Nocturnal home hemodialysis in children: Advantages,implementation, and barriers

Chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in children are major health concerns worldwide with increasing incidence and prevalence. Renal replacement therapies and kidney transplants have remarkably improved the management of patients with ESRD in both adult and pediatric populations. Kidney transplant has the best patient outcomes, but many a time it has a considerable waiting period. In the meantime, the majority of patients with pediatric ESRD are dependent on dialysis. The conventionally utilized hemodialysis regimen is the three times weekly, in-center hemodialysis. Many studies have demonstrated the unfavorable long-term morbidity associated with the conventional regimen. Intensified dialysis programs, which include extended nocturnal hemodialysis or short daily hemodialysis, are being increasingly advocated over the past two decades. In addition to having much better clinical outcomes as compared with the conventional regimen, the flexibility to provide dialysis at home serves as a great incentive. PubMed/Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases for literature on nocturnal home hemodialysis in children with ESRD were extensively searched. Contrary to the noticeable literature available on adult home hemodialysis, a small number of studies exist in the pediatric population. In this review, the benefits, implementation and associated barriers of nocturnal home hemodialysis in children were addressed.     

Assessment of stigma receptivity via papillar integrity in Kigelia pinnata (Bignoniaceae)

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - The stigma of Kigelia pinnata is spathulate, wet and sensitive to touch. Consisting of two flaps or folds,...     

Implantation of a dual-chamber pacemaker in a patient with persistent left superior vena cava using a a steerable stylet

A persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare abnormality that presents a challenge to the implanter. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of implantation of dual-chamber pacemaker via PLSVC utilizing a steerable stylet (the Locater; St. Jude Medical, Inc., Minnetonka, Minnesota) with chronic follow-up showing stable threshold.     

Fluorescence in situ hybridization mapping of translocations and deletions involving the short arm of human chromosome 12 in malignant hematologic diseases

Translocations and deletions of the short arm of chromosome 12 [t(12p) and del(12p)] are common recurring abnormalities in a broad spectrum of hematologic malignant diseases. We studied 20 patients and one cell line whose cells contained 12p13 translocations and/or 12p deletions using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with phage, plasmid, and cosmid probes that we previously mapped and ordered on 12p12-13. FISH analysis showed that the 12p13 translocation breakpoints were clustered between two cosmids, D12S133 and D12S142, in 11 of 12 patients and in one cell line. FISH analysis of 11 patients with deletions demonstrated that the deletions were interstitial rather than terminal and that the distal part of 12p12, including the GDI-D4 gene and D12S54 marker, was deleted in all 11 patients. Moreover, FISH analysis showed that cells from 3 of these patients contained both a del(12p) and a 12p13 translocation and that the affected regions of these rearrangements appeared to overlap. We identified three yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones that span all the 12p13 translocation breakpoints mapped between D12S133 and D12S142. They have inserts of human DNA between 1.39 and 1.67 Mb. Because the region between D12S133 and D12S142 also represents the telomeric border of the smallest commonly deleted region of 12p, we also studied patients with a del(12p) using these YACs. The smallest YAC, 964c10, was deleted in 8 of 9 patients studied. In the other patient, the YAC labeled the del(12p) chromosome more weakly than the normal chromosome 12, suggesting that a part of the YAC was deleted. Thus, most 12p13 translocation breakpoints were clustered within the sequences contained in the 1.39 Mb YAC and this YAC appears to include the telomeric border of the smallest commonly deleted region. Whether the same gene is involved in both the translocations and deletions is presently unknown.     

Lymphatic filariasis in Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh

As per earlier reports only Ratanpur PHC of the district Bilaspur of Chattisgarh was endemic for filariasis. During the present survey microfilaria infection and disease manifestations were detected in two more PHCs namely Bilha and Bilaspur. 3426 Night blood smears were collected from 24 randomly selected localities (13 rural and 11 urban) covering 25% known endemic areas and 75% reportedly non-endemic areas. Sample size was calculated taking 12% prevalence rate using standard statistical formula. Sixty-two indigenous residents (mf rate 1.80%) were found positive for W. bancrofti infection. Males (2.17%) were more affected than females (1.19%). The mf carriers were 2.05% in rural and 1.45% in urban communities, which indicates that lymphatic filariasis is prevalent in rural areas also. The mean mf density was 5.06. No infective or infected mosquitoes could be detected in Culex quinquefasciatus (544 nos.), M. annulifera (13 nos.) and M. uniformis (2 nos.). Comparing the earlier studies, in Bilaspur district the infection has been showing a declining trend and Brugia malayi infection has disappeared.     

