Community-based, cross-sectional study of self-reported health in post-recession Ireland: what has changed?

BACKGROUND

Health has a complex relationship with economic conditions. Ireland's economic recession (2008-13) and sharp recovery (from 2014 onwards) offer a valuable opportunity to study self-reported health and its correlates in the context of rapid economic change.

AIM

To assess the correlates of self-reported health in Dublin, Ireland after the economic recession of 2008-13.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, face-to-face household survey using random cluster sampling.

METHODS

Self-reported health and its correlates were assessed in randomly selected households in Tallaght (a suburb of Dublin) and results were compared with a similar survey in 2014.

RESULTS

Five hundred and eighty-three eligible households were invited to participate and interviews were completed in 351 (response rate: 60.2%). The proportion of respondents rating their health as 'very good' or 'good' was 71.8%, essentially unchanged from four years earlier (70.8%). In 2018, better self-reported health was associated with less stress, holding private health insurance, not living with a person with a disability or chronic illness, and greater education; taken together, these factors explained 39.4% of variation in self-reported health. Unlike 2014, self-reported health in 2018 was no longer directly associated with employment status.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported health has stabilized in Ireland since the end of the economic recession, but its correlates have shifted. Stress and carer burden are now among the strongest correlates of poor self-reported health in Ireland.

Indication, surgical technique and outcome of orthotopic renal transplantation

PURPOSE

We review the indication, surgical technique and outcome of orthotopic renal transplantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The medical records of 1,000 patients who underwent renal transplantation at our institution between August 24, 1993 and August 1, 2000, as well as orthotopic renal transplantation were reviewed.

RESULTS

Orthotopic renal transplantation was performed in 4 males and 1 female with severe iliac atherosclerosis or retained bilateral iliac fossa kidney transplant. Mean patient age was 56 years. There were 2 patients who received kidneys from living related donors, and 3 underwent cadaveric renal transplantation. Left orthotopic renal transplantation was successful in 4 cases, and 1 was converted to iliac fossa renal transplant because of a pulseless splenic artery and renal artery thrombosis after native renal endarterectomy. Orthotopic renal revascularization was done with splenic artery in 2, native renal artery in 2 and left renal vein in all 4 patients. Urinary tract reconstruction was performed with stented (2) or nonstented (2) ureteroureterostomy. Antibody induction, purine antagonists, calcineurin inhibitors and glucocorticoids were used for immunosuppression. Mean preoperative and 1-month postoperative serum creatinine was 7.9 and 1.3 mg./dl., respectively. Patient and graft survival was 100% during followup, which ranged from 6 months to 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the technical challenges, orthotopic renal transplantation in patients with unsuitable pelvic vessels can result in excellent patient and graft survival.

Current status of renal transplantation. Patient evaluations and outcomes

A systematic team approach to the assessment of renal transplant candidates is one of several factors that have resulted in improved kidney transplant and recipient survival rates, rates that were only imagined 4 decades ago.

Kidney transplantation in children with urinary diversion or bladder augmentation

PURPOSE

Urinary tract anomalies or dysfunction leaves the bladder unsuitable for urine drainage in a significant proportion of children presenting for kidney transplantation. We reviewed a multi-institutional experience to determine the ramifications of kidney transplantation in children with bladder augmentation or urinary diversion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

During a 28-year period 18 boys and 12 girls 1.7 to 18 years old (mean age 12.1) received 31 kidney transplants. Cause of end stage renal disease was renal dysplasia in 8 cases, posterior urethral valves in 5, obstructive uropathy in 5, neurogenic bladder/chronic pyelonephritis in 4, spina bifida/chronic pyelonephritis in 3, prune belly syndrome in 3 and reflux in 2.

