing postoperative morbidity and mortality in transplant patients.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[75]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Psychological stress and antibody response to immunization: a critical review of the human literature.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Psychosom Med. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de los 2 años de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/  

      ●● Cita: Psychosomatic Medicine: <> 2001 Jan-Feb;63(1):7-18.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Cohen S; Miller GE; Rabin BS

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. scohen@andrew.cmu.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to evaluate the evidence for the hypothesis that psychological stress influences antibody response to immunization in humans. METHODS: A critical review of the literature was conducted. RESULTS: The evidence supports an association between psychological stress and suppression of humoral immune (antibody) response to immunization. This association is convincing in the case of secondary immune response but weak for primary response. The lack of consistent evidence for a relation with primary response may be attributed to a failure to consider the critical points when stress needs to be elevated in the course of the production of antibody. Lower secondary antibody responses were found among patients with chronically high levels of stress (severe enduring problems or high levels of trait negative affect). These responses were found most consistently among older adults. Lower secondary responses were also found for those reporting acute stress or negative affect, but only in studies of secretory immunoglobulin A antibody in which psychological and antibody measures were linked very closely in time. Health practices did not mediate relations between stress and antibody responses; however, there were indications that elevated cortisol levels among stressed patients could play a role. Evidence also suggests the possible influences of dispositional stress-reactivity and low positive affect in the inhibition of antibody production. CONCLUSIONS: The literature supports a relationship between psychological stress and antibody responses to immunizations. The data are convincing in the case of secondary response but weak for primary response. More attention to the kinetics of stress and antibody response and their interrelations is needed in future research.  N. Ref:: 51

 

----------------------------------------------------

[76]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Role of chiral chromatography in therapeutic drug monitoring and in clinical and forensic toxicology.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Ther Drug Monit 2002 Apr;24(2):290-6.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Williams ML; Wainer IW

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Oncology, Leicester University, Leicester, United Kingdom.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Advances in chiral chromatographic separations have given pharmacologists and toxicologists the tools to examine unexpected clinical results involving chiral drugs. The ability to unravel complex phenomena associated with drug transport and drug metabolism is presented in this manuscript. The relation between the chirality of the drug mefloquine and the intracellular concentrations of the drug cyclosporine is illustrated by examining the effect of the enantiomers of mefloquine on the transport activity of P-glycoprotein (Pgp). These studies were conducted using a liquid chromatographic column containing immobilized Pgp. The results demonstrated that (+)-mefloquine competitively displaced the Pgp substrate cyclosporine whereas (-)-mefloquine had no effect on cyclosporine-Pgp binding. The data suggest that cyclosporine cellular and CNS concentrations can be increased through the concomitant administration of (+)-mefloquine. The use of chirality in clinical and forensic situations is also illustrated by the metabolism of the enantiomers of ketamine (KET). The plasma concentrations of (+)-KET and (-)-KET and the norketamine metabolites (+)-NK and (-)-NK were measured in rat plasma using enantioselective gas chromatography. The separations were accomplished using a gas chromatography chiral stationary phase based on beta-cyclodextrin. The pharmacokinetic profiles of (+)-, (-)-KET and (+)-, (-)-NK were determined in control and protein-calorie malnourished (PCM) rats to determine the effect of PCM on ketamine metabolism and clearance. The results indicate that PCM produced a significant and stereoselective decrease in KET and NK metabolism. The data suggest that the effects of environmental factors (smoking, alcohol use, diet) and drug interactions (coadministered agents) can be measured using the changes in stereochemical metabolic and pharmacokinetic patterns of KET and similar drugs.  N. Ref:: 33

 

----------------------------------------------------

[77]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Suggested guidelines for the use of tacrolimus in cardiac transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Heart Lung Transplant 2001 Jul;20(7):734-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Taylor DO; Barr ML; Meiser BM; Pham SM; Mentzer RM; Gass AL

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA.  N. Ref:: 11

 

----------------------------------------------------

[78]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Kidney transplantation: graft monitoring and immunosuppression.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - World J Surg 2002 Feb;26(2):185-93. Epub 2001 Dec 17.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1007/s00268-001-0206-1

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Fisher JS; Woodle ES; Thistlethwaite JR Jr

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee, Room A-202, Memphis,Tennessee 38103, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Renal transplantation has become the preferred means of treating end-stage renal disease. Episodes of allograft rejection have become the exception rather than the rule. The development of real-time ultrasound-guided allograft biopsy and adoption of the Banff criteria for histologic evaluation permit safe,accurate monitoring of graft histology. New immunosuppressive agents have drastically reduced the number of episodes of both primary and refractory rejection. Novel biologic agents in the form of monoclonal antibodies and soluble receptor hybrid molecules may serve to reduce the required doses of toxic chemical immunosuppressants and provide more specific immune suppression directed at those elements of the immune system involved in rejection of a given allograft. Development of assays to identify patients who demonstrate donor antigen-specific hyporeactivity is now feasible. Hopefully, these assays will serve as a guide for the reduction and possible removal of immunosuppressive agents from stable renal allograft recipients.  N. Ref:: 81

 

----------------------------------------------------

[79]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Successful kidney transplantation using organs from a donor with disseminated intravascular coagulation and impaired renal function: case report and review of the literature.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nephrol Dial Transplant. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de los 2 años de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://ndt.oupjournals.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: <> 2001 Feb;16(2):412-5.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Pastural M; Barrou B; Delcourt A; Bitker MO; Ourahma S; Richard F

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Urology, Hopital La Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France.  N. Ref:: 9

 

----------------------------------------------------

[80]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Histochemical properties of intrastriatal mesencephalic grafts.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Adv Exp Med Biol 2002;517:43-61.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Triarhou LC

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Neuropathology, Medical Science Building A142, Indiana University Medical Center, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5120, USA.  N. Ref:: 96

 

----------------------------------------------------

[81]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Tailoring immunosuppressive therapy based on donor and recipient risk factors.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplant Proc 2001 May;33(3):2207-11.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - First MR

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0585, USA.  N. Ref:: 35

 

----------------------------------------------------

[82]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Tolerance through bone marrow transplantation with costimulation blockade.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transpl Immunol 2002 May;9(2-4):125-33.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Wekerle T; Blaha P; Langer F; Schmid M; Muehlbacher F

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, Austria. thomas.wekerle@akh-wien.ac.at

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The routine induction of tolerance in organ transplant recipients remains an unattained goal. The creation of a state of mixed chimerism through allogeneic bone marrow transplantation leads to robust donor-specific tolerance in several experimental models and this approach has several features making it attractive for clinical development. One of its major drawbacks, however, has been the toxicity of the required host conditioning. The use of costimulation blocking reagents (anti-CD 154 monoclonal antibodies and the fusion protein CTLA4Ig) has led to much less toxic models of mixed chimerism in which global T cell depletion of the host is no longer necessary and which has even allowed the elimination of all cytoreductive treatment when combined with the injection of very high doses of bone marrow cells. In this overview we will briefly discuss general features of tolerance induction through bone marrow transplantation, will then describe recent models using costimulation blockade to induce mixed chimerism and will review the mechanisms of tolerance found with these regimens. Finally we will attempt to identify issues related to the clinical introduction of bone marrow transplantation with costimulation blockade which remain unresolved.  N. Ref:: 84

 

----------------------------------------------------

[83]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Maintenance immunosuppression in the renal transplant recipient: an overview.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Kidney Dis 2001 Dec;38(6 Suppl 6):S25-35.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Gaston RS

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. rgaston@nrtc.uab.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Managing maintenance immunosuppressive regimens after kidney transplantation is often challenging and confusing, requiring careful attention to efficacy, dosing, adverse effects, and costs of multiple medications. Most protocols combine a primary immunosuppressant (cyclosporine or tacrolimus) with one or two adjunctive agents (azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, sirolimus, corticosteroids). Avoiding drug-drug interactions is a major part of effective immunosuppressant management, and special situations (eg, pregnancy, intravenous dosing, caring for minority patients) can prove especially daunting. This review summarizes available data regarding current practices in maintenance immunosuppression, emphasizing issues that arise in day-to-day management of renal transplant recipients.  N. Ref:: 69

 

----------------------------------------------------

[84]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Ten years’ experience with liposomal amphotericin B in transplant recipients at Huddinge University Hospital.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Antimicrob Chemother. Acceso gratuito al texto completo a partir de 1 año de la fecha de publicación.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://jac.oupjournals.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy: <> 2002 Feb;49 Suppl 1:51-5.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Ringden O

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Clinical Immunology, Centre for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Huddinge S-14186, Sweden. olle.ringden@impi.ki.se

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Our substantial experience in several trials with AmBisome in adult and paediatric patients undergoing transplantation has shown this formulation of amphotericin B to be safe and effective in therapeutic and prophylactic use. AmBisome has shown a significant reduction in fungal colonization and invasive Candida infections compared with placebo in a prospective, double-blind study in bone marrow transplantation, and eradication of invasive fungal infections in 86% of 14 children undergoing bone marrow transplantation. The main side effects of AmBisome use are elevations in serum potassium and creatinine, but these lead to very few withdrawals from treatment. Compared with conventional amphotericin B, AmBisome is very expensive, but its much improved safety profile and proven efficacy make it an excellent agent for management of invasive fungal disease in transplant recipients.  N. Ref:: 14

 

----------------------------------------------------

[85]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Structural correlates of process outgrowth and circuit reconstruction.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Adv Exp Med Biol 2002;517:63-88.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Triarhou LC

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Neuropathology, Medical Science Building A142, Indiana University Medical Center, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5120, USA.  N. Ref:: 105

 

----------------------------------------------------

[86]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The immune tolerance network: a new paradigm for developing tolerance-inducing therapies.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002 Jul;110(1):17-23.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Rotrosen D; Matthews JB; Bluestone JA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20817,USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Immune tolerance therapies are designed to reprogram immune cells in a highly specific fashion to eliminate pathogenic responses while preserving protective immunity. A concept that has tantalized immunologists for decades, the development of tolerance-inducing therapies, would revolutionize the management of a wide range of chronic and often debilitating diseases by obviating the need for lifelong immunosuppressive regimens. The advances of the past decade have provided a more detailed understanding of the molecular events associated with T-cell recognition and activation. Building on these advances, immunologists have demonstrated the feasibility of various tolerance-inducing approaches in small- and large-animal models of autoimmunity, allergy, and transplant graft rejection. Unprecedented opportunities to test these approaches in a variety of human diseases have now emerged. To capitalize on these advances, the National Institutes of Health recently established the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN), an international consortium of more than 70 basic and clinical immunologists dedicated to the evaluation of novel tolerance-inducing therapies and associated studies of immunologic mechanisms. By using a unique interactive approach to accelerate the development of clinical tolerance therapies, the ITN is partnering with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries to examine innovative tolerogenic approaches in a range of allergic and autoimmune diseases and to prevent graft rejection after transplantation. Two years since its inception, the ITN now has approximately 2 dozen clinical trials or tolerance assays studies ongoing or in later stages of protocol development. This report summarizes the rationale for emphasizing clinical research on immune tolerance and highlights the progress of the ITN.  N. Ref:: 29

 

----------------------------------------------------

[87]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Directions for future research.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Adv Exp Med Biol 2002;517:127-42.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Triarhou LC

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Neuropathology, Medical Science Building A142, Indiana University Medical Center, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5120, USA.  N. Ref:: 102

 

----------------------------------------------------

[88]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The current state of, and future prospects for, cardiac transplantation in children.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Cardiol Young 2003 Feb;13(1):64-83.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Webber SA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. steve.webber@chp.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - During the last two decades, several advances have resulted in marked improvement in medium-term survival, with excellent quality of life, in children undergoing cardiac transplantation. Improved outcomes reflect better selection of donors and recipients, increased surgical experience in transplantation for complex congenital heart disease, development of effective surveillance for rejection, and wider choice of immunosuppressive medications. Despite all of these advances, recipients continue to suffer from the adverse effects of non-specific immunosupression, including infections, induction of lymphoproliferative disorders and other malignancies, renal dysfunction, and other important end-organ toxicities. Furthermore, newer immunosuppressive regimes, thus far, appear to have had relatively little impact on the incidence of chronic rejection. Progress in our understanding of the immunologic mechanisms of rejection and graft acceptance should lead to more targeted immunosuppressive therapy and avoidance of non-specific immunosupression. The ultimate goal is to induce a state of tolerance, wherein the recipient will accept the allograft indefinitely, without the need for long-term immunusupression, and yet remain immuno-competent to all non-donor antigens. This quest is currently being realized in many animal models of solid organ transplantation, and offers great hope for the future.  N. Ref:: 129

 

----------------------------------------------------

[89]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Mechanisms of transplant tolerance induction using costimulatory blockade.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Curr Opin Immunol 2002 Oct;14(5):592-600.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Wekerle T; Kurtz J; Bigenzahn S; Takeuchi Y; Sykes M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - The Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18, A 1090 Vienna, Austria. Thomas.Wekerle@akh-wien.ac.at

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The potential use of costimulation-blocking reagents to induce transplantation tolerance has recently created considerable excitement. Recent evidence has begun to delineate the mechanisms by which these powerful effects occur. It has become increasingly clear, firstly, that T cell costimulation is mediated by a delicate network of signaling pathways and, secondly, that interference with these systems can lead to numerous different tolerance mechanisms, including immune regulation, anergy and deletion.  N. Ref:: 90

 

----------------------------------------------------

[90]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Allergen immunotherapy: a practice parameter. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2003 Jan;90(1 Suppl 1):1-40.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[91]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Recipient selection in cardiac transplantation: contraindications and risk factors for mortality.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Heart Lung Transplant 2002 Nov;21(11):1161-73.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Cimato TR; Jessup M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Currently the only acknowledged, definitive treatment for refractory heart failure is heart transplantation (HTx). During the past 10 years, selection criteria for heart transplant recipients have been developed that use an analysis of risk factors associated with mortality, which were identified by consensus opinion and by single-center and multi-center database review. A number of other studies also have been designed to evaluate specific risk factors for transplant such as advanced age, diabetes, and sex. This review identifies variables that continue to provoke controversy during the candidate selection process or variables that have changed from absolute to relative contraindications for HTx. Clinicians may use the data summarized in this review as a guide to making decisions about patient candidacy for HTx. One could conclude from this analysis that a more formalized and objective scale to select patients and to assess risk of death after HTx is necessary. Moreover, as alternative therapies to HTx become reality, a better instrument for triaging patients to one form of therapy or another may be necessary.  N. Ref:: 61

 

----------------------------------------------------

[92]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Small-for-size graft in living donor liver transplantation: how far should we go?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Liver Transpl 2003 Sep;9(9):S29-35.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1053/jlts.2003.50198

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Kiuchi T; Tanaka K; Ito T; Oike F; Ogura Y; Fujimoto Y; Ogawa K

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Transplant Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital, 54 Kawara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. kiuchi@kuhp-u.ac.jp

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - With the extensive use of living donor liver grafts in adult patients, controversy over small-for-size syndrome has escalated in recent years. Although several symptoms have been suggested as manifestations of the syndrome, small-for-size syndrome remains difficult to diagnose because these symptoms are neither specific nor inevitable. The occurrence of small-for-size syndrome also seems to depend on a number of recipient and graft factors. Potential pathogenic mechanisms include persistent portal hypertension and portal overperfusion. At present, several techniques are being explored in an attempt to ameliorate the impact of small-for-size syndrome. Recent experience suggests that the occurrence of small-for-size syndrome is multifactorial and that complications relating to small-for-size grafts should be examined in relation to a variety of graft, recipient, and technical factors.  N. Ref:: 17

 

----------------------------------------------------

[93]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Donor specific transfusion in kidney transplantation: effect of different immunosuppressive protocols on graft outcome.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplant Proc 2001 Aug;33(5):2787-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Barbari A; Stephan A; Masri MA; Joubran N; Dagher O; Kamel G

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department ofNephrology and Transplantation, Rizk Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[94]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Plasmodium vivax malaria complicated by hemophagocytic syndrome in an immunocompetent serviceman.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Hematol 2003 Oct;74(2):127-30.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1002/ajh.10390

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Park TS; Oh SH; Choi JC; Kim HH; Chang CL; Son HC; Lee EY

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - We describe a 23-year-old retired military officer who was immunocompetent but diagnosed with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) by Plasmodium vivax infection. Initially, the patient was suspected to have toxic hepatitis related to heavy drinking. But abnormal hematologic findings required a further bone marrow examination and the diagnosis of HPS was made. Antimalarial chemotherapy then brought complete remission. Plasmodium falciparum, a species causing more severe malarial infection, was listed as one of the major causes of HPS. However, P. vivax was not mentioned, and only one case was reported in the literature. In this study, we suggest that P. vivax malaria should be included in the differential diagnosis of HPS, even in an immunocompetent person.  N. Ref:: 9

 

----------------------------------------------------

[95]

- Castellano -

TÍTULO / TITLE:Presente y futuro del trasplante renal. Present and future of kidney transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Actas Urol Esp. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.aeu.es/actas/ 

      ●● Cita: Actas Urológicas Españolas: <> 2002 Nov-Dec;26(10):731-58.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Burgos FJ; Alcaraz A; Castillon I; Gonzalez Martin M; Lledo E; Matesanz R; Marcen R; Montanes P; Pascual J

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Servicio de Urologia, Hospital Ramon y Cajal, Universidad Alcala, Madrid.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Renal transplant is the treatment of choice for the patient with end stage renal disease. España is the country with the highest donation rate (33 ppm). However, at present this figure is stabilized. The development of non-beating heart programmes, living-donor nephrectomy (specially laparoscopic nephrectomy) programmes, and may be xenotransplantation in a non-immediate future could increase the transplantation activity. The knowledge of preservation mechanisms, specially with the use of perfusion machines allows to rescue for transplantation kidneys with a long warm-ischemia time. Furthermore, these machines are useful for analyzing viability markers. The new immunosuppressive drugs: Tacrolimus, Mycophenolate-Mophetil, Rapamycin and monoclonal antibodies against alpha chain of the interleukine-2 receptor (Basoliximab and Dazcizumab) have reduced the incidence of acute rejection in the immediate renal transplant period. However, its effect in the long-term follow-up period is still a matter of controversy. The incidence of tumour in the renal transplant recipient is increased, specially those of lymphoma, skin cancer and Kaposi sarcoma. Periodical exams for detecting the development of tumours are mandatory in this population. Finally, xenotransplantation is an attractive alternative, although immunological, infective and ethical barriers should previously be resolved.  N. Ref:: 92

 

----------------------------------------------------

[96]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Pharmacokinetic aspects of treating infections in the intensive care unit: focus on drug interactions.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Clin Pharmacokinet 2001;40(11):833-68.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Pea F; Furlanut M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Pathology and Medicine, Medical School, University of Udine, Italy. federico.pea@med.uniud.it

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Pharmacokinetic interactions involving anti-infective drugs may be important in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although some interactions involve absorption or distribution, the most clinically relevant interactions during anti-infective treatment involve the elimination phase. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4 are the major isoforms responsible for oxidative metabolism of drugs. Macrolides (especially troleandomycin and erythromycin versus CYP3A4), fluoroquinolones (especially enoxacin, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin versus CYP1A2) and azole antifungals (especially fluconazole versus CYP2C9 and CYP2C19, and ketoconazole and itraconazole versus CYP3A4) are all inhibitors of CYP-mediated metabolism and may therefore be responsible for toxicity of other coadministered drugs by decreasing their clearance. On the other hand, rifampicin is a nonspecific inducer of CYP-mediated metabolism (especially of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4) and may therefore cause therapeutic failure of other coadministered drugs by increasing their clearance. Drugs frequently used in the ICU that are at risk of clinically relevant pharrmacokinetic interactions with anti-infective agents include some benzodiazepines (especially midazolam and triazolam), immunosuppressive agents (cyclosporin, tacrolimus), antiasthmatic agents (theophylline), opioid analgesics (alfentanil), anticonvulsants (phenytoin, carbamazepine), calcium antagonists (verapamil, nifedipine, felodipine) and anticoagulants (warfarin). Some lipophilic anti-infective agents inhibit (clarithromycin, itraconazole) or induce (rifampicin) the transmembrane transporter P-glycoprotein, which promotes excretion from renal tubular and intestinal cells. This results in a decrease or increase, respectively, in the clearance of P-glycoprotein substrates at the renal level and an increase or decrease, respectively, of their oral bioavailability at the intestinal level. Hydrophilic anti-infective agents are often eliminated unchanged by renal glomerular filtration and tubular secretion, and are therefore involved in competition for excretion. Beta-lactams are known to compete with other drugs for renal tubular secretion mediated by the organic anion transport system, but this is frequently not of major concern, given their wide therapeutic index. However, there is a risk of nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity with some cephalosporins and carbapenems. Therapeutic failure with these hydrophilic compounds may be due to haemodynamically active coadministered drugs, such as dopamine, dobutamine and furosemide, which increase their renal clearance by means of enhanced cardiac output and/or renal blood flow. Therefore, coadministration of some drugs should be avoided, or at least careful therapeutic drug monitoring should be performed when available. Monitoring may be especially helpful when there is some coexisting pathophysiological condition affecting drug disposition, for example malabsorption or marked instability of the systemic circulation or of renal or hepatic function.  N. Ref:: 397

 

----------------------------------------------------

[97]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Immunosuppression: practice and trends.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Transplant 2003;3 Suppl 4:41-52.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Helderman JH; Bennett WM; Cibrik DM; Kaufman DB; Klein A; Takemoto SK

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. hal.helderman@Vanderbilt.edu  N. Ref:: 11

 

----------------------------------------------------

[98]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Characteristics of poliovirus strains from long-term excretors with primary immunodeficiencies.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Dev Biol (Basel) 2001;105:75-80.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Minor P

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, UK.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Individuals who are deficient in humoral immunity are particularly at risk from infection with enteroviruses, and poliovirus in particular, where antibodies are the main source of protection from disease. Long-term excretion of vaccine strains of poliovirus has been documented for many years and instances of paralytic poliomyelitis in hypogammaglobulinaemic patients who were subsequently found to have been excreting virus for prolonged periods have been reported in the U.S.A., Germany and Japan. The identification of a healthy immunodeficient patient in the U.K. who has probably been excreting type 2 poliovirus for 15 years will be described, with the characteristics of the virus and the results of attempts at treatment so far. Such individuals pose a significant risk to the eradication programme unless they can be identified and treated.  N. Ref:: 12

 

----------------------------------------------------

[99]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Maximizing optimal hematopoietic stem cell donor selection from registries of unrelated adult volunteers.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Tissue Antigens 2003 Jun;61(6):415-24.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Hurley CK; Fernandez Vina M; Setterholm M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Oncology, CW Bill Young Marrow Donor Recruitment and Research Program, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3970 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA. hurleyc@georgetown.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Today, more than 50 registries of HLA-typed potential adult hematopoietic stem cell donors have been established in 40 countries and include more than 7.5 million volunteers. HLA testing of new volunteers includes HLA-A, -B and often -DR typing at low to intermediate resolution. Searching patients are tested for these same loci, preferably at a higher level of resolution. Over 95,000 patient searches are received by registries annually resulting in approximately 4660 unrelated transplants. In 2001, nearly one-third of transplants involved a patient in one country receiving stem cells from a donor in another. The diversity of the HLA system complicates the search process, requiring sophisticated registry algorithms for matching, and expertise in allele and haplotype frequencies and associations to design search strategies. Within registries, HLA frequency data have been used to evaluate optimal registry size and composition.  N. Ref:: 76

 

----------------------------------------------------

[100]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias: a re-appraisal of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2001 Dec;5(12):1086-98.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Taylor DA; du Bois RM

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Over the last 30 years the clinical and histopathological definitions of the diffuse lung diseases have evolved considerably. Initially pathological entities were defined in parallel with clinico-radiological diagnoses, but these have more recently become consolidated into a more meaningful combined classification. These refinements have impacted on the diffuse lung diseases in particular, and have defined individual diseases more precisely than in previous classifications in which a number of distinct entities had been grouped together and mistaken for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, resulting in much confusion. The American Thoracic and European Respiratory Societies’ committees, charged with the task of defining the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, have recently published a statement on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and a statement on the other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias should follow this year. Of these diseases, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most lethal, and this review deals with the impact that the changes in the nomenclature will have on our understanding of this and the other diseases with which idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was previously confused and explores the implications of our new understanding on clinical practice. It also attempts to highlight areas of previous dogma in the literature that now need to be re-considered in the context of these more recent statements.  N. Ref:: 87

 

----------------------------------------------------

[101]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - DNA analysis to find rare blood donors when antisera is not available.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Vox Sang 2002 Aug;83 Suppl 1:91-3.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Reid ME

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Immunochemistry Laboratory, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA. marion_reid@nybc.org

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - In order to screen for antigen-negative blood donors, it is necessary to have appropriate, potent antisera in sufficient volume. Anti-Do(a) and anti-Do(b) are notoriously weakly reactive antibodies, available only in small volumes, usually in sera containing other alloantibodies, and often deteriorate on storage. Thus, it has not been possible to test large numbers of blood samples to find Do (a-) or Do (b-) blood donors. At the NYBC, we now type selected donors for DOA and DOB by DNA analysis. Initially, we tested DNA prepared from donors who had been typed by hemagglutination for one or both antigens. We found that four donors, whose RBCs previously typed as Do (a+b-), had both DOA and DOB alleles, and when retested, the RBCs were Do (a+b+w). We have now tested over 300 donors for DO by PCR-RFLP using either Eam1105 I or BseRI restriction enzymes. Blood from DOA/DOA donors has survived better than “crossmatch compatible” blood for patients with anti-Do(b) and such results suggest that anti-Do(b) is a more frequent cause of transfusion reactions than reported. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that PCR-RFLP can be used to screen for antigen-negative donors in other blood group systems when appropriate antisera are not available. When interpreting the results, it is important to remember that the genotype may not reflect the phenotype. Our strategy has been to perform DNA analysis for the DO alleles on those donors who have been shown by hemagglutination to lack antigens corresponding to multiple alloantibodies in patients’ plasma. In this way, we have been able to supply rare blood to numerous patients, whose serum contained at least 5 additional alloantibodies of clinical significance.  N. Ref:: 19

 

----------------------------------------------------

[102]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Protocol biopsies should be part of the routine management of kidney transplant recipients. Pro.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Kidney Dis 2002 Oct;40(4):671-3.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Rush D

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Winnipeg Transplant Program Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[103]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Discovery: HLA and disease.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Curr Opin Rheumatol 2003 Jul;15(4):369-73.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Brewerton DA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - University of London, England. Derrick.Brewerton@btinternet.com

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - This article is a personal account of the author’s involvement in the discovery of HLA associations with ankylosing spondylitis; Reiter disease; acute anterior uveitis; and the arthropathies associated with psoriasis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and sarcoidosis.  N. Ref:: 20

 

----------------------------------------------------

[104]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Regulation of dopamine cell type and transmitter function in fetal and stem cell transplantation for Parkinson’s disease.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Prog Brain Res 2002;138:411-20.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Bjorklund LM; Isacson O

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center of Excellence, Neuroregeneration Laboratories, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.  N. Ref:: 74

 

----------------------------------------------------

[105]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The mind of primitive anthropologists: hemoglobin and HLA, patterns of molecular evolution.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Hum Biol 2003 Aug;75(4):577-84.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Williams RC

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85257, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Frank Livingstone played a central role in defining the population genetics of the sickle cell mutation at position 6 of the human beta globin gene, the most famous amino acid substitution in evolutionary biology. Its discovery occurred at a time when traditional, 19th-century principles of natural selection were being joined with the newly discovered mechanics of DNA structure and protein synthesis to produce Neo-Darwinian theory. When combined with the epidemiology of malaria in Africa, differential mortality for both homozygotes, and the resulting advantage of the heterozygote, sickle cell became the classic balanced polymorphism. Human HLA-A has 237 molecular alleles. The histocompatibility system has as its primary function the presentation of peptides to T-cell receptors and plays an essential role in the immune system. Nearly all of the alleles are codominant and fully functional. Despite almost 30 years of disease-association studies with HLA-A, no convincing evidence has been found for differential fertility or mortality at this locus. Yet the dogma in the histocompatibility field is that this extensive human polymorphism is maintained by “balancing selection.” Explaining HLA-A polymorphism is what one might call the sickle-cell-effect. This one mutation, coming as it did at the historical convergence of Darwinian theory and modern genetics, and carrying with it the strong relationship between mutation, disease, and allele frequency, has conditioned our discussion of human genetic variation and population genetics. Has the strength of this early idea made evolutionary biologists uncritical of systems like HLA-A and retarded the search for new mechanisms of molecular evolution? Is it now time to move away from a focus on mutation and polymorphism in evolutionary genetics and toward a systems theory that would explain the origin and evolution of hemoglobin and HLA-A and the biochemical pathways that surround them?  N. Ref:: 22

 

----------------------------------------------------

[106]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Outcomes in kidney transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Semin Nephrol 2003 May;23(3):306-16.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Djamali A; Premasathian N; Pirsch JD

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53792, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - It is estimated that there are greater than 100000 kidney transplant recipients with a functioning graft in the United States. Recent advances in immunosuppression have improved short-term graft survival rates and decreased early mortality by decreasing the incidence and therapy for acute rejection episodes. For those accepted on the waiting list, transplant prolongs patient survival compared with remaining on dialysis. During the 1990s, 3 new immunosuppressive drugs were introduced in clinical kidney transplantation. All were approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration after large, controlled, randomized trials. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), when combined with cyclosporine (CSA) and prednisone, lowered acute rejection rates by nearly 50% compared with control. Tacrolimus compared with CSA also significantly reduced acute rejection rates in kidney transplant recipients, but was associated with a significant increase in posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) in the early trials. When evaluated in combination with MMF, the incidence of PTDM was much lower. At the end of the decade, sirolimus was shown in several randomized trials to lower acute rejection rates and is believed to be less nephrotoxic compared with calcineurin inhibitors. All of the randomized trials were not statistically powered to assess long-term superiority. Registry analyses have been performed that appear to show some long-term benefit of immunosuppressive therapy with MMF. Other outcome assessments in kidney transplant recipients include risk factors for chronic allograft nephropathy, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and bone disease. Although there are few randomized trials, understanding of the significance of these common complications has progressed and strategies for therapy and intervention have been developed. This article focuses on the randomized trials of immunosuppressive therapy and complications associated with use of these drugs. In addition, we review the current management and intervention for the comorbidities associated with the long-term clinical management of the kidney transplant recipient.  N. Ref:: 78

 

----------------------------------------------------

[107]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Evolution of immunosuppression and continued importance of acute rejection in renal transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Kidney Dis 2001 Dec;38(6 Suppl 6):S2-9.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Chan L; Gaston R; Hariharan S

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Renal Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA. Larry.Chan@uchsc.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - As steady improvement in short-term kidney graft survival and long-term outcomes prolongs the lives of transplant patients, responsibility for their care is shifting away from transplant specialists and into the hands of community nephrologists. Therefore, community nephrologists need to have a deeper understanding of immunosuppressive therapies than ever before. Pharmacologic immunosuppression has been continuously evolving over the past two decades. Azathioprine was introduced in the early 1960s. Introduction of cyclosporine (CsA) in 1983 revolutionized short-term outcomes after renal transplantation. The first monoclonal antibody immunosuppressant, OKT3, was introduced in 1986. The 1990s saw the introduction of a number of important new agents, including mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), tacrolimus, and a microemulsion CsA, as well as two new monoclonal antibodies. Combinations of these new agents, along with improving clinical care, have produced 1-year patient survival approaching 100% and graft survival exceeding 90%. The newest class of agents, the first of which is sirolimus, is called target of rapamycin (TOR) inhibitors and is used with CsA for maintenance therapy. Immunosuppressive drug therapy after kidney transplantation continues to evolve. There is a variety of pharmacologic combinations from which to choose, based on immunologic risk and side effect profiles. As new regimens are developed, ongoing communications between the transplant center and community nephrologists will be required to implement therapeutic changes and optimize patient care successfully.  N. Ref:: 59

 

----------------------------------------------------

[108]

- Castellano -

TÍTULO / TITLE:Los nuevos conocimientos sobre las moleculas HLA de clase II y una mejor asignacion de los organos para trasplante. New knowledge on HLA class II molecules and a better selection of organs for transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nefrologia. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.aulamedica.es/nefrologia/ 

      ●● Cita: Nefrologia: <> 2002;22(1):4-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Torres MJ; Rodriguez Perez JC  N. Ref:: 21

 

----------------------------------------------------

[109]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Negative T cell costimulation and islet tolerance.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2003 May-Jun;19(3):179-85.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1002/dmrr.345

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Gao W; Demirci G; Li XC

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Division of Immunology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 99 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. wgao@caregroup.harvard.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Activation of self-reactive T cells that specifically destroy the pancreatic beta-cells is one of the hallmarks in the development of type 1 diabetes. Thus, for prevention and treatment of this autoimmune disease, approaches to induce and maintain T cell tolerance toward the beta-cells, especially in islet transplantation, have been actively pursued. Noticeably, many of the recent protocols for inducing transplant tolerance involve blockade of positive T cell costimulation extrinsically. Though highly effective in prolonging graft survival, these strategies alone might not be universally sufficient to achieve true tolerance. As the mystery of the suppressive and regulatory T cells unfolds, it is becoming appreciated that exploiting the intrinsic molecular and cellular mechanisms that turn off an immune response would perhaps facilitate the current protocols in establishing T cell tolerance. In this perspective, here we summarize the recent findings on the negative costimulation pathways, in particular, the newly identified PD-1 : PD-L interactions. On the basis of these observations, we propose a new principle of curtailing pathogenic T cell response in which blockade of positive T cell costimulation is reinforced by concurrent engagement of the negative costimulation machinery. Such a strategy may hold greater hope for therapeutic intervention of transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases.  N. Ref:: 85

 

----------------------------------------------------

[110]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Mycophenolate mofetil: a pharmacoeconomic review of its use in solid organ transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Pharmacoeconomics 2002;20(10):675-713.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Young M; Plosker GL

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Adis International Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Most pharmacoeconomic studies of mycophenolate mofetil have focused on its use as part of maintenance immunosuppression for renal transplantation, involving short-term (3 to 12 months) time frames. In general, mycophenolate mofetil reduced the treatment costs for rejection episodes and graft failure which offset its higher drug acquisition cost compared with azathioprine. Several cost analyses have been modelled on the large multicentre trials of adult renal transplant recipients. The use of mycophenolate mofetil was associated with either cost savings or no additional costs after 6 or 12 months in French, US and Canadian analyses of triple or quadruple immunosuppressant therapy. A further cost analysis utilising a registry database of renal transplant recipients in the US found mycophenolate mofetil to be cost saving compared with azathioprine after 6.4 years when evaluating costs due to graft loss only. Of the limited cost-effectiveness analyses with the drug, one US study modelled the 1- and 10-year cost effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil and various other immunosuppressants used in combined regimens. Long-term use of mycophenolate mofetil was less cost effective than other regimens, but the use of long-term mycophenolate mofetil in high-risk patients was shown to be a relatively cost-effective strategy. In another US analysis comparing mycophenolate mofetil with azathioprine as part of quadruple therapy, mycophenolate mofetil was associated with slightly lower costs during the first year after renal transplantation as well as improved clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Pharmacoeconomic studies support the use of mycophenolate mofetil as part of immunosuppressant therapy in renal transplantation, at least in the short term. Although the cost effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil in the long term is less clear, limited pharmacoeconomic data available appear promising. Among issues to be examined in future economic analyses in renal transplantation are the calcineurin-sparing potential of mycophenolate mofetil and the feasibility of using more efficient mycophenolate mofetil dosage regimens when using the drug on a long-term basis. Additional pharmacoeconomic analyses of mycophenolate mofetil are also needed in other types of solid organ transplantation.  N. Ref:: 155

 

----------------------------------------------------

[111]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - A standardized protocol for the treatment of severe pneumonia in kidney transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Clin Transplant 2002 Dec;16(6):450-4.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Sileri P; Pursell KJ; Coady NT; Giacomoni A; Berliti S; Tzoracoleftherakis E; Testa G; Benedetti E

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Transplant Surgery, Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Although the incidence of pneumonia after kidney transplantation is the lowest among all solid organ transplants, it is associated with high mortality rate (40-50%). We evaluated the efficacy of a protocol consisting of bronco-alveolar-lavage (BAL) for early microbiological diagnosis, reduction of the immunosuppressive therapy, and prompt administration of standardized antibiotic regimen in renal transplant recipients with severe pneumonia. Between 6/1989 and 5/1999, 40 kidney transplant recipients developed 46 episodes of severe pneumonia (hypoxia and/or infiltrate on the chest X-ray). According to protocol, in all these cases, a BAL was immediately performed and empirical antibiotic therapy was initiated with erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole i.v. Furthermore, the immunosuppressive therapy was drastically reduced. Analyses of BAL fluid included cell differential count, cytopathologic examination and cultures for bacteria, fungi and viruses. Within 48 h, the therapy was switched to proper i.v. antibiotics, if necessary, according to the results of sensitivity testing of BAL specimens. The mortality rate was 12.5% (5 of 40). Mechanical ventilation was required in 20 cases (34.5%) and four of the patients that required intubation died. BAL alone established a diagnosis in 67.4% (31 of 46) of the patients. Bacteria were responsible for 61% of the episodes, with fungi responsible for 29% and viruses for 10%. Seven cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia were treated with the prolongation of the initial therapy. We conclude that a combination of early detection of the responsible pathogen by BAL, aggressive reduction of the immunosuppressive therapy and the immediate empirical administration of erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is an effective strategy to treat pneumonia kidney transplantation (KTX) recipients.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[112]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - How to manage patients with lupus nephritis.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2002 Apr;16(2):195-210.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1053/berh.2001.0221

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Esdaile JM

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia, Canada.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The clinical and renal biopsy predictors of assistance in determining therapy are reviewed. While pulse cyclophosphamide remains the most effective treatment for proliferative nephritis, there is increasing interest in other agents, such as azathioprine, particularly to maintain remission. While lupus membranous nephropathy has attracted limited study, preliminary work suggests a role for cyclophosphamide. Newer therapies, including cyclosporine A, mycophenolate mofetil, immunoadsorption, intravenous immune globulin, LJP-394, high-dose immunoablation and nucleoside analogues require further study but offer hope for those failing conventional treatments.  N. Ref:: 60

 

----------------------------------------------------

[113]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Cost-effectiveness analysis of basixilimab induction and calcineurin-sparing protocols in “old to old” programs using Markov models.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplant Proc 2003 Jun;35(4):1324-5.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Emparan C; Wolters H; Laukotter M; Dame C; Senninger N

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Uniklinikum, Munster, Germany. cemparan@teleline.es

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - INTRODUCTION: Markov models are employed in economic analyses to evaluate all possible expectations in a dilemna. The introduction of a new clinical protocol (basiliximab induction with calcineurin-sparing protocols) for a group of kidney transplant recipients receiving organs from marginal donors was validated with a Markov simulation model. HYPOTHESIS: Calcineurin-sparing protocols using anti-IL-2/antibody induction (Simulect) show a beneficial effect on initial kidney function, reducing transplantation costs reception based upon mean length of stay, mean admission cost, and incidences of delayed graft function and complications during the first month after transplant. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A Markov simulation model was established following three different chains. A calcineurin-free regimen with basiliximab induction (chain A), a calcineurin-sparing protocol with basiliximab induction (chain B), and a conventional immunosuppressive regimen (chain C). After designing the Markov chain and cohorts, 31 patients from the “old to old” program were assigned to each chain eight to chain A, (eight to chain B, and 15 to chain C). A month after transplantation a cost-benefit study was performed guided by the three branches of the Markov model. RESULTS: The Markov model showed a benefit of induction therapies in elderly patients. A cost-benefit model showed that after a month there was a clear benefit from Calcineurin=free plus basiliximab induction therapies, with a slight benefit from calcineurin-sparing protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Markov models are extremely useful when introducing new clinical therapies. In our transplant program, a cost-effective analysis of outcomes in old patients using the Markov model showed a clear benefit of calcineurin-sparing protocols with basixilimab induction.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[114]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Association between nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage and infection in liver transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Liver Transpl 2001 Aug;7(8):752-4.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1053/jlts.2001.0070752

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Patel R

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.  N. Ref:: 18

 

----------------------------------------------------

[115]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Protocol biopsies should be part of the routine management of kidney transplant recipients. Con.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Kidney Dis 2002 Oct;40(4):674-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Salomon DR

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, and Center for Organ and Cell Transplantation, Scripps Health, La Jolla, CA, USA.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[116]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The screening, identification and use of rare blood.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Vox Sang 2002 Aug;83 Suppl 1:99-100.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Poole J

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - International Blood Group Reference Laboratory, Bristol UK. joyce.poole@nbs.nhs.uk  N. Ref:: 3

 

----------------------------------------------------

[117]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The major factors and weak links that must be considered to achieve safety in compatability testing.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Vox Sang 2002 Aug;83 Suppl 1:327-32.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Voak D; Knowles SM; Milkins CE; Chapman JS; Scott M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - NBS Cambridge, UK. tracy.mumford@nbs.nhs.uk  N. Ref:: 48

 

----------------------------------------------------

[118]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Guidelines for nomenclature usage in HLA reports: ambiguities and conversion to serotypes.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Eur J Immunogenet 2002 Jun;29(3):273-4.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Tiercy JM; Marsh SG; Schreuder GM; Albert E; Fischer G; Wassmuth R

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Transplantation Immunology Unit, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. jean-marie.tiercy@medecine.unige.ch

 

----------------------------------------------------

[119]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Issues of adherence to immunosuppressant therapy after solid-organ transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Drugs 2002;62(4):567-75.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Chisholm MA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, USA. mchishol@mail.mcg.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Nonadherence to immunosuppressant therapy constitutes a major barrier to post-transplant care. Failure of transplant recipients to take prescribed drugs properly may not only be a significant obstacle to optimal graft function but it may also result in decreased quality of life and productivity, increased morbidity and healthcare cost, and death. Despite the obvious importance of adherence to immunosuppressant therapy, nonadherence is frequent among transplant recipients, with rates ranging from 2 to 68%. This manuscript briefly discusses several issues concerning adherence to immunosuppressant therapy of solid-organ transplant recipients; presents a literature review concerning adherence to immunosuppressant therapy by solid-organ transplant recipients; and suggests strategies that may be used to enhance medication adherence. Although many of the studies have results that conflict concerning factors associated with immunosuppressive nonadherence, most of the investigators concluded that nonadherent behaviour is usually not predictable. Because of possible adverse events, emphasis should be placed on increasing medication adherence in all transplant recipients.  N. Ref:: 28

 

----------------------------------------------------

[120]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Molecular determinants of UV-induced immunosuppression.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Exp Dermatol 2002;11 Suppl 1:9-12.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Schwarz A; Schwarz T

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Dermatology, University of Munster, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 58, D-48149 Munster, Germany.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - It is almost three decades ago that it was discovered that ultraviolet radiation (UV) can compromise the immune system. UV suppresses immune responses in several ways. It inhibits the function of antigen-presenting cells, induces T cells with suppressor activity and induces the release of immunosuppressive cytokines. The latter phenomenon is mainly responsible for systemic immunosuppression. Although UV can also target cytoplasmic and cell membrane components, UV-induced DNA damage has been recognized as the most important molecular structure in mediating UV-induced immunosuppression. Recently, it was observed that interleukin-12 (IL-12), which antagonizes UV-induced immunosuppression, can accelerate the removal of UV-induced DNA lesions, probably via inducing DNA repair. Hence, it is tempting to speculate that the activity of IL-12 to reduce UV-induced immunosuppression may be due at least partially to this new biological activity of IL-12.  N. Ref:: 27

 

----------------------------------------------------

[121]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Recipient screening prior to solid-organ transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Clin Infect Dis 2002 Dec 15;35(12):1513-9. Epub 2002 Dec 3.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Avery RK

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Infectious Diseases and Transplant Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. averyr@ccf.org

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Screening a potential transplant recipient for infectious diseases is an important component of the transplantation process. Such screening may lead to the discovery and treatment of occult active infection, may help determine posttransplant prophylactic strategies, or may disqualify the recipient from receiving a transplant. The pretransplant period also affords an opportunity for updating vaccination status and providing education regarding the reduction of posttransplant infectious risks. The present brief review will outline the investigation of preexisting active infection, as well as latent bacterial, mycobacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral infections. Recommendations for pretransplant immunization and education are provided.  N. Ref:: 45

 

----------------------------------------------------

[122]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Tolerance protocols and cell transplantation: prospects for the clinic.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplant Proc 2003 May;35(3):1248-9.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Calne RY

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge (Addenbrooke’s Hospital), Douglas House Annexe, 18 Trumpington Rd, Cambridge, CB2 2AH UK.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[123]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - An outbreak of mediastinitis among heart transplant recipients apparently related to a change in the united network for organ sharing guidelines.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2002 Jul;23(7):377-81.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Samuel R; Axelrod P; John KS; Fekete T; Alexander S; McCarthy J; Truant A; Todd B; Furukawa S; Eisen H; Spotnitz W

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Section of Infectious Diseases, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - OBJECTIVE: To describe an outbreak of mediastinitis in heart transplant recipients. DESIGN: Retrospective and contemporaneous cohort SETTING: Urban tertiary-care university hospital with a large cardiac transplantation program. PATIENTS: Heart transplant recipients. INTERVENTIONS: Modifications of donor harvest technique; procedures aimed at decreasing skin and mucosal bacterial colonization; strict aseptic technique in the intensive care unit; and aggressive policing of established infection control practices. RESULTS: In April 1999, mediastinitis rates among heart transplant recipients increased abruptly from a baseline of 6 cases per 100 procedures to sequential quarterly rates of 22, 31, and 50 cases per 100 procedures, whereas infection rates in other cardiac operations were unchanged. Bacteria causing these infections were multidrug-resistant “nosocomial” organisms. The epidemic occurred 2 months after a change in the United Network for Organ Sharing organ allocation algorithm. This change resulted in an increase in the duration of preoperative hospitalization from a median of 52 to 79 days (P = .008) and may have promoted prolonged hospitalization of patients with high illness severity. Aggressive multidisciplinary interventions were temporally associated with a return to preoperative mediastinitis rates without changing length of hospitalization prior to transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in organ allocation for transplant that prolong waiting time in the hospital and alter illness acuity may lead to increased rates of postoperative infection. Measures to limit bacterial colonization may be a helpful countervailing strategy.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[124]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Immunizations in adult immunocompromised patients: which to use and which to avoid.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Cleve Clin J Med. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.ccjm.org/ 

      ●● Cita: Cleveland Clinic J. of Medicine: <> 2001 Apr;68(4):337-48.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Avery RK

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Infectious Diseases and Transplant Center, Cleveland Clinic, USA. averyr@ccf.org

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Immunization is important to protect immunocompromised patients from preventable infectious disease but is often underused. Although live vaccines are contraindicated for most immunocompromised patients, many killed or component vaccines are safe and recommended. Vaccines may sometimes induce suboptimal immunogenicity, but even partial protection may benefit severely ill patients. KEY POINTS: Vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza are strongly recommended for most immunosuppressed patients. When possible, immunization series should be completed before procedures that require or induce immunosuppression, such as organ transplantation or chemotherapy. If this is not possible, the patient may mount only a partial immune response, but even this partial response can be beneficial. Patients who undergo allogeneic bone marrow’ transplantation lose preexisting immunities against a variety of diseases and should be revaccinated. In many situations, family members should be vaccinated to protect the patient. However, oral live polio vaccine should be avoided because it may carry the risk of infecting the patient.  N. Ref:: 39

 

----------------------------------------------------

[125]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The MHC haplotype project: a resource for HLA-linked association studies.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Tissue Antigens 2002 Jun;59(6):520-1.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Allcock RJ; Atrazhev AM; Beck S; de Jong PJ; Elliott JF; Forbes S; Halls K; Horton R; Osoegawa K; Rogers J; Sawcer S; Todd JA; Trowsdale J; Wang Y; Williams S

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - University of Cambridge, UK.  N. Ref:: 0

 

----------------------------------------------------

[126]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Computerization in the transfusion service.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Vox Sang 2002 Aug;83 Suppl 1:105-10.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Butch SH

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Blood Bank & Transfusion Service, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. butchs@med.umich.edu  N. Ref:: 16

 

----------------------------------------------------

[127]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Trends in transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells from unrelated donors.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Curr Opin Hematol 2001 Nov;8(6):337-41.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Anasetti C; Petersdorf EW; Martin PJ; Woolfrey A; Hansen JA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. canasett@fhcrc.org

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Transplants of hematopoietic stem cells from unrelated donors have become feasible for patients with a growing variety of hematologic disorders. The probability of finding a suitable donor has increased because of the expansion of the network of registries containing more than seven million HLA-typed donors worldwide. The selection of compatible donors has become more effective, thanks to the discovery of new HLA alleles and the development of precise and efficient HLA typing methods using DNA technology. Improved methods for transplantation may provide the opportunity to further decrease treatment-related toxicity and improve survival.  N. Ref:: 54

 

----------------------------------------------------

[128]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Immunotherapy of multiple sclerosis—current practice and future directions.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Rehabil Res Dev. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.vard.org/ 

      ●● Cita: J. of Rehabilitation Research & Development: <> 2002 Mar-Apr;39(2):273-85.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Tullman MJ; Lublin FD; Miller AE

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029, USA. gmtullman@aol.com

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Over the past decade, multiple sclerosis (MS) has become a treatable neurological disease. This paper reviews the therapies that have been studied to treat MS and discusses various treatment approaches on the horizon. Immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies have been shown to alter the long-term course of MS. Therapies are currently available for relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, and progressive relapsing disease. Although effective, these therapies have a modest impact on reduction in relapse rate and slowing of disease progression. Much work is needed to improve upon this modest effect and hopefully obtain a cure.  N. Ref:: 81

 

----------------------------------------------------

[129]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Nomenclature for factors of the dog major histocompatibility system (DLA), 2000: Second report of the ISAG DLA Nomenclature Committee.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Tissue Antigens 2001 Jul;58(1):55-70.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Kennedy LJ; Angles JM; Barnes A; Carter SD; Francino O; Gerlach JA; Happ GM; Ollier WE; Thomson W; Wagner JL

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Mammalian Immunogenetics Research Group, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Lorna.Kennedy@man.ac.uk

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The ISAG DLA Nomenclature Committee met during the “Comparative Evolution of the Mammalian MHC” meeting in Manchester, England on 10th September 2000. The main points discussed were the naming of class I genes and alleles, and the inclusion of alleles from other canidae.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[130]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Selection of unrelated bone marrow donors by serology, molecular typing and cellular assays.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transpl Immunol 2002 Aug;10(2-3):215-21.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Tiercy JM; Villard J; Roosnek E

