Podocytopathies associated with familial partial lipodystrophy due to LMNA variants: report of two cases.

Lipodystrophies are characterized by complete or selective loss of adipose tissue and can be acquired or inherited. Familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD) is a hereditary lipodystrophy commonly caused by mutations in the LMNA gene. Herein, we report two cases of FPLD associated with podocytopathies. Patient 1 was diagnosed with FPLD associated with the heterozygous p.Arg482Trp variant in LMNA and had normal glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemia. During follow-up, she developed nephroticrange proteinuria. Renal biopsy was consistent with minimal change disease. Patient 2 was diagnosed with FPLD associated with a de novo heterozygous p.Arg349Trp variant in LMNA. Microalbuminuria progressed to macroalbuminuria within 6 years and tonephrotic range proteinuria in the last year. He remained without diabetes and with hyperinsulinemia. Renal biopsy revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis not otherwise specified. This report provides further evidence of variable features of lipodystrophy associated with LMNA variants and the importance of long-term follow-up with evaluation of kidney dysfunction.

New approaches to second-degree burn healing: Polyvinyl alcohol membrane loaded to arnica combined to laser therapy.

Second-degree burns require greater care, as the damage is more extensive and worrisome and the use of a biomaterial can help in the cell repair process, with better planning, low cost, and better accessibility. Arnica has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in skin lesions treatments and laser therapy is another therapeutic alternative for burns. Evaluate the effects of arnica incorporated into PVA associated or not with low intensity laser on burns in rats. PVA and PVA with arnica (PVA+A) were obtained and characterized physicochemically. Through in vivo studies, the effects of PVA and PVA+A with or without the application of laser on the lesions allowed histological and immunohistochemical analyzes. PVA+A was biocompatible and with sustained release of the active, being a promising pharmacological tool and confirmed that laser therapy was effective in accelerating the healing process, due to its potential biomodulator, improving inflammatory aspects, promoting rapid healing in skin lesions.

Terlipressin combined with conservative fluid management attenuates hemorrhagic shock-induced acute kidney injury in rats.

Hemorrhagic shock (HS), a major cause of trauma-related mortality, is mainly treated by crystalloid fluid administration, typically with lactated Ringer's (LR). Despite beneficial hemodynamic effects, such as the restoration of mean arterial pressure (MAP), LR administration has major side effects, including organ damage due to edema. One strategy to avoid such effects is pre-hospitalization intravenous administration of the potent vasoconstrictor terlipressin, which can restore hemodynamic stability/homeostasis and has anti-inflammatory effects. Wistar rats were subjected to HS for 60 min, at a target MAP of 30-40 mmHg, thereafter being allocated to receive LR infusion at 3 times the volume of the blood withdrawn (liberal fluid management); at 2 times the volume (conservative fluid management), plus terlipressin (10 µg/100 g body weight); and at an equal volume (conservative fluid management), plus terlipressin (10 µg/100 g body weight). A control group comprised rats not subjected to HS and receiving no fluid resuscitation or treatment. At 15 min after fluid resuscitation/treatment, the blood previously withdrawn was reinfused. At 24 h after HS, MAP was higher among the terlipressin-treated animals. Terlipressin also improved post-HS survival and provided significant improvements in glomerular/tubular function (creatinine clearance), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin expression, fractional excretion of sodium, aquaporin 2 expression, tubular injury, macrophage infiltration, interleukin 6 levels, interleukin 18 levels, and nuclear factor kappa B expression. In terlipressin-treated animals, there was also significantly higher angiotensin II type 1 receptor expression and normalization of arginine vasopressin 1a receptor expression. Terlipressin associated with conservative fluid management could be a viable therapy for HS-induced acute kidney injury, likely attenuating such injury by modulating the inflammatory response via the arginine vasopressin 1a receptor.

Temporal Reduction in COVID-19-Associated Fatality Among Kidney Transplant Recipients: The Brazilian COVID-19 Registry Cohort Study.

