BACKGROUND:Lung invasive fungal infection is the main reason for the failure in renal transplant recipients. Caspofungin has specific anti-fungi mechanism, and can effectively prevent the candida fungus that is resistant to Fluconazol and Itraconazole. Caspofungin exerts good tolerance, without dose-or time-dependent toxicity.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Caspofungin in treatment of pulmonary invasive fungal infection fol owing kidney transplantation.
METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed in renal transplant patients who were diagnosed pulmonary invasive fungal infection in Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sanmenxia Central Hospital between January 2013 and December 2013. The patients were then treated with Caspofungin as antifungal therapy. The initial dose was 70 mg per day and then changed to 50 mg per day, via intravenous drip. After drug intervention, liver function was evaluated twice per week. The severity of liver functional impairment or emergency of new impairment indicated the adjustment of Caspofungin dose or withdrawal. The treatment was given for 10-14 days. The curative effect and adverse reaction of patients were observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Total 12 patients were treated, and the percentage of fungi microbiology evidence was 66.7%. Among these evidenced patients, candida fungus was the dominant, accounting for 75.0%, accompanying bacterial infection was found in 58.3%, accompanying cytomegalovirus infection was found in 25.0%. The effective treatment rate was up to 91.67%(11/12), the mortality was 8.33%(1/12), and the incidence of adverse reactions was 25%. Caspofungin effectively prevented pulmonary invasive fungal infection fol owing kidney transplantation, as empirical antifungal therapy, with low incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore Caspofungin is the preferred drug against pulmonary invasive fungal infection in renal transplant recipients.

Objective To analyze the clinical effectiveness of using marginal donor kidney in living kidney transplant. Methods From November 2005 to June 2011,274 cases of living kidney transplant were performed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University.The cases were divided into the marginal donors group ( Donor ages over 60 years old,suboptimal renal anatomy or physiology) of 66 cases and standard donors group of 208 cases.The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.The criteria of marginal donors were as follows:36 cases of donors with age over 60 yrs (6 cases with renal cysts and 1 case with renal calculus),22 cases of renal cysts ( with diameter range from 4 mm to 40 mm ),4 cases of renal calculus (with diameter range from 3 mm to 6 mm),4 cases of low GFR (under 35 ml/min.The mean recipients' serum creatinine before surgery and after surgery on day 3,day 7,month 1,month 3,month 6,month 12,related complications,the rate of acute rejection and delayed graft function,1 year,3 year recipient/kidney survival were compared between the 2 groups,respectively. Results The serum creatinine levels in the marginal donor group and standard donor group were (242.7 ± 132.2 vs 185.6 ± 148.4) and ( 156.7 ±86.8 vs 122.2 ± 136.8 ) on day 3,day 7 respectively ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Nevertheless,there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in recipients' serum creatinines before surgery and after surgery on month 1,month 3,month 6,month 12,peri-operative complications,the rate of acute rejection and delayed graft function,1 year,3 year recipient/kidney survival (P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Healthy old donors and donors with renal cyst (the diameter of renal cysts under 40mm) should not be the barriers to organ donation.To those living donors with low GFR,we should consider of donor age,donor/recipient body weight,donor/recipient body surface area and whether we could deal with the problem by surgical operation.Donor with renal calculus should be carefully evaluated.

Objective To investigate the status of living relative kidney transplantation, and the clinical effects and social significances of kidney transplantation between spouses. Methods We retrospectively collected the clinical data of the department of kidney transplant of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, from January 2011 to December 2013. The spouse group as group 1, the age and sex of doners were taken into account,the siblings with the similar age of the same period were enrolled in group 2. Then the postoperative recoveries of the two groups were compared. Considering the current social status, particularly the shortage of donor kidneys, the clinical, social and family significances of kidney transplantation between spouses were analyzed. Results Twelve cases of spouses in group 1, 8 cases of siblings in group 2 , the differences of donor and recipient age of the two groups were 0.33 ± 0.98 years and 2.29 ± 7.23 years, respectively. The human major histocompatibility complex antigens (HLA) was less than three in group 1, and was greater than or equal to three in group 2. The changes of serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were analyzed. No significant differences of serum creatinine and downward trend of blood urea nitrogen were observed between two groups (P = 0.84, P = 0.79). Conclusion The kidney transplantation between spouses has good clinical efficacy and great social significance, improving the status of the shortage of donor kidney and contributing to family harmony. The renal transplantation between spouses has obvious advantages and need further promotion.

