Comparison of results on the use of extended criteria liver doners for transplants in Espírito Santo / Comparação dos resultados da utilização de fígados doadores de critério expandido em transplantes hepáticos no estado do Espírito Santo

ABSTRACT Introduction: liver Transplantation is currently the treatment of choice for several terminal liver diseases. Despite the increase in performed transplants, the waiting lists continue to increase. In order to expand the supply of organs, transplantation teams have started to use previously rejected livers for transplants because of an increased risk of unfavorable outcomes. Objective: to evaluate the use of livers of expanded criterion donators. Methods: retrospective study of medical records. The livers were classified as normal or expanded criteria. The groups were divided in low and high MELD. A multivariate analysis was performed through logistic regression. Results: there was no statistical difference regarding early, late and global mortality between the groups. Decreased survival was observed in patients with high MELD (higher or equal to 20) when they received grafts from expanded criterion donators. The association between the occurrence of cardiorespiratory arrest and presence of elevated total bilirubin in donators was associated with higher mortality rates in expanded criterion livers. Conclusion: the overall results are similar, but expanded criteria liver donators was associated with higher mortality in patients with high MELD.

RESUMO Introdução: o Transplante Hepático é atualmente o tratamento de escolha para diversas doenças terminais do fígado. Apesar do aumento de transplantes realizados, as filas de espera continuam aumentando. Com a finalidade de ampliar a oferta de órgãos, as equipes transplantadoras passaram a utilizar fígados até então rejeitados para transplantes devido ao risco aumentado de desfechos desfavoráveis. Objetivo: avaliar utilização de fígados de doadores de critério expandido. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo por meio de análise de prontuários. Classificaram-se os fígados utilizados em padrão ou critério expandido. Os grupos foram subdivididos em MELD baixo e alto. Foi realizada análise multivariada por regressão logística. Resultados: não houve diferença estatística com relação à mortalidade precoce, tardia e global entre os grupos. Observou-se menor sobrevida em pacientes com MELD alto (maior ou igual a 20) quando receberam enxertos de doadores de critério expandido. Foi observada a associação entre ocorrência de parada cardiorrespiratória e presença de bilirrubina total elevada no doador com maiores taxas de mortalidade em receptores de fígados de critério expandido. Conclusão: os resultados globais são semelhantes, porém o uso de fígado de doadores de critério expandido esteve associado a maior mortalidade em pacientes com MELD alto.

Analysis on the Donators' Characteristics of Government-dominant and Non-governmental Food Bank Programs / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to examine the donators' characteristics and donative foods of both government-dominant and non-governmental food bank program, to understand the problems and benefits of food bank program, and to find the solutions to activate food bank program. The questionnaires were distributed to 120 food bank operators and 3 donators were selected from each food bank for the survey from April 2002 to May 2002. 118 sheets (32.8%) from government-dominant food bank and 53 sheets (20.1%) from non-governmental food bank were collected. The main results of this study were as follows: The largest donators to either government-dominant or non-governmental food bank programs were bakery and confectionery companies 31.4% and 45.3% respectively. The majority of donated foods were "goods in stock" (55.6%) and frequency of donation were largely on a daily basis (27.1% for government-dominant and 22.6% for non-governmental). Some of the donators who had more donative food did not donate, and the reasons were closeness to expiration date of food (67.3%), lack of legal protection in the event of food poisoning (54.5%), and poor public image of food related accidents (52.3%).

Studies on anti-early hepatic fibrosis of no donating-oleanlic acid derivatives in rats / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

AIM: To investigate protect effect of the NO donating-oleanlic acid derivatives on hepatic fibrosis in rats. METHODS: The rat model with early hepatic fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl_4). ZCⅡ_2 at the dose of 128 and 64 mg?kg -1 had been given orally for 30 days. Serum level of the total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), the albumin/globulin (A/G) and ALT, AST. The hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), the procollagen type Ⅲ (PCⅢ) and the level of MDA, GSH-Px in liver tissues were determined. Pathological examination to reveal the extent of liver damages was observed. [WTHZ]RESULTS: ZCⅡ_2 at the dose of 128 mg?kg -1 increased the serum TP, ALB, and A/G and decreased HA, LN, PCⅢ, ALT, and AST more significantly than the model group, and hepatic pathological injury was abated to some degree. CONCLUSIONS: ZCⅡ_2 at the dose of 128 mg?kg -1 can attenuate liver damages, protect against lipoperoxidation and attenuate hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl_4.

An Analysis of Food Donators' Attitudes to the Foodbank Program in Korea / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The foodbank program is one of the social welfare programs that collects donated food and grocery products from the nation's food and grocery industry and distributes them to people who are in need. The purposes of this study were to: (a) investigate the food donators' perceptions of the foodbank program, (b) analyze the attitude toward the program by businesses, (c) compare the opinions on whether to donate or not, and (d) examine the frequency and category of the donated food. This research was conducted on three donator groups, such as contract foodservice management companies, franchising restaurant companies, and food manufacturing and grocery companies. A total of 63 donators participated in this survey. The main results of the investigation on the operating conditions were as follows; (a) From the donators' perspective, 73.0% and 71.0% of the respondents recognized the definition and purpose of this program, respectively. (b) Only 33.3% of respondents recognized the tax benefits of donating. (c) Contract foodservice management companies, and food manufacturing and grocery companies recognized the program more than franchising restaurant companies, and food manufacturing and grocery companies donated more than any of the others. (d) Most of the donated foods were bakery and confectionery, rice, and milk and dairy products.