Recipient donor sex combinations in solid organ transplantation and impact on clinical outcome: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Solid organ transplantation (SOT) is a lifesaving treatment for end-stage organ failure. Although many factors affect the success of organ transplantation, recipient and donor sex are important biological factors influencing transplant outcome. However, the impact of the four possible recipient and donor sex combinations (RDSC) on transplant outcome remains largely unclear. METHODS: A scoping review was carried out focusing on studies examining the association between RDSC and outcomes (mortality, graft rejection, and infection) after heart, lung, liver, and kidney transplantation. All studies up to February 2023 were included. RESULTS: Multiple studies published between 1998 and 2022 show that RDSC is an important factor affecting the outcome after organ transplantation. Male recipients of SOT have a higher risk of mortality and graft failure than female recipients. Differences regarding the causes of death are observed. Female recipients on the other hand are more susceptible to infections after SOT. CONCLUSION: Differences in underlying illnesses as well as age, immunosuppressive therapy and underlying biological mechanisms among male and female SOT recipients affect the post-transplant outcome. However, the precise mechanisms influencing the interaction between RDSC and post-transplant outcome remain largely unclear. A better understanding of how to identify and modulate these factors may improve outcome, which is particularly important in light of the worldwide organ shortage. An analysis for differences of etiology and causes of graft loss or mortality, respectively, is warranted across the RDSC groups. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Recipient and donor sex combinations affect outcome after solid organ transplantation. While female recipients are more susceptible to infections after solid organ transplantation, they have higher overall survival following SOT, with causes of death differing from male recipients. Sex-differences should be taken into account in the post-transplant management.

Predictors and management of post-banding ulcer bleeding in cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Post-banding ulcer bleeding (PBUB) is an understudied complication of oesophageal varices endoscopic band ligation (EBL). This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed at: (a) evaluating the incidence of PBUB in patients with cirrhosis treated with EBL in primary or secondary prophylaxis or urgent treatment for acute variceal bleeding and (b) identifying predictors of PBUB. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of articles in English published in 2006-2022 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Searches were made in eight databases including Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Library. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to determine the incidence, mean interval and predictors of PBUB. RESULTS: Eighteen studies (9034 patients) were included. The incidence of PBUB was 5.5% (95% CI 4.3-7.1). The mean time for it to occur was 11 days (95% CI 9.94-11.97). Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (OR 1.162, 95% CI 1.047-1.291) and EBL done in emergency setting (OR 4.902, 95% CI 2.99-8.05) independently predicted post-ligation ulcer bleeding. Treatment included drugs, endoscopic procedures and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Refractory bleeding was treated with self-expandable metallic stents or balloon tamponade. Mortality was on average 22.3% (95% CI 14.1-33.6). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with high MELD score and receiving EBL in an emergency setting are more prone to develop PBUB. Prognosis is still poor and the best therapeutic strategy to address remains to be ascertained.

Persistence of uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors in patients treated with percutaneous interventions for stable coronary artery disease not receiving cardiac rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation programmes are strongly recommended for all forms of coronary artery disease to reduce recurrent events and mortality. Few patients seem to participate in these programmes after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to assess changes in lifestyle and risk factors after PCI for patients with stable disease and not included in cardiac rehabilitation programmes. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 207 consecutive patients with stable disease who underwent a first elective PCI. Follow up was performed at 13.0 ± 3.2 months for 94.7%; 28 patients were excluded due to participation in a cardiac rehabilitation programme. Baseline values from admission sheets were compared to follow up values collected from the treating physician. RESULTS: At follow up, systolic and diastolic blood pressures dropped (p = 0.001) as well as the prevalence of hypertension (p < 0.001). Significant reductions in cholesterol (p < 0.001) and blood glucose (p = 0.004) were also noted. Low-density lipoprotein levels stayed outside target in 47.2% and high-density lipoprotein levels in 75.0% of patients initially presenting with lipid disorders. Obesity prevalence remained high at follow up. Only 45.6% were performing regular physical exercise and 8.3% of smokers quit smoking. Only 13.3% attended any form of dietary advice programme. HADS-A score was 5.1 ± 3.9 and the HADS-D score was 3.8 ± 3.6. SF 36 questionnaire revealed a good quality of life with a mean value of 45.6 for physical and 42.9 for mental wellbeing. CONCLUSION: A considerable percentage of patients receiving PCI for stable angina do not achieve lifestyle and risk factor goals and therefore remain at increased risk for recurrent events. Efforts should be initiated to better implement guidelines that strongly recommend secondary prevention through cardiac rehabilitation after elective PCI.

Assessment of enveloping distribution sampling to calculate relative free enthalpies of binding for eight netropsin-DNA duplex complexes in aqueous solution.

The performance of enveloping distribution sampling (EDS) simulations to estimate free enthalpy differences associated with seven alchemical transformations of A-T into G-C base pairs at the netropsin binding site in the minor groove of a 13-base pair DNA duplex in aqueous solution is evaluated. It is demonstrated that sufficient sampling can be achieved with a two-state EDS Hamiltonian even for large perturbations such as the simultaneous transformation of up to three A-T into three G-C base pairs. The two parameters required to define the EDS reference state Hamiltonian are obtained automatically using a modified version of a scheme presented in earlier work. The sensitivity of the configurational sampling to a variation of these parameters is investigated in detail. Although for relatively small perturbations, that is, one base pair, the free enthalpy estimate depends only weakly on the EDS parameters, the sensitivity is stronger for the largest perturbation. Yet, EDS offers various convenient measures to evaluate the degree of sampling and thus the reliability of the free enthalpy estimate and appears to be an efficient alternative to the conventional thermodynamic integration methodology to obtain free energy differences for molecular systems.