Publications by authors named "Linda Birtles"
Article Synopsis
- The UK islet allotransplant program aims to provide islet transplants for individuals with type 1 diabetes and severe hypoglycemia, allowing for one or two transplants annually.
- A study of 84 transplant recipients found that those receiving two transplants had significantly better graft survival at 12 months compared to those who had one transplant (94% vs. 68%).
- Total transplanted mass didn't lead to significantly higher stimulated C-peptide levels, but a shorter time between two transplants was linked to greater insulin dose reductions after 12 months.*
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the psychological burden and hypoglycemia awareness in UK islet transplant recipients, focusing on how these factors correlate with baseline HbA1c levels.
- Pre-transplant assessments revealed that participants experienced significant anxiety/depression, impaired quality of life, and elevated fear of hypoglycemia, yet maintained optimism about the potential benefits of the transplant.
- Results indicated that psychological profiles and hypoglycemia awareness did not differ significantly between groups with lower and higher HbA1c levels, suggesting that these psychological factors are prevalent regardless of glycemic control.
Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare but devastating complication of peritoneal dialysis. It is characterized by peritoneal neovascularization, fibrosis, and calcification ultimately leading to intestinal obstruction and eventual failure. Surgery for EPS has a mortality approaching 50% and most patients require some form of postoperative life-sustaining therapy (LST) during their admission.
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Introduction: Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a serious complication of peritoneal dialysis in which gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms reduce appetite and dietary intake. Adequate nutrition is important, especially if surgery is required. Although the incidence of EPS is low, the present report is able to detail preoperative nutrition status and treatment in a large cohort of patients from a national EPS referral center.