N-acetylcysteine as a potential strategy to attenuate the oxidative stress induced by uremic serum in the vascular system.

AIMS: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression is accompanied by systemic oxidative stress, which contributes to an increase in the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is among the most studied antioxidants, but its therapeutic benefits in CKD-associated CVDs remain controversial. Here, we investigated whether NAC could inhibit the oxidative stress induced by uremia in vitro and in vivo. MAIN METHODS: Endothelial and smooth muscle cells were challenged with human uremic or non-uremic sera, and the effects of a pre-treatment with 2mM NAC were evaluated. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, protein oxidation and total glutathione/glutathione disulfide (tGSH/GSSG) ratios were measured. Five-sixths nephrectomized or sham-operated rats were orally treated (in the drinking water) with 60 mg/kg/day NAC or not treated for 53 days. Plasma cysteine/cystine reduction potential Eh(Cyss/2Cys) was determined as a novel marker of the systemic oxidative stress. KEY FINDINGS: NAC inhibited all the determined oxidative stress parameters, likely by increasing the tGSH/GSSG ratio, in both cell lines exposed to uremic serum. Orally administered NAC attenuated the systemic oxidative stress in uremic rats. SIGNIFICANCE: The present results indicate that NAC, by preventing GSH depletion in vascular cells exposed to uremic serum and by attenuating the systemic oxidative stress during CKD progression, emerges as a potential strategy to prevent the oxidative stress induced by uremic toxicity in the vascular system.

Rural-urban focus of canine visceral leishmaniosis in the far western region of Santa Catarina State, Brazil.

The aim of this work was to investigate the occurrence of canine visceral leishmaniosis (CVL) in the far western region of Santa Catarina State, bordering Argentina and Parana State, southern Brazil, where in recent years, VL has been recorded in both dogs and humans. Clinical signs, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for Leishmania investigation. Among the 252 dogs surveyed, 41 were positive by ELISA assay, 43 in IFAT (titer>40), and 55 by PCR. From the 48 positive for VL by both serological and molecular methods, 19 (39.6%) presented clinical symptoms of leishmaniosis, 35 (72.9%) were from rural areas, and 13 (27.1%) were from urban areas. This pilot study confirms the occurrence of VL among dogs in the far western region of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, with high risk of CVL outbreaks and presenting a threat to humans.

Estudo de métodos laboratoriais para o controle de qualidade de unidades transfusionais eritrocitárias no Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Paraná (Hemepar), Brasil / Studies on laboratory quality control methods of erythrocyte units for transfusion in the Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Paraná (Hemepar), Brazil

O sistema público de hemoterapia no Brasil está estruturado em hemocentros estaduais e regionais, cujos procedimentos preconizados pelo Ministério da Saúde para a garantia da qualidade envolvem seleção e cuidados com os doadores, produção e preservação de hemocomponentes, análises laboratoriais e procedimentos para garantir a destinação adequada aos receptores. As unidades transfusionais eritrocitárias (UTE) devem ser avaliadas quanto à funcionalidade dos eritrócitos após a transfusão. O presente trabalho visou estudar: porcentual de hemólise, morfologia eritrocitária, teores de meta-hemoglobina (metHb), glutationa reduzida (GSH), adenosina trifosfato (ATP), volume corpuscular médio (VCM), hemoglobina corpuscular média (HCM), concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média (CHCM) e atividade de glicose 6-fosfato desidrogenase (G6-PD). Foram estudadas 19 UTE mantidas em bolsas com salina-adenina-glucose-manitol (SAGM), preparadas a partir de unidades de sangue total (ST), da rotina do Laboratório de Controle de Qualidade de Hemocomponentes do Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Paraná (Hemepar). Os eritrócitos apresentaram índices adequados de morfologia e integridade celular e baixos teores de hemólise. A partir de uma análise do conhecimento científico atualizado, das normas preconizadas pela RDC 153/2004 da Anvisa, das atividades rotineiras praticadas no Hemepar e dos resultados obtidos, recomenda-se o monitoramento da lesão de estoque. Sugere-se a implementação, a cada duas semanas, de preservação das UTE, das determinações de porcentagem de discócitos, índice de hemólise a partir da dosagem de cianometa-hemoglobina extracelular, VCM, HCM, CHCM, metaHb e GSH, considerando-se que, desta forma, se poderá contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade da hemoterapia.

For quality control, the Brazilian government hemotherapy system is structured in State and Regional Blood Transfusion Services. Quality control includes careful selection of donors, production and preservation of blood components, laboratorial analyses and procedures to guarantee adequate supply to transfusion patients. Red cell units for transfusion should be evaluated for post-transfusion survival of erythrocytes. The aim of this work was to study the percentage of hemolysis, the erythrocyte morphology, methemoglobin (MetHb), glutathione (GSH), and adenosine triphosphate concentrations (ATP), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6-PD) Activity. Nineteen red cell units maintained in bags containing SAGM, prepared from whole blood units were studied in the Quality Control Laboratory of the Center of Hematology and Hemotherapy of Paraná (Hemepar). The units proved to have appropriate morphology and cellular integrity indexes and low hemolysis rates. Starting from an analysis of recent scientific developments on norms recommended by the Brazilian Health Inspection Service (RDC 153/2004 of the Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária - Anvisa), routine activities of Hemepar and our results, we recommend monitoring for storage degradation. Two-week inspections of red cell units, including an evaluation of discocyte percentages, hemolysis indexes based on the concentration of extracellular cyanomethemoglobin and MCV, MCH and MCHC; metaHb and GSH concentrations, may contribute to the quality of hemotherapy.

