Comparison of kidney transplant outcomes in HLA compatible and incompatible transplantation: A national cohort study.

Background: Reports of HLA incompatible (HLAi) kidney transplant outcomes are inconclusive, especially in the context of lower level Donor Specific Antibodies (DSA).

Methods: Multi-centre national cohort study of HLAi kidney transplant recipients matched in 1:2 ratio with HLA compatible (HLAc) kidney transplant recipients. HLAi defined as DSA identified by Luminex.

Blood transcriptional signature of recombinant human erythropoietin administration and implications for antidoping strategies.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is frequently abused by athletes as a performance-enhancing drug, despite being prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Although the methods to detect blood doping, including rHuEPO injections, have improved in recent years, they remain imperfect. In a proof-of-principle study, we identified, replicated, and validated the whole blood transcriptional signature of rHuEPO in endurance-trained Caucasian males at sea level (n = 18) and Kenyan endurance runners at moderate altitude (n = 20), all of whom received rHuEPO injections for 4 wk.

The Emerging Potential of the Apelin-APJ System in Heart Failure.

The apelin-APJ system is a novel neurohormonal pathway, with studies to date suggesting that it may be of pathophysiologic relevance in heart failure and may indeed be a viable therapeutic target in this syndrome. This interest is driven primarily by the demonstration of its vasodilator, inotropic, and aquaretic actions as well as its apparent antagonistic relationship with the renin-angiotensin system. However, its promise is heightened further by the observation that, unlike other and more established cardioprotective pathways, it appears to be down-regulated in heart failure, suggesting that augmentation of this axis may have a powerful effect on the heart failure syndrome.

Effects of neutral endopeptidase (neprilysin) inhibition on the response to other vasoactive peptides in small human resistance arteries: studies with thiorphan and omapatrilat.

Purpose: New compounds with neprilysin or neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibiting activity are under clinical investigation in heart failure and hypertension. We investigated the effect of NEP inhibition on the functional vasomotor responses to a range of vasoactive peptides in human blood vessels.

Methods: Small human resistance arteries from patients with coronary artery disease and preserved left ventricular systolic function were studied.

Haemoglobin mass and running time trial performance after recombinant human erythropoietin administration in trained men.

Unlabelled: Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) increases haemoglobin mass (Hb(mass)) and maximal oxygen uptake (v O(2 max)).

Purpose: This study defined the time course of changes in Hb(mass), v O(2 max) as well as running time trial performance following 4 weeks of rHuEpo administration to determine whether the laboratory observations would translate into actual improvements in running performance in the field.

Methods: 19 trained men received rHuEpo injections of 50 IU•kg(-1) body mass every two days for 4 weeks.

Five-year outcomes after a change from a cyclosporin-based to a 'low-dose' tacrolimus-based primary immunosuppression regimen for incident kidney transplants--the Glasgow experience.

In January 2007, our centre changed from a cyclosporin (CyA)/azathioprine (Aza)/ prednisolone (Pred) primary immunosuppression regimen (with basiliximab induction and mycophenolate mofetil [MMF] for those at immunologically high risk) to a tacrolimus (Tac) (low dose)/MMF/Pred regimen with basiliximab induction, following presentation of Symphony trial results. This analysis assesses the impact of this change on 5-year outcomes. Three hundred consecutive renal-only transplants were identified: 140 from the 2005-06 era and 160 from the 2007-08 era.

Severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction in a patient with a typical haemolytic-uraemic syndrome treated with rituximab-coincidence or cause?

A 26-year-old female with haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) refractory to daily plasma exchange was successfully treated with rituximab. Subsequent testing confirmed the presence of mutations in genes encoding complement factor I and CD46. On Day 32 she developed pulmonary oedema, and echocardiography demonstrated severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Ten years experience of in-center thrice weekly long overnight hemodialysis.

Background And Objectives: Published studies suggest that longer hemodialysis (HD) sessions are associated with improved morbidity and mortality, but few centers offer long sessions. The Western Infirmary renal unit has offered long overnight hemodialysis (LOH) (6 to 7 h) thrice weekly since 1998. The aim of this study was to describe patients who chose LOH and compare outcomes with patients on conventional hours (4 to 5 h) HD.

Aortic stiffness and diastolic flow abnormalities in end-stage renal disease assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Arterial stiffness is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). One mechanism linking arterial stiffness with cardiovascular events may be the changes in pressure wave reflection on ventricular ejection and coronary perfusion during diastole. We illustrate this using MRI to describe aortic elastic properties and alterations of diastolic flow in comparison to derived central pressure characteristics.

Differences in arterial compliance, microvascular function and venous capacitance between patients with heart failure and either preserved or reduced left ventricular systolic function.

Background: Up to 50% of patients with the clinical syndrome of heart failure have preserved left ventricular systolic function (HF-PSF). These patients may have abnormalities of ventriculo-vascular coupling, due to increased vascular and ventricular stiffness.

Methods: We compared arterial compliance, microvascular vasodilator function and venous capacitance (VC) in 3 groups of patients (n=12 each) matched for the presence of coronary heart disease: 1) HF and preserved systolic function (HF-PSF), 2) HF and reduced systolic function (HF-RSF) and 3) controls (no HF, PSF).

A guide to wire myography.

Wire myography is an in vitro technique that allows us to examine functional responses and vascular reactivity of isolated small resistance arteries. Vessels from various species, including transgenic models, and vascular beds can be examined in a variety of pathological disease states. Vessels are dissected, cleaned, and then mounted onto a four-channel myograph under isometric techniques.