Real-world effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C virus in kidney and liver transplant recipients: experience of a large transplant center in Brazil.

Direct-acting antivirals are the gold-standard treatment for chronic HCV infections, but few studies have investigated their use on kidney and liver transplant recipients. We conducted a real-world study to evaluate the rates of sustained virological response with direct-acting antivirals in kidney and liver transplant recipients. Moreover, it also aimed to evaluate direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) interference with immunosuppressant levels and to describe the frequency of adverse events.

Waiting time for kidney transplantation based on calculated panel reactive antibodies: experience of a southern Brazilian center.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the waiting list for kidney transplantation in our hospital according to candidate's panel reactive antibodies (cPRA) and its outcomes.

Methods: One thousand six hundred forty patients who were on the waiting list between 2015 and 2019 were included. For the analysis, hazard ratios (HR) for transplant were estimated by Fine and Gray's regression model according to panel reactivity and HR for graft loss and death after transplantation.

Pediatric kidney transplantation: outcomes with under and over 6-year-old donors.

Objective: Kidney shortage for pediatric kidney transplantation (PKT) entails the need to use low-weight and age donors, despite the apprehension. The aim of this study was to analyze the pediatric deceased donor kidney transplantations (pDDKT) outcomes in the first year after the procedure, stratified by donor age.

Method: Retrospective cohort of pDDKTs carried out between January 2013, and January 2018, at a PKT reference hospital in Southern Brazil.

Single High Dose of Liposomal Amphotericin B in Human Immunodeficiency Virus/AIDS-Related Disseminated Histoplasmosis: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Histoplasmosis is a major AIDS-defining illness in Latin America. Liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) is the drug of choice for treatment, but access is restricted due to the high drug and hospitalization costs of the conventional long regimens.

Methods: Prospective randomized multicenter open-label trial of 1- or 2-dose induction therapy with L-AmB versus control for disseminated histoplasmosis in AIDS, followed by oral itraconazole therapy.

Visual dynamics: a WEB application for molecular dynamics simulation using GROMACS.

Background: The molecular dynamics is an approach to obtain kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of biomolecular structures. The molecular dynamics simulation softwares are very useful, however, most of them are used in command line form and continue with the same common implementation difficulties that plague researchers who are not computer specialists.

Results: Here, we have developed the VisualDynamics-a WEB tool developed to automate biological simulations performed in Gromacs using a graphical interface to make molecular dynamics simulation user-friendly task.

Thrombotic microangiopathy after kidney transplantation: Analysis of the Brazilian Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome cohort.

Background: Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) is an ultra-rare disease that potentially leads to kidney graft failure due to ongoing Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA). The aim was evaluating the frequency of TMA after kidney transplantation in patients with aHUS in a Brazilian cohort stratified by the use of the specific complement-inhibitor eculizumab.

Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study including kidney transplant patients diagnosed with aHUS.

Clinical validation of an in-house quantitative real time PCR assay for cytomegalovirus infection using the 1st WHO International Standard in kidney transplant patients.

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common agents of infection in solid organ transplant patients, with significant morbidity and mortality.

Objective: This study aimed to establish a threshold for initiation of preemptive treatment. In addition, the study compared the performance of antigenemia with qPCR results.

Cost minimization analysis of an in-house molecular test for cytomegalovirus in relation to a commercial molecular system.

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus may cause severe disease in immunocompromised patients. Nowadays, quantitative polymerase chain reaction is the gold-standard for both diagnosis and monitoring of cytomegalovirus infection. Most of these assays use cytomegalovirus automated molecular kits which are expensive and therefore not an option for small laboratories, particularly in the developing world.

Usefulness of Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) to predict graft survival in a South Brazilian Cohort.

Introduction: Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) has been incorporated in the United States to improve the kidney transplant allocation system.

Objectives: To evaluate deceased kidney donors' profile using KDPI and compare to the previous United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) definition of expanded criteria donors (ECD) and assess the KDPI applicability to predict five-year graft survival and renal function in our sample.

Methods: Retrospective cohort of 589 kidney transplants from deceased donors performed from January 2009 to May 2013 with follow-up until May 2018.

Urine microscopy as a biomarker of Acute Kidney Injury following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in about 22% of the patients undergoing cardiac surgery and 2.3% requires renal replacement therapy (RRT). The current diagnostic criteria for AKI by increased serum creatinine levels have limitations and new biomarkers are being tested.

Searching for potential mTOR inhibitors: Ligand-based drug design, docking and molecular dynamics studies of rapamycin binding site.

The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is an important intracellular signaling pathway in cell cycle regulation and its dysregulation is associated with various types of diseases. mTOR (mechanistic or mammalian target of rapamycin) is the main enzyme that performs intermediate control of the signaling pathway through a phosphotransfer process. The classical inhibition of the mTOR pathway is effected by rapamycin and its analogous blocking allosterically the catalytic phosphorylation site, avoiding the deleterious side effects induced by ATP-competitive inhibitors.

New potential inhibitors of mTOR: a computational investigation integrating molecular docking, virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulation.

The mTOR (mammalian or mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin), a complex metabolic pathway that involves multiple steps and regulators, is a major human metabolic pathway responsible for cell growth control in response to multiple factors and that is dysregulated in various types of cancer. The classical inhibition of the mTOR pathway is performed by rapamycin and its analogs (rapalogs). Considering that rapamycin binds to an allosteric site and performs a crucial role in the inhibition of the mTOR complex without causing the deleterious side effects common to ATP-competitive inhibitors, we employ ligand-based drug design strategies, such as virtual screening methodology, computational determination of ADME/Tox properties of selected molecules, and molecular dynamics in order to select molecules with the potential to become non-ATP-competitive inhibitors of the mTOR enzymatic complex.

The role of urine cytology for 'decoy cells' as a screening tool in renal transplant recipients.

Objective: To determine the role of urine cytology for 'decoy cells' as a screening tool for polyomavirus type BK (BKV) infection in renal transplant recipients.

Study Design: This was a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing renal transplantation between 2006 and 2010.

Results: A total of 442 patients underwent urine cytology for decoy cells, 27.