Data from the general population suggest that fatality rates declined during the course of the pandemic. This analysis, using data extracted from the Brazilian Kidney Transplant COVID-19 Registry, seeks to determine fatality rates over time since the index case on March 3rd, 2020. Data from hospitalized patients with RT-PCR positive SARS-CoV-2 infection from March to August 2020 (35 sites, 878 patients) were compared using trend tests according to quartiles (Q1: <72 days; Q2: 72-104 days; Q3: 105-140 days; Q4: >140 days after the index case). The 28-day fatality decreased from 29.5% (Q1) to 18.8% (Q4) (pfor-trend = 0.004). In multivariable analysis, patients diagnosed in Q4 showed a 35% reduced risk of death. The trend of reducing fatality was associated with a lower number of comorbidities (20.7-10.6%, p for-trend = 0.002), younger age (55-53 years, pfor-trend = 0.062), and better baseline renal function (43.6-47.7 ml/min/1.73 m2, pfor-trend = 0.060), and were confirmed by multivariable analysis. The proportion of patients presenting dyspnea (pfor-trend = 0.001) and hypoxemia (pfor-trend < 0.001) at diagnosis, and requiring intensive care was also found reduced (pfor-trend = 0.038). Despite possible confounding variables and time-dependent sampling differences, we conclude that COVID-19-associated fatality decreased over time. Differences in demographics, clinical presentation, and treatment options might be involved.

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells protect against premature renal senescence resulting from oxidative stress in rats with acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) represent an option for the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI). It is known that young stem cells are better than are aged stem cells at reducing the incidence of the senescent phenotype in the kidneys. The objective of this study was to determine whether AKI leads to premature, stress-induced senescence, as well as whether human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (huMSCs) can prevent ischaemia/reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced renal senescence in rats. METHODS: By clamping both renal arteries for 45 min, we induced IRI in male rats. Six hours later, some rats received 1 × 106 huMSCs or human adipose-derived MSCs (aMSCs) intraperitoneally. Rats were euthanised and studied on post-IRI days 2, 7 and 49. RESULTS: On post-IRI day 2, the kidneys of huMSC-treated rats showed improved glomerular filtration, better tubular function and higher expression of aquaporin 2, as well as less macrophage infiltration. Senescence-related proteins (ß-galactosidase, p21Waf1/Cip1, p16INK4a and transforming growth factor beta 1) and microRNAs (miR-29a and miR-34a) were overexpressed after IRI and subsequently downregulated by the treatment. The IRI-induced pro-oxidative state and reduction in Klotho expression were both reversed by the treatment. In comparison with huMSC treatment, the treatment with aMSCs improved renal function to a lesser degree, as well as resulting in a less pronounced increase in the renal expression of Klotho and manganese superoxide dismutase. Treatment with huMSCs ameliorated long-term kidney function after IRI, minimised renal fibrosis, decreased ß-galactosidase expression and increased the expression of Klotho. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that huMSCs attenuate the inflammatory and oxidative stress responses occurring in AKI, as well as reducing the expression of senescence-related proteins and microRNAs. Our findings broaden perspectives for the treatment of AKI.

Expression patterns of B cells in acute kidney transplant rejection.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate B-cell expression patterns and association with function and survival in dysfunctional kidney allografts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 110 kidney transplant recipients included who had for-cause biopsies. Demographic and transplant data were collected. Immunostaining for B cells, plasma cells, and C4d was performed by the immunoperoxidase technique in paraffin-embedded samples. Circulating antihuman leukocyte antigen donor-specific antibodies were detected in a single-antigen assay at biopsy. The main outcomes were kidney graft survival and function. The patients were evaluated in 3 groups according to the Banff classification: no rejection (40 patients), T-cell-mediated rejection (50 patients), and antibody-mediated rejection (20 patients). RESULTS: The CD138-positive plasma cell-rich infiltrates predominated in antibody-mediated rejection and were associated with stronger reactivity against panel antibodies (r = 0.41; P ≤ .001) and positive donor-specific antibodies (r = 0.32; P ≤ .006). The CD20-positive lymphocytes were associated with T-cell-mediated rejection, increased human leukocyte antigen mismatch, and frequency of retransplant. The CD138-positive cell infiltrates also were significantly greater in patients who had late than early rejection. There was no correlation between cellular CD20 and CD138 expression, and neither CD20 nor CD138 predicted worse graft function or survival. Other markers of antibody-mediated rejection such as C4d and donor-specific antibodies were associated with worse graft function and survival at 4 years after transplant. In multivariate analysis, C4d was the only risk factor associated with graft loss. CONCLUSIONS: After kidney transplant, CD20-positive B-cell infiltrates were associated with T-cell-mediated rejection, and CD138-positive plasma cells were associated with antibody-mediated rejection. Graft loss was associated with the presence of C4d.

