Balanced Electrolyte Solutions Versus 0.9% Saline for Kidney Transplantation: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Perioperative intravenous fluids are administered to kidney transplant recipients to maintain hemodynamic stability and graft perfusion; however, the ideal fluid remains uncertain. Although 0.9% saline (saline) is commonly used, its high chloride content causes hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and may increase the risks of delayed graft function (DGF) and hyperkalemia.

ABO Incompatible Kidney Transplantation Without B-cell Depletion is Associated With Increased Early Acute Rejection: A Single-Center Australian Experience.

We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study of 66 consecutive ABO incompatible kidney transplants (ABOiKT) performed without B-cell depleting therapy. Outcomes were compared to an earlier era performed with rituximab ( = 18) and a contemporaneous cohort of ABO compatible live donor transplants (ABOcKT). Acute rejection within 3 months of transplant was significantly more common after rituximab-free ABOiKT compared to ABOiKT with rituximab (OR 8.

Implantation and long-term assessment of the stability and biocompatibility of a novel 98 channel suprachoroidal visual prosthesis in sheep.

Severe visual impairment can result from retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, which lead to photoreceptor cell death. These pathologies result in extensive neural and glial remodelling, with survival of excitable retinal neurons that can be electrically stimulated to elicit visual percepts and restore a form of useful vision. The Phoenix Bionic Eye is a fully implantable visual prosthesis, designed to stimulate the retina from the suprachoroidal space.

SPIKE-1: A Randomised Phase II/III trial in a community setting, assessing use of camostat in reducing the clinical progression of COVID-19 by blocking SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein-initiated membrane fusion.

Objectives: The primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of camostat to prevent respiratory deterioration in patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Secondary objectives include assessment of the ability of camostat to reduce the requirement for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related hospital admission and to reduce the requirement for supplementary oxygen and ventilation as treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection, to evaluate overall mortality related to COVID-19 and to evaluate the efficacy of camostat by effect on clinical improvement. Research objectives include to assess change in COVID-19 symptom severity, to evaluate the ability of camostat to reduce viral load throughout duration of illness as well as translational research on host and viral genomics, serum antibody production, COVID-19 diagnostics, and validation of laboratory testing methods and biomarkers.

Development and outcomes of de novo donor-specific antibodies in low, moderate, and high immunological risk kidney transplant recipients.

De novo donor-specific antibodies (dnDSA) play an important role in antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) and graft failure, yet their development in kidney transplant recipients (KTx) of higher immunological risk has not been characterized. We prospectively determined the incidence of dnDSA at 3 and 12 months posttransplant and assessed their associations with outcomes in recipients stratified by low, moderate, and high immunological risk. Adult KTx were screened for DSA pretransplant, months 3 and 12 posttransplant, and when clinically indicated.

The Treatment of Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Kidney Transplantation: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Current treatments for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in kidney transplantation are based on low-quality data from a small number of controlled trials. Novel agents targeting B cells, plasma cells, and the complement system have featured in recent studies of AMR.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials in kidney transplant recipients using Medline, EMBASE, and CENTRAL from inception to February 2017.

The clinical efficacy of first-generation carcinoembryonic antigen (CEACAM5)-specific CAR T cells is limited by poor persistence and transient pre-conditioning-dependent respiratory toxicity.

The primary aim of this clinical trial was to determine the feasibility of delivering first-generation CAR T cell therapy to patients with advanced, CEACAM5 malignancy. Secondary aims were to assess clinical efficacy, immune effector function and optimal dose of CAR T cells. Three cohorts of patients received increasing doses of CEACAM5-specific CAR T cells after fludarabine pre-conditioning plus systemic IL2 support post T cell infusion.

Normal saline versus lower-chloride solutions for kidney transplantation.

Background: The ideal intravenous fluid for kidney transplantation has not been defined, despite the common use of normal saline during the peri-operative period. The high chloride content of normal saline is associated with an increased risk of hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis, which may in turn increase the risk of hyperkalaemia and delayed graft function. Balanced electrolyte solutions have a lower chloride content which may decrease this risk and avoid the need for dialysis due to hyperkalaemia in the immediate post-transplant period.

Early renal function recovery and long-term graft survival in kidney transplantation.

Following kidney transplantation (KTx), renal function improves gradually until a baseline eGFR is achieved. Whether or not a recipient achieves the best-predicted eGFR after KTx may have important implications for immediate patient management, as well as for long-term graft survival. The aim of this cohort study was to calculate the renal function recovery (RFR) based on recipient and donor eGFR and to evaluate the association between RFR and long-term death-censored graft failure (DCGF).

GRP receptor imaging of prostate cancer using [(99m)Tc]Demobesin 4: a first-in-man study.

Purpose: We explored the imaging of bombesin receptors and evaluated the clinical use of [(99m)Tc]Demobesin 4 ([(99m)Tc]DB4) in prostate cancer patients.

Procedures: [(99m)Tc]DB4 was prepared according to Good Manufacturing Practice. Patients with prostate cancer underwent serial planar and SPECT imaging up to 3 h after administration.

Identification of two partners from the bacterial Kef exchanger family for the apical plasma membrane V-ATPase of Metazoa.

The vital task of vectorial solute transport is often energised by a plasma membrane, proton-motive V-ATPase. However, its proposed partner, an apical alkali-metal/proton exchanger, has remained elusive. Here, both FlyAtlas microarray data and in situ analyses demonstrate that the bacterial kefB and kefC (members of the CPA2 family) homologues in Drosophila, CG10806 and CG31052, respectively, are both co-expressed with V-ATPase genes in transporting epithelia.

EXTRA--a multicenter phase II study of chemoradiation using a 5 day per week oral regimen of capecitabine and intravenous mitomycin C in anal cancer.

Purpose: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) + mitomycin C (MMC)-based chemoradiotherapy is standard treatment for patients with epidermoid anal carcinoma. Clinical trials in other cancers have confirmed 5-FU can successfully be replaced by the oral fluoropyrimidine capecitabine. This phase II trial aimed to determine the feasibility, toxicity, and efficacy of capecitabine, MMC and radiotherapy (RT) in anal cancer patients.

Thromboprophylaxis practice patterns in hip fracture surgery patients: experience in Perth, Western Australia.

Background: International guidelines recommend that all patients undergoing hip fracture surgery receive specific thromboprophylaxis. The purpose of the present study was to examine current thromboprophylaxis practice patterns in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery at Royal Perth Hospital.

Methods: A total of 129 consecutive patients admitted to Royal Perth Hospital between 4 February and 21 July 2002 for surgical repair of a fractured neck of femur, was studied.

A genetic hierarchy establishes mitogenic signalling and mitotic competence in the renal tubules of Drosophila.

Cell proliferation in the developing renal tubules of Drosophila is strikingly patterned, occurring in two phases to generate a consistent number of tubule cells. The later phase of cell division is promoted by EGF receptor signalling from a specialised subset of tubule cells, the tip cells, which express the protease Rhomboid and are thus able to secrete the EGF ligand, Spitz. We show that the response to EGF signalling, and in consequence cell division, is patterned by the specification of a second cell type in the tubules.