Protective action of deferiprone and deferoxamine in erythrocytes isolated from patients with B-thalassemias / Ação protetora de deferiprona e desferoxamina nos eritrócitos isolados de pacientes com B-talassemias

One of the most deleterious consequences of iron overload in thalassemia is the presence of non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI), a free radical that acts as a catalyst for free oxygen radicals, in particular for hydroxyl free radicals (OH.). These radicals oxidize both membrane lipids and proteins causing irreversible damage to biologically important molecules and cellular structures. Treatment with iron chelators has been important to improve survival of these individuals. The aim of this work was the study on the effects of deferoxamine (DFO) and deferiprone (DFP) on erythrocytes under the pro-oxidative action of TBHP isolated from normal individuals and patients with β-thalassemia. The in vitro action of deferoxamine and deferiprone on the oxidative metabolism of erythrocytes from β-thalassemic patients treated at the Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Paraná (HEMEPAR), Brazil, under the pro-oxidative action of TBHP was studied. Methemoglobin concentrations, reduced glutathione (GSH), hemolysis indexes and the enzyme activities of G6-PD and GR were determined. The oxidation indexes were higher in erythrocytes of β-thalassemic individuals than those from normal individuals. Treatment of the normal and β-thalassemic erythrocytes with DFO and/or DFP protected against the formation of GSH promoted by TBHP.

Uma das maiores consequências da sobrecarga do ferro na β-talassemia é a presença de ferro não ligado à transferrina (NTBI), um radical livre que age como um catalisador do radical livre do oxigênio, particularmente radical hidroxil (OH.). Estes radicais oxidam os lipídeos e as proteínas da membrana causando danos irreversíveis às moléculas biologicamente importantes e às estruturas celulares. O tratamento com quelantes do ferro é importante para a melhoria da sobrevivência destes indivíduos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o estudo sobre o efeito da desferoxamina (DFO) e da deferiprona (DFP) em eritrócitos isolados de indivíduos normais e de pacientes com β-talassemias, sob a ação pró-oxidativa de TBHP. Neste trabalho foi estudada a ação in vitro da desferoxamina e o deferiprona no metabolismo oxidativo dos eritrócitos de pacientes β-talassêmicos atendidos no Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Paraná (Hemepar), Brasil, sob a ação pró-oxidativa de TBHP. Concentrações de metahemoglobina glutationa reduzida, índices de hemólises, atividades das enzimas G6PD e GR foram determinadas. Os índices de oxidação analisados foram maiores nos eritrócitos de indivíduos β-talassêmicos do que nos normais. Tratamentos dos eritrócitos normais e β-talassêmicos com DFO e/ou DFP protegem contra a oxidação de GSH promovida por TBHP.

Analysis of manual reticulocyte counts in the clinical laboratories of Ponta-Grossa and Campos Gerais, PR, Brazil

Reticulocyte counts are widely used in laboratories to evaluate bone marrow erythropoietic activity and have great diagnostic and prognostic importance in the treatment of anemias. Reticulocytes are supravitally stained with new methylene blue or brilliant cresyl blue, which highlight the characteristic aspect of the reticulum visible by light microscopy. Known criteria were observed for good manual reticulocyte counting with special attention being paid to the preparation of reticulocyte slides, to counting fields without overlapping cells, and to the number of evaluated cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter-observer variation and also to analyze the statistical error of manual reticulocyte counting. The Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) according to Bartko was used to evaluate the level of agreement among 12 laboratory technicians who evaluated the same 25 blood smears. The results of statistical analyses showed that the amount of random error, defined as (1-r2), varied from 4 percent to 60 percent among the technicians. Although imprecision occurred, the overall profiles were quite similar, and intraclass correlation coefficients indicated that the results obtained have clinical significance.

A contagem do reticulócitos é usada extensamente na rotina laboratorial para avaliar a atividade eritropoiética da medula óssea, e é de grande importância no diagnóstico e no prognóstico na terapia de anemias hemolíticas. São coradas com o azul de metileno novo e o azul cresil brilhante, o que conferem o aspecto característico de retículo quando observado ao microscópioótico. Critérios conhecidos foram observados para um bom desempenho da contagem manual de reticulócitos, principalmente, atenção especial nas películas do sangue durante a montagem das lâminas; contagem nos campos que não contém sobreposição celular; e também no número de células avaliadas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a variação interobservadores, analisar o erro estatístico da contagem manual dos reticulócitos, e demonstrar as limitações deste método. A análise de correlação intraclasses segundo Bartko [Psychol Rep 19:3,1966; 34:418,1974] foi usada para avaliar a concordância entre 12 observadores em um total de 25 lâminas do sangue, com contagens variadas de reticulócitos. Os resultados das análises estatísticas indicam que o erro casual, calculado como (1-r2) variou de 4 a 60 por cento entre os observadores. Embora ocorra imprecisão entre os observadores, o perfil geral entre eles é similar, e o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse indicou que os resultados obtidos são clinicamente úteis.