A combination of immunosuppressants may improve outcomes due to the synergistic effect of their different action mechanisms. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the best immunosuppressive protocol after liver transplantation. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tacrolimus associated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in patients undergoing liver transplantation. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Eight randomized trials were included. The proportion of patients with at least one adverse event related to the immunosuppression scheme with tacrolimus associated with MMF was 39.9%. The tacrolimus with MMF immunosuppression regimen was superior in preventing acute cellular rejection compared with that of tacrolimus alone (risk difference [RD]=-0.11; p =0.001). The tacrolimus plus MMF regimen showed no difference in the risk of adverse events compared to that of tacrolimus alone (RD=0.7; p=0.66) and cyclosporine plus MMF (RD=-0.7; p=0.37). Patients undergoing liver transplantation who received tacrolimus plus MMF had similar adverse events when compared to patients receiving other evaluated immunosuppressive regimens and had a lower risk of acute rejection than those receiving in the monodrug tacrolimus regimen.

RESUMO - RACIONAL: O câncer colorretal é a terceira neoplasia mais frequente e metade dos pacientes desenvolvem metástase hepática. O melhor fator prognóstico na metástase hepática de câncer colorretal (MHCCR) é a possibilidade de ressecção com margens livres, porém a maioria permanece irressecável. O racional em realizar transplante hepático (TH) em pacientes portadores de MHCCR está na ampliação do número de pacientes ressecáveis através de uma hepatectomia total. OBJETIVO: Apresentar protocolo brasileiro para realização de transplante hepático em pacientes com MHCCR irressecável. MÉTODO: O protocolo foi realizado por duas instituições com grande volume de ressecções e transplantes hepáticos no Brasil, baseado no trabalho realizado pela Universidade de Oslo. A elaboração foi dividida em 4 etapas. RESULTADO: É apresentada proposta de protocolo para esta doença a ser validada na aplicação clínica. CONCLUSÃO: Foi possível elaborar protocolo de transplante hepático para MHCCR irressecável a fim de uniformizar o tratamento e melhor avaliar os resultados cirúrgicos.

ABSTRACT - BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common neoplasm, and half of the patients with CRC develop liver metastasis. The best prognostic factor for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is the possibility of performing a resection with free margins; however, most of them remain unresectable. The justification for performing liver transplantation (LT) in patients with CRLM regards an increase in the number of resectable patients by performing total hepatectomy. AIM: The aim of this study was to provide a Brazilian protocol for LT in patients with unresectable CRLM. METHOD: The protocol was carried out by two Brazilian institutions, which perform a large volume of resections and LTs, based on the study carried out at the University of Oslo. The elaboration of the protocol was conducted in four stages. RESULT: A protocol proposal for this disease is presented, which needs to be validated for clinical use. CONCLUSION: The development of an LT protocol for unresectable CRLM aims to standardize the treatment and to enable a better evaluation of surgical results.

RESUMO Racional: O colangiocarcinoma hilar representa mais da metade de todos os casos de colangiocarcinoma; tem prognóstico reservado e sobrevida global mediana de 12- 24 meses após o diagnóstico. A proposta de realizar transplante hepático surgiu para ampliar a possibilidade de margens livres através de hepatectomia total nos portadores de tumoresirressecáveis com melhor prognóstico. Objetivo: Apresentar protocolo brasileiro para realização de transplante hepático em pacientes com colangiocarcinoma hilar. Método: O protocolo foi realizado por duas instituições com grande volume de ressecções e transplantes hepáticos no Brasil, baseado no trabalho realizado pela MayoClinic. A elaboração foi dividida em quatro etapas. Resultado: É apresentada proposta de protocolo para esta doença a ser validada na aplicação clínica. Conclusão: Foi possível elaborar protocolo de transplante hepático para colangiocarcinoma a fim de uniformizar o tratamento e melhor avaliar os resultados cirúrgicos.

