Acute kidney injury in AIDS: frequency, RIFLE classification and outcome

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics of acute kidney injury (AKI) in AIDS patients and the value of RIFLE classification for predicting outcome. The study was conducted on AIDS patients admitted to an infectious diseases hospital inBrazil. The patients with AKI were classified according to the RIFLE classification: R (risk), I (injury), F (failure), L (loss), and E (end-stage renal disease). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the factors associated with AKI. A total of 532 patients with a mean age of 35 ± 8.5 years were included in this study. AKI was observed in 37% of the cases. Patients were classified as "R" (18%), "I" (7.7%) and "F" (11%). Independent risk factors for AKI were thrombocytopenia (OR = 2.9, 95%CI = 1.5-5.6, P < 0.001) and elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (OR = 3.5, 95%CI = 1.8-6.6, P < 0.001). General mortality was 25.7% and was higher among patients with AKI (40.2 vs17%, P < 0.001). AKI was associated with death and mortality increased according to RIFLE classification - "R" (OR 2.4), "I" (OR 3.0) and "F" (OR 5.1), P < 0.001. AKI is a frequent complication in AIDS patients, which is associated with increased mortality. RIFLE classification is an important indicator of poor outcome for AIDS patients.

Exogenous normal lymph reduces liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharides in rats

The liver is one of the target organs damaged by septic shock, wherein the spread of endotoxins begins. This study aimed to investigate the effects of exogenous normal lymph (ENL) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham, LPS, and LPS+ENL groups. LPS (15 mg/kg) was administered intravenously via the left jugular vein to the LPS and LPS+ENL groups. At 15 min after the LPS injection, saline or ENL without cell components (5 mL/kg) was administered to the LPS and LPS+ENL groups, respectively, at a rate of 0.5 mL/min. Hepatocellular injury indices and hepatic histomorphology, as well as levels of P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and Na+-K+-ATPase, were assessed in hepatic tissues. Liver tissue damage occurred after LPS injection. All levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in plasma as well as the wet/dry weight ratio of hepatic tissue in plasma increased. Similarly, P-selectin, ICAM-1, and MPO levels in hepatic tissues were elevated, whereas Na+-K+-ATPase activity in hepatocytes decreased. ENL treatment lessened hepatic tissue damage and decreased levels of AST, ALT, ICAM-1, and MPO. Meanwhile, the treatment increased the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase. These results indicated that ENL could alleviate LPS-induced liver injury, thereby suggesting an alternative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of liver injury accompanied by severe infection or sepsis.

Edaravone protects endotoxin-induced liver injury by inhibiting apoptosis and reducing proinflammatory cytokines

Studies have shown that edaravone may prevent liver injury. This study aimed to investigate the effects of edaravone on the liver injury induced by D-galactosamine (GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in female BALB/c mice. Edaravone was injected into mice 30 min before and 4 h after GalN/LPS injection. The survival rate was determined within the first 24 h. Animals were killed 8 h after GalN/LPS injection, and liver injury was biochemically and histologically assessed. Hepatocyte apoptosis was measured by TUNEL staining; proinflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] in the liver were assayed by ELISA; expression of caspase-8 and caspase-3 proteins was detected by Western blot assay; and caspase-3 activity was also determined. Results showed that GalN/LPS induced marked elevations in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Edaravone significantly inhibited elevation of serum AST and ALT, accompanied by an improvement in histological findings. Edaravone lowered the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 and reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells. In addition, 24 h after edaravone treatment, caspase-3 activity and mortality were reduced. Edaravone may effectively ameliorate GalN/LPS-induced liver injury in mice by reducing proinflammatory cytokines and inhibiting apoptosis.