Usefulness of a quick decalcification of bone sections embedded in methyl methacrylate[corrected]: an improved method for immunohistochemistry.

Immunohistochemistry of undecalcified bone sections embedded in methyl methacrylate (MMA) is not commonly employed because of potential destruction of tissue antigenicity by highly exothermic polymerization. The aim of the present study was to describe a new technique in which a quick decalcification of bone sections embedded in MMA improves the results for immunohistochemistry. The quality of interleukin 1alpha (IL-1alpha) immunostaining according to the present method was better than the conventional one. Immunostaining for osteoprotegerin (OPG) and the receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) in bone sections of chronic kidney disease patients with mineral bone disorders (CKD-MBD) was stronger than in controls (postmortem healthy subjects). The present study suggested that this method is easy, fast, and effective to perform both histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry in the same bone fragment, yielding new insights into pathophysiological aspects and therapeutic approaches in bone disease.

Expressão de mediadores citotóxicos (perforina, granzima B, FAS e FAS-l) em biópsias de aloenxerto renal / Expression of cytotoxic mediators (perforin, granzyme B, FAS,and FAS-l) in renal allograft biopsies

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar por imunoistoquímica a expressão in situ de perforina, granzima B, FAS-L e FAS em biópsias de enxerto renal,correlacionando esses achados com o grau histológico de rejeição eprognóstico do enxerto. Biópsias renais (n = 96) foram divididas em três grupos: rejeição aguda (n = 56), rejeição crônica (n = 31), função renal estável (sem rejeição; n = 9). A expressão de perforina, granzima B, FAS-L e FAS foi avaliada por imunoistoquímica. A expressão de perforina e granzima B foi significativamente maior na rejeição aguda (4,84 ± 0,65 e 30,05 ±7,93) quando comparada à rejeição crônica (0,71 ± 0,13 céls./mm2e 11,40 ± 3,84; p < 0,001 e p< 0,05 respectivamente), mas não deFAS-L (24,44 ± 5,56 na rejeição aguda vs. 18,87 ± 6,83 na rejeição crônica). As marcações de perforina, granzima B e FAS-L na rejeição aguda foram significativamente maiores na rejeição aguda que nos casos sem rejeição e controle. A expressão de FAS foi semelhante entre os grupos. Houve modesta correlação entre a expressão de perforina e a gravidade da rejeição aguda (r = 0,28, p = 0,05). A perforina foi o marcador mais confiável para o diagnóstico de rejeição aguda, com 80% de sensibilidade e 84,4% de especificidade. A presença in situ de perforina, granzima B e FAS-L embiópsias de aloenxerto renal na rejeição aguda indica a ocorrênciade intensa atividade citotóxica. Estes dados apontam para a possibilidade de utilização destas moléculas como marcadores de rejeição, podendo vir a se tornar um instrumento na monitorização pós-transplante.

Renal expression of COX-2, ANG II, and AT1 receptor in remnant kidney: strong renoprotection by therapy with losartan and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory.

