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Julia Torrents

Bio: Julia Torrents is an academic researcher from Aix-Marseille University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Medicine & Biopsy. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 9 publications receiving 44 citations.

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TL;DR: The saturation of Celsior with argon improved early functional recovery, graft quality and survival, and Manipulating the gas composition of a preservation medium constitutes therefore a promising approach to improve preservation.
Abstract: Background: In kidney transplantation, the conditions of organ preservation following removal influence function recovery. Current static preservation procedures are generally based on immersion in a cold‑storage solution used under atmospheric air (approximately 78 kPa N2, 21 kPa O2, 1 kPa Ar). Research on static cold‑preservation solutions has stalled, and modifying the gas composition of the storage medium for improving preservation was considered. Organoprotective strategies successfully used noble gases and we addressed here the effects of argon and xenon on graft preservation in an established preclinical pig model of autotransplantation. Methods: The preservation solution Celsior saturated with pure argon (Argon‑Celsior) or xenon (Xenon‑Celsior) at atmospheric pressure was tested versus Celsior saturated with atmospheric air (Air‑Celsior). The left kidney was removed, and Air‑Celsior (n = 8 pigs), Argon‑Celsior (n = 8) or Xenon‑Celsior (n = 6) was used at 4 °C to flush and store the transplant for 30 h, a duration that induced ischemic injury in our model when Air‑Celsior was used. Hetero‑ topic autotransplantation and contralateral nephrectomy were performed. Animals were followed for 21 days. Results: The use of Argon‑Celsior vs. Air‑Celsior: (1) improved function recovery as monitored via creatinine clear‑ ance, the fraction of excreted sodium and tubulopathy duration; (2) enabled diuresis recovery 2–3 days earlier; (3) improved survival (7/8 vs. 3/8 pigs survived at postoperative day‑21); (4) decreased tubular necrosis, interstitial fibrosis, apoptosis and inflammation, and preserved tissue structures as observed after the natural death/euthanasia; (5) stimulated plasma antioxidant defences during the days following transplantation as shown by monitoring the " reduced ascorbic acid/thiobarbituric acid reactive substances " ratio and Hsp27 expression; (6) limited the inflamma‑ tory response as shown by expression of TNF‑alpha, IL1‑beta and IL6 as observed after the natural death/euthanasia. Conversely, Xenon‑Celsior was detrimental, no animal surviving by day‑8 in a context where functional recovery, renal tissue properties and the antioxidant and inflammation responses were significantly altered. Thus, the positive effects of argon were not attributable to the noble gases as a group. Conclusions: The saturation of Celsior with argon improved early functional recovery, graft quality and survival. Manipulating the gas composition of a preservation medium constitutes therefore a promising approach to improve preservation.

16 citations

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TL;DR: In this article, the effects of argon and xenon on graft preservation in an established preclinical pig model of autotransplantation were investigated in the context of kidney transplantation.
Abstract: Background: In kidney transplantation, the conditions of organ a preservation following removal influence function recovery. Current a static preservation procedures are generally based on immersion in a a cold-storage solution used under atmospheric air (approximately 78 kPa a N2, 21 kPa O2, 1 kPa Ar). Research on static cold-preservation solutions a has stalled, and modifying the gas composition of the storage medium for a improving preservation was considered. Organoprotective strategies a successfully used noble gases and we addressed here the effects of argon a and xenon on graft preservation in an established preclinical pig model a of autotransplantation. a Methods: The preservation solution Celsior saturated with pure argon a (Argon-Celsior) or xenon (Xenon-Celsior) at atmospheric pressure was a tested versus Celsior saturated with atmospheric air (Air-Celsior). The a left kidney was removed, and Air-Celsior (n = 8 pigs), Argon-Celsior (n a = 8) or Xenon-Celsior (n = 6) was used at 4 degrees C to flush and store a the transplant for 30 h, a duration that induced ischemic injury in our a model when Air-Celsior was used. Heterotopic autotransplantation and a contralateral nephrectomy were performed. Animals were followed for 21 a days. a Results: The use of Argon-Celsior vs. Air-Celsior: (1) improved function a recovery as monitored via creatinine clearance, the fraction of excreted a sodium and tubulopathy duration; (2) enabled diuresis recovery 2-3 days a earlier; (3) improved survival (7/8 vs. 3/8 pigs survived at a postoperative day-21); (4) decreased tubular necrosis, interstitial a fibrosis, apoptosis and inflammation, and preserved tissue structures as a observed after the natural death/euthanasia; (5) stimulated plasma a antioxidant defences during the days following transplantation as shown a by monitoring the ``reduced ascorbic acid/thiobarbituric acid reactive a substances'' ratio and Hsp27 expression; (6) limited the inflammatory a response as shown by expression of TNF-alpha, IL1-beta and IL6 as a observed after the natural death/euthanasia. Conversely, Xenon-Celsior a was detrimental, no animal surviving by day-8 in a context where a functional recovery, renal tissue properties and the antioxidant and a inflammation responses were significantly altered. Thus, the positive a effects of argon were not attributable to the noble gases as a group. a Conclusions: The saturation of Celsior with argon improved early a functional recovery, graft quality and survival. Manipulating the gas a composition of a preservation medium constitutes therefore a promising a approach to improve preservation.

