Post-transplant malignancies cause significant morbidity and mortality. In this thesis we investigated malignancies in renal transplanted patients from a clinical viewpoint. The use of regional tumour registries considerably improved identification of pre- and post-transplant malignancies, which are generally underreported in transplant registries. Despite previously adequate cancer treatments with favourable prognosis, patients with pre-transplant malignancies showed higher incidence of post-transplant cancer and reduced survival compared to a 1:3 ratio matched control group of patients without a previous cancer from the Collaborative Transplant Study in Europe. A careful oncological surveillance pre-transplant and post-transplant is recommended. A multidisciplinary team evaluated the immunosuppressive and oncological treatment in a clinical prospective observational study of 120 renal transplanted patients with post-transplant malignancies. In two-thirds of the patients immunosuppression was possible to change to mTOR inhibitors with anti-tumour effects. Oncological treatment was adjusted in 50% of patients with solid or haematological tumours. MDT assessments are essential for optimizing treatment of post-transplant malignancies. Number of previous cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) posed the most significant risk variable in predicting subsequent SCCs during a two-years study of 73 transplanted patients with at least one SCC. Incidence of transplant-derived tumours is 5 times higher than anticipated. Three of eleven cancers in urinary tract and two of four cancers in the transplants were transplant-derived. Five of eleven cancers of the urinary tract were BK-virus positive. Allograft immune response against these tumours offer new options for cancer treatment such as immunomodulatory or anti-viral treatment in combination with modified immunosuppression.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Os imunossupressores tacrolimo (Tac) e sirolimo (Srl) são amplamente utilizados no transplante renal. Estes medicamentos apresentam estreita faixa terapêutica e estão associados a uma vasta gama de efeitos colaterais. Polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNP) parecem ter um impacto significativo sobre a farmacocinética dos imunossupressores. Com o objetivo de avaliar a associação de SNP nos genes PPP3CA e MTOR com a resposta farmacológica dos imunossupressores tacrolimo e sirolimo foram selecionados 156 indivíduos indicados para transplante renal entre os pacientes atendidos no Hospital do Rim e Hipertensão da UNIFESP. Esses indivíduos foram tratados com esquema imunossupressor baseado em tacrolimo ou convertido para sirolimo. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas antes do transplante para extração de DNA. As determinações das concentrações sanguíneas de Tac foram determinadas por chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) e as concentrações sanguíneas de Srl foram obtidas pela técnica de HPLC (High- Performance Liquid Chromatography). Os polimorfismos do MTOR (c.1437T>C, T c.2997C>T e c.4731G>A) e PPP3CA (c.249G>A) foram identificados por PCR em tempo real. O polimorfismo PPP3CA c.246G>A não foi associado à dose diária de tacrolimo ou sirolimo. Já a concentração sanguínea de tacrolimo foi menor nos portadores do alelo A no terceiro dia e terceiro mês de estudo. Os polimorfismos do MTOR foram relacionados à concentração sanguínea corrigida pela dose de tacrolimo. Os portadores dos alelos raros G, T e C dos polimorfismos c.4731G>A, c.14337T>C e c.2997C>T, respectivamente, apresentaram valores de Co/Do de tacrolimo menores em relação aos não portadores destes alelos. As diferenças significativas ocorreram principalmente nos primeiros três meses de estudo. A concentração sanguínea de tacrolimo foi no geral menor nos portadores dos alelos raros, sendo significativamente menor no décimo quarto dia. Doses maiores de tacrolimo foram associadas aos alelos T do c.14337T>C e C do c.2997C>T. No sexto mês de estudo, os portadores dos alelos raros receberam doses de sirolimo significativamente maiores do que os não portadores. O alelo T do polimorfismo c.1437T>C foi associado a menores valores de Co/Do de sirolimo. Os SNPs c.2997C>T e c.1437T>C do MTOR encontram-se em desequilíbrio de ligação (D\'=0,981; r2=0,690). Nos três primeiros meses de estudo, os portadores do haplótipo TC receberam doses menores de tacrolimo e apresentaram a melhor relação Co/Do. Foi possível observar que após a randomização, o