Controversy surrounding the increased expression of TGFβ1 in asthma

Asthma is a waxing and waning disease that leads to structural changes in the airways, such as subepithelial fibrosis, increased mass of airway smooth muscle and epithelial metaplasia. Such a remodeling of the airways futher amplifies asthma symptoms, but its etiology is unknown. Transforming growth factor β1 is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in many fibrotic, oncologic and immunologic diseases and is believed to play an essential role in airway remodeling that occurs in asthmatic patients. Since it is secreted in an inactive form, the overall activity of this cytokine is not exclusively determined by its level of expression, but also by extensive and complex post-translational mechanisms, which are all importanin modulating the magnitude of the TGFβ1 response. Even if TGFβ1 upregulation in asthma is considered as a dogma by certain investigators in the field, the overall picture of the published litterature is not that clear and the cellular origin of this cytokine in the airways of asthmatics is still a contemporaneous debate. On the other hand, it is becoming clear that TGFβ1 signaling is increased in the lungs of asthmatics, which testifies the increased activity of this cytokine in asthma pathogenesis. The current work is an impartial and exhaustive compilation of the reported papers regarding the expression of TGFβ1 in human asthmatics. For the sake of comparison, several studies performed in animal models of the disease are also included. Inconsistencies observed in human studies are discussed and conclusions as well as trends from the current state of the litterature on the matter are proposed. Finally, the different points of regulation that can affect the amplitude of the TGFβ1 response are briefly revised and the possibility that TGFβ1 is disregulated at another level in asthma, rather than simply in its expression, is highlighted

Utilização de sistemas de refrigeração de sêmen equino na estabilização das amostras seminais previamente à congelação

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of passive cooling device to stabilize equine straws before freezing. The samples were diluted in Botu-Sêmen® extender and centrifuged at 600xg for 10 minutes. Then, the pellets were ressuspended with Botucrio® cryopreservation extender, loaded into 0.5 mL straws and divided into three groups. On Group M, straws were placed horizontally in a Minitub® refrigerator at 5 °C for 20 minutes. For groups B and E, the straws were placed in Botutainer® and Equitainer® devices, respectively. Both systems were previously stabilized at 5 °C and straws were maintained for 20 minutes, and then frozen. The straws were thawed at 46 °C for 20 seconds. Sperm samples were evaluated by CASA for Total Motility (TM) and Progressive Motility (PM) and by fluorescent microscopy for Plasma Membrane Integrity (MPI). Statistical differences were not observed (p>0.05) for Total Motility (GM=67.1%; GB=65.2% and GE= 63.4%) and Progressive Motility (GM=32.1%; GB=31.9% and GE=30.4%). Although MPI percentages were not different between groups M and B, group E showed a decrease in comparison to the other groups (GM=49.4%, GB= 48.7%, GE= 44.9%). These results demonstrate that passive cooling devices can be used to stabilize equine straws before freezing, being an alternative for replacing refrigerators, making easier the cryopreservation in the field.Com este estudo objetivou-se analisar a eficiência da utilização de sistemas de transporte de sêmen refrigerado na estabilização das palhetas previamente à congelação de sêmen equino. Os ejaculados foram diluídos em meio diluente Botu-Sêmen®, e centrifugados por dez minutos a 600xg e; os pellets foram ressuspendidos no diluente para criopreservação Botucrio®, envasados em palhetas de 0,5 ml e divididos em três grupos. No Grupo M, as palhetas foram dispostas horizontalmente em geladeira Minitub®, a 5 °C, por vinte minutos. Nos Grupos B e E, as palhetas foram colocadas respectivamente nos sistemas Botutainer® e Equitainer®, previamente equilibrados na temperatura interna de 5 °C, e mantidas nesses sistemas também por vinte minutos. A congelação seguiu-se da mesma maneira para os três grupos. As palhetas foram descongeladas em banho-maria a 46 °C, por vinte segundos, e analisadas quanto às motilidades total (MT) e progressiva (MP) (CASA) e integridade de membrana por microscopia de fluorescência (IMP). Não se observaram diferenças estatíscas (P>0,05) para os valores de MT (GM = 67,1%a ; GB = 65,2%a e GE = 63,4%a ) e MP (GM = 32,1%a ; GB = 31,9%a e GE = 30,4%a ). Para os valores de IMP não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas entre os Grupos M e B; no entanto, o Grupo E apresentou um valor significativamente inferior (P<0,05) em comparação com os demais (GM = 49,4%a , GB = 48,7%a , GE = 44,9%b ). Apesar do sistema Equitainer® ser menos eficiente na manutenção da IMP do que os outros sistemas estudados, os dispositivos de transporte refrigerado de sêmen podem ser empregados na estabilização das amostras seminais previamente à congelação como uma alternativa aos refrigeradores, facilitando o procedimento de criopreservação a campo.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Factors associated with health-related quality of life after successful kidney transplantation: a population-based study