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - National Reference Laboratory for Histocompatibility, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. jean-marie.tiercy@medecine.unige.ch

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - As compared to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with HLA genotypically identical donors, phenotypically matched unrelated HSCT is associated with lower survival. Serologically undisclosed HLA disparities account for the increased rate of post-transplant complications. With more than 1300 alleles currently identified, high-resolution molecular typing techniques have to be applied to distinguish the extensive degree of allelic polymorphism of the HLA system. Whereas a HLA-ABDR-serologically identical donor can be identified in the International Registry for >90% of the patients, only half of them can benefit of a highly compatible donor if donor selection is based on allele level matching for HLA-A/B/Cw/DRB1/B3/B5/DQB1 loci. During the last 10 years, we identified only approximately 20% of all known HLA alleles in the searches for our mainly Caucasoid patients. Rare alleles (i.e. alleles that represent <1% of a given serotype) do not have a major impact in patient/donor matching. Most of the incompatibilities are clustered in a limited number of serotypes that can be targeted first during the searches. However, due to linkage disequilibrium (e.g. B-Cw or DRB1-DQB1), incompatibilities at a given locus are often associated with disparities at adjacent loci. In vitro cellular assays such as the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor frequency (CTLpf) analysis may contribute in discriminating functionally relevant HLA class I disparities, as well as minor antigen mismatches in case of sensitized donors. When a rare variant or an uncommon association in the patient’s HLA haplotype has been found, the tissue typing laboratory may recommend considering a mismatched donor early in the search procedure instead of continuing a search with a low probability of success.  N. Ref:: 32

 

----------------------------------------------------

[131]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Sirolimus eluting stent: a new era in interventional cardiology?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Curr Pharm Des 2003;9(13):1077-94.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Windecker S; Roffi M; Meier B

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Swiss Cardiovascular Center Bern, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. Bernhard.Meier@insel.ch

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Coronary artery stents have emerged as the preferred tool for percutaneous coronary interventions during the past decade by eliminating abrupt vessel closure and reducing restenosis compared with balloon angioplasty. While coronary artery stents prevent constrictive arterial remodeling and elastic recoil, the implantation is associated with more severe arterial vascular injury than balloon angioplasty alone. The arterial injury initiates a vasculoproliferative response with smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration as well as extracellular matrix formation, which may lead to severe neointimal hyperplasia with in-stent restenosis in 10-30% of cases. Sirolimus, a naturally occurring macrocyclic lactone, has been identified as a pharmacological cell cycle inhibitor with potent antiproliferative and antimigratory effects on vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. The systemic administration of sirolimus has been shown to effectively reduce neointimal hyperplasia in experimental restenosis models. Subsequently, sirolimus has been incorporated at therapeutically important doses into biocompatible polymers, which made it suitable for stent-based drug elution. Investigation of sirolimus eluting stents in both experimental and clinical restenosis studies have demonstrated dramatic reductions in neointimal hyperplasia. Accordingly, sirolimus eluting stents offer an attractive mode of local drug delivery by minimizing systemic toxicity and maximizing local dose requirements. In addition, sirolimus eluting stents hold great promise to effectively prevent restenosis.  N. Ref:: 104

 

----------------------------------------------------

[132]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Liver transplantation for acute liver failure—better safe than sorry.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Liver Transpl 2002 Nov;8(11):1063-4.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1053/jlts.2002.35850

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Schiodt FV; Lee WM  N. Ref:: 22

 

----------------------------------------------------

[133]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Limited sampling strategies for estimating cyclosporin area under the concentration-time curve: review of current algorithms.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Ther Drug Monit 2001 Apr;23(2):100-14.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - David OJ; Johnston A

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Bartholomew’s & the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, United Kingdom.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Cyclosporin, the drug of first choice in transplantation surgery, is characterized by a low therapeutic index and variable absorption, so close monitoring of the drug is required to optimize the dosing. Predose blood cyclosporin levels are measured routinely for therapeutic monitoring, but this approach is not optimal because the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) correlates better with clinical events. However, conventional methods of measuring AUC require many blood samples, which is not viable in a routine clinical setting. AUC monitoring can be simplified for use in a clinical setting by using a limited sampling strategy (LSS) that allows AUC to be estimated using a small number of blood samples collected at specific times. This article reviews the current literature on estimating cyclosporin AUC using LSS. Thirty-eight papers suggesting the use of specific time points were found. LSS has been developed for different transplant types, with different dosing regimens, and with different assays. Most authors suggested either two- or three-sample equations. Results from authors who validated their models suggest that equations defined on one transplant type may be applicable to other transplant types, to both adults and children, and to early or late after transplantation. Moreover, it seems that there is flexibility in the choice of equations available to clinicians. The number of samples to collect for accurate estimations is a matter of debate, but a wise choice can minimize the number. The choice of the optimal LSS and validation are discussed.  N. Ref:: 102

 

----------------------------------------------------

[134]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Sunscreens and immune protection.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Br J Dermatol 2002 Jun;146(6):933-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Baron ED; Stevens SR

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44145, USA.  N. Ref:: 44

 

----------------------------------------------------

[135]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The role of in vitro alloreactive T-cell functional tests in the selection of HLA matched and mismatched haematopoietic stem cell donors.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transpl Immunol 2002 Aug;10(2-3):205-14.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Jeras M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Tissue Typing Center, Ljubljana. matjaz.jeras@mf.uni-lj.si

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Acute graft vs. host (GVH) disease and graft rejection are most frequently caused by undetected or disregarded genetically based disparities between the donor and recipient of bone marrow derived haematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Incompatibilities in extremely polymorphic human leukocyte antigens (HLA), and in certain cases also minor histocompatibility antigens, represent the most important driving force of such unwanted events, threatening the successful outcome of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The complexity of HLA polymorphism can be precisely and elegantly detected at the genomic level by several polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based techniques that have strongly backed up its predecessor, the far less informative classical serological typing. By applying these modern technologies, we gain the deepest insight into HLA allelic specificities and thus the possibility to, for example, trace and recruit unrelated histocompatible donors for a given patient. In the case when exclusively related intrafamilial HSC donors are being considered, we are confined to the fact that only 25-30% of patients can expect a completely HLA identical donor to be found within core or extended family members. The number of related as well as unrelated donors can be increased if certain HLA mismatches are accepted. When doing so, the precise definition of disparate histocompatibilty antigens between the patient and a possible donor should be carried out. But this does not give us the information about the functional immunogenicity of such differences. Therefore, in vitro functional assays, quantitating the alloreactive potential of lymphocyte T subsets, the central immunocompetent cells, are more than necessary. By evaluating mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), the analysis of helper T cell precursor (HTLp) and cytotoxic T cell precursor (CTLp) frequencies, the allogeneic impact of class II and class I HLA mismatches between a donor and graft recipient can be assessed and permissive disparities defined.  N. Ref:: 69

 

----------------------------------------------------

[136]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - T cell anergy and costimulation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Immunol Rev 2003 Apr;192:161-80.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Appleman LJ; Boussiotis VA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - T lymphocytes play a key role in immunity by distinguishing self from nonself peptide antigens and regulating both the cellular and humoral arms of the immune system. Acquired, antigen-specific unresponsiveness is an important mechanism by which T cell responses to antigen are regulated in vivo. Clonal anergy is the term that describes T cell unresponsiveness at the cellular level. Anergic T cells do not proliferate or secrete interleukin (IL)-2 in response to appropriate antigenic stimulation. However, anergic T cells express the IL-2 receptor, and anergy can be broken by exogenous IL-2. Anergy can be induced by submitogenic exposure to peptide antigen in the absence of a costimulatory signal provided by soluble cytokines or by interactions between costimulatory receptors on T cells and counter-receptors on antigen-presenting cells. The molecular events that mediate the induction and maintenance of T cell anergy are the focus of this review. The molecular consequences of CD28-B7 interaction are discussed as a model for the costimulatory signal that leads to T cell activation rather than the induction of anergy.  N. Ref:: 221

 

----------------------------------------------------

[137]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Immunogenetic selection of donors for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: an approach.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transpl Immunol 2002 Aug;10(2-3):223-5.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Fischer G

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department for Blood Group Serology, Vienna, Austria. gottfried.fischer@univie.ac.at

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Histocompatibility between the patient and his donor is a prerequisite for the success of transplantation of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCT). Histocompatibility testing is clinically performed by HLA typing. HLA typing can be highly informative if performed in families. In this case, comparatively little typing effort often allows to predict the identity of whole HLA haplotypes. HLA typing becomes more demanding, however, if unrelated individuals have to be considered as donors. Given the huge diversity of HLA molecules the answer to the question, whether patient and donor possess ‘matched’ HLA types requires considerable typing effort. Interaction between the HLA typing laboratory and the clinician is highly needed. It has to be agreed upon what loci are considered relevant and what degree of resolution is necessary. Furthermore, a strategy has to be developed, which ensures that a maximum of potential donors are tested in a reasonable time frame avoiding at the same time a work-overload of the laboratory and an excessive uneconomical typing effort. At present, experience with HSCT with unrelated donors is limited. So there is no consent on the ‘correct’ way of choosing unrelated donors. Each transplantation centre will have its own characteristic needs, resources, manpower and skills; therefore, the ways vary between centres. I want to present the approach in Vienna.  N. Ref:: 7

 

----------------------------------------------------

[138]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Improved outcome with organs from carbon monoxide poisoned donors for intrathoracic transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Ann Thorac Surg 2001 Sep;72(3):709-13.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Luckraz H; Tsui SS; Parameshwar J; Wallwork J; Large SR

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Transplant Unit Papworth Hospital, Papworth Everard, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. heyman.luckraz@papworth-tr.anglox.nhs.uk

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - BACKGROUND: The success of intrathoracic organ transplantation has lead to a growing imbalance between the demand and supply of donor organs. Accordingly, there has been an expansion in the use of organs from nonconventional donors such as those who died from carbon monoxide poisoning. We describe our experience with 7 patients who were transplanted using organs after fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. METHODS: A retrospective study of the 1,312 intrathoracic organ transplants between January 1979 and February 2000 was completed. Seven of these transplants (0.5%) were fulfilled with organs retrieved from donors after fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. There were six heart transplants and one single lung transplant. The history of carbon monoxide inhalation was obtained in all of these donors. RESULTS: Five of 6 patients with heart transplant are alive and well with survival ranging from 68 to 1,879 days (mean, 969 +/- 823 days). One patient (a 29-year-old male) died 12 hours posttransplant caused by donor organ failure. The patient who had a right single lung transplant did well initially after the transplant, but died after 8 months caused by Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. All those recipients who were transplanted from carbon monoxide poisoned donors and ventilated for more than 36 hours, survived for more than 30 days. Moreover, these donors were assessed and optimized by the Papworth donor management protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Carbon monoxide poisoned organs can be considered for intrathoracic transplantation. In view of the significant risk of donor organ failure, a cautious approach is still warranted. Ideally, the donor should be hemodynamically stable for at least 36 hours from the time of poisoning and on minimal support. A formal approach of invasive monitoring and active management further improves the chances of successful outcome.  N. Ref:: 33

 

----------------------------------------------------

[139]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Is HLA matching beneficial in liver transplantation?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Liver Transpl 2001 Sep;7(9):774-6.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1053/jlts.2001.26924

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Moore SB  N. Ref:: 17

 

----------------------------------------------------

[140]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Proposed protocol to reduce bacterial infectious complications in living related small bowel transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplant Proc 2002 May;34(3):950.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Cicalese L; Sileri P; Coady N; Asolati M; Rastellini C; Abcarian H; Benedetti E

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60610, USA. cicalese@uic.edu

 

----------------------------------------------------

[141]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Computer applications in the search for unrelated stem cell donors.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transpl Immunol 2002 Aug;10(2-3):227-40.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Muller CR

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Zentrales Knochenmarkspender-Register fur Deutschland, Ulm, Germany. carlheinz.mueller@zkrd.de

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The majority of patients which are eligible for a blood stem cell transplantation from an allogeneic donor do not have a suitable related donor so that an efficient unrelated donor search is a prerequisite for this treatment. Currently, there are over 7 million volunteer donors in the files of 50 registries in the world and in most countries the majority of transplants are performed from a foreign donor. Evidently, computer and communication technology must play a crucial role in the complex donor search process on the national and international level. This article describes the structural elements of the donor search process and discusses major systematic and technical issues to be addressed in the development and evolution of the supporting telematic systems. The theoretical considerations are complemented by a concise overview over the current state of the art which is given by describing the scope, relevance, interconnection and technical background of three major national and international computer appliances: The German Marrow Donor Information System (GERMIS) and the European Marrow Donor Information System (EMDIS) are interoperable business-to-business e-commerce systems and Bone Marrow Donors World Wide (BMDW) is the basic international donor information desk on the web.  N. Ref:: 45

 

----------------------------------------------------

[142]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Renal transplantation dysfunction: the role of interventional radiology.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Clin Radiol 2002 Sep;57(9):772-83.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Sandhu C; Patel U

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Radiology, St George’s Hospital, London, UK.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The aim of this article is to review the radiological management of complications following renal transplant.  N. Ref:: 46

 

----------------------------------------------------

[143]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The influence of organ donor factors on early allograft function.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Curr Opin Urol 2003 Mar;13(2):99-104.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1097/01.mou.0000058630.64616.1d

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Schwarz C; Oberbauer R

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Internal Medicine III, Department of Nephrology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Postischaemic acute renal allograft failure is among the main risk factors for reduced transplant survival. Although new immunosuppressive protocols have reduced the number of acute rejections, the incidence of acute renal failure remained unchanged. On the basis of histomorphology it is not possible to predict donor kidneys at risk of subsequent failure. Some factors are associated with failure, but even combinations of these risk factors can not precisely predict the development of acute renal failure. Studies have therefore evaluated the influence of demographic donor and recipient factors on acute renal failure. New biotechnology and data mining tools are currently being used to study and identify the molecular predictors of acute renal failure. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies showed that donor factors contributed to approximately 40% of the variability in early allograft function. Deductive approaches identified some isolated molecular targets, such as adhesion molecules, as risk factors. Explorative analysis of the entire human genome, however, identified several predictive clusters of genes, which can be functionally grouped into categories such as cell death, stress response, cell adhesion, transcription factors, inflammatory response or cell cycle-related genes. Based on this information, preventative strategies using antisense oligonucleotides or antibodies were adopted. Clinical studies identified the use of catecholamines in the organ donor as beneficial. All these efforts aim to reduce renal tubular damage. SUMMARY: A detailed analysis of the molecular events and pathways of renal gene expression in the donor and after reperfusion, together with sophisticated data analysis tools, will provide new insights into the pathophysiology of acute renal failure.  N. Ref:: 53

 

----------------------------------------------------

[144]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Classic specific immunotherapy and new perspectives in specific immunotherapy for food allergy.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Allergy 2001;56 Suppl 67:121-4.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Burks W; Bannon G; Lehrer SB

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA. Burkswesley@uams.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Food allergy is a major cause of life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions. Food-induced anaphylaxis is the most common reason for someone to present to the emergency department for an anaphylactic reaction. The avoidance of the allergenic food is the only method of preventing further reactions that is currently available for sensitized patients. Strict avoidance of specific foods is the accepted treatment of food-induced allergic reactions but is often an unrealistic therapeutic option for food-induced hypersensitivity reactions for the many reasons previously described. Desirable therapeutic strategies for the treatment and prevention of food allergies must be safe, relatively inexpensive and easily administered. Recent advances in the understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying allergic disease and better characterization of food allergens have greatly expanded the potential therapeutic options for future use. Several different forms of immunomodulatory therapies are currently under investigation: peptide immunotherapy, mutated protein immunotherapy, allergen DNA immunization, vaccination with immunostimulatory DNA sequences and anti-immunoglobulin E (Anti-IgE) therapy.  N. Ref:: 20

 

----------------------------------------------------

[145]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Indications and criteria for liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Gastroenterol 2002;37 Suppl 13:74-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Fujiwara K; Mochida S

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Third Department of Internal Medicine, Saitama Medical School, Iruma-gun, Japan.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for potentially fatal cases of fulminant hepatic failure. However, it is very difficult to predict which cases will be fatal. The mortality may depend on alternative medical therapies. According to a nationwide survey of patients with fulminant hepatic failure presenting with encephalopathy of a coma grade greater than II within 8 weeks from the first symptoms of illness with a prothrombin time less than 40% of normal value, there were 93 patients in 311 hospitals between January and December 1998 in Japan. During this period, there were 11 patients with late-onset hepatic failure. The etiology was HAV infection in 4%, HBV infection in 44%, and nonA-nonB in 41%. Specific therapies were intensively used in all patients. The mean survival rate was 41%, with differences depending on the etiology. Six patients underwent liver transplantation, and 5 survived. In animal experiments, sinusoidal fibrin deposition caused massive liver necrosis. Activation of Kupffer cells and hepatic macrophages was a major contributing factor of this development. There were different mechanisms of such fibrin deposition. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and superoxide anions released from hepatic macrophages after endotoxin administration destroyed endothelial cells, and then coagulopathy occurred in the sinusoids in rats given Propionibacteriom acnes, while a tissue factor from Kupffer cells played that role in rats undergoing partial hepatectomy. The prognosis of fulminant hepatic failure may depend on the etiology. The indication for liver transplantation for this disease must be carefully decided by analyzing the etiology, pathological conditions, and response to therapies in each case.  N. Ref:: 26

