Influence of arginase polymorphisms and arginase levels/activity on the response to erectile dysfunction therapy with sildenafil.

Arginase 1 (ARG1) and arginase 2 (ARG2) compete with nitric oxide synthases for the substrate l-arginine. Here we aim to assess whether arginase 1 and 2 plasma levels, plasma arginase activity or genetic factors are associated with altered responsiveness to sildenafil. We studied 71 post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction (ED) patients (PED group) and 72 clinical ED patients (CED). Patients responded to the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire before and after the treatment. We found positive and negative correlations between plasma levels of arginase 1 and sildenafil responsiveness in the PED and CED groups, respectively. PED group also presented negative correlation between plasma arginase activity and sildenafil responsiveness. Sildenafil poor responders have shown higher plasma arginase activity in PED and higher arginase 1 levels on CED groups. In addition, variant genotypes for the rs2781659, rs2781667 and rs17599586 polymorphisms were associated with reduced arginase activity, as well as the GTTT ARG1 haplotype in CED group.

Gene expression study related with the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in bladder cancer by real-time PCR technique.

We examined the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (XIAP and Bcl-2) and apoptotic genes (cytochrome c, caspase-9, Apaf-1) in tissue samples of patients with superficial bladder cancer. Thirty-two bladder cancer tissue samples (8 papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential, 10 low-grade, and 14 high-grade) and 8 normal bladder tissue samples from necropsy were used for the study of gene expression by real-time PCR analysis. Analysis of the expression of apoptotic gene constituents of an apoptosome demonstrated an increase in Apaf-1 expression in the three tumor grades when compared with the control (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01), low expression of caspase-9 in all groups (P < 0.05), and an increase in cytochrome c expression in all tumor grades in relation to the control, although without statistically significant difference. The expression of anti-apoptotic genes revealed an increase in XIAP expression in all tumor grades in relation to the control, although without statistically significant difference, and low expression of Bcl-2 in all tumor grades and the control (P < 0.05). The results proved that there is low evidence of apoptotic activity by the intrinsic pathway, demonstrated by the low expression of caspase-9 and considerable increase in XIAP expression, which may render these genes potential therapeutic targets in bladder cancer treatment.

VEGF genetic polymorphisms affect the responsiveness to sildenafil in clinical and postoperative erectile dysfunction.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a cytokine involved in angiogenesis and is closely related to the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway, a target for sildenafil. We investigated for the first time whether three clinically relevant polymorphisms in the VEGF gene are associated with altered responsiveness to sildenafil treatment in postoperative erectile dysfunction (PED) and clinical erectile dysfunction (CED). We determined VEGF genotypes for three polymorphisms in VEGF promoter: -2578C>A (rs699947), -1154G>A (rs1570360) and -634G>C (rs2010963) in 126 patients with erectile dysfunction (ED; 66 patients with PED and 60 patients with CED). The patients were classified as good or poor responders to sildenafil (GR and PR groups, respectively) according to their responses with basis on the changes in five-item version of the International Index for Erectile Function (5-IIEF). We found an association of the -1154AA genotype with PR in both PED and CED patients (P<0.05), whereas the -2578AA and the -2578CA genotypes were associated with PR only in the CED group (P<0.05). The AAG haplotype was more common in PR than in GR patients (38% versus 20%, respectively; P=0.032) in the CED group, thus increasing the risk for a worse response to sildenafil (odds ratio, OR=2.33, 95% confidence interval, CI=1.07-5.09). However, this finding does not resist to Bonferroni's correction (P>0.0125). Our results indicate that VEGF polymorphisms affect the responsiveness of PED and CED patients to sildenafil. These findings may help to improve the therapy of patients with ED.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase genotypes and haplotypes modify the responses to sildenafil in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is usually treated with sildenafil. Although genetic polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene may impair endogenous NO formation, there is little information about how eNOS polymorphisms and haplotypes affect the responses to sildenafil. We studied 118 patients; 63 patients had ED secondary to radical prostatectomy (PED) and 55 had organic, clinical ED. eNOS genotypes for three eNOS polymorphisms (T(-786)C, rs2070744; a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in intron 4; and Glu298Asp, rs1799983) were determined, and eNOS haplotypes were estimated using PHASE 2.1. The clinical responses to sildenafil were evaluated and the patients were classified as good responders (GR) or poor responders (PR) when their changes in five-item version of International Index for Erectile Function questionnaire were above or below the median value. The TC/CC genotypes and the C allele for the T(-786)C polymorphism were more common in GR, compared with PR patients with PED. However, the 4b4a/4a4a genotypes and the 4a allele for the VNTR polymorphism in intron 4 were more common in GR, compared with PR patients with clinical ED. The C-4a-Glu haplotype was more common in GR than in PR patients with PED. Conversely, the T-4b-Asp haplotype was less common in GR than in PR patients with PED. No other significant differences were found. Our findings show evidence that eNOS polymorphisms affect the responses of PED and clinical ED patients to sildenafil.

