Effects of gamma-irradiation on the membrane ATPases of human erythrocytes from transfusional blood concentrates.

Irradiation of blood derivatives is employed in blood banks to avoid transfusion-associated graft-vs-host disease. As irradiation can damage membranes and membrane proteins by generation of reactive oxygen species, we investigated whether the membrane permeability, Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, and Ca(2+)-ATPase from red blood cell plasma membranes were altered by gamma-irradiation. Whole blood was collected from healthy donors and concentrated to 90% cell fraction. Within 24 h of collection, blood concentrates were irradiated with 25 Gy of gamma-radiation. At days 1, 7, 14, and 28 post-irradiation, fractions were removed and centrifuged. Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities from ghost membranes were assessed by gamma-(32)P-ATP hydrolysis. The Na(+),K(+)-ATPase was not immediately affected by irradiation, but it was inhibited by 40% by day 14 and until day 28. The Ca(2+)-ATPase was unaltered by irradiation. The rate and the maximal (45)Ca(2+) uptake from re-sealed inside-out vesicles were reduced, and the passive efflux of (45)Ca(2+) was increased. Thus, irradiation of blood concentrates increased the plasma membrane permeability to monovalent and divalent cations and would change ion homeostasis and cell function. We recommend the use of irradiated blood within a period shorter than 14 days after irradiation.

HBV-DNA levels in HBsAg-positive blood donors and its relationship with liver histology.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The clinical meaning of viremia, especially at low levels, in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients remains unknown. The objective of the present study was to determine serum HBV-DNA levels and its relationship with liver histology in HBsAg-positive blood donors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 78 blood donors, with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBeAg evaluation and quantitative determination of HBV-DNA by polymerase chain reaction (Amplicor, HBV Monitor, Roche; lower limit of sensitivity 1,000 copies/mL). Liver biopsy was obtained from all patients with detectable viremia irrespective of ALT and HBV-DNA levels. RESULTS: Among 78 blood donors, serum HBV-DNA was detected in 47 (60%) patients; 39 (83%) were males; mean age 37.6+/-10.4 years; 31 (66%) were HBeAg-negative, and ALT was elevated in 26 (55%). The median of HBV-DNA levels was 24,000 copies/mL and 31 (40%) subjects had no detectable serum HBV-DNA. Although the histologic lesions were mild in the majority of patients, HBV-DNA levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis when compared with patients without histologic liver disease (25,260,000 vs. 9480 copies/mL; P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between HBV-DNA levels and necroinflammatory score (r=0.59) and fibrosis (r=0.50); however, in the subset of HBeAg-negative patients with HBV-DNA levels below 30,000 copies/mL, 25% presented histologic disease related to HBV. CONCLUSIONS: Most HBsAg-positive blood donors show low viral load. There is a significant association between viral replication and liver damage; however, low HBV-DNA levels do not exclude the presence of histologic disease.

[Prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in the Hospital of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (HUCCF)]. / Prevalência de hepatite C em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico do HUCCF-UFRJ.

BACKGROUND: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at risk for the acquisition of hepatitis C, owing to frequent hospitalization and hemotransfusion. Many clinical and laboratory manifestations related to auto-immunity are shared between Lupus and HCV infected patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C in the population with SLE monitored in the out-patient service of the special programs in--Collagenoses--of the University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho (HUCFF-UFRJ). METHODS: A Cross sectional study was performed, including 91 patients with the diagnosis of probable or definitive SLE (with 3 or more of the 11 diagnostic criteria for SLE used by the American College of Rheumatology-ACR) proceeding from the mentioned center between April/97 to September/97. Patients were evaluated on clinical and laboratory basis to determine activity of lupus disease (SLEDAI). All of patients were tested with UBI HCVEIA 4.0 assay and INNO-LIAHCV AbIII confirmatory assay. PCR was performed on all EIA positive INNO-LIAHCV AbIII assay positive patients besides 32 patients negatives in both serological assays. RESULTS: A significative increase in HCV prevalence among SLE patients was observed when compared with a control group of blood donors at HUCFF-UFRJ (6.6 and 1.39%, respectively; p = 0.02 and confidence interval of 95% = 5.5-13.8). However, if confirmative assays (INNO-LIA HCV ABIII and PCR) are used, this difference can not be observed any more HCV prevalence of 2.2% with confidence interval of 95% = 0.2-7.7). CONCLUSIONS: HCV prevalence using ELISA assay for screening showed a significant difference between SLE patients and a blood donors control group (6.6 and 1.39% respectively). However, if confirmatory assays are subsequently applied, no difference in HCV prevalence among both groups can be observed. Patients with a possible diagnosis of SLE should have a cost/benefit analysis of testing for HCV.

Prevalência de hepatite C em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico do HUCCF-UFRJ / Prevalence of Hepatitis C in patients with Systemic Erythematosus Lupus of Hospital of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (HUCFF)

Os pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) apresentam fatores de risco para a aquisiçäo de hepatite C, como hospitalizaçöes e hemotransfusöes, e compartilham com os pacientes infectados pelo vírus da hepatite C (HCV) várias manifestaçöes clínico-laboratoriais relacionadas a auto-imunidade. OBJETIVOS: O objetivo do presente estudo é determinar a prevalência de hepatite C em uma populaçäo com LES acompanhada no ambulatório de programas especiais - Colagenoses - do Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho (HUCFF-UFRJ). MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo de corte-transversal, incluindo os primeiros 91 pacientes com o diagnóstico de LES provável ou definitivo procedentes do referido ambulatório, no período de abril a setembro de 1997. Todos os doentes foram avaliados, sob o ponto de vista clínico e laboratorial, para determinaçäo de atividade de doença lúpica. Foram realizados o teste de triagem UBI HCV EIA 4.0 e o teste suplementar INNO-LIA HCV AbIII nos 91 pacientes selecionados e , em 32 pacientes escolhidos ao acaso e nos pacientes reativos aos testes imunossorológicos foi realizada a pesquisa do RNA-HCV pelo método da reaçäo de polimerizaçäo em cadeia (PCR). RESULTADOS: Observou-se um aumento significativo da prevalência de anti-HCV na amostra, quando comparada à populaçäo de doadores de sangue do HUCFF (6,6 por cento versus 1,39 por cento com o teste EIA, valor p=0,02 e intervalo de confiança 95 por cento=5,5 a 13,8), contudo , considerando-se resultados obtidos com os testes confirmatórios imunoblot e PCR aplicados em série ( prevalência de HCV de 2,2 por cento, com intervalo de confiança 95 por cento=0,2 a 7,7) , a prevalência de HCV em pacientes com LES näo parece mais alta que em doadores de sangue. CONCLUSÖES: A prevalência de hepatite C na amostra estudada utilizando-se um teste de triagem (EIA) foi significativamente maior do que a de uma populaçäo de doadores de sangue (6,6 por cento versus 1,39 por cento). Porém, aplicando-se em série os testes confirmatórios INNO-LIAâ e PCR ( prevalência de hepatite C de 2,2 por cento) parece näo haver evidências de que pacientes com LES tenham maior risco de adquirir o HCV do que a populaçäo em geral, embora a prevalência tende a ser maior que a populaçäo de doadores de sangue. Em pacientes com diagnóstico provável de LES deve-se avaliar o custo/benefício de se investigar HCV e crioglobulinemia mista essencial (CME)

Distribuiçäo de grupos sangüíneos do sistema ABO em doadores de sangue com lesöes intertriginosas em pés / Distribution of blood groups of ABO system in blood donors with intertrigc injuries in feet

Investigou-se a possível correlaçäo entre dermatofitoses e grupos sangüíneos do sistema ABO. Neste trabalho säo relatados resultados preliminares obtidos em 308 doadores de sangue saudáveis, sendo que 107 com lesöes intertriginosas em pés e 201 sem lesöes. Para análise estatística dos dados foi utilizado o teste do Qui Quadrado, näo se observando nenhuma diferença significativa entre os dois grupos

Leucemia linfoblástica aguda: análise e resultados terapêuticos em 21 casos em populaçäo näo-pediátrica / Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: report of 21 cases in non-pediatric population

Säo analisados os parâmetros clínicos e hematológicos de 21 casos de leucemia linfóide aguda acompanhadas no período de maio de 1979 a março de 1983. O índice de remissäo completa obtido foi de 60%. A percentagem de recaídas até a presente data é de 33,3%. Procurando melhorar estes índices, é proposto um protocolo mais agressivo, incluindo uma intensificaçäo precoce e modificaçäo no esquema de manutençäo, obedecendo à atual orientaçäo seguida pelos principais grupos cooperativos que vêm se dedicando ao problema da LLA no adulto