Chronic renal injury can be mediated by angiotensin II (ANG II) and prostanoids through hemodynamic and inflammatory mechanisms and attenuated by individual suppression of these mediators. In rats with (5/6) renal ablation (Nx), we investigated 1) the intrarenal distribution of COX-2, ANG II, and the AT(1) receptor (AT(1)R); 2) the renoprotective and antiinflammatory effects of an association between the AT(1)R blocker, losartan (Los), and the gastric sparing anti-inflammatory nitroflurbiprofen (NOF). Adult male Munich-Wistar rats underwent Nx or sham operation (S), remaining untreated for 30 days, after which renal structure was examined in 12 Nx rats (Nx(pre)). The remaining rats were followed during an additional 90 days, distributed among 4 treatment groups: Nx(V) (vehicle), Nx(Los) (Los), Nx(NOF) (NOF), and Nx(Los/NOF) (Los/NOF). Nx(pre) rats exhibited marked albuminuria, hypertension, glomerulosclerosis, interstitial expansion, and macrophage infiltration, accompanied by abnormal glomerular, vascular, and interstitial COX-2 expression. ANG II appeared in interstitial cells, in contrast to S, in which ANG II was virtually confined to afferent arterioles. Intrarenal AT(1)R distribution shifted from mostly tubular in S to predominantly interstitial in Nx(pre). All these changes were aggravated at 120 days and attenuated by Los and NOF monotherapies. Los/NOF treatment arrested renal structural injury and ANG II expression and reversed hypertension, albuminuria, and renal inflammation. In conclusion, abnormal expression of COX-2, ANG II, and AT(1)R may be key to development of renal injury in Nx. Concomitant COX-2 inhibition and AT(1)R blockade arrested renal injury and may represent a useful strategy in the treatment of chronic nephropathies.

Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em paciente transplantado renal / Health-related quality of life in renal transplant patients

Introdução :Diálise e transplante renal são as opções atuais para o tratamento de pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica avançada. Embora a taxa de sobrevida seja usada para avaliar o sucesso destas terapias, a importância da percepção do paciente quanto sua qualidade de vida relacionada (QDV) à saúde é bem reconhecida. Objetivo : Avaliar a QDV de pacientes transplantados renais, comparados a uma população mantida em programa de hemodiálise e a pessoas normais. Métodos: Foram estudados 72 pacientes com boa evolução após transplante renal, utilizando o instrumento genérico SF-36 (Medical Outcome Survey - Short-Form 36, Rand Corp, EUA), auto-aplicado, traduzido e validado para o português. Este instrumento avalia a QDV relacionada à saúde abordando seus oito conceitos: capacidade funcional (CF), aspectos físicos (AF), dor física (DF), estado geral de saúde (SG), vitalidade (VT), limitações sociais (AS), limitações emocionais (AE) e aspectos mentais (AM). Como controle, foram comparados os resultados obtidos nos pacientes transplantados renais com uma população sadia (58 pessoas) e outra composta de pacientes mantidos em hemodiálise (43 pacientes). Resultados :Os pacientes transplantados tinham idade média de 40,8± 12,1 anos (var.: 1 7 a 66 anos), sendo 37 masculinos, transplantados há 33,6±26,7 meses (var.: 1 a 133 m), todos com creatinina sérica inferior a 2,0 mgldi e em uso de imunosupressores. Seis eram diabéticos. Os questionários foram respondidos pelos pacientes sem interferência da equipe de saúde, não havendo relato de dificuldades e com somente oito dos 2.592 quesitos deixados sem respostas (0,3 por cento). Conclusão : Conclui-se que o instrumento SF-36 foi de fácil apliacção, com excelente retorno de respostas. Os pacientes transplantados ernais apresentaram escores do SF-36 superiores aos de urêmicos em hemodiálise e masi próximos aos de indivíduos sadios, demonstrando que o transplante renal alcançou seu objetivo de melhorar a reabilitação física , emntal e social dos pacientes.

Evidence for the existence of two distinct functions for the inducible NO synthase in the rat kidney: effect of aminoguanidine in rats with 5/6 ablation.