Lithiasis in 1,313 kidney transplants: incidence, diagnosis, and management.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation remains the optimal treatment of patients with end-stage renal disease. Urinary lithiasis represents an unusual urologic complication in renal transplantation, with an incidence of <1%. Today, recipients of kidneys from deceased donors are more likely to receive grafts with undiagnosed lithiasis, which does not occur in patients from living donors, owing to screening with computerized tomography. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of renal lithiasis in transplanted kidneys at a single institution. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records for 1,313 patients who underwent kidney transplantation from February 1968 to February 2011. RESULTS: Among the grafts, 17 patients (1.29%) had nephrolithiasis: 9 women and 8 men. Ages ranged from 32 to 63 years (mean = 45.6 years). Fifteen patients received kidneys from cadaveric and only 2 from living related donors. Two stones, both located inside the ureter, were identified during transplant surgery (11.7%). Three instances of lithiasis were incidentally diagnosed by ultrasound during graft evaluation, within 7 days after surgery (17.6%); all 3 were in the calyces. The 12 remaining patients had the stones diagnosed later (70.58%): 6 in the calyces, 3 in the renal pelvis, and 3 inside the ureter. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary lithiasis is a rare complication in renal transplantation. In most patients the condition occurs without pain. The diagnosis and treatment options for graft urolithiasis are similar to those patients with nephrolithiasis in the general population. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was the most common treatment method.

Immunohistochemistry analysis of proteins related with apoptosis as prognostic factor in epidermoid carcinomaof penis / Análisis inmunohistoquímico de proteínas relacionadas con la apoptosis como factor pronóstico en el carcinoma epidermoide de pene

The aim was to analyze the protein expression of apoptotic genes caspase-3, caspase-8 and bcl-2 with the immunohistochemistry technique, correlating with tumor grade (I, II and III) and with the patient survival in order to understand the basic mechanism of tumoral transformation. The immunohistochemistry reactions on 50 samples of squamous cell carcinoma were carried out with the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method and antigen recovery. The analyses were made using the graduation method "in crosses" (0 to 4 crosses - no stain to more than 75 percent of positives cells) and in categories (low, intermediate, high) of the cytoplasm immunoreactivity of the epidermoid penile carcinoma cells. It was observed a statistically significant difference when the expression of caspase-3 were compared with the grades I and II of the tumor (p=0.0010) and when comparing the patient survival with the grades I and II of the tumor (p=0.0212). The protein bcl-2 was more expressed than caspase-3 and caspase-8 proteins, suggesting that the apoptotic rate in this carcinoma is low. The higher expression of the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 suggests a higher preservation of the tumoral cells...

