To sustain the health and viability of renal transplants, adherence to immunosuppressant therapy (IST) medications is critical. Studies continue to identify decreased adherence rates as time from transplant increases (Chisholm-Burns, Kwong, Mulloy & Spivey, 2008; Chisholm, Lance, Mulloy, 2005; Chisholm, Mulloy, & DiPiro, 2005; Nivens & Thomas, 2009). While previous research has explored the effect of variables known to influence IST adherence in adult renal transplant recipients, limited studies have explored these variables in a population of renal transplant recipients with longer time posttransplant intervals. The purpose of this study was to examine demographic variables, time posttransplant, immunosuppressive agents, health beliefs, social support, and symptom experience and test their relationship to adherence in a population of long-term renal transplant recipients. A cross-sectional correlational design was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 98 adult renal transplant recipients who were three or more years from transplant. Participants completed five instruments: 1) demographic survey, 2) the Beliefs About Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), 3) the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Modified Social Support Survey (MSSS), 4) the Basel Assessment of Adherence with Immunosuppressive Medication Scales (BAASIS), and 5) the Modified Transplant Symptom Occurrence and Symptom Distress Scale- 59R (MTSOSD-59R). A composite adherence score (CAS) consisting of a self-report measure of adherence (BAASIS), nontherapeutic serum drug assay, and collateral report of adherence as provided by two transplant clinic professionals was used to determine final adherence group classification (adherent/nonadherent). Analysis of the relationship between all independent variables and adherence was conducted using Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient. Mean scores for medication complexity, health beliefs, social support, and symptom experience were 4 compared between age, gender, and time posttransplant groups using independent-samples t tests. A logistic regression prediction of probability was conducted to determine which of the variables that demonstrated a significant relationship to adherence were most predictive of adherence. Of the total sample population (N = 98), 39.8% (n = 39) were classified as adherent and 60.2% (n = 59) were nonadherent. Results demonstrated no significant relationship between age (continuous variable), time posttransplant, immunosuppressant medications (measured by a medication complexity index), health beliefs, symptom experience, and adherence. Weak, but significant relationships between age groups (r = -.213, p=.035), tangible social support (r = .215, p =.017), emotional informational social support (r = .274, p = .003), positive social interaction support (r = .199, p = .025), total overall social support (r = .274, p =.003) and composite adherence group classification were found. Older participants ( > 55 yrs) were significantly less adherent than younger ( < 54 yrs) participants. Mean scores for emotional / informational (EMI), positive social interaction (POS), and total social support (MSSS) were significantly lower in nonadherent participants. Regression results indicated the overall model of two predictors (age grouped [ < 54 yrs; > 55 yrs] and EMI social support subscale) was statistically reliable in distinguishing between adherent and nonadherent participants (-2 Log Likelihood 116.244; Goodness-of-Fit x 2 (2) = 13.664, p = .001), correctly classifying 69.1% of the cases. Findings from this study contribute to the body of research exploring predictors of immunosuppressant adherence in long-term renal transplant recipients. Data suggest both younger age (< 55) and categories of social support predict adherence in long-term renal transplant recipients. Healthcare providers caring for renal transplant recipients long-term 5 should consider annually assessing older participants for adherence as well as for changes in social networks.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T13:55:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Priscila Ventorim Lisboa Ferreira.pdf: 1031724 bytes, checksum: c897be36746643eea3eee9da896e7d40 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-14 / Introdução: Diversas alterações cutâneas têm sido descritas nos pacientes transplantados renais, sendo a maior parte delas relativas aos efeitos imunossupressores diretos ou aos efeitos colaterais das drogas e podem ser agrupadas em infecções virais, bacterianas e fúngicas, lesões pré-neoplásicas e neoplásicas e iatrogênicas. Objetivos: 1- Determinar os agentes etiológicos e formas clínicas das micoses observadas nos pacientes transplantados renais estudados. 2- Correlacionar a ocorrência de micose com esquema imunossupressor. 3- Avaliar a prevalência de micoses em relação às dermatoses bacterianas e virais. Materiais e métodos: Estudo descritivo tipo corte transversal, com amostragem por conveniência, que avaliou 82 pacientes transplantados renais em regime de medicações imunossupressoras, atendidos em um hospital da Grande Vitória (ES), nos anos de 2011 e 2012. Após exame dermatológico foram realizados exames micológicos através de microscopia e cultura, quando necessários. Resultados: A casuística consistiu, na maioria, de pacientes do sexo masculino, pardos e com média de idade de 49,2 anos. O esquema imunossupressor mais frequente foi a combinação de Prednisona + Tacrolimus + Micofenolato sódico (46,3%) e foi o mais relacionado às dermatomicoses. O percentual de dermatomicoses foi de 28%, sendo 19,5% de onicomicoses, 6,1% de pitiríase versicolor e 2,4% de tineas. Com relação às dermatoses infecciosas, 7,3% apresentaram verrugas vulgares, 2,4% herpes simples e o mesmo percentual de 1,22% para molusco contagioso, erisipela e furunculose. O grupo de pacientes com transplante tardio (entre 3 e 5 anos) foi o que apresentou maior frequência de dermatomicoses. Conclusões: Os aspectos clínicos das dermatomicoses foram semelhantes, porém mais freqüentes que aqueles observados na população em geral. O percentual de dermatoses infecciosas foi similar ao da população imunocompetente / Introduction: Several cutaneous changes have been reported in renal transplant recipients, most of them due to immunosuppressive effects or side effects of the drugs and can be grouped into viral, bacterial and fungal infections, pre-neoplastic and neoplastic, and iatrogenic. Objectives: 1 - Determine the etiologic agents and clinical forms of mycoses observed in renal transplant recipients studied. 