Biomechanical analysis of four augmented fixations of plate osteosynthesis for comminuted mid-shaft clavicle fracture: A finite element approach.

Sufficient stabilization of comminuted mid-shaft clavicle fractures via plate fixation is difficult to achieve. Various augmentations, including interfragmentary screws and cerclage wiring, have been adopted to reinforce fixation stability. The present study aimed to assess the biomechanical stability of augmented plate fixations using the finite element method.

Filgrastim-Induced Crescentic Transformation of Recurrent IgG2λ GN.

Proliferative GN with monoclonal IgG deposits is an increasingly recognized form of GN, but its relation to hematologic malignancy remains poorly understood. Filgrastim, an analog for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor produced by recombinant DNA technology, is frequently used to stimulate bone marrow release of hematopoietic progenitor cells in preparation for stem cell transplant. We report an exceptional case of proliferative GN with monoclonal IgG2λ deposits in a young man whose disease progressed slowly to CKD, which was followed by a preemptive kidney transplant.

Evidence to Support a Contribution of Polyreactive Antibodies to HLA Serum Reactivity.

Background: Assessing the serum reactivity to HLA is essential for the evaluation of transplant candidates and the follow-up of allograft recipients. In this study, we look for evidence at the clonal level that polyreactive antibodies cross-reactive to apoptotic cells and multiple autoantigens can also react to HLA and contribute to the overall serum reactivity.

Methods: We immortalized B cell clones from the blood of 2 kidney transplant recipients and characterized their reactivity to self-antigens, apoptotic cells as well as native, denatured, and cryptic HLA determinants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and Luminex assays.

Functional restoration and risk of non-union of the first metatarsocuneiform arthrodesis for hallux valgus: A finite element approach.

First metatarsocuneiform arthrodesis is one of the surgical interventions to correct hallux valgus, especially those with hypermobile first ray. There is lacking of biomechanical investigations to assess this operation. The objective of this study was to explore the functional restoration and the risk of non-union after the surgery via finite element analysis.

Tracking donor-reactive T cells: Evidence for clonal deletion in tolerant kidney transplant patients.

T cell responses to allogeneic major histocompatibility complex antigens present a formidable barrier to organ transplantation, necessitating long-term immunosuppression to minimize rejection. Chronic rejection and drug-induced morbidities are major limitations that could be overcome by allograft tolerance induction. Tolerance was first intentionally induced in humans via combined kidney and bone marrow transplantation (CKBMT), but the mechanisms of tolerance in these patients are incompletely understood.

Expansion and somatic hypermutation of B-cell clones in rejected human kidney grafts.

Background: B-cell infiltrates are common in rejected kidney allografts, yet their composition is still unclear. The aim of our study was to characterize the clonal composition of B-cell infiltrates of rejected human kidney grafts.

Methods: We used a molecular approach to characterize the partial B-cell repertoires of 5 failed human kidney grafts with detectable B-cell infiltrates.

Stent-assisted coil embolization of an intraparenchymal renal artery aneurysm in a patient with neurofibromatosis.

True renal artery aneurysms are rare. They are generally asymptomatic, however, a few may present with hypertension, rupture, or renal dysfunction secondary to distal embolization. Indications for intervention include aneurysm of ≥ 2.

Chronic humoral rejection of human kidney allografts associates with broad autoantibody responses.

Background: Chronic humoral rejection (CHR) is a major complication after kidney transplantation. The cause of CHR is currently unknown. Autoantibodies have often been reported in kidney transplant recipients alongside antidonor human leukocyte antigen antibodies.

Bortezomib in kidney transplant recipients with antibody mediated rejection: three case reports.

Here, we report our experience on three patients with AMR who were treated with bortezomib after other therapeutic interventions had failed. Bortezomib was well tolerated by two of the three patients. The third patient developed worsening thrombocytopenia following the second dose.

HLA-mismatched renal transplantation without maintenance immunosuppression.

Five patients with end-stage renal disease received combined bone marrow and kidney transplants from HLA single-haplotype mismatched living related donors, with the use of a nonmyeloablative preparative regimen. Transient chimerism and reversible capillary leak syndrome developed in all recipients. Irreversible humoral rejection occurred in one patient.

Massachusetts General Hospital participation in Operation Unified Assistance for tsunami relief in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

When Project HOPE invited Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) to participate in a tsunami relief mission aboard the USNS Mercy hospital ship in January 2005, MGH responded swiftly and enthusiastically. Overcoming differences in medical styles and standards, as well as a variety of cultural and institutional differences, MGH volunteers collaborated successfully with Navy personnel and volunteers from other hospitals to deliver excellent care to a large number of tsunami victims. Lessons were learned regarding the need for better initial team orientation, more-open communication, and more-transparent decision-making; still, a rapid response of tertiary medicine, joining public and private resources, proved to be a powerful effective model.

2005 immunosuppressive strategies in kidney transplantation: which role for the calcineurin inhibitors?

The calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) cyclosporine and tacrolimus have been the cornerstones of immunosuppressive strategies in clinical transplantation. Currently, regimens that are most widely used for induction and maintenance therapy include CNIs. However, many clinical trials aiming at reducing or eliminating CNIs have been performed in recent years.

Prevalence and significance of anti-HLA and donor-specific antibodies long-term after renal transplantation.

Post-transplant circulating anti-human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-antibodies and C4d in allograft biopsies may be important in chronic rejection in renal transplant recipients (RTR). We determined the prevalence and significance of anti-HLA-antibodies and donor-specific antibodies (DSA). Sera were collected from 251 RTR >6 months post-transplant.

Interferon-alpha therapy in liver transplant recipients: lack of association with increased production of anti-HLA antibodies.

Interferon-alpha (IFN) is a useful treatment for active HCV infection. In kidney transplantation, IFN has been shown to trigger acute rejection with de novo anti-HLA antibodies. Interferon-alpha has not been reported to enhance the risk of acute rejection in HCV-positive liver transplant recipients (LTRs).

Vasopeptidase inhibition affords greater renoprotection than angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition alone.

The renoprotective efficacy of the vasopeptidase inhibitor omapatrilat (OMA) was compared with that of enalapril (ENA) in male Munich-Wistar rats subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy. ENA and OMA administered beginning on day 2 after surgery were equally effective in normalizing systolic BP (SBP) and preventing glomerulosclerosis (GS) for 12 wk. Micropuncture studies of rats performed using a similar treatment protocol demonstrated greater reduction of glomerular capillary hydraulic pressure with OMA than with ENA, at similar mean arterial pressures.