Predictive Hypoxemic Threshold for Tolerating the Apnea Test While Assessing Death by Neurological Criteria.

Background: The apnea test (AT) plays a vital role in diagnosing brain death by evaluating the absence of spontaneous respiratory activity. It entails disconnecting the patient from mechanical ventilation to raise the CO partial pressure and lower the pH. Occasionally, the AT is aborted because of safety concerns, such as hypoxemia and hemodynamic instability, to prevent worsening conditions.

A Patient-Centered Approach to Communication during Endoscopic Procedures: The Importance of Providing Information to Patients.

The study aimed to explore patients' experiences and perceptions throughout the various stages of endoscopic procedures and examine the association between patient-centered communication and the patient's experience. A total of 191 patients responded to pre- and post-procedure surveys that inquired about fear and pain, patients' satisfaction regarding the information provided to them, perceptions and experience. Pain was associated with post-procedure fear (r = 0.

Digitally managed larviciding as a cost-effective intervention for urban malaria: operational lessons from a pilot in São Tomé and Príncipe guided by the Zzapp system.

Background: Once a mainstay of malaria elimination operations, larval source management (LSM)-namely, the treatment of mosquito breeding habitats-has been marginalized in Africa in favour of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). However, the development of new technologies, and mosquitoes' growing resistance to insecticides used in LLINs and IRS raise renewed interest in LSM.

Methods: A digitally managed larviciding (DML) operation in three of the seven districts of São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) was launched by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and ZzappMalaria LTD.

Impact of tozinameran (BNT162b2) mRNA vaccine on kidney transplant and chronic dialysis patients: 3-5 months follow-up.

Background: Determining the humoral immunogenicity of tozinameran (BNT162b2) in patients requiring chronic renal replacement therapy, and its impact on COVID-19 morbidity several months after vaccination, may guide risk assessment and changes in vaccination policy.

Methods: In a prospective post-vaccination cohort study with up to 5 months follow-up we studied outpatient dialysis and kidney transplant patients and respective healthcare teams. Outcomes were anti S1/S2 antibody responses to vaccine or infection, and infection rate during follow-up.

The Effect of a 26-Hour Fast in Living Kidney Donors.

Background: Living kidney donation is widely practiced, and short- and long-term outcomes are acceptable. Within the living kidney donor population there are unique ethnic groups who practice customs that affect kidney function. In Judaism, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is a 25- to 26-hour fast practiced yearly.

A Retrospective Analysis of the Safety and Activity of Lutetium-177-Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Radionuclide Treatment in Older Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer is a common malignancy of the elderly, and with the aging of the population, the need is growing for therapies suitable for this age group. Lutetium-177-prostate-specific membrane antigen (Lu-PSMA), a radiolabeled small molecule, binds with high affinity to prostate-specific membrane antigen, enabling beta particle therapy targeted to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In a recent single-arm phase II trial and a subsequent expansion cohort, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline of ≥50% was observed in approximately 60% of patients receiving Lu-PSMA.

Clinical Variables Associated with PSA Response to Lutetium-177-PSMA ([177Lu]-PSMA-617) Radionuclide Treatment in Men with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Lutetium-177-PSMA ([177Lu]-PSMA-617), a radiolabeled small molecule, binds with high affinity to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), enabling targeted radiation therapy to metastatic prostate lesions. Our objective was to retrospectively analyze the activity of [177Lu]-PSMA-617 given off-trial to men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and identify clinical factors associated with PSA response. Electronic medical records of all men treated with [177Lu]-PSMA-617 were reviewed and analyzed.

Ambulatory monitoring unmasks hypertension among kidney transplant patients: single center experience and review of the literature.

Background: Disagreements between clinic and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurements are well-described in the general population. Though hypertension is frequent in renal transplant recipients, only a few studies address the clinic-ambulatory discordance in this population. We aimed to describe the difference between clinic and ambulatory BP in kidney transplant patients at our institution.

A review of associated controversies surrounding glucocorticoid use in veterinary emergency and critical care.

Objective: To review the literature in human and veterinary medicine regarding the indications for, efficacy of, and controversies surrounding glucocorticoid (GC) administration in the emergency and critical care (ECC) setting, and to provide an overview of the most commonly used synthetic GC formulations.

Medications: Synthetic GCs vary in GC and mineralocorticoid potency, hypothalamic pituitary axis suppression, duration of action, route of administration, and clinical indication for use. Some of the GC compounds commonly used in human and veterinary ECC include hydrocortisone, prednisone, methylprednisolone, and dexamethasone.

Implementation of guidelines for metabolic syndrome control in kidney transplant recipients: results at a single center.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death among kidney transplant recipients. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for cardiovascular events and decreases graft survival. Lately, guidelines for management of the metabolic syndrome, primarily hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypercholesterolemia have dramatically changed in an attempt to decrease cardiovascular risks among kidney transplant recipients.

Serum vitamin D levels in kidney transplant recipients: the importance of an immunosuppression regimen and sun exposure.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency was shown to be prevalent among renal transplant recipients in northern countries, but little is known regarding risk factors.

