The in vivo biocompatibility and analytical performance of amperometric oxygen-sensing catheters prepared with a new type of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing silicone rubber polymer (DACA/N2O2 SR) is reported. The NO-release silicone rubber coating contains diazeniumdiolated secondary amine sites covalently anchored to a dimethylsiloxane matrix. Narrow diameter (0.9 mm, o.d.) silicone rubber tubing coated with this polymer can be employed to construct functional oxygen-sensing catheters that release NO continuously at levels > 1 x 10(-10) mol/cm2-min for more than 20 h. In vivo evaluation of such sensors within the carotid and femoral arteries of swine over a 16-h time period demonstrates that sensors prepared with the new NO-release coating exhibit no significant platelet adhesion or thrombus formation, but control sensors (non-NO release) implanted within the same animals do show a high propensity for cell adhesion and bulk clot formation. Furthermore, the in vivo analytical data provided by sensors fabricated with NO-release coatings (N = 9) are shown to be statistically equivalent to PO2 levels measured in vitro on discrete samples of blood. Control sensors (N = 9) placed within the same animals yield average PO2 values that are statistically different (p < or = 0.05) (lower) from both the levels measured on discrete samples and those provided by the NO-release sensors over a 16-h in vivo monitoring period.

We studied pediatric liver transplantation for metabolic disease in a large national cohort to determine whether smaller studies suggesting a survival advantage for these recipients could be corroborated. We also hoped to determine whether higher survival rates in recipients with metabolic disease are associated with lack of structural liver disease, and to evaluate these recipients' risk factors for mortality. Data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients were used to analyze nationwide results (1990±99) of pediatric liver transplantation for patients with biliary atresia and metabolic disease. Adjusted patient survival rates for children with metabolic disease at 1 and 5 years were 94% and 92%, respectively, ± significantly higher than for recipients with biliary atresia (90% and 86%) (p=0.008). Cox regression models identified recipient black race [relative risk (RR) = 5.1] and simultaneous transplantation of other organs (RR = 3.2) as significant risk factors for mortality in the metabolic group. Adjusted survival rates for metabolic patients with structural and nonstructural liver diseases were similar to each other at both 1 and 5 years. Children with metabolic disease had significantly higher adjusted short-and long-term post-transplant survival rates than those with biliary atresia. Structural disease was not a risk factor for worse outcomes.

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A small proportion of T. cruzi-seropositive candidates presented positive parasitemia before LT. After LT, qPCR allowed detection of parasitemia leading to use of preemptive therapy in all R+/D- with T. cruzi replication. No cases of T. cruzi parasitemia occurred in R-/D+.