Patterns of IgG subclass deposits in membranous glomerulonephritis in renal allografts.

BACKGROUND: Membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) may develop in the renal allograft either de novo or as a recurrence. These 2 forms of MGN may have different pathogenic mechanisms, with different IgG subclass profiles in the immune deposits. This study examined IgG subclass distributions in recurrent and de novo MGN in allograft kidneys. METHODS: We identified allograft kidneys with MGN, including 7 with recurrent MGN, 2 with de novo MGN, and 2 atypical/indeterminate, and determined the relative intensity of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 staining in capillary wall deposits by immunofluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: IgG4 was the dominant or codominant IgG subclass in capillary loop deposits in all 7 cases of recurrent MGN. IgG1 staining was dominant in 3 of 4 de novo or atypical MGN cases and codominant with IgG4 in the fourth. CONCLUSIONS: Although pretransplantation kidney biopsies were not available for comparisons, these findings suggest that all allograft recurrences represent idiopathic MGN and that de novo MGN cases had a different pathogenic mechanism.

Fatores preditores do alcance das metas de um programa de intervenção em nipo-brasileiros / Predictors of goal achievement in an intervention program among Japanese-Brazilians

Identificar fatores da linha de base preditores do alcance das metas do programa de intervenção no estilo de vida após 12 meses em população de nipo-brasileiros, empregando-se modelos de regressão logística ajustados. Em 2005, 321 participantes eram portadores de excesso de peso e houve maior chance [OR (IC95 por cento)] de alcance da meta de perda de peso após 12 meses entre mulheres [2,45 (1,33; 4,13)], indivíduos de maior idade [1,03 (1,00; 1,06)] e menor chance entre portadores de morbidades no início do estudo [0,33 (0,14; 0,77)]. Dos 261 indivíduos sedentários, o alcance da meta de atividades físicas foi inversamente relacionado ao exercício de atividades profissionais [0,40 (0,17; 0,95)]. Não se verificou fatores da linha de base associados ao alcance das metas do consumo de legumes, verduras e frutas e gorduras saturadas da dieta após 12 meses. Indivíduos de maior idade, mulheres, não portadores de morbidades e sem exercício de atividades profissionais na linha de base apresentaram maior chance de alcance das metas após 12 meses de intervenção no estilo de vida.

The aim of this study was to identify baseline factors associated with achieving goals after a 12-month lifestyle intervention program in a Japanese-Brazilian population, using adjusted logistic regression models. In 2005, 321 participants were overweight. The odds [OR (IC95 percent)] of reaching the goals after 12 months of intervention were directly related to female gender [2.35 (1.34, 4.13)] and older age [1.03 (1.00, 1.06)] and inversely related to baseline morbidity [0.33 (0.14, 0.77)]. Of the 261 sedentary individuals, achieving the goal for physical activity was inversely related to working [0.44 (0.17, 0.95)]. No baseline predictors were found for reaching the goal of fruit and vegetable consumption or saturated fat intake after 12 months. At baseline, women, older individuals, and individuals without diseases or not working showed increased odds of achieving the goals after 12 months of the lifestyle intervention.

Prevalence and 7-year incidence of Type II diabetes mellitus in a Japanese-Brazilian population: an alarming public health problem.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: In 1993, the prevalence of glucose intolerance was studied in a sample of 647 first-generation and second-generation Japanese-Brazilians. Their cohort was followed until 2000, when a second survey was conducted, this included the first and second generations, aged 30 or more years. The aims were to estimate the prevalence of glucose intolerance and 7-yr incidence of Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in this population. METHODS: Prevalence rates were obtained for 1330 subjects examined in 2000. The incidence of diabetes mellitus was calculated for those classified as normal glucose tolerant in 1993 (n=253). A Student's t test and the Cox proportional hazard model were used in data analysis. RESULTS: In the year 2000, higher proportions of subjects were observed in all categories of glucose intolerance than those found in 1993. The overall incidence of diabetes was 30.9 per 1000 per year. A worse profile was observed among incident cases of diabetes, characterized by higher baseline values of anthropometric and metabolic variables as compared to those who had not developed diabetes. Analysis considering the simultaneous effects of demographic, nutritional and metabolic variables and physical activity levels for the development of diabetes showed that age, sex, waist circumference, fasting and 2-h plasma glucose concentrations were independent predictors. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: Our data point towards a worsening of glucose tolerance status among Japanese-Brazilians, who show one of the highest prevalence rates of diabetes mellitus worldwide. This could reflect their strong genetic susceptibility associated with unfavourable environmental conditions.

