Noninvasive Diagnosis of Acute Rejection in Renal Transplant Patients Using Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Urine Samples: A Multicenter Diagnostic Phase III Trial.

Unlabelled: Timely recognition and treatment of acute kidney graft rejection is important to prevent premature graft failure. A predefined urinary marker set for acute T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) containing 14 peptides was tested for this purpose in a multicenter in-place validation study.

Methods: Three hundred twenty-nine prospectively collected and 306 archived urine samples from 11 transplant centers in Germany, France, and Belgium were examined.

GG DSM 33156 effects on pathogen defence in the upper respiratory tract: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled paediatric trial.

Acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are caused by numerous viruses and bacteria. URTIs can be a cause of morbidity and are among the most common reasons for visiting healthcare practitioners and prescribing antibiotics to children in addition to causing absenteeism from school and work. Oral intake of GG DSM 33156 has shown beneficial health effects in several clinical trials, primarily relating to immune function and gastrointestinal health in children and adults.

Early conversion to a CNI-free immunosuppression with SRL after renal transplantation-Long-term follow-up of a multicenter trial.

Introduction: Early conversion to a CNI-free immunosuppression with SRL was associated with an improved 1- and 3- yr renal function as compared with a CsA-based regimen in the SMART-Trial. Mixed results were reported on the occurrence of donor specific antibodies under mTOR-Is. Here, we present long-term results of the SMART-Trial.

Preformed Donor-Specific HLA Antibodies in Living and Deceased Donor Transplantation: A Multicenter Study.

Background And Objectives: The prognostic value of preformed donor-specific HLA antibodies (DSA), which are only detectable by sensitive methods, remains controversial for kidney transplantation.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: The outcome of 4233 consecutive kidney transplants performed between 2012 and 2015 in 18 German transplant centers was evaluated. Most centers used a stepwise pretransplant antibody screening with bead array tests and differentiation of positive samples by single antigen assays.

Local dynamics in supramolecular polymer networks probed by magnetic particle nanorheology.

Transient supramolecular polymer networks are promising candidates as soft self-healing or stimuli-sensitive materials. In this paper, we employ a novel nanorheological approach, magnetic particle nanorheology (MPN), in order to better understand the local dynamic properties of model supramolecular networks from a molecular point of view. Hence, the bond strength between four-arm star-shaped polyethylene glycol (PEG) functionalized at the four extremities with terpyridine ligands is tuned by implementing different metal ions with variable complexation affinities for the ligand.

Case report: de novo ANCA-associated vasculitis after kidney transplantation treated with rituximab and plasma exchange.

Background: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis causes end-stage renal failure in up to a third of cases even with treatment. The disease recurs occasionally after kidney transplantation, but new onset of ANCA-associated vasculitis after transplantation is highly unusual. The use of rituximab or plasmapheresis for de novo disease after transplantation has not previously been reported.

Surgical complications and cardiovascular comorbidity - Substantial non-immunological confounders of survival after living donor kidney transplantation.

Background: Surgical complications following kidney transplantation compromise immediate graft survival. However, the role of early surgical complications in the impairment of long-term survival is not completely established due to various other influences, such as patient comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to characterize the impact of surgical complications and overlapping patient comorbidities on graft function and survival after living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT).

Effects of mTOR-Is on malignancy and survival following renal transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials with a minimum follow-up of 24 months.

Background: mTOR-Is positively influence the occurrence and course of certain tumors after solid organ transplantation. The effect of mTOR-Is on the overall incidence of tumors irrespective of their origin is not entirely clear. Furthermore, conflicting data have been shown on mortality under mTOR-Is.

Vascular rejection in renal transplant: Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) compared to biopsy.

Background: Despite of the more potent immunosuppressive medication, vascular rejection is still a major issue after renal transplantation. Renal biopsy is the gold standard diagnostic to evaluate acute and chronic allograft rejection. As it is an invasive diagnostic there is the risk of complications like haematoma, arteriovenous fistulas, active bleeding or infection.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a new technique to characterize suspected renal transplant malignancies in renal transplant patients in comparison to standard imaging modalities.

Background: Renal transplant patients have a higher risk for malignancies of the renal transplant. In most cases suspected renal malignancies will be detected during the regular ultrasound follow-up and will require cross-sectional imaging to rule out a malignant aetiology. But it is well known that contrast agents for computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging are critical in patients with limited renal function.

Renal volume assessed by magnetic resonance imaging volumetry correlates with renal function in living kidney donors pre- and postdonation: a retrospective cohort study.

Renal function of potential living kidney donors is routinely assessed with scintigraphy. Kidney anatomy is evaluated by imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We evaluated if a MRI-based renal volumetry is a good predictor of kidney function pre- and postdonation.

Dynamic CTA in Native Kidneys Using a Multiphase CT Protocol-Potential of Significant Reduction of Contrast Medium.

Rationale And Objective: The objective of this study was to assess an optimized renal multiphase computed tomography angiography (MP-CTA) protocol regarding reduction of contrast volume.

Materials And Methods: Thirty patients underwent MP-CTA (12 phases, every 3.5 seconds, 80 kV/120 mAs) using 30 mL of contrast medium.

Clinical validation of a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay-based in vitro diagnostic assay to monitor cytomegalovirus-specific cell-mediated immunity in kidney transplant recipients: a multicenter, longitudinal, prospective, observational study.

Impaired cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMV-CMI) is a major cause of CMV reactivation and associated complications in solid-organ transplantation. Reliably assessing CMV-CMI is desirable to individually adjust antiviral and immunosuppressive therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of T-Track CMV, a novel IFN-γ ELISpot assay based on the stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with pp65 and IE-I CMV proteins, to monitor CMV-CMI following kidney transplantation.

The diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a new technique for imaging of vascular complications in renal transplants compared to standard imaging modalities.

Background: Vascular complications in renal transplant patients are a well-known issue in post transplant patient care. If malfunctioning of the renal transplant is suspected to be caused by vascular complications an early diagnosis and therapy is required to maintain the renal transplant. Computed tomography (CT), digital substraction angiography (DSA) and radioisotope renography are the gold standard imaging modalities to diagnose vascular complications.

Antibody response to HBV vaccination on dialysis does not correlate with the development of deNovo anti-HLA antibodies after renal transplantation.

Background: Response to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination can be diminished in some (50-80%) but not all dialysis patients. We hypothesized, that the response to vaccination on dialysis may correlate with the development of anti-HLA antibodies after renal transplantation and might therefore be a valuable parameter to predict alloresponses.

Methods: The response to HBV vaccination on dialysis and the development of deNovo anti-HLA antibodies post-transplant was analyzed in 188 non-immunized renal transplant recipients.

Sodium storage in human tissues is mediated by glycosaminoglycan expression.

The current paradigm regarding sodium handling in animals and humans postulates that total body sodium is regulated predominately via regulation of extracellular volume. Active sodium storage independent of volume retention is thought to be negligible. However, studies in animals, hypertensive patients, and healthy humans suggest water-free storage of sodium in skin.

Unacceptable human leucocyte antigens for organ offers in the era of organ shortage: influence on waiting time before kidney transplantation.

Background: The assignment of human leucocyte antigens (HLAs) against which antibodies are detected as unacceptable antigens (UAGs) avoids allocation of HLA- incompatible allografts. There is uncertainty as to what extent UAGs decrease the probability of receiving a kidney offer.

Methods: Kidney transplantations in 3264 patients on the waiting lists of six German transplant centres were evaluated for a period of at least 2 years.

Effects of Dopamine Donor Pretreatment on Graft Survival after Kidney Transplantation: A Randomized Trial.

Background And Objectives: Donor dopamine improves initial graft function after kidney transplantation due to antioxidant properties. We investigated if a 4 g/kg per minute continuous dopamine infusion administered after brain-death confirmation affects long-term graft survival and examined the exposure-response relationship with treatment duration.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Five-year follow-up of 487 renal transplant patients from 60 European centers who had participated in the randomized, multicenter trial of dopamine donor pretreatment between 2004 and 2007 (ClinicalTrials.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation first-in-man study (phase 0) to assess the safety and efficacy of topical cytosolic phospholipase A2 inhibitor, AVX001, in patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis.

Background: Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2α) is an enzyme suggested as a therapeutic target in inflammatory skin diseases. AVX001, a cPLA2α inhibitor, was investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-design, first-in-man study in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.

Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate cutaneous safety and tolerability of AVX001 in doses from 0.

De novo donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies after kidney transplantation are associated with impaired graft outcome independently of their C1q-binding ability.

Many aspects of post-transplant monitoring of donor-specific (DSA) and non-donor-specific (nDSA) anti-HLA antibodies on renal allograft survival are still unclear. Differentiating them by their ability to bind C1q may offer a better risk assessment. We retrospectively investigated the clinical relevance of de novo C1q-binding anti-HLA antibodies on graft outcome in 611 renal transplant recipients.

Real-life efficacy of pregabalin for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in daily clinical practice in Denmark: the NEP-TUNE study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to provide evidence regarding the real-life efficacy of pregabalin in the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain (NeP) in Denmark.

Methods: In this prospective, observational, noninterventional study, pregabalin (Lyrica(®)) was prescribed following usual clinical practice. Compared with baseline, the primary study end points after 3 months of observation were changes in 1) the average level of pain during the past week, 2) the worst level of pain during the past week, and 3) the least level of pain during the past week.

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography: A New Diagnostic Tool to Assess Renal Perfusion After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Mice: Correlation of Perfusion Deficit to Histopathologic Damage.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) in the assessment of renal perfusion parameters after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in an experimental murine model.

Materials And Methods: Balb/cJ wildtype mice were subjected to 45 minutes (AKI45) or 60 minutes (AKI60) of unilateral warm I/R injury by clamping the pedicle of the right kidney. Two, 7, and 18 days after right I/R injury, renal blood flow (RBF), renal volume of distribution (RVD), and mean transit time were quantitatively assessed in the cortex of both kidneys by dynamic contrast-enhanced CT.

Outcome after Desensitization in HLA or ABO-Incompatible Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Experience.

Background: The shortage of deceased donors led to an increase of living donor kidney (LDK) transplantations performed in the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) or ABO incompatibility (ABOi) using various desensitization protocols.

Methods: We herein analyzed 26 ABOi and 8 Luminex positive DSA patients who were successfully desensitized by anti-CD20, antigen-specific immunoadsorption and/or plasmapheresis to receive an LDK transplant. Twenty LDK recipients with non-donor-specific HLA-antibodies (low risk) and 32 without anti-HLA antibodies (no risk) served as control groups.

Solid Organ Transplantation in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD): Analysis of Transplantation Outcome and IBD Activity in a Large Single Center Cohort.

Background: Currently, limited data of the outcome of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients after solid organ transplantation (SOT) are available. We aimed to analyze effects of SOT on the IBD course in a large IBD patient cohort.

Methods: Clinical data from 1537 IBD patients were analyzed for patients who underwent SOT (n = 31) between July 2002 and May 2014.