Validation of the single-platform ISHAGE protocol for enumeration of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells in umbilical cord blood in a Brazilian center

Abstract Background This study aims to validate the single-platform method for enumeration of CD34+ cells, by comparing the performance of two different commercial kits, as well as to evaluate the efficiency of the AccuriTM C6 cytometer in providing direct counts of absolute cell numbers. Method We evaluated 20 samples from umbilical cord blood (UCB), comparing the two different methodologies for enumeration of CD34+ cells: single and dual-platform. For the assessment of the single-platform, Procount and SCE kits were used, both of which use fluorescent beads as a counting reference to obtain absolute CD34+ cells numbers. Moreover, after the acquisition of samples in flow cytometer AccuriTM C6, following the protocol established for each kit, the number of CD34+ cells was recalculated, considering the cell count provided by the AccuriTM C6. Main Results In our analysis, the results showed a strong correlation between the number of CD34+ cells/μL (r2 = 0.77) when comparing the SCE kit and the current dual-platform method. On the other hand, the comparison between Procount kit and dual-platform results showed a moderate correlation for the number of CD34+/μL cells (r2 = 0.64). Conclusion Our results showed that the AccuriTM C6 flow cytometer can be used safely, applying both the dual and single platform analysis strategy. Considering the ISHAGE protocol-based single-platform approach, as the most appropriate methodology for CD34+ cells enumeration, our results demonstrated that the SCE kit has great potential for national standardization of UCB samples analysis methodology.

Cerebrum-cervical arterial dissection in adults during sports and recreation / Dissecção arterial cérebro-cervical em adultos durante prática de esportes e recreação

Dissection of cervical arteries constitutes a medical emergency. Although relatively rarely, activities classified as sports and recreation may be a cause of arterial dissection independently of neck or head trauma. The purpose of the present paper was to present a series of cases of cerebrum-cervical arterial dissection in individuals during or soon after the practice of these sports activities. Methods Retrospective data on patients with arterial dissection related to sports and recreation. Results Forty-one cases were identified. The most frequently affected vessel was the vertebral artery. A large variety of activities had a temporal relationship to arterial dissection, and jogging was the most frequent of these. This is the largest case series in the literature. Conclusion Arterial dissection may be a complication from practicing sports.

A dissecção das artérias cervicais é uma emergência médica. Embora de forma relativamente rara, certas atividades descritas como esportes e recreação podem ser a causa de dissecção arterial independentemente de trauma de crânio ou cervical. O propósito do presente estudo é apresentar uma série de casos de dissecção de artérias cérebro-cervicais em indivíduos durante ou logo após a prática destas atividades desportivas. Métodos Dados retrospectivos de pacientes com dissecção arterial relacionada à prática de esportes e recreação. Resultados Quarenta e um casos foram identificados. A artéria mais frequentemente afetada foi a vertebral. Uma grande variedade de atividades teve relação temporal com a dissecção arterial, sendo a corrida a mais frequente delas. Esta é a maior série de casos da literatura. Conclusão Dissecção arterial pode ser uma complicação da prática de esportes.

Celularidade do sangue de cordão umbilical de gestantes hipertensas: estudo caso-controle / Cellularity of the umbilical cord blood of hypertensive pregnant women: a case control study / Celularidad de la sangre de cordón umbilical de gestantes hipertensas: estudio caso-control

OBJETIVO(S): analisar a relação entre celularidade do sangue do cordão umbilical e placentário de gestantes hipertensas e não hipertensas. MÉTODO: estudo caso-controle, com abordagem quantitativa, amostra de 73 gestantes, no período de março a setembro de 2011. Os dados fazem parte do estudo aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa sob o protocolo de número 126/10. RESULTADOS: foi concluído que 80% das bolsas de sangue de cordão umbilical e placentário coletados de gestantes com hipertensão arterial apresentaram celularidade ≥5 x 108, quantidade adequada no total de células nucleadas, atendendo aos critérios estabelecidos pela Resolução 56. CONCLUSÃO: os resultados contribuíram para a identificação de fatores que possibilitam a obtenção de um quantitativo adequado de células tronco-hematopoiéticas, resultando no aumento do número de transplantes de células tronco-hematopoiéticas no Brasil.

AIM: To analyze the relationship between the cellularity of placental and umbilical cord blood of hypertensive and non-hypertensive pregnant women. METHOD: This is a case-control study that used a quantitative approach. The sample consists of 73 pregnant women and it was conducted from March to September 2011. The data are part of the study approved by the Research Ethics Committee under protocol number 126/10. RESULTS: It was found that 80% of the Umbilical Cord and placental blood bags collected from pregnant women with hypertension presented cellularity ≥5 x 108. This is the appropriate amount in relation to the totality of nucleated cells, given the criteria established by Resolution 56. CONCLUSION: The results contributed to the identification of factors that make it possible to obtain an adequate number of hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in the increased number of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Brazil.

OBJETIVO(S): analizar la relación entre celularidad de la sangre del cordón umbilical y placentario de gestantes hipertensas y no hipertensas. MÉTODO: estudio caso-control, con abordaje cuantitativo, muestra de 73 gestantes, en el período de marzo a septiembre de 2011. Los datos hacen parte del estudio aprobado por el Comité de Ética en Investigación bajo el protocolo de número 126/10. RESULTADOS: fue concluido que 80% de las bolsas de sangre de cordón umbilical y placentario colectados de gestantes con hipertensión arterial presentaron celularidad ≥5 x 108, cantidad adecuada en el total de células nucleadas, atendiendo a los criterios establecidos por la Resolución 56. CONCLUSIÓN: los resultados contribuyeron para la identificación de factores que posibilitan la obtención de un cuantitativo adecuado de células madre-hematopoyéticas, resultando en el aumento del número de trasplantes de células madre-hematopoyéticas en Brasil.

Células-tronco de origem hematopoéticas: expansão e perspectivas de uso terapêutico / Hematopoietic stem cells: expansion and perspectives for therapeutic use

A célula-tronco hematopoética (CTH) tem um enorme potencial para reconstituir o sistema hematopoético, o que permitiu o desenvolvimento de estratégias de terapias celulares para doenças neoplásicas ou não. Em paralelo com os avanços clínicos, estudos sobre os mecanismos moleculares que levam as células-tronco hematopoéticas a decidir pela autorrenovação, diferenciação ou apoptose têm contribuído para o conhecimento de como controlar a cinética da CTH. Esta revisão tenta descrever como estes novos avanços podem ser utilizados no desenvolvimento de estratégias de expansão das CTHs para uso terapêutico.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have the potential for reconstituting the hematopoietic system a characteristic that has enabled the development of cell based therapies for neoplastic and non-malignant diseases. In parallel with these clinical advances, elucidation of molecular mechanisms controlling self-renewal, differentiation or apoptosis have contributed to our understanding of the molecular events that control HSC kinetics. This review focuses on how these advances can be translated in new strategies for HSC expansion and their use in therapies.