Elevated soluble cellular adhesion molecules are associated with increased mortality in a prospective cohort of renal transplant recipients

Increased plasma levels of cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) have been shown to be predictors of all cause mortality in individuals with chronic renal failure 12 and patients with end-stage renal disease receiving haemodialysis 3. In renal transplant recipients the predictive value of CAMs has not been well characterised. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between CAMs and all-cause mortality during prospective follow-up of a renal transplant cohort.

Does angiotensin blockade influence graft outcome in renal transplant recipients with IgA nephropathy?

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a frequent cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and recurrent disease causes deterioration and graft loss in transplant recipients. No definitive management is known to reduce the risk or severity of recurrent IgAN, and the evidence to support the use of renin-angiotensin system blockade in such patients is limited.

Pharmacokinetics of flosequinan in patients with heart failure

The pharmacokinetics of flosequinan were studied in a group of 18 patients with chronic cardiac failure.

The importance of validating the diagnosis of coronary heart disease when measuring secondary prevention:a cross-sectional study in general practice

To compare levels of recorded risk factors and drug treatment between patients with validated and non-validated diagnoses of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Northern Ireland.

Paraoxonase polymorphisms are not associated with cardiovascular risk in renal transplant recipients

Paraoxonase (PON1) gene variants have been identified as risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). There are two common PON1 polymorphisms at position 55 (Leu-Met change) and 192 (Gln-Arg change) of the amino acid chain. Leucine at position 55 and arginine at position 192 have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The increased prevalence of CVD in renal transplant recipients can be only partly explained by the increased prevalence of conventional risk factors.

Influence of progressive renal dysfunction in chronic heart failure

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is often associated with impaired renal function due to hypoperfusion. Such patients are very sensitive to changes in renal perfusion pressure, and may develop acute tubular necrosis if the pressure falls too far. The situation is complicated by the use of diuretics, ACE inhibitors and spironolactone, all of which may affect renal function and potassium balance. Chronic renal failure (CRF) may also be associated with fluid overload. Anaemia and hypertension in CRF contribute to the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which carries a poor prognosis, so correction of these factors is important.

The effects of lowering LDL cholesterol with simvastatin plus ezetimibe in patients with chronic kidney disease (Study of Heart and Renal Protection):a randomised placebo-controlled trial

Lowering LDL cholesterol with statin regimens reduces the risk of myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, and the need for coronary revascularisation in people without kidney disease, but its effects in people with moderate-to-severe kidney disease are uncertain. The SHARP trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of simvastatin plus ezetimibe in such patients.

Decreased serum retinol is associated with increased mortality in renal transplant recipients

Vitamin A plays a central role in epithelial integrity and immune function. Given the risk of infection after transplantation, adequate vitamin A concentrations may be important in patients with a transplant. We assessed whether there was an association between retinol concentration and all-cause mortality in renal transplant recipients.

The role of regret minimisation in lifestyle choices affecting the risk of coronary heart disease

This paper introduces the discrete choice model-paradigm of Random Regret Minimisation (RRM) to the field of health economics. The RRM is a regret-based model that explores a driver of choice different from the traditional utility-based Random Utility Maximisation (RUM). The RRM approach is based on the idea that, when choosing, individuals aim to minimise their regret–regret being defined as what one experiences when a non-chosen alternative in a choice set performs better than a chosen one in relation to one or more attributes. Analysing data from a discrete choice experiment on diet, physical activity and risk of a fatal heart attack in the next ten years administered to a sample of the Northern Ireland population, we find that the combined use of RUM and RRM models offer additional information, providing useful behavioural insights for better informed policy appraisal.