Purpose: A proportion of patients who undergo kidney transplantation (KT) eventually experience graft failure and require dialysis. However, the characteristics of posttransplant patients differ from non-KT patients considering the long-term use of immunosuppressants, steroids, and associated complications. These differences may influence the outcomes of vascular access (VA). This study aims to compare the VA outcomes and infection rates between KT with allograft failures and non-KT patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent VA creation between January 2018 and November 2023.A propensity score-matched cohort was created based on age and sex, comparing 61 patients who received their first VA creation after KT to 222 patients who had never undergone KT before VA creation. Results: The median VA patency was 841 days. VA abandonment within 3 months occurred in 3.2% in the non-KT group and 1.6% in the KT with failed allograft group (P = 0.845). Infection rates were also similar (4.1% vs. 3.3%, P = 0.226). Cox regression indicated that KT was not a significant risk factor for VA patency, whereas low body mass index and diabetes mellitus were significant risk factors for long-term patency. In the KT group, steroid and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor use before VA formation were identified as risk factors for primary patency. Conclusion VA outcomes in KT patients with allograft failure were comparable to those of non-KT patients. While KT status itself does not adversely affect VA patency or infection rates, patients with low body mass index, diabetes mellitus, or who are receiving steroid or mTOR inhibitors should be carefully managed.

Objective To investigate the application of the"integration of four dimensions(mainline teaching-on-line course-medical case-mind map)"teaching mode in the undergraduate compulsory teaching course"Health-care-associated Infection Control",and provide reference for further improving the design of undergraduate compul-sory course on infection control.Methods A questionnaire survey on undergraduate students' satisfaction for com-pulsory course"Healthcare-associated Infection Control"was conducted using KANO model.A total of 4 dimen-sions and 21 quality indicators were set up.KANO attribute classification,satisfaction degree,and importance coef-ficients etc.were analyzed,and curriculum design was optimized.Results The overall questionnaire reliability Cronbach's a coefficient was 0.915,and the validity analysis Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin(KMO)measure of sampling adequacy value was 0.867.Among the 21 quality indicators,12 were charismatic attributes,which accounted for the largest proportion(57.14％)of the total indicators.Most quality indicators received high student satisfaction ratings.The indicators with the highest satisfaction coefficients were"playing teaching videos in class"(4.73),along with"in-tegrating typical healthcare-associated infection cases into the curriculum for relevant teaching""maintaining a relax-ed and pleasant teaching atmosphere",and"humorous and witty teaching style of the teacher"(all scoring 4.71).Four important but currently with low satisfaction indicators were"combining course content with utilitarian exam preparation""adopting a completely offline teaching format""adopting relatively strict assessment methods",and"reflecting differentiation based on difficulty coefficient in final assessment".Conclusion This course has achieved certain efficacy in undergraduate compulsory education,but there is still room for improvement in the setting of cur-riculum assessment methods.In the future,the course system should be integrated,the assessment mode of combi-ning theory and practice should be optimized,and course improvement and innovation should be promoted.

Objective To investigate the application of the"integration of four dimensions(mainline teaching-on-line course-medical case-mind map)"teaching mode in the undergraduate compulsory teaching course"Health-care-associated Infection Control",and provide reference for further improving the design of undergraduate compul-sory course on infection control.Methods A questionnaire survey on undergraduate students' satisfaction for com-pulsory course"Healthcare-associated Infection Control"was conducted using KANO model.A total of 4 dimen-sions and 21 quality indicators were set up.KANO attribute classification,satisfaction degree,and importance coef-ficients etc.were analyzed,and curriculum design was optimized.Results The overall questionnaire reliability Cronbach's a coefficient was 0.915,and the validity analysis Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin(KMO)measure of sampling adequacy value was 0.867.Among the 21 quality indicators,12 were charismatic attributes,which accounted for the largest proportion(57.14％)of the total indicators.Most quality indicators received high student satisfaction ratings.The indicators with the highest satisfaction coefficients were"playing teaching videos in class"(4.73),along with"in-tegrating typical healthcare-associated infection cases into the curriculum for relevant teaching""maintaining a relax-ed and pleasant teaching atmosphere",and"humorous and witty teaching style of the teacher"(all scoring 4.71).Four important but currently with low satisfaction indicators were"combining course content with utilitarian exam preparation""adopting a completely offline teaching format""adopting relatively strict assessment methods",and"reflecting differentiation based on difficulty coefficient in final assessment".Conclusion This course has achieved certain efficacy in undergraduate compulsory education,but there is still room for improvement in the setting of cur-riculum assessment methods.In the future,the course system should be integrated,the assessment mode of combi-ning theory and practice should be optimized,and course improvement and innovation should be promoted.

