Urine Cytology As A Screening Method For Polyoma Virus Active Infection

Polyoma virus nephropathy (PVN) occurs in 3% to 4% of renal transplants, causing graft loss in about 50% of cases. The presence of viral cytopathic changes in graft epithelial cells is the only diagnostic tool for PVN. However, identification of cells with viral inclusions (decoy cells) in urine can be used as a screening tool for viral replication of or for active infection with PV. The aim of the present study was to identify the occurrence of PV active infection in renal transplant recipients. Two hundred forty urine cytology samples, collected from 80 transplant patients with stable renal function, were collected on a monthly basis and stained with the Pap smear for decoy cells. Active infection with polyoma virus was confirmed by urine immunostaining. All samples were analyzed blindly and classified as negative or positive (>1 decoy cell/sample). Among 240 urine cytologies collected from 48 men and 32 women, decoy cells were identified in 37.5%. No differences were observed in serum creatinine or immunosuppressive regimen between patients with positive versus negative cytology. No graft losses occurred secondary to PVN in the present study setting. The incidence of decoy cells in this series (37.5%) was consistent with previous reports (20% to 40%), suggesting that active infection may be confirmed by PV immunohistochemistry. The absence of PVN in this group may be attributed to the low doses of immunosuppressive drugs in the late posttransplant transplant period, but also to the unknown incidence of polyoma virus infection in Brazil.364899901Binet, I., Nickeleit, V., Hirsch, H.H., (1996) Transplantation, 67, p. 918Nickeleit, V., Hirsch, H.H., Binet, I., (1999) J Am Soc Nephrol, 10, p. 1080Shah, K.V., (2000) Nephrol Dial Transplant, 15, p. 754Ramos, E., Drachenberg, C.B., Papadimitriou, J.C., (2002) J Am Soc Nephrol, 13, p. 2145Drachenberg, R.C., Drachenberg, C.B., Papadimitriou, J.C., (2001) Am J Transplant, 1, p. 373Hirsch, H.H., Knowles, W., Dickenmann, M., (2002) N Engl J Med, 347, p. 488Mohajer, M., Toupance, O., Durlach, A., (2003) Am J Transplant, 4 (SUPPL. 5), p. 851Drachenberg, C.B., Hirsch, H.H., Papadimitriou, J.C., (2003) Am J Transplant, 45, p. 85

Fixação biológica de nitrogênio e teores foliares de nutrientes na soja em função de doses de molibdênio e gesso agrícola Biological nitrogen fixation and leaf nutrient concentration on soybean as a function of molybdenum and gypsum levels

A competitividade econômica da soja brasileira no mercado mundial se deve, em grande parte, aos benefícios da fixação biológica do nitrogênio na cultura. O trabalho foi conduzido a campo, sob sistema plantio direto, em condição de sequeiro, no Município de Maracaju-MS, com o objetivo de avaliar a nodulação, o crescimento, nutrição mineral e produtividade de grãos da soja submetida a diferentes doses de gesso agrícola e molibdênio. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições e esquema de parcelas subdivididas, sendo as parcelas representadas por quatro doses de gesso agrícola (0, 1.000, 2.000 e 3.000 kg ha-1) e as subparcelas, por quatro doses de molibdênio (0, 20, 40 e 60 g ha-1). Não houve efeito da interação gesso x Mo sobre a produtividade da soja. O gesso agrícola não influencia no teor foliar de N e na produtividade. O Mo proporciona incrementos na produtividade e no teor de proteínas dos grãos.<br>The economic competitiveness of Brazilian soybeans on the world market occurs, in large part, due to the benefits of biological nitrogen fixation in this crop. The field experiment was carried out in Maracaju, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, under no-tillage system, in rainfed condition. The aim was to evaluate nodulation, growth, mineral nutrition and grain yield of soybeans under different doses of gypsum and molybdenum. The experimental design used was a randomized block with five replicates and arranged in a split-plot squeme, with the plot represented by four doses of gypsum (0, 1.000, 2.000 and 3.000 kg ha-1) and the subplots by four doses of molybdenum (0, 20, 40 and 60 g ha-1). There were no interaction effects of Mo x gypsum for grain yield. Gypsum has no influence in the N leaf content and grain yield. Mo increases grain yield and protein levels in the grain