13 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography were the most sensitive functional imaging techniques, and they ruled out distant metastases, and patients should be followed during their entire lifetime.
Abstract: Context: Sinonasal paragangliomas have rarely been reported in the literature. They are often aggressive. Patient: We report an original case of sinonasal paragangliomas with a tumor recurrence diagnosed 13 years after resection of the primary tumor. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography were the most sensitive functional imaging techniques, and they ruled out distant metastases. Interestingly, [18F]-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography/computed tomography was negative, a feature that may be considered a sign of functional dedifferentiation. Screening for germline mutations of the SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, SDHAF2, VHL, MAX, and TMEM127 was negative. Conclusion: The diagnosis of malignancy remains challenging at initial diagnosis, and patients should be followed during their entire lifetime.

8 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Severe thinning on US and minimal pole function on MRU can be used to predict the severity of histological lesions, and MRI sensibility was excellent in the diagnosis of poorly functioning pole.

7 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The relationship between the clinical and histological presentation of IgAV-N and the factors that affect kidney outcome are highlighted and the ISKDC classification may be improved by including lesions that are more discriminating for disease severity and prognosis.
Abstract: Assessing the initial severity of immunoglobulin A vasculitis nephritis (IgAV-N) is important due to its determining effect on kidney management and outcomes. This paper describes a multicentre paediatric cohort of IgAV-N patients and discusses relationships among clinical presentation, histological features, and kidney outcome. We retrospectively studied a cohort of 170 children with biopsy-proven IgAV-N, diagnosed between 2007 and 2017. One-quarter of the cohort (27%) presented with initial nephrotic syndrome (NS). Kidney biopsy revealed International Study of Kidney Disease (ISKDC) grade II or grade III in 83% of cases. Endocapillary proliferation was observed in 73% of patients, and chronic lesions were observed in 25%. Data analysis showed a significant association between NS at onset and endocapillary proliferation and cellular crescents. After a median follow-up of 21 months (IQR 12–39), 30% of patients had persistent proteinuria or decreased eGFR. At the end of follow-up, kidney impairment was more often observed in patients with NS at onset and those with cellular crescents and chronic lesions on initial kidney biopsy. Conclusion: This study highlights the relationship between the clinical and histological presentation of IgAV-N and the factors that affect kidney outcome. The ISKDC classification may be improved by including lesions that are more discriminating for disease severity and prognosis.

6 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: All students, trainees, support staff and Faculty are reminded of their ethical and professional obligations to their relations with patients, students, colleagues, staff, outside agencies, organizations, and industry.

100 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
10 Feb 2022
TL;DR: A case-based retrospective clinicopathologic analysis by a multinational group of 44 perinatal specialists from 12 countries of placental and autopsy pathology findings from 64 stillborns and 4 neonatal deaths having placentas testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 following delivery to mothers with COVID-19 was performed as mentioned in this paper .
Abstract: Perinatal death is an increasingly important problem as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, but the mechanism of death has been unclear.To evaluate the role of the placenta in causing stillbirth and neonatal death following maternal infection with COVID-19 and confirmed placental positivity for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).Case-based retrospective clinicopathologic analysis by a multinational group of 44 perinatal specialists from 12 countries of placental and autopsy pathology findings from 64 stillborns and 4 neonatal deaths having placentas testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 following delivery to mothers with COVID-19.Of the 3 findings constituting SARS-CoV-2 placentitis, all 68 placentas had increased fibrin deposition and villous trophoblast necrosis and 66 had chronic histiocytic intervillositis. Sixty-three placentas had massive perivillous fibrin deposition. Severe destructive placental disease from SARS-CoV-2 placentitis averaged 77.7% tissue involvement. Other findings included multiple intervillous thrombi (37%; 25 of 68) and chronic villitis (32%; 22 of 68). The majority (19; 63%) of the 30 autopsies revealed no significant fetal abnormalities except for intrauterine hypoxia and asphyxia. Among all 68 cases, SARS-CoV-2 was detected from a body specimen in 16 of 28 cases tested, most frequently from nasopharyngeal swabs. Four autopsied stillborns had SARS-CoV-2 identified in internal organs.The pathology abnormalities composing SARS-CoV-2 placentitis cause widespread and severe placental destruction resulting in placental malperfusion and insufficiency. In these cases, intrauterine and perinatal death likely results directly from placental insufficiency and fetal hypoxic-ischemic injury. There was no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 involvement of the fetus had a role in causing these deaths.