The functional role of the NO synthase (NOS) isoforms in the normal or diseased kidney is uncertain. This study examined the renal expression of the endothelial (eNOS), neuronal (nNOS), and inducible (iNOS) isoforms by both immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses in sham-operated rats (S) and in rats subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx). Primary antibodies from two different sources were used to detect iNOS. Additional S and Nx rats were chronically treated with aminoguanidine (AG), a selective iNOS inhibitor. All three isoforms were clearly expressed in S kidney. Their renal abundance, evaluated by Western blot analysis, fell in Nx rats. With the use of anti-iNOS antibodies from two distinct sources, the immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of what appeared to be two distinct iNOS fractions: a "tubular" fraction, present in S and with decreased intensity in Nx; and an "interstitial" fraction, observed only in inflamed areas of Nx rats. AG treatment greatly attenuated renal injury in Nx rats by a direct antiinflammatory effect, likely related to iNOS inhibition, rather than to amelioration of renal hemodynamics or to reduced protein glycation. These observations suggest that: (1) the functional role of the renal iNOS isoform may vary dramatically under different physiologic conditions; (2) caution should be taken in the interpretation of immunohistochemical iNOS data, because antibodies from different sources may detect different iNOS fractions; and (3) AG treatment may become useful in the treatment of human progressive nephropathies, even those not associated with diabetes or aging.

Lymphocele: a possible relationship with acute cellular rejection in kidney transplantation

CONTEXT: The incidence of lymphocele after renal transplantation varies between 0.6 and 18 percent of cases, and many factors have been associated to its etiology. Cellular rejection of the kidney allograft has been described as a possible causal factor of lymphocele. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the possible relationship between lymphocele and acute cellular rejection. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: A referral hospital center. SAMPLE: 170 patients submitted to kidney transplantation from March 1992 to January 1997. A standard technique for renal transplantation was used. RESULTS: Of the 19 patients that developed lymphocele, 16 presented at least one episode of acute cell rejection (84 percent), and were treated with methylprednisolone. The relation between lymphocele and rejection was statistically significant (p = 0.04). Treatment of lymphocele consisted of peritoneal marsupialization in 3 patients (15.3 percent), percutaneous drainage in 7 (36.8 percent), laparascopic marsupialization in 2 (10.5 percent), and conservative treatment in 7 patients (36.8percent. Evolution was favorable in 15 patients (78.9 percent), 1 patient (5.3 percent) died due to a cause unrelated to lymphocele, and 3 (15.8 percent) lost the graft due to immunological factors. The average follow-up period was 24.5 months. CONCLUSION: The high incidence of acute cell rejection in patients with lymphocele suggests a possible causal relationship between both conditions

Recorrência de glomerulosclerose segmentar e focal em rins transplantados / Recurrence of segmental and focal glomerulosclerosis in transplanted kidneys

Relatamos a evoluçäo de 16 pacientes com glomerulosclerose segmentar e focal (GESF), que receberam transplante de rim. Dez dos 16 (grupo 1) tinham o diagnóstico confirmado histologicamente nos rins nativos. Em seis (grupo 2) o diagnóstico foi sugerido em virtude do aparecimento precoce de GESF no enxerto, o qual foi considerado com recidiva da doença primária. O percentual e recidiva (grupo 1) foi de 40%, sendo o principal marcador clínico a proteinúria, de nível nefrótico e de aparecimento precoce em todos os casos, isto é, em tempo menor do que 60 dias. Naqueles pacientes que apresentaram evoluçäo mais rápida da doença primitiva, em tempo menor que quatro anos, o percentual de recorrência da glomerulosclerose focal. Por outro lado, aqueles pacientes com tempo maior de evoluçäo da doença primária apresentaram evoluçäo mais benigna da glomerulosclerose recidivada, näo se observando nenhuma perda do enxerto pela recidiva. Acreditamos que o transplante renal, com doador vivo, deva ser evitado para aqueles pacientes com GESF de rápida evoluçäo