Impact of Tacrolimus, Sirolimus, Age, and Body Mass Index on the Occurrence of Skin Cancer and Islet Dysfunction After Transplantation.

Herein, we characterized the percentage of tacrolimus to the combined sirolimus and tacrolimus trough levels (tacrolimus %) observed during islet transplant-associated immune suppression therapy with post-transplant skin cancer. Although trough levels of tacrolimus and sirolimus were not different ( = 0.79, 0.

Epicardial Fat Volume as a Good Predictor for Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease.

Introduction: Epicardial adipose tissue may have an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Aim: We aimed to study the association between epicardial fat volume (EFV) and presence of obstructive as well as multivessel CAD.

Methods: A total of 87 adult subjects with suspected CAD who underwent both quantified by multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) and Invasive Coronary Angiography (ICA) were enrolled in this observational study.

Roxadustat Versus Epoetin Alfa for Treating Anemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease on Dialysis: Results from the Randomized Phase 3 ROCKIES Study.

Background: Concerns regarding cardiovascular safety with current treatments for anemia in patients with dialysis-dependent (DD)-CKD have encouraged the development of alternatives. Roxadustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, stimulates erythropoiesis by increasing endogenous erythropoietin and iron availability.

Methods: In this open-label phase 3 study, patients with DD-CKD and anemia were randomized 1:1 to oral roxadustat three times weekly or parenteral epoetin alfa per local clinic practice.

Towards a Rational Balanced Pancreatic and Islet Allocation Schema.

Allocation of donated organs for transplantation is a complex process that considers numerous factors such as donor, organ and candidate characteristics and practical issues such as geography. Whole pancreas and isolated islet transplantation are lifesaving for certain individuals with diabetes. Herein, we suggest a revised allocation schema that matches donor characteristics with candidate medical condition while allowing for geographic considerations.

Influence of adding vitamin D3 to standard clarithromycin-based triple therapy on the eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background And Study Aims: The successful eradication rates with standard clarithromycin-based triple therapy are declining concerning the high antibiotic resistance rate and adverse drug reactions. This study aims to evaluate the effect of adding 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3 on the eradication rates of the standard clarithromycin-based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Patients And Methods: This is a randomized prospective comparative study of 150 patients diagnosed with H.

Roxadustat for Treating Anemia in Patients with CKD Not on Dialysis: Results from a Randomized Phase 3 Study.

Background: Current anemia therapies for patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD may require injection and medical visits. Roxadustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, stimulates erythropoiesis and improves iron homeostasis.

Methods: In this double-blind phase 3 study, we randomized patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD stages 3-5 and hemoglobin <10.

The Influence of Adding Diphenhydramine Before Initiation of Moderate Sedation with Midazolam and Pethidine for Improving Quality of Colonoscopy.

Background: Combination of Intravenous benzodiazepines with opiates appears to be essential in order to guarantee high quality of moderate sedation during colonoscopy. Diphenhydramine is recommended for endoscopic procedures in difficult-to-sedate patients However, the studies supporting its use have yielded conflicting results.

Objective: To assess the value of adding diphenhydramine hydrochloride before initiation of moderate sedation with midazolam and pethidine for Improving Quality of Sedation during colonoscopy.

The Efficacy of Argon Plasma Coagulation versus Carvedilol for Treatment of Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy.

Background/aim: Several treatment options have been developed for portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG); medications and endoscopic management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of argon plasma coagulation (APC) versus Carvedilol in treatment of a cohort of Egyptian patients with severe PHG.

Methods: A total of 130 patients with severe PHG were enrolled; 10 patients were excluded due to death and failure to complete the treatment sessions accordingly, 120 patients were included.

The effect of vitamin D deficiency on eradication rates of infection.

Background/aim: Many studies have investigated risk factors other than antibiotic resistance linked to () eradication failure. The aim of this study was to study the effect of serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25[OH]D) on eradication rates of infection.

Methods: This study included 150 patients diagnosed with gastritis using magnifying narrow-band imaging endoscopy supported by stool antigen test.

Adiponectin level changes among Egyptians with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background And Aim: Visceral fat is an important endocrine organ that secretes different bioactive substances such as adipocytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the adiponectin level changes among patients with erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)and its consequence on pathogenesis.

Methods: In this study, 150 subjects were selected and divided into four groups: Group І ( = 40) were healthy individuals with an average body mass index and had no gastrointestinal tract symptoms; Group ІІ ( = 50) were patients with mild to moderate erosive esophagitis; Group ІІІ ( = 40) were patients with severe erosive esophagitis; and finally, Group ІV ( = 20) were patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a marker for disease activity in lupus nephritis.

The neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been emerging as a novel biomarker of acute kidney injury while its value in lupus nephritis is uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess urinary NGAL levels as a marker for disease activity in patients with lupus nephritis.This study included 70 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients; 50 with active lupus nephritis (LN) and 20 without as well as 20 matched controls.

Exocytosis Protein DOC2B as a Biomarker of Type 1 Diabetes.

Context: Efforts to preserve β-cell mass in the preclinical stages of type 1 diabetes (T1D) are limited by few blood-derived biomarkers of β-cell destruction.