 

----------------------------------------------------

[146]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - A view on beta cell transplantation in diabetes.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Ann N Y Acad Sci 2002 Apr;958:69-76.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Pipeleers D; Keymeulen B; Chatenoud L; Hendrieckx C; Ling Z; Mathieu C; Roep B; Ysebaert D

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Free University of Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium. Daniel.Pipeleers@vub.ac.be

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Organ donors also offer a source of insulin-producing tissue that might be used for the treatment of diabetes. Clinical protocols for transplantation of this tissue aim for the prevention of chronic diabetes complications without introducing new serious side effects. Pancreas and islet cell transplantation are discussed in this perspective. The future of islet cell implants looks favorable but depends on finding ways to induce immune tolerance to the donor beta cells. Clinical trials can take advantage of relevant progress in animal models. In a limited study, recipient treatment with antilymphocyte antibodies and culture of donor cell preparations appeared useful to induce a state of operational immune tolerance in type 1 diabetic patients, as indirectly judged by graft survival and by analysis of auto- and alloreactivities in recipients. Use of cultured beta cell preparations also allows donor cell recruitment from suboptimal donor organs and increases the degree of standardization and quality control of islet cell grafts. The future of these grafts will depend on the development of techniques for the neogenesis of beta cells.  N. Ref:: 47

 

----------------------------------------------------

[147]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Understanding the pathogenesis and the pathology of hyperacute cardiac rejection.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Cardiovasc Pathol 2002 May-Jun;11(3):171-6.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Rose AG

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School and Fairview-University Medical Center, MMC 76, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. rosex031@tc.umn.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The terminology of hyperacute rejection (HAR) has become outmoded and confusing due both to advances that have been made in delaying its onset and due to a proliferation of synonyms for the same pathologic process. Until such time as antibody-mediated xenograft rejection can be classified by the type of causative antibody, it is recommended that the term hyperacute rejection be applied to antibody-mediated rejection with classical HAR occurring within 24 h. Delayed HAR is the same pathologic process encountered after 24 h. Recognition of the key role that venous thrombosis plays in the pathogenesis of HAR allows the microscopist to intelligently interpret biopsies from various portions of a transplanted organ according to the pathologic effects of the obstructed venous drainage of the organ. Particularly in the heart, HAR often shows different pathologic features in the inner compared to the outer myocardium. Once xenografting becomes feasible, it will be possible to apply a grading system of HAR in clinical practice.  N. Ref:: 31

 

----------------------------------------------------

[148]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Malnutrition, urocanic acid, and sun may interact to suppress immunity in sojourners to high altitude.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Aviat Space Environ Med 2001 Feb;72(2):136-45.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Hug DH; Hunter JK; Dunkerson DD

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Bacteriology Research Laboratory, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA. dhhug2@aol.com

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Irradiation of skin by ultraviolet radiation in mice and humans leads to a suppression of cell-mediated immunity. This process is initiated when one of the photoreceptors in skin, trans-urocanic acid, is photoisomerized to cis-urocanic acid, an immunomodulator. High levels of L-histidine, histamine, and trans-urocanic acid are found in humans and animals when they are protein malnourished. Mice fed on an elevated L-histidine diet have more trans-urocanic acid in the skin and are more susceptible to UV-induced immune suppression. Sojourners to high altitudes are malnourished, suffer protein catabolism, are exposed to sun, and often acquire infectious diseases. There is evidence that sunscreens may not adequately protect the immune system. Furthermore, UV intensity increases with altitude. We propose a testable hypothesis: UV radiation causes photoimmune suppression in sojourners to high altitude and this allows infectious diseases to develop. The mechanism we propose includes protein malnutrition, high levels of trans-urocanic acid, ultraviolet radiation, formation of cis-urocanic acid, immune suppression, and infection.  N. Ref:: 119

 

----------------------------------------------------

[149]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Living donor lung transplantation: selection, technique, and outcome.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Transplant Proc 2001 Nov-Dec;33(7-8):3527-32.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Barr ML; Baker CJ; Schenkel FA; Bowdish ME; Bremner RM; Cohen RG; Barbers RG; Woo MS; Horn MV; Wells WJ; Starnes VA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.  N. Ref:: 5

 

----------------------------------------------------

[150]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Nutrition assessment and support of organ transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2001 May-Jun;25(3):120-31.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Hasse JM

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Transplantation Services, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA. jm.hasse@baylordallas.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Timely nutrition assessment and intervention in organ transplant recipients may improve outcomes surrounding transplantation. A pretransplant nutrition assessment should include a variety of parameters including physical assessment, history, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests. Malnutrition compromises posttransplant survival; prolonged waiting times worsen outcomes when patients are already malnourished. Severe obesity may decrease graft function and survival in kidney transplant recipients. In the pretransplant phase, nutritional goals include optimization of nutritional status and treatment of nutrition-related symptoms induced by organ failure. Enteral tube feeding is indicated for patients with functional gastrointestinal tracts who are not eating adequately. Parenteral nutrition is rarely needed pretransplant except in cases of intestinal failure. When determining pretransplant nutrient requirements, nutritional status, weight, age, gender, metabolic state, stage and type of organ failure, malabsorption, induced losses, goals, and comorbid conditions must be considered. During the acute posttransplant phase, adequate nutrition is required to help prevent infection, promote wound healing, support metabolic demands, replenish lost stores, and perhaps mediate the immune response. Nutrient recommendations reflect posttransplant metabolic changes. The appropriateness of posttransplant nutrition support depends on the prevalence of malnutrition among patients with a specific type of organ failure and the benefits when nutrition support is given. Organ transplantation complications including rejection, infection, wound healing, renal insufficiency, hyperglycemia, and surgical complications require specific nutritional requirements and therapies. Many potential applications of nutrition in the pre- and posttransplant phases exist and require further study.  N. Ref:: 71

 

----------------------------------------------------

[151]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Modulation of host immunity by haematophagous arthropods.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2001 Dec;95(8):755-71.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1080/0003498012011118

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Schoeler GB; Wikel SK

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Entomology Department, Naval Medical Research Center Detachment, Unit 3800, APO AA 34031, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The medical and veterinary public-health importance of haematophagous arthropods is immense and continuing to increase because of the emergence of new vector-borne infectious agents and the resurgence of well known ones. Control of blood-feeding arthropods and the pathogens they transmit is compounded by drug, insecticide and acaricide resistance. Novel control strategies are needed. Immunological control is one very promising approach to these problems. In order to develop anti-arthropod vaccines that block pathogen transmission and establishment, the immunological interactions occurring at the interface of the blood-feeding arthropod and host must be characterized. An important component of these interactions is arthropod modulation of the host’s innate and acquired, specific immune defences. This review discusses current knowledge regarding the ability of haematophagous arthropods to alter their hosts’ immune defences, the impact of those changes on pathogen transmission, the molecular bases for the immunomodulation, and strategies for identification of the molecules in arthropod saliva that are responsible for the immunomodulation.  N. Ref:: 127

 

----------------------------------------------------

[152]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Pretransplant evaluation of renal transplant candidates.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Semin Nephrol 2002 Nov;22(6):515-25.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Gallon LG; Leventhal JR; Kaufman DB

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. L-Gallon @nwu.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Kidney transplantation should be strongly considered for all medically suitable patients with chronic and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Improvements in outcomes after renal transplantation have resulted in a more liberal selection of patients. High-risk category patients including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive, highly sensitized patients, T-cell positive cross-match, and ABO blood group-incompatible patients are now considered potential renal transplant candidates. Unfortunately, the demand for kidney transplants far exceeds the supply of available organs, causing a persistent increase in the number of patients on the waiting list with a parallel increase in the waiting time for a cadaveric kidney transplant. This has 2 major consequences. First, patients on the waiting list are getting sicker and older. Second, living donors have assumed increasing importance in renal transplantation. Pre-existing morbidities including malignancies, cardiovascular disease, infections, and coagulopathies should be extensively evaluated before proceeding to transplantation. Special attention should be given to cardiovascular risk factors because the leading cause of death after renal transplant is cardiovascular disease. A full immunologic evaluation with ABO blood group determination, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing, screening for antibody to HLA phenotypes, and cross-matching need to be gathered before transplantation to avoid antibody-mediated hyperacute rejection or to proceed with specific protocols in highly sensitized or in positive T-cell cross-match patients. With the increased rate of donation from living donors, regular follow-up evaluation of kidney donors is recommended to detect hypertension or proteinuria in those who may develop it.  N. Ref:: 72

 

----------------------------------------------------

[153]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - n-3 Fatty acids and their role in nephrologic practice.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2001 Sep;10(5):639-42.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Donadio JV

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. donadio.james@mayo.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - During the past year, a newly reported clinical trial has strengthened the argument for recommending daily treatment with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis in the world) who are at high risk for progression of renal disease. Studies are underway that involve a combination of cyclosporine A, a commonly prescribed immunosuppressive agent in solid-organ transplantation, with a high-potency n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid to reduce cyclosporine toxicity. Two studies reported during the past year show promise that dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids will substantially decrease vascular access graft thrombosis in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis, and may reduce hypercalciuria in patients who suffer from kidney stones.  N. Ref:: 26

 

----------------------------------------------------

[154]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Reducing transplant toxicity.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Curr Opin Hematol 2001 Nov;8(6):342-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Feinstein L; Storb R

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Program in Transplantation Biology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Conventional myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation produces considerable morbidity and mortality. These generally limit this treatment to patients in good medical condition who are younger than 55 years of age. T-cell-mediated graft-versus-tumor effects play a key role in the elimination of malignancy after allografting. Several investigators have sought to reduce regimen-related toxicities while optimizing graft-versus-tumor effects. Strategies can be broadly classified as (1) reduced-intensity regimens that retain some toxicity, and (2) minimally myelosuppressive regimens that rely on immunosuppression for allogeneic engraftment and resultant graft-versus-tumor effects. Although follow-up has been short, preliminary results are encouraging. Current challenges include defining a regimen that will facilitate full donor engraftment while minimizing toxicities and graft-versus-host disease. If long-term efficacy is demonstrated, such strategies will expand the options for patients who would not qualify for conventional allogeneic transplants.  N. Ref:: 57

 

----------------------------------------------------

[155]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Solid-state fermentation: a promising microbial technology for secondary metabolite production.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2001 Apr;55(3):284-9.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Robinson T; Singh D; Nigam P

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Biotechnology Research Group, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Solid state (substrate) fermentation (SSF) has been used successfully for the production of enzymes and secondary metabolites. These products are associated with the stationary phase of microbial growth and are produced on an industrial scale for use in agriculture and the treatment of disease. Many of these secondary metabolites are still produced by submerged liquid fermentations (SmF) even though production by this method has been shown to be less efficient than SSF. As large-scale production increases further, so do the costs and energy demands. SSF has been shown to produce a more stable product, requiring less energy, in smaller fermenters, with easier downstream processing measures. In this article we review an important area of biotechnology, since the recent evidence indicates that bacteria and fungi, growing under SSF conditions, are more than capable of supplying the growing global demand for secondary metabolites.  N. Ref:: 53

 

----------------------------------------------------

[156]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Pretransfusion compatibility testing for red blood cell administration.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Curr Opin Hematol 2001 Nov;8(6):397-404.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Shulman IA; Downes KA; Sazama K; Maffei LM

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. ishulman@usc.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The purpose of pretransfusion compatibility testing is to prevent incompatible red blood cell transfusions that could lead to immune mediated hemolytic transfusion reactions. Some hemolytic transfusion reactions may have serious sequelae including hemoglobinemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, renal failure, and death. This article reviews the most comprehensive recent analyses of the laboratory methods used during pretransfusion compatibility testing in the United States. Most of the laboratory practice data have been published in the College of American Pathologists Transfusion Medicine Survey Sets and in a national survey called the Pre-Transfusion Testing Survey. This article couples and trends the data of these comprehensive surveys with an assessment of the literature to present the current practice of pretransfusion compatibility testing.  N. Ref:: 60

 

----------------------------------------------------

[157]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Frequency of use and standards of care for the use of azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review of the literature and a survey of Canadian gastroenterologists.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Can J Gastroenterol 2001 Jan;15(1):21-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Wallace TM; Veldhuyzen van Zanten SJ

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University and Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Canada.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency of use and appropriate monitoring guidelines for the adverse effects of azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) in the therapy of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: Surveys were sent to all physician members of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. Physicians were asked to describe their monitoring practices for IBD patients receiving azathioprine or 6-MP. A systematic literature search was also performed using MEDLINE for articles published in English between 1966 and 1999 using the MeSH terms ‘azathioprine’, ‘6-mercaptopurine’, ‘inflammatory bowel disease’ and ‘drug monitoring’. RESULTS: Azathioprine and 6-MP were used to treat an average of 7% of patients - a surprisingly low number given the proven efficacy of these agents. All respondents reported monitoring complete blood counts (CBC), while liver enzyme and pancreatic enzyme levels were monitored by 62% and 29% of respondents, respectively. The most commonly reported initial CBC testing frequencies were weekly (42%), monthly (26%) and biweekly (23%). From the literature, it was determined that severe leukopenia (less than 2.10 g/L) occurs in less than 2% of cases and is sometimes associated with serious outcomes, including death. Most cases of severe leukopenia occurred abruptly, early in treatment. Other reported adverse effects and incidences were pancreatitis (3% to 5%), hepatotoxicity (less than 1%) and hypersensitivity (2% to 3%). Data concerning an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were equivocal. CONCLUSIONS: Use of azathioprine or 6-MP is low in patients with IBD. A CBC should be performed at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12, with subsequent testing every eight weeks for the duration of azathioprine or 6-MP treatment. The evidence in support of pancreatic and hepatic monitoring is weak. The risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is likely low.  N. Ref:: 49

 

----------------------------------------------------

[158]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Mutations of the hemochromatosis gene in Italian candidate blood donors with increased transferrin saturation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Hematol J 2003;4(6):436-40.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1038/sj.thj.6200324

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Velati C; Marlianici E; Rigamonti D; Barillari G; Chiavilli F; Fugiani P; Garozzo G; Lancieri M; Rinaldi S; Testa D; Sampietro M; Tavazzi D; Delbini P; Fargion S; Fiorelli G

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Transfusional Centre of Ospedale Civile di Sondrio, Sondrio, Italy.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The aim of this study was to analyze the role of HFE mutations in blood donors with iron parameters suggesting iron overload, taking into account the regional distribution of HFE mutations in Italy. We studied 5880 subjects undergoing evaluation for blood donation eligibility, from different areas of Italy. Abnormal iron parameters were defined as transferrin saturation (TS) >50% or >45% and serum ferritin (SF) >300 or >250 microg/ml in males and females, respectively. Subjects with increased TS and/or SF were re-tested and typed for HFE mutations C282Y and H63D. A total of 548 individuals had increased iron parameters at first testing. In total, 179/548 were available for retesting, and in 109 increased TS and/or SF were confirmed. Increased TS was confirmed in 25 individuals, among whom three were C282Y homozygotes and six were compound heterozygotes for C282Y and H63D. Increased TS was more frequent in northern Italy than in southern regions. In individuals with increased TS and/or SF, the frequency of C282Y and H63D was 0.13 and 0.21 in northern-Italy versus 0.05 and 0.45 in southern Italy (P=0.004 for H63D). Nine out of 10 individuals carrying hemochromatosis-associated genotypes (including compound heterozygosity for C282Y and H63D) originated from northern regions. Among controls, the allelic frequencies of C282Y and H63D were 0.037 and 0.16 in the northern regions and 0.015 and 0.16 in the southern regions. In conclusion, over one-third of individuals with persistently altered TS carried hemochromatosis-associated genotypes, confirming that a diagnostic approach based on TS and genotyping of selected cases may represent a viable screening procedure.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[159]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Lymphocyte costimulatory receptors in renal disease and transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - J Nephrol. Acceso gratuito al texto completo.

