High levels of circulating EBV load are used as a marker of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). There is no consensus regarding the threshold level indicative of an increase in peripheral EBV DNA. The aim of the study was to clinically validate a developed EBV quantification assay for early PTLD detection. Transversal study: paired peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), plasma and oropharyngeal lymphoid tissue (OLT) from children undergoing a solid organ transplant with (n=58) and without (n=47) PTLD. Retrospective follow-up: 71 paired PBMC and plasma from recipients with (n=6) and without (n=6) PTLD history. EBV load was determined by real-time PCR. The diagnostic ability to detect all PTLD (categories 1-4), advanced PTLD (categories 2-4) or neoplastic PTLD (categories 3 and 4) was estimated by analyzing the test performance at different cut-off values or with a load variation greater than 0.5log units. The higher diagnostic performance for identifying all, advanced or neoplastic PTLD, was achieved with cut-off values of 1.08; 1.60 and 2.47log EBVgEq/10(5) PBMC or 2.30; 2.60; 4.47loggEq/10(5) OLT cells, respectively. EBV DNA detection in plasma showed high specificity but low (all categories) or high (advanced/neoplastic categories) sensitivity for PTLD identification. Diagnostic performance was greater when: (1) a load variation in PBMC or plasma was identified; (2) combining the measure of EBV load in PBMC and plasma. The best diagnostic ability to identify early PTLD stages was achieved by monitoring EBV load in PBMC and plasma simultaneously; an algorithm was proposed.

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Renal disease concurrent with a Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is uncommon. In this report we describe the clinical outcome of a 6-year-old patient who presented with a rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis that required dialysis. A kidney biopsy was performed, and the results revealed membranoprolipherative glomerulonephritis. The IgM serology was positive, and M. pneumoniae DNA was detected in a renal biopsy sample using a nested-PCR assay. The outcome was good.

We studied efficacy and safety of conversion from CNI- to SRL-based immunosuppression in 92 kidney TX recipients, mainly due to CAN (69%). Median time of conversion was 31 months (r: 0.3-165); median time of follow-up: 36 months (r: 2-102). In the whole group mean eGFR increased from 53 ± 22 to 67 ± 26mL/min/1.73 m(2) at three months (p = 0.02) and did not change subsequently. Patients with grade I CAN had higher eGFR than those with grade II CAN. Patient and graft survival was 96% and 70% 10 yr after conversion. Patients with grade I CAN had better graft survival than those with grade II CAN: 89% vs. 65% at six yr (p = 0.02) post conversion. There were two episodes of BPAR. Baseline proteinuria >20 mg/kg/day (HR: 10) and baseline eGFR <50 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (HR: 8) were independent predictors of graft loss. Sixty-seven of 92 subjects had ≥1 AEs: diarrhea (n = 52), urinary tract infections (n = 35), and lower respiratory tract infections (n = 12) were the most frequent. Patients with >2 AEs had SRL blood levels >9 ng/mL at month 3 (p = 0.01). In conclusion, patients converted from CNI to SRL had good graft survival and tolerable but frequent AEs. Independent predictors of graft loss were baseline proteinuria and eGFR.

Donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) causing CAMR are responsible for a high proportion of long-term graft failures after RTX. We studied the prevalence of DSA in RTX children biopsied for creeping Cr, its relationship with NA, and patient and graft survival according to histopathology. Between 2008 and 2013, 92 children were biopsied at a median of 38 months post-RTX. At biopsy, the prevalence of DSA was 49% and C4d 70%. NA rate was 45%, higher in adolescents (60%). Most frequent diagnoses were CAMR (72%) and interstitial fibrosis with tubular atrophy (IFTA) (28%). Forty-five of 66 patients with CAMR (68%) had detectable DSA. Twenty-one DSA-negative patients with CAMR had histological damage (IFTA + C4d positivity). C4d was detected in 64 of 66 biopsies with CAMR. Recipients with IFTA alone had neither C4d, nor detectable DSA, and were adherent. Graft survival at five yr was 89% in patients with CAMR, 79% in those with CAMR + TCMR Banff I, 33% in those with CAMR + TCMR Banff II, and 96% in those with IFTA. ABMR and complement activation were frequent in children biopsied for creeping Cr. Recipients with DSA were more likely to be non-adherent and have CAMR or CAMR + TCMR and worse graft survival.

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Humans coming in contact with natural green spaces experience beneficial physical, mental, and social effects. For the primary purpose of describing plant species found in the gardens of Hospital de Pediatría "Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan" (Autonomous City of Buenos Aires), a taxonomic survey was carried out between December 2013 and November 2016. A secondary objective was to review the extent of knowledge on how natural green spaces affect the health of hospitalized patients. There are 69 plant species from 47 botanical families; of these, only 8% are native. The recommendation is to increase the number of native species and coordinate those aspects related to their preservation. This survey, which is part of a plan that will include the dissemination of knowledge, understanding and awareness of green spaces and health, and the quantification of such specific effects in this hospital, will deepen and promote the interaction of patients, families, and health care providers with natural green spaces.

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