RESULTS

Of the patients 17 had augmented bladder (ileum 9, ureter 5, sigmoid 2 and stomach 1), 12 had incontinent urinary conduits (8 ileum, 6 colon) and 1 had a continent urinary reservoir. Surgical complications included 1 case each of stomal stenosis, stomal prolapse, renal artery stenosis, urine leak, enterovesical fistula and wound dehiscence. Medical complications included urinary tract infection in 21 cases and metabolic acidosis in 5. A bladder stone developed in 1 patient. There was no correlation between the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infections and type of urinary drainage. Acidosis was more common in patients with augmented bladder (4 of 17 versus 1 of 14) but there was no correlation between the bowel segment used and the occurrence of acidosis. Graft survival was 90% at 1 year, 78% at 5 years and 60% at 10 years. Etiology of graft loss included chronic rejection in 6 cases, noncompliance in 4 and acute rejection in 1. There were no deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Drainage of transplanted kidneys into an augmented bladder or urinary conduit is an appropriate management strategy when the native bladder is unsuitable or absent. Patients with kidney transplants drained into augmented bladder or urinary conduit are at increased risk for urine infection. Graft survival is not adversely affected compared to historical controls when a kidney transplant is drained into a urinary conduit or augmented bladder.

A capture-recapture study of the prevalence and implications of opiate use in Dublin

BACKGROUND

To date there have been no studies estimating the hidden prevalence of opiate use in Dublin.

METHODS

A multisource enumeration followed by the application of the capture-recapture method with log-linear modelling including age and gender stratification to remove heterogeneity was implemented to provide an estimate of the unknown size of the opiate-using population. Two medical and one legal data sources were used.

RESULTS

It was found that the ratio of known to unknown opiate users was 1:1.15 with a total of 13,460 (95% CI: 12,037-15,306) users estimated in Dublin in 1996.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study have important ramifications for service delivery.

Postoperative cystography is unnecessary following renal transplantation with parallel incision extravesical ureteroneocystostomy

PURPOSE

To determine the need for postoperative cystography following extravesical ureteroneocystostomy for renal transplantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical courses of 200 consecutive kidney transplant recipients who underwent urinary tract reconstruction by parallel incision extravesical ureteroneocystostomy were reviewed.

RESULTS

Five of the 200 recipients did not have the study because of early mortality (1) or medical problems (4). Grade I vesicoureteral reflux was present in 5 (3%) of 182 unstented allograft ureters and 5 of 13 stented allograft ureters. Two patients (1%) underwent repeat ureteroneocystostomy, one for obstruction and one for extravasation. The cystograms were normal in both patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine retrograde cystography is unnecessary following urinary tract reconstruction by parallel incision extravesical ureteroneocystostomy.

Phase I trial of HuM291, a humanized anti-CD3 antibody, in patients receiving renal allografts from living donors

BACKGROUND

HuM291 is a humanized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody engineered to reduce binding to Fcgamma receptors and complement fixation. HuM291 has a long serum half-life and mediated profound depletion of circulating T cells in chimpanzees; HuM291 also has significantly less mitogenic and cytokine-releasing activity than OKT3 in vitro.

METHODS

A phase I dose-escalation study was conducted in 15 end-stage renal disease patients scheduled for renal allografts from living donors. Patients received one i.v. HuM291 injection before transplantation. Five doses were tested: 0.015 microg/kg, 0.15 microg/kg, 0.0015 mg/kg, 0.0045 mg/kg, and 0.015 mg/kg. Patients were followed for adverse events, laboratory abnormalities, serum cytokine levels, pharmacokinetics, and CD2+, CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell counts.

RESULTS

HuM291 was well tolerated; most adverse events were mild to moderate in severity and included headache, nausea, chills, and fever. These occurred within the first few hours after HuM291 administration, resolved within 24 to 48 hr, and were likely related to cytokine release. In general, peak tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-6 levels were detected 1 to 6 hr postdosing only at the three highest doses and were generally undetectable by 24-hr postdosing. Serious adverse events possibly related to HuM291 included clotting of a fistula (two patients), chemical cellulitis (one patient), and increased serum creatinine/decreased hematocrit (one patient). At doses > or = 0.0015 mg/kg (0.1 mg/70 kg), HuM291 induced rapid, marked depletion of peripheral T cells within 2 hr; duration of T cell depletion was dose dependent. At the two highest dose levels, T cells remained depleted for approximately 1 week.

CONCLUSIONS

A single HuM291 dose rapidly depleted circulating T cells in a dose-dependent manner and was associated with only mild to moderate symptoms of cytokine release.

