Preoperative vitamin C supplementation improves colorectal anastomotic healing and biochemical parameters in malnourished rats.

PURPOSES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with vitamin C on intestinal anastomosis healing in malnourished rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: (1) sham, well-nourished rats that received vehicle; (2) FR+Veh, rats that were subjected to food restriction and received vehicle; and (3) FR+VC, rats that were subjected to food restriction and received vitamin C. Four days before surgery, the animals received vitamin C (100 mg/kg/day) via gavage and underwent colon resection with anastomosis in a single plane. The survival rate of rats was monitored until day 7 after surgery. Regarding anastomosis tissues, we examined intra-abdominal adhesion index, hydroxyproline content, collagen density, inflammatory parameters, and oxidative damage to proteins and lipids. RESULTS: Malnutrition decreases body weight and increases mortality; the survival rate was 90 % in group 1, 60 % in group 2, and 80 % in group 3. Vitamin C was able to increase hydroxyproline concentration and density of collagen and decrease the intra-abdominal adhesion index, as well as the infiltration of neutrophils and oxidative damage to proteins in malnourished rats compared to group treated with vehicle. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative vitamin C supplementation can improve the intestinal anastomosis healing, biochemical alterations, and prolong survival in rats subjected to food restriction.

Kidney function estimate among subjects aged 18-59 years in Tubarão, Santa Catarina: a population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Among the increasing chronic degenerative diseases, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health challenge facing the 21st century. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the GFR by using the CKD-EPI formula among subjects aged 18-59 years, and to identify factors associated with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted on adults between November 2011 and March 2012. We collected sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory tests to build a database. The Pearson's chi-square test was used to assess the association between variables, and the Student's t -test was used for mean comparison at 95% confidence level. RESULTS: A cohort of 371 adults was surveyed (63.8% women; 86.3% Whites). The mean age was 40.4 years (SD ± 12.3). Of the total, 76.8% had normal GFR; 21.8% showed a slight decline, 1.1% a moderate decline, and 0.3% a significant decline in GFR. There were significant differences related to age and obesity, because the greater the age or the higher the body mass index, the lower the GFR of participants. Individuals with systemic hypertension showed a tendency towards a reduction in GFR compared to non-hypertensive population (p < 0.06). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that the vast majority of the surveyed subjects had normal GFR levels, and that only 1.4% (95% CI: 0.3 - 2.4) had moderate or severe dysfunction.