haplótipo TC continuou associado a menores doses de tacrolimo e de sirolimo e manteve a tendência de melhores índices de Co/Do de ambos os fármacos. Os polimorfismos c.1437T>C e c.4731G>A foram associados a parâmetros de função renal no grupo TAC. O alelo G do SNP c.4731G>A relacionou-se a valores menores de ureia no pré-Tx, menor redução de ureia e creatinina entre o pré-Tx e o sexto mês de estudo. O alelo T do SNP c.1437T>C também foi relacionado a menores valores de ureia no pré-Tx e menor redução de creatinina. No grupo TAC, o alelo raro do SNP PPP3CA c.249G>A foi relacionado a menores valores de triglicérides no pré-Tx e no grupo SRL uma menor variação de LDL-colesterol. Os portadores do alelo C do SNP c.2997C>T apresentaram menor aumento de colesterol total e LDL colesterol entre o pré-Tx e o sexto mês de estudo, maiores valores de HDL colesterol no pré-Tx e menores valores de triglicérides no sexto mês de estudo. Os portadores do alelo T do SNP c.1437T>C apresentaram menor aumento de colesterol total, LDL colesterol, VLDL colesterol e triglicérides. No sexto mês de estudo apresentaram menores valores de triglicérides em relação aos não portadores deste alelo. Os portadores do alelo G do SNP c.4731G>A tiveram variação menor de colesterol total, VLDL colesterol e triglicérides. Não foi encontrada relação dos polimorfimos estudados e a rejeição aguda comprovada por biópsia ou com a nefropatia crônica do enxerto. Esses resultados são sugestivos de que os polimorfismos do MTOR e PPP3CA estão associados com a dose e concentração sanguínea dos imunossupressores tacrolimo e sirolimo, assim como um perfil lipídico menos aterogênico. / The immunosuppressant tacrolimus (Tac) and Sirolimus (Srl) are widely used in renal transplantation. These drugs have a narrow therapeutic range and are associated with a wide range of side effects. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have a significant impact on the pharmacokinetics of immunosuppressants. In order to evaluate the association of SNPs in genes MTOR and PPP3CA with the pharmacological response of immunosuppressive drugs tacrolimus and sirolimus were selected 156 individuals referred for kidney transplantation among patients treated in the Hospital do Rim e Hipertensão, UNIFESP. These individuals were treated with tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen or converted to sirolimus. Blood samples were collected before transplantation for DNA extraction. Determinations of blood concentrations of Tac were determined by Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) and blood concentrations Srl were obtained by the technique of HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography). Polymorphisms of MTOR (c.1437T>C, T c.2997C>T and c.4731G>A) and PPP3CA (c.249G>A) were identified by real-time PCR. The Polymorphism PPP3CA c.246G>A was not associated with the daily dose of tacrolimus or sirolimus. The blood concentration of tacrolimus was lower in carriers of the allele on the third day and third month of study. The Polymorphisms of MTOR were related to blood concentration corrected by the dose of tacrolimus. The carriers of rare alleles G, T and C polymorphisms c.4731G> A, c.14337T> C and c.2997C> T, respectively, had values of Co/Do tacrolimus lower than the non-carriers of these alleles. Significant differences occurred mainly during the first three months of study. The blood concentration of tacrolimus was generally lower in carriers of the rare alleles being significantly lower on the fourteenth day. Higher doses of tacrolimus were associated with alleles c.14337T T>C and C c.2997C>T. In the sixth month of study, the carriers of rare alleles received doses of sirolimus significantly higher than non-carriers. SNPs c.2997C>T and c.1437T>C MTOR are in linkage disequilibrium (D \'= 0.981; r2 = 0.690). In the first three months of study, carriers of the TC haplotype received lower doses of tacrolimus and presented the best value for Co/Do. It was observed that after randomization, the TC haplotype remained associated with lower doses of tacrolimus and sirolimus and continued the trend of higher rates of Co/Do of both drugs. Polymorphisms c.1437T>C and c.4731G>A were associated with renal function parameters in the TAC group. The G allele of SNP c.4731G> A was related to lower levels of urea in the pre-Tx, a smaller reduction of urea and creatinine between the pre-Tx and sixth months of study. The T allele of SNP c.1437T>C was also related to lower levels of urea in the pre-Tx