The evolution of diabetic chronic complications after pancreas transplantation

Pancreas transplantation is an invasive procedure that can restore and maintain normoglycemic level very successfully and for a prolonged period in DM1 patients. The procedure elevates the morbimortality rates in the first few months following the surgery if compared to kidney transplants with living donors, but it offers a better quality of life to patients

Temporal patterns of cytokine and injury biomarkers in hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with methylprednisolone

BackgroundThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents with complex pathophysiological effects in various organ systems. Following the COVID-19, there are shifts in biomarker and cytokine equilibrium associated with altered physiological processes arising from viral damage or aggressive immunological response. We hypothesized that high daily dose methylprednisolone improved the injury biomarkers and serum cytokine profiles in COVID-19 patients.MethodsInjury biomarker and cytokine analysis was performed on 50 SARS-Cov-2 negative controls and 101 hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients: 49 methylprednisolone-treated (MP group) and 52 placebo-treated serum samples. Samples from the treated groups collected on days D1 (pre-treatment) all the groups, D7 (2 days after ending therapy) and D14 were analyzed. Luminex assay quantified the biomarkers HMGB1, FABP3, myoglobin, troponin I and NTproBNP. Immune mediators (CXCL8, CCL2, CXCL9, CXCL10, TNF, IFN-γ, IL-17A, IL-12p70, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, IL-2, and IL-1β) were quantified using cytometric bead array.ResultsAt pretreatment, the two treatment groups were comparable demographically. At pre-treatment (D1), injury biomarkers (HMGB1, TnI, myoglobin and FABP3) were distinctly elevated. At D7, HMGB1 was significantly higher in the MP group (p=0.0448) compared to the placebo group, while HMGB1 in the placebo group diminished significantly by D14 (p=0.0115). Compared to healthy control samples, several immune mediators (IL-17A, IL-6, IL-10, MIG, MCP-1, and IP-10) were considerably elevated at baseline (all p≤0.05). At D7, MIG and IP-10 of the MP-group were significantly lower than in the placebo-group (p=0.0431, p=0.0069, respectively). Longitudinally, IL-2 (MP-group) and IL-17A (placebo-group) had increased significantly by D14. In placebo group, IL-2 and IL-17A continuously increased, as IL-12p70, IL-10 and IP-10 steadily decreased during follow-up. The MP treated group had IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-17A and IL-12p70 progressively increase while IL-1β and IL-10 gradually decreased towards D14. Moderate to strong positive correlations between chemokines and cytokines were observed on D7 and D14.ConclusionThese findings suggest MP treatment could ameliorate levels of myoglobin and FABP3, but appeared to have no impact on HMGB1, TnI and NTproBNP. In addition, methylprednisolone relieves the COVID-19 induced inflammatory response by diminishing MIG and IP-10 levels. Overall, corticosteroid (methylprednisolone) use in COVID-19 management influences the immunological molecule and injury biomarker profile in COVID-19 patients

Decline in word-finding: The objective cognitive finding most relevant to patients after mesial temporal lobe epilepsy surgery

Pauli C, Rodrigues de Oliveira Thais ME, Guarnieri R, et al. Decline in word-finding: The objective cognitive finding most relevant to patients after mesial temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR. 2017;75:218-224.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the following: i) the objective impairment in neuropsychological tests that were associated with the subjective perception of cognitive function decline in Brazilian patients who underwent mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) surgery and ii) the predictive variables for those impaired objective neuropsychological tests. Methods: Forty-eight adults with MTLE (27 right HS and 23 male) were divided according to their perception of changes (Decline or No-decline) of cognitive function domain of the QOLIE-31 questionnaire applied before and 1 year after the ATL. The mean (SD) of changes in the raw score difference of the neuropsychological tests before and after the ATL was compared between Decline and No-decline groups. Receiver Operating Characteristic curves, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were used to assess the optimum cutoff points of neuropsychological test score changes to predict patient-reported subjective cognitive decline. Key findings: Six (12.5%) patients reported a perception of cognitive function decline after ATL. Among the 25 cognitive tests analyzed, only changes in the Boston Naming Test (BNT) were associated with subjective cognitive decline reported by patients. A reduction of points in the raw score of BNT after surgery had 91% of sensitivity and 45% specificity for predicting subjective perception of cognitive function decline by the patient. Left side surgery and age older than 40 years were more associated with an important BNT reduction with overall accuracy of 91.7%, 95% predictive ability for no impairment, and 75% for impairment of cognitive function. Significance: Impairment in word-finding seems to be the objective cognitive finding most relevant to Brazilian patients after mesial temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. Similar to American patients, the side of surgery and age are good predictors for no decline in the BNT, but shows a lower accuracy to predict its decline. If replicated in other populations, the results may have wider implications for the surgical management of patients with drug resistant MTLE. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Family History of Diabetes as a New Determinant of Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion in Patients Who Have Undergone a Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplant

Objectives: We used homeostasis model assessment to investigate insulin sensitivity and secretion after a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant or kidney transplant alone. In that model, fasting plasma glucose and C-peptide levels are used to evaluate insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function.Materials and Methods: Factors (eg, age, sex, race, delayed kidney allograft function) were correlated with homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function and homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity values after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant (n=89) or kidney transplant alone (n=68), and the results were compared with those in healthy subjects (n=49).Results: Homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function values were similar in patients who underwent kidney transplant alone or a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant, and were higher than homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function values in healthy subjects. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity showed intermediate values for patients who underwent a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant and correlated with prednisone dosages (in those who underwent kidney transplant alone) and tacrolimus levels (in patients who underwent a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant). Homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function values correlated with prednisone dosages in both groups and with tacrolimus levels in only those who underwent a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant. The body mass index of subjects who underwent kidney transplant alone correlated with both homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function results and homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity results. A family history of diabetes in subjects who underwent a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant correlated with homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function results and homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity results.Conclusions: Immunosuppressive regimen and body mass index were linked with reduced insulin sensitivity after kidney transplant. A family history of diabetes was linked with higher values of insulin secretion and lower insulin sensitivity in patients who underwent a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Div Nephrol, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Div Endocrinol, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Surg, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Div Nephrol, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Div Endocrinol, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Surg, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Evaluation of high-grade astrocytoma recurrence patterns after radiotherapy in the era of temozolomide: A single institution experience

AimEvaluating the recurrence patterns of high-grade astrocytomas in patients who were treated with radiotherapy (RT) plus temozolomide (TMZ).BackgroundThe current literature suggests that reducing the margins added to the CTV does not significantly change the risk of recurrence and overall survival; thus, we decided to analyze our data and to examine the possibility of changing the adopted margins.Materials and methodsFrom February 2008 till September 2013, 55 patients were treated for high-grade astrocytomas, 20 patients who had been confirmed to have recurrence were selected for the present study. Post-operative MRI was superimposed on the planning CT images in order to correlate the anatomical structures with the treatment targets. Recurrences were defined according to the Response Assessment Criteria for Glioblastoma. The mean margins of the PTVinitial and PTVboost were 1.2[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]cm and 1.4[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]cm, respectively. The analysis of the percentage of the recurrence volume (Volrec) within the 100% isodose surface was based on the following criteria: (I) Central: >95% of the Volrec; (II) In-field: 81–95% of the Volrec; (III) Marginal: 20–80% of the Volrec; and (IV) Outside

Limited predictive power of hospitalization variables for long-term cognitive prognosis in adult patients with severe traumatic brain injury

Rodrigues de Oliveira Thais ME, Cavallazzi G, Formolo DA, et al. Limited predictive power of hospitalization variables for long-term cognitive prognosis in adult patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neuropsychology. 2014;8(1):125-139.ObjectivesTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a main cause of mortality and morbidity. Association studies between hospitalization variables and cognitive impairment after TBI are frequently retrospective, including non-consecutive patients showing variable degrees of TBI severity, and poor management of missing (drop out) cases. Methods We assessed prospectively the demographic and hospitalization variables of 234 consecutive patients with severe TBI (admission Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] 8) and determined their independent association with cognitive performance in a representative sample (n=46) of surviving patients (n=172) evaluated 3 (1.8) years after hospitalization. Results In all, 85% of patients were male and the mean age was 34 (SD +/- 13) years. The education level was 9 (+/- 4.7) years. As expected, education and age showed a moderately to strong linear relationship with the cognitive performance in 14 of 15 neuropsychological tests (R coefficient=0.6-0.8). The cognitive test scores were not independently associated with gender, admission GCS, associated trauma, and Marshal CT classification. Admission-elevated blood glucose levels and the presence of sub-arachnoid haemorrhage were independently associated with lower scores on Rey Auditory Verbal Learning retention and Logical Memory-I tests, respectively. ConclusionsAfter correction for education and age distribution, the variables that are commonly associated with mortality or Glasgow Outcome Scale including admission pupils' examination, Marshal CT Classification, GCS, and serum glucose showed a limited predictive power for long-term cognitive prognosis. Identification of clinical, radiological, and laboratory variables as well as new biomarkers independently associated with cognitive outcome remains an important challenge for further work involving severe TBI patients