M2 may participate in human peritoneal fibrosis through the stimulation of fibroblast cell growth and CCL18 production as high concentrations of CCL18 are associated with functional deficiency and fibrosis of the peritoneal membrane.

The significance of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility and preformed antibodies in liver transplantation remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to evaluate, in a single-center cohort comprising 896 liver transplants, whether the degree of donor-recipient compatibility and preformed antibodies modified graft survival. Univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that donor-recipient HLA compatibility had a marginal impact on allograft survival. As for compatibility at individual antigen loci, 2 mismatches at HLA-A conferred a survival advantage in retransplanted allografts (P ϭ 0.011). HLA-B and HLA-DR loci did not play a significant role in outcome in any pathology. The concordance of results on preformed antibodies detected by complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and a multiple bead assay (Luminexா xMAP) showed a strong correlation between both techniques (P Ͻ 0.0001). Both CDC-detected and Luminex-detected antibodies were associated with shorter graft survival within the first year post-transplant (P ϭ 0.01 and P ϭ 0.016, respectively). Positive CDC T crossmatches and Luminex-detected HLA class II antibodies played a significant role in decreasing graft survival (P ϭ 0.043 and P ϭ 0.0019 at 1 year, respectively, and P ϭ 0.005 and P ϭ 0.038 at 5 years, respectively). A correlation was also observed between the presence of preformed Luminex-detected class II or Luminex I and II antibodies and allograft rejection (P ϭ 0.001 and P ϭ 0.042, respectively). In conclusion, although HLA typing is not a prerequisite for transplantation, screening of HLA antibodies with Luminex techniques and CDC crossmatch may be useful in the detection of at-risk patients that could benefit from increased surveillance and tailored therapy following transplantation. Liver Transpl 14: 554-562, 2008. © 2008 AASLD. Received June 26, 2007 accepted October 29, 2007. In many end-stage liver diseases, hepatic transplantation often constitutes the only therapeutic option available.1-3 Studies performed in clinical solid organ transplants have endeavored to gain insight into immunological parameters that could be important in altering the course of allograft tolerance, thus modifying the prognosis.Two main factors, donor-recipient human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility and the absence of preformed, donor-specific anti-HLA cytotoxic antibodies (giving rise to a positive crossmatch), are known to contribute to a more favorable outcome in renal 4-6 and heart transplants. 7 This has not been the case in liver transplantation. Over the past 2 decades, opinions

OAGB achieves superior mid- and long-term weight loss than RYGB and SG. There are no significant differences in weight loss between SG and RYGB at 1, 2, and 5 years. OAGB achieves better short- and long-term resolution rates of DM, HT, and DL than SG and RYGB. RYGB and SG obtain similar T2DM and HT remissions, but RYGB reaches significantly greater rates of DL remission. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03467646.

No abstract

HLA-G is expected to play an important role during fetal development. Recently, a healthy individual homozygous for the HLA-G*0105N allele has been described, suggesting that HLA-G expression was not essential for fetal survival. We now report studies of one family with five healthy siblings homozygous for HLA-G*0105N, who had been normally delivered; three of these siblings were females who also had normal deliveries. In addition, HLA-G*0105N cDNA has been fully sequenced, and normal G1 membrane anchored protein cannot be translated since after the codon 130 cytosine deletion (exon 3) a reading frameshift is observed leading to the existence of premature stop codon at position 189 (beginning of exon 4). Other protein isoforms (G2, G3 and G6), all containing the leader peptide and the alpha1 domain, are possible and their messenger mRNAs were found; any of these may undertake the necessary HLA-G functions. Our data show that the membrane anchored HLA-G molecule is not necessary in either mother or fetus for a normal pregnancy and survival. Also, individuals homozygous for HLA-G*0105N are healthy and with no indications of immunodeficiency or autoimmunity.

Most PED visits were because of nonserious diseases, mainly because of insufficient caretaker knowledge and information. This highlights the great need for caretakers' education by health staff. It is also important that physicians are aware of the main illnesses in the newborn period and know how to correctly identify the conditions associated to serious pathology.

No abstract

Abstract-The Ca 2ϩ -and voltage-dependent K ϩ (maxi-K) channel ␤ 1 -subunit mRNA is particularly abundant in cardiomyocytes but its functional role is unknown. This is intriguing because functional maxi-K channels are not found in cardiomyocyte plasmalemma, although they have been suggested to be in the inner mitochondrial membrane and participate in cardioprotection. We report here that ␤ 1 protein may interact with mitochondrial proteins and that the ␤ 1 -subunit gene (KCNMB1) is repressed by sustained hypoxia in dispersed cardiomyocytes as well as in heart intact tissue. The effect of hypoxia is time-and dose-dependent, is mimicked by addition of reactive oxygen species, and selectively requires hypoxia inducible factor-2␣ (Hif-2␣) stabilization. We have observed that adaptation to hypoxia exerts a protective role on cardiomyocytes subjected to ischemia and that, unexpectedly, this form of preconditioning absolutely depends on Hif-2␣. Interference of the ␤ 1 -subunit mRNA increases cardiomyocyte resistance to ischemia. Therefore, Hif-2␣-mediated ␤ 1 -subunit gene repression is a previously unknown mechanism that could participate in the gene expression program triggered by sustained hypoxia to prevent deleterious mitochondrial depolarization and ATP deficiency in cardiac cells. Key Words: hypoxia inducible factor-2␣ Ⅲ hypoxic preconditioning Ⅲ maxi-K channel ␤ 1 -subunit Ⅲ cardiomyocyte Ⅲ small interfering RNA