Analysis of the association of polymorphism in the osteoprotegerin gene with susceptibility to chronic kidney disease and periodontitis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Intrascrotal testicular torsion and seminoma in a dog with chronic renal failure

A 10-year-old mongrel dog was presented with signs of vomiting, prostration, anorexia, abdominal pain, dyspnea, dysuria, and enhanced scrotal volume. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological examinations showed intrascrotal testicular pathology and chronic renal failure. Emergency treatment was carried out; however, the patient died. Necropsy diagnosed an intrascrotal testicular torsion and seminoma. The aim of the present report is to describe an intrascrotal testicular torsion associated with chronic renal failure in a dog. © Tübïtak.

Oxidative stress, superoxide production, and apoptosis of neutrophils in dogs with chronic kidney disease

Oxidative stress is a key component in the immunosuppression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and neutrophil function may be impaired by oxidative stress. To test the hypothesis that in uremic dogs with CKD, oxidative stress is increased and neutrophils become less viable and functional, 18 adult dogs with CKD were compared with 15 healthy adult dogs. Blood count and urinalysis were done, and the serum biochemical profile and plasma lipid peroxidation (measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) were determined with the use of commercial reagents. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured with a spectrophotometer and commercial reagents, superoxide production with a hydroethidine probe, and the viability and apoptosis of neutrophils with capillary flow cytometry and the annexin V-PE system. The plasma concentrations of cholesterol (P = 0.0415), creatinine (P < 0.0001), and urea (P < 0.0001) were significantly greater in the uremic dogs than in the control dogs. The hematocrit (P = 0.0004), urine specific gravity (P = 0.015), and plasma lipid peroxidation (P < 0.0001) were significantly lower in the dogs that were in late stages of CKD than in the control group. Compared with those isolated from the control group, neutrophils isolated from the CKD group showed a higher rate of spontaneous (0.10 ± 0.05 versus 0.49 ± 0.09; P = 0.0033; median ± standard error of mean) and camptothecin-induced (18.53 ± 4.06 versus 44.67 ± 4.85; P = 0.0066) apoptosis and lower levels of superoxide production in the presence (1278.8 ± 372.8 versus 75.65 ± 86.6; P = 0.0022) and absence (135.29 ± 51.74 versus 41.29 ± 8.38; P = 0.0138) of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate stimulation. Thus, oxidative stress and acceleration of apoptosis occurs in dogs with CKD, the apoptosis diminishing the number of viable neutrophils and neutrophil superoxide production.

Diabetes mellitus triggers oxidative stress in the liver of alloxan-treated rats: A mechanism for diabetic chronic liver disease

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Protective actions of melatonin against heart damage during chronic Chagas disease

Chronic cardiomyopathy is the most important clinical form of Chagas disease, and it is characterised by myocarditis that is associated with fibrosis and organ dysfunction. Alternative treatment options are important tools to modulate host immune responses. The main goal of this work was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory actions of melatonin during the chronic phase of Chagas disease. TNF-α, IL-10 and nitrite concentrations were evaluated as predictive factors of immune modulation. Creatine phosphokinase-MB (CK-MB), cardiac inflammatory foci and heart weight were assessed to evaluate the efficacy of the melatonin treatment. Male Wistar rats were infected with 1 × 105 blood trypomastigotes of the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi and kept untreated for 60 days to mimic chronic infection. After this period, the rats were orally treated with melatonin 50 mg/kg/day, and the experiments were performed 90, 120, and 180 days post-infection. Melatonin treatment significantly increased the concentration of IL-10 and reduced the concentrations of NO and TNF-α produced by cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, it led to decreased heart weight, serum CK-MB levels and inflammatory foci when compared to the untreated and infected control groups. We conclude that melatonin therapy is effective at protecting animals against the harmful cardiac inflammatory response that is characteristic of chronic T. cruzi infection. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico e emissões otoacústicas evocadas transientes: achados em pacientes com doença renal crônica

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Produtos nitrogenados na saliva de portadores de doença renal crônica em hemodiálise

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Qualidade de vida e fatores associados em pacientes submetidos a transplante renal

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)