Current dental concepts in antibiotic prophylaxis for total joint replacement patients

The subject of antibiotic prophylaxis has evoked controversy and much debate over the validity of such practice. In July 1997, the American Dental Association and American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons issued an advisory statement concerning the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with total joint replacements. A historical perspective of the subject is presented, with a review of the recommendation for total joint replacement antibiotic prophylaxis, a discussion of the new decision-making responsibility for the dentist, and medicolegal ramifications of this change.

Factors in cardiac risk stratification of candidates for renal transplant

BACKGROUND

Renal transplant candidates are at high risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiac events.

METHODS

This study evaluated five clinical risk factors--age at least 50 years, insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus, angina, congestive heart failure and an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) (excluding left ventricular hypertrophy)--that had been used in the first tier of a two-tiered prospectively applied risk stratification algorithm.

RESULTS

Using multiple logistic regression analysis, age at least 50 years, abnormal ECG, and diabetes mellitus were independently predictive of cardiac death. Of the two remaining clinical risk factors, the presence of angina had independent predictive value for nonfatal cardiac events (myocardial infarction, coronary angioplasty, bypass surgery, and unstable angina). The independent predictive value of congestive heart failure approached statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Clinical risk-factor analysis is helpful in identifying renal transplant candidates at high risk for fatal or nonfatal cardiac events.

Kidney transplantation in children: a single center experience

PURPOSE

We reviewed our most recent 10-year experience with kidney transplantation in children to determine the morbidity and mortality of the procedure, and to identify factors that affected outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 107 renal transplants were done in 95 children 1 to 17 years old (mean age 10.9) during the 10-year period ending January 1, 1997. The 4 most common causes of end stage renal disease were renal dysplasia, reflux nephropathy, obstructive uropathy and systemic immunological diseases. Cyclosporine based immunosuppression was used in all but 2 recipients. After April 1991 antilymphocyte antibody induction, coagulopathy screening, systemic anticoagulation and cytomegalovirus prophylaxis were incorporated into the protocols. The effects of kidney source, recipient gender, recipient age, preformed anti-HLA antibody level, preemptive renal transplantation, cytomegalovirus risk, antilymphocyte antibody induction therapy and date of renal transplantation on kidney graft survival were examined with the log rank test.

RESULTS

The 1-year graft and patient survival rates were 91 and 99%, respectively. The most common causes of graft failure were rejection and recurrence of primary renal disease. The only factors that significantly (p < 0.05) influenced graft survival were antilymphocyte antibody induction immunosuppression and kidney transplantation after April 1991. Three urological complications required surgical correction. Medical morbidity included hypertension in 48.6% of the cases, short stature in 46.6% and obesity in 58.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric renal transplantation can be done with acceptable morbidity, a low rate of technical complications and low mortality. Hypertension, chronic rejection and abnormal body habitus continue to be problematic.

Renal transplantation across the ABO barrier using A2 kidneys

BACKGROUND

The waiting list for cadaveric kidney transplantation has continued to grow, and with the relative scarcity of cadaver donors, the median waiting time for patients in the United States increased to 824 days in 1994. The median waiting times for patients with blood groups B or O were 1329 and 1007 days, respectively. Allocation of blood group A2 kidneys (20% of group A) to blood group O and B patients expands their potential donor pool and shortens their waiting time for a kidney transplantation.

METHODS

Between May 1991 and June 1998, we transplanted 15 A2 kidneys into 6 blood group O and 9 blood group B patients. Anti-A isoagglutinins were measured before transplantation, and patients with anti-A1 titers > or = 1:8 underwent plasmapheresis (PP).

RESULTS

One patient with high titer anti-A antibodies, who did not receive PP, lost her allograft because of hyperacute rejection. Allograft function was excellent in the remaining 14 patients, with a mean serum creatinine level of 1.7 (+/-0.89) mg/dl at 1 month and 1.3 (+/-0.34) mg/dl at 1 year. The actuarial 1-year graft survival rate was 93.3+/-6.4% and the patient survival rate was 100%.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the allocation of blood group A2 kidneys for blood group O and B recipients is a practical way to expand the donor pool for these transplant candidates. PP may be important for reducing the levels of anti-A1 and anti-A2 antibodies and for reducing the risk of hyperacute rejection. Splenectomy seems to be unnecessary.

