Are the current chronic allograft nephropathy grading systems sufficient to predict renal allograft survival?

A major problem in renal transplantation is identifying a grading system that can predict long-term graft survival. The present study determined the extent to which the two existing grading systems (Banff 97 and chronic allograft damage index, CADI) correlate with each other and with graft loss. A total of 161 transplant patient biopsies with chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) were studied. The samples were coded and evaluated blindly by two pathologists using the two grading systems. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the best predictor index for renal allograft loss. Patients with higher Banff 97 and CADI scores had higher rates of graft loss. Moreover, these measures also correlated with worse renal function and higher proteinuria levels at the time of CAN diagnosis. Logistic regression analyses showed that the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), hepatitis C virus (HCV), tubular atrophy, and the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were associated with graft loss in the CADI, while the use of ACEI, HCV, moderate interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy and the use of MMF were associated in the Banff 97 index. Although Banff 97 and CADI analyze different parameters in different renal compartments, only some isolated parameters correlated with graft loss. This suggests that we need to review the CAN grading systems in order to devise a system that includes all parameters able to predict long-term graft survival, including chronic glomerulopathy, glomerular sclerosis, vascular changes, and severity of chronic interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy.

Pesquisa da fração do sistema complemento C4d, capilarite e infiltração por macrófagos em biópsias de transplante renal: papel na rejeição aguda mediada por anticorpos e na sobrevida do enxerto

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Corrosion behavior of Eurofer 97 and ODS-Eurofer alloys compared to traditional stainless steels

In the present work, the corrosion resistance of ferritic-martensitic EUROFER 97 and ODS-EUROFER steels was tested in solutions containing NaCl or H(2)SO(4) and KSCN, both at 25 degrees C. The results were compared to those of AISI 430 ferritic and AISI 410 martensitic conventional stainless steels. The as-received samples were tested by electrochemical techniques, specifically, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization curves, and double-loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation tests. The surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy after exposure to corrosive media. The results showed that EUROFER 97 and ODS-EUROFER alloys present similar corrosion resistance but lower than ferritic AISI 430 and martensitic 410 stainless steels.

Comparison of trends in method-specific suicide rates in Australia and England & Wales, 1968-97

Objective: To compare secular trends in method-specific suicide rates among young people in Australia and England & Wales between 1968 and 1997. Methods: Australian data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and for England & Wales from the Office for National Statistics. Overall and method-specific suicide rates for 15-34 year old males and females were calculated using ICD codes E950-9 and E980-9 except E988.8. Results: In both settings, suicide rates have almost doubled in young males over the past 30 years (from 16.8 to 32.9 per 100,000 in Australia and from 10.1 to 19.0 in England & Wales). Overall rates have changed little in young females. In both sexes and in both settings there have been substantial increases in suicide by hanging (5-7 fold increase in Australia and four-fold increase in England & Wales). There have also been smaller increases in gassing in the 1980s and '90s. In females, the impact of these increases on overall rates has been offset by a decline in drug overdose, the most common method in females. Conclusions: Rates of male suicide have increased substantially in both settings in recent years, and hanging has become an increasingly common method of suicide. The similarity in observed trends in both settings supports the view that such changes may have common causes. Research should focus on understanding why hanging has increased in popularity and what measures may be taken to diminish it.

Frequency of insertion/deletion polymorphism in exon 8 of HLA-G and kidney allograft outcome

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ib molecule predominantly expressed in cytotrophoblasts, where it acts as a specific immunosuppressor. Literature data have shown that grafts in some settings, such as cardiac and liver/kidney-associated transplantations, express HLA-G and this expression is associated with less severe rejection and also reduces the incidence of rejection. Fourteen-base pair deletion/insertion polymorphism has been reported in exon 8 of the 3`-untranslated region of HLA-G. This polymorphism within exon 8 of the HLA-G gene might influence transcription activity, which in turn may influence the stability of HLA-G transcripts. This influences the stability of the HLA-G protein and therefore is of potential functional relevance. In order to determine a possible correlation between the 14-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism and kidney allograft outcome, we isolated genomic DNA from 83 patients who had received isolated kidney allografts, and we classified the 83 specimens into two groups, grafts presenting Banff features of rejection group and a non-rejection group, and compared them with a control group of 97 healthy subjects. The 14-bp polymorphism at exon 8 was genotyped in all groups. There was no significant difference in allelic frequencies of 14-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism between normal controls and kidney transplant patients. In the RG, the homozygous genotype +14/+14 bp (P = 0.0238) was significantly increased in the group with acute rejection compared with the healthy control group. Analysis of other HLA-G polymorphisms and functional studies on immune regulation are essential to elucidate the role of HLA-G in kidney allografts.

Perfil da indústria de alimentos no Brasil: 1990-97

Esta pesquisa sobre o perfil da indústria de alimentos no Brasil, no período de 1990 à 1995, observou uma participação superior do grupo de produtos de maior valor agregado, com destaque para os laticínios. Ocorreu também um aumento do consumo de alimentos propiciado pelo aumento da renda real dos trabalhadores após o Plano Real.

Neuroendokrine Tumore der Appendix im Kindes- und Jugendalter : Daten der GPOH-MET 97 Studie

Magdeburg, Univ., Med. Fak., Diss., 2014

Evidentiation of Paramyosin (Sm-97) as a Modulating Antigen on Granulomatous Hypersensitivity to Schistosoma mansoni Eggs

A Schistosoma mansoni adult worm anionic fraction (PIII) has previously been shown to protect mice against challenge infection and to reduce pulmonary and hepatic granulomatous hypersensitivity. Serum from PIII-immunized rabbit was used to screen a lgt11 cDNA library from S. mansoni adult worm in order to identify antigens capable of modulating granulomatous hypersensitivity. We obtained four clones with 400 (Sm-III.11), 900 (Sm-III.16), 1100 (Sm-III.10) and 1300 (Sm-III.12) bp of length. All clone-specific antibodies were able to recognize most of the PIII components. The sequence analysis showed that these clones presented high homology with S. mansoni paramyosin (Sm-97). These findings ascribe a new function to this antigen with an important role in modulation of granulomatous hypersensitivity to S. mansoni eggs