Evaluation of systemic inflammatory indices in the diagnosis of early onset neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight infants

BACKGROUND

Previously, not six systemic inflammatory indices were evaluated in the diagnosis of early onset sepsis (EOS) in very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500g) premature infants.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the effectiveness of systemic inflammatory indices in the diagnosis of EOS in VLBW infants.

METHODS

Premature infants with birth weight <1500 g were included in the study. Six systemic inflammatory indices including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) were compared in patients with EOS (treatment group) and without EOS (control group).

RESULTS

Of 917 infants enrolled, 204 infants were in the EOS group and 713 infants comprised the control group. NLR, MLR and SIRI values were significantly higher in the EOS group than in the control group (p < 0.001). The AUC value of SIRI for the predictivity of EOS was 0.803.

CONCLUSIONS

The SIRI can be used together with other parameters as both an easily accessible and the reliable systemic inflammatory indices in the diagnosis of EOS in VLBW preterm infants.

Geographic Distribution of Multiple Arteries and Veins of 878 Kidney Donors From a Transplant Center in Turkey

AIM

The diagnosis and management of multiple renal arteries and veins have gained importance with the increasing number of kidney transplantations and improved techniques in interventional radiology and vascular reconstructions. The aim of this study is to define and to detect the rate of multiple renal arteries and veins in our living kidney transplant donors coming from all parts of our country.

METHODS

Abdominal computed tomography angiogram findings of 878 kidney transplant donors were analyzed. The presence and the distribution of multiple renal arteries and veins in donors coming from 7 geographic regions in Turkey were noted.

RESULTS

The presence of multiple renal arteries was observed in 34% (48/141) of patients in the Marmara Region, 36.7% (79/215) of patients in the Black Sea Region, 37.2% (64/172) of patients in the Central Anatolia Region and 36.1% (30/83) of patients in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. The highest incidences of multiple renal arteries were observed in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions, affecting 40% (32/80) and 41.9% (26/62) of patients, respectively, while East Anatolia was found to have the lowest incidence, affecting 28% (35/125) of patients. The incidence of multiple renal veins also varied across regions. The highest incidence was observed in the Central Anatolia Region, where 23.3% (40/172) of patients were affected; the lowest was seen in the Aegean Region, where 11.3% (7/62) of patients were affected. In Turkey as a whole, 35.8% (314/878) of patients presented with multiple renal arteries, while the rate of multiple renal veins was found to be 19% (167/878) among our donors.

CONCLUSIONS

As 80% of the kidney transplantations performed in Turkey involve living donors, we think it will be useful to have knowledge of not only the presence of multiple renal arteries and veins, but also the distribution of this feature throughout the different regions of the country.

Effect of Obesity on Clinical Outcomes of Kidney Transplant Patients

PURPOSE

Correlating with the obesity epidemic, the number of obese transplant candidates is increasing. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of obesity on the survival of our kidney transplant recipients.

METHODS

Among 1033 kidney transplants performed during the last 7.5 years in our center, 750 adult recipients were transplanted from living donors and were evaluated, and 561 of them were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Body mass index (BMI) values at the time of transplant and post-transplant during the first year, the presence of delayed graft function, hospitalization duration, number of readmissions within the first year post-transplant, presence of post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) and cardiovascular disease, and graft and patient survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were investigated.

RESULTS

Obesity (BMI >30) was observed in 148 (19.7%) at the time of the transplant (initial obesity) and in 174 (23.2%) recipients at post-transplant first year. Initial obesity was not only found to be correlated with delayed wound healing (P = .03), increased hospitalization duration (P = .03), number of readmissions within the first year (P = .04), presence of PTDM (P = .02), and cardiovascular disease (P = .03) but also with lower graft survival rate (P = .04) at the first year. On the other hand, obesity at post-transplant the first year was associated with lower 3- and 5-year grafts (P = .04 and P = .03, respectively) and 5-year patient (P = .03) survival rates.

CONCLUSION

Obesity should not be considered as a contraindication for kidney transplantation; however, to achieve better results, certain precautions should be taken pre- and postoperatively.

Evaluation of Bone Disease in Kidney Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND

Kidney transplant recipients are known to have bone disease, specifically osteoporosis. In this descriptive clinical study we aimed to evaluate the incidence of osteoporosis and to determine the risk factors among our transplant recipients.

METHODS

A total of 109 patients (82 males and 27 females) aged from 19 to 70 years, who had undergone kidney transplantation 12 to 69 months previously, were included in the study. Bone mineral densitometry was performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The correlation between femur and lumbar spine T-scores with age, gender, post-transplantation duration, serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, and hemoglobin values were investigated.

RESULTS

The incidence of osteoporosis was 22% (24 of 109 patients). The most common sites of osteoporosis were the femur (osteoporotic in 17 patients [15.5%] and osteopenic in 57 [52.2%]) and the lumbar spine (osteoporotic in 24 patients [22%] and osteopenic in 50 [45.8%]). Osteoporosis was found to have no relationship with age and gender. There was a significant negative correlation between serum parathyroid hormone levels with both femur and lumbar spine T-scores (P = .013 and .033, respectively). However, serum phosphorus levels were negatively correlated with only femur T-scores (P = .037). A positive correlation of hemoglobin with lumbar T-scores and a negative correlation with post-transplantation duration (P = .038 and .012, respectively) were also observed.