HLA-identical sibling renal transplantation--a 21-yr single-center experience

Human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling organs offer the best long-term outcomes for recipients of a renal transplant apart from an identical twin. Unlike cadaveric transplants, however, factors that affect long-term survival of these immunologically privileged grafts are not well described. We reviewed 108 HLA-identical transplants performed at our institution between January 1977 and February 1993. Variables chosen for graft survival analysis were: gender, age and ABO blood type of donors and recipients, panel reactivity antibodies (PRA), blood transfusions prior to transplant, pregnancies, and the underlying renal disease. Additionally, incidence of acute rejection (AR), timing of AR, serum creatinine levels at 1 wk and at 1 yr, and presence of hypertension were included in the analysis. Mean follow-up was 130.9 +/- 58.2 months (range 38-250 months). Actual 5-yr patient and graft survivals were 92 and 88%, respectively. Thirty-eight grafts were lost, and 22 recipients died during the observation period. Death was the main cause of graft failure. Cardiac events accounted for the majority of deaths. AR occurred in 46% and repeated rejections in 11% of recipients. Actuarial graft survival at 10 yr was poorer for patients with any AR (69%), and significantly worse with repeated AR (33%), compared to patients without AR (86%), p = 0.001). Sixty percent of all rejections and 88% of the first rejections occurred in the first 60 d post-transplantation. The first AR that occurred after 60 d was associated with poor graft survival (49 vs. 70%, p = 0.04). Recipients with renal diseases with potential to recur (membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN), membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), focal and segmental glomerulonephritis (FSGN), polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), rapid progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), Henoch-Schoenlein purpura (HSP), diabetes mellitus (DM), interstitial nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN)) faired worse as a group than recipients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis (HTN), autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), Alport's, reflux or congenital dysplasia (68 vs. 96% at 10 yr, p = 0.0009). Poor patient survival was seen in diabetics (71 vs. 88% at 10 yr, p = 0.01). There was a trend to poorer graft survival in diabetic recipients when compared to non-diabetics (65 vs. 81% at 10 yr, p = 0.054). Elevated creatinine at 1 yr was associated with worse graft survival. Likewise, the magnitude of creatinine increase during the first year directly correlated with the risk of graft loss. Hypertensive patients were more likely to lose their grafts than normotensive recipients (72 vs. 86%, p = 0.04). Pre-transplant blood transfusion, pregnancy, and PRA level were not associated with increased graft failure or AR. Graft survival was not affected by gender, age, or ABO blood type of donors or recipients. In conclusion, better prevention and treatment of AR, hypertension, and cardiac disease should improve graft and patient survival. Close attention to recurrence of disease and subtle changes in the creatinine level during the first year might dictate early diagnostic and, hopefully, therapeutic interventions.

Renal transplantation

There has been an increase in the transplantation of kidneys from living, genetically unrelated donors and from extended criteria cadaver donors. The past policies about paid renal donors are being reconsidered. Techniques have been developed to reduce morbidity for the living renal donor. The variety of immunosuppressants allows individuation of therapy. Guidelines for conception and pregnancy have been established.

Prostate cancer in the post-transplant population. Urologic Society for Transplantation and Vascular Surgery

OBJECTIVES

We conducted a multicenter retrospective study to determine the results of treatment for prostate cancer in solid organ transplant recipients.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all patients diagnosed with prostate cancer after organ transplantation at five centers was conducted. Data were obtained by chart review and a multipoint data sheet was used to abstract the data from the patient charts.

RESULTS

Eighteen cases of prostate cancer were identified from six institutions. Most (84%) of the cancers were clinically localized at the time of diagnosis. Nine (50%) of 18 patients underwent radical prostatectomy, which was the predominant mode of treatment. Overall survival at a mean follow-up of 32 months was 66%, with a cancer specific mortality of 16%. Mortality was 13% for the 15 patients with localized disease and 33% for the 3 patients with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the patients with prostate cancer being detected after solid organ transplantation were diagnosed with localized disease. Aggressive therapeutic intervention as in the general (nontransplant) population yields good results and should be pursued. Diligent surveillance for prostate cancer in this population using periodic digital rectal examination, serum prostate-specific antigen, and prostate needle biopsy as needed will ensure earlier cancer detection and allow for definitive therapeutic intervention.

