Hawaii transplant

The possible effects of soil microbial community structure on organic matter decomposition rates have been widely acknowledged, but are poorly understood. Understanding these relationships is complicated by the fact that microbial community structure and function are likely to both affect and be affected by organic matter quality and chemistry, thus it is difficult to draw mechanistic conclusions from field studies. We conducted a reciprocal soil inoculum × litter transplant laboratory incubation experiment using samples collected from a set of sites that have similar climate and plant species composition but vary significantly in bacterial community structure and litter quality...

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, July 31--August 4, 2005.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, July 31--August 4, 2005.

BACKGROUND:   Immunosuppressants used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may contribute towards the development of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Few studies have documented this increase in risk. METHODS:   A mail-in survey was sent to practicing dermatologists and gastroenterologists in the state of Hawaii, USA. These physicians were asked if they had patients with IBD on immunosuppressants with NMSC and if they were aware of an association between immunosuppressants used in IBD and the occurrence of NMSC...

Immunosuppressant medications for Inflammatory Bowel Disease can help with both symptoms and disease progression. However, like immunosuppressants used in transplant patients, they are now suspect of contributing to nonmelenoma skin cancer (NMSC). Presented is a case of a 57-year-old Jewish man with Crohn's Disease who was diagnosed with a total of 84 NMSCs. We hope to elucidate the risk of immunosuppressants, particularly the thiopurines, on the development of NMSC.

CONTEXT: Despite the growing need for organ donation among Asian Americans, studies suggest that they are reluctant to donate. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of attitudes and knowledge about organ donation and transplantation with willingness to donate and willingness to engage in family discussion about organ donation among Asian American adolescents. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: The Big Island of Hawaii...

BACKGROUND: Hawaii has the highest incidence of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in the United States and the largest proportion of Asians and Pacific Islanders. HCC studies generally combine these groups into 1 ethnicity, and we sought to examine differences between Asian and Pacific Islander subpopulations. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, and treatment data for 617 patients with HCC (420 Asians, 114 whites, and 83 Pacific Islanders) were reviewed. Main outcome measures included HCC screening and liver transplantation...

Ohelo (Vaccicinium reticulatum Small) (Ericaceae) is a native Hawaiian plant that has commercial potential in Hawaii as a nursery crop to be transplanted for berry production or for sale as a potted ornamental. No-choice infestation studies were conducted to determine whether ohelo fruit are hosts for four invasive tephritid fruit fly species. Ohelo berries were exposed to gravid female flies ofBactrocera dorsalis Hendel (oriental fruit fly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Mediterranean fruit fly), Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillet (melon fly),or Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) in screen cages outdoors for 24 h and then held on sand in the laboratory for 2 wk for pupal development and adult emergence...

The need for kidney transplantation among Asian Americans is increasing owing to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and the shortage of available organs. This need is likely to increase as the relatively young Asian population ages. However, knowledge about organ donation and transplantation in this population has been little investigated. The objectives of this study was to develop an Organ Donation and Transplantation Knowledge Survey for use in Asian Americans and to examine its psychometric properties. Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) and factor analyses were used to determine the reliability and validity of the survey in 121 Asian American adolescents residing on the Big Island of Hawaii...

Living-renal transplant (LRT) is the most effective treatment for endstage renal disease (ESRD), and innovative strategies to increase donation are needed. We reviewed our ethnically/culturally diverse program to identify factors that contribute to donors' decision to participate. Records of 110 LRT (related:unrelated = 66:44) and respective donors (1999-2005) were reviewed for demographics, outcome, education, employment, language, religion, and motivation. One and 5-year graft survival were 98.2% and 92% respectively...

Pacific Islanders currently comprise 35% of all end-stage renal disease patients in Hawai'i but a much smaller proportion of those who undergo renal transplant. The purpose of this study to determine the reasons for such a disparity. In this retrospective review of 207 patients who were referred for renal transplant evaluation, 18.8% were Pacific Islanders. Patients attended a kidney transplant class, were offered evaluation and were placed on the waiting list if deemed appropriate. Of patients that were eventually placed on the list, 18...

Between 1987 and 2008, 45 patients have undergone cardiac transplantation in Hawai'i. This article summarizes the authors' experiences with cardiac transplantation over this 21-year period. The cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates after transplantation have been 73.8%, 70.0%, and 63.2%, respectively. The corresponding survival rates have improved over the last eight years and are now 90.0%, 87.5%, and 83.3%, respectively. Despite clinical improvements, low patient volumes make the maintenance of a state-based program in Hawai'i difficult...

The degree to which low transplant rates among Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States are confounded by poverty and reduced access to care is unknown. We examined the relationship between neighborhood poverty and kidney transplant rates among 22 152 patients initiating dialysis during 1995-2003 within 1800 ZIP codes in California, Hawaii and the US-Pacific Islands. Asians and whites on dialysis were distributed across the spectrum of poverty, while Pacific Islanders were clustered in the poorest areas...

Hawaiian lobeliads have radiated into habitats from open alpine bogs to densely shaded rainforest interiors, and show corresponding adaptations in steady-state photosynthetic light responses and associated leaf traits. Shaded environments are not uniformly dark, however, but punctuated by sunflecks that carry most of the photosynthetically active light that strikes plants. We asked whether lobeliads have diversified in their dynamic photosynthetic light responses and how dynamic responses influence daily leaf carbon gain...

Although many report the importance of case volume in complex cases, liver transplantation (LT) can be carried out successfully in a small centre. During a 11.5-yr period, 88 patients underwent LT in a single transplant centre in Hawaii. Indications for LT were primarily hepatitis C (n = 49) and hepatitis B (n = 13) and 22 patients (25%) had hepatocellular cancer (HCC) on explanted liver. There was no primary graft nonfunction, one retransplant for recurrent hepatitis C and two late hepatic artery thromboses, which did not require a retransplant...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Indigenous human disease caused by West Nile virus (WNV) was first identified in the United States in August 1999 in the greater New York City area. By the end of 2004, human WNV disease had been reported in all states except Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska, and WNV transmission to humans had been documented by five routes: mosquito bites (principally from Culex spp.), blood transfusions, organ transplantation, transplacental transfer, and breastfeeding. During 1999-2005, a total of 19,525 cases of WNV disease in humans and 771 deaths were reported in the United States...

Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma is a rare neoplasm characterized by systemic B-symptoms, hepatosplenomegaly, no lymphadenopathy, and lymphomatous infiltrates in the splenic red pulp, hepatic sinusoids, and bone marrow sinuses. The team presents the case of a healthy 30 year old man, active duty Marine, who presented with classic symptoms, yet obtaining a diagnosis took over three months from the onset of symptoms. This clinical entity initially described in 1990, is elusive, with vague and misleading symptoms...

HYPOTHESIS: Splenorenal shunt, an accepted treatment to prevent recurrent variceal bleeding, is an ideal procedure for patients with psychosocial issues or limited access to tertiary medical centers. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 34 patients (32 distal splenorenal shunts and 2 central splenorenal shunts) treated from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2001, for demographic data, substance abuse status, psychosocial factors, previous treatments, Child class, length of hospital stay, operative transfusions, complications, and outcome...

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy for transplant is a minimally invasive, effective, and safe operation that also provides less post-operative pain and earlier return to pre-donation activity. In review of the first 10 cases, no major complications occurred and mean hospital stay was 3.7 days. All recipients of these kidneys displayed excellent allograft function (mean creatinine--1.5 mg/dL) and no ureteral problems. Successful use of this procedure has also resulted in a steady increase in the number of living transplants performed in Hawaii and perhaps this will impact the 330 patients currently awaiting renal transplant...