Rough on Rats

1Squalling children, scolding wife,Were not the pest of my poor lifeWherever I lived in house or flats,My plague has been those horrid Rats;They ate our meat, our bread and shoes,We could not have qui-et snooze;One day my wife did chance to dozethey pinned my baby by the nose ChorusR-r-rats! Rats! Rats! Rough on Rats!Hang your dogs and drown your cats;We give a plan for every manTo clear his house with Rough on Rats 2I got a cat, I set a trap,And thought to have a quiet nap,But scare in bed we snug were laidWhen round the room the villains playedMy wife jumped out up-on the floor,To strike a light, but soon did roarAs well she might, for you must know,The steel-trap had her by the toe 3But Rats were not the only pest,To spoil our food, and spoil the rest,Fresh troubles di each day a-rise,Mice, Roaches, Bugs, Mosquitoes, FliesBut now I\u27ve got the tip at last.And soundly sleep and eat quite fast;For we have banished all the crew,And you shall learn the secret too

Inadequacy of cardiovascular risk factor management in chronic kidney transplantation - evidence from the FAVORIT study

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) have increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our objective is to describe the prevalence of CVD risk factors applying standard criteria and use of CVD risk factor lowering medications in contemporary KTRs

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Cardiac Troponin I Are Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Stable Kidney Transplant Recipients

Approximately 200,000 kidney transplant recipients are living in the US; they are at increased risk for cardiovascular and other adverse outcomes. Biomarkers predicting these outcomes are needed. Using specimens collected during the FAVORIT (Folic Acid for Vascular Outcome Reduction In Transplantation) trial, we determined whether plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac troponin I are associated with adverse outcomes in stable kidney transplant recipients

Myeloperoxidase gene-463G > A polymorphism and premature coronary artery disease

We investigated the association between myeloperoxidase gene -463G > A polymorphism and premature coronary artery disease (CAD) in two Chinese population samples: 229 patients and 230 controls. Genotypes were determined by ligase detection reaction-polymerase chain reaction sequencing and the grouping technique. We found lower frequencies of both the A/A genotype and the A allele in patients (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that the risk of premature CAD in subjects carrying the AA genotype was reduced by 83% in relation to individuals carrying the G/G genotype (OR = 0.172, 95% CI: 0.057-0.526, p = 0.002). Our results indicate that -463G > A polymorphism of the myeloperoxidase gene is associated with premature CAD in Chinese individuals, suggesting that the AA genotype is a protective factor against premature CAD

Serum Phosphorus and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease, All-Cause Mortality, or Graft Failure in Kidney Transplant Recipients: An Ancillary Study of the FAVORIT Trial Cohort

Mild hyperphosphatemia is a putative risk factor for cardiovascular disease [CVD], loss of kidney function, and mortality. Very limited data are available from sizable multicenter kidney transplant recipient (KTR) cohorts assessing the potential relationships between serum phosphorus levels and the development of CVD outcomes, transplant failure, or all-cause mortality

Kidney Function and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Kidney Transplant Recipients: The FAVORIT Trial: GFR and CVD Risk in Kidney Transplant

In kidney transplant recipients, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death. The relationship of kidney function with CVD outcomes in transplant recipients remains uncertain. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the Folic Acid for Vascular Outcome Reduction in Transplantation (FAVORIT) Trial to assess risk factors for CVD and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. Following adjustment for demographic, clinical and transplant characteristics, and traditional CVD risk factors, proportional hazards models were used to explore the association of estimated GFR with incident CVD and all-cause mortality. In 4016 participants, mean age was 52 years and 20% had prior CVD. Mean eGFR was 49±18 mL/min/1.73m2. In 3,676 participants with complete data, there were 527 CVD events over a median of 3.8 years. Following adjustment, each 5 mL/min/1.73m2 higher eGFR at levels below 45 mL/min/1.73m2 was associated with a 15% lower risk of both CVD [HR = 0.85 (0.80, 0.90)] and death [HR = 0.85 (0.79, 0.90)], while there was no association between eGFR and outcomes at levels above 45 mL/min/1.73m2. In conclusion, in stable kidney transplant recipients, lower eGFR is independently associated with adverse events, suggesting that reduced kidney function itself rather than pre-existing comorbidity may lead to CVD

Hyperhomocysteinaemia is associated with coronary events in type 2 diabetes

Objectives. Amongst nondiabetic individuals, a high serum homocysteine concentration is an independent but relatively weak risk factor for coronary events. However, it is not known whether homocysteine increases risk of coronary events in type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we examined the combined effect of homocysteine and type 2 diabetes on risk of fatal and nonfatal coronary events. Subjects. We assessed the 10-year risk of coronary events associated with homocysteine amongst diabetic (n = 140) and nondiabetic (n = 361) individuals. Design. We did this in the Hoorn Study, a population-based study of glucose tolerance and related complications in Caucasian men and women aged 50-75 years. Results. The incidence rate for coronary events was 2.63 (29 of 140) per 100 person-years amongst diabetic and 1.29 (42 of 361) amongst nondiabetic individuals. Amongst diabetic individuals, risk of coronary events increased 28% for each 5-μmol

Relationship of Treatment Delay with Surgical Defect Size from Keratinocyte Carcinoma (Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin)

Larger keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) lesions are associated with higher morbidity. This study examined the association of potentially modifiable characteristics, including treatment delay, with KC defect size after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). A stratified random sample of patients treated for KC with MMS were selected for telephone interview. Two hundred and nineteen interviews were completed (refusal rate 24%). Regression models were used to examine the predictors to defect size and delay. Anatomic site, age, histology, and gender predicted defect size (R2=0.39) and were used as control variables. Self-reported delay between initial physician examination and MMS predicted defect size (p=0.0004), with greater than 1 y delay being associated with a doubling of defect size (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–3.1). Delays of this duration were associated with initial examination by a primary provider (unadjusted OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.7–8.8), misdiagnosis (unadjusted OR 6.8; 95% CI 2.5–18.7), being treated without biopsy (unadjusted OR 23.3; 95% CI 6.5–83.7), and multiple surgical removals (unadjusted OR 6.2; 95% CI 2.5–15.5). All but provider specialty were independent predictors of delay. Attention to processes of care delivery for KC may have a greater impact on morbidity than efforts are earlier detection by the public

Baseline Characteristics of Participants in the Folic Acid for Vascular Outcome Reduction in Transplantation (FAVORIT) Trial

Hyperhomocysteinemia may be a modifiable risk factor for the prevention of arteriosclerotic outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Few clinical trials of homocysteine lowering have been conducted in persons with CKD prior to reaching end-stage renal disease. Kidney transplant recipients are considered individuals with CKD