85 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The effects of different anesthetic drugs – specifically those that contain lipids in their structure, with special reference to IR injury are reviewed, since lipid emulsions are major components of propofol, which accumulating data show provide organ protective effects against IR injury.
Abstract: Background Renal protection is a critical concept for anesthesiologists, nephrologists, and urologists, since anesthesia and renal function are highly interconnected and can potentially interfere with one another. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of anesthetic drugs and their effects on renal function remains fundamental to the success of renal surgeries, especially transplant procedures. Some experimental studies have shown that some anesthetics provide protection against renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury, but there is limited clinical evidence. Summary The effects of anesthetic drugs on renal failure are particularly important in the context of kidney transplantation, since the conditions of preservation following removal profoundly influence the recovery of organ function. Currently, preservation procedures are typically based on the usage of a cold-storage solution. Some anesthetic drugs induce anti-inflammatory, anti-necrotic, and anti-apoptotic effects. A more thorough understanding of anesthetic effects on renal function can present a novel approach for developing organ-protective strategies. The aim of this review is to discuss the effects of different anesthetic drugs on renal function, with particular focus on IR injury. Many studies have demonstrated the organ-protective effects of some anesthetic drugs, specifically propofol, which indicate the potential of some anesthetics to introduce novel organ protective targets. This is not surprising, since lipid emulsions are major components of propofol, which accumulating data show provide organ protective effects against IR injury. Key Messages: Thorough understanding of the interaction between anesthetic drugs and renal function remains fundamental to the delivery of safe perioperative care and to optimizing outcomes after renal surgeries, particularly transplant procedures. Anesthetics can be repurposed for organ protection with more information about their effects, especially during transplant procedures. Here, we review the effects of different anesthetic drugs - specifically those that contain lipids in their structure, with special reference to IR injury.

44 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The history and advances of preservation solutions for kidney transplantation are provided, with special attention to the cellular and molecular events during transplantation, including ATP depletion, acidosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and other intracellular mechanisms.

40 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
11 Feb 2021-Viruses
TL;DR: A causal link between viral infections and autoimmunity has been studied for a long time and the role of some viruses in the induction or exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in genetically predisposed patients has been proved as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A causal link between viral infections and autoimmunity has been studied for a long time and the role of some viruses in the induction or exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in genetically predisposed patients has been proved The strength of the association between different viral agents and SLE is variable Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), parvovirus B19 (B19V), and human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are involved in SLE pathogenesis, whereas other viruses such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV) probably play a less prominent role However, the mechanisms of viral-host interactions and the impact of viruses on disease course have yet to be elucidated In addition to classical mechanisms of viral-triggered autoimmunity, such as molecular mimicry and epitope spreading, there has been a growing appreciation of the role of direct activation of innate response by viral nucleic acids and epigenetic modulation of interferon-related immune response The latter is especially important for HERVs, which may represent the molecular link between environmental triggers and critical immune genes Virus-specific proteins modulating interaction with the host immune system have been characterized especially for Epstein-Barr virus and explain immune evasion, persistent infection and self-reactive B-cell "immortalization" Knowledge has also been expanding on key viral proteins of B19-V and CMV and their possible association with specific phenotypes such as antiphospholipid syndrome This progress may pave the way to new therapeutic perspectives, including the use of known or new antiviral drugs, postviral immune response modulation and innate immunity inhibition We herein describe the state-of-the-art knowledge on the role of viral infections in SLE, with a focus on their mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic targets

31 citations