Solid organ transplant donors with central nervous system infection.

Background: While donor-derived infections (DDI) remain uncommon, multiple reports describe DDI with pathogens that cause central nervous system (CNS) infection resulting in significant recipient disease. The Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee (DTAC) reviewed the records of potential donor-derived disease transmission events (PDDTE) to describe donor characteristics and outcomes associated with DDI from CNS pathogens.

Methods: All PDDTE reported from January 2008 to September 2010 were reviewed for characteristics suggesting CNS infection in the donor or the recipient.

CT for evaluation of potential renal donors - how does iterative reconstruction influence image quality and dose?

Purpose: To assess ASIR (adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction) technique regarding dose reduction and its impact on image quality in evaluation CTs of potential kidney donors.

Materials And Methods: Between May and November 2013, a prospective study of 53 assumingly healthy potential kidney donors was conducted. The subjects underwent abdominal evaluation CT prior to the planned explantation of a kidney and were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group A was examined with an ASIR 40 protocol (n=26), group B (n=27) was examined using a standard FBP (filtered back projection) protocol.

Dislocability of localization devices for nonpalpable breast lesions: experimental results.

Purpose. For accurate resection of nonpalpable malignant breast lesions with a tumor-free resection rim, an exact and stable wire localization is essential. We tested the resistance towards traction force of different localization devices used in our clinic for breast lesions in two types of tissue.

Linac-based stereotactic radiotherapy and radiosurgery in patients with meningioma.

Background: It was our purpose to analyze long-term clinical outcome and to identify prognostic factors after Linac-based fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (Linac-based FSRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in patients with intracranial meningiomas.

Materials And Methods: Between 10/1995 and 03/2009, 297 patients with a median age of 59 years were treated with FSRT for intracranial meningioma. 50 patients had a Grade I meningioma, 20 patients had a Grade II meningioma, 12 patients suffered from a Grade III tumor, and in 215 cases no histology was obtained (Grade 0).

Considerations for screening live kidney donors for endemic infections: a viewpoint on the UNOS policy.

In February 2013, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network mandated that transplant centers perform screening of living kidney donors prior to transplantation for Strongyloides, Trypanosoma cruzi and West Nile virus (WNV) infection if the donor is from an endemic area. However, specific guidelines for screening were not provided, such as the optimal testing modalities, timing of screening prior to donation and the appropriate selection of donors. In this regard, the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice, together with disease-specific experts, has developed this viewpoint document to provide guidance for the testing of live donors for Strongyloides, T.

Human coronary heart disease: importance of blood cellular miR-2909 RNomics.

The characterization of atherosclerosis as a chronic inflammatory disease has triggered extensive research worldwide to dissect the pro- and anti-inflammatory, cellular as well as molecular mechanisms governing the pathogenesis of this dreadful disease. Though several microRNAs have been shown to play crucial role in regulating lipid metabolism and inflammation, we are far from resolving the role of epigenomic signals in etiology of coronary heart disease (CHD). The present study was addressed to understand the role of a novel microRNA, miR-2909, in the regulation of genes involved in the initiation and progression of human coronary occlusion.

UL54 foscarnet mutation in an hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient with cytomegalovirus disease.

We present a case of foscarnet (FOS) resistance arising from a UL54 mutation after a short duration of FOS exposure, which has not been previously described in a stem cell transplant recipient, to our knowledge. We discuss the use of FOS to treat other viral infections and the implications this may have for the development of resistance mutations and treatment of cytomegalovirus disease.

Incidence and Pattern of Cranio-Maxillofacial Injuries: A 22 year Retrospective Analysis of Cases Operated at Major Trauma Hospitals/Centres in Pune, India.

This study aims to retrospectively analyze the incidence and pattern of cranio-maxillofacial injuries in the developing world in a hope to emphasize on authorities the need of improvising infrastructural facilities, medical and other. Hospital medical records with available radiographs of 6,872 patients treated for cranio-maxillofacial injuries at major trauma centres in Pune, India over a 22 year period (from July 1989 to June 2010) were reviewed. Relevant data pertaining to patients' age, sex, cause of injury, sites of injury, associated injuries, anaesthesia, various treatment modalities and complications were recorded and analyzed statistically.

Arsenic programmes cellular genomic-immunity through miR-2909 RNomics.

It is widely recognized that human cells are equipped with innate antiviral-RNA armour involving the production of type I interferons and APOBEC3G (apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing, enzyme-catalytic, polypeptide-like 3G) gene-product. Although arsenic has been shown to have paradoxical effect on one arm of this armour involving APOBEC3G, the exact molecular mechanism of its action in this regard is far from clear. The present study, addressed to explore as to how arsenic programmes this innate antiviral-RNA cellular-sensing pathway, clearly revealed that arsenic programmes this innate cellular antiviral genomic response through its inherent capacity to initiate cellular miR-2909 RNomics pathway, involving not only the modulation of APOBEC3G gene but also KLF4 (Kruppel-like factor 4) dependent regulation of gene coding for IKBKε (Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit epsilon) which in turn modulates RIG-I (retinoic acid-inducible gene 1) pathway responsible for the production of IFNβ (interferon beta) through restriction of CYLD (Cylindromatosis) deubiqutinating activity.

Image-guided volumetric modulated arc therapy for breast cancer: a feasibility study and plan comparison with three-dimensional conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Objective: To test the feasibility of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in breast cancer and to compare it with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) as conventional tangential field radiotheraphy (conTFRT).