[Comparison of two strategies for the early detection of congenital hypothyroidism]. / Comparação entre duas estratégias para a detecção precoce do hipotiroidismo congênito.

OBJECTIVE: Compare two different strategies in newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism, primary TSH in the umbilical cord blood (method 1) and primary T4 in blood collected from the heel in the 2nd day of life (method 2). METHODS: We compared both strategies in 10,000 newborns, measuring TSH by a sensitive immunofluorimetric assay and T4 by a radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Both strategies detected all cases of hypothyroidism (4 cases, 1/2,500 newborns). The recalling index owing to insufficient amount of blood to perform the assays was zero in method 1 and 8.5% (850 newborns) in method 2. The recalling index for confirmation of the results was 0.06% (6 newborns) in method 1 and 2.25% (225 newborns) in method 2; when method 2 included supplementary TSH, the recalling index was reduced to 1.63% (163 newborns). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate the technical superiority of the umbilical cord blood compared to heel and primary TSH compared to primary T4 in the neonatal thyroid screening for congenital hypothyroidism.

Comparaçäo entre duas estratégias para a detecçäo precoce do hipotireoidismo congênito / Comparison between two strategies for the precocious detection of congenital hypothyroidism

Objetivo. Comparar em recém-nascidos (RN) duas estratégias diferentes para o rastreamento do hipotiroidismo congênito (HC), a dosagem primária de TSH no sangue colhido do cordao umbilical (método 1) e a dosagem primária de T4 no sangue colhido por punçao de calcanhar no 2 dia de internaçao (método 2). Métodos. Os autores compararam as duas estratégias em 10.000 RN. Dosaram o TSH por método imunofluorimétrico sensível em papel de filtro e o T4 por radioimunoensaio em papel de filtro. A coleta de sangue do calcanhar foi realizada no 2 dia de vida. Resultados. Os dois programas diagnosticaram todos os casos de HC nos RN (4 casos, 1/2.500 RN). O índice de rechamada por coleta inadequada foi nulo no método 1 e de 8,5 por cento (850RN) no método 2. O índice de reconvocaçao para confirmaçao de resultados foi de 0,06 por cento (6RN) no método 1 e 2,25 por cento (225 RN) no método 2; quando este método incluía também a dosagem suplementar de TSH, o índice baixou para 1,63 por cento (163 RN). Conclusao. Os dados dos autores evidenciam a superioridade técnica da coleta de sangue a partir do cordao umbilical em relaçao à punçao de calcanhar, assim como da dosagem primária de TSH em relaçao à de T4, uma vez que apresentam índices muito menores de reconvocaçao.

Enzyme-linked thyroglobulin immunoassay

A one-step enzyme linked sandwich immunoassay using Silicone rods coated with rabbit anti-human thyroglobulin anti-Tg) immunoglobulin G (Fab') conjugated with beta-D-galactosidase was established for the measurement of thyroglobulin in human sera. The volume of serum needed for the assay was 2 mul The sensitivity of the assay was 1.52 amol/tube, corresponding to O.5 ng/ml. The precision was proven by coefficients of variation: intra-assay, 7.0 to 9.1 per cent: inter-assay, 5.3 to 7.4 per cent. The correlation between this EIA and RIA was O.91, p < O.O1.

An enzymeimmunoassay for the determination of thyrotropin (TSH) in drieb blood on filter paper: application to a screening program for detection of congenital hypothyroidism

An enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) for H-TSH (human thyrotropin) in dried blood on filter paper using an anti-H-TSH conjugate with ß-D-galactosidase and tubes coated with an anti-H-TSH was performed fo the screening program for detection of congenital hypothyroidism. The blood volume needed in this assay was 8.7 µl. The precision was evaluated by coefficients of variance within and between assays: 11.86 percent and 14.36 percent for H-TSH levels of 18.5 µU/ml and 35 µU/ml. A good correlation was observed between H-TSH concentration measured by EIA and RIA (r=0.91)

Self-reported prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the 1st (Issei) and 2nd (Nisei) generation of Japanese-Brazilians over 40 years of age.