Background: This study aims to analyze the outcomes of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using grafts with multiple hepatic arteries (HAs), compared to those with a single HA. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,059 LDLT patients from July 2005 to December 2022 at Severance Hospital, South Korea. Patients were categorized into multiple-HA and single-HA groups. Propensity score matching was employed to balance baseline characteristics, with primary outcomes being graft survival and secondary outcomes including HA, biliary, and total vascular complications. Results: The study included 27 patients in the multiple-HA group and 925 in the single-HA group before matching. After propensity score matching, no significant difference in 5-year graft survival rates was observed between the groups (60.4% for multiple-HA vs. 72.8% for single-HA, p=0.172). However, the multiple-HA group exhibited a higher incidence of bile duct complications (80.0% vs. 48.3%, p=0.038).Multivariable Cox regression analysis did not find multiple HAs to be a significant predictor of graft loss but confirmed their association with increased bile duct complications. Conclusion LDLT using grafts with multiple HAs does not adversely affect overall graft survival compared to single-HA grafts. Nevertheless, the increased risk of bile duct complications associated with multiple HAs necessitates careful surgical planning and postoperative management to mitigate this risk.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant gram-negative rod bacteremia (CRGNR-B) is emerging as a formidable challenge, complicating patient management and outcomes in liver transplantation (LT). This study aimed to investigate the incidence, mortality, and risk factors associated with CRGNR-B within 90 days following LT. Methods: A retrospective nested case-control study was conducted using single centric LT data (n=1,379). CRGNR-B cases were matched 1:5 with control patients for analyzing survival and risk factors for CRGNR-B. Results: The incidence of CRGNR-B within 90 days post-LT was 6.5% (n=87). The CRGNR-B group showed significantly lower 1-year post-LT survival compared to the control group (37.9% vs. 90.0%, p<0.001). CRGNR-B was significantly correlated with increased mortality after adjustment of covariates (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.66;95% confidence interval [CI], 3.89–8.24; p<0.001). Key risk factors identified include higher pretransplant model for end-stage liver disease scores (odds ratio [OR], 1.05;95% CI, 1.01–1.09; p=0.006), encephalopathy prior to transplant (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.48–5.30; p=0.002), retransplantation (OR, 10.4; 95% CI, 2.79–42.1; p<0.001), each 60-minute increase in cold ischemic time (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.01–1.42; p=0.037), and bile duct complications (OR, 6.16; 95% CI, 2.66–14.2; p<0.001). Conclusion The occurrence of CRGNR-B within 90 days post-LT poses a significant risk to patient survival, with identifiable pre- and peri-transplant risk factors. These findings underscore the importance of targeted preventive measures, early detection, and effective management strategies to enhance outcomes for LT recipients.

Background: This investigation delves into the intricacies of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in the context of liver transplantation (LT), focusing on the experiences from a Korean single center. Despite GVHD’s relatively low incidence, its severe implications on patient mortality underscore the urgent need for advanced management and comprehension strategies. Methods: In a retrospective analysis at Severance Hospital, Korea, we reviewed 1,107 adult LT recipients from January 2009 to March 2023, excluding those who succumbed within 14 days post-transplantation, to scrutinize the manifestation, treatment, and outcomes of GVHD. Diagnostic approaches ranged from skin to colonoscopic biopsies, with interventions including high-dose corticosteroids and tailored immunosuppressive adjustments. Results: GVHD was diagnosed in 1.3% of the study cohort, predominantly identified through skin biopsies. Critical findings include the significant role of donor liver characteristics and recipient pre-transplant conditions in GVHD development. Notably, GVHD affected patients exhibited markedly lower survival rates at one year compared to their non-GVHD controls (21.4% vs. 90.2%, p<0.001), with deceased donor liver transplants and human leukocyte antigen one-way mismatches between donor and recipient identified as significant GVHD risk factors. Conclusion This study reaffirms the severe impact of GVHD on post-LT patient survival and highlights specific risk factors associated with its development. Enhanced understanding and targeted management of these risk factors are crucial for improving outcomes for LT recipients facing this complex complication.

Background: The use of small grafts, defined by a graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) less than 0.8, is possibly associated with an increased risk of graft loss in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). This study aims to validate risk factors for graft loss in LDLT with GRWR<0.8 using single-center data. Methods: LDLT recipients, who received GRWR<0.8 graft at Severance Hospital, between July 2007 and December 2022, were categorized based on the number of risk factors identified in previous Korean multicentric study: recipient age ≥60 years, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score ≥15, and male donor. Baseline characteristics and graft survival were compared among these groups. Results: The median GRWR was 0.74 (interquartile range 0.69–0.78) and minimum was 0.49. Recipients with more risk factors exhibited lower graft survival rates: 100% at 5 years in the Risk 0 group (n=18), 72.7% in the Risk 1 group (n=20), and 54.5% in the Risk≥2 group (n=18, p=0.015). This trend was similar in subgroups of right lobe graft and the others (left lobe plus right posterior lobe), although not statistically significant. Donor age did not significantly affect graft survival in GRWR<0.8 transplants (78.9% for donor age≥45 vs. 69.2% for donor age<45, p=0.25). Conclusion This study confirms that the number of risk factors, including recipient age, MELD score, and donor sex, significantly impacts graft survival in LDLT with GRWR<0.8. These findings highlight the need for careful recipient and donor selection to improve outcomes in LDLT.