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The chitinases have extensive biotechnological potential but have been little exploited commercially due to the low number of good chitinolytic microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to identify a chitinolytic fungal and optimize its production using solid state fermentation (SSF) and agroindustry substrate, to evaluate different chitin sources for chitinase production, to evaluate different solvents for the extraction of enzymes produced during fermentation process, and to determine the nematicide effect of enzymatic extract and biological control of Meloidogyne javanica and Meloidogyne incognita nematodes. The fungus was previously isolated from bedbugs of Tibraca limbativentris Stal (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and selected among 51 isolated fungal as the largest producer of chitinolytic enzymes in SSF. The isolate UFSMQ40 has been identified as Trichoderma koningiopsis by the amplification of tef1 gene fragments. The greatest chitinase production (10.76 U gds -1 ) occurred with wheat bran substrate at 55% moisture, 15% colloidal chitin, 100% of corn steep liquor, and two discs of inoculum at 30 °C for 72 h. Considering the enzymatic inducers, the best chitinase production by the isolated fungus was achieved using chitin in colloidal, powder, and flakes. The usage of 1:15 g/mL of sodium citrate-phosphate buffer was the best ratio for chitinase extraction of SSF. The Trichoderma koningiopsis UFSMQ40 showed high mortality of M. javanica and M. incognita when applied to treatments with enzymatic filtrated and the suspension of conidia.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/1496903.].

The phytoremediation of copper (Cu)-contaminated sandy soils can be influenced by the addition of vermicompost to the soil and the mycorrhization of plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of inoculation with the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus clarus and the addition of different doses of bovine manure vermicompost on the phytoremediation of a sandy soil with a high Cu content using Canavalia ensiformis. Soil contaminated with 100 mg kg -1 Cu received five doses of vermicompost and was cultivated with C. ensiformis, with and without inoculation with mycorrhizal fungus, and the Cu and nutrients in the soil and soil solution were evaluated. The concentrations of Cu and other nutrients and the biomass and Cu phytotoxicity in the plants were quantified by gauging the photochemical efficiency, concentration of photosynthetic pigments and activity of oxidative stress enzymes. The vermicompost increased the soil pH and nutrient concentrations and reduced the Cu content of the solution. When the vermicompost was applied at a dose equivalent to 80 mg phosphorus (P) kg -1 , the phytoextraction efficiency was higher, but the phytostabilization efficiency was higher for vermicompost doses of 10 and 20 mg P kg -1 . The presence of mycorrhizal fungi increased Cu phytostabilization, especially at vermicompost doses of 10 and 20 mg P kg -1 . The use of vermicompost at low doses and inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi increase the phytostabilization potential of C. ensiformis in sandy soil contaminated by Cu.

Background: Foramen ovale (FO) flow may be altered in IUGR. This study was designed to test this hypothesis., Methods: Forty pregnant women (24-38 weeks) were divided into 3 groups: group I (IUGR), group II (adequate growth and maternal hypertension), and group III (normal controls). Impedance across the FO was assessed by the FO pulsatility index (FOPI): (systolic velocity - presystolic velocity)/mean velocity. Statistical analysis utilized ANOVA, Tukey test, and ROC curves., Results: Mean FOPI in IUGR fetuses ( n  = 15) was 3.70 ± 0.99 (3.15-4.26); in the group II ( n  = 12), it was 2.84 ± 0.69 (2.40-3.28), and in the group III ( n  = 13), it was 2.77 ± 0.44 (2.50-3.04) ( p =0.004). FOPI and UtA RI were correlated ( r  = 0.375, p =0.017), as well as FOPI and UA RI ( r  = 0.356, p =0.024) and, inversely, FOPI and MCA RI ( r  = -0.359, p =0.023)., Conclusions: The FO flow pulsatility index is increased in fetuses with IUGR, probably as a result of impaired left ventricular diastolic function.

