Long-term outcome of screening for polyoma BK virus infection in kidney transplant recipients

BK virus (BKV) infection was studied prospectively in 50 unselected consecutive patients who had undergone kidney transplantation. Infection was monitored for one year after transplantation. Viral DNA in urine (viruria) and plasma (viremia) samples was detected by nested, qualitative polymerase chain reaction. BKV screening data was available for 92% (n = 46) of patients enrolled in the study. Four groups of patients were distinguished: uninfected patients (group 1, n = 30), patients with viruria (group 2, n = 3), patients with viremia (group 3, n = 6) and patients with developed BKV nephropathy (group 4, n = 7). Infection was observed starting form the first month, and the maximum number of patients with active BKV infection occurred at six months after transplantation. Five-year graft survival was 69% for patients with any evidence of BKV infection, compared with 80.0% (P = NS) for patients without BKV infection. The best graft function was observed in group one patient (mean serum creatinine 130 mkmol/l and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 60.9 ml/min) and the worst in group 4 (mean serum creatinine 180 mkmol/l and GFR 52.31 ml/min) at five years after transplantation. Five-year patient survival was 82.6% and was not affected by presence of BKV infection.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Improving protection of victims’ rights in Latvia – access to legal aid and mediation as a toll to settle the conflict

The state compensation and legal aid to victims of criminal offences are only two small elements of what such system should entail. The victim compensation system as described in the Criminal Procedure Law and in the Criminal Law is only a part of the compensation mechanism and support provided to certain groups of victims does not mean that Latvia has a victim support system. Similarly, financing assigned annually for payment of the state guaranteed compensation from the state budget is not to be considered a victim compensation fund

Organ Donation and Transplantation in Latvia

publishersversio

Genetic and Phenotypic Parameters for Reproduction Traits of Landrace Sows in Latvia

The aim of this study was to investigate reproduction performance in the 1st and 2nd parity of Latvian Landrace sows, to estimate genetic parameters for reproduction traits, and to determine their genetic correlations with age at the first farrowing (AFF) and weaning to insemination interval (WII) in the Latvian Landrace swine population. Data from 2054 of the 1st parity and 1416 of the 2nd parity sows were collected from 2005 till 2010 and were included in the analysis. Four reproduction traits in the study were analysed: number of piglets born alive (NBA), number of piglets dead (ND), number of piglets weaned per litter (NW) and 21-day litter weight (W21). Genetic parameters were estimated with multi traits animal model using REML procedure. The heritability estimates in the first parity were 0.07, 0.16, 0.36, 0.01 and 0.32 for NBA, NW, W21, AFF and WII, respectively. Between AFF and sows reproduction traits in the first and the second parity unfavourable genetic correlations were found in the present data set. Moderate negative genetic correlation between WII and sows reproduction traits was observed

Importance of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection Detection in Female Renal Transplant Recipients in the First Year after Transplantation

Funding Information: This work was supported by Riga Stradins University, Grant no. RSU ZP 12/2013. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Maksims Cistjakovs et al. Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Objectives. Most of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are "cleared" by the immune system; however, in cases of immune system suppression, infections could lead to development of malignancies. The aim of this study was to find out the frequency of HR-HPV infection in early period after renal transplantation in recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy and to follow the progression of the infection up to one year. Methods. 43 female renal transplant recipients and 79 healthy female individuals as a control group were enrolled in this investigation. For the detection of HPV infection, patients' samples (blood and vaginal swabs) were collected two weeks after transplantation with following collection of six months and one year. Different polymerase chain reactions for HR-HPV genomic sequences detection and ELISA kit for detection of anti-HPV IgG antibodies were used. Results. In this study, we show that frequency rate of HR-HPV infection has increased in the first year after transplantation from early stage of immunosuppressive therapy (from 24% to 36%). Also an increase of HR-HPV load was detected over time, showing the highest median viral load at sixth month after transplantation. Conclusions. From the obtained data, it follows that it is very important to carefully monitor patients receiving immunosuppression therapy on progression of HR-HPV.Peer reviewe

Human papillomavirus type 18 infection in a female renal allograft recipient : a case report

Publisher Copyright: © 2016 The Author(s).Background: Human papillomavirus type 18 is the second most common cause of cervical cancer and is found in 7 to 20 % of cases of cervical cancer. The oncogenic potential of high-risk human papillomavirus is associated with expression of early proteins E6 and E7. Due to long-term immunosuppressive therapy, renal transplant recipients have a higher risk of developing persistent human papillomavirus infection. Case presentation: A 29-year-old white woman from Latvia with chronic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis received renal allograft transplantation and was prescribed immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine, prednisolone, and mycophenolate mofetil. Two weeks after renal transplantation, her cervical swab was positive for human papillomavirus consensus sequences. After 6 months, quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed a high viral load of 3,630,789 copies/105 cells of high-risk human papillomavirus type 18 and expression of E6 and E7 oncogenes in her cervical swab and urine sample. One year after renal transplantation, the viral load in her cervical swab increased significantly to 7,413,102 copies/105 cells. Messenger ribonucleic acid of human papillomavirus type 18 E6 and E7 oncogenes were also detected. Shortly after this, she had an unsuccessful pregnancy which resulted in a spontaneous abortion at 6/7 weeks. Two months after the abortion her viral load sharply decreased to 39 copies/105 cells. Oncogenes E6 and E7 messenger ribonucleic acid expression was not observed in this period. Conclusions: This case report represents data which show that immunosuppressive therapy may increase the risk of developing persistent high-risk human papillomavirus infection with expression of E6 and E7 oncogenes in renal transplant recipients. However, even during this therapy the immune status of a recipient can improve and contribute to human papillomavirus viral load reduction. Spontaneous abortion can be considered a possible contributory factor in human papillomavirus clearance.publishersversionPeer reviewe

The ERA Registry Annual Report 2021:a summary

BackgroundThe European Renal Association (ERA) Registry collects data on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). This paper is a summary of the ERA Registry Annual Report 2021, including a comparison across treatment modalities.MethodsData was collected from 54 national and regional registries from 36 countries, of which 35 registries from 18 countries contributed individual patient data and 19 registries from 19 countries contributed aggregated data. Using this data, incidence and prevalence of KRT, kidney transplantation rates, survival probabilities and expected remaining lifetimes were calculated.ResultsIn 2021, 533.2 million people in the general population were covered by the ERA Registry. The incidence of KRT was 145 per million population (pmp). In incident patients, 55% were 65 years or older, 64% were male, and the most common primary renal disease (PRD) was diabetes (22%). The prevalence of KRT was 1040 pmp. In prevalent patients, 47% were 65 years or older, 62% were male, and the most common PRDs were diabetes and glomerulonephritis/sclerosis (both 16%). On 31 December 2021, 56% of patients received haemodialysis, 5% received peritoneal dialysis, and 39% were living with a functioning graft. The kidney transplantation rate in 2021 was 37 pmp, a majority coming from deceased donors (66%). For patients initiating KRT between 2012–2016, 5-year survival probability was 52%. Compared to the general population, life expectancy was 65% and 68% shorter for males and females receiving dialysis, and 40% and 43% shorter for males and females living with a functioning graft

Regional development instruments for promotion of entrepreneurship in territories with unfavorable socio-economic situation: the case of the Latvia

The development gap between regions and even countries has always been actual problem in field of regional policy. Regional development disparities especially are important problem in territories with unfavourable socio-economic situation. To minimize this problem, many Eastern Europe countries, including Latvia, implemented special economic zones and free ports as regional development instrument with aim to mitigate regional development differences between regions by attracting investments and creating new jobs. Experience with special economic zones in Latvia are likely close with Poland’s case, thus experts from Poland affirms that, every 100 jobs given in special economic zone create on average about 72 jobs outside the special economic zone hosting territory and 137 jobs in neighboring counties. Latvia, since the restoration of sovereignty, established five economic zones in total – two of them are situated in Latgale, which is the least developed region of Latvia. Researchers have not been widely contributed to analysis of special economic zones impact to regional development. Authors evaluated impact of created job places of special economic zones in Latgale region to unemployment level. Results of research show that special economic zones as regional development instrument creates significant impact to regional development in territories with unfavourable socio-economic situation