Efficacy and safety of low molecular weight heparin in renal transplantation

BACKGROUND

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common problem with potentially devastating results in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. Certain renal transplant recipients are particularly at risk for allograft loss as a consequence of renal vein and artery thrombosis. Over the past few years, low molecular weight heparin has been well established as an accepted modality of treatment and prophylaxis of DVT. The efficacy and safety of low molecular weight heparin in the prophylaxis of DVT following renal transplantation in adults has not previously been reported.

METHODS

Dalteparin was administered to 120 adult renal transplant recipients postoperatively at the Oregon Health Sciences University.

RESULTS

No patient developed allograft arterial or venous thrombosis. One patient developed subclavian vein thrombosis. No bleeding complications were encountered, and side effects were very minimal.

CONCLUSION

Prophylaxis with dalteparin is an effective and safe modality for the prevention of thrombosis in adult patients undergoing renal transplantation.

Bilateral open transperitoneal cyst reduction surgery for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

PURPOSE

We reviewed our experience with open transperitoneal bilateral renal cyst reduction surgery in patients with symptomatic autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease to define perioperative morbidity and mortality, and to suggest that others consider this mode of therapy when more conservative methods fail to provide relief from pain or early satiety.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 28 patients underwent 30 transperitoneal bilateral renal cyst reduction decompression operations between May 1987 and June 1996. Ten procedures included surgical treatment of concomitant liver cysts (8 by liver cyst marsupialization and 2 by partial hepatic resection). Records were reviewed for hospital stay, perioperative morbidity, changes in renal function and hypertension control.

RESULTS

Hospitalization averaged 9 days. Treatment of hepatic cysts, age and renal insufficiency did not extend hospitalization. A transient reduction in renal function occurred after 20 procedures. The most frequently encountered perioperative morbid events were ileus in 4 patients and cardiac arrhythmias in 3. The most significant complications were myocardial infarction in 1 patient and fatal adult respiratory distress syndrome after partial liver resection in another. Preoperative renal insufficiency, age and treatment of hepatic cysts were not associated with increased morbidity. Six patients had improvement in hypertension and none had sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS

Bilateral transperitoneal renal cyst reduction surgery is a relatively safe and effective treatment for individuals with symptomatic polycystic kidney disease in whom more conservative therapies have failed.

Diagnosis and management of ureteroiliac artery fistula: value of provocative arteriography followed by common iliac artery embolization and extraanatomic arterial bypass grafting

PURPOSE

We describe an effective multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of ureteroarterial fistulas that reduces morbidity and mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five ureteroarterial fistulas in 4 patients were studied with standard and provocative arteriography (arteriography combined with ureteral manipulation). After establishing the diagnosis, each lesion was treated with percutaneous embolic occlusion of the common iliac artery followed by extraanatomic arterial bypass grafting. All patients had chronic ureteral stenting, prior pelvic irradiation, prior pelvic surgery and intrapelvic malignancy, and all fistulas presented with urinary tract hemorrhage.

RESULTS

Standard arteriography was nondiagnostic but provocative arteriography demonstrated the fistula in each case. Successful embolization of the common iliac artery followed by extraanatomic arterial bypass grafting precluded the need for laparotomy and preserved ipsilateral renal function.

CONCLUSIONS

Provocative arteriography followed by arteriographic common iliac artery embolization and extraanatomic bypass grafting was successful for the diagnosis and treatment of ureteroarterial fistulas. There was no mortality, limb loss or renal loss.

Cardiac risk stratification in renal transplantation using a form of artificial intelligence

The purpose of this study was to determine if an expert network, a form of artificial intelligence, could effectively stratify cardiac risk in candidates for renal transplant. Input into the expert network consisted of clinical risk factors and thallium-201 stress test data. Clinical risk factor screening alone identified 95 of 189 patients as high risk. These 95 patients underwent thallium-201 stress testing, and 53 had either reversible or fixed defects. The other 42 patients were classified as low risk. This algorithm made up the "expert system," and during the 4-year follow-up period had a sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 77%, and accuracy of 78%. An artificial neural network was added to the expert system, creating an expert network. Input into the neural network consisted of both clinical variables and thallium-201 stress test data. There were 5 hidden nodes and the output (end point) was cardiac death. The expert network increased the specificity of the expert system alone from 77% to 90% (p < 0.001), the accuracy from 78% to 89% (p < 0.005), and maintained the overall sensitivity at 88%. An expert network based on clinical risk factor screening and thallium-201 stress testing had an accuracy of 89% in predicting the 4-year cardiac mortality among 189 renal transplant candidates.