      ●● Enlace a la Editora de la Revista http://www.jnephrol.com/ 

      ●● Cita: Journal of Nephrology: <> 2002 Jan-Feb;15(1):7-16.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Biancone L; Deambrosis I; Camussi G

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Chair of Nephrology, University of Turin, Italy.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Cell-to-cell signal exchange during antigen presentation deeply influences the profile and extent of the immune response. Together with the TCR/MHC-mediated signal, accessory signals are provided to the T cell by the antigen-presenting cell (APC), through specific receptor-ligand interactions that represent indispensable costimulation for T-cell activation and survival. The main costimulatory pathways are the B7 family members and the CD40-CD154 receptor-ligand pair. B7-1 and B7-2 costimulate T-cells by binding to CD28. Their binding is prevented by the neoexpression of CTLA4, a CD28 homologue that can deliver a negative signal. Another CD28-like molecule, called ICOS (inducible costimulator), has been described and binds B7RP-1, a third member of the B7 family, but not B7-1 and B7-2. The CD40-CD154 interaction works as a two way costimulatory system by triggering activation signals to both T-cell and APCs. Its importance is highlighted by the discovery that mutations of the CD154 gene are responsible for a severe human immunodeficiency. Disruption of the natural costimulatory interaction was highly effective for prevention and treatment in several experimental models of autoimmune disease and transplant rejection. This review focuses on the most significant advances in understanding the physiopathological events involving costimulatory molecules, and their impact on renal diseases and transplantation.  N. Ref:: 65

 

----------------------------------------------------

[160]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Identification of MHC class II-restricted tumor antigens recognized by CD4+ T cells.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Methods 2003 Mar;29(3):227-35.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Wang RF

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Immunology, The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, ALKEK Building N1120, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA. rongfuw@bcm.tmc.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - CD4+ T cells play a central role in orchestrating host immune responses against cancer as well as autoimmune and infectious diseases. Identification of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-restricted helper T peptides is important for development of effective vaccines. The lack of effective methods to identify such T-cell peptides is a major hurdle in the use of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in cancer vaccines. Here we describe a genetic targeting expression system for cloning genes encoding for MHC class II-restricted tumor antigens recognized by tumor-reactive CD4+ T cells. Helper T peptides are subsequently identified by using synthetic peptides to test their ability to stimulate CD4+ T cells.  N. Ref:: 40

 

----------------------------------------------------

[161]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Immunosuppressants in advanced clinical development for organ transplantation and selected autoimmune diseases.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2003 May;8(1):47-62.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Kovarik JM; Burtin P

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Novartis Pharmaceuticals, 4002 Basel, Switzerland. john.kovarik@pharma.novartis.com

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Immunosuppressants dampen the immune response or restore balance among immune system components. They are primarily used to prevent allograft rejection after organ transplantation and to prevent or treat disease flares in autoimmune diseases. Immunosuppressants available at present include the calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporin, tacrolimus), antimetabolites (azathioprine, leflunomide, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil), antiproliferatives (sirolimus), monoclonal antibodies to T lymphocyte (basiliximab, daclizumab, muromonab-CD3) and anticytokines (anakinra, etanercept, infliximab). The immunosuppressive market grows at a rate of > 10% yearly, with total sales in 2001 of US$2.7 billion. Immunotherapy in transplantation and autoimmune diseases is tending towards the use of multi-drug regimens tailored for the individual patient. At least 23 new immunosuppressants are currently in advanced clinical testing or preregistration, and can be divided into three groups. First, emerging drugs targeting intracellular ligands in immune cells are primarily analogues of currently-marketed agents, which attempt to provide improved pharmaceutical or safety profiles compared with the prototype compound. They are largely being developed in organ transplantation. Second, emerging drugs targeting cell surface ligands on immune cells attempt to antagonise novel molecular sites to interfere with immune cell activation via costimulatory signals, immune cell adhesion to tissues or the vasculature and immune cell trafficking. These agents are being primarily developed in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and/or multiple sclerosis. Finally, emerging drugs acting as anticytokines, which largely follow on from the success of those on the market, by antagonising the function of tumour necrosis factor or a narrow selection of interleukins. All are being assessed in rheumatoid arthritis. Drug development of immunosuppressants is increasingly attempting to intervene in disease progression over the long term. These efforts bring with them trial design and regulatory issues, such as what markers can be used as trial outcome measures, over what duration do trials need to be conducted and what labelling claims are allowed. With the intensive activity in this field, it is likely that several new drugs will reach the market in the coming decade. One caveat, however, is that emerging immunosuppressants that are likely to capture a reasonable share of this increasingly-fragmented market must demonstrate the ability to achieve disease remission or long-term slowing of disease progression.  N. Ref:: 55

 

----------------------------------------------------

[162]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Resources for patients. Transplant medications—Part 1: An overview.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Prog Transplant 2002 Mar;12(1):72, 71.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Cupples S  N. Ref:: 2

 

----------------------------------------------------

[163]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Thalidomide: dual benefits in palliative medicine and oncology.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2001 Sep-Oct;18(5):347-51.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Davis MP; Dickerson ED

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine (a World Health Organization Demonstration Project), Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Thalidomide is an immunomodulator, anti-angiogenic agent, anti-cytokine, and anti-integrin. Alone or in combination with other drugs, thalidomide has also demonstrated anti-cachexin and anti-neoplastic properties. Anorexia and cachexia are common symptoms of advanced cancer. Since certain cytokines also promote tumor growth, we may have a class of agents with palliative and anti-tumor benefits in combination with anti-neoplastics and anti-cytokines, such as thalidomide.  N. Ref:: 56

 

----------------------------------------------------

[164]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Medical management of inflammatory bowel disease in the new millennium.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Compr Ther 2002 Spring;28(1):39-49.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Lombardi DA; Feller ER; Shah SA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Gastroenterology Division, Brown University School of Medicine, One Randall Square, Providence, RI 02904, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The medical management of inflammatory bowel disease in the new millennium requires integrating cost concerns with the efficacy and safety profiles of the expanded therapeutic options available in order to achieve optimal patient outcome.  N. Ref:: 111

 

----------------------------------------------------

[165]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Cytomegalovirus. A common virus causing serious disease.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Aust Fam Physician 2003 Oct;32(10):789-93.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Rawlinson W; Scott G

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Royal Hospital for Women, Faculties of Medicine and Science, University of New South Wales. w.rawlinson@unsw.edu.au

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a herpes virus that causes severe illness and death in people whose immune systems are compromised, including organ and bone marrow transplant recipients, HIV infected people, those on immunosuppressive drugs and newborns infected during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to present a clear guide to diagnosis and treatment of CMV in at risk patients in the community. DISCUSSION: Cytomegalovirus is a common infection in the community, but diagnosis is often seen as difficult. The use of careful clinical assessment tests and a clear diagnostic algorithm can provide appropriate diagnosis in most immunocompromised patients, pregnant women and newborns with CMV. Treatment strategies and available antivirals are improving, complementing the advances made with diagnostic techniques and algorithms.  N. Ref:: 27

 

----------------------------------------------------

[166]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Selecting informative data for developing peptide-MHC binding predictors using a query by committee approach.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Neural Comput 2003 Dec;15(12):2931-42.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1162/089976603322518803

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Christensen JK; Lamberth K; Nielsen M; Lundegaard C; Worning P; Lauemoller SL; Buus S; Brunak S; Lund O

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, BioCentrum-DTU, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark. jenskc@cbs.dtu.dk

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Strategies for selecting informative data points for training prediction algorithms are important, particularly when data points are difficult and costly to obtain. A Query by Committee (QBC) training strategy for selecting new data points uses the disagreement between a committee of different algorithms to suggest new data points, which most rationally complement existing data, that is, they are the most informative data points. In order to evaluate this QBC approach on a real-world problem, we compared strategies for selecting new data points. We trained neural network algorithms to obtain methods to predict the binding affinity of peptides binding to the MHC class I molecule, HLA-A2. We show that the QBC strategy leads to a higher performance than a baseline strategy where new data points are selected at random from a pool of available data. Most peptides bind HLA-A2 with a low affinity, and as expected using a strategy of selecting peptides that are predicted to have high binding affinities also lead to more accurate predictors than the base line strategy. The QBC value is shown to correlate with the measured binding affinity. This demonstrates that the different predictors can easily learn if a peptide will fail to bind, but often conflict in predicting if a peptide binds. Using a carefully constructed computational setup, we demonstrate that selecting peptides with a high QBC performs better than low QBC peptides independently from binding affinity. When predictors are trained on a very limited set of data they cannot be expected to disagree in a meaningful way and we find a data limit below which the QBC strategy fails. Finally, it should be noted that data selection strategies similar to those used here might be of use in other settings in which generation of more data is a costly process.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[167]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Immunization of immunocompromised persons.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2003 Nov;23(4):605-34, v-vi.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Weber DJ; Rutala WA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Adult Infectious Disease Division, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, CB #7030, Bioinformatics Building, 130 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030, USA. dweber@unch.unc.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Advances in medicine, science, and technology have led to increasing numbers of people in the general population with altered host defenses. The risk for clinical infection in an immunocompromised host, such as a person who has received a solid organ transplant, is determined largely by the interaction between two factors: the epidemiologic exposures the person encounters and the person’s net state of immunosuppresson. Vaccination represents a crucial approach for preventing infection in the general public and immunocompromised persons. This article reviews the benefits of and risks for immunization in immunocompromised persons and provides recommendations for the use of specific vaccines.  N. Ref:: 129

 

----------------------------------------------------

[168]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Influence of one human leukocyte antigen mismatch on outcome of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from related donors.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Hematology 2003 Feb;8(1):27-33.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1080/1024533031000072054

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Hasegawa W; Lipton JH; Messner HA; Jamal H; Yi QL; Daly AS; Kotchetkova N; Kiss TL

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Bone Marrow Transplant Service, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto, Ont, M5G 2M9, Canada.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - This study compares the clinical outcomes of 60 consecutive patients who received an allogeneic blood or marrow stem cell transplant (BMT) from one Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) mismatched related donors with those of 120 matched patients who had HLA identical sibling donors. The control patients were matched for diagnosis, disease status, conditioning regimen, and age at BMT. All patients received standard CYA and MTX for GVHD prophylaxis. The probability of overall survival (OS) at 5 years was 35% in the study group compared to 56% in the control group. The relapse rates and acute GVHD rates did not differ between the two groups. Graft failure was a significant problem in the study group compared to the control group (13 vs. 0%, p < 0.0001). All cases of graft failure occurred in patients with a mismatch in the host-versus-graft direction. BMT-related deaths were also increased in the study group. Forty percent of deaths were caused by infection in the study group vs. 19% in the control group (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the OS of patients receiving marrow/stem cells from one antigen mismatched related donors was inferior to that of controls with HLA-identical related donors. There was an increase in mortality related to infections occurring in the setting of an increased frequency of graft failure in these patients.  N. Ref:: 21

 

----------------------------------------------------

[169]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Strategies for the augmentation of grafted dopamine neuron survival.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Front Biosci 2003 May 1;8:s522-32.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Sortwell CE

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Neurological Sciences, Research Center for Brain Repair, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Suite 200, 2242 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. csortwel@rush.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The percentage of grafted embryonic DA neurons that survive transplantation is low, estimated at 5-20%. Significant agreement has emerged from the work of research groups worldwide that specific conditions associated with the transplant procedure and post-transplantation interval render grafted mesencephalic cells susceptible to apoptotic death. Detrimental triggers including hypoxia/ischemia, trophic factor withdrawal, and oxidative stress appear to exert the most impact on grafted DA neuron survival. Treatment strategies that aim to reduce or eliminate the triggers of grafted cell death appear to be more successful than approaches that target the intracellular apoptotic cascade. In particular, treatment of mesencephalic cell suspensions with isolated neurotrophic factors (GDNF, BDNF, NT 4/5) as well as glial-derived factors, antioxidant therapies and augmentation of graft vasculature have demonstrated consistent survival promoting effects. Caspase inhibition, although initially quite promising, has not been demonstrated to reliably increase grafted cell survival. Bcl-2 overexpression similarly has yet to prove beneficial, although this may be due to biologically irrelevant levels of bcl-2 present during the critical immediate post-grafting interval. Future strategies will target a “cocktail” approach in which effective treatment agents are combined to maximize grafted DA neuron survival. Refinements in ex vivo transduction parameters will allow for efficient sustained delivery of survival promoting agents to grafted cells. Once identified, the optimal survival-enhancing treatment of grafted primary embryonic DA neurons should also benefit future transplant therapies utilizing alternatively derived DA neurons.  N. Ref:: 117

 

----------------------------------------------------

[170]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Immunomodulatory drugs for multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of clinical and cost effectiveness.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Expert Opin Pharmacother 2001 Apr;2(4):623-39.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Clegg A; Bryant J

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Southampton Health Technology Assessments Centre, Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development, University of Southampton, Biomedical Sciences Building, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO16 7PX, UK. a.clegg@soton.ac.uk

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Uncertainties about the clinical and cost effectiveness of immunomodulatory drugs for multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as concerns about funding treatment, continue to influence their use. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England and Wales has been appraising the evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of IFN-beta and glatiramer to provide guidance to the NHS. It has proved a difficult task. This paper is an update of our systematic review which assesses the evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of a range of immunomodulatory drugs for MS, including azathioprine, IFN-beta, cladribine, cyclophosphamide, glatiramer, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), methotrexate and mitoxantrone. Searches of electronic databases (such as Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library) and bibliographies of related papers, as well as consultation with experts, for systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and direct reports of RCTs revealed 26 studies of clinical effectiveness and eight economic evaluations that met the criteria for inclusion. The quality of the evidence was often poor, affected by methodological limitations. Evidence on the clinical effectiveness of immunomodulatory drugs showed some clinical effect, with reductions in relapse rates and/or progression to disability for people with MS. However, benefits from these drugs may be lessened by side effects. Assessment of cost effectiveness was limited to IFN-beta and glatiramer, showing that any benefit from these drugs was achieved at very high cost. The inadequacies in the evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness on some immunomodulatory drugs for the treatment of people with MS necessitate further rigorous RCTs and comparative economic evaluations of different alternatives.  N. Ref:: 50

 

----------------------------------------------------

[171]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Recent developments in the pharmacological treatment and prevention of corneal graft rejection.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2003 Jan;12(1):29-37.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Banerjee S; Dick AD

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Ophthalmology, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - At present, given the high initial success rate of corneal transplantation (although late survival is poor), immunosuppression is often reserved for ‘high-risk’ patients. Despite immune privilege, corneal graft rejection remains the leading cause of corneal allograft failure. Interpreting the limited and also restricted design of most trials, immunosuppressive therapy has not enjoyed the success seen in solid organ grafts. This review discusses the limited data available whilst proposing newer therapies that have developed as a result of our increased understanding of the immunobiology of corneal graft rejection.  N. Ref:: 93

 

----------------------------------------------------

[172]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Perspectives of drug-eluting stents: the next revolution.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 2002;2(3):163-72.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Moses JW; Kipshidze N; Leon MB

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute of New York and Cardiovascular Research Foundation, New York, New York 10021, USA. jmoses@lenoxhill.net

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Coronary stent implantation has become a well established therapy in the management of coronary artery disease (CAD). Although the Stent Restenosis Study (STRESS) and Belgium-Netherlands Stent (BENESTENT) trials demonstrated convincingly that stenting is superior to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with respect to restenosis in de novo lesions, there is, however, still a high incidence (10 to 50%) of restenosis following stent implantation. Improvements in stent design and implantation techniques resulted in an increase in the use of coronary stents and today, in most centers in the US and Europe, stenting has become the predominant form of nonsurgical revascularization accounting for about 80% of all percutaneous coronary intervention procedures. Coronary stents provide luminal scaffolding that virtually eliminates elastic recoil and remodelling. Stents, however, do not decrease neointimal hyperplasia and in fact lead to an increase in the proliferative comportment of restenosis. Agents that inhibit cell-cycle progression indirectly have also been tested as inhibitors of vascular proliferation. When coated onto stents, sirolimus, a macrolide antibiotic with immunosuppressive properties, and paclitaxel and dactinomycin, both chemotherapeutic agents, induced cell-cycle arrest in smooth muscle cells (SMC) and inhibited neointimal formation in animal models. Preliminary clinical studies with drug-eluting stents produced dramatic results eliminating restenosis in large and mid-size arteries. Quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound demonstrated virtually complete inhibition of tissue growth at 6 and 12 months after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation. Results are also very encouraging with paclitaxel-coated stents. However, it needs to be proven that current drug-eluting stents will produce similar results in ‘real life’ interventional practice (long lesions, lesions in small vessels, in vein grafts, chronic total occlusions, and bifurcated and ostial lesions). The ongoing randomized, double-blind sirolimus-coated Bx Velocity trade mark balloon expandable stent in the treatment of patients with de novo coronary artery lesions (SIRIUS) trial may answer some of these concerns. With further improvements, including the expansion of drug-loading capacity, double coatings and coatings with programmable pharmacokinetic capacity using advances in nanotechnology (which may allow for more precise and controlled release of less toxic and improved molecules), we think that in the next few years the practice of interventional cardiology may undergo major changes. A new era of dramatic improvements in the treatment of CAD may have dawned. The prospect of approval of this technology should herald a host of clinical trials to revisit basic assumptions about the place of coronary stenting in the contemporary care of obstructive (and nonobstructive) CAD.  N. Ref:: 76

 

