CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BRAZPD II COHORT AND DESCRIPTION OF TRENDS IN PERITONEAL DIALYSIS OUTCOME ACROSS TIME PERIODS

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Outcome of the agrarian reform in Brazil during the last two decades

The agrarian reform allows for land redistribution and gives rural workers the opportunity to develop their life projects, rescuing the dignity of a historically excluded population. The conquest of the land carries significances that span from the rescue of citizenship to the improvement of living conditions due to the acquisition of goods, products and services. It is pointed out that in Brazil there still exists a marked concentration of large-landed estates. In this sense, this work had the objective of analyzing the Brazilian agrarian reform process during the last two decades. In this period the country had three Presidents, two of them elected with the support of the Rural Landless Workers Movement, increasing the expectations in relation to the fulfillment of the agrarian reform. The advances in the policies of rural settlements are notable; however, the structure of large-land estates remains unaltered. In the last two years (2011 and 2012) the number of settled families, as well as the number of settlements accomplished, were the worst since 2006. The priority of the current government is the eradication of extreme poverty and, in this sense, the agrarian reform becomes an essential policy to contribute to such goal, since with the distribution of the property of the land also diminishes the concentration of wealth.

Haplotypes of susceptibility to chronic periodontitis do not influence MMP-8 levels or the outcome of non-surgical periodontal therapy

Introduction: Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a multifactorial condition, presenting immunoinflammatory reaction, in which a myriad of molecules including cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) interplays, making the system extremely intricate. There is scarce information regarding interconnections of biological influence among IL-4, IL-8 and MMP-8, mainly considering genetic polymorphisms, and also, whether this can influence the outcome of periodontal therapy. Previously, we reported that variants in the interleukin 4 (IL4) and interleukin 8 (IL8) genes were associated with CP in Brazilians. The aim of this study was to investigate, in individuals with different genetic backgrounds with regard to the IL4 or IL8 haplotypes, differences in the immunological levels of MMP-8 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment. A total of 141 patients participated of this study, classified as susceptible or not to CP, according to the presence of haplotypes formed by polymorphysms in the IL4 or IL8 genes. All individuals received non-surgical periodontal therapy and follow–up continued for 45 days. The GCF samples were collected at baseline and on the 45th day. The MMP-8 levels were determined by ELISA. Results: No association was found between genetic backgrounds and MMP-8 levels in GCF or the outcome of non-surgical periodontal therapy. Conclusions: In this longitudinal clinical study, the presence of IL4 or IL8 haplotypes previously associated with CP did not influence the outcome of non-surgical periodontal therapy and the MMP-8 levels in the GCF. Additional studies are necessary to determine the mechanisms by which the IL4 or IL8 haplotypes affect individual susceptibility to CP.

Effect of essential oil from Citrus aurantium in maternal reproductive outcome and fetal anomaly frequency in rats

Citrus aurantium L., commonly known as bitter orange, is widely used in folk medicine, but there is little data in the literature about the s on pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of essential oil obtained from fruits of Citrus aurantium on the maternal reproductive outcome and fetal anomaly incidence in rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were randomized into four groups (n minimum = 12 animals/group): G1 = control, G2 to G4 = treated with essential oil from C. aurantium at dose 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively. Rats were orally treated, by gavage, with plant essential oil or vehicle during pre-implantation and organogenic period (gestational day 0-14). On gestational day 20 the rats were anaesthetized and the gravid uterus was weighed with its contents and the fetuses were analyzed. Results showed that the treated group with 500 mg/kg presented decreased placental weights and placental index, although the treatment with bitter orange essential oil did not show any alteration in maternal reproductive performance, toxicological , changes in ossification sites, and malformation index. In conclusion, the treatment of Citrus aurantium essential oil was not teratogenic and did not alter the maternal reproductive outcome.

Outcome of pigs with short gut syndrome submitted to orthotopic intestinal transplantation

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

Peritoneal dialysis in acute kidney injury: trends in the outcome across time periods

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) should be considered a suitable method of renal replacement therapy in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. This study is the largest cohort providing patient characteristics, clinical practice, patterns and their relationship to outcomes in a developing country. Its objective was to describe the main determinants of patient and technique survival, including trends over time of PD treatment in AKI patients. This was a Brazilian prospective cohort study in which all adult AKI patients on PD were studied from January/2004 to January/2014. For comparison purposes, patients were divided into 2 groups according to the year of treatment: 2004-2008 and 2009-2014. Patient survival and technique failure (TF) were analyzed using the competing risk model of Fine and Gray. A total of 301 patients were included, 51 were transferred to hemodialysis (16.9%) during the study period. The main cause of TF was mechanical complication (47%) followed by peritonitis (41.2%). There was change in TF during the study period: compared to 2004-2008, patients treated at 2009-2014 had relative risk (RR) reduction of 0.86 (95% CI 0.77-0.96) and three independent risk factors were identified: period of treatment at 2009 and 2014, sepsis and age>65 years. There were 180 deaths (59.8%) during the study. Death was the leading cause of dropout (77.9% of all cases) mainly by sepsis (58.3%), followed cardiovascular disease (36.1%). The overall patient survival was 41% at 30 days. Patient survival improved along study periods: compared to 2004-2008, patients treated at 2009-2014 had a RR reduction of 0.87 (95% CI 0.79-0.98). The independent risk factors for mortality were sepsis, age>70 years, ATN-ISS > 0.65 and positive fluid balance. As conclusion, we observed an improvement in patient survival and TF along the years even after correction for several confounders and using a competing risk approach.

There is no difference in nitric oxide metabolites and neonatal outcome between premature infants born to pre-eclamptic and those born to normotensive women

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

Effect of himatanthus sucuuba in maternal reproductive outcome and fetal anomaly frequency in rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Acute kidney injury in septic patients admitted to emergency clinical room: risk factors and outcome

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

Effects of season and ovarian status on the outcome of long-term progesterone-based estrus synchronization protocols and ovulatory follicle development in Santa Inês ewes under subtropical conditions

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