Inhibitory effect of liposomal quercetin on acute hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis induced by concanavalin A

Immune response plays an important role in the development of hepatic fibrosis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of quercetin on hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis induced by immunological mechanism. In the acute hepatitis model, quercetin (2.5 mg/kg) was injected iv into mice 30 min after concanavalin A (Con A) challenge. Mice were sacrificed 4 or 24 h after Con A injection, and aminotransferase tests and histopathological sections were performed. Treatment with quercetin significantly decreased the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Consistent with this observation, treatment with quercetin markedly attenuated the pathologic changes in the liver. A hepatic fibrosis model was also generated in mice by Con A challenge once a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Mice in the experimental group were treated with daily iv injections of quercetin (0.5 mg/kg). Histopathological analyses revealed that treatment with quercetin markedly decreased collagen deposition, pseudolobuli development, and hepatic stellate cells activation. We also examined the effects of quercetin on the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathways by immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). NF-κB and TGF-β production was decreased after treatment with quercetin, indicating that the antifibrotic effect of quercetin is associated with its ability to modulate NF-κB and TGF-β production. These results suggest that quercetin may be an effective therapeutic strategy in the treatment of patients with liver damage and fibrosis.

Alterações bioquímicas durante a embebição de sementes de catingueira (Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul.)

A Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul. é ima espécie nativa da catinga resistente à seca e de grande potencial econômico. A germinação das suas sementes compreende uma série de processos, que começa com a embebição de água e termina com a emergência da plântula através do tegumento. Iniciada a germinação das sementes, ocorre a ativação de enzimas hidrolíticas pré-existentes e a síntese denovo.de outras enzimas hidrolíticas que induzem a mobilização das reservas. Pouco se conhece sobre a velocidade de embebição e metabolismo germinativo desta espécie, portanto o objetivo deste trabalho foi obter a curva de embebição e avaliar as alterações bioquímicas que ocorrem nas sementes de catingueira durante a germinação. As sementes foram separadas em três repetições de 20 sementes para cada tempo de embebição, que foi de uma, duas e três horas e, posteriormente a cada três horas até 72h. As sementes foram colocadas em "gerbox", sobre duas camadas de papel embebido em 15mL de H2Od. Antes e após o tempo de embebição, as sementes foram pesadas. Em seguida, o material foi congelado para análise de açúcares solúveis totais (AST), açucares redutores (AR), amido, proteínas totais (PT), e as proteínas de reserva: globulinas, prolaminas, albuminas e glutelinas. A curva de embebição das sementes de catingueira apresentou modelo trifásico, onde a fase (F) I foi completada em 24h e a FIII iniciou-se após 54h de embebição. Os teores de AR nas sementes aumentam durante a embebição, enquanto os teores de AST diminuem e de amido permanecem constante. As proteínas de reserva, os teores de albuminas, globulinas e prolaminas aumentam durante a embebição. Por outro lado os teores de glutelinas diminuem na FI e permanecem constantes durante FII e FIII.

Alterações bioquímicas durante a embebição de sementes de baraúna (Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl.)

Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl. é uma espécie nativa da catinga de grande potencial econômico. A germinação das suas sementes compreende uma série de processos, que começa com a embebição de água e termina com a emergência da plântula através do tegumento. Pouco se conhece, no entanto, sobre a velocidade de embebição e metabolismo germinativo desta espécie. O objetivo deste trabalho foi obter a curva de embebição e avaliar as alterações bioquímicas que ocorrem nas sementes de baraúna durante a germinação. As sementes foram separadas em três repetições de 10 sementes e submetidas à embebição por até 200 horas. Foram avaliados o volume de água embebida pelas sementes, os teores de açucarar solúveis totais (AST), açucares redutores (AR), amido e proteínas de reserva. Pela curva de embebição das sementes de baraúna pode ser observado um modelo trifásico, onde a fase (F) I é completada em 48h e a FIII tem inicio após 152h de embebição, com protrusão da raiz. Os teores de AR e AST nas sementes aumentam durante a embebição, enquanto os teores de amido diminuíram após a FII. Os teores de albuminas, globulinas e prolaminas permaneceram constantes durante as FI e FII e diminuíram após a protrusão da raiz e os teores de glutelinas foram praticamente nulos durante a germinação de sementes de baraúna.