In the validation set, discard rates were significantly different when comparing HRDs (35%) and LRDs (7%) (p < 0.0001). In addition, the heart donor score was significantly associated with 3-year survival: LRD 81.5% vs HRD 70.0% (p = 0.004).
CONCLUSIONS:
The heart donor score accurately reflects the likelihood of organ acceptance and predicts long-term patient mortality. Application of this score at time of donor reporting may JNK-IN-8 facilitate donor risk assessment and allow for more appropriate matching of extended criteria donor hearts. J Heart Lung Transplant 2012;31:387-97 (C) 2012 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. All rights reserved.”
“Background: We previously developed a new risk score to predict intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance
in Kawasaki disease. However, the IVIG dosage used in that study (1 g/kg/d for 2 consecutive days) differs from the single infusion of 2 g/kg recommended in the United States and elsewhere. Our aim was to assess the validity and applicability of our risk score in patients treated with a single infusion.
Methods: We used a database of 1626 patients with Kawasaki disease given initial IVIG treatment at a dose of 1 g/kg/d for 2 consecutive days (n = 990; IVIG- 1 g/kg x 2) or 2 g/kg/d for 1 day (n = 636; IVIG- 2 g/kg x 1) across 17 hospitals in Japan. Patients received the total IVIG dose DZNeP solubility dmso within 36 hours in IVIG- 1 g/kg x 2 and 24 hours in IVIG- 2 g/kg x 1. We stratified the patients according to a risk scoring system developed to predict IVIG unresponsiveness, based on scores of >= 5 points. We compared the accuracy of prediction between the 2 groups using receiver operating characteristic analysis.
Results: Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were similar
between both groups. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve in IVIG- 2 g/kg x 1 were similar to those of SBE-β-CD IVIG- 1 g/kg x 2. Using a cut-off risk score of >= 5 points, we could identify IVIG resistance in terms of coronary artery abnormalities within 1 month and coronary artery abnormalities at 1 month with equivalent sensitivity and specificity in both groups.
Conclusion: Our risk score can be used to predict IVIG unresponsiveness to a regimen based on a single infusion of 2 g/kg IVIG.”
“The atomic and electronic structures at interfaces in thin films are typically different from the bulk and are vitally important in determining the physical properties of thin films. The interface between SrVO3, chosen as a prototype for vanadium-based perovskite materials in this work, and LaAlO3 substrate is investigated by scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and theoretical multi-electron calculations. Extra electrons have been detected on the interface layer by comparing the energy-loss near-edge structures of V-L-3,L-2 edges to those from the film far from the interface.