Impact of (rs3397, rs1061624 and rs1061622) and (rs1800796, rs1800797 and rs1554606) Gene Polymorphisms on Inflammatory Response in Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease Undergoing Dialysis.

We aimed to study the impact of polymorphisms in the genes encoding interleukin-6 (IL6) and tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 (TNFR2), reported to be mortality risk predictors, in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing dialysis. (rs3397, rs1061624, and rs1061622) and (rs1800796, rs1800797, and rs1554606) polymorphisms were studied in patients with ESKD and controls; the genotype and allele frequencies and the associations with inflammatory and erythropoiesis markers were determined; deaths were recorded throughout the following two years. The genotype and allele frequencies for the rs3397 polymorphism were different in these patients compared to those in the controls and the global and European populations, and patients with the C allele were less common.

The Association of Leptin with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients on Dialysis.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common cardiovascular complication in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. We aimed at studying the association of LVH with adiponectin and leptin levels, cardiovascular stress/injury biomarkers and nutritional status in these patients. We evaluated the LV mass (LVM) and calculated the LVM index (LVMI) in 196 ESKD patients on dialysis; the levels of hemoglobin, calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, albumin, adiponectin, leptin, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15 were analyzed.

Interleukin 6 (rs1800795) and pentraxin 3 (rs2305619) polymorphisms-association with inflammation and all-cause mortality in end-stage-renal disease patients on dialysis.

Chronic inflammation plays an important role in the progression and outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The circulating levels of the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin 6 (IL6) and pentraxin 3 (PTX3) are enhanced in CKD patients, and are associated with the progression of the disease and with higher risk for cardiovascular events, the major cause of death in CKD patients. Our aim was to study how specific polymorphisms of IL6 and PTX3 encoding genes affect the inflammatory response and outcome of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis.

Cell-free DNA as a marker for the outcome of end-stage renal disease patients on haemodialysis.

Background: DNA damage and inflammation are common in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Our aim was to evaluate the levels of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and the relationship with inflammation, anaemia, oxidative stress and haemostatic disturbances in ESRD patients on dialysis. By performing a 1-year follow-up study, we also aimed to evaluate the predictive value of cfDNA for the outcome of ESRD patients.

Long Pentraxin 3 as a Broader Biomarker for Multiple Risk Factors in End-Stage Renal Disease: Association with All-Cause Mortality.

Persistent inflammation in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is known to underlie the progression of chronic kidney disease and to be associated with multiple risk factors including malnutrition, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The acute-phase protein pentraxin 3 (PTX3) has a proven potential as a local inflammatory biomarker, but its clinical utility in ESRD remains unclear. Circulating levels of PTX3 and classical inflammatory mediators, including the clinical prototypical C-reactive protein (CRP), were assessed in 246 ESRD patients on dialysis and analysed in relation to the lipid profile, adipokine levels, and nutritional, cardiac, and renal fibrosis markers.

Hepcidin and diabetes are independently related with soluble transferrin receptor levels in chronic dialysis patients.

Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is a biomarker of erythropoiesis, which is often impaired in dialysis patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate sTfR levels in chronically dialyzed patients and assess potential determinants of its levels. We performed a cross-sectional study by evaluating 246 end-stage renal disease patients undergoing dialysis and 32 healthy controls.

The Protective Role of Adiponectin for Lipoproteins in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients: Relationship with Diabetes and Body Mass Index.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) events are the main causes of death in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis. The number and severity of CVD events remain inappropriate and difficult to explain by considering only the classic CVD risk factors. Our aim was to clarify the changes and the relationship of lipoprotein subfractions with other CVD risk factors, namely, body mass index (BMI) and adipokines, inflammation and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, and the burden of the most prevalent comorbidities, diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT).

Mapping scientific research on the negative aspects of the medical school learning environment.

Objective: We sought to understand the landscape of published articles regarding medical schools' learning environments (LE) worldwide, with an explicit focus on potentially harmful aspects of the LE as an effort to identify areas specifically in need of remediation or intervention that could prevent future unprofessional behaviors, burnout, violence and mistreatment among students and physicians.

Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted in six electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, ERIC-ProQuest, and PsycINFO) up to December 31, 2016, including 12 themes: learning environment - general, hidden curriculum (harmful), unethical behaviors, bullying/hazing, violence, sexual discrimination, homophobia, racism, social discrimination, minorities discrimination, professional misconduct, and other negative aspects.

Results: Of the 9,338 articles found, 710 met the inclusion criteria.

Mapping the scientific research on the negative aspects of the medical school learning environment.

Objective: We sought to understand the landscape of published articles regarding medical schools' learning environments (LE) worldwide, with an explicit focus on potentially negative aspects of the LE as an effort to identify areas specifically in need of remediation or intervention that could prevent future unprofessional behaviours, burnout, violence and mistreatment among students and physicians.

Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted in six electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, ERIC-ProQuest and PsycINFO) through December 31, 2016, including 12 themes: learning environment - general, hidden curriculum (negative), unethical behaviours, bullying/hazing, violence, sexual discrimination, homophobia, racism, social discrimination, minorities' discrimination, professional misconduct, and "other" negative aspects.

Results: Of 9,338 articles found, 710 met the inclusion criteria.

LEIGH SYNDROME: A CASE REPORT WITH A MITOCHONDRIAL DNA MUTATION.

Objective: Leigh syndrome is a neurodegenerative disorder with an incidence of 1:40,000 live births. It presents wide clinical, biochemical, and genetic heterogeneity, but with homogenous neuropatoradiological alterations. There is no specific treatment, and the prognosis is reserved.

