Update on Dendritic Cell-Induced Immunological and Clinical Tolerance.

Dendritic cells (DCs) as highly efficient antigen-presenting cells are at the interface of innate and adaptive immunity. As such, they are key mediators of immunity and antigen-specific immune tolerance. Due to their functional specialization, research efforts have focused on the characterization of DCs subsets involved in the initiation of immunogenic responses and in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis.

Reproductive and contraceptive characteristics of premenopausal kidney transplant recipients.

Objective: To obtain information on menstrual patterns before and after transplantation, desire for future pregnancy, and use of contraception among premenopausal kidney transplant recipients.

Study Design: This observational study collected information using self-administered anonymous questionnaires during a routine outpatient clinic visit.

Results: Of the 107 women who completed the questionnaire, 41 identified themselves as being premenopausal.

A prospective, randomized, clinical trial of intraoperative versus postoperative Thymoglobulin in adult cadaveric renal transplant recipients.

Background: Delayed graft function (DGF) is frequently observed in recipients of cadaveric renal transplants. Previous retrospective or nonrandomized studies have suggested that intraoperative administration of polyclonal antithymocyte preparations may reduce the incidence of DGF, possibly by decreasing ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods: We performed a prospective randomized study of Thymoglobulin induction therapy in adult cadaveric renal transplant recipients.

Acute humoral rejection in kidney transplantation: II. Morphology, immunopathology, and pathologic classification.

The incidence of acute humoral rejection (AHR) in renal allograft biopsies has been difficult to determine because widely accepted diagnostic criteria have not been established. C4d deposition in peritubular capillaries (PTC) of renal allografts has been proposed as a useful marker for AHR. This study was designed to test the relative value of C4d staining, histology, and serology in the diagnosis of AHR.