Analysis of glomerular deposition of IgM and C3 in patients with podocytopathies.

Minimal Change Disease (MCD) and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) are the main causes of nephrotic syndrome in the world. The complement system appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. To evaluate the deposition of immunoglobulins and particles of the complement system in renal biopsies of patients with FSGS and MCD and relate to laboratory data, we selected 59 renal biopsies from patients with podocytopathies, 31 from patients with FSGS and 28 with MCD. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory information and the prognosis of these patients were evaluated. Analysis of the deposition of IgM, IgG, C3, C1q and C4d in renal biopsies was performed. We related IgM and C3 deposition with laboratory parameters. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism version 7.0. Glomerular deposition of IgM was significantly higher in the FSGS group, as was codeposition of IgM and C3. The clinical course of patients and laboratory data were also worse in cases of FSGS, with a higher percentage progressing to chronic kidney disease and death. Patients with C3 deposition had significantly higher mean serum creatinine and significantly lower eGFR, regardless of disease. Patients with FSGS had more IgM and C3 deposition in renal biopsies, worse laboratory data and prognosis than patients with MCD. C3 deposition, both in FSGS and MCD, appears to be related to worsening renal function.

Mesenchymal stem cells attenuate renal fibrosis through immune modulation and remodeling properties in a rat remnant kidney model.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have regenerative properties in acute kidney injury, but their role in chronic kidney diseases is still unknown. More specifically, it is not known whether MSCs halt fibrosis. The purpose of this work was to investigate the role of MSCs in fibrogenesis using a model of chronic renal failure. MSCs were obtained from the tibias and femurs of male Wistar-EPM rats. Female Wistar rats were subjected to the remnant model, and 2|x|10(5) MSCs were intravenously administrated to each rat every other week for 8 weeks or only once and followed for 12 weeks. SRY gene expression was observed in female rats treated with male MSCs, and immune localization of CD73(+)CD90(+) cells at 8 weeks was also assessed. Serum and urine analyses showed an amelioration of functional parameters in MSC-treated animals at 8 weeks, but not at 12 weeks. Masson's trichrome and Sirius red staining demonstrated reduced levels of fibrosis in MSC-treated animals. These results were corroborated by reduced vimentin, type I collagen, transforming growth factor beta, fibroblast specific protein 1 (FSP-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and Smad3 mRNA expression and alpha smooth muscle actin and FSP-1 protein expression. Renal interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased after MSC treatment, whereas IL-4 and IL-10 expression levels were increased. All serum cytokine expression levels were decreased in MSC-treated animals. Taken together, these results suggested that MSC therapy can indeed modulate the inflammatory response that follows the initial phase of a chronic renal injury. The immunosuppressive and remodeling properties of MSCs may be involved in the decreased fibrosis in the kidney.

Renal biopsy: use of biomarkers as a tool for the diagnosis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a glomerulopathy associated with nephrotic syndrome and podocyte injury. FSGS occurs both in children and adults and it is considered the main idiopathic nephrotic syndrome nowadays. It is extremely difficult to establish a morphological diagnosis, since some biopsies lack a considerable quantifiable number of sclerotic glomeruli, given their focal aspect and the fact that FSGS occurs in less than half of the glomeruli. Therefore, many biological molecules have been evaluated as potential markers that would enhance the diagnosis of FSGS. Some of these molecules and receptors are associated with the pathogenesis of FSGS and have potential use in diagnosis.

