Calcineurin inhibitor drug avoidance with basiliximab induction and sirolimus provides comparable 1-year transplant outcomes, with significantly better renal function in primary renal allograft recipients.

A new class of GTP-binding protein transglutaminase II (G h ) couples to a 69-kDa phospholipase C (PLC). An 8-amino acid region (Leu 665 -Lys 672 ) of the ␣-subunit of G h (G␣ h ) is involved in interaction and activation of PLC, an observation that has now been used to characterize the 69-kDa PLC further. A 20-amino acid peptide corresponding to Leu 654 -Leu 673 of G␣ h was used to prepare an affinity resin. On incubation with a partially purified PLC preparation from rat liver membranes, the affinity resin-bound ϳ69-and 85-kDa proteins were recognized by an antibody to the 69-kDa PLC. Both purified 69-kDa PLC and PLC-␦1 bound to the affinity resin; moreover, antibodies to PLC-␦1 recognized the 69-kDa PLC, and antibodies to the 69-kDa PLC recognized PLC-␦1.

Rapidly progressive vasculopathy by IVUS, defined as an increase of >/=0.5 mm in intimal thickness within the first year after transplantation, is a powerful predictor of all-cause mortality, MI, and angiographic abnormalities. Accordingly, such patients may be candidates for more aggressive anti-atherosclerotic and/or immunosuppressive therapy.

Most patients with aortic pseudoaneurysm require ascending aorta and/or arch replacement, which can be accomplished with low operative mortality and morbidity. Long-term survival and freedom from reoperation in these young patients parallel those expected for complex cardiac and aortic disease.

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