CONCLUSION

Bone disease after transplantation is a frequent complication, which may decrease the quality of life, so we believe it is important to reduce the morbidity; it is required to detect and correct the risk factors of this complex pathophysiological situation.

Role of Everolimus on Cardiac Functions in Kidney Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND

Kidney transplantation is known to increase the survival of dialysis patients by ameloriating cardiac status, including both systolic and diastolic functions. We aimed to evaluate the role of immunosuppressive drug regimens on cardiac functions of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

METHODS

We prospectively evaluated 120 KTRs immediately before and 1 year after the kidney transplantation, using tissue Doppler echocardiography. A triple immunosuppressive therapy including tacrolimus, mycophenoloic acid (MPA), and prednisolone was started for all patients. After 3 to 6 months, the tacrolimus dose was lowered to achieve target serum levels of 5 to 8 ng/mL in both groups. MPA was switched to everolimus, with target levels of 4 to 6 ng/mL, in group 1 (n = 58), whereas group 2 (n = 62) continued with MPA.

RESULTS

No differences in age, sex, or dialysis duration existed between the groups. The prevalence of diabetic or hypertensive nephropathy as the etiology of chronic kidney disease was similar. Blood pressure was strictly controlled. The number of acute rejection episodes was not different in both groups, and no graft loss was observed in either group. Improvement in cardiac parameters including ejection fraction, left ventricular diastolic diameter, posterior wall thickness, and left ventricular hypertrophy was significantly better before and 1 year after transplantation. Interestingly, when compared with group 2, ameloriation of all of the parameters mentioned above was even better in group 1 patients (P = .02, P = .03, P = .04, and P = .04, respectively). Multivariate analysis of the significant variables determined by univariate analysis identified albumin (relative risk [RR] = 1.05, P = .02) and everolimus (RR = 1.07, P = .01) as two independent factors of improving cardiovascular function.

CONCLUSIONS

Better ameloriation of cardiovascular functions with everolimus may favor the choice of this drug in KTRs.

Kidney biopsy reveals metastatic adenocarcinoma of the appendix simulating nephrotic syndrome

Membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) is among the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults. The malignancy in presumed tumor-induced MGN has usually been diagnosed at the time the proteinuria is discovered. Here we report a 57-year-old male patient with a history of refractory pyuria and nephrotic syndrome. The kidney biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of not only MGN, but also metastasis of appendix adenocarcinoma. To our knowledge this is the first case report diagnosed as a metastatic malignancy from a kidney biopsy which no other imaging techniques were able to display.

Comparison of the right and left laparoscopic live donor nephrectomies: a clinical case load

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to retrospectively compare the results of right- and left-laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) performed in our Center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred and eight patients who were operated on between October 2010 and October 2011 were included. Of the patients, 65 underwent right-LDN and 143 underwent left-LDN. The groups were compared in terms of duration of surgery, warm ischemia time, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and donor outcomes.

RESULTS

The mean duration of surgery was 144±19.7 min and 147.8±20.2 min in the right- and left-LDN groups, respectively. The mean warm ischemia times were 139.1±54.1 s and 141.5±37.9 in the right- and left-LDN groups, respectively. The mean length of hospital stay was 2.4±1.0 days for both groups. No major complications were observed in the groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of donor outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The right-LDN is approached cautiously because of short length of vein and the risk for thrombosis. The results of the present study demonstrated that the right-LDN is as safe and effective as the left-LDN.

Late-onset pulmonary edema due to propofol

Pulmonary edema after the administration of propofol has rarely been reported. In this case report, we describe pulmonary edema due to the administration of propofol during a Cesarean section and while in the intensive care unit. The skin tests demonstrated strong positive weal and flare reactions to propofol. The patient was treated successfully with mechanical ventilatory support. This report emphasizes that this fatal complication may be seen with propofol and underlying mechanisms and therapeutic approach are discussed.

Synthesis of new sulfonamide inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase

Four different derivatives of aromatic sulfonamides have been synthesized: 1,2-bis[(4-sulfonamidobenzamide)ethoxy]ethane (SBAM), 1,2-bis[(4-sulfonamidobenzoate)ethoxy]ethane, 1,2-bis[(2,4-dichloro-5-sulfonamidobenzamide)ethoxy]ethane, and 1,2-bis[(2,4-dichloro-5-sulfonamidobenzoate)ethoxy]ethane. SBAM is a most potent inhibitor on ciliary epithelium carbonic anhydrase and is approximately 13 times more active against carbonic anhydrase isoform II than against isoform I.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome

A 26-yr-old man was admitted with malaise and melena. During the physical examination, six hemangiomas were spotted on the skin, and laboratory evaluations proved the existence of severe iron deficiency anemia (Hb 2.9 g/dl). Upper endoscopy and small bowel follow-through revealed no pathology. Colonoscopy documented the presence of a blue-red cavernous hemangioma, 1 cm in diameter, at the splenic flexura. The skin and colonic lesions were typical; thus, blue-rubber-bleb-nevus syndrome was diagnosed. The patient was given blood transfusions followed by oral iron supplementation. He refused further evaluation or surgery and is still fine after a follow-up period of 6 months. Here, we present a discussion of this case, together with a detailed review of the literature.