Publications by authors named "Litwin M"
Introduction: Data on age-related differences in rejection rates, infectious episodes, and tacrolimus exposure in pediatric kidney transplant recipients (pKTRs) on a tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen are scarce.
Methods: We performed a large-scale analysis of 802 pKTRs from the Cooperative European Paediatric Renal Transplant Initiative (CERTAIN) registry from 40 centers in 14 countries. The inclusion criteria were a tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen and at least 2 years of follow-up.
Despite dramatic medical advances over the last few decades, cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death globally. High BP is clearly established, but modifiable, risk factor for early disability and death. Although most of the adverse outcomes occur in adulthood it has become clear that high BP is a life course problem that can become evident in early life however, relatively little attention has been paid to the problem of high BP in children and adolescents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the effects of socioeconomic factors, including insurance status, on treatment and survival for patients with testicular cancer.
Patients And Methods: We extracted a retrospective cohort from the National Cancer Database that included patients diagnosed with testicular cancer 2004-2020. Competing-risks and Cox regression multivariate models including demographic, pathological, and socioeconomic covariates were constructed to evaluate receipt of treatment and death, respectively.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates how the timing of radiotherapy (RT) after radical prostatectomy influences long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in men with prostate cancer, focusing on sexual, urinary, and bowel health.
- - Researchers analyzed data from two cohorts, comparing outcomes between three groups: men who had just prostatectomy, those who received early RT (within 12 months), and those who had late RT (12 months or later).
- - Findings revealed that men who underwent RT after prostatectomy experienced greater declines in aspects of HRQOL compared to those who did not receive RT, highlighting the potential negative effects of post-surgery radiation timing.
Objective: To understand psychosocial functioning before and after gender-affirming facial feminization surgery (FFS) as well as identify predictors of postoperative psychosocial functioning.
Summary Background Data: Few investigations have rigorously explored the impact of gender-affirming FFS on psychosocial functioning in transgender and gender non-binary (TGNB) individuals. This knowledge gap hinders the identification of methods to optimize mental health quality-of-life outcomes after FFS and carries repercussions for access to care.
Background: Despite significant cardiovascular (CV) morbidity in children on dialysis and after kidney transplantation, data on the evolution of CV damage in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) approaching kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is unknown.
Methods: The burden, progression, and predictors of CV damage before KRT onset were explored in two prospective multicenter cohorts from Europe and Canada: Cardiovascular Comorbidity in Children with CKD (4C) and Haemodiafiltration, Heart and Height (3H) studies, conducted from 2009-19 and 2013-16, respectively. CV damage and risk factors were evaluated (i) cross sectionally at KRT-start (n = 248), and (ii) longitudinally over the 2-years preceding KRT start (n = 157; 331 patient-visits).
Background: Pediatric blood pressure (BP) assessment and management is increasingly important. Uncontrolled systolic and combined hypertension leads to hypertension-mediated organ damage. The impact of isolated diastolic hypertension is less clearly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Youth who identify as transgender and gender diverse (TGD) are increasingly presenting to pediatric providers. Gender-affirming surgery is often delayed until after a patient reaches the age of majority; however, patients may desire surgery at a younger age.
Objective: We explore the specific clinical needs of this vulnerable population, including surgical requests.
Background And Objective: Adherence to guideline recommendations can improve the quality of care for patients with prostate cancer (PCa). Our aim was to assess adherence to guidelines for locoregional PCa by international region.
Methods: The study cohort comprised patients diagnosed with locoregional PCa in the 10-country Movember TrueNTH Global Registry (n = 62 688; 2013-2022).
Purpose: Functional problems such as incontinence and sexual dysfunction after radical prostatectomy (RP) are important outcomes to evaluate surgical quality in prostate cancer (PC) care. Differences in survival after RP between countries are known, but differences in functional outcomes after RP between providers from different countries are not well described.