Freqüência de alterações cérvico-vaginais em mulheres submetidas ao exame citopatológico / Frequency of cervico vaginalis alteration in submitted patients of cytopathological exam / Frecuencia de las alteraciones cervicovaginal en mujeres sometidas al examen citopatógico

O Exame citopatológico é o método de triagem que auxilia na detecção precoce do câncer e de lesões pré-cancerosas da cérvix. No Brasil, o câncer cervical representa a segunda neoplasia maligna mais incidente em mulheres. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a freqüência das alterações citopatológicas de acordo com a faixa etária. A seleção dos casos foi realizada através dos resultados dos exames citopatológicos, de mulheres na faixa etária entre 14 a 80 anos, obtidos no Centro de Atenção Integrada à Saúde da Mulher, Uberaba (MG), no período de 2001 a 2003. Dos 35.220 resultados obtidos, em 3,34% foram descritos alterações no epitélio cérvico-vaginal, sendo mais freqüentes as alterações escamosas e glandulares de significado indeterminado (53,7%) e as infecções pelo HPV (31%). As mulheres mais jovens (< 40 anos) foram significativamente mais acometidas por essas alterações (p<0,005). Neoplasias invasivas acometeram 5,6% das mulheres a partir da quarta década de vida (p<0,005). Os diagnósticos das alterações no epitélio cérvico-vaginal de acordo com a faixa etária das mulheres foram semelhantes aos descritos na literatura, sendo que infecção pelo HPV, principal agente potencialmente carcinogênico, acometeu mulheres mais jovens e as neoplasias invasivas foram mais freqüentes a partir da quarta década de vida.

The cytopathological exam is useful recommended for early diagnoses of neoplastic and of pre-neoplastic lesions of the uterine cervix. In Brazil, cervix neoplasm is the second most frequent malignant neoplasm in women. The aim of this study was evaluate the frequency of cytopathologic alterations and its relationship with age. The cases selection was performed by means of cytopathological exam results in women aged 14 to 80 years old, by the revision in Centro de Atenção Integrado a Saúde da Mulher, Uberaba (MG), during the period of 2001-2003. From de 35.220 reviewed exams, 3.34% tests showed alterations in the cervico vaginalis epithelium, with a higher frequency in the squamous cervical epithelium alterations and glandular epithelium alterations of unknown significance (53.7%) as well as infection by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (31%). The infections caused by the HPV and atypical glandular and scamous cells of undetermined significance were more frequent in ages under the 40 (p<0.005), yet the occurrence of cervical carcinoma was more frequent in women over 40 (p<0.005). Therefore, the frequency of cytopathologic alterations of the cervical and vaginal epithelium and its relationship to age were resemblance to described in literature. The HPV infection, the best carcinogenic potential agent attacked younger patients and the invasive neoplasm was more frequent in women over 40 years old.

El exámen citopatológico es un método de triage que ayuda a realizar una detección precoz del cáncer y de lesiones pre-cancerosas del cérvix uterino. En el Brasil, el cáncer cervical representa la segunda neoplasia maligna mas incidente en mujeres. El objetivo del estudio fue avaliar la frecuencia de las alteraciones citopatológicas de acuerdo con el grupo etario. La selección de los casos fue realizada a través de los resultados de los exámenes citopatológicos, de mulheres dentro del grupo etario entre 14 a 80 años, obtenidos del Centro de Atención Integrada a la Salúd de la Mujer, Uberaba (MG), durante el período del 2001 al 2003. De los 35.220 resultados obtenidos, en 3,34% fueron descritas alteraciones en el epitélio cervico-vaginal, siendo mas frecuentes las alteraciones escamosas e glandulares de significado indeterminado (53,7%) y las infecciones por el HPV (31%). Las mulheres más jóvenes (<40 años) fueron significativamente más acometidas por esas alteraciones (p<0,005). Así, las neoplasias invasivas acometieron al 5,6% de las mulheres a partir de la cuarta década de vida (p<0,005). Los diagnósticos de las alteraciones del epitélio cérvico-vaginal de acuerdo con el grupo etario de las mulheres fueron semejantes a otros hallazgos ya descritos en la literatura, siendo que la infección por el VPH, principal agente con potencial carcinogénico, acometió a mulheres más jóvenes y las neoplasias invasivas fueron más frecuentes a partir de la cuarta década de vida.