El objetivo fue analizar la expresión de las proteínas de genes de apoptosis caspasa-3, caspasa-8 y Bcl-2-con la técnica de inmunohistoquímica, en correlación con el grado tumoral (I, II y III) y la supervivencia del paciente con el fin de comprender el mecanismo básico de la transformación tumoral. Se analizaron las reacciones inmunohistoquímicas sobre 50 muestras de carcinoma de células escamosas mediante el método de la inmunoperoxidasa avidina-biotina y la recuperación de antígeno. Los análisis se realizaron utilizando el método de graduación "en cruces" (0 a 4 cruces - no tinción a más del 75 por ciento de las células positivas) y en categorías (baja, media, alta) de la inmunorreactividad citoplasmática de las células de carcinoma epidermoide de pene. Se observó una diferencia estadísticamente significativa cuando la expresión de la caspasa-3 se comparó con los grados I y II del tumor (p = 0,0010) y cuando se comparan la supervivencia de los pacientes con los grados I y II del tumor (p = 0,0212). La proteína bcl-2 se expresa más que la caspasa-3 y caspasa-8, lo que sugiere que la tasa de apoptosis en este carcinoma es baja. La mayor expresión de la proteína anti-apoptótica bcl-2 sugiere una mayor preservación de las células tumorales...

Why not to use kidney grafts from elderly donors.

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplantation is widely recognized as the best treatment in patients who require renal replacement therapy. Although considered a clinical and surgical triumph, it is also a source of frustration because of lack of donor organs and the growth of waiting lists. Strategies need to be developed to increase the supply of organs. One measure is use of expanded criteria for donation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of donor age on cadaver graft survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records for 454 patients who underwent kidney transplantation with cadaver donors from April 1987 to December 2003. RESULTS: Donor age had a significant effect on kidney transplant survival. Survival of grafts from donors aged 16 to 40 years (mean, 143.30 months) was significantly greater compared with that of grafts from donors older than 40 years (66.46 months) (P = .005). The HLA matching and cold ischemia time did not significantly affect transplant survival (P = .98 and P = .16, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Kidneys from cadaver donors older than 40 years significantly compromised graft survival, generating a negative effect via early return of recipients to waiting lists and increasing the rate of repeat transplantation, risk of death, and unnecessary costs.

Therapeutic option for infected urinary tract fistulas in renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 20% of urinary tract fistulas after renal allografting are complicated by urinary tract infection, which presents a therapeutic challenge. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an option for treatment of urinary tract fistulas associated with urinary tract infection and unsuitable for minimally invasive or primary surgical urinary tract repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 650 recipients who underwent transplantation over 17 years. Urinary leakage was initially treated with indwelling bladder catheterization. Patients with fistulas refractory to treatment underwent surgical intervention to repair the urinary tract. In patients who were not candidates for primary repair of the urinary tract, temporary urinary diversion was performed, rather than classic percutaneous or open nephrostomy, using a ureteral stent (ie, a 6F or 8F Foley catheter with the balloon placed inside the renal pelvis). RESULTS: Overall, urinary leakage occurred in 36 patients (5.5%). Conservative management was successful in 14 vesical fistulas (42.4%) and no ureteral fistulas (0%). Three patients died of sepsis during conservative treatment, before the new surgical approach. Five of 36 urinary leaks (13.9%) were managed using ureteral intubation with an 8F Foley catheter, with a success rate of 80%. CONCLUSION: Ureteral catheterization with an 8F Foley catheter is a feasible therapeutic option to treat complicated urinary tract fistulas unsuitable for primary surgical repair of the urinary tract.

Comparison of two models for evaluation histopathology of experimental renal ischemia.

Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is one of the frequent causes of acute renal failure (ARF) due to the complex, interrelated sequence of events, that result in damage to and death of kidney cells. Cells of the proximal tubular epithelium are especially susceptible to I/R injury, leading to acute tubular necrosis, which plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ARF. Several models have been explicated to assess morphological changes, including those of Jabonski et al. and Goujon et al. We compared the 2 models for histopathological evaluation of 30- or 120-minute periods of renal ischemia followed by 24-hour reperfusion in rats. Several changes were observed after application of the 2 models: proximal tubular cell necrosis, loss of brush border, vacuolization, denudation of tubular basement membrane as a consequence of flattening of basal cells, and presence of intratubular exfoliated cells in the lumen of proximal convoluted tubules at various stages of degeneration (karyorexis, kariopyknosis and karyolysis). Evaluating tubular lesions after 2 periods of experimental ischemia with light microscopy allowed us to conclude that the Goujon classification better characterized the main changes in cortical renal tubules after ischemia.

