Repairing and recovering broken peritoneal catheters.

Breakage of peritoneal catheters is an emergency of the technique that is uncommon but which requires immediate action when there is leakage of the dialysate and risk of infection. Early and adequate intervention can save broken catheters without interrupting peritoneal dialysis. We report our experience repairing damaged catheters using the Quinton® Peri-Patch repair kit (Quinton Instrument Co.

KIR gene variability in cutaneous malignant melanoma: influence of KIR2D/HLA-C pairings on disease susceptibility and prognosis.

Natural killer and CD8(+) T cells are believed to be involved in the immune protection against melanoma. Their function may be regulated by a group of receptors defined as killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and their cognate HLA class I ligands. In this study, we analyzed the influence of KIR genes and KIR/HLA-I combinations on melanoma susceptibility and/or prognosis in a Spanish Caucasian population.

Post-transplant increase in soluble human leukocyte antigen-G associated with non-severe cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is the single most important long-term limitation to heart transplantation. This study aimed to assess the value of monitoring soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA-G) during the first year post-transplantation to predict the severity of CAV, in 21 out of 77 heart recipients assessed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Serum sHLA-G concentration increased after transplant in recipients free of severe CAV, but decreased in recipients suffering from severe CAV, significant differences between these two groups were found 6 to 12 months post-transplantation.

Assessment of health-related quality of life: the cinderella of peritoneal dialysis?

The studies of quality of life (QoL) are becoming increasingly interesting in clinical setting because their findings have implications for making decisions on resource allocation and health policies. The assessment of health-related QoL is especially directed to patients with chronic illnesses that cause progressive deterioration and limitations, and consume the bulk of financial resources for health. Among these chronic kidney disease and, more specifically the renal replacement therapy, is an important condition.

CD28 and KIR2D receptors as sensors of the immune status in heart and liver transplantation.

Viral infections and cellular acute rejection (AR) condition immunosuppressive therapy and compromise the evolution of allografts. Immune monitoring can be useful for ascertaining rejection and for differentiating allo-reaction from activation induced by infections. This work analyzes the usefulness of monitoring the expression of CD28 and KIR2D receptors in peripheral blood T lymphocytes by flow cytometry, to ascertain the immune response in heart and liver transplant recipients.

Divergences in KIR2D+ natural killer and KIR2D+CD8+ T-cell reconstitution following liver transplantation.

Natural killer (NK) and CD8(+) T cells may be active elements in the allograft response, but little is known about their role in liver transplantation. Some of these cells express killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), which after binding specific ligands may transmit inhibitory/activating signals. In this study, circulating NK and CD8(+) T cells expressing CD158a/h (KIR2DL1/S1) or CD158b/j (KIR2DL2/3/S(2)) receptors were analyzed in 142 liver recipients by flow cytometry.

Expression of HLA molecules on peripheral blood lymphocytes: a useful monitoring parameter in cardiac transplantation.

During the rejection process of cardiac allografts, the expression of HLA antigens increases on various graft tissues, ie, the myocardium and the interstitial structures. However, in this type of transplant there is a paucity of knowledge about HLA expression on recipient cells, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In the present study expression of HLA class I and class II antigens was monitored on peripheral blood lymphocytes prior to and during a 12-month follow-up, using flow cytometry.

Post-transplant soluble MICA and MICA antibodies predict subsequent heart graft outcome.

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the role of MICA in heart graft acceptance. Pre- and post-transplant sera from 31 patients were evaluated for MICA antibodies by cytotoxicity on recombinant cell lines and soluble MICA (sMICA) concentrations by ELISA. The results demonstrated that the patients with post-transplant anti-MICA antibodies were at a high risk for the development of severe acute rejection (AR) (p<0.