OBJECTIVE: Glycemia management in critical care is posing a challenge in frequent measuring and adequate insulin dose adjustment. In recent years, continuous glucose measurement has gained accuracy and reliability in outpatient and inpatient settings. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and accuracy of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in ICU patients after major abdominal surgery. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We included patients undergoing pancreatic surgery and solid organ transplantation (liver, pancreas, islets of Langerhans, kidney) requiring an ICU stay after surgery. We used a Dexcom G6 sensor, placed in the infraclavicular region, for real-time CGM. Arterial blood glucose measured by the amperometric principle (ABL 800; Radiometer, Copenhagen, Denmark) served as a reference value and for calibration. Blood glucose was also routinely monitored by a StatStrip bedside glucose meter. Sensor accuracy was assessed by mean absolute relative difference (MARD), bias, modified Bland-Altman plot, and surveillance error grid for paired samples of glucose values from CGM and acid-base analyzer (ABL). RESULTS: We analyzed data from 61 patients and obtained 1,546 paired glucose values from CGM and ABL. Active sensor use was 95.1%. MARD was 9.4%, relative bias was 1.4%, and 92.8% of values fell in zone A, 6.1% fell in zone B, and 1.2% fell in zone C of the surveillance error grid. Median time in range was 78%, with minimum (<1%) time spent in hypoglycemia. StatStrip glucose meter MARD compared with ABL was 5.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows clinically applicable accuracy and reliability of Dexcom G6 CGM in postoperative ICU patients and a feasible alternative sensor placement site.

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a risk factor for adverse hospital outcomes in recipients of a heart transplantation (HTx). Timely recognition of AKI is crucial for the initiation of proper treatment. We hypothesized that serum or urine biomarkers can predict AKI. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this prospective study we evaluated 117 consecutive patients after HTx. AKI was defined as an increase of the serum creatinine level by ≥50% or a worsening of the renal function requiring renal replacement therapy during the first post-HTx week. We serially sampled serum cystatin C (S-cystatin C) as a marker of glomerular filtration and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (U-NGAL) as a marker of tubular damage. RESULTS A cohort of 30 patients (25.6%) fulfilled the criteria of AKI. S-cystatin C allowed the earliest separation between the AKI and non-AKI groups, with a significant difference present as soon as 3 h after surgery and it persisted on days 7, 10, and 30. The increase in S-cystatin C preceded the serum creatinine elevation by 4 days. In a multivariate analysis, S-cystatin C >1.6 mg/L at 3 h after HTx predicted AKI with OR 4.3 (95% CI: 1.6-11.5). U-NGAL was significantly higher at day 3 in the AKI group (p=0.003) and elevated S-cystatin C (≥2.54 mg/L on day 7) could predict 1-year mortality in these HTx recipients. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that the measurement of S-cystatin C at 3 h after surgery may help to identify patients with high risk for renal complications. A persistent elevation of S-cystatin C also predicts 1-year mortality.

Purpose: The development of primary human retinal pigmented epithelium (hRPE) for clinical transplantation purposes on biodegradable scaffolds is indispensable. We hereby report the results of the subretinal implantation of hRPE cells on nanofibrous membranes in minipigs. Methods: The hRPEs were collected from human cadaver donor eyes and cultivated on ultrathin nanofibrous carriers prepared via the electrospinning of poly(L-lactide-co-DL-lactide) (PDLLA). “Libechov” minipigs (12–36 months old) were used in the study, supported by preoperative tacrolimus immunosuppressive therapy. The subretinal implantation of the hRPE-nanofibrous carrier was conducted using general anesthesia via a custom-made injector during standard three-port 23-gauge vitrectomy, followed by silicone oil endotamponade. The observational period lasted 1, 2, 6 and 8 weeks, and included in vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retina, as well as post mortem immunohistochemistry using the following antibodies: HNAA and STEM121 (human cell markers); Bestrophin and CRALBP (hRPE cell markers); peanut agglutining (PNA) (cone photoreceptor marker); PKCα (rod bipolar marker); Vimentin, GFAP (macroglial markers); and Iba1 (microglial marker). Results: The hRPEs assumed cobblestone morphology, persistent pigmentation and measurable trans-epithelial electrical resistance on the nanofibrous PDLLA carrier. The surgical delivery of the implants in the subretinal space of the immunosuppressed minipigs was successfully achieved and monitored by fundus imaging and OCT. The implanted hRPEs were positive for HNAA and STEM121 and were located between the minipig’s neuroretina and RPE layers at week 2 post-implantation, which was gradually attenuated until week 8. The neuroretina over the implants showed rosette or hypertrophic reaction at week 6. The implanted cells expressed the typical RPE marker bestrophin throughout the whole observation period, and a gradual diminishing of the CRALBP expression in the area of implantation at week 8 post-implantation was observed. The transplanted hRPEs appeared not to form a confluent layer and were less capable of keeping the inner and outer retinal segments intact. The cone photoreceptors adjacent to the implant scaffold were unchanged initially, but underwent a gradual change in structure after hRPE implantation; the retina above and below the implant appeared relatively healthy. The glial reaction of the transplanted and host retina showed Vimentin and GFAP positivity from week 1 onward. Microglial activation appeared in the retinal area of the transplant early after the surgery, which seemed to move into the transplant area over time. Conclusions: The differentiated hRPEs can serve as an alternative cell source for RPE replacement in animal studies. These cells can be cultivated on nanofibrous PDLLA and implanted subretinally into minipigs using standard 23-gauge vitrectomy and implantation injector. The hRPE-laden scaffolds demonstrated relatively good incorporation into the host retina over an eight-week observation period, with some indication of a gliotic scar formation, and a likely neuroinflammatory response in the transplanted area despite the use of immunosuppression.

Long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) is associated with functional and structural alterations of the peritoneal membrane. Inflammation may be the key moment and consequently fibrosis, the end result of chronic inflammatory reaction. The objective of the study was to identify genes involved in peritoneal alterations during PD by comparing transcriptome of peritoneal cells in short- and long-term PD patients. Peritoneal effluent of the long-dwell of stable PD patients was centrifuged to obtain peritoneal cells. Gene expression profiling of peritoneal cells using microarray between short- and long-term PD patients was compared. Based on microarray analysis 31 genes for RT-qPCR validation were chosen. A 4-hour peritoneal equilibration test (PET) was performed on the day after the long dwell. Transport parameters and proteins appearance rates were assessed. Genes involved in the immune system process, immune response, cell activation, leuko- and lymphocyte activation were found to be substantially up-regulated in the long-term group. RT-qPCR validation showed higher expression of CD24 (CD24 molecule), LY9 (lymphocyte antigen 9), TNFRSF4 (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 4), CD79A (CD79a molecule, immunoglobulin-associated alpha), CCR7 (chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 7), CEACAM1 (carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1) and IL2RA (interleukin 2 receptor, alpha) in long-term PD patients, CD24 having the best discrimination ability between short- and long-term treatment. A relationship between CD24 expression and genes for collagen and matrix formation was shown. Activation of CD24 provoked by pseudohypoxia due to extremely high glucose concentrations in dialysis solutions might play the key role in the development of peritoneal membrane alterations.