Objective: Platelets are proposed sources of blood-derived biomarkers for a variety of diseases, and they show distinct proteomic changes in T1D. Thus, we investigated changes in the exocytosis protein, double C2 domain protein-β (DOC2B) in platelets and islets from T1D humans, and prediabetic nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice.

The Choice of Enzyme for Human Pancreas Digestion is a Critical Factor for Increasing the Success of Islet Isolation.

Background: We evaluated three commercially available enzymes for pancreatic digestion by comparing key parameters during the islet isolation process, as well as islet quality post-isolation.

Methods: Retrospectively compared and analyzed islet isolations from pancreata using three different enzyme groups: Liberase HI (n=63), Collagenase NB1/Neutral Protease (NP) (n=43), and Liberase Mammalian Tissue Free Collagenase/Thermolysin (MTF C/T) (n=115). A standardized islet isolation and purification method was used.

Quantifying Insulin Therapy Requirements to Preserve Islet Graft Function Following Islet Transplantation.

A mathematical nonlinear regression model of several parameters (baseline insulin intake, posttransplant 2-h postprandial blood glucose, and stimulated C-peptide) from type 1 diabetics with HbA1c <6.5% who do not require insulin therapy and have no hypoglycemic instances was developed for accurately predicting supplemental insulin requirements in the posttransplant period. An insulin deficit threshold of 0.

Sodium levels of human pancreatic donors are a critical factor for determination of islet efficacy and survival.

Organs from hypernatremia (elevated Na+) donors when used for transplantation have had dismal outcomes. However, islet isolation from hypernatremic donors for both transplantation and research applications has not yet been investigated. A retrospective analysis of in vivo and in vitro islet function studies was performed on islets isolated from hypernatremic (serum sodium levels≥160 meq/l) and normal control (serum sodium levels≤155 meq/l) donors.

Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate in hyperkalemia.

Background: Hyperkalemia (serum potassium level, >5.0 mmol per liter) is associated with increased mortality among patients with heart failure, chronic kidney disease, or diabetes. We investigated whether sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9), a novel selective cation exchanger, could lower serum potassium levels in patients with hyperkalemia.

Peginesatide to Manage Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis.

Unlabelled: ♦

Background: Peginesatide is a novel, synthetic, peptide-based pegylated erythropoiesis-stimulating agent that is designed specifically to stimulate the erythropoietin receptor. The purpose of the present study was to assess, for the first time, the efficacy and safety of peginesatide in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) and previously on epoetin treatment. ♦

Methods: In this open-label multicenter study, 59 PD patients with CKD were converted from epoetin (alfa or beta) to once-monthly peginesatide.

Effects of local low-dose rocuronium on the quality of peribulbar anesthesia for cataract surgery.

Objectives: Peribulbar anesthesia is associated with delayed and/or incomplete orbital akinesia compared with retrobulbar anesthesia. This study examined the effects of adding rocuronium 5 mg to two different concentrations of lidocaine-bupivacaine mixture on onset time of orbital and eyelid akinesia in patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Methods: In a double-blind study, 90 patients were equally randomized to receive a mixture of 0.

Increased platelet expression of FcGammaRIIa and its potential impact on platelet reactivity in patients with end stage renal disease.

Background: Increased platelet reactivity has been implicated in cardiovascular disease - the major cause of death in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). FcGammaRIIA is a component of glycoprotein VI and Ib-IX-V that mediate activation of platelets by collagen and von Willebrand factor. To determine whether expression of FcGammaRIIA impacts platelet reactivity we quantified its expression and platelet reactivity in 33 patients with ESRD who were undergoing hemodialysis.

Platelet FcgammaRIIA receptor surface expression is increased in patients with ESRD and is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular events.

Background: Accelerated atherogenesis is a prominent feature of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods: Expression of platelet FcgammaRIIA immunoglobulin G receptor (FcgammaR) was measured in 2 populations: (1) 48 patients with ESRD with a mean age of 50.7 +/- 2.

Recombinant urokinase is safe and effective in restoring patency to occluded central venous access devices: a multiple-center, international trial.

Background: The treatment of choice for central venous access device (CVAD) occlusion is intracatheter thrombolysis, which has been reported to reestablish patency in up to 80% of cases. However, these salient results have only been achieved in highly selected CVAD subgroups such as nontunneled devices in adult patients, devices with recent occlusion, and in partially occluded devices through which fluid can still be infused (withdrawal occlusions). Less is known about the success of intracatheter thrombolysis in the broader range of CVAD malfunction encountered in clinical practice, especially in those devices that are totally occluded.

Comparison of outcomes in noncomplicated and in higher-risk donors after standard versus hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Hand-assisted techniques facilitated dissemination of the laparoscopic approach in live kidney donors and addressed concerns regarding potential procedural complications. We report our experience with both standard and hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy in routine, complicated, and higher-risk donors. From July 1999 to September 2002, 47 donors underwent standard laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (SLDN; n = 29) or hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALDN; n = 18).

Lipid Metabolism and Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients: Role of Factors Modulating Cytosolic Calcium.

Animal studies indicate that insulin resistance and glucose intolerance leading to dyslipidemia in uremic rats are associated with increased cytosolic calcium ([Ca i]). The resistance and intolerance are reversed with verapamil, but recur after its discontinuation. This finding suggests that hyperparathyroid-induced [Ca i] increase is responsible for the metabolic derangement.