and a smaller reduction of creatinine. In the TAC group, the rare allele of SNP PPP3CA c.249G>A was related to lower levels of triglycerides in the pre-Tx and the SRL group a smaller variation of LDL-cholesterol. The C allele of the SNP c.2997C>T showed a lower increase in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol between pre-Tx and sixth months of study, higher HDL cholesterol in pre-Tx and lower levels of triglycerides in the sixth month of study. The T allele of SNP c.1437T>C showed a lower increase in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides. In the sixth month of the study, they had lower triglyceride levels compared to non-carriers of this allele. The G allele of SNP c.4731G>A change had lower total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides. There was no relationship between the studied polymorphisms and biopsy-proven acute rejection or chronic allograft nephropathy. These results suggest that MTOR and PPP3CA polymorphisms are associated with dose and blood concentration of immunosuppressants tacrolimus and sirolimus, as well as a less atherogenic lipid profile.

Onicomicose é uma infecção crônica das unhas provocadas por fungos. É a doença mais comum das unhas em todo o mundo e constitui cerca de metade de todas as alterações ungueais em indivíduos imunocompetentes e imunossuprimidos. Nos últimos anos, vários estudos tem demonstrado aumento na prevalência de onicomicose. Esse aumento pode ser atribuído a diversos fatores, incluindo o aumento da expectativa de vida, e propagação do vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV). Nesse sentido, o número de pacientes renais crônicos vem aumentando em todo mundo. No entanto, a literatura relata poucos estudos sobre a prevalência e as características das onicomicoses nestes pacientes. Diante disso, nossos objetivos foram determinar a prevalência, etiologia e perfil de suscetibilidade das onicomicoses provenientes de pododáctilos de pacientes dialíticos (DL), receptores de transplante renal (RTR) e pacientes grupo controle. Foram examinados 510 pacientes, sendo 336 provenientes da Unidade de Transplante Renal (149 DL e 187 RTR), e 174 pacientes do Ambulatório de Clínica Geral, sem histórico de doença associada à imunossupressão (Grupo controle). Os isolados foram identificados por testes fenotípicos e moleculares. O perfil de suscetibilidade foi realizado pelo método de microdiluição em caldo frente aos fármacos fluconazol, itraconazol, voriconazol e terbinafina. A prevalência de onicomicose foi de 23,4% nos pacientes DL e 23,0% nos RTR, significativamente maior que no grupo controle (13,2%). Nos pacientes DL, onicomicose foi associada com diabetes, mas não com o tempo de diálise e sexo. Nos pacientes RTR, onicomicose foi mais prevalente em homens, mas não houve associação com duração do transplante, diabetes e protocolo de tratamento imunossupressor. Trichophyton rubrum foi a agente mais prevalente (45,9%), seguido por T. mentagrophytes (24,5%) e Candida parapsilosis (18%). Todos antifúngicos foram eficazes frente aos isolados de dermatófitos, sendo terbinafina o mais eficiente. Os isolados de C. parapsilosis foram todos sensíveis aos quatro antifúngicos de acordo com os atuais \"end-points\". Nossos achados permitiram concluir que pacientes renais (DL e RTR) tem risco aumentado de desenvolver onicomicose. Nossos dados também revelaram que a etiologia e a suscetibilidade das espécies isoladas são comparáveis aos encontrados em outros grupos de pacientes não renais descritos na literatura. / Onychomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of the nail. It is the most common disorder of nails worldwide and constitutes about 50% of all nail changes of the immunosuppressed and healthy patients. In recent years, several reports have shown increased prevalence of onychomycosis. This increase can be attributed to several factors, including increased life expectancy, and to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics. In this regard, the number of chronic renal patients is also increasing worldwide. However, the literature reports few studies on onychomycosis in these patients. Therefore, our objectives were to determine the prevalence, etiology and susceptibility profile of onychomycosis of the toenail of patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment (HD), kidney transplant recipients (KTR) and control patients. Were examined 510 patients, 336 attending the Renal Transplantation Unit (187 KTR e 149 HD) and 174 patients