----------------------------------------------------

[173]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Pyogenic granuloma in a renal transplant patient: case report.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Spec Care Dentist 2001 Sep-Oct;21(5):187-90.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - al-Zayer M; da Fonseca M; Ship JA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, 1011 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - This case report describes a 14-year-old female referred to Pediatric Dentistry for evaluation and treatment of cyclosporine-induced gingival hyperplasia. Examination of the anterior maxillary area showed a red, vascular, exophytic, soft-tissue mass which had been excised a few months earlier without a histopathologic examination being done. The mass did not appear consistent with gingival overgrowth induced by long-term use of medication, and thus an excisional biopsy was performed, which diagnosed the lesion as a pyogenic granuloma. A review of the literature and management recommendations are discussed.  N. Ref:: 20

 

----------------------------------------------------

[174]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Clinical islet transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Curr Diab Rep 2003 Aug;3(4):344-50.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Kaufman DB; Lowe WL Jr

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Galter Pavilion, #17-200, 675 N. St. Clair Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. d-kaufman2@northwestern.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Type 1 diabetes affects over 1 million persons in the United States, with over 30,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Transplantation of new insulin-producing b cells, in the form of the whole pancreas or isolated islets, has been shown to ameliorate the disease by eliminating the need for exogenous insulin and normalizing glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Islet transplants are a particularly attractive form of therapy because they are a minimally invasive procedure and are more likely to be scaled-up to treat the large numbers of people affected by diabetes. Currently, only a handful of programs have been successful in the endeavor. Nevertheless, the early clinical experience strongly demonstrates that islet transplantation is an effective treatment strategy in select patients with type 1 diabetes. To scale up this therapy and use it earlier in the disease and for more people, the shortage of suitable donor tissue must be solved and the requirement of lifelong immunosuppression must be minimized.  N. Ref:: 69

 

----------------------------------------------------

[175]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - At-home self-care of patients of long-term survival after renal transplantation: a survey of current status.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao 2002 Jan;22(1):86-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Wang JX; Shi HM

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Renal Transplantation, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - OBJECTIVE: To understand the current status of at-home self-care implemented by patients with renal transplantation of long-term survival, so as to provide the patients with adequate professional advice and follow-up care after discharge from hospital. METHOD: A survey was conducted in 248 patients who survived for over 3 years with functioning transplanted kidneys by utilizing a self-designed questionnaire. RESULTS: The at-home self-care was generally not well practiced by the patients with apparent lack of self-care awareness and abilities. Though the current status problematic, the survey showed that 96.32% of the patients wished to be informed about self-care knowledge and skills. CONCLUSION: The patients currently lack at-home self-care abilities and the medical staff should carefully design self-care plans tailored to the needs of individual patient to improve the survival of the patients and the transplanted kidneys as well.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[176]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - On the horizon: tailor-made immunosuppression in renal transplantation.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Nephron Clin Pract 2003;94(1):c5-10.

      ●● Enlace al texto completo (gratuito o de pago) 1159/000070818

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Warrens AN

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London, UK. a.warrens@ic.ac.uk

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Immunosuppression for renal transplantation has undergone more changes over the last 8 years than at any other time in its history. It is now possible to be more selective in the matching of drugs with a given patient. This brings with it the option of improving graft outcome and also minimizing adverse effects. It is an ongoing process that will utilize agents working at different points in the activation cascade of the CD4+ ‘helper’ T lymphocyte. It may also be possible to manipulate the immune system such that the organ-specific immune response may be switched off, or rendered ‘tolerant’, thus removing the need for any immunosuppressive drugs. In this brief review, we shall address each of these approaches and discuss other therapeutic avenues being investigated.  N. Ref:: 13

 

----------------------------------------------------

[177]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Advances in immune-based therapies to improve solid organ graft survival.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Adv Intern Med 2001;47:293-331.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Rose SM; Turka L; Kerr L; Rotrosen D

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Office of Clinical Applications, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., USA.  N. Ref:: 96

 

----------------------------------------------------

[178]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Annual trends and triple therapy--1991-2000.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Clin Transpl 2001;:247-69.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Nishikawa K; Terasaki PI

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Terasaki Foundation Laboratory, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - 1. Although the number of cadaver donor transplants did not increase substantially over the past 10 years, unrelated living donor grafts increased from 153 in 1991 to 1,661 through 2000. Use of spousal and other unrelated donor organs contributed to this increase. There was a modest increase in living-related donor transplants from 2,328 in 1991 to 3,451 in 2000. 2. Cadaver donor graft survival at one year improved from 84% in 1991 to 90% in 2000. In contrast, one-year graft survival of living donor transplants only improved from 93% in 1991 to 95% in 2000. 3. Throughout the 10-year period, approximately 13% of transplants were repeat transplants from cadaver donors and roughly 8% were regrafts from live donors. 4. Cadaver donor transplants into White recipients declined from 68% in 1991 to 60% in 2000. For living donors, the percentage of White patients remained constant at about 70%. 5. Graft survival in patients of all races was about equal at one year but diverged at 3 years, with Asians having the highest and Blacks having the lowest 3-year graft survival rates. 6. Average donor age increased from 31.7 in 1991 to 36 in 2000 for cadaveric donor transplants and 37.9 in 1991 to 40.4 in 2000 for living donor transplants. Cadaveric kidneys from donors older than 50 years of age yielded significantly lower 3-year graft survival. 7. Average recipient age for cadaveric donor transplants increased from 42.1 in 1991 to 46.8 in 2000. The average recipient age for living donor transplants also increased steadily from 33.7 in 1991 to 42.9 in 2000. There was relatively little effect on graft survival rates for advanced age recipients. 8. The percentage of sensitized recipients receiving cadaver donor grafts declined from 27% in 1991 to 21% in 2000. Similarly, sensitized recipients receiving living donor grafts decreased from 17% in 1991 to 13% in 2000. Graft survival in patients with more than 50% PRA was lower at 3 years for patients receiving cadaveric donor grafts. Highly sensitized patients receiving living donor grafts had graft survival rates similar to those who were not sensitized. 9. Cold ischemia times decreased from an average of 24.2 hours in 1991 to 18.9 hours in 2000. Improved graft survival rates over those 10 years were noted in all groups, and even cold ischemia times more than 36 hours yielded 3-year graft survivals comparable to those with lower cold ischemia times in 1998. 10. The need for dialysis has remained constant at about 23% over the last 10 years for patients receiving kidneys from cadaveric donors. The rate of dialysis for patients receiving kidneys from living donors was about 5% for each of the 10 years examined. First day anuria increased from 11% in 1991 to 16% in 2000 for cadaver donor transplants and 3% in 1999 to 5% in 2000 for living donor grafts. 11. Cadaveric donor patients requiring dialysis had a 3-year graft survival rate of 63% if there was no first day anuria and 56% if they had first day anuria. This is in contrast to 80% 3-year graft survival for those with immediate diuresis and no need for dialysis. The 3-year graft survival rate for those receiving living donor grafts and needing dialysis was 58% if they had first day diuresis and 41% if they ware anuric on the first day. Conversely, those who had first day function and did not require dialysis had 89% 3-year graft survival. 12. Among the patients receiving cadaveric grafts with first day diuresis there was a marked reduction in those with rejection, from 21% in 1991 to 5% in 2000. Similarly, for this type of patient receiving living donor grafts, the reduction was 17% in 1991 to 5% in 2000. However, graft survival among these patients did not change significantly. The greatest improvement was noted in those with first day anuria and no rejection. 13. Patients who did not require dialysis, and had rejection prior to discharge decreased markedly from 17% in 1991 to 3% in 2000 in those receiving cadaveric grafts and 15% in 1991 to 3.9% in 2000 for those receiving living donors. Graft survival of cadaveric transplants in those needing dialysis, with and without rejection, improved the most in the 10 year period. 14. Hospitalization days for cadaveric transplant recipients were reduced from 19 days in 1991 to 10 days in 2000 and 16 days in 1991 to 8 days in 2000 for recipients of living donor grafts. There was an increase in discharge serum creatinine values from 2.3 mg/dl in 1991 to 3.3 mg/dl in 2000 for cadaver donor grafts. 15. Double therapy was utilized for about 15% of cadaveric and living donors. There was a sharp increase in induction therapy, peaking at 51% in 1994 and decreasing to 5% by 2000 for cadaveric donor transplants. Induction did not improve graft survival for either cadaver or living donor transplant recipients. 16. Triple therapy improved graft survival of White and Black patients, but did not affect the half-lives in either race. 17. The lower graft survival from older donors was not affected by triple therapy for cadaver donor transplants. Triple therapy removed the donor age effect for recipients of living donor grafts. 18. Triple therapy practically eliminated the effect of sensitization for cadaveric donor grafts. Both double and triple therapy virtually eliminated the sensitization effect for living donors. 19. Triple therapy significantly improved the survival of kidneys with more than 36 hours cold ischemia time so that 3-year graft survival was 76% at 3 years compared with 81% for kidneys stored 1-12 hours. 20. Triple therapy improved the 3-year graft survival of kidneys with first day anuria from 50% for double therapy to 69% for triple therapy in cadaver donor transplants. For living donor transplants, there was a similar improvement from 57% with double therapy to 72% with triple therapy. 21. Triple therapy improved the 3-year cadaveric graft survival rate of kidneys requiring dialysis from 51% with double therapy to 67% for triple therapy. There was a similar improvement for living donors needing dialysis from 37% to 61% at 3 years.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[179]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Ethical aspects of living donor kidney transplantation and recipient adherence to treatment.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Prog Transplant 2003 Jun;13(2):105-9.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Wright L; Daar AS

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Living donor kidney transplantation comprises approximately 30% of kidney transplantations in the United States and is an effective form of renal replacement therapy, with low risk to the donor. Twenty percent of living donors do not have a genetic relationship with their recipients. In the selection of living donors, guiding ethical principles include altruism, the absence of coercion or monetary reward, patient autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence. In order for the benefit of living donor kidney transplantation to outweigh the risk, evidence that the proposed recipient will care for the transplanted organ must exist. Nonadherence to treatment has been identified as a major risk factor for graft rejection. When nonadherence to treatment regimens leads to loss of the graft, the consequences are felt by the recipient, donor, and the treatment team. The decision to transplant an organ to a noncompliant patient from a cadaveric or a living donor raises issues of patient autonomy, justice, paternalism, and benevolence versus nonmaleficence.  N. Ref:: 31

 

----------------------------------------------------

[180]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Nutritional strategies to minimise exercise-induced immunosuppression in athletes.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Can J Appl Physiol 2001;26 Suppl:S23-35.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Gleeson M; Lancaster GI; Bishop NC

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, England.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Strenuous prolonged exertion and heavy training are associated with depressed immune function. Furthermore, improper nutrition can compound the negative influence of heavy exertion on immunocompetence. Dietary deficiencies of protein and specific micronutrients have long been associated with immune dysfunction. An adequate intake of iron, zinc, and vitamins A, E, B6 and B12 is particularly important but excess intakes can also impair immune function. Immune system impairment has also been associated with excess intake of fat. To maintain immune function, athletes should eat a well balanced diet sufficient to meet their energy requirements. An athlete exercising in a carbohydrate-depleted state experiences larger increases in circulating stress hormones and a greater perturbation of several immune function indices. Conversely, consuming carbohydrate during exercise attenuates rises in stress hormones such as cortisol and appears to limit the degree of exercise-induced immunosuppression, at least for non-fatiguing bouts of exercise. Strong evidence that high doses of antioxidant vitamins, glutamine supplementation or echinacea extracts can prevent exercise-induced immunosuppression is lacking.  N. Ref:: 46

 

----------------------------------------------------

[181]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases as technological platforms for the synthesis of highly modified peptide bioeffectors—Cyclosporin synthetase as a complex example.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Biotechnol Annu Rev 2003;9:151-97.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Velkov T; Lawen A

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Monash University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, P.O. Box 13D, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Many microbial peptide secondary metabolites possess important medicinal properties, of which the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A is an example. The enormous structural and functional diversity of these low-molecular weight peptides is attributable to their mode of biosynthesis. Peptide secondary metabolites are assembled non-ribosomally by multi-functional enzymes, termed non-ribosomal peptide synthetases. These systems consist of a multi-modular arrangement of the functional domains responsible for the catalysis of the partial reactions of peptide assembly. The extensive homology shared among NRPS systems allows for the generalisation of the knowledge garnered from studies of systems of diverse origins. In this review we shall focus the contemporary knowledge of non-ribosomal peptide biosynthesis on the structure and function of the cyclosporin biosynthetic system, with some emphasis on the re-direction of the biosynthetic potential of this system by combinatorial approaches.  N. Ref:: 205

 

----------------------------------------------------

[182]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Neuropeptides and neuroendocrine hormones in ultraviolet radiation-induced immunosuppression.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Methods 2002 Sep;28(1):97-103.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Seiffert K; Granstein RD

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Dermatology, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can lead to deleterious effects such as sunburn, photoaging, and the development of skin cancer. UVR has also been shown to reduce local and systemic immune responses in humans and animals. In the recent past it has become clear that neuropeptides mediate some of the effects of UVR-induced immunosuppression. Among the neuropeptides released from cutaneous nerves after exposure to UVR, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been examined most extensively. It appears to lead to a reduction of contact hypersensitivity by inducing mast cells to degranulate and thus release tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and, most likely, interleukin (IL)-10. Nitric oxide, which is coreleased with CGRP, seems to also play a role in immunosuppression through a yet undiscovered mechanism of action, while substance P may have counterregulatory effects. New evidence suggests that the release of neuropeptides from cutaneous sensory c-fibers after UVR is induced by keratinocyte-derived nerve growth factor. UVR can also induce epidermal and some dermal cells, such as melanocytes, keratinocytes, and dermal microvascular epithelial cells, to produce proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and its derivatives. The POMC product alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) has been implicated in suppression of contact hypersensitivity and induction of hapten-specific tolerance, most likely by inducing keratinocytes and monocytes to produce the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Other POMC derivatives have not yet been investigated with regard to a possible role in UVR-induced effects on immunity.  N. Ref:: 58

 

----------------------------------------------------

[183]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Long-term outcome after liver transplantation in children.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Pediatr Transplant 2002 Feb;6(1):30-6.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Bucuvalas JC; Ryckman FC

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Pediatric Liver Care Center, Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. john.buc@chmcc.org

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Children (defined as under 18 yr of age) account for approximately 12.5% of all liver transplants in the United States. Even though the annual number of liver transplantation procedures remains relatively constant, the population of long-term survivors of liver transplantation has grown. Presently, the population of long-term survivors of liver transplantation is 10-fold greater then the number of transplantations carried out each year. For long-term survivors of liver transplantation, the goal is to maintain graft function and wellness while decreasing the morbidity associated with long-term immunosuppression. The primary diagnosis leading to liver transplantation in children do not recur in the allograft. Consequently, many of the complications of liver transplantation, both early and long term, relate to the need for immunosuppression. Children may be at increased risk to develop significant end-organ damage as a result of increased serum lipid levels, elevated blood pressure, altered glucose metabolism, decreased renal function, cancer, and diminished bone accretion that occur as a result of immunosuppressive therapy or complications of therapy. As survival rates have increased, health care providers have begun to assess health-related quality of life. We will review our current knowledge of long-term outcome following pediatric liver transplantation in children.  N. Ref:: 61

 

----------------------------------------------------

[184]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Do we have unrealistic expectations of the potential of immuno-nutrition?

