Analysis of Factors Related to the Success of Pediatric Kidney Transplantation: A 35 Years Experience.

Background: Despite the significant improvement results over the past 20 years, pediatric kidney transplantation remains a challenge. Chronic rejection, thrombosis, and recurrence of the primary disease are frequent causes of graft loss that have been little studied. Therefore, our objective is to analyze factors related to a better prognosis, which can be used to improve future strategies to allow higher pediatric transplant success rates.

Model-free adaptive filter to mitigate actuator wear.

The present article introduces an adaptive filter of statistical basis developed for closed-loop control applications, whose goal is to reduce actuator wear while ensuring a similar control performance regarding the original closed-loop system. The main idea is to avoid the rapid change of the filtered signal when the system output has a derivative not statistically significant regarding the expected measurement noise. The adaptation law of the time constant of the filter is model-free, and the only required information is the variance of the additive noise that the measurements are subjected to.

Therapy for persistent hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism post-renal transplant: cinacalcet versus parathyroidectomy.

Background: Persistent hyperparathyroidism post-transplant is associated with increases in the incidence of cardiovascular events, fractures, and deaths. The aim of this study was to compare both therapeutic options available: parathyroidectomy (PTX) and the calcimimetic agent cinacalcet.

Methods: A single center retrospective study including adult renal transplant recipients who developed hypercalcemia due to persistent hyperparathyroidism.

Safety and Efficacy of a 3-Year Therapy With Cinacalcet in Persistent Hyperparathyroidism After Renal Transplant.

Background: Persistent post-transplant hyperparathyroidism (PPTHP) can occur in 20% to 50% of renal transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to analyze safety and efficacy of long-term cinacalcet therapy in a group of renal transplant recipients with PPTHP.

Methods: A single center retrospective cohort study including renal transplant recipients, adults (>18 years old) with PPTHP and hypercalcemia.

Validation of Portuguese version of Quality of Erection Questionnaire (QEQ) and comparison to International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and RAND 36-Item Health Survey.

Purpose: To validate the Quality of Erection Questionnaire (QEQ) considering Brazilian social-cultural aspects.

Materials And Methods: To determine equivalence between the Portuguese and the English QEQ versions, the Portuguese version was back-translated by two professors who are native English speakers. After language equivalence had been determined, urologists considered the QEQ Portuguese version suitable.

(99m) T c-DTPA Study to Validate an Experimental Model of Ureteral Obstruction in Rabbits: Preliminary Results.

Objective. To create a ureteral obstruction experimental model that can be proved through (99m)Tc-DTPA renal scintigraphy and histopathological studies, without causing total renal function loss. Materials and Methods.

Laparoscopic treatment of lymphoceles after renal transplantation.

Objective: Lymphocele formation following renal transplantation is a frequent complication and may affect as many as 49% of patients. Operative treatment of symptomatic post transplant lymphocele (PTL) consists of wide drainage of the fluid collection into the abdominal cavity by excising its wall, connecting the lymphocele cavity to the intraperitoneal space. Laparoscopic fenestration seems to be the best treatment as it combines satisfying success rates with a minimally invasive approach.

Technetium-99m-L,L-ethylenedicysteine is more effective than technetium-99m diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid for excluding obstruction in patients with pyelocalicinal dilation.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of diuretic dynamic renal scintigraphy (DDRS) with technetium-99m-L,L-ethylenedicysteine ((99m)Tc-EC) in patients with indeterminate or possible false-positive results for urinary obstruction by technetium-99m diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid ((99m)Tc-DTPA) DDRS.

Methods: A total of 92 patients (63 male; mean age, 16.6 +/- 21.

Estimation of absolute renal uptake with technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid: direct comparison with the radioactivity of nephrectomy specimens.

Context And Objective: Studies using radionuclides are the most appropriate method for estimating renal function. Dimercaptosuccinic acid chelate labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc-DMSA) is the radiopharmaceutical of choice for high-resolution imaging of the renal cortex and estimation of the functional renal mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate a simplified method for determining the absolute renal uptake (ARU) of 99mTc-DMSA prior to nephrectomy, using the radioactivity counts of nephrectomy specimens as the gold standard.