BACKGROUND:Uremia patients have different degree of anemia before kidney transplantation, preoperative, and perioperative anemia is harmful to intraoperative and postoperative recovery of the organism and renal function. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of perioperative anemia degree and total blood transfusion on non-living and living-relative donor kidney transplantation, and to summarize the perioperative drug treatment for anemia and perioperative principles of blood transfusion. METHODS: A retrospective study was done in 115 cases of non-living donor kidney transplantation (test group) and 92 cases of living-relative donor kidney transplantation (control group) from January 2012 to December 2013. Degree of anemia, total perioperative blood transfusion, electrolyte change within 12 hours of blood transfusion, and adverse events after blood transfusion were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The incidence of anemia had no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion rate was higher in the test group (P < 0.05), and the preoperative red blood cel level, hemoglobin level, hematokrit, average hemoglobin level, average concentration of hemoglobin, and average amount of blood transfusions were significantly lower in the test group (P< 0.05). Fever (5.5%) was the main adverse event during the transfusion in the two groups, and there was no severe severe alergic reaction and electrolyte acid-base disturbance. These findings suggest that the perioperative degree of anemia is higher in patients undergoing non-living donor kidney transplantation and those undergoing living-relative donor kidney transplantation; preoperative drug treatment for anemia is crucial for correcting anemia status; intraoperative and/or postoperative blood transfusion treatment should be in strict accordance with the principles of perioperative blood transfusion.

Objective To dynamically monitor the changes of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets of renal transplant recipients and investigate the relationship between lymphocyte subsets with infection and rejection.Methods The clinical data of allogenic kidney transplantation recipients and living relative donors in the Department of Kidney Transplantation of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were prospectively collected from June 2015 to December 2016.The data of lymphocyte subsets and other related indexes were obtained from renal transplant recipients and relatives of the same period.Results Sixty-four cases of living-relative donors and 351 cases of renal transplant recipients were enrolled in this study,and the recipients were divided into 3 groups:infection group (67 cases),acute rejection group (46 cases),and stable group (238 cases),according to the diagnostic criteria.There was significant difference in the concentration distribution of lymphocytes between the stable group and the control group (P<0.05).The stable frequency distribution range of the stable group was as follows (cells/μL):Lym (1 000-1 500),T (<1 500),CD4+ (<1 000),CD8+ (<1 000),B (<300),NK (100-300),CD4+/CD8+ (0.5-1.0).The number of Lym,T,CD4+,CD8+,NK and B cells in the preoperative patients was less than that in the healthy population (P<0.05);The number of Lym,T,CD4+, CD8+,B and NK cells was gradually decreased in the postoperative infection group,which was less than that in the stable group (P<0.05).After treatment the indicators gradually restored to the level in the stable group level;the number of T,CD4+,CD8+,B cells was highly correlated with infection.The number of T and CD4+ cells,and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were significantly increased in acute rejection group as compared with the stable group,and gradually decreased after the rejection was reversed.The number of T,CD4+,CD8+ cells was highly correlated with rejection.Lymphocyte subsets had a predictive effect on infection and rejection of recipients,and CD4+ cell count and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were independent risk factors.Conclusion The monitoring of lymphocyte subsets has an important clinical value in the evaluation of immune status and individual treatment of renal recipients.

Objective To analyze clinical outcome of kidney transplantation from elderly livingrelated donors. Methods The clinical data of living-related kidney transplantation between November 2005 to June 2011 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analysed.The patients were divided into elderly donor kidney transplantation group (elderly group,36 cases) and non-elderly living related donor kidney transplantation group (nonelderly group,208 cases).The mean recipients' serum creatinines before and 3 days,7 days,1 month,3 month,6 month,12 month,24 month,36 month after surgery,peri-operation complications,the incidence rate of acute rejection,calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced renal toxicity,delayed graft function(DGF),1 year and 3 year recipient/kidney survival were compared respectively between the two groups. Results The serum creatinine levels were higher in elderly group than in non-elderly group at 3 days,7 days,1 month after surgery [(245.2±135.2)μmol/L vs.(185.6±148.4)μmol/L,(150.5±86.8)μmol/L vs.(122.2± 136.8)μmol/L,(140.6±42.5)μmol/L vs.(117.8±33.2)μmol/L,t =84.07,31.90,21.54; all P =0.000].In addition,the incidence rate of CNI induced renal toxicity was higher in the elderly group than in non-elderly group [22.2％(8/36)vs.1.9％(4/208),x2=27.04,P=0.000].Nevertheless,there were no significant differences between the two groups in recipients' serum creatinines before and 3 month,6 month,12 month,24 month,36 month after surgery,in peri-operation complications,the incidence rate of acute rejection,delayed graft function,and in 1 year and 3 year recipient/kidney survival (all P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions With stringent screening and overall assessment of elderly donors,healthy elderly donors should not be barriers to organ donation.Renal toxicity of CNI agents should be carefully monitored in recipients of elderly donor.

