Camila Correa

Effects of metabolic syndrome on kidney transplantation outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) has been associated with proteinuria and reduced glomerular filtration rate. Immunosuppressive agents increase the incidence of traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and have known effects on MS components after kidney transplantation. The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to evaluate the impact of MS on relevant outcomes after kidney transplantation. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched up to November 7, 2015. Papers that compared patients with and without MS and assessed one of the following outcomes, graft loss, death by cardiovascular disease, and all‐cause mortality, were included. Of 585 studies identified, five studies including 1269 patients were evaluated. MS was identified as a risk factor for graft loss [relative risk, 3.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.17, 4.32; I² = 0%; P heterogeneity = 0.72] and death by CVD (relative risk, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.27, 9.85; I² = 0%; P heterogeneity = 0.40). Results on the association between MS and all‐cause mortality were inconclusive (relative risk, 2.61; 95% CI, 0.70, 9.81; I² = 58%; P heterogeneity = 0.09). Graft loss and death by CVD were associated with the presence of MS after transplantation. Randomized clinical trials should be conducted to define whether interventions on each MS component would result in better outcomes after transplantation.

Anthropometric profile and nutritional intake in patients with epilepsy

BACKGROUND quality of life impairments are common in patients with epilepsy, especially due to cardiovascular comorbidities, overweight and obesity. OBJECTIVES to evaluate the nutritional status of patients with epilepsy based on anthropometric measurements and dietary intake. METHODS this cross-sectional study involved 72 patients recruited by convenience from the Epilepsy Clinic of the Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The sample consisted of patients of both genders, aged over 18 years, who had been diagnosed with epilepsy for at least one year. The following variables were investigated: anthropometric measurements (weight and height for the assessment of BMI and nutritional status, waist circumference for the assessment of cardiovascular risk); nutritional intake based on a food frequency questionnaire; socioeconomic status based on the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria. RESULTS the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 66.7%, and 85.4% of the women had a high cardiovascular risk. Patients displayed a low frequency of seizure control (41.7%), high carbohydrate and protein intakes, as well as low mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes (including omega 3 and 6 fatty acids). No differences in nutritional status or intake were observed between patients with controlled versus uncontrolled seizures. CONCLUSIONS patients with epilepsy have comorbidities risks, as evidenced by their tendency to overweight and obesity, and abdominal obesity. Although seizure control did not appear to be related to nutritional status and intake, the presence of such comorbidities underscores the need for nutritional monitoring and intervention in these patients, with a special focus on macronutrient redistribution and on dietary fatty acid levels.

Nature of Insoluble Material Found in the Bottom of Soybean Biodiesel Storage Tank: Chemical and Microbiological Approach

During biodiesel storage, chemical reactions may occur, producing sludges. The aim of this study was to characterize the chemical and microbial composition of the sludge found in a biodiesel storage tank. The material was collected in a biodiesel production plant. The sludge chemical characterization was performed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), gas chromatography (GC), and the microbial investigation used culture-dependent techniques. The deteriogenic potential of the native microbial community was evaluated using the sludge as a microbial inoculum in a 60 day experiment. The microbial growth, biodiesel degradation, pH alterations, and the detection of esters in the aqueous phase were evaluated. The chemical analysis indicated the sludge composition as fatty acids esters and metallic ions; sterols glycosides were not detected. Seven bacteria and five fungi species were obtained from the sludge. The microbial growth analysis indicated that the native community does not have high biodiesel deteriogenic capacity.

Multivariate Control Charts Application to the Control and Quality Assurance of Biodiesel (B100)

Currently, 7 % of biodiesel are added to diesel (B7) sold throughout Brazil. The soybean oil and beef tallow are the most used, with a share of 95.6 % in production. In this context, this paper presents an analytical methodology based on multivariate control charts associated with the Fourier transform infrared by attenuated total reflectance (ATR-FTIR), for the control and quality assurance of the mixtures of tallow biodiesel with soybean biodiesel. The charts have been built using Net Analyte Signal (NAS) generating three control charts: the NAS chart that corresponds to the analyte in the sample (in this case biodiesel tallow), the interference chart corresponds to the other constituent in the sample (in this case only soybean biodiesel) and the chart residues corresponds to nonsystematic variation. Thus, it was possible to identify tallow biodiesel content in the blend, by chart NAS, and remaining problems in the production process as the low degree of conversion of the methyl esters. Based on the results achieved this analytical methodology is promising, because in a single analysis it is possible check the quality of soybean biodiesel and its blends with biodiesel from tallow.