Elevated Plasma Hemoglobin Levels Increase Nitric Oxide Consumption in Experimental and Clinical Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Determinação da expressão da molécula de adesão CD56 em plasmócitos no mieloma múltiplo através de estudo imuno-histoquímico

O papel das moléculas de adesão celular, na fisiopatologia do mieloma múltiplo (MM), tem sido alvo de vários estudos nos últimos anos. A expressão de CD56 pelos plasmócitos tumorais está associada a comportamento clínico menos agressivo da doença, e sua perda tem sido descrita na fase de leucemização plasmocitária. A determinação da expressão da molécula CD56 pelos plasmócitos tumorais pode ser obtida através de citometria em fluxo, revelando positividade em 55% a 78% dos casos. No presente estudo, objetivamos verificar a expressão da molécula CD56 por plasmócitos tumorais na medula óssea de portadores de MM, utilizando o estudo imuno-histoquímico das amostras histológicas obtidas ao diagnóstico. Analisamos as amostras de medula óssea de vinte portadores de MM, e realizamos o estudo imuno-histoquímico para determinação da expressão das cadeias leves kappa e lambda e da molécula CD56 pelos plasmócitos tumorais. A expressão da molécula CD56 foi importante em três casos, moderada em seis, discreta em quatro e negativa em sete. O estudo imuno-histoquímico mostrou-se válido para determinação da expressão de CD56 por plasmócitos tumorais em portadores de MM, fornecendo resultados semelhantes aos descritos para os obtidos por citometria em fluxo. Através do estudo imuno-histoquímico, foi possível observar variações da expressão da molécula CD56.

Influence of apoptosis on the cutaneous and peripheral lymph node inflammatory response in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

In canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), the abnormalities most commonly observed in clinical examination on the animals are lymphadenomegaly and skin lesions. Dogs are the main domestic reservoir for the protozoon Leishmania (L.) chagasi and the skin is the main site of contamination by the vector insect. Some protozoa use apoptosis as an immunological escape mechanism. The aim of this study was to correlate the presence of apoptosis with the parasite load and with the inflammatory response in the skin and lymph nodes of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (L.) chagasi. Thirty-three dogs from the municipality of Araçatuba (São Paulo, Brazil) were used, an endemic area for CVL. Muzzle, ear and abdominal skin and the popliteal, subscapular, iliac and mesenteric lymph nodes of symptomatic (S), oligosymptomatic (O) and asymptomatic (A) dogs were analyzed histologically. The parasite load and percentage apoptosis were evaluated using an immunohistochemical technique. Microscopically, the lymph nodes presented chronic lymphadenitis and the skin presented plasmacytic infiltrate and granulomatous foci in the superficial dermis, especially in the ear and muzzle regions. The inflammation was most severe in group S. The parasite load and apoptotic cell density were also greatest in this group. The cause of the lymphoid atrophy in these dogs was correlated with T lymphocyte apoptosis, thus leaving the dogs more susceptible to CVL. The peripheral lymph nodes presented the greatest inflammatory response. Independent of the clinical picture, the predominant inflammatory response was granulomatous and plasmacytic, both in the skin and in the peripheral lymph nodes. The ear skin presented the greatest intensity of inflammation and parasite load, followed by the muzzle skin, in group S. The ear skin area presented a non-significant difference in cell profile, with predominance of macrophages, and a significant difference from group A to groups O and S. It was seen that in these areas, there were high densities of parasites and cells undergoing apoptosis, in group S. The association between apoptosis and parasite load was not significant in the lymph nodes, but in the muzzle regions and at the ear tips, a positive correlation was seen between the parasite load and the density of cells undergoing apoptosis. The dogs in group S had the highest parasite load and the greatest number of apoptotic cells, thus suggesting that the parasite had an immune evasion mechanism, which could be proven statistically in the skin. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Tumor venéreo transmissível canino: critérios citológicos de malignidade e caracterização citomorfológica correlacionada a imunocitoquímica e lesões de DNA

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização citomorfológica do tumor venéreo transmissível canino correlacionada com danos citogenéticos, taxa de proliferação e resposta clínica à quimioterapia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Gengivite Plasmocitária induzida por uso de pimenta

The aim of this case report is present a case in which the patient had plasma cell gingivitis induced by consumption of pepper. Patient A.M.S., male, 23 years, presented himself at the Clinic of Periodontology, complaining of severe pain, bleeding gums and tooth mobility. Interview was conducted not observing anything relevant. In oral evaluation, we observed in the anterior swollen gums, bleeding, suppuration and great touch, and tooth mobility. Being an aggressive framework in relation to patient age, we performed the following laboratory tests: complete blood count, blood sugar, and coagulation, and biopsy in the anterior inferior, because a diagnosis of lymphoma. At the end of antibiotic therapy, a significant improvement of clinical symptoms, pain relief, less swollen gums and reduce the suppuration and mobility. Laboratory tests showed no change. Fifteen days later, the patient returned with worsening of clinical status. The pathological diagnosis was plasma cell gingivitis and then performed a new history by placing greater emphasis on dietary habits, and the patient reported consumption of pepper in their meals, and relate this to clinical presentation. After elimination of pepper diet the patient showed remission of clinical data.

Plasmacytoma in the oral cavity: a case report

The plasma cell neoplasms may present in soft tissue as extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP), in bone as a solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SPB), or as part of the multifocal disseminated disease multiple myeloma (MM). The EMP is rare, comprising around 3% of all plasma cell neoplasm. The majority (80%) occurs in the head and neck region. In this study we report a case of a man, 70 years old, melanoderm, with a lesion of the oral cavity. Upon physical examination, a lesion was found that extended throughout the posterior upper alveolar ridge, as far as the maxillary tuber on the left side, extending towards the palate. Radiographic examination, complementary laboratory exams were performed. Based on the conclusive symptoms of plasmacytoma, the patient was referred to the hematology service for treatment with local radiotherapy. The patient responded satisfactorily to the treatment, and after 15 months, all clinical symptoms of the lesion in the oral cavity had disappeared.

Immunologic aspects of West syndrome and evidence of plasma inhibitory effects on T cell function

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o perfil da deficiência imune em um grupo bem definido de epilepsia: crianças com síndrome de West (SW) e seus padrões EEG de evolução, idade-dependentes, como os complexos onda-aguda- onda lenta generalizadas da síndrome de Lenox-Gastaut (SLG) e as pontas multifocais independentes (PMI). MÉTODO: Um grupo de 50 crianças, 33 com SW, 10 com SLG, 7 com PMI e 20 crianças sadias (controle) foram avaliadas em relação aos seguintes parâmetros:determinação de subpopulações de linfócitos T (CD1, CD3, CD4 e CD8), relação CD4/CD8 e resposta proliferativa de linfócitos frente a fitohemaglutinina (PHA), na presença de plasma autólogo ou de plasma AB (homólogo). A prova cutânea de sensibilização ao Dinitroclorobenzeno (DNCB) foi realizada apenas nos pacientes. Os níveis séricos de IgG, IgA e IgM foram comparados aos valores normais em crianças Brasileiras