attending an internal medicine outpatient service with diseases other than renal disease (control group). The isolates were identified by phenotypic and molecular tests. Antifungal susceptibility tests were performed using a broth microdilution method against the antifungal drugs voriconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole and terbinafine. The prevalence of onychomycosis in HD patients (23.4%) and KTR (23.0%) was significantly higher than control group (13.2%). In HD patients, onychomycosis was associated with diabetes but not duration of dialysis and gender. In KTR, onychomycosis was more prevalent in males, but not associated with duration of transplantation, diabetes or immunosuppressive protocols. Trichophyton rubrum was the most prevalent species (45.9%) followed by T. mentagrophytes (24.5%) and Candida parapsilosis (18%). While all antifungals were efficient against the dermatophyte isolates, terbinafine was the most effective. All C. parapsilosis isolates were sensitive to the antifungals according to the current end-points. In conclusion, this study shows that HD patients and KTR are at high risk of contracting onychomycosis. Our data also show that the etiology and susceptibility of the species are comparable with those found in other groups of non-renal patients described in the literature.

No description available.

<p><em>Background </em>The proliferation signal inhibitors (PSIs) sirolimus (SRL) and everolimus (ERL) are the potent immunosuppressive drugs using in organ transplantation and has been used successfully in renal transplant recipients (RTX) as well. PSIs are the key factors to overcome the allograft rejections after successful organ transplantation since the immune system starts to react against the graft. SRL and ERL prevents the action of immune system b inhibits the proliferation of T- and B-cells by inhibiting the intracellular signaling of interleukin-2. The presence of excess amount of serum proteins including albumin in the urine is considered as proteinuria, which reflects the loss of kidney function. The occurrence of proteinuria can be the result of abnormal glomerular filtration and/or impaired tubular endocytic function of renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs). Megalin and cubulin are two scavenger receptors present on epical surface of PTECs and involved in reabsorption of proteins after glomerular ultrafiltration process in the kidney. Proteinuria appears too high in renal transplanted patients during ongoing   treatment with PSIs.</p><p><em>Aim</em> Our study aimed to investigate and correlate the expression level of megalin and cubilin and albumin uptake in PTEC of renal transplanted patients before and after conversion to PSI.</p><p><em>Methods</em> To retrieve the maximal expression of our interest molecules in renal PTECs, we optimized antigen retrieval (AR) method and primary antibody dilution for each molecule separately. An optimization experiment was performed on 3 different normal patients renal biopsies were used. Later, human renal biopsy specimens originated from 4 different renal transplanted patients were used in this study. From all the 4 patients biopsy specimens were taken before and ongoing administration of PSIs (SRL, ERL). The expression of megalin, cubilin and albumin uptake in PTEC of renal transplant patients was determined by immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><em>Results</em> Based on the optimization experiments, we selected the AR method and primary antibody dilution for the expression of megalin, cubilin and albumin uptake. In 4 renal transplanted patients following administration of PSIs results in patients 1, 2, 3 expression of megalin, cubilin and albumin uptake during ongoing PSI treatment was not comparable or even more intense than before PSIs introduction. The expression of megalin, cubilin and albumin uptake was reduced in patient 4 during ongoing PSI treatment.</p><p><em>Conclusion</em> Our findings suggest that the renal transplant patient 4 developed proteinuria during PSI medication. The expression of megalin, cubilin and albumin uptake was markedly decreased during ongoing PSI treatment in patient 4. We concluded that there is a direct link between PSI medication and tubular dysfunction, which might cause proteinuria</p>