2 - Correlate the occurrence of fungal infection with immunosuppressive regimen and time of transplantation. 3 - Evaluate the frequency of bacterial and viral skin diseases. Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study with convenience sampling, which evaluated 82 renal transplant recipients under immunosuppressive medications, treated at a hospital in Vitória (ES) in the years 2011 and 2012. After dermatological examination, skin scrapings were performed by light microscopy and mycological culture. Results: The sample consisted mostly of males and a mean age of 49.2 years. The most frequent regimen was the combination of Prednisone + Tacrolimus + Mycophenolate sodium (46.3%) and it was the most related to dermatomycoses. The frequency of dermatomycoses was 28%, with 19.5% of onychomycosis, 6.1% of pitiryasis versicolor and 2.4% of Tineas. We also found 7.3% of common warts, 2.4% of herpes simplex and the same percentage of 1.22% for molluscum contagiosum, erysipelas and furunculosis. The group of patients with late transplant (between 3 and 5 years) showed the highest frequency of dermatomycoses. Conclusions: The clinical aspects of dermatomycoses was similar but it was more frequent than that observed in the general population. The percentage of cutaneous infections was similar to that of immunocompetent population

Obwohl der Wildtyp des Hepatitis-B-Virus (HBV) nicht zytopathogen und die Pathogenese der Hepatitis B generell immunvermittelt ist, können in immunsupprimierten Nierentransplantatempfängern mit chronischer Hepatitis B schwere Leberschäden bis hin zu Leberzirrhose und Leberversagen entstehen. Die Entwicklung von Leberzirrhose in den Nierentransplantierten ist assoziiert mit der Akkumulation und Persistenz von komplexen HBV-Varianten mit Mutationen im Core-Promotor / X-Gen, Deletionen im Core (C)-Gen und teilweise zusätzlichen Deletionen im präS-Bereich. Dies lässt eine Rolle der Varianten in der speziellen Pathogenese bei Immunsupprimierten vermuten. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden funktionelle Analysen der komplexen Varianten im Vergleich zu Referenz-Wildtypgenomen und Wildtyp-ähnlichen Genomen der Patienten aus der frühen Infektionsphase durchgeführt, um Hinweise auf den potentiellen Beitrag der Varianten zur Pathogenese zu erlangen. Die Analysen erfolgten durch transiente Transfektion der humanen Hepatomazelllinie HuH7 mit repräsentativen HBV-Gesamtgenomen, die aus 2 Patienten während des Krankheitsverlaufs von einer asymptomatischen Infektion hin zur Leberzirrhose isoliert und kloniert worden waren. Trotz einiger Unterschiede im Detail wiesen die komplexen Varianten einen gemeinsamen, drastisch vom Wildtyp abweichenden Phänotyp auf. Dieser war gekennzeichnet durch eine veränderte Transkription mit reduzierten präC- und Oberflächen-mRNAs und verstärkter Expression der prägenomischen RNA, eine starke Reduktion des häufigsten Spleißprodukts der prägenomischen RNA, SP1, eine extrem reduzierte oder fehlende Expression und/oder Sekretion aller Oberflächenproteine und des HBeAg, ein verändertes intrazelluläres Verteilungsmuster des schwach exprimierten Core-Proteins und teilweise der Oberflächenproteine sowie eine erhöhte Replikation und Anreicherung gegenüber Wildtyp-HBV aufgrund einer verstärkten reversen Transkription der prägenomischen RNA. Dieser Phänotyp basierte zum Teil auf den Mutationen in Core-Promotor und C-Gen, wurde jedoch deutlich durch zusätzliche Mutationen in den übrigen Genomabschnitten beeinflusst. Die vielfältigen Veränderungen der Varianten unterstützen ihren vermuteten Beitrag zur Pathogenese. / Although wild-type hepatitis B virus is not cytopathogenic and the pathogenesis of hepatitis B is generally immune mediated, also immuno-suppressed patients, such as renal transplant recipients, with chronic hepatitis B may develop liver cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. In renal transplant recipients, the development of liver cirrhosis is associated with the accumulation and persistence of complex HBV variants with mutations in core promoter / X gene, deletions in core (C) gene and sometimes additional deletions in the preS region. This suggests a role of these variants in the special pathogenesis in immuno-suppressed patients. In the present work, the complex variants were functionally analyzed in comparison to reference wild-type genomes and wild-type-like HBV genomes from the early asymptomatic phase of infection. For the analyses, representative cloned full-length HBV genomes isolated from 2 patients before and during liver cirrhosis were transiently transfected into the human hepatoma cell line HuH7. In spite of some variations, the complex variants showed a common phenotype, which was drastically altered compared to wild-type. It was characterized by reduced preC and surface mRNAs and increased expression of pregenomic RNA, by a strong reduction of the major spliced pregenomic RNA, SP1, by a partial or complete defect in expression and/or secretion of surface proteins and HBeAg, by an aberrant intracellular localization of the weakly expressed core protein and in some cases of the surface proteins, and by an enhanced replication and enrichment over wild-type HBV due to an enhanced reverse transcription of variant pregenomic RNA. The phenotypic alterations were often based on the mutations in core promoter and C gene but were considerably influenced by the additional mutations in other genomic regions. The multiple functional changes of the variants support their assumed contribution to pathogenesis.