A b s t r a c tSeveral procedures for the statistical estimation of the regioncharacteristic maximum possible earthquake magnitude, m max , are currently available. This paper aims to introduce and compare the 12 existing procedures. For each of the procedures given, there are notes on its origin, assumptions made in its derivation, condition for validity, weak and strong points, etc. The applicability of each particular procedure is determined by the assumptions of the model and/or the available information on seismicity of the area.

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The presence of donor-specific antibodies directed against human leukocyte antigen significantly influences renal transplant because of antibody-mediated rejection. We performed the screening of pre-renal transplant patients for preformed anti-HLA antibodies using anti-human globulin augmented-complement-dependent lymphocytotoxicity crossmatch (AHG-CDCXm), luminex donor-specific crossmatch (LumXm) and HLA antibody screening. Seven hundred and fifty-four patients were assessed for LumXm. HLA antibody screening was possible in 325 out of 754 cases. All the three investigations viz. CDCXm, HLA antibody screening and LumXm was performed in 325 patients. All CDCXm positive patients (10/325, 3.08%) were also positive with LumXm and HLA antibody screen whereas 14 cases (4.31%) with CDCXm negative were positive with luminex-based assays. LumXm and HLA antibody screening were both positive in 24 (7.38%) cases, LumXm and HLA antibody screening were both negative in 275 (84.63%) cases and LumXm negative and HLA antibody screening was positive in 22 (6.76%) cases. However, there were four cases (1.23%) which were positive in LumXm in spite of being negative in HLA antibody testing. Single Antigen Bead (SAB) assay was performed in all patients positive for HLA antibody test. We suggest that LumXm is a useful and sensitive technique for the detection of anti-HLA antibodies in pre-transplant renal patients. However, other measures such as luminex antibody screen, SAB assay, history of the donor, and the class of antibodies involved should be taken into consideration for pre-transplant work up of renal patients.

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Introduction The MIC (MHC class I chain-related) genes are a group of nonclassical MHC genes, located in the MHC class 1 region of chromosome 6. The aim of the present study was to find the prevalence of MHC class 1 chain-related (MICA) alloantibodies in patients undergoing live-related donor renal transplantation and its role in short-term graft survival. The role of blood transfusion in the formation of these antibodies was also studied. Materials and Methods Pretransplant samples of patients undergoing renal allograft transplantation were tested for anti-MICA antibodies. Association of various demographics, HLA-A + B + DRB1 mismatches, anti-HLA antibody screen, and anti-MICA antibodies was assessed using Pearson's chi-square test. Results Out of 646 serum samples, 94 (14.6%) were positive and 552 (85.4%) were negative for anti-MICA antibodies. Patients with anti-MICA antibody had a graft survival 89.3% as compared to 94.7% in patients without anti-MICA antibody (P < 0.05). The hazard ratio for all patients was 3.0701 (P < 0.05). Out of the 340 patients with no HLA antibodies, the presence of anti-MICA antibodies without any HLA antibodies (n = 43) was associated with poor outcome in the patients (hazard ratio of 2.768, P < 0.05). The presence of MICA antibodies with HLA antibodies did not decrease the graft survival (hazards ratio of 1.3750, P > 0.05). Conclusion Preformed MICA antibodies independently increase the risk of kidney rejection and therefore recommend that guidelines should be formed for mandatory testing of these antibodies prior to renal transplant.