Renal ischemia in rats: mitochondria function and laser autofluorescence.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is the major cause of organ dysfunction or even nonfunction following transplantation. It can attenuate the long-term survival of transplanted organs. To evaluate the severity of renal ischemia injury determined by histology, we applied laser- (442 nm and 532 nm) induced fluorescence (LIF), mitochondria respiration, and membrane swelling to evaluate 28 Wistar rats that underwent left kidney warm ischemia for 20, 40, 60, or 80 minutes. LIF performed before ischemia (control) was repeated at 20, 40, 60, and 80 minutes thereafter. We harvested left kidney tissue samples immediately after LIF determination for histology and mitochondrial analyses: state 3 and 4 respiration, respiration control rate (RCR), and membrane swelling. The association of optic spectroscopy with histological damage showed: LIF, 442 nm (r2 = 0.39, P < .001) and 532 nm, (r2 = 0.18, P = .003); reflecting laser/fluorescence-induced, 442 nm (r2 = 0.20, P = .002) and 532 nm (r2 = 0.004, P = .67). The associations between mitochondria function and tissue damage were: state 3 respiration (r2 = 0.43, P = .0004), state 4 respiration (r2 = 0.03, P = 0.38), RCR (r2 = 0.28, P = .007), and membrane swelling (r2 = 0.02, P = .43). The intensity of fluorescence emitted by tissue excited by laser, especially at a wave length of 442 nm, was determined in real time. Mitochondrial state 3 respiration and respiratory control ratio also exhibited good correlations with the grade of ischemic tissue damage.

Avaliaçäo urodinâmica de pacientes chagásicos / Urodynamic assessement in patients with Chagas disease

No presente trabalho estudou-se a fisiologia urinária de pacientes com Doença de Chagas nas suas diversas formas. Grupo A (controle) com 21 indivíduos normais; Gupo B: 16 pacientes com sorologia positiva; Grupo C: com 16 pacientes com cardiopatia chagásica e Grupo D: 21 pacientes com esofagopatia e/ou megacolon chagásicos. Os resultados mostraram que näo houve diferenças significantes (p > 0,05) entre os 4 grupos estudados para os parâmetros: capacidade cistométrica, pressäo de micçäo e fluxo urinário. Entretanto, houve diferenças significantes (p < 0,05) para os parâmetros: pressäo abdominal, pressäo do detrusor, pressäo uretral e tempo de micçäo na análise comparativa entre o grupo D e o controle A. Esses achados sugerem que a Doença de Chagas, em sua forma digestiva, também pode comprometer o trato urinário baixo, alterando sua fisiologia.

Proteçäo funcional do rim com lovastatina após isquemia e reperfusäo renal / Renal functional protection with lovastatin after kidney ischemia-reperfusion

Introduçäo - a isquemia renal é causa de graves lesöes nesse órgäo, estando presente em diferentes situaçöes como em cirurgias renais, vasculares e no transplante renal. Assim, a procura de substâncias protetoras da funçäo renal tem amplo interesse clínico. Neste estudo o objetivo foi o de analisar o efeito da lovastatina na isquemia renal normotérmica seguida da reperfusäo.

