Virtual reality and augmented reality applications and simulation in vascular access management with three-dimensional visualization.

Obtaining adequate and precise anatomical information is mandatory to prevent vascular access-related complications in dialysis patients. For this purpose, we underwent Doppler ultrasound, vascular access angiogram, and plain computer-assisted tomography scan of the arm with vascular access. With the use of computer graphics software, the anatomical structure of the vascular access can be visualized three dimensionally which is shared among the staffs for precise and better recognition.

Prophylactic treatment of antibody-mediated rejection with high-dose mizoribine and pharmacokinetic study.

Although mizoribine (MZ), which inhibits inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase in the same way as mycophenolate mofetil, recently proved more effective when higher doses were administered than previously approved, neither the optimal dosage nor blood concentration has yet been clarified. We aimed at investigating the effect of high-doses of MZ on prevention of anti-donor antibody (Ab) production and acute Ab-mediated rejection (AMR) on the basis of the pharmacokinetic profile in a pig kidney transplantation model. Group 1 (n = 5) received cyclosporin microemulsion (6 mg/kg) and prednisolone (0.

Potential value of high-dose mizoribine as rescue therapy for ongoing acute humoral rejection.

Mizoribine (MZ) inhibits the proliferation of lymphocytes selectively via inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, like mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). The clinical dosage of MZ (2-5 mg/kg) is much lower than that of MMF (20-60 mg/kg). The purpose of this study was to examine whether high-dose MZ would be effective for treatment of acute humoral rejection.

Are N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Hanganutziu-Deicher) antigens important in pig-to-human xenotransplantation?

Background: N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) epitopes, so called Hanganutziu-Deicher (HD) antigens, which are widely expressed on endothelial cells of all mammals except humans, are considered to be potential targets for natural and elicited anti-nonGalalpha1-3 Gal (Gal) antibodies in humans. We previously reported that anti-NeuGc antibodies were not detected in healthy humans by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using NeuGc-GM3-coated plates, and no antibody production was observed in patients with a history of exposure to pig cells. However, a recent paper has revealed that (i) anti-NeuGc antibodies to porcine red blood cells (PRBC) are detectable in most healthy humans, and (ii) the majority of anti-nonGal antibodies are specific for NeuGc epitopes.

Amlodipine, but not MDR1 polymorphisms, alters the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine A in Japanese kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a critical immunosuppressive drug with a narrow therapeutic range and wide interindividual variation in its pharmacokinetics. Many factors, including P-glycoprotein (PGP), influence the oral bioavailability and interpatient variability of CsA. A number of polymorphisms have been identified in the human MDR1 gene, and some of them have been found to be associated with an altered expression of PGP.

Reduction of alpha-galactosyl xenoantigen by expression of endo-beta-galactosidase C in pig endothelial cells.

Background: Elimination of the Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc (alphaGal) epitope has been considered to be essential for successful pig-to-human xenotransplantation but, unfortunately, has not been achieved. Endo-beta-galactosidase C (EndoGalC) is an endoglycosidase which cleaves the Galbeta1-4GlcNAc linkage in the alphaGal epitope and digests out the Galalpha1-3Gal disaccharide. Because of its potent activity in physiological pH conditions, EndoGalC can remove alphaGal epitopes expressed on the cell surface of pig erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells almost completely.

Prevention of free-radical induced apoptosis by induction of human recombinant Cu, Zn-SOD in pig endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial cells are the prime target in ischemia reperfusion injury. Growing evidence has shown that one of the main etiologies is considered to be reactive oxygen species (ROS) that induce endothelial-cell death either by necrosis or apoptosis. Cultured porcine endothelial cells were transfected with human copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase (h-Cu, Zn-SOD) to investigate whether these cells can prevent apoptosis from oxidative injury in vitro.

Enzymatic removal of alphaGal antigen in pig kidneys by ex vivo and in vivo administration of endo-beta-galactosidase C.

Xenotransplantation using the pig as a donor species is considered to be a promising solution to the serious shortage of organ donors. Both hyperacute and acute vascular rejection (AVR) are believed to be associated with xenoreactive antibody binding to alphaGal epitopes on the pig vascular endothelial cells. Thus, suppression of this antigen-antibody reaction would appear essential for successful long-term xenograft survival.