Cadaver kidney transplantation in patients more than 65 years old

Elderly patients with end-stage renal disease often remain on dialytic therapy because they are at increased risk for mortality and morbidity. We placed 24 cadaver kidney transplants into 24 patients aged 65-74 years between September 1, 1985, and August 31, 1995. Rates of patient and graft survival were compared with those of 404 concurrent first cadaver-kidney transplant recipients between the ages of 20 and 44 years. The 5-year rates of patient and graft survival were not significantly different (86% versus 92% and 77% versus 63%, respectively; study group presented first). Primary cadaver kidney transplantation can be successfully performed in patients older than 65 years when a selection algorithm is applied to exclude active infection, active malignancy, unsuitable anatomy for technical success, high probability of operative mortality, and noncompliance. Pelvic arteriosclerosis and lower urinary tract abnormalities can cause intraoperative technical problems.

Thirty-seven years of renal transplantation in Oregon

What we accomplish today as a matter of routine was only imagined by a few 4 decades ago. The journey from that first successful kidney transplant in the 1950s to the multidisciplinary, multiorgan transplant program of today has been a fascinating one. Although we attribute our current results to careful recipient selection and preparation, improvements in organ procurement and preservation, refinement of surgical techniques, improvement in histocompatibility techniques and organ sharing, improvements in immunosuppression and infection control, and careful monitoring of recipients, we and our patients have benefited from significant contributions from our colleagues in government and the law. The 4 that come to mind are the provision of near-universal insurance coverage for end stage renal disease patients in 1972 under the Medicare program, the passage of brain death laws in the mid 1970s, the passage of the National Transplant Act in 1984, and the passage of the Oregon required request law in 1985.

Patch and flap techniques to repair right renal vein defects caused by cadaver liver retrieval for transplantation

We describe 2 techniques that allow right renal vein extension and prevent renal vein stenosis if the cephalic portion of the renal vein has been amputated when the liver is separated from the kidneys during multiple organ retrieval. These techniques were successfully used in 8 cadaver kidney transplant recipients.

Primary penile lymphoma presenting as a penile ulcer

Primary penile lymphoma is rare. The clinical manifestations can be quite subtle, which may lead to misdiagnosis. Treatments have included radical surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. We report on an 18-year-old man with primary penile lymphoma whose lesion caused prolonged diagnostic uncertainty. He was treated with chemotherapy alone, and he has had no tumor recurrence for 27 months.

Management of the hypertensive patient: a case report

Hypertension is a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease. Most patients with hypertension can be treated and controlled if they are diagnosed in a timely manner. This case report exemplifies how the dentist can play a key role in the detection of hypertension by simply taking vital signs on all patients. It is incumbent upon us as health-care professionals to understand the causes of hypertension, the therapeutic drugs used and associated side effects, and the potential for drug interactions. The dentist's ability to recognize and appropriately manage hypertension will greatly enhance the health and safety of our patients.

Extravesical ureteroneocystostomy for duplicated allograft ureters

We report a modification of unstented, parallel incision, extravesical ureteroneocystostomy for duplicated ureters. The technique is simple and effective, and requires no routine stenting.

A prospective, double-blind, randomized study of high-versus low-dose OKT3 induction immunosuppression in cadaveric renal transplantation

We undertook a prospective, double-blind study of high-(5-mg) versus low-(2-mg) dose OKT3 for induction immunosuppression (12 days) in cadaveric renal allograft transplantation. Maintenance immunosuppression was identical in both groups and consisted of azathioprine and prednisone initially, with cyclosporine beginning on the 5th postoperative day. Twenty-six patients were randomized. The groups were similar in terms of age, kidney ischemia time, peak PRA, and latest PRA. There were more diabetics and women in the high-dose group. Patient survival at 12 months was 100% in both groups. Graft survival at 12 months was 92% and 100% in the high- and low-dose groups, respectively. Infections were mostly minor and equal in frequency in the two groups. All patients receiving high- or low-dose OKT3 had manifestations of the cytokine release syndrome; these were delayed in onset in the low-dose group. Eleven patients (85%) in each group produced anti-OKT3 antibodies. Lymphocyte depletion after 1 day was major (> 98%) and identical in both groups. CD3 antigens were removed more slowly in the low-dose group but eventually at equal rates in both groups. Cost was significantly lower in the low-dose group. We conclude that while both doses of OKT3 were effective and safe for induction immunosuppression, it may be prudent to use a lower dose of OKT3 for induction immunosuppression because of its potential to reduce cytokine-mediated effects and to avoid the complications of overimmunosuppression and because of the lower costs associated with it.