ABSTRACT Background: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma represents more than half of all cholangiocarcinoma cases, having poor prognosis and presenting a median overall survival after diagnosis of 12-24 months. In patients who have unresectable tumors with a better prognosis, the proposal to perform liver transplantation emerged for expanding the possibility of free margins by performing total hepatectomy. Aim: To provide a Brazilian protocol for liver transplantation in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Method: The protocol was carried out by two Brazilian institutions which perform a large volume of resections and liver transplantations, based on the study carried out at the Mayo Clinic. The elaboration of the protocol was conducted in four stages. Result: A protocol proposal for this disease is presented, which needs to be validated for clinical use. Conclusion: The development of a liver transplantation protocol for cholangiocarcinoma aims not only to standardize the treatment, but also enable a better assessment of the surgical results in the future.

RESUMO Objetivo Apresentar a série de hemangiomas agressivos da instituição, com uma revisão das opções de manejo descritas na literatura. Métodos Trata-se de um levantamento retrospectivo dos hemangiomas vertebrais agressivos atendidos pelo serviço nos últimos 10 anos, com confirmação histológica do diagnóstico e seguimento mínimo de um ano. Foi feita análise dos casos e revisão da literatura, com ênfase nas opções de tratamento dessas lesões. Resultados Foram encontrados sete casos, três com dor e quatro com déficits neurológicos graves. Dois pacientes foram tratados com descompressão aberta, um com descompressão aberta e cimentação, um com descompressão aberta e artrodese, um com biópsia e cimentação, um com biópsia percutânea e um com biópsia aberta seguida de cirurgia descompressiva. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à radioterapia. Houve regressão significativa dos déficits da apresentação, mas uma paciente desenvolveu déficit irreversível durante o tratamento. Não houve recidivas ou complicações tardias no período de acompanhamento. Conclusões A descompressão cirúrgica nos pacientes com déficit neurológico significativo é um ponto de consenso na literatura. A ressecção subtotal seguida de radioterapia foi eficaz no tratamento dos déficits e no controle da patologia. Casos manifestos apenas por dor podem ser manejados com técnicas minimamente invasivas, seguidas ou não de radioterapia. Nível de evidência IV; Estudo terapêutico de série de casos.

ABSTRACT Objectives To present a series of aggressive hemangiomas of the institution, with a review of the management options described in the literature. Methods This is a retrospective survey of aggressive vertebral hemangiomas treated by the service in the last 10 years, with histological confirmation of the diagnosis and a minimum follow-up of 1 year. The case analysis and literature review were conducted with emphasis on treatment options for these injuries. Results Seven cases were found, three with pain and four with severe neurological deficits. Two patients were treated with open decompression, one with open decompression and cementation, one with open decompression and arthrodesis, one with biopsy and cementation, one with percutaneous biopsy, and one with open biopsy followed by decompression surgery. All patients underwent radiotherapy. There was a significant regression of presentation deficits, but one patient developed an irreversible deficit during treatment. There were no recurrences or late complications in the follow-up period. Conclusions Surgical decompression in patients with significant neurological deficit is a point of consensus in the literature. Subtotal resection followed by radiation therapy was effective in treating deficits and controlling pathology. Cases manifesting pain only can be managed with minimally invasive techniques, whether or not they are followed by radiotherapy. Level of evidence IV; Therapeutic study of case series.

RESUMEN Objetivo Presentar la serie de hemangiomas agresivos de la institución, con una revisión de las opciones de manejo descritas en la literatura. Métodos Se trata de un levantamiento retrospectivo de los hemangiomas vertebrales agresivos atendidos por el servicio en los últimos diez años, con confirmación histológica del diagnóstico y un seguimiento mínimo de un año. Fue hecho análisis de los casos y revisión de la literatura, con énfasis en las opciones de tratamiento de esas lesiones. Resultados Fueron encontrados siete casos, tres con dolor y cuatro con déficits neurológicos graves. Dos pacientes fueron tratados con descompresión abierta, uno con descompresión abierta y cementación, uno con descompresión abierta y artrodesis, uno con biopsia y cementación, uno con biopsia percutánea y uno con biopsia abierta seguida de cirugía descompresiva. Todos los pacientes fueron sometidos a radioterapia. Hubo regresión significativa de los déficits de presentación, pero una paciente desarrolló déficit irreversible durante el tratamiento. No hubo recidivas o complicaciones tardías en el período de acompañamiento. Conclusiones La descompresión quirúrgica en los pacientes con déficit neurológico significativo es un punto de consenso en la literatura. La resección subtotal seguida de radioterapia fue eficaz en el tratamiento de los déficits y en el control de la patología. Los casos manifestados solo por dolor pueden ser manejados con técnicas mínimamente invasivas, seguidas o no de radioterapia. Nivel de evidencia IV; Estudio terapéutico de serie de casos.

