Bryostatin-1 Attenuates Ischemia-Elicited Neutrophil Transmigration and Ameliorates Graft Injury after Kidney Transplantation.

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a form of sterile inflammation whose severity determines short- and long-term graft fates in kidney transplantation. Neutrophils are now recognized as a key cell type mediating early graft injury, which activates further innate immune responses and intensifies acquired immunity and alloimmunity. Since the macrolide Bryostatin-1 has been shown to block neutrophil transmigration, we aimed to determine whether these findings could be translated to the field of kidney transplantation.

Microsurgical training course for clinicians and scientists: a 10-year experience at the Münster University Hospital.

Background: Microsurgical techniques are an important part of clinical and experimental research. Here we present our step-by-step microsurgery training course developed at the Münster University Hospital. The goal of this course was to create a short, modular curriculum with clearly described and easy to follow working steps in accordance with the Guidelines for Training in Surgical Research in Animals by the Academy of Surgical Research.

Merendino Resection vs. Transhiatal Gastric Conduit After Resection of the Cardia and the Gastroesophageal Junction.

Background: Reconstruction after combined cardia resection and removal of the gastroesophageal junction can be carried out by the Merendino procedure or via a gastric conduit. This study compares postoperative complications and quality of life for both approaches.

Methods: All patients who underwent Merendino or gastric conduit reconstruction from 2011-2017 were included.

A novel histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate formulation ameliorates intestinal injury in a cold storage and ex vivo warm oxygenated reperfusion model in rats.

Aim: The present study aims to evaluate protective effects of a novel histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution (HTK-N) and to investigate positive impacts of an additional luminal preservation route in cold storage-induced injury on rat small bowels.

Methods: Male Lewis rats were utilized as donors of small bowel grafts. Vascular or vascular plus luminal preservation were conducted with HTK or HTK-N and grafts were stored at 4°C for 8 h followed by ex vivo warm oxygenated reperfusion with Krebs-Henseleit buffer for 30 min.

Management of Nonmalignant Tracheo- and Bronchoesophageal Fistula after Esophagectomy.

Background: Tracheo- or bronchoesophageal fistula (TBF) occurring after esophagectomy represent a rare but devastating complication. Management remains challenging and controversial. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of different treatment approaches and to propose recommendations for the management of TBF.

Impact of nighttime procedures on outcomes after liver transplantation.

Background: Sleep deprivation is a well-known risk factor for the performance of medical professionals. Solid organ transplantation (especially orthotopic liver transplantation (oLT)) appears to be vulnerable since it combines technically challenging operative procedures with an often unpredictable start time, frequently during the night. Aim of this study was to analyze whether night time oLT has an impact on one-year graft and patient survival.

The weekend effect in liver transplantation.

Background: The weekend effect describes a phenomenon whereby patients admitted to hospitals on weekends are at higher risk of complications compared to those admitted during weekdays. However, if a weekend effect exists in orthotopic liver transplantation (oLT).

Methods: We analyzed oLT between 2006 and 2016 and stratified patients into weekday (Monday to Friday) and weekend (Saturday, Sunday) groups.

Is there a "weekend effect" in kidney transplantation?

The 'weekend effect' describes increased adverse outcomes after weekend hospitalization. We examined weekend-weekday differences in the outcome of 580 patients following renal transplantation (RTx, brain dead donors) between January 2007 and December 2014 at our center. 3-year patient and graft survival, incidence of delayed graft function (DGF), acute rejections and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, CKD-EPI) at 1 year as well as surgical complications were assessed.

EPOR/βcR-independendent effects of low-dose epoetin- in porcine liver transplantation.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) remains a key component of graft damage during transplantation. Erythropoietin (EPO) induces anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects via the EPOR/βcR complex, with a potential risk of thrombosis. Previous work indicates that EPO has EPOR/βcR-independent protective effects via direct effects on the endothelium.

A practical guide for small bowel transplantation in rats-review of techniques and models.

Background: Animal models are a central aspect in research on small bowel transplantation (SBTx). Among them, rats are the preferred species because of their widespread availability and cost effectiveness. Because the complexity of the surgical procedure could per se influence the outcome of an experiment, a standardized and comparable technique is important.

Detection of different virus-specific CD8+ T cells after kidney transplantation.

Background: The early diagnosis of viral reactivation after kidney transplantation (KTX) is an unsolved problem. Survey of virus-specific T-cell responses may identify patients at risk for viral reactivation. We therefore quantified virus-specific CD8+ T-cells to evaluate their potential predictive value for viral reactivation and infection in KTX patients.

Role of angiotensin-1 receptor blockade in cirrhotic liver resection.

Background: The regeneration capacity of cirrhotic livers might be affected by angiotensin-1 (AT1) receptors located on hepatic stellate cells (HSC). The effect of AT1 receptor blockade on microcirculation, fibrosis and liver regeneration was investigated.

Materials And Methods: In 112 Lewis rats, cirrhosis was induced by repetitive intraperitoneal injections of CCl(4) .

Perforating vein fistula is superior to forearm fistula in elderly haemodialysis patients with diabetes and arterial hypertension.

Background: Access-related problems are one of the major causes of morbidity in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to assess potential risks and benefits in elderly patients comparing forearm arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and perforating vein AVF below the elbow for primary vascular access.

Methods: A retrospective comparison of elderly patients (65.

Impact of failed allograft nephrectomy on initial function and graft survival after kidney retransplantation.

The management of an asymptomatic failed renal graft remains controversial. The aim of our study was to explore the effect of failed allograft nephrectomy on kidney retransplantation by comparing the outcome of recipients who underwent graft nephrectomy prior to retransplantation with those who did not. Retrospective comparison of patients undergoing kidney retransplantation with (group A, n = 121) and without (group B, n = 45) preliminary nephrectomy was performed, including subgroup analysis with reference to patients with multiple (≥2) retransplantations and patients of the European Senior Program (ESP).

Impact of rapamycin on liver regeneration.

The remarkable capacity of the liver to regenerate after injury and the prospects of organ self-renewal have attracted much interest in the understanding and modulation of the underlying molecular events. We investigated the effect of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor rapamycin (RAPA) on liver by correlating intravital microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in a rat model of 2/3 hepatectomy. RAPA significantly retarded proliferation of hepatocytes, endothelial cells, and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) mostly between days 2 and 4 after hepatectomy and downregulated major cytokines and growth factors (tumor necrosis factor alpha, hepatocyte growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, insulin-like growth factor-1, transforming growth factor beta 1) important for liver regeneration.