Noninvasive cardiac testing in the end-stage renal disease patient

Renal transplant candidates are at increased risk for future cardiac death--approximately 5-10% per year. Invasive testing by coronary angiography has been used to assess the cardiac risk. However this is expensive and carries its own risks to residual renal function as well as cardiac morbidity and mortality. Screening of patients by clinical risk factors may obviate the need for invasive or noninvasive testing in a significant number (approximately 50%) of the renal transplant candidates. Further noninvasive testing with exercise or dipyridamole thallium-201 stress testing in the high-risk patients may be a more cost-effective screening test than coronary angiography. Other noninvasive testing modalities may also prove useful in the future but have not yet been proven in this unique patient population. The characterization of a renal transplant candidate's cardiac risk may assist the clinicians in prioritizing the candidate for transplantation. Recent evidence also suggests that revascularization of the diabetic renal transplant candidate with significant coronary artery disease (which is approachable by angioplasty or bypass surgery) may modify their cardiac risk. Randomized studies of the efficacy of revascularization or medical therapy interventions in the nondiabetic renal transplant candidate with coronary artery disease have not been performed.

Analysis of risk factors associated with prostate cancer extension to the surgical margin and pelvic node metastasis at radical prostatectomy

We analyzed data from 107 consecutive patients with clinical stage B prostate cancer in an attempt to identify those at high risk for having involved margins or nodal metastasis. Each patient underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided sextant biopsies of the prostate. Patient age, surgical approach to prostatectomy, pre-biopsy prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, and number, location and maximum Gleason score of positive biopsies were statistically evaluated for all patients groups. Prostate volume and PSA density (PSAD) were calculated for all patients undergoing prostatectomy. Of the 101 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy 64 had negative margins, 37 had at least 1 positive margin and 11 of the 37 had more than 1 positive margin. Involved margins were most common at the apex (62%) and mid portion (59%) of the gland. Prostatectomy was not performed on 6 patients with nodal metastases evident on frozen section examination. Therefore, 43 patients are considered to be at high risk for having residual disease after surgery. The mean PSAD, PSA level and number of positive biopsies were significant (p < 0.05) predictors of tumor extension to the surgical margin. The mean number of positive biopsies, biopsy Gleason score and PSA level were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in patients with nodal metastases. Only 15% of the patients with a single positive biopsy had positive margins versus 47% of those with multiple positive biopsies (p < 0.05). Of the patients with tumor positive nodes on frozen section 67% had 5 or more positive biopsies, whereas only 9% of all others had that many positive biopsies (p < 0.05). The number of positive biopsy sites, PSAD and PSA level were significantly associated with tumor at the surgical margin or metastatic to the pelvic nodes.

Scrotal arteriovenous malformation: case report and literature review

We report a rare case of scrotal arteriovenous malformation in an adolescent. Arteriovenous malformation of the scrotum is distinguished radiographically and histologically by numerous arterioles and thick walled veins with no intervening capillary bed. The cardinal sign is a bruit. Complete excision is recommended as definitive treatment. Preoperative angio-embolization may be helpful but it should not be relied upon for clinical resolution.

Fate of renal allografts transplanted in patients with urinary diversion

Fifty-five kidneys were transplanted into 50 patients with supravesical urinary diversion at 16 transplant centers between 1970 and 1991. Of the 32 males and 18 females, 40 were adults (> or = 18 years) and 10 were less than 18 years old at the time of first transplant. Mean follow-up was 7.8 years. At last follow-up, 94% of recipients were alive and 73% of the kidneys were functioning. Fifteen kidneys were lost: 9 to rejection, 3 to noncompliance, and 3 patients died with a functioning kidney. Ten (18%) transplants were followed by surgical complications. Twenty-four (44%) were followed by medical complications of which urinary tract infection was most common. Recipients age 18 or younger had more urinary tract infections than older patients. No patient had urinary stones and no patient required medical treatment for metabolic abnormalities. We conclude that drainage of kidney transplants into a supravesical urinary diversion is an effective treatment for end-stage renal disease patients without adequate urinary bladders.