ABSTRACT Chemical speciation of the soil solution is an important tool to identify Al species related to phytotoxicity. In some Brazilian acid soils, the Al extractable by the KCl 1.0 mol L -1 solution (Al-KCl) exceeds 10 cmol c kg -1 and even then, in some situations, it does not cause toxicity to the plants. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between these high concentrations of Al-KCl found in some Brazilian acid soils and the activity of the different Al chemical species in the soil solution, as well as the response of soybean and corn plants to lime application. Subsurface horizon (B) samples of five soils were collected in four states of Brazil (AC, PE, RS, and SC) from areas that had never been cultivated. The samples were then given increasing rates of limestone, equivalent to that required to neutralize 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.00 times the contents of H+Al and were incubated for 98 days. After that period, the soils were fertilized and planted to soybean and corn in the greenhouse for 60 and 45 days, respectively, in 2015. The experimental units consisted of 8 L pots, filled with 5 kg of soil (dry basis). After each crop, the plants and soil samples were collected to determine the leaf, stem, and root dry matter, and chemical composition. In the soil solution, cations and anions, pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved organic carbon were quantified. The distribution of the Al species was evaluated using the program Minteq. Free Al (Al 3+ ) was the species found in highest proportion in treatments without limestone, in all soils. Application at the lowest limestone rate, equivalent to 25 % of that required for H+Al neutralization, was sufficient to decrease Al activity in the soil solution to levels considered non-toxic to plants in four of the five soils. High levels of Al-KCl are not related to manifestation of toxicity and to Al 3+ activity in the solution of Hapludult (Acre profile 9; AC9) and Hapludult (Rosario do Sul; RS) since dry matter (DM) production in these soils was little influenced by liming, unlike what occurred in the Hapludult (Pernambuco; PE), Humudepts (Bom Retiro; BR), and Kandiudox (Curitibanos; CB) soils, in which Al-KCl contents were related to Al activity in the solution and to DM production of the plants grown in them.

ABSTRACT Quantification of ammonia volatilization after addition of animal residues and nitrogen (N) mineral fertilizers to the soil is important for N management in fertilization programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding a urease inhibitor to N fertilizers to minimize ammonia losses following soil application. The experiment was carried out in a laboratory with samples of a Brazilian Oxisol containing 790 g kg-1 clay and 23 g kg-1 organic matter. Treatments consisted of addition of poultry litter (PL), organic mineral fertilizer (OMF) and urea to the soil, with and without the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), plus a control with no fertilizer. We applied the fertilizers over the soil surface, with no soil incorporation, at a rate of 200 mg kg-1 N. Experimental units consisted of PVC tubes with a diameter of 0.15 m, containing 1.0 kg of soil (dry basis). Ammonia volatilization was measured for 56 days following fertilizer application to the soil using sponge discs impregnated with phosphoric acid and glycerin, which were fitted inside the tubes 0.15 m above the soil surface. Ammonia volatilization peaks varied according to the fertilizer, and most of them occurred in the first 15 days following application to the soil. Total ammonia volatilized from the soil treated with PL or OMF had no influence on the urease inhibitor, probably because the losses were small, attaining a maximum of 2.5 and 9 % of the total N applied, respectively. In the treatment that received urea, NBPT delayed the peak of volatilization by three weeks and decreased the loss of ammonia from 22 to 9 % of the N applied. Use of urease inhibitor does not always decrease ammonia volatilization, especially when mixed with fertilizers in which urea is not the only source of N.