Objective To investigate the effect of icariin on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and the action mechanism.Methods SD rats were divided into 3 groups.The model of unilateral renal IRI was established in SD rats,and Icariin (100 mg/kg) was orally administrated by gavage daily from 2 days before operation to 12 days after operation (icariin group).The vehicle of icariin was administrated to IRI model rats as control group,while in the sham-operation group the renal pedicel was only dissociated without treatment.Body weight and kidney function were monitored within 14 days after reperfusion.The kidney was harvested at 24 h after reperfusion,and then malonaldehyde (MDA) and activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger enzymes were examined.Histopathological changes were observed at postoperative day (POD) 3 and 14.Results At POD 3,7,11 and 14,the creatinine clearance rate was significantly higher in icariin group than in control group (P＜0.01). Icariin group had significantly lower Paller scores which indicated tubules injury than in control group at day 3 after reperfusion (P＜0.01 ).In icariin group,MDA level was obviously decreased at 24 h after operation.Compared to control group,icariin group had statistically higher activity of glutathion reductase (GR),catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD),as well as higher level of reduced glutathione (GSH) (P＜0.05).Conclusion Icariin has protective effects on renal IRI,and can promote recovery of kidney function. Icariin can reduce oxidative stress through increasing activity of ROS scavengers.

BACKGROUNDTo explore predictors of mediastinal and intrapulmonary pathologic lymph node involvement in clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODSFrom July 1999 to April 2001, 159 patients with clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer underwent lobectomy and complete mediastinal or intrapulmonary lymph node dissection. All the resected lymph nodes were pathologically analyzed to find out pathologic involvement. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to clarify predictors of lymph node metastasis.

RESULTSOf all 159 patients, 37 (23%) had pathologic lymph node metastasis. According to logistic regression analysis, tumor size, grade of cell differentiation, and pleural invasion were the significant predictors of lymphatic metastasis ( P=0.003, P=0.004, P =0.005). Patients with 2 or more factors were more liable to have lymph node metastasis than those with less than 2 factors ( P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSWhen patients with clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer have such clinical factors as tumor diameter > 2.0 cm, moderate or poor differentiation, or pleural invasion, they will be more liable to have lymph node metastasis. Therefore, it should be more prudent to select therapeutic way and judge their prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Donation after cardiac death (DCD) is becoming the main source of organs for transplantation. Donor and recipient gender may play an important role in preoperative evaluation and recipient selection of transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of donor and recipient gender on the recovery of renal function after DCD renal transplantation, and to further guide the selection of recipients. METHODS: The clinical data of recipients and donors of DCD kidney transplantation performed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July 2012 to March 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. According to donor and recipient gender, the donors and recipients were divided into four groups: group A (male donor, male recipient), group B (male donor, female recipient), group C (female donor, male recipient), group D (female donor, female recipient). The renal function of the recipients was recorded at 1 and 2 weeks, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively to compare the effect of donor and recipient gender on the recovery of renal function. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The serum creatinine level in the groups A and B was lower than that in the groups C and D at postoperative different time points, and there was a significant difference at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). The estimated glomerular filtration rate in the groups A and B was significantly higher than that in the groups C and D at postoperative different time points (P < 0.05). The serum creatinine level in the group C was significantly higher than that in the other three groups at postoperative different time points (P < 0.05). The serum creatinine level in the group A was significantly higher than that in the group B at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). The glomerular filtration rate in the group A was significantly higher than that in the group C at postoperative different time points (P < 0.05). The glomerular filtration rate in the group B was significantly higher than that in the group D at 12 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the male donors show superior renal function to the female donors. The postoperative recovery of renal function is relatively slow when the male recipients receive a kidney of female donors. The female recipients with lower body surface area who receive the kidney of elderly male donors with poor renal function can achieve favorable clinical effects. Therefore, the gender should be used as a reference index for selecting potential recipients.

Objective To study the therapeutic window of rapamycin(RPM) concentration in primary recipients of renal transplantation. Methods An open label, multi center study was performed. One hundred primary renal allograft recipients with cadaveric donors were enrolled from 4 transplantation centers in China. The immunosuppressive regimen was triple therapy,i.e.RPM combined with CsA and steroid. A loading dose of RPM 6 mg/d was administered within 48 hours after transplantation, then a maintaining dose of 2 mg/d was administered. The whole blood concentration of RPM was measured by HPLC method. Results The whole blood concentration of RPM in this group was (6.65?2.75)ng/ml, the 10th and 90th percentile for RPM concentration was 3 2 ng/ml and 10 26 ng/ml,respectively.9 5%(8/84)patients suffered from acute rejection during the 6 month period after transplantation in this study, and the concentration of RPM in these was lower than that in non rejection patients(P=0.001). Hyperlipidemia and liver dysfunction were the most frequently adverse events, and RPM concentration was significantly associated with the concentration of triglyceride. Conclusions 4～8 ng/ml is a suitable level for RPM concentration. Regular drug monitoring and reasonable dose modulation may increase the validity and security of RPM.