Avaliaçäo dos gânglios regionais do carcinoma epidermóide do pênis (CEP) através de um índice de risco / Evaluation of the regional lymphatic nodes in epidermoid carcinoma of the penis (CEP) by of the risk index

O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a validade de um índice de risco (IR) no prognóstico de metástases ganglionares no carcinoma epidermóide do pênis (CEP). Foram analisados 53 pacientes com CEP atendidos no Hospital das Clínicas da FMRP-USP, de janeiro de 1978 a dezembro de 1995. A idade variou de 32 a 97 anos. Os tumores foram graduados de acordo com a classificaçäo de Broders e estadiados retrospectivamente (TNM 1999). O IR foi determinado pela soma de TeG (IR = T+G). A linfadenectomia inguinal bilateral (LD) foi indicada naqueles que apresentaram gânglios suspeitos após a antibioticoterapia ou que vieram apresentar alteraçöes durante o período de observaçäo. Faleceram 17 pacientes; A LD foi realizada em 14 pacientes e os 39 restantes permaneceram em observaçäo clínica, sendo que em 8 deles foi feito LD após tempo mediano de 9 meses. Dos pacientes com índice de risco 2 e 3 92 por cento e 80 por cento respectivamente näo apresentavam metastase ganglionar, ao passo que a totalidade daqueles com IR=6 tinha gânglios comprometidos. A associaçäo dos grupos 2 e 3, comparada ao conjunto 4, 5 e 6, mostrou percentual maior de comprometimento nestes últimos (p = 0,0046). Dos 36 pacientes inicialmente No, 27 apresentavam IR 2 ou 3, dos quais 5 evoluíram para N+ (19 por cento); os 9 restantes eram IR >/= 4 e 3 também evoluíram para N+ (33 por cento). Apesar da diferença, näo houve significância estatística entre eles (p = 0,3837). Embora tenha ocorrido maior comprometimento naqueles com IR >/= 4, o índice de risco näo foi capaz de identificar previamente pacientes que evoluíram para N+.

Clorpromazina e funçäo mitocondrial na isquemia-reperfusäo renal / Chlorpromazine and mitochondrial function in kidney ischemia-reperfusion

Introduçäo e objetivo - em transplante renal com doador cadáver, a funçäo do enxerto depende da manutençäo da integridade celular e subcelular, principalmente mitocondrial. Neste estudo o objetivo foi analisar a funçäo mitocondrial do rins submetidos a período prolongado de isquemia fria, seguido de reperfusäo por uma hora, empregando-se, ou näo, a clorpromazina previamente à isquemia. Métodos - utilizando autotransplante renal em cäes, subdivididos em dois grupos, foram extraidas mitocôndrias de rins submetidos à isquemia fria de 48 horas, seguida de 1 hora de reperfusäo pós-transplante. Um grupo recebeu clorpromazina antes da nefrectomia. A análise da fosforilaçäo oxidativa e do intumescimento osmótico ("swelling") mitocôndrial foi comparada com dados obtidos de rins normais, sem isquemia. Resultados - Os dados obtidos para o estado III e IV da respiraçäo näo mostraram diferença significativa entre os grupos experimentais. A primeira fase do "swelling" ocorreu em tempo semelhante em todos os grupos experimentais. Durante a reversäo, os grupos I e II se comportaram de maneira estatisticamente semelhante, com fraçöes de reversäo de 57 por cento, e 68 por cento, respectivamente, valores significativamente menores que os obtidos para o grupo normal (99 por cento) (grupo I: p = 0,0374 e grupo II: p = 0,0221). Discussäo - é conhecida a açäo protetora da clorpromazina na isquemia renal normotérmica. Entretanto, os dados aqui obtidos mostram que após 48 horas de isquemia fria, o grupo II (clorpromazina) comportou-se de maneira semelhante ao grupo I (hipotermia isolada) tanto no estudo da fosforilaçäo oxidativa, quanto no "swelling", embora os valores apresentem tendência a serem maiores no grupo II. Isto pode ser devido a alguns fatores, como: 1) a clorpromazina possui efeito protetor mínimo quando o tempo de isquemia é prolongado; 2) seu efeito pode ser afetado ou sua açäo protetora sobreposta àquela imposta pela hipotermia; 3) tempo de reperfusäo curto para manifestaçäo de seus efeitos.

