IgM antibodies in renal transplantation.

A prospective final crossmatch with patient serum and donor lymphocytes using the complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay to identify any performed anti-donor antibody is required for kidney transplantation. The presence of pre-existing antibody may lead to hyperacute rejection of the transplanted kidney. Certain anti-donor antibodies have previously been shown to be ineffective in promoting hyperacute rejection, such as IgM autoantibodies and non-specific IgM lymphocytotoxic antibodies.

Total lymphoid irradiation for pretransplant immunosuppression: nine year follow-up.

Total lymphoid irradiation (16 to 30 Gray units) was given to 12 patients (8 who had rejected previous grafts). We found a fall in T and B cell counts with a reversal of CD4/CD8, and a decrease in mitogeneic and allogeneic responses with recovery to pretransplant levels in 24 to 36 months. The total lymphoid irradiation patients (on low dose prednisone and cyclosporine) had nine year graft and patient survival rates of 50% and 81.

Glucagon lowers canine biliary cholesterol output at physiologic doses.

Pharmacologic doses of glucagon affect canine bile secretion by increasing bile flow while simultaneously decreasing biliary cholesterol output. The present study was performed to determine if physiologic doses of glucagon reduce biliary cholesterol output. Awake dogs received both intravenous 1% sodium taurocholate (50 ml/hr) to stabilize bile flow and somatostatin (12 micrograms/kg/hr) to suppress endogenous pancreatic hormone release.

Effects of bombesin on fasting bile formation.

Adult dogs were previously prepared by cholecystectomy, ligation of the lesser pancreatic duct, and insertion of cannulae into the duodenum and stomach. After a 2-week period of postoperative recovery and an overnight fast, bile ducts were cannulated, gastric cannulae placed to open drainage and sodium taurocholate 500 mg hr-1 was administered to replace bile acids lost from the interrupted enterohepatic circuit. Bombesin was infused IV for 1 hour over the dose range, 0.