The immigration of Japanese people to Brazil began in 1908 with two major waves, from 1925 to 1940 and from 1952 to the 1960s. Brazil has the largest population (about 1,288,000) of Japanese origin outside Japan with varying age groups. A mortality study revealed that diabetes as an underlying cause of death was higher in the first-generation Japanese than in Japan (3.4 vs. 1.9 per 100,000 for men, and 7.2 vs. 1.9 for women). The self-reported prevalences of known diabetes in subjects aged 40 years or older were obtained by questionnaires from three sources. In six Japanese cultural associations in Säo Paulo city, the prevalences were 9.7% and 6.9% for the first generation (mean age 61.5 years) and for the second generation (mean age 40.0 years), respectively. Age-adjusted prevalences, according to the Brazilian population in the 1980 national census, were 6.9% and 8.1% for the first and second generations. According to a study carried out as a part of a socioeconomic census of the Japanese population in Brazil, the prevalences of diabetes were 7.4% and 5.2%, and the age-adjusted prevalences were 5.3% and 5.8% in the first and second generations, respectively. Another study carried out for employees of a bank, owned by Japanese-Brazilian community members, revealed crude prevalences of diabetes in the first and second generations of 7.1% and 4.2%, and age-adjusted prevalences of 7.3% and 8.2%, respectively. These data indicate an increased prevalence of diabetes in this population compared to Japan, suggesting the importance of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of diabetes.

Outcome of thyroid function in newborns from mothers treated with amiodarone.

Amiodarone, a drug extensively used as an antiarrhythmic agent, contains 37% iodine and causes several thyroid abnormalities. The transplacental passage of amiodarone occurs with chronic therapy; we describe in this report the outcome of 9 pregnant women who used amiodarone (200 mg/day) for treatment of resistant tachycardia and the follow-up of their newborns. All women were clinically euthyroid at the 3rd trimester and showed expected values of thyroid hormones (mean +/- SD: total T4, 228 +/- 45 nmol/L; total T3, 4.0 +/- 0.65 nmol/L; TSH, 4.0 +/- 1.8 mU/L; negative thyroid antibodies). At birth all newborns were normal on routine examination with no goiter or corneal changes. T4 and TSH, measured on dried umbilical blood spots were normal or borderline-normal in 8 of 9 babies. Only 1 neonate presented clearly abnormal values of T4 and TSH (96 mU/L); on clinical grounds the baby was normal, without signs of hypothyroidism. At 1 month of life, T4 and TSH were normal. Follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12 months were normal. We conclude that is not necessary to discontinue treatment with amiodarone in pregnant women with resistant tachycardia, but it is imperative to evaluate the thyroid function of the newborn, since transient hypothyroidism may occur.

Effect of positive pressure breathing on plasma antidiuretic hormone and renal function in dogs.

The effect of intermittent mechanical ventilation and positive end-expiratory pressure on plasma antidiuretic hormone concentration was determined in 14 pentobarbital anesthetized dogs. The study was divided into a control period (spontaneous respiration), and two consecutive 30 and 60 min periods after the start of controlled respiration: Group I - intermittent positive breathing (IPPB); Group II - positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) with 5 cm H2O. A decrease in urinary flow (36.9%) was observed during end-expiratory pressure breathing. An increase in plasma antidiuretic hormone in group II from 4.5 +/- 2.4 to 24.6 +/- 16.0 pg/ml (P less than 0.01) was associated with a significant reduction of free water clearance from 1.2 +/- 0.6 to 0.3 +/- 0.4 ml/min and an increase of the urine/plasma osmolality ratio (143%, P less than 0.05). The decrease in urinary output and concurrent reduction of urinary sodium excretion also suggest an influence of the fall in glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow on renal function. IPPB only reduced total Na+ and K+ excretion. These results indicate that the mechanisms underlying the renal response to positive end-expiratory pressure breathing may be due to an increase in antidiuretic hormone plasma levels leading to a fall in urinary flow and in part to a decrease in sodium excretion.