Antígeno nuclear de proliferaçäo celular (PCNA) em carcinoma de células transicionais de bexiga / Proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the urinary transitional cell carcinoma

O antígeno nuclear de proliferaçäo celular (PCNA) foi descrito como marcador da atividade proliferativa. Correlacionamos a marcaçäo do PCNA com a evoluçäo dos pacientes com carcinoma de células transicionais de bexiga. Revisamos 90 pacientes do HC-FMRP-USP de 1980-2000; com idade variando de 29 a 93 anos e média de 71 anos; sendo 77,8 por cento homens e 22,2 por cento mulheres; seguimento médio de 55 meses (2-231 meses). Constatamos 50 por cento de tumores grau I, (32,2 por cento) grau II e 17,8 por cento grau III; estadiados em pTA-60 por cento, pT1-8,9 por cento e >pT1 31,1 por cento. Utilizamos o anticorpo primário Monoclonal Mouse Anti-Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) Clone PC10 (DAKO). Foram contadas 500 células (X400), e utilizado ponto de corte de 50 por cento. A análise estatística foi realizada com o teste de Mann-Whitney. Kaplan-Meier e Logrank Oitenta e sete tumores (96,66 por cento) expressaram PCNA (mediana 72.5 por cento, média 60,16 por cento). Observamos diferença näo significativa (P=0,39) na imunomarcaçäo do PCNA entre tumores pT2-4 e pTA-1. A comparaçäo de medias entre G1 e G2 (P=0,087), G1 e G3 (P=0,11) e entre G2 e G3 (P=0,66) näo mostraram significado estatístico,assim como entre tumores com recidiva e sem recidiva (P=0,84). Os indivíduos PCNA positivos näo tiveram intervalo livre de doença significativamente diferente (P=0,86); entretanto foi significativa a diferença nas curvas de sobrevida (P=0,003) e nas curvas de intervalos livres de metástase (P=0,01). A expressäo imunohistoquímica do PCNA näo foi efetiva para diferenciar os tumores mais avançados e agressivos, assim como para predizer recidivas. Desta forma, apesar da correlaçäo com o tempo livre de metástase e a sobrevida, näo mostrou utilidade prática.

Transplante renal em bloco de doadores-cadáveres infantis: experiência do HCFMRP-USP / Kidney transplantation in bloc from pediatric cadaver donors: the HCFMRP-USP experience

A grande procura de órgäos para transplante tornou necessária a aceitaçäo de potenciais doadores pediátricos a fim de aumentar a oferta. Trabalhos anteriores relatando menor sobrevida do enxerto e taxas maiores de complicaçäo fizeram com que cirurgiöes considerassem o assunto com cautela. Esse é um estudo retrospectivo com o objetivo de analisar os resultados de transplantes renais em bloco de doadores infantis (< 2 anos) no HCFMRP-USP entre 1998 e 2000. Um total de cinco pacientes foi submetido a transplante renal em bloco de doadores com idades entre 9 meses e 2 anos de vida, pesando entre 8 e 14 kg. Apenas um paciente perdeu o enxerto no oitavo dia após transplante devido à trombose. Dois pacientes tiveram complicaçöes ureterais, um com necrose do ureter e fístula urinária e outro com ruptura completa da anastomose ureterovesical. Ambos foram reparados com sucesso. Complicaçäo intra-operatória foi observada em um paciente, com ruptura da anastomose arterial. Corrigiu-se com reperfusäo in loco e reanastomose. Outro paciente apresentou ruptura do pólo renal inferior, tratada com nefrectomia polar no quarto dia pós-operatório. Seguimento médio de 20,7 meses mostrou, apesar de tais problemas, creatinina sérica variando entre 0,9 e 2 mg/100 ml, sem complicaçöes sérias. Nossos achados sustentam o uso de rins infantis, em bloco, mesmo de doadores com menos de 2 anos de idade, desde que a necessidade do órgäo seja maior que o risco oferecido pelo alto índice de complicaçöes.