Methods: 12 patients (Stage I, 8: 6 left breast cancer and 2 right breast cancer; Stage II, 4: 2 on each side). Three plans were calculated for each case after breast-conserving surgery.

Association between sarcopenia and the risk of serious infection among adults undergoing liver transplantation.

Although sarcopenia (muscle loss) is associated with increased mortality after liver transplantation, its influence on other complications is less well understood. We examined the association between sarcopenia and the risk of severe posttransplant infections among adult liver transplant recipients. By calculating the total psoas area (TPA) on preoperative computed tomography scans, we assessed sarcopenia among 207 liver transplant recipients.

Image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery for cranial lesions: large margins compensate for reduced image guidance frequency.

Background: We investigated patient positioning during radiosurgery of cranial lesions, and calculated clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margins using a modified common margin recipe. We simulated CTV-to-PTV margins for reduced image guidance, and repositioning for the first table angle only.

Patients And Methods: Patients were immobilized with a thermoplastic mask.

Histoplasmosis after solid organ transplant.

Background: To improve our understanding of risk factors, management, diagnosis, and outcomes associated with histoplasmosis after solid organ transplant (SOT), we report a large series of histoplasmosis occurring after SOT.

Methods: All cases of histoplasmosis in SOT recipients diagnosed between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2010 at 24 institutions were identified. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected.

Blood cellular mutant LXR-α protein stability governs initiation of coronary heart disease.

Aim: To investigate the role of [breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility 1 (BRCA1)-associated RING domain 1 (BARD1)]/BRCA1 E3-ubiquitin ligase complex in governing the stability of mutant liver X receptor-α (LXR-α) protein in coronary heart disease (CHD) subjects.

Methods: The expression analysis of various genes was carried out by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting within blood mononuclear cells of human CHD subjects at various stages of coronary occlusion and their corresponding normal healthy counterparts. Immunoprecipitation experiments were performed to establish protein interactions between LXR-α and BARD1.

Low plasma levels of cholecalciferol and 13-cis-retinoic acid in tuberculosis: implications in host-based chemotherapy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the concentration of cholecalciferol and 13-cis-retinoic acid (RA) in the plasma and pleural fluid of patients with tuberculosis (TB) against controls.

Methods: Plasma levels of cholecalciferol and 13-cis-RA were measured in 22 patients with TB and healthy controls and their pleural fluids levels were measured in 6 TB patients and diseased controls by established high-performance liquid chromatography-based procedure.

Results: Cholecalciferol levels in plasma and pleural fluid of patients with TB and healthy controls were 67.

Osteoid Osteoma with a Multicentric Nidus: Interstitial Laser Ablation under MRI Guidance.

Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a common benign tumor of the bone and is typically treated by thermal ablation with computed tomography (CT) guidance. Only a few cases of multicentric OO have been described. We here report the case of an 11-year-old boy with multicentric OO of the right femur treated with laser ablation under open high-field MRI guidance.

Workshop report on atomic bomb dosimetry-residual radiation exposure: recent research and suggestions for future studies.

There is a need for accurate dosimetry for studies of health effects in the Japanese atomic bomb survivors because of the important role that these studies play in worldwide radiation protection standards. International experts have developed dosimetry systems, such as the Dosimetry System 2002 (DS02), which assess the initial radiation exposure to gamma rays and neutrons but only briefly consider the possibility of some minimal contribution to the total body dose by residual radiation exposure. In recognition of the need for an up-to-date review of the topic of residual radiation exposure in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, recently reported studies were reviewed at a technical session at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society in Sacramento, California, 22-26 July 2012.

Primary immunodeficiency disorders in the developing world: data from a hospital-based registry in India.

Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) are under-reported from the developing world. We present data regarding diagnosis and outcome from a hospital-based registry in India. Forty-seven patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria.

Heart and Brain: A neutro-genomic link.

The philosophy of heart and brain are very ancient in our literature where the things good for the heart are not suggested good for the brain and vice-versa. Modern medicine is characterized by a high degree of specialization and the heart-brain connection that could be targeted to treat these complex cardiovascular/brain disorders. The idea that adverse diet/genome interactions can cause disease is not new.

Regulation of cellular Cyclin D1 gene by arsenic is mediated through miR-2909.

Arsenic through its ability to regulate genes that link cell cycle control with apoptosis has been widely recognized to play a crucial role in oncogenomics. However, the molecular event by which arsenic affects such genes is far from clear. Here we provide reasonably good evidence to support the view that arsenic exposure to human PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) at low concentrations results in the over-expression of miR-2909 within these cells.

Assessment of cytomegalovirus-specific cell-mediated immunity for the prediction of cytomegalovirus disease in high-risk solid-organ transplant recipients: a multicenter cohort study.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease remains an important problem in solid-organ transplant recipients, with the greatest risk among donor CMV-seropositive, recipient-seronegative (D(+)/R(-)) patients. CMV-specific cell-mediated immunity may be able to predict which patients will develop CMV disease.

Methods: We prospectively included D(+)/R(-) patients who received antiviral prophylaxis.

Altered levels of LXR-α: crucial implications in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

In recent times, the role of LXRs in skin physiology and pathology has evolved rapidly because of their role in proliferation, carcinogenesis, differentiation and permeability barrier function. LXRs were identified as promising drug targets for the treatment of many skin diseases. For this study, skin biopsies were taken from 15 patients with vitiligo and six controls to culture melanocytes from clinically active perilesional and normal skin.