Background: Kidney transplantation prior to dialysis (pre-emptive kidney transplantation, PKT) has been controversial because of the paucity of clinical evidence to clarify the risks and benefits of PKT. Several authors have confirmed a significant advantage of PKT in the treatment of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of patients who received PKT or non-pre-emptive kidney transplant (NPKT)., Methods: We used a cohort of 323 consecutive kidney-transplanted children (53% boys) from Hospital da Criança Santo Antonio, Porto Alegre, Brazil, who underwent transplantation between January 2000 and December 2010., Results: The main causes of ESRD were congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) (39%) and glomerulopathies (27.5%). The 12-, 36-, 60-, and 90-months death-censored graft survival rates were 97%, 92%, 86%, and 76%, respectively, in the PKT group, and 87%, 79%, 72%, and 65% in the NPKT group (P < .05)., Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that pre-emptive transplantation is beneficial (hazard ratio = 0.37; 95% confidence interval: 0.18-0.82). The main causes of graft loss (n = 67) were recurrence of primary disease (21%), chronic allograft injury (17%), and death with a functioning graft (16%). We recommend PKT as a better choice for transplantation whenever possible to minimize ESRD morbidity and provide better long-term patient and graft survival., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Small children are a challenging group in whom to perform KT. This retrospective study analyzed the results of 62 KTs in children weighing <15 kg, performed between 1998 and 2010, using extraperitoneal access and anastomosis of the renal vessels of donors to the aorta and IVC or iliac vessels of the recipients. Thirty-two (51.6%) grafts were LRDTs and 30 (48.4%) were DDRTs-28 of them pediatric. The mean age at KT was 3.7 ± 2.2 yr (1-12), and the mean weight was 12.3 ± 2.1 kg (5.6-14.9). Ten children weighed <10 kg, and five (8.1%) children presented previous thrombosis of the venous system. At one and five yr, patient survival was 93.2% and 84.2%, and graft survival was 85.2% and 72.7%. There were no differences between the rates for LRDT and DDRT. There were six vascular complications (four vascular thromboses, one laceration, and one renal artery stenosis) and two perirenal collections. Extraperitoneal access is a valid KT technique in children weighing <15 kg., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Frasier syndrome (FS) is characterized by gonadal dysgenesis and nephropathy. It is caused by specific mutations in the Wilms' tumor suppressor gene (WT1) located in 11p23. Patients with the 46,XY karyotype present normal female genitalia with streak gonads, and have higher risk of gonadal tumor, mainly, gonadoblastoma. Therefore, elective bilateral gonadectomy is indicated. Nephropathy in FS consists in nephrotic syndrome (NS) with proteinuria that begins early in childhood and progressively increases with age, mainly due to nonspecific focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS). Patients are generally unresponsive to steroid and immunosuppressive therapies, and will develop end-stage renal failure (ESRF) during the second or third decade of life. We report here four cases of FS diagnosis after identification of WT1 mutations. Case 1 was part of a large cohort of patients diagnosed with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome, in whom the screening for mutations within WT1 8-9 hotspot fragment identified the IVS9+5G>A mutation. Beside FS, this patient showed unusual characteristics, such as urinary malformation (horseshoe kidney), and bilateral dysgerminoma. Cases 2 and 3, also bearing the IVS9+5G>A mutation, and case 4, with IVS9+1G>A mutation, were studied due to FSGS and/or delayed puberty; additionally, patients 2 and 4 developed bilateral gonadal tumors. Since the great majority of FS patients have normal female external genitalia, sex reversal is not suspected before they present delayed puberty and/or primary amenorrhea. Therefore, molecular screening of WT1 gene is very important to confirm the FS diagnosis.

The objective of this study was to determine the harvest period of coffee fruits based on the relationship between agrometeorological parameters and sucrose accumulation in the seeds. Over the crop years 2004/2005 and 2006/2007, from 150 days after flowering (DAF) onwards, samples of 50 fruits of cultivars Mundo Novo IAC 376-4, Obatã IAC 1669-20 and Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 were collected from coffee trees located in Campinas, Brazil. The endosperm of the fruits was freeze-dried, ground and analyzed for sucrose content by high-performance liquid chromatography. A weather station provided data to calculate the accumulated growing degree-day (GDD) units, and the reference (ET(o)) and actual (ET(r)) evapotranspiration rates. The results showed that the highest rates of sucrose accumulation occurred at the transition from the cane-green to the cherry phenological stage. Models for the estimation of sucrose content during maturation based on meteorological variables exhibited similar or better performance than the DAF variable, with better results for the variables GDD and ET(o). The Mundo Novo cultivar reached the highest sucrose level in the endosperm after 2,790 GDD, while cultivar Catuaí attained its maximum sucrose concentration after the accumulated evapotranspiration rate has reached a value of 870 mm. As for cultivar Obatã, the maximum sucrose concentration was predicted with the same degree of accuracy using any of the parameters investigated. For the Obatã cultivar, the values of the variables calculated for the maximum sucrose concentration to be reached were 249 DAF, 3,090 GDD, 1,020 ET(o) and 900 ET(r).