Expressäo imunohistoquímica do MIB-1 em carcinoma de células transicionais de bexiga / Immunohistochemical expression of MIB-1 in transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder

A expressäo do MIB-1 é um excelente marcador da atividade proliferativa e correlaciona-se com a agressividade biológica do carcinoma de células transicionais da bexiga.Correlacionamos a expressäo do MIB-1 com a evoluçäo dos pacientes. Revisamos 90 pacientes do HC-FMRP-USP entre 1980-2000, com idade entre 29 a 93 anos (média 71 anos);sendo 70 (77,8 por cento) homens e 20 (22,2 por cento) mulheres; e seguidos em média por 55 (2-231) meses. 45 (50 por cento) tumores tinham grau I, 29 (32,2 por cento) grau II e 16 (17,8 por cento) grau III. Os tumores foram estadiados em pTA: 54 (60 por cento), pT1: 8 (8,9 por cento) e pT2-4: 28 (31,1 por cento). Foi utilizado o anticorpo monoclonal anti-MIB-1 (Immunotech). Emprega-se o limite de 10 por cento de núcleos corados como nível de corte para o MIB-1. Utilizamos para análise estatística os testes Mann-Whitney, Kaplan-Meier, e log rank, e nível de significância 5 por cento. Expressaram MIB-1, 63 pacientes (70 por cento) variando de 0 a 80 por cento (mediana 5 por cento, média 22,8 por cento), com diferença significativa (P<0,05) entre tumores invasivos (pT2-4) e näo invasivos (pTA-1) e entre os estádios pTA e pT1 (P=0,01). Houve associaçäo com o grau dos tumores: significativa entre G1 e G2 (P<0,001) e G1 e G3 (P<0,001), e sem significância entre G2 e G3 (P=0,2). A relaçäo do MIB-1 com o tamanho da lesäo foi significante (P<0,02). As recidivas näo foram preditas pelo índice MIB-1 (P=0,86), entretanto em pacientes MIB-1 positivos foi significantemente menor o intervalo livre de metástase (P=0.04), e a sobrevida entre tumores näo invasivos (P=0.009) e na populaçäo total (P=0.0002), Há correlaçäo entre a alta expressäo do MIB-1 e os estádios invasivos, os graus avançados e os tumores maiores, contudo, näo há diferença em tumores recidivados. O índice de positividade do MIB-1 näo distinguiu os pacientes com menor tempo livre da doença, foi, contudo, significante para apontar aqueles com menor sobrevida e tempo livre de metástase.

Transplante renal em bloco de doadores-cadáveres infantis: experiência do hcfmrp-usp

The high demand for organs for transplantation has made it necessary to consider using the youngest of potential donors in order to increase the organ supply. Previous reports of decreased graft survival and increased complication rates have made surgeons wary of using such kidneys. This is a chart review with the objective to analyse the results achieved with transplantation of children kidneys ( 2 years) in the HCFMRP-USP from 1998 to 2000. A total of 5 pacients received en bloc renal transplants from donors aged 9 months to 2 years old, weighthing between 8 and 14 kg. Results: Only one patient lost the allograft within 8 days of transplantation due to allograft trombosis. Two patients had ureteral complications, one with ureteral necrosis and urinary fistula and the other with total ureterovesical anastomosis disrupture. Both were successfully repaired. Intra operatory complication was experienced in one pacient, with arterial anastomosis rupture. In loco reperfusion and repair was made. Another patient had inferior renal pole rupture, treated with polar nefrectomy at the 4º PO. Despite such problems, mean follow up of 20,7 months showed serum creatinine ranging from 0,9 to 2 mg/100ml, with no serious complications. Conclusion: Our data support the use of en bloc child cadaveric kidneys, even from infant donors less than two year of age, when the organ necessity supplant the higher rates of complications.