Acute adriamycin cardiotoxicity in rats.

To explore the possible occurrence and pathogenic implications of in vivo heart lipoperoxidation in the acute model of ADR-cardiotoxicity, male Wistar rats were injected i.v. with a single dose of ADR (15 mg/kg) and the controls with saline. The rats were killed at 24 and 96 hr after treatment and at the later period the serum levels of creatine kinase of ADR-treated rats were significantly elevated. ADR-treatment did not significantly modify the cardiac concentrations of DNA, RNA, protein, the levels of activity of cardiac catalase and GSH-Px or the in vitro production of malonaldehyde of cardiac homogenates. Mitochondrial swelling at 24 hr and reduction of the mitochondrial numerical and volumetric densities along with myofilament fragmentation at 96 hr were the most significant ultrastructural changes in cardiac myocytes of ADR-treated rats. Although in vivo lipoperoxidation (diene conjugation) was detected in the cardiac lipids of only 2 out of 6 rats at 24 hr and in 3 out of 6 rats at 96 hr, no clear correlation could be found between the eventual presence of this in vivo phenomenon and any of the cardiac changes. These data suggested that lipoperoxidation may not play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of acute ADR-cardiotoxicity in rats.

E a pressão de capilar pulmonar expressão de átrio esquerdo na vigência de respiração mecânica com pressão positiva expiratória? / Is pulmonary capillary wedge pressure expression of left atrium pressure during mechanical respiration with positive pressure ventilation?

As pressoes do atrio esquerdo e do capilar pulmonar foram medidas concomitantemente em 4 caes submetidos a respiracao mecanica com pressao positiva (PPE).Foram estudadas as relacoes entre estes valores (pressao de atrio esquerdo e pressao de capilar pulmonar, nivel de PPE e pressao de capilar pulmonar; nivel de PPE e pressao de atrio esquerdo), obtendo-se correlacoes positivas significativas; rs = 0,91; rs = 0,62 e rs = 0,74, respectivamente. Conclui-se que os valores da pressao de capilar pulmonar refletem fielmente os valores da pressao do atrio esquerdo, mesmo na vigencia de respiracao mecanica com pressao positiva expiratoria ate 15 cmH1O

Resposta hemodinamica a respiracao mecanica com pressao expiratoria positiva: estudo experimental. / Hemodynamic response to mechanical respiration with positive expiratory pressure: experimental study

Dez caes machos anestesiados com pentobarbital foram estudados durante 150 minutos, sob condicao de controle (30 min) e duas horas em respiracao mecanica com pressao positiva continua com pressao no final da expiracao de 5 cm de agua. Dez outros caes serviram de controle durante o mesmo periodo, mantidos com respiracao mecanica com pressao positiva intermitente. Nao houve variacao consistente dos dados analisados durante as duas horas nos controles. Os parametros hemodinamicos, carga filtrada de sodio, clearance de agua livre e excrecao de sodio variaram durante o uso da pressao expiratoria de 5 cm de agua. Apesar do PEEP melhorar a funcao pulmonar na insuficiencia respiratoria aguda, estes achados sugerem que este tipo de manobra respiratoria e deleterio para a funcao cardiaca e seu efeito pode resultar em retencao anormal de agua

Secrecao de hormonio antidiuretico (ADH) na respiracao mecanica com pressao positiva continua. Estudo experimental em caes. / Antidiuretic hormone secretion (ADH) in continuous positive pressure breathing. Experimental study in doss

Dez caes anestesiados com pentobarbital sodico foram estudados durante um periodo controle de 30 minutos e durante duas horas com respiracao mecanica com pressao expiratoria final de 5 cm de agua. Durante o periodo com o respirador houve significante aumento da pressao da arteria pulmonar, pressao do capilar pulmonar e significante queda do debito urinario e clearance de agua livre. O fluxo plasmatico renal, a filtracao glomerular e a excrecao de sodio tambem diminuiram durante o periodo em que os animais foram submetidos a respiracao mecanica. Especula-se que a diminuicao do fluxo urinario e do clearance de agua livre, associado a um aumento da relacao osmolalidade urinaria/ plasmatica deveu-se ao aumento nas concentracoes de ADH, induzido pelos receptores de volume localizados no atrio esquerdo