Methods: Data from a multinational database of patients with PC (nonmetastatic, treated by RP) who answered the EPIC-26 questionnaire at baseline (before RP, T0) and 1 year after RP (T1) were used, linking survey data to clinical information.
A decrease in IGF-1 is often linked to inflammation. Low systemic and local IGF-1 production and downregulation of IGF-1R expression may precede and predict PH development in children/adolescents. Leukocyte mRNA expression of IGF-1 and its receptor (IGF-1R) and plasma IGF-1 were measured in a group of 39 PH children/adolescents (29 boys and 10 girls) and 35 age-matched normotensive children (19 boys and 16 girls) using the RT-PCR and ELISA tests.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Proteinuria is a modifiable risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in children. Finerenone, a selective, non-steroidal, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) has been approved to treat adults with CKD associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) following results from the phase III clinical trials FIDELIO-DKD (NCT02540993) and FIGARO-DKD (NCT02545049). In a pre-specified pooled analysis of both studies (N = 13,026), finerenone was shown to have an acceptable safety profile and was efficacious in decreasing the risk of adverse kidney and cardiovascular outcomes and of proteinuria.
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- Two pediatric patients with Crohn's disease experienced kidney injury linked to ADM therapy; one showed irreversible damage despite treatment, while the other's kidney function improved after stopping the drug.
- Monitoring kidney function and consulting specialists are crucial for patients on ADM, as timely discontinuation can prevent further damage but may not reverse existing harm.
Background And Objecitves: The currently available kidney volume normative values in children are restricted to small populations from single-centre studies not assessing kidney function and including none or only a small number of adolescents. This study aimed to obtain ultrasound-based kidney volume normative values derived from a large European White/Caucasian paediatric population with normal kidney function.
Methods: After recruitment of 1427 children aged 0-19 years, 1396 individuals with no history of kidney disease and normal estimated glomerular filtration rate were selected for the sonographic evaluation of kidney volume.
Purpose: Low-income prostate cancer survivors, who typically have worse outcomes and greater all-cause mortality, often have poor health-promoting behaviors. Our objective was to assess perceived facilitators of and barriers to healthy behavior change by interviewing low-income men with prostate cancer who received no-cost treatment through a state-funded program.
Methods: Between September 2021 and April 2022, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 men (ages 60-75).
Article Synopsis
- The study compares patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for localized prostate cancer at diagnosis across different countries, suggesting that treatment recommendations may vary despite similar patient profiles.
- The analysis included data from 13,483 men across seven regions, using EPIC-26 scores to evaluate differences before treatment based on various approaches like radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy.
- Findings showed significant variation in sexual health scores, while urinary incontinence and bowel domains had higher scores and were more consistent across regions, indicating overall good outcomes in these areas.
The progress in research on the physiology of the cardiovascular system made in the last 100 years allowed for the development of the pathogenesis not only of secondary forms of hypertension but also of primary hypertension. The main determinants of blood pressure are described by the relationship between stroke volume, heart rate, peripheral resistance, and arterial stiffness. The theories developed by Guyton and Folkow describe the importance of the volume factor and total peripheral resistance.
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- The study focuses on urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children and investigates the potential use of soluble Toll-like receptors (sTLR4, sTLR5) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) as biomarkers for diagnosing UTIs.
- It involved 520 children, including those with UTIs, non-UTI infections, and healthy controls, measuring urine and serum levels of the biomarkers before and after treatment.
- Results show that urine sTLR4 levels are higher in UTI patients, with a cut-off level identified to predict UTIs, especially higher in cases of pyelonephritis compared to cystitis, and decreasing post-treatment.
Arterial hypertension (HT) is a main, potentially reversible cardiovascular risk factor. Long lasting HT leads to hypertension mediated organ damage (HMOD) of heart, vascular bed, and kidneys. Assessment of HMOD is a standard diagnostic procedure in hypertensive adults and presence of HMOD is associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
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