Objectives: To test vitamin D levels in kidney transplant recipients residing closer to the equator, compare them to levels in liver transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients, and identify possible risk factors.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study 103 kidney transplant recipients, 27 liver transplant recipients and 50 hemodialysis patients followed at our institute were tested for vitamin D levels.

Association between low admission Norton scale scores and postoperative complications after elective THA in elderly patients.

The Norton scoring system is used by nurses to evaluate pressure ulcer risk. The authors have previously shown that low admission Norton scale scores (ANSS) are associated with postoperative complications other than pressure ulcers following hip fracture and spine fracture surgery in elderly patients. The purpose of this retrospective, cross-sectional study study was to determine whether low ANSS are associated with postoperative complications other than pressure ulcers following elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) in elderly patients.

AtEHDs, novel Arabidopsis EH-domain-containing proteins involved in endocytosis.

Endocytosis is an essential process by which the eukaryotic cell internalizes exogenous material. Studies in yeast and mammalian cells have revealed that endocytosis is a complex molecular process depending on regulated interactions between a variety of proteins and lipids through specific modules. One such module is the Eps15 homology (EH) domain, a conserved modular protein-interaction domain found in several endocytic proteins.

Image denoising via sparse and redundant representations over learned dictionaries.

We address the image denoising problem, where zero-mean white and homogeneous Gaussian additive noise is to be removed from a given image. The approach taken is based on sparse and redundant representations over trained dictionaries. Using the K-SVD algorithm, we obtain a dictionary that describes the image content effectively.

Involvement of proteases in the action of IFN-gamma on WISH cells.

This study investigates the possible involvement of serine proteases in interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) activity on WISH cells. It was observed that inhibition of (3)H-thymidine incorporation induced by IFN-gamma was abrogated by the serine protease inhibitors Nalpha-tosyl-L-lysyl-chloromethane and soybean trypsin inhibitor, both of which act mainly on trypsin. Phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride also had a partial inhibitory effect.

TPK inhibitors differentially affect IFN-gamma activities.

The effect of various tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors on processes involved in the antiproliferative effect of interferon-gamma on WISH cells was studied. Following 24 hr treatment interferon-gamma inhibited thymidine incorporation into DNA and thymidine kinase activity, but no significant effect on cell number was observed. The isoflavonoid, genistein, which is a specific inhibitor of tyrosine protein kinase, reversed the inhibition in thymidine incorporation caused by the cytokine in a dose dependent manner.

Synergistic effect of interferon-gamma and phorbol myristate acetate on superoxide production by human monocytes.

This study demonstrates a synergistic effect of IFN gamma and PMA on superoxide generation by human monocytes. A strict correlation was observed between the induction of superoxide production and PK-C activation by PMA alone. No such correlation was evident for IFN gamma.

Evaluation of a new polyacrolein microsphere (acrobead) protein A column: an in vitro study using the blood of patients with immune thrombocytopenia or malignancies.

The present study describes the use of a new polyacrolein microsphere (acrobead) protein A column. This method enables immunomodulation by the perfusion of whole blood. The efficacy of the column and its adverse effects following perfusion of blood of patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) or malignancies were investigated.

A novel agarose acrobeads protein A column for selective immunoadsorbance of whole blood: performance, specificity and safety.

The present study describes the performance and safety parameters of a novel column composed of protein A linked to acrobeads. Hemoperfusion of anticoagulated whole human blood was carried out in a closed system. Specific adsorption of IgG was documented in whole blood, plasma and IgG diluted in saline.

Plasma antithrombin III levels in pre-eclampsia and chronic hypertension.

Plasma levels of antithrombin III were tested during pregnancy in a control group of normal patients and in a study group that included patients with moderate and severe pre-eclampsia and chronic hypertension. The control group showed mean antithrombin III activity of 97.9 +/- 20.

Plasma and urine beta-thromboglobulin in severe preeclampsia.

Beta-thromboglobulin (BTG) has been shown to be a specific platelet protein and can be used as a marker of platelet activation in preeclampsia. Concomitant studies of BTG levels in plasma and urine were performed with eight primiparous severe preeclamptic patients and eight normal primiparous women matched for age. The mean plasma BTG in the severe preeclamptic patients was 186.

Beta-thromboglobulin in pre-eclampsia.

Beta-thromboglobulin was tested in blood and urine in a study group of pre-eclamptic patients. The control group comprised a subgroup of normal non-pregnant women and a second subgroup of normal pregnant women. The results of the plasma beta-thromboglobulin blood test revealed no significant difference between the groups, whereas the urine of the pre-eclamptic group showed a significantly increased concentration of beta-thromboglobulin.

Impairment of platelet aggregation by Echis colorata venom mediated by L-amino acid oxidase or H2O2.

Echis colorata bites cause impairment of platelet aggregation and hemostatic disorders. The mechanism by which the snake venom inhibits platelet aggregation was studied. Upon fractionation, aggregation impairment activity and L-amino acid oxidase activity were similarly separated from the crude venom, unlike other venom enzymes.