Effect of remote ischemic conditioning on dendritic cell number in blood after renal transplantation--flow cytometry in a porcine model.

Delayed graft function after transplantation increases the risk of rejection. Remote ischemic conditioning (rIC) consists of repetitive, brief, non-damaging periods of ischemia in a limb. For reasons not fully understood, rIC protects the target organ against subsequent ischemia-reperfusion injury. Because ischemic endothelium attracts dendritic cells (DCs), we hypothesised that rIC protects the organ by "trapping" circulating DCs in the limb exposed to rIC. With fewer DCs thus available to infiltrate the graft, a strong T-cell mediated immune response toward the graft is less likely. To test this hypothesis, we measured the number of circulating DCs in a porcine model of renal transplantation with and without rIC. Brain death was induced in eight 65-kg donor pigs. After 22 h of cold ischemia, the kidneys were transplanted into sixteen 15-kg recipient pigs. The recipients were randomised to either non-rIC or rIC before reperfusion of the graft and observed 10 h after reperfusion. The number of DCs was determined by flow cytometry. DCs were identified on the basis of forward- and side-scatter characteristics of CD14-negative mononuclear cells with expression of CD172a. Dendritic cells were subclassified as either plasmacytoid (pDCs) (CD172a(dim), CD4(+), CD14(-)) or conventional (cDCs) (CD172a(high), CD4(-), CD14(-)). Remote ischemic conditioning did not affect the number of circulating cDCs or pDCs within the 10h after transplantation studied. Regardless of rIC, the number of pDCs decreased after graft reperfusion and then returned to baseline levels. In contrast, the number of circulating cDCs increased after reperfusion and later returned to baseline levels.

Percutaneous needle fasciotomy for primary Dupuytren's contracture.

This study evaluated the effect of percutaneous needle fasciotomy on primary Dupuytren's contracture in 149 patients (213 rays) admitted to our clinic in 2007. Ninety-two patients (130 rays) were followed up for 2 years to compare the change in total passive extension deficit and the passive extension deficit across the individual joint and to note side effects. No tendon rupture or damage to sensory nerves was observed and the rehabilitation period was short (mean, 0.6 days). We found a significant change (p < 0.001) in total passive extension deficit after 2 years, but the effect of the treatment was greater in Tubiana I and II stages and our best results were in correction of MCP joint contractures. Percutaneous needle fasciotomy is an alternative treatment for elderly patients with severe comorbidity or for those patients who do not want open surgery.

Sore throat after operation: influence of tracheal intubation, intracuff pressure and type of cuff.

One hundred and eighty-four patients were studied to elucidate the contribution of intracuff pressure and cuff type to the occurrence of sore throat and hoarseness after operation. The patients were allocated to one of the following groups: A = mask only; B = reusable Rüsch tube with intermittent cuff volume adjustment; C = reusable Rüsch tube without cuff volume adjustment; D = disposable Portex Blue Line tube with intermittent cuff volume adjustment; E = disposable Shiley Low Pressure tube with intermittent cuff volume adjustment. Nitrous oxide was a component of anaesthesia in all patients. Moderate or severe symptoms were recorded in 30-33% of the patients in groups C, D and E, contrasting with group B, in which these sequelae were seen in only 10% of patients (P less than 0.025). All sequelae occurred less frequently in group A than in any of the other groups (P less than 0.025). Women were more likely to develop sore throat after intubation than were men (P less than 0.01). A possible relationship between differences in cuff-trachea contact area is postulated.