Kidney transplantation improves the quality of life of end-stage renal disease patients. The quality of life benefits, however, pertain to patients on average, not to all transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life after kidney transplantation. Population-based study with a cross-sectional design was carried out and quality of life was assessed by SF-36 Health Survey Version 1. A multivariate linear regression model was constructed with sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory data as independent variables. Two hundred and seventy-two kidney recipients with a functioning graft were analyzed. Hypertension, diabetes, higher serum creatinine and lower hematocrit were independently and significantly associated with lower scores for the SF-36 oblique physical component summary (PCSc). The final regression model explained 11% of the PCSc variance. The scores of oblique mental component summary (MCSc) were worse for females, patients with a lower income, unemployed and patients with a higher serum creatinine. The regression model explained 9% of the MCSc variance. Among the studied variables, comorbidity and graft function were the main factors associated with the PCSc, and sociodemographic variables and graft function were the main determinants of MCSc. Despite comprehensive, the final regression models explained only a little part of the heath-related quality of life variance. Additional factors, such as personal, environmental and clinical ones might influence quality of life perceived by the patients after kidney transplantation

Factors associated with health-related quality of life after successful kidney transplantation: a population-based study

Kidney transplantation improves the quality of life of end-stage renal disease patients. the quality of life benefits, however, pertain to patients on average, not to all transplant recipients. the aim of this study was to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life after kidney transplantation.Population-based study with a cross-sectional design was carried out and quality of life was assessed by SF-36 Health Survey Version 1. A multivariate linear regression model was constructed with sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory data as independent variables.Two hundred and seventy-two kidney recipients with a functioning graft were analyzed. Hypertension, diabetes, higher serum creatinine and lower hematocrit were independently and significantly associated with lower scores for the SF-36 oblique physical component summary (PCSc). the final regression model explained 11% of the PCSc variance. the scores of oblique mental component summary (MCSc) were worse for females, patients with a lower income, unemployed and patients with a higher serum creatinine. the regression model explained 9% of the MCSc variance.Among the studied variables, comorbidity and graft function were the main factors associated with the PCSc, and sociodemographic variables and graft function were the main determinants of MCSc. Despite comprehensive, the final regression models explained only a little part of the heath-related quality of life variance. Additional factors, such as personal, environmental and clinical ones might influence quality of life perceived by the patients after kidney transplantation.Univ Catolica Pelotas, Pelotas, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Heart, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Tacrolimus and quality of life after kidney transplantation - a multicenter study

Kidney transplantation is currently the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. Although new immunosuppressive drugs have been introduced into clinical practice, the effect of such medication on quality of life (QoL) in transplant recipients is still unclear. the present study analyzes the impact of tacrolimus-based immunosuppression on QoL in a representative sample of adult kidney transplant recipients from Rio Grande do Sul, a Brazilian southern state. This was a cross-sectional multicenter study which used the SF-36 Health Survey for measuring QoL. the effect of tacrolimus on QoL was adjusted for possible confounders using multiple linear regression. A total of 272 patients (from 11 different centers) were evaluated, 48 of them were treated with tacrolimus. Transplant patients in use of tacrolimus presented significant higher scores in the physical component summary of SF-36 than non-users (49.1 +/- 8.3 vs. 46.1 +/- 8.7; p = 0.03), and such difference was noted in the physical functioning and general health subscales (81.5 +/- 17.1 and 74.7 +/- 21.8; 74.6 +/- 22.3 and 67.1 +/- 22.3 for users and non-users of tacrolimus, respectively, p < 0.05). the effect of tacrolimus remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, skin color and time since transplantation (coeff.: 2.83; 95% CI: 0.05-5.6, p = 0.045). the association between tacrolimus-based immunosuppression and better perception of physical functioning and general health for renal transplant patients represents a significant finding as it may influence therapeutical decisions and contribute to maximize kidney transplantation benefits.Catholic Univ Pelotas, Sch Med, Pelotas, BrazilFed Univ Pelotas, Postgrad Program Epidemiol, Pelotas, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Postgrad Program Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilFMUSP, INCOR, Hypertens Unit, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Postgrad Program Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc