Abstract Objectives: In the past decade, advances in immunological therapy have increased the survival of kidney recipients and their grafts. However, it has not achieved the desired level of improvement. This study aims to reveal the mortality among kidney recipients. Methods: Medical data of the patients, who had undergone kidney transplantation (KT) between November 2010 and December 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were adult kidney recipients, who had died. Exclusion criteria were pediatric recipients, recipients of en bloc and dual KT, recipients with missing data, and recipients with a primary non-functioning graft. The recipients were grouped according to their donor type; Group 1 (from a living donor) and Group 2 (from a deceased donor). Subgroup analyses were done for mortality by time-period post-transplant and for infectious causes of mortality. Results: Of 314 recipients, 35 (11.14%) died. Twenty-nine recipients were included in the study (Group 1: 17 and Group 2: 12). The most common cause of mortality was infection (58.6%), and the second was cardiovascular disease (CVD) (24.1%). Sepsis developed in 29.4% of infection-related deaths, while COVID-19 constituted 23.5% of infection-related deaths. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment of infectious and CVD are important to improve survival in kidney recipients.

Resumen Objetivos: En la última década, los avances en la terapia inmunológica han aumentado la supervivencia de los receptores de riñón y sus injertos. Sin embargo, no se pudo lograr el nivel de mejora deseado. Este estudio tiene como objetivo revelar la mortalidad entre los receptores de riñón. Materiales y métodos: Se revisaron retrospectivamente los datos médicos de los pacientes, que se habían sometido a un trasplante de riñón entre Noviembre de 2010 y Diciembre de 2020. Los criterios de inclusión fueron los receptores de riñón adultos, que habían fallecido. Los criterios de exclusión fueron los receptores pediátricos, los receptores de trasplantes de riñón dual y en bloque, los receptores con datos faltantes y los receptores con un injerto primario no funcionante. Los receptores se agruparon según su tipo de donante; Grupo 1 (de un donante vivo) y Grupo 2 (de un donante fallecido). Se realizaron análisis de subgrupos para la mortalidad por período de tiempo posterior al trasplante y para las causas infecciosas de mortalidad. Resultados: De 314 beneficiarios, 35 (11,14%) fallecieron. Se incluyeron 29 receptores en el estudio (Grupo 1:17; Grupo 2:12). La causa más común de mortalidad fue la infección (58,6%) y la segunda fue la enfermedad cardiovascular (24,1%). La sepsis se desarrolló en el 29,4% de las muertes relacionadas con la infección, mientras que el COVID-19 constituyó el 23,5% de las muertes relacionadas con la infección. Conclusión: El diagnóstico y tratamiento tempranos de enfermedades infecciosas y cardiovasculares es importante para mejorar la supervivencia de los receptores de riñón.

Abstract Nanoscale biomaterials are commonly used in a wide range of biomedical applications such as bone graft substitutes, gene delivery systems, and biologically active agents. On the other hand, the cytotoxic potential of these particles hasn’t yet been studied comprehensively to understand whether or not they exert any negative impact on the cellular structures. Here, we undertook the synthesis of beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) and biphasic tricalcium phosphate (BCP) nanoparticles (NPs) and determine their concentration-dependent toxic effects in human fetal osteoblastic (hFOB 1.19) cell line. Firstly, BCP and β-TCP were synthesized using a water-based precipitation technique and characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The cytological effects of β-TCP and BCP at different concentrations (0-640 ppm) were evaluated by using 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. The total oxidative status (TOS) parameter was used for investigating oxidative stress potentials of the NPs. In addition, the study assessed the DNA damage product 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-Oxo-dG) level in hFOB 1.19 cell cultures. The results indicated that the β-TCP (above 320 ppm) and BCP (above 80 ppm) NPs exhibited cytotoxicity effects on high concentrations. It was also observed that the oxidative stress increased relatively as the concentrations of NPs increased, aligning with the cytotoxicity results. However, the NPs concentrations of 160 ppm and above increased the level of 8-OH-dG. Consequently, there is a need for more systematic in vivo and in vitro approaches to the toxic effects of both nanoparticles.

Abstract Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is an important protein source in arid regions as both human and animal food. Despite its significance, the use of grass pea is limited by the presence of β-N-oxalyl-L-a,b-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP) which can cause neurological disorders. Breeding studies in grass pea have therefore focused on developing high-yielding varieties with low β-ODAP content. However, the narrow range of genetic diversity and the restricted genomic tools in grass pea have slowed progress in such breeding. The present investigation was conducted to explore the genetic diversity of low β-ODAP germplasm consisting of 22 accessions with 31 EST-SSR markers. The molecular analyses revealed a total of 133 alleles ranging from 142 to 330 bp with a mean number of alleles per locus of 4.29. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) value was calculated as 0.49, and the EST-SSRs in loci S5, S6 and S116 were of the most informative PICs. A dendrogram based on Nei’s genetic distance matrix revealed that breeding lines were grouped in two main clusters. Genetic distances were higher between GP6/GP11, GP4/GP11 and GP5/GP8 accessions which could be further used in crop improvement studies for developing wider genetic diversity.

<sec><title>PURPOSE:</title><p>To evaluate the effects of <italic>Ecballium elaterium</italic> (EE), <italic>Elaterium officinarum,</italic>in postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions in rats.</p></sec><sec><title>METHODS:</title><p> Thirty rats were divided into three groups and underwent midline laparotomy under 35 mg/kg ketamine and 5 mg/kg xylazine anaesthesia. In group 1 (n=10), the sham operation group, the abdominal walls were closed without any process. In group 2 (n=10), the control group, the antimesenteric border of the ceacum and the corresponding parietal peritoneum were abraded with dry sterile gauze. In group 3 (n=10), the EE group, 2.5 mg/kg dose of EE was administered as intraperitoneally to the rats after abrasion. All rats were sacrificed on postoperative day 15. Samples were obtained</p></sec><sec><title>RESULTS:</title><p>The adhesion score was significantly decreased in the EE group (p=0.001) in comparison with the control group. Microscopically, the EE and sham groups were significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.001 and p=0.000, respectively). Furthermore, the measurement of tissue levels of hydroxyproline was significantly lower in the sham and EE groups compared to the control group (sham group: 47.6 ± 10.6, EE group: 62.9 ± 9.7, Control group: 84.2 ± 22.1 mg /L/g-tissue).</p></sec><sec><title>CONCLUSION:</title><p>The grade and severity of abdominal adhesion could be significantly reduced through administered <italic>Ecballium elaterium</italic> and therefore be a suitable anti-inflammatory agent for the prevention of postoperative peritoneal adhesion in the future.</p></sec>