Bone Tissue Donation: Tendency and Hurdles.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to identify the percentage of bone tissue donation in a brain death situation and the tendency of donation rate of this tissue in an organ procurement organization in the county of Sao Paulo from 2001 to 2016. It is a retrospective and quantitative study, based on the Organ and Tissue Donation Term of donors who died of brain death between 2001 and 2016. METHODS: A logistic regression model was applied, and the odds of donation were identified throughout the years, regarding the odds ratio different from zero. Finally, it was measured the accuracy of the odds ratio through the confidence interval. RESULTS: The analysis has shown a significant change on the trend of bone donation (P < .001). In this case, the odds ratio was >1, indicating that the donation rate has increased. However, the percentage of growth is still considered low. CONCLUSIONS: The study evidences a growth trend regarding the donation of bone tissue, but the percentage is still too low to adequately meet the demand of patients who need this modality of therapeutic intervention. It is believed that educational campaigns of donation are not emphasizing the donation of tissues for transplantation, which may be directly impacting their consent rates.

Trend Analysis of Organ and Tissue Donation for Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to identify the tendency toward donations of tissue and organs from donors with brain death between 2001 and 2016 as registered by an organ procurement organization in São Paulo City. METHODS: This quantitative, retrospective, exploratory study encompassed all Tissue and Organ Donation Terms signed between 2001 and 2016. A logistic regression model was applied to verify whether there was an upward or downward trend in donation. RESULTS: After statistical analysis, a significant change trend was identified in skin, bones, valve, vessel, heart, lung, and pancreas donations, indicating an increase in the donation rate through the years. The donation rate did not show changes over the years for donations of liver, kidneys, and corneas. CONCLUSIONS: The decision-making process regarding organ and tissue donation is restricted not only to the dilemma of whether to donate but another question then arises as well: which organs and tissues are to be donated? The discrepancy between the authorization for organ donation and the authorization for tissue donation, as well as the option for one or another organ and/or tissue, must be thoroughly examined because these factors directly affect the number of transplants and acquirements effectively accomplished. These factors may be related to explaining to one's relatives aspects of the surgery, body reassembling, and usage of such organs and/or tissues. They may also be related to the lack of knowledge concerning organ donation and the symbolism represented by the organ and/or tissue, among other factors.

[Computer-assisted surgery in total knee replacement. Preliminary results: report of 60 cases]. / Prothèse totale du genou assistée par ordinateur Résultats préliminaires: à propos de 60 cas.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Conventional techniques proposed for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), necessarily require an acceptable alignment of the lower limb. Computer-assisted surgery is becoming increasingly popular in order to improve the precision of the component alignment, an essential element for good long-term results. The purpose of this prospective study was to present our preliminary results with computer-assisted implantation of TKA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of 55 patients (60 knees) included at random for computer-assisted TKA between April 2004 and September 2005. Mean age was 70.5 years. The preoperative assessment noted genu varum in 56 knees and genu valgum in four knees. Three knees with unilateral degenerative disease presented a post traumatic tibia malunion. The same surgeon performed all of the operations using the same prosthesis and navigation system (P.F.C. Sigma). Lower limb alignment and orientation of the prosthetic implants were assessed with standard pre- and postoperative gonometry. Sagittal alignment was measured on the standard X-rays (lateral and anteroposterior view). RESULTS: Knee alignment improved from 8.1+/-4.5 degrees varus (10 degrees valgus to 18 degrees varus) preoperatively, to 0.4+/-0.6 degrees varus (1 degrees valgus to 2 degrees varus) postoperatively. In the frontal plane, the mean angle of the femoral component on the anteroposterior (ap) view was 89.7+/-0.7 degrees (88-91 degrees). The mean angle of the tibial component on the ap view was 89.9+/-0.7 degrees (88.5-91 degrees). The femorotibial mechanical axis was within +/-2 degrees for all prostheses. In the sagittal plane, the mean angle of the femoral component on the lateral view was 4.8 degrees (3-6.5 degrees). The mean tibial slope was 2.7 degrees (1-4 degrees) for the prostheses with a fixed tibial plateau and 0.2 degrees (-1 degrees to +1 degrees) for those with a rotating plateau. The mean operative time was 135 min (110-180 min) and was inversely proportional to experience. There was one conversion to conventional surgery due to software dysfunction. There were no complications related to the operative technique. DISCUSSION: The best outcome, particularly in terms of aseptic loosening, is reported for knees with a valgus or varus angle within 3 degrees . The improved accuracy of computer-assisted implantation has enabled better orientation of the components in the frontal, sagittal and horizontal planes with implantations well within this range.

[Mirror hand deformity: a new phenotype with literature review]. / Main en miroir: une nouvelle forme avec revue de la littérature.

We report the case of a child who presented polydactyly with eight triphalangeal fingers, no thumb or radius and ulnar dimelia. Hand, wrist, forearm and elbow function was compromised, particularly due to wrist stiffness in flexion, the absence of forearm pronation supination and severe limitation of elbow motion. In addition, the child underwent surgery for pyloric hypertrophy and also presented a multicystic kidney. We present the clinical, anatomic, electromyographic, genetic and therapeutic aspects of this rare deformity and discuss data presented in the literature.

N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase from Trichomonas vaginalis: substrate specificity and activity of inhibitors.