Onicomicose é uma infecção crônica das unhas provocadas por fungos. É a doença mais comum das unhas em todo o mundo e constitui cerca de metade de todas as alterações ungueais em indivíduos imunocompetentes e imunossuprimidos. Nos últimos anos, vários estudos tem demonstrado aumento na prevalência de onicomicose. Esse aumento pode ser atribuído a diversos fatores, incluindo o aumento da expectativa de vida, e propagação do vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV). Nesse sentido, o número de pacientes renais crônicos vem aumentando em todo mundo. No entanto, a literatura relata poucos estudos sobre a prevalência e as características das onicomicoses nestes pacientes. Diante disso, nossos objetivos foram determinar a prevalência, etiologia e perfil de suscetibilidade das onicomicoses provenientes de pododáctilos de pacientes dialíticos (DL), receptores de transplante renal (RTR) e pacientes grupo controle. Foram examinados 510 pacientes, sendo 336 provenientes da Unidade de Transplante Renal (149 DL e 187 RTR), e 174 pacientes do Ambulatório de Clínica Geral, sem histórico de doença associada à imunossupressão (Grupo controle). Os isolados foram identificados por testes fenotípicos e moleculares. O perfil de suscetibilidade foi realizado pelo método de microdiluição em caldo frente aos fármacos fluconazol, itraconazol, voriconazol e terbinafina. A prevalência de onicomicose foi de 23,4% nos pacientes DL e 23,0% nos RTR, significativamente maior que no grupo controle (13,2%). Nos pacientes DL, onicomicose foi associada com diabetes, mas não com o tempo de diálise e sexo. Nos pacientes RTR, onicomicose foi mais prevalente em homens, mas não houve associação com duração do transplante, diabetes e protocolo de tratamento imunossupressor. Trichophyton rubrum foi a agente mais prevalente (45,9%), seguido por T. mentagrophytes (24,5%) e Candida parapsilosis (18%). Todos antifúngicos foram eficazes frente aos isolados de dermatófitos, sendo terbinafina o mais eficiente. Os isolados de C. parapsilosis foram todos sensíveis aos quatro antifúngicos de acordo com os atuais \"end-points\". Nossos achados permitiram concluir que pacientes renais (DL e RTR) tem risco aumentado de desenvolver onicomicose. Nossos dados também revelaram que a etiologia e a suscetibilidade das espécies isoladas são comparáveis aos encontrados em outros grupos de pacientes não renais descritos na literatura. / Onychomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of the nail. It is the most common disorder of nails worldwide and constitutes about 50% of all nail changes of the immunosuppressed and healthy patients. In recent years, several reports have shown increased prevalence of onychomycosis. This increase can be attributed to several factors, including increased life expectancy, and to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics. In this regard, the number of chronic renal patients is also increasing worldwide. However, the literature reports few studies on onychomycosis in these patients. Therefore, our objectives were to determine the prevalence, etiology and susceptibility profile of onychomycosis of the toenail of patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment (HD), kidney transplant recipients (KTR) and control patients. Were examined 510 patients, 336 attending the Renal Transplantation Unit (187 KTR e 149 HD) and 174 patients attending an internal medicine outpatient service with diseases other than renal disease (control group). The isolates were identified by phenotypic and molecular tests. Antifungal susceptibility tests were performed using a broth microdilution method against the antifungal drugs voriconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole and terbinafine. The prevalence of onychomycosis in HD patients (23.4%) and KTR (23.0%) was significantly higher than control group (13.2%). In HD patients, onychomycosis was associated with diabetes but not duration of dialysis and gender. In KTR, onychomycosis was more prevalent in males, but not associated with duration of transplantation, diabetes or immunosuppressive protocols. Trichophyton rubrum was the most prevalent species (45.9%) followed by T. mentagrophytes (24.5%) and Candida parapsilosis (18%). While all antifungals were efficient against the dermatophyte isolates, terbinafine was the most effective. All C. parapsilosis isolates were sensitive to the antifungals according to the current end-points. In conclusion, this study shows that HD patients and KTR are at high risk of contracting onychomycosis. Our data also show that the etiology and susceptibility of the species are comparable with those found in other groups of non-renal patients described in the literature.