A grande procura de órgãos para transplante tornou necessária a aceitação de potenciais doadores pediátricos a fim de aumentar a oferta. Trabalhos anteriores relatando menor sobrevida do enxerto e taxas maiores de complicação fizeram com que cirurgiões considerassem o assunto com cautela. Esse é um estudo retrospectivo com o objetivo de analisar os resultados de transplantes renais em bloco de doadores infantis ( 2 anos) no HCFMRP-USP entre 1998 e 2000. Um total de cinco pacientes foi submetido a transplante renal em bloco de doadores com idades entre 9 meses e 2 anos de vida, pesando entre 8 e 14 kg. Apenas um paciente perdeu o enxerto no oitavo dia após transplante devido à trombose. Dois pacientes tiveram complicações ureterais, um com necrose do ureter e fístula urinária e outro com ruptura completa da anastomose ureterovesical. Ambos foram reparados com sucesso. Complicação intra-operatória foi observada em um paciente, com ruptura da anastomose arterial. Corrigiu-se com reperfusão in loco e reanastomose. Outro paciente apresentou ruptura do pólo renal inferior, tratada com nefrectomia polar no quarto dia pós-operatório. Seguimento médio de 20,7 meses mostrou, apesar de tais problemas, creatinina sérica variando entre 0,9 e 2 mg/100 ml, sem complicações sérias. Nossos achados sustentam o uso de rins infantis, em bloco, mesmo de doadores com menos de 2 anos de idade, desde que a necessidade do órgão seja maior que o risco oferecido pelo alto índice de complicações.

Interstitial thermometry in men undergoing electrovaporization of the prostate.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TVP) has been utilized increasingly in the therapeutic management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The temperature profile within both prostatic and periprostatic tissue has been presented as a parameter of safety in various preliminary studies. This prospective study measured interstitial temperature during TVP in both the prostate and the surrounding tissue of 18 men. METHODS: These 18 men undergoing TVP had three interstitial thermocouple probes placed under ultrasound guidance. Probes were positioned in the rectal wall and at the 5 and 7 o'clock position of the prostate capsule. A fourth probe was placed within 1 mm of the area of vaporization to determine "lesion" temperature. Temperature was measured at baseline and at 15-minute intervals as TVP was performed utilizing the VaporTrode at 240 to 280 W with a Valley Lab Force 40 generator. RESULTS: The maximum temperature variability was 1.9 degrees C. The temperature within 0.5 mm of the area of vaporization was >100 degrees C. These results were independent of the temperature of the irrigating solution. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide compelling evidence that high vaporization temperatures do not affect surrounding prostatic tissue. In theory, the risk of injury to either the rectum or the neurovascular bundle during TVP should be extremely low.

Pregnancy and kidney transplantation: experience in a developing country.

Between January 1968 and December 1992, 136 kidney transplants were performed in the University Hospital of Ribeirão Preto, with women of childbearing age (14 to 40 years) as receptors. From this population, 19 patients became pregnant at least once after transplantation, and 2 were transplanted inadvertently during the first trimester of their pregnancies. There was a total of 25 pregnancies and 27 offspring. The mean age at the time of conception was 28.6 years (23 to 41 years), with a mean interval of 3.5 years from transplant to conception (< 1 to 16 years). All patients continued their immunosuppressive regimens during the entire pregnancy, but only 5 of 25 were taking cyclosporine. There were two miscarriages (8%) and two therapeutic abortions (8%); of those that passed the 20th week of pregnancy, the mean gestation time at delivery was 35 weeks (range, 28 to 38 weeks) with an incidence of prematurity (gestation < 37 weeks) of 67%, and their offspring weighed from 670 to 3,100 g (mean, 2,236 g), presenting a very high incidence of low birthweight (64%). There was one stillborn and one neonatal death. The most common complications that occurred during pregnancy were infections (especially urinary tract and vaginal mycotic infections) followed by hypertension. The obstetric complications were distributed as follows: premature rupture of membranes in 27%, fetal distress in 24%, preterm labor in 24%, and oligohydramnios in 10%. Lower segment cesarean section was necessary in 16 of 21 cases (76%), and all were for obstetric reasons. One patient died during the puerperium because of sepsis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)