Among chitinolytic activities previously described in Trichomonas vaginalis, N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase (NAHase) was the enzyme system expressing the highest level of specific activity. We report here some biochemical characteristics of NAHase purified from T. vaginalis. We found at first that the use of 4-methylumbellifferyl-substrate was responsible for a substrate affinity for the enzyme, about 1000-fold higher than those when using p-nitrophenyl-substrates (PNP). Whereas the optimum pH was 7.0 using PNP-substrate, it was at 4.5 using 4-methylumbelliferyl-substrate. Four different substrates were compared for their action on T. vaginalis NAHase and we have found that N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide substrate was the most specific. DTT had no effect on enzyme activity suggesting that thiol group are not involved at the catalytic site. The use of previously described inhibitors showed a positive correlation between trichomonacidal activity and NAHase inhibition.

[Synthesis and antidepressive activity study of aryl and heteroaryl carboxamides of benzylpiperazine]. / Synthèse et étude de l'activité antidépressive d'aryl et hétéroaryl carboxamides de la benzylpipérazine.

The synthesis of 44 original amide derivatives of benzylpiperazine and some analogues of befuraline and piberaline is reported. All compounds have been tested as antidepressive agents. According to the tests, amides 1, 24 and mainly 31 (dihydrobefuraline) seem to provide elevated antidepressive activity.

A 5-fold reduction in sister-chromatid exchange following implantation of mouse embryos is not directly related to the expression of embryonic genes responsible for oxygen radical metabolism.

We studied the spontaneous sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies in mice at different stages of development; early preimplantation: 2 days post conception (p.c.); late preimplantation: 4 days p.c.; post implantation: day 10 and 13 p.c. The SCE level in preimplantation embryos is 5 times higher than any of the stages following implantation. The explanation for such observations may include a direct impact of maternal circulatory system as a result of implantation or onset of expression of a set of embryonic genes. Here, we studied the expression and developmental profile of the three enzymes of oxygen radical metabolism (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) during development. Our results suggest that the onset and increase in the activity of these enzymes with in-utero differentiation, development and growth is not directly associated with the drop in SCEs/cell following implantation of the embryos. This unique developmental phenomenon may be mediated by the maternal circulatory system or expression of some other embryonic genes, possibly the genes involved in DNA repair.

Temporal expression of genes encoding free radical-metabolizing enzymes is associated with higher mRNA levels during in utero development in mice.

The interaction of reactive oxygen metabolites with DNA is well characterized and may result in mutagenesis, chromosome aberrations, and modulation of gene expression. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) catalyze enzymatic reactions to remove oxidant stresses, particularly O2- and H2O2. The role of these enzymes during in utero development of the embryo and the developmental pattern of expression of the embryonic genes encoding them is not known. We examined the in utero developmental expression and activity of the three free-radical-metabolizing enzymes in mice. We collected mouse fetuses at different stages of development and examined total RNA populations by Northern and slot blots using gene-specific cDNA probes. In addition to quantifying the probe-specific RNAs, activities of the three enzymes were also evaluated on the same tissue samples. The gene-specific RNAs and the associated enzyme activities are detectable with somite formation (day 8 postcoitus [p.c.]) in mice. The relative RNA values for each of the genes studied are higher in in utero stages as compared with the adult. The specific activities of these enzymes, on the other hand, follow a characteristic increase with development and growth. The relative RNA levels for each of the genes studied are higher during in utero growth and development than the relative enzyme activity values (between day 8 and day 18, third trimester) in the liver and carcass. This may suggest that the mRNA specific to these genes may accumulate in utero and are not translated immediately. Such accumulating transcripts are translated efficiently after birth, when these enzymes are particularly needed with the advent of aerobic respiration.

Regulation of catalase-specific mRNA and its processing during development in mice.

This study deals with the pattern of developmental expression of the catalase gene in mice. We have used a mouse catalase 2 kb cDNA (pMCT-1) and its 1.4 kb 5' fragment as probes to characterize the transcripts during embryonic development and differentiation. Total RNA was isolated from 8 days postconceptus (p.c.) whole embryos and from livers and carcasses of 13, 15, and 18 day p.c. embryos as well as from the livers of newborn and adult mice of the S.W. strain. The RNA was applied on slot blots, and run on agarose gels to generate northern blots. Blots were hybridized with the 32P-labeled cDNA probe under different stringency conditions. Autoradiograms were scanned with a densitometer to quantify relative hybridization signals of RNA samples obtained from two or three individual mice representing each stage of development. The catalase transcript is detectable as early as 8 days p.c. with the beginning of somite formation. At this stage, it is primarily in the form of a 12.2 kb transcript. One additional band (2.4 kb) is also apparent at this stage although at a very low intensity. The intensity of the two bands increases with development, particularly during 13-18 days p.c. in liver and carcass. The 2.4 kb RNA band increases sharply from day 8 through 13, 15, and 18 days p.c. and is confined primarily to the liver. Interestingly, only the 2.4 kb RNA band is seen at and after birth. The 2.4 kb RNA is the known mature message of the catalase gene in mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relationship between changes in corneal configuration and thickness.

The experiment was conducted on a sample of 26 subjects including both males and females and a control group of five. Their mean age was a little over 24 years. Corneal thickness and configuration were measured before and after the subjects had been wearing rigid and flexible contact lenses for three hours; measurements were also taken on control subjects at two different sessions, before and after a three-hour period. The statistical analysis showed a low but significant correlation between corneal thickness and corneal shape.