The use of ABO-incompatible grafts in living donor liver transplantation—First report from India

ABO incompatibility is the commonest reason for rejection of donors in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The donor pool could be expanded by 25 % to 35 % if the ABO barrier is overcome. In the absence of pre-conditioning, transplantation across the blood groups is fraught with the almost universal risk of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) that rapidly leads to graft loss. However, AMR can be prevented by removal of preformed antibodies and reducing their production by B cells. We describe our initial experience of three cases of ABO-incompatible (ABO-i) LDLT: a 42-year-old male, an 8-month-old male and a 28-month-old female, all of blood group O+ who received blood group B + right lobe, B + left lateral segment, and A + left lateral segment liver grafts, respectively. Pre-LDLT conditioning included administration of anti-CD20 antibody (Rituximab^®) to the adult 4 weeks prior, and four to seven sessions of double-filtration plasmapheresis to all, to remove preformed antibodies and achieve anti-donor blood group antibody (ADA) titers of ≤1:16 IgG and ≤1:8 IgM, respectively. In addition, cases 1 and 3 received mycophenolate mofetil for 7 days prior to LDLT. After LDLT, all three patients achieved normal graft function over 8–17 days with no evidence of AMR and without the need for further plasmapheresis. Postoperative complications included portal vein thrombosis (one successfully re-explored), CMV (one), Pseudomonas and Klebsiella sepsis (one each), and abdominal collection (one treated with percutaneous drainage). All are currently well with normal graft function and low ADA titers at 8, 16, and 19 months after ABO-i LDLT.     

Executive Dysfunction Early Postnatal Biomarkers among Children Born Extremely Preterm

Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology - We evaluated the relationship between blood levels of inflammatory and neurotrophic proteins during the first postnatal month in 692 children born before the...     

MTHFR Gene Polymorphisms and the Risk of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Adults and Children: A Case Control Study in India

Genetic polymorphisms in the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene have been associated with the development of acute leukemias and various malignancies. The role of MTHFR polymorphism in the development of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been extensively studied among north Indians in various settings, yet its association with acute leukemias remains unresolved. To evaluate the relationship between functional MTHFR polymorphisms, C677T and A1298C and possible effect on risk of ALL in adults and children in North Indian population by comparing them with healthy controls. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of 184 ALL patients (33 adults, 151 children) and 155 controls and analyzed by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. The frequency of MTHFR 677CT and 1298 AC genotypes were significantly lower among adult ALL cases when compared to the controls. We found a 1.74-fold reduced risk of ALL in individuals with 1298AC polymorphic variant and a 9.17-fold decreased risk of adult ALL. However, no statistically significant difference was evident between the above polymorphisms and susceptibility to ALL in children. Polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene possibly modulate risk of ALL in north Indian adults but not in children, although larger studies are needed.     

Field effectiveness of hepatitis A vaccine and uptake of post exposure prophylaxis following a change to the Australian guidelines

Background

In 2009, national guidelines for hepatitis A control in Australia changed to recommend hepatitis A vaccine (HAV), instead of normal human immune globulin (NHIG), for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Aims

(1) Determine whether the uptake of PEP among contacts of hepatitis A cases changed after the introduction of the new guidelines, and (2) assess the field effectiveness of the HAV used as PEP in preventing infection among contacts of hepatitis A cases.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of contacts from hepatitis A cases reported to metropolitan Public Health Units in Sydney, Australia, between October 2008 and June 2010, was identified. Contacts were analysed by time period, age, PEP type, and susceptibility to hepatitis A. The relative risk (RR) of hepatitis A infection among susceptible contacts who received HAV, compared with susceptible contacts who had not received HAV, was calculated to estimate the effectiveness of the HAV when used as PEP.