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Can J Appl Physiol 2001;26 Suppl:S36-44.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Cynober LA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory and INSERM U341, Hotel-Dieu Hospital, Laboratory of Biological Nutrition, School of Pharmacy, Paris 5 University, France.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Heavy sports training schedules and competition is often associated with immuno-suppression, and so there is a theoretical justification for providing athletes with nutrients that display immuno-regulatory properties. Among such immuno-nutrients, considerable attention has been paid in recent years to two amino acids, arginine (ARG) and glutamine (GLN). ARG and GLN availability regulate the function of T lymphocytes, macrophages and polymorphonuclear cells. ARG acts through nitric oxide and polyamine synthesis. The mechanism of action of GLN in immune cells remains unclear. Experience in clinical nutrition suggests that an ARG-enriched diet may limit infectious morbidity in critically ill patients. Data concerning oral/enteral GLN supplementation are more controversial. There have been few trials of supplementation in sports medicine, but results are promising, justifying further studies in which dosages and administration schedules should be taken into account.  N. Ref:: 23

 

----------------------------------------------------

[185]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Effects of low-dose ultraviolet radiation on in vivo human cutaneous recall responses.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Australas J Dermatol 2001 Aug;42(3):161-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Damian DL; Barnetson RS; Halliday GM

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Medicine (Dermatology), Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Institute, University of Sydney at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Relatively few studies have examined the effects of low-dose ultraviolet (UV) radiation on in vivo human cutaneous immunity, or the ability of sunscreens to prevent UV-induced immunosuppression. We have studied the effects of solar-simulated UV radiation on nickel contact hypersensitivity (CHS) in nickel-allergic volunteers, and on delayed type hypersensitivity responses in Mantoux-positive volunteers. Nickel CHS and Mantoux responses were significantly suppressed by acute, suberythemal UV exposures equivalent to less than 8 min summer sunlight. Both UVA and UVB wavebands were immunosuppressive, but UVA-induced immunosuppression was transient, whereas UVB had a more sustained effect. Dose-responses for UV immunosuppression were determined using the nickel method, enabling calculation of in vivo sunscreen immune protection factors in a manner analogous with sun protection factor measurement. Sunscreens were found to confer significantly less protection against UV-induced immunosuppression than against UV-induced erythema.  N. Ref:: 68

 

----------------------------------------------------

[186]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Varicella vaccination in pediatric kidney transplant candidates.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Pediatr Transplant 2002 Apr;6(2):97-100.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Furth SL; Fivush BA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Pediatrics, the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. sfurth@jhmi.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Existing studies support the use of varicella vaccine in a two-dose regimen in patients with renal disease prior to transplantation. Levels of anti-varicella zoster virus antibody should be monitored on a regular basis after immunization, and where a loss of a previously protective antibody titer occurs, a third booster dose should be considered pretransplant. Further data need to be collected regarding the use of the vaccine in seronegative patients who have already undergone transplantation.  N. Ref:: 22

 

----------------------------------------------------

[187]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Pharmacoeconomics of drug therapy for atopic dermatitis.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Expert Opin Pharmacother 2002 Mar;3(3):249-55.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Lamb SR; Rademaker M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Leeds Centre of Dermatology, Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX, UK.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Atopic dermatitis is an increasingly prevalent common childhood disease. While the majority of patients have mild disease, atopic dermatitis can cause considerable distress to patients and their caregivers, with significant social and financial cost to families. With a prevalence of 15 - 20% in Western countries, atopic dermatitis also has a considerable health and societal cost to the community. Many new treatments have been shown to be therapeutically effective, particularly in severe disease, including cyclosporin A (Neoral, Novartis AG), interferon, tacrolimus (Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.) and iv. immunoglobulin. These are expensive when compared to standard treatments like emollients and topical corticosteroids and have significant adverse effects that limit their use. Additional costs related to monitoring are incurred and the long-term safety of these treatments is yet to be determined. However, an advantage over more traditional therapies is their ability to produce benefits even after treatment ceases. Treatments that produce long-term remissions have a greater likelihood of being cost-effective. With monetary constraints on healthcare and the importance governments place on reducing drug costs, economic evaluations are becoming an increasingly important factor for drug acceptance. Those evaluating cost-effectiveness should pay particular attention to the potential reduction in indirect and intangible costs. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of cost-effectiveness studies in atopic eczema and this needs to be addressed with some urgency.  N. Ref:: 43

 

----------------------------------------------------

[188]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Immune suppression and considerations for dental care.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Dent Clin North Am 2003 Oct;47(4):709-31, vii.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Parisi E; Glick M

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Oral Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 110 Bergen Street, D-860, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. parisier@umdnj.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Immunocompromised individuals present a challenge to oral health care providers. As the spectrum of patients with dysfunctional immune responses continues to broaden, practitioners should be able to identify these patients, understand the potential for complications, and manage their dental care safely and effectively. This article reviews various immune deficiencies, addresses complications that may result from an individual’s immune status, and discusses dental considerations for these patients.  N. Ref:: 80

 

----------------------------------------------------

[189]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Bioinformatics tools for identifying class I-restricted epitopes.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Methods 2003 Mar;29(3):289-98.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Martin W; Sbai H; De Groot AS

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - EpiVax, Inc., Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The lack of simple methods to identify relevant T-cell epitopes, the high mutation rate of many pathogens, and restriction of T-cell response to epitopes due to human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism have significantly hindered the development of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitope-based or “epitope-driven” vaccines. Previously, CTL epitopes were mapped using large arrays of overlapping synthetic peptides. The large number of protein sequences available for mapping is now making this method prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. Bioinformatics tools such as EpiMatrix and Conservatrix, which search for unique or multi-HLA-restricted (promiscuous) T-cell epitopes and identify epitopes that are conserved across variant strains of the same pathogen, accelerate epitope mapping. These tools offer a significant advantage over other methods of epitope selection because high-throughput screening can be performed in silico, followed by confirmatory studies in vitro. CTL epitopes discovered using these tools might be used to develop novel vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and some cancers.  N. Ref:: 65

 

----------------------------------------------------

[190]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The use of bioinformatics for identifying class II-restricted T-cell epitopes.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Methods 2003 Mar;29(3):299-309.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Bian H; Reidhaar-Olson JF; Hammer J

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Section of Bioinformatics, Genetics and Genomics, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., 340 Kingsland Street, Nutley, NJ 07110-1199, USA. hongjin.bian@roche.com

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - An important step in the design of subunit vaccines is the identification of promiscuous T helper cell epitopes in sets of disease-specific gene products. Most of the epitope prediction models are based on HLA-II peptide binding, which constitutes a major bottleneck in the natural selection of epitopes. Here we describe a computer model, TEPITOPE, that enables the systematic prediction of promiscuous peptide ligands for a broad range of HLA binding specificity. We show how to apply the TEPITOPE prediction model to identify T-cell epitopes, and provide examples of its successful application in the context of oncology, allergy, and infectious and autoimmune diseases.  N. Ref:: 17

 

----------------------------------------------------

[191]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Lung transplantation. Recipient selection.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Chest Surg Clin N Am 2003 Aug;13(3):405-28, v.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Yu AD; Garrity ER

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. First Avenue, Building 54, Room 131A, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Since international recommendations for lung transplant recipients were made in 1998, newer tools for predicting mortality in patients who have end-stage lung disease have been investigated. This article reviews studies for predicting mortality in obstructive, restrictive, pulmonary vascular, and suppurative/bronchiectatic lung disease. Newer considerations for alternative treatments, postoperative risks, and contraindications are also examined. The article aims to provide more accurate data for selecting patients who will benefit from lung transplantation.  N. Ref:: 101

 

----------------------------------------------------

[192]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - The challenge of managing the care of older heart transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - AACN Clin Issues 2002 Feb;13(1):114-31.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Baas LS; Bell B; Stuebbe SD; Giesting R; Wagoner LE

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, PO Box 210038, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0038, USA. Linda.baas@uc.edu

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Age is perhaps the most controversial exclusion criterion for heart transplantation. One concern focuses on whether chronological or functional age is the better predictor of positive outcomes when considering heart transplantation for an elderly patient with end-stage heart disease. Another concern is related to the philosophical and ethical rationale for allocation of scarce resources to those near the end of a normal life expectancy. However, the number of people who are older than age 65 years and have received a donor heart has increased and will continue to due to aging of the people who received a transplant a decade ago, as well as the growing number of people who undergo heart transplantation after the age of 65. In either case, the nurse must be aware of age-related concerns in this vulnerable population.  N. Ref:: 36

 

----------------------------------------------------

[193]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Human herpesvirus type 8 infections among solid organ transplant recipients.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Pediatr Transplant 2002 Jun;6(3):187-92.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Allen UD

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada. Upton.allen@sickkids.on.ca

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) is known to be associated with Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and a form of Castleman’s disease. Recently, it has also been shown to be associated with acute bone marrow failure in transplant patients. While, the full spectrum of clinical manifestations due to HHV-8 is yet to be defined in transplant recipients, it is known to cause post-transplant KS as a result of primary as well as secondary infection. This review will discuss the possible role of HHV-8 as a cause of disease in solid organ transplant recipients by focussing on important issues, including the biology of the virus, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnosis and treatment, followed by a discussion of issues of relevance to the pediatric transplant recipient.  N. Ref:: 56

 

----------------------------------------------------

[194]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Use of mutant mice in photoimmunological and photocarcinogenic investigations.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Methods 2002 Sep;28(1):130-7.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Beissert S

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Dermatology, University of Munster, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 58, D-48149 Munster, Germany. beisser@uni-muenster.de

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The mechanisms underlying UV-induced immunosuppression and the development of UV-induced skin cancer have been intensively investigated for decades. In particular, UV-induced DNA damage and UV-induced suppression of cellular immune responses were analyzed in great detail. During this time, several cellular and genetic pathways were identified, that are involved in photoimmunology and photocarcinogenesis. However, the direct effects of the complex UV-induced pathways on immunosuppression or on cutaneous tumor generation in vivo have not been able to be characterized with certainty so far. With the increasing availability of mutant mice that lack or overexpress certain genes, more information can be obtained with respect to the functional importance of individual gene products and the signaling pathways involved in UV-mediated immunomodulation and cancer development. This article is an overview of the results of UV-induced immunosuppression and photocarcinogenesis experiments obtained in different mutant mice.  N. Ref:: 56

 

----------------------------------------------------

[195]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Pediatric recipients of living donor lobar lung transplants: postoperative care.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Prog Transplant 2002 Jun;12(2):81-5.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Horn MV; Schenkel FA; Woo MS; Starnes VA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Calif., USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Bilateral living donor lobar lung transplantation is a treatment option for selected children and adults with end-stage lung disease. Careful donor evaluation, skilled intraoperative management and surgical technique, and diligent immediate postoperative care and follow-up all contribute to better outcomes. Although medical management of whole lung transplant recipients in the immediate postoperative period is similar to that of lobar lung transplant recipients, there are specific differences. Anatomical distinctions, such as the entire cardiac output flowing to 2 lobes instead of 5, and thoracic space issues with simultaneous mechanical ventilation and chest tube suction, contribute to these differences. Early postoperative care, including initial postoperative stabilization, ventilation, fluid management, rejection/infection surveillance and prophylaxis, and beginning rehabilitation, can be adapted to ensure successful outcomes in these patients.  N. Ref:: 8

 

----------------------------------------------------

[196]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Center and other factor effects in recipients of living-donor kidney transplants.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Clin Transpl 2001;:209-21.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Gjertson DW

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - 1. LIVING DONOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS: Using 1996-2001 UNOS Registry data, we assessed the joint influence of center, 19 pre- and 5 posttransplant factors on renal allograft function in 21,830 patients transplanted with living donor kidneys. During an initial risk period, 21,033 recipients were projected to keep their grafts through one year (an average 96.4% one-year graft survival), and, in a second risk period, 17,775 recipients were projected to keep their grafts through 5 years (84.5% conditional 5-year graft survival after surviving one year posttransplant). 2. CENTER EFFECTS: Following multivariate log-linear analysis, 57.5% and 26.5% of assignable variation in one- and 5-year living-donor graft survival rates were due to the variation across 234 transplant centers. Center effect dominated other factors in influencing early outcomes among living kidney donor transplants. A program’s size was associated with this center effect since all large centers (400+ living donor kidneys) had better-than-average one-year graft survival rates, whereas smaller centers (< or = 100 grafts) had wide ranges in short-term outcomes (87-100%). Center size did not play a role in explaining long-term variation, and the extent to which uniformity in care remains the responsibility of the original center needs to be investigated. 3. PRETRANSPLANT FACTOR EFFECTS: The impact of the 19 pretransplant cofactors on short-term outcomes among living donor transplants was clinically small—adjusted one-year graft survival rates across all categories exceeded 94%. However, their long-term effects were stronger and more typical of cadaveric results. The following 4 factors, each explaining > 10% of the assignable variation in conditional 5-year graft survival, were ranked and independently yielded poor results: 1) kidneys from parental donors; 2) grafts in male recipients; 3) teenage/adult recipients (> 12 years); and 4) black recipients. Recipient’s original disease and body mass index, donor’s race and age, and HLA matching were highly significant factors, but their impact on long-term graft survival was less than those observed previously in cadaveric renal transplants. 4. POSTTRANSPLANT FACTOR EFFECTS: Short- and long-term outcomes were relatively stable regardless of the maintenance drug initiated at hospital discharge. Living donor transplant outcomes were similar for Neoral versus Tacrolimus and for MMF versus azathioprine. Kidney graft survival among living donor transplants was strongly affected by delays in graft function or acute rejection episodes. 5. CONCLUSIONS: During the first year posttransplant, the benefits of receiving a living donor kidney (versus a cadaver kidney) mitigate negative cofactor risks of graft failure. Beyond one-year, recipients of living donor kidneys are subjected to the same deleterious effects from cofactors and early posttransplant events that impact the long-term graft survival following cadaveric transplantation.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[197]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Vitamins and immunocompetence.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Bibl Nutr Dieta 2001;(55):200-5.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Blumberg JB; Hughes DA

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Mass., USA. Blumberg@bnrc.tufts.edu  N. Ref:: 24

 

----------------------------------------------------

[198]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Photoimmune suppression and photocarcinogenesis.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Front Biosci 2002 Mar 1;7:d684-703.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Ullrich SE

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Department of Immunology, The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030-4009, USA. sullrich@mdanderson.org

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - The primary cause of non-melanoma skin cancer, the most prevalent form of human neoplasia, is the ultraviolet (UV) radiation found in sunlight. Exposing mice to UV radiation induces skin cancers that are highly antigenic. Upon transfer of an UV-induced skin cancer to a normal syngeneic mouse, the tumor cells are recognized and rapidly destroyed by the immune system of the recipient. This raises the question of how these cancers avoided immune destruction during their development in the UV-irradiated host. This question was answered when it was discovered that in addition to being carcinogenic, UV radiation was also immunosuppressive. Studies with immune suppressed transplantation recipients, and biopsy proven skin cancer patients have confirmed that UV-induced immune suppression is a risk factor for skin cancer development in humans. It is of great importance, therefore, to understand the mechanisms underlying UV-induced immune suppression. The focus of this manuscript will be to use some examples from the more recent scientific literature to review the mechanisms by which UV radiation suppresses the immune response and allows for the progressive outgrowth of antigenic skin tumors.  N. Ref:: 160

 

----------------------------------------------------

[199]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Crossmatch tests—an analysis of UNOS data from 1991-2000.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Clin Transpl 2001;:237-46.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Cho YW; Cecka JM

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - Based on more than 20,000 cadaver donor transplants reported to UNOS between 1991-2000 with crossmatch results, the following observations were made: 1. One-hundred sixty-nine transplants performed despite a positive T-cell NIH crossmatch (usually with an historical serum sample) were reported to UNOS and had 5%, 6%, 7%, and 11% lower graft survival at one, 6, 12, and 24 months after transplantation compared with negative crossmatch transplants, respectively. 2. Transplants with a positive T-cell FCXM (n = 714) yielded 4%, 7%, and 9% lower graft survival at one, 6, and 12 months after transplantation compared with negative crossmatch transplants, respectively. 3. Transplants with a positive B-cell crossmatch using NIH, Wash, AHG or flow cytometry XM yielded statistically significantly lower (4-6%) graft survival rates compared with B-cell negative crossmatch transplants. 4. The differences in graft survival rates comparing recipients with a positive versus a negative T-cell crossmatch test (NIH, AHG, and FCXM) were significant in univariate analyses; however, only the NIH and FCXM showed a significant effect on graft survival after adjustment of other factors in a multivariate analysis. 5. Regrafted patients with a positive T- and B-cell FCXM experienced a higher incidence of primary nonfunction (12%) compared with those who had a negative T- and B-cell FCXM (1%; P < 0.001). Flow cytometric or ELISA screening of patient sera in addition to conventional cytotoxic crossmatch tests can provide additional information to aid in the final decision of renal transplantation.

 

----------------------------------------------------

[200]

TÍTULO / TITLE:  - Sensitization 2001.

REVISTA / JOURNAL:  - Clin Transpl 2001;:271-8.

AUTORES / AUTHORS:  - Hardy S; Lee SH; Terasaki PI

INSTITUCIÓN / INSTITUTION:  - Terasaki Foundation Laboratory, Los Angeles, California, USA.

RESUMEN / SUMMARY:  - 1. The rate of transfusion decreased from 64% in 1992 to 36% in 2000. This need for transfusions continued despite the introduction of erythropoetin. Females were transfused more frequently than males. SLE patients were transfused more often than those with other diseases. 2. Transfusions no longer had a beneficial effect on the outcome of transplantation, but rather with more transfusions, the graft outcome became lower, as might be expected. 3. Rejection of a kidney transplant had the strongest effect on sensitization, followed by transfusion and then pregnancies. Females were more susceptible to sensitization than males. Although non-transfused males should not have been sensitized, as many as 13% were reported to have antibodies. As many as 20% of nulliparous females without transfusions also were reported to have antibodies. 4. SLE patients were most often sensitized among patients with various diseases. Females of all diseases were more sensitized than males. 5. Unsensitized regraft patients had a 3% lower 3-year graft survival than unsensitized first graft patients. Among sensitized patients, regraft patients had a 4% lower graft survival than sensitized first graft patients. 6. Patients with polycystic kidney disease had the highest 3-year graft survival in both the sensitized and non-sensitized patients. Sensitization to a PRA level of less than 50% was not detrimental to patients with all the various diseases. 7. For cadaver donor regraft patients, HLA-DR mismatch had a greater effect than AB mismatch. There was a 10 percentage point lower 3-year graft survival in cadaver donor regraft patients mismatched for 2 DR antigens than mismatched for 0 DR antigens. 8. For living donor transplants, regrafts from 0 AB or 0 DR mismatched transplants had the same graft survival as first transplants.

 

----------------------------------------------------