Herein we report our experience in renal transplantation in 38 children (40 transplants), ages 1 to 5 years, between 1989 and 2005. Demographics as well as patient and graft survivals are reported. Mean age at transplantation was 3.3 +/- 1.3 years, and mean weight was 14 kg (range, 5.7-25 kg); 92.5% were Caucasian, 7.5% African-Brazilian. The main etiology for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was uropathic/vesicoureteral reflux (45%) followed by glomerulopathy (25%), congenital/hereditary diseases (10%), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (12.5%). Prior to transplantation, 5% were on hemodialysis, 85% on peritoneal dialysis, and 10% preemptive. All children were followed for at least 6 months posttransplantation, except 2 who died in the first month. In 75% of cases, kidneys were obtained from living-related donors, and in 25% from deceased donors. Thirty-nine kidneys were extraperitoneally placed. Primary immunosuppressant therapy consisted of cyclosporine (61%), tacrolimus (39%), mycophenolate (49%), and azathioprine (51%). A steroid-free protocol was used in 17% of patients. In the last 21 cases, basiliximab or daclizumab was added. There were 13 (32.5%) graft losses (4 artery/vein thromboses, 3 chronic rejections, 3 deaths, 3 other causes). The 5-year patient and graft survival rates were 89.6% and 72.2%. We have concluded that renal transplantation can be performed with good long-term results in children younger than 6 years old.

Unlabelled: Our objective was to relate the results of 300 consecutive kidney transplants performed in children at a single center., Patients and Methods: An analysis of kidney transplants was performed on patients less than 18 years old engrafted from May 1977 to August 2005., Results: Among 300 kidney transplants, 48% of the patients were female, 87% were Caucasian, and 13% were African-Brazilian. The mean age at transplant was 11.5 +/- 4.5 years with 39 (13%) less than 6 years of age. The most frequent etiology of renal failure was vesicoureteral reflux/obstructive uropathy (36%) followed by glomerulopathy (27%). The donor was deceased in 32.3% and living related in 77.7% (parents 82%). The mean posttransplant follow-up was 4.8 +/- 4.3 years. The initial immunosuppression was CyA + AZA + PRED in 45%; CyA + MMF + PRED in 9.6%; TAC + AZA + PRED in 7.3%; TAC + MF + PRED in 9.7%; or TAC + MF without PRED in 10%. Sirolimus was employed initially in three cases. Induction with OKT3/ATG occurred in three patients and 112 received an anti-IL2 receptor antibody. The 103 graft losses during 28 years of follow-up were secondary to chronic allograft nephropathy in 51 (49.5%), vascular thrombosis in 5 (4.8%), acute rejection in 12 (11.6%), and recurrence of original disease in 13 (12.6%). Sixteen (15.5%) died with functioning grafts. Graft survival in the first, fifth, and tenth year were 90%, 72%, and 59%, respectively. Patient survival in the first, fifth, and tenth years were 95%, 93%, and 85%, respectively, with infection as the main cause of death.

The high recurrence rate of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in kidney transplant recipients suggests that such patients have a circulating factor that alters glomerular capillary permeability. Serum from patients with FSGS increases glomerular permeability to albumin. This permeability factor has been partially identified as a protein. The removal of this protein by plasmapheresis (PP) decreases proteinuria. In this study we report data on the therapeutic effects of PP in FSGS children with recurrence in the transplanted kidney. Three hundred pediatric (age <19 years) renal transplants were performed, including 21 patients (24 transplants) with FSGS as a cause of renal failure. Fourteen (58.3%) subjects experienced disease recurrence (proteinuria >1 g/m(2) per day) within 1 month after transplantation. Mean age patient was 12 +/- 4.3 years, including 83.3% Caucasians and 70.2% recipients of living donor grafts. Nine were treated with 10 cycles of PP (3 cycles/weekly), initiated immediately after recurrence (<48 hours). Immunosuppression included high doses of cyclosporine (C(2) levels of 1700-1800 ng/mL), mycophenolate sodium or mofetil, and prednisone. Thirteen patients were induced with anti-IL2 receptor monoclonal antibody (daclizumab/basiliximab). Among the patients who underwent PP, five (55.5%) achieved a complete remission and one (12%), a partial remission (1 g/24 hours). There were no cases of remission among the five patients who were not treated with PP. Those who achieved remission after PP experienced no recurrences during the 2.6 +/- 1.4 years follow-up. PP appears to be effective to treat recurrent FSGS following kidney transplantation. It should be started as soon as possible.

We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of sirolimus (SRL) in 16 pediatric renal transplant recipients, who were 9.4 +/- 4.1 years of age when they first received SRL. The indications for SRL therapy were rescue from steroid-resistant acute rejection (31.3%), neoplasia (31.3%), diabetes (12.5%), polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (6.3%), chronic allograft dysfunction (6.3%), calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity (6.3%), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (6.3%). Mean follow-up after the switch to SRL was 17.7 +/- 15 months. The final immunosuppression was CNI + SRL + prednisone (PRED) in five patients, SRL + PRED in six, SRL + mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) + PRED in four, and SRL + MMF in one. The use of SRL in these selected pediatric renal recipients was successful, except when creatinine was high at the moment of conversion. Further studies are necessary to assess the beneficial outcomes versus adverse events among the pediatric transplant population receiving SRL for immunosuppression.