Results

The uptake of PEP by susceptible contacts increased from 76% (n = 133) to 89% (n = 127) after the introduction of the new guidelines. Before the change in guidelines, no one who received PEP was later reported with hepatitis A. After the change in guidelines, one of the 123 contacts who received HAV as PEP was subsequently reported with hepatitis A. However, this case was likely to have been co-exposed with a primary case. Conservatively, assuming this was a secondary case, the vaccine effectiveness of HAV was 95.6% (66.1%–99.4%). Nine of 10 incident cases of hepatitis A were contacts who did not receive any PEP.

Conclusion

The improved uptake of PEP and the high estimate of the effectiveness of HAV provides support for using HAV for PEP. The very high occurrence of hepatitis A among contacts who did not receive any PEP further highlights the importance of PEP in preventing hepatitis A infection.     

Percutaneous coronary intervention in octogenarians: 10-year experience from a primary percutaneous coronary intervention centre with off-site cardiothoracic support

OBJECTIVETo examine the trends in patient characteristics and clinical outcomes over a ten-year period and to analyse the predictors of mortality in octogenarians undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our centre.METHODSA total of 782 consecutive octogenarians (aged 80 and above) were identified from a prospectively collected PCI database within our non-surgical, medium volume centre between 1st January 2007 and 31st December 2016. This represented 10.9% of all PCI procedures performed in our centre during this period. We evaluated the demographic and procedural characteristics of the cohort with respect to clinical outcomes (all-cause in-hospital and 1-year mortality, in-hospital complication rates, duration of hospital admission, coronary disease angiographic complexity and major co-morbidities). The cohort was further stratified into three chronological tertiles (January 2007 to July 2012, 261 cases; August 2012 to May 2015, 261 cases; June 2015 to December 2016, 260 cases) to assess for differences over time. Predictors of mortality were identified through a multivariate regression analysis.RESULTSThe number of octogenarians undergoing PCI increased nearly ten-fold over the studied period. Despite this, there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes or patient characteristics, except for the increased use of trans-radial vascular access [11.9% in first tertile vs. 73.2% in third tertile (P < 0.0001)]. The all-cause in-hospital (5.8% vs. 4.6% vs. 3.8%, P = 0.578) and 1-year mortality (12.4% vs. 12.5% vs. 14.4%, P = 0.746) remained constant in all three tertiles respectively. Six independent predictors of mortality were identified - increasing age [HR = 1.12 (1.03−1.22), P = 0.008], cardiogenic shock [HR = 16.40 (4.04–66.65), P < 0.0001], severe left ventricular impairment [HR = 3.52 (1.69−7.33), P = 0.001], peripheral vascular disease [HR = 2.73 (1.22−6.13), P = 0.015], diabetes [HR = 2.59 (1.30−5.17), P = 0.007] and low creatinine clearance [HR = 0.98 (0.96−1.00), P = 0.031]. CONCLUSIONThis contemporary observational study provides a useful insight into the real-world practice of PCI in octogenarians.

Although age is a major cardiovascular risk factor which has a marked impact on the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular mortality,^[1] there is a recognised reluctance in offering percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to octogenarians (≥ 80 years old),^[2] despite its proven benefit in this age group.^[3–5] As a result, an increasing number of octogenarians undergoing PCI is observed, reaching almost 10% of all PCI procedures performed in United Kingdom in the period 2008–2012.^[6]Despite the increasing demand for PCI in the octogenarians, this patient population remains under-represented in randomised trials or only a highly selected group is investigated.^[7,8] Emerging evidence shows that the survival advantage of invasive compared with non-invasive management appears to extend to patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who are octogenarians,^[4,9] although predictably, mortality rates are higher in patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI.^[10]In the absence of robust randomised clinical data on PCI treatment strategies for the octogenarians, observational studies remain valuable in providing insights to outcome and mortality trends. As a result, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of our “real world” octogenarian patient population presenting over a ten-year period to a PCI centre with off-site cardiothoracic support in terms of demographics, the procedural and clinical outcomes, and any potential predictors of mortality.