We are all very much accustomed to the idea that good nutrition is essential for postoperative success. However, studies show that in case of organ transplantation it seems to be the other way round. Short term dietary restriction or fasting protects the transplanted kidney from failure. It seems that the consequences of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury can be diminished. As a mechanism of this reaction is unclear, recent studies show that glucose supplementation does not interfere with the fasting-induced renal protection. Read full text »

Organ transplantation and dialysis are the only effective ways of renal replacement therapy. Because of better quality and extended life expectancy of patients, transplantation is the preferred method of the end stage renal disease treatment. Many mediators are involved in rejection of the transplanted organ. The inflammatory process after organ transplantation is secondary to the ischemia and reperfusion. Cytokines and reactive oxygen species released during reperfusion can increase the expression of ICAM-1 adhesion molecules on the surface of endothelium. Cytokines stimulate also the leukocytes, which leads to increased expression of LFA-1 and VLA-4 on their surface. LFA-1 and VLA-4 molecules react with ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, present on the endothelial cells. Activated due to adhesion leukocytes secrete proteolytic enzymes and reactive oxygen species damaging the endothelium. Read full text »

A team of scientists of the Universitätsmedizin Berlin together with other 16 transplant centres in Germany and Switzerland has tested a new therapeutic immunosuppressive strategy, positively affecting the function of the kidneys after transplantation. The results of the investigation, which was a success, were published online in the journal The Lancet. Read full text »