(210)Pb and composition data of near-surface sediments and interstitial waters evidencing anthropogenic inputs in Amazon River mouth, Macapá, Brazil.

Activity profiles of excess (210)Pb determined in three sediment cores from Amazon River mouth, Macapá city, Brazil, provided the evaluation of sedimentation rates, contributing to a better knowledge of the hydrological conditions in the site that is the capital of Amapá State and is drained by the waters of the huge Amazon River. Chemical data were also determined in the sediments, allowing identify signatures coupled to anthropogenic inputs held in the past in Amapá State. Significant direct relationships between LOI (loss on ignition) and organic matter were found for all sediments profiles.

Piggyback technique in adult orthotopic liver transplantation: an analysis of 1067 liver transplants at a single center.

Background: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in adult patients has traditionally been performed using conventional caval reconstruction technique (CV) with veno-venous bypass. Recently, the piggyback technique (PB) without veno-venous bypass has begun to be widely used. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of routine use of PB on OLTs in adult patients.

Intestinal and multivisceral transplantation after abdominal trauma.

BACKGROUND Some trauma victims who survive acute illness develop lingering, debilitating syndromes that are incompatible with any semblance of normalcy. Intestinal failure, in particular, exacts a high price in terms of quality of life. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has served these patients well, but complications limit its long-term therapeutic effect.

Donor intracaval thrombus formation and pulmonary embolism after simultaneous piggyback liver transplantation and aortic valve replacement.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a well known and serious complication that may develop after abdominal surgery. Liver transplant recipients are not immune to PE and tend to share many of the same risk factors with surgical patients who are stricken with this potential fatal complication. Liver transplantation using the piggyback (PB) technique is widely accepted, although there are reports of technique-specific-related vascular complications.

Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) combined with tacrolimus in intestinal and multivisceral transplantation.

Background: We combined alemtuzumab (Campath-1H, Berlex Laboratories, Montville, NJ) and tacrolimus (Tac) immunosuppression for intestinal and multivisceral transplantation.

Materials And Methods: A total of 21 adult patients received 24 grafts: 14 intestinal, nine multivisceral, and one liver-intestinal graft. Alemtuzumab was administered perioperatively in four doses with low-dose Tac (levels 10-15 ng/dL) and no maintenance steroids.

Preliminary experience with campath 1H (C1H) in intestinal and liver transplantation.

Background: The aim of this research was to study the efficacy of campath 1H in combination with low-dose tacrolimus immunosuppression for intestinal, multivisceral, and liver transplantation.

Methods: Campath 1H (0.3 mg/kg) was administered in four doses: Preoperatively, at the completion of the transplant, and on postoperative days 3 and 7.

Use of liver grafts from donors positive for antihepatitis B-core antibody (anti-HBc) in the era of prophylaxis with hepatitis-B immunoglobulin and lamivudine.

Background: The increasing demand for transplantation has resulted in a trend toward using virologically compromised donors. We reviewed our experience with liver grafts from hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg)(-), antibody to core antigen (anti-HBc)(+) donors.

Methods: Sixty-two liver transplants using HBsAg(-), anti-HBc(+) donors were studied.

Portal versus systemic drainage of small bowel allografts: comparative assessment of survival, function, rejection, and bacterial translocation.

Background: Portal venous drainage of small bowel grafts is theoretically more physiologic than systemic drainage, but is technically more demanding. Comparisons in animal models have not demonstrated a clear advantage of one technique over the other, but clinical data are lacking.

Study Design: Clinical records of 36 patients who underwent 37 small bowel transplantation procedures from January 1995 to August 2001 were reviewed.

Successful treatment of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease with prolonged rituximab treatment in intestinal transplant recipients.

Background: Posttransplant Epstein-Barr virus-associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) has a higher incidence after intestinal transplantation than after transplantation of other solid organs and is associated with a high mortality. A new anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, has shown efficiency in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma, including PTLD, but its use has not yet been reported in intestinal transplant recipients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed five patients who were diagnosed with PTLD from March 1999 to August 2001, after intestinal transplantation.

Internal hernia of the small bowel around infrarenal arterial conduits after liver transplantation.

Internal hernia of the small bowel around infrarenal arterial conduits after liver Internal hernia of the small bowel is an uncommon but fatal complication of liver transplantation. The placement of infrarenal arterial conduits for arterial revascularization is an important technique for arterial reconstruction after liver transplantation. We report three cases of internal hernia with volvulus of the small bowel caused by the use of infrarenal arterial conduits.

Ninety-five cases of intestinal transplantation at the University of Miami.

Intestinal failure requiring total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Intestinal transplantation can be a lifesaving option for patients with intestinal failure who develop serious TPN-related complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate survival, surgical technique, and patient care in patients treated with intestinal transplantation.

Intestinal and multivisceral transplantation.

Intestinal transplantation has been gradually instituted in the management of intestinal failure. More than 200 cases including isolated intestinal transplant, liver/intestinal transplant, and multivisceral transplant have been performed worldwide,with 1-year graft and patient survival rates of 66% and 54%,respectively. Indications for the procedure include short bowel syndrome and functional abnormalities secondary to a variety of diseases or conditions.