Surgical management of painful polycystic kidneys

In patients with symptomatic PKD who have failed medical management, surgical intervention is a reasonable option, providing long-term pain relief in the majority of patients. Individuals for whom this approach is indicated are usually narcotic dependent or disabled by pain. Cyst decompression surgery does not appear to significantly retard or arrest progressive renal insufficiency. On the other hand, widespread fears that cyst decompression might hasten renal failure are clearly unfounded. The application of newer laparoscopic techniques to this problem may allow for a wider range of symptomatic patients to realize the benefits of cyst decompression.

The hemodynamic effects of intraoperative injection of muromonab CD3

During anesthesia 5 mg of muromonab CD3 (OKT3), an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, was administered prophylactically to twelve patients undergoing cadaveric renal transplantation. Preoperatively, all patients were at or near their dry body weights. Methylprednisolone 500 mg on call to or in the operating room, azathioprine 2 mg kg-1 and diphenhydramine 50 mg were administered intraoperatively to reduce the probability and severity of reported effects of OKT3. After induction of anesthesia, the patients were monitored for changes in cardiovascular variables for up to 120 min after OKT3 administration. All patients had uneventful anesthetic courses. Analysis of variance showed no significant changes from pre-OKT3 administration in heart rate, mean blood pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRI). CVP values were a reliable indicator of PCWP with the correlation coefficient of CVP to PCWP or r = 0.78 (P < 0.00005) and PCWP = .89 x CVP + 3.78. Cardiac index (CI) increased 22% at 105 min (P < 0.05). Systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) decreased 21% at 105 min (P < 0.05). SVRI was increased 16% at 10 min post-OKT3 (P < 0.05). All of these statistically significant values were within acceptable clinical limits. Euvolemic cadaveric renal transplant recipients receiving prophylactic steroids and diphenhydramine may receive OKT3 in the operating room for induction immunosuppression without any appreciable risk of cardiovascular compromise.

False diagnosis of renal transplant urinary leakage on scintigraphy with mercaptoacetyltriglycine

99mTechnetium-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG-3) has rapidly become the best isotope for transplant renal scintigraphy because of the excellent anatomical resolution. Because 99mTc-MAG-3 is also sequestered by the liver and excreted into the biliary system, images of the gallbladder and intestinal tract will appear in normal 99mTc-MAG-3 scans, especially on delayed scintigraphs. We describe the clinical interpretation of normal bowel images as urinary extravasation in a renal transplant recipient with a sudden decrease in renal function.

Immunosuppressive drugs in renal transplantation. A review of the regimens

Currently, expected 10-year first graft survival rates for kidneys from HLA-identical sibling, 1-haplotype-matched relative, and cadaver donors are 74, 51, and 40%, respectively. Histocompatibility, immunological conditioning with blood products, and immunosuppression with glucocorticoids, azathioprine, cyclosporin, and the antithymocyte (antilymphocyte) antibody preparations have been significant factors in the gradual improvement of kidney graft survival rates. Nearly all immunosuppression regimens are cyclosporin-based. Antithymocyte antibody induction therapy with delayed administration of cyclosporin is widely practised to avoid cyclosporin nephrotoxicity while the kidney graft is recovering from preservation injury. Late cyclosporin withdrawal results in inferior cadaver kidney transplant survival rates. Rejection crises usually respond to high dose glucocorticoid therapy. Glucocorticoid-resistant rejection usually responds to treatment with antithymocyte antibody. FK-506 is a promising new immunosuppressant that has properties similar to cyclosporin. Prophylaxis against viral, bacterial and fungal infections is necessary to reduce the morbidity of immunosuppression. The incidence of malignant conditions associated with viral infections is significantly increased with immunosuppression. New immunopharmacological agents and advances in genetic procedures may allow the induction of specific transplantation tolerance and successful xenotransplantation within the next decade.