Risk factors for mortality in end-stage kidney disease patients under online-hemodiafiltration: three-year follow-up study.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the predictors of mortality in a group of end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) patients under dialysis, by performing a three-year follow-up study. From the 236 patients included in this study, 54 patients died during the three-year follow-up period. Our data showed that the risk of death was higher in patients presenting lower levels of mean cell hemoglobin concentration, transferrin, and albumin.

Effect of Aging in the Perception of Health-Related Quality of Life in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients under Online-Hemodiafiltration.

This work aimed to evaluate how aging could influence patients' perception of health quality of life (HRQOL), as well as, the effect of aging on dialysis adequacy and in hematological, iron status, inflammatory and nutritional markers. In this transversal study were enrolled 305 ESRD patients under online-hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) (59.67% males; 64.

Predictors of health-related quality of life perceived by end-stage renal disease patients under online hemodiafiltration.

Purpose: Patients' perception of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a consistent and powerful predictor of the outcome of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients under dialysis. This study aims to identify factors that could affect the HRQOL of ESRD patients under online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF).

Methods: We evaluated 322 ESRD patients under OL-HDF (59.

Flow cytometry assessment of graft-infiltrating lymphocytes can accurately identify acute rejection in kidney transplants.

Background: Previously, we have reported that flow cytometry analysis of fine-needle aspirates can accurately predict rejection in kidney transplants treated with cyclosporine-azathioprine-prednisolone. In this study, we examined this technique's accuracy using current immunosuppression.

Methods: Kidney transplant recipients were treated with calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisolone: 92 remained rejection-free - Group I - and 37 developed acute rejection - Group II.

Type of vascular access and location in online hemodiafiltration and its association with patient's perception of health-related quality of life.

Purpose: The aim of this work is to evaluate the patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL), according to the type and location of vascular access used for dialysis procedure.

Methods: In this transversal study, 322 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients under online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF, 59.63% males; 64.

Differences in the expression pattern of P-glycoprotein and MRP1 in low-grade and high-grade gliomas.

Multidrug resistance in gliomas is the major challenges in the clinical setting. We investigated the expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and multidrug resistance-related protein 1 (MRP1) in 50 gliomas using immunohistochemistry. Compared to Pgp, MRP1 positivity was observed in highest percentage of gliomas grade IV samples (p = 0.

Postrenal transplantation body composition: different evolution depending on gender.

Objective: Patients receiving regular hemodialysis have a lower body mass index, which is mainly caused by the reduction of fat mass and body cell mass (BCM) and the accompanying extracellular water (ECW) expansion. Kidney transplant (Tx) recipients normally regain subnormal renal filtration, and they must cope with significant therapeutic-associated metabolic side effects, which may compromise the recovery of normal nutritional status. We investigated the influence of renal function recovery on body fluid composition during the first period post-Tx, when immunosuppressive drugs doses are at their highest.

Body composition assessed by impedance changes very early with declining renal graft function.

Background: Kidney transplant (Tx) restores renal filtration, although it does not achieve the function of two native kidneys, and with time it may variably involute back to chronic renal failure. We hypothesized that bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) might highlight differences for body compartments among Tx with different filtration rates, and we compared them with healthy controls.

Methods: 38 Tx patients (25 males, 13 females) were studied at 75.

Humoral immune response after kidney transplantation is enhanced by acute rejection and urological obstruction and is down-regulated by mycophenolate mofetil treatment.

The anti-allograft immune response may have a cellular and a humoral component. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies (Ab) and anti-human leucocyte antigen (HLA) Ab present before kidney transplantation carry an enhanced risk of acute rejection. Current immunosuppressive drugs act predominantly upon the cellular immune pathway which may leave unopposed the humoral mechanisms of anti-allograft response.

Cyclosporine enhances salt sensitivity of body water composition as assessed by impedance among psoriatic patients with normal renal function.

Objective: Cyclosporine (CsA) therapy may be accompanied by a significant increase in blood pressure, either sodium (Na+) independent or Na+ dependent. The relationship between Na+ intake and body water distribution among patients treated with CsA has not been evaluated. We report the study, by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), of water composition changes after dietary salt manipulations both before and during CsA treatment of psoriatic patients.

Bioimpedance analysis highlights changes in body composition at the early stages of impairment of kidney transplant function.

Objective: Kidney transplantation restores renal filtration, although it does not achieve the function of 2 native kidneys, and with time it may involute back to chronic renal failure. We hypothesized that bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) might highlight differences for body compartments among kidney transplants (Tx) with different filtration rates.

Methods: Thirty transplantation patients (19 male, 11 female) were studied at 62.

Mitotracker green is a P-glycoprotein substrate.

P-glycoprotein has a widespread expression on normal tissues. The protein has also been strongly associated with the multidrug resistance phenotype (MDR) on tumor cells. The employment of flow cytometry and confocal microscopy has contributed to the discovery and application of new particular fluorescent dyes.

Estradiol receptor binding to the epithelium of uterine lumen and glands: region- and time-related changes during preimplantation and periimplantation periods studied by autoradiography.

The presence and changes of estradiol nuclear binding and related functions in uterine luminal and glandular epithelium were studied before and after blastocyst implantation using receptor autoradiography with (3)H-estradiol-17beta in association with (3)H-thymidine incorporation and immunocytochemical binding of antibody to estrogen receptor ER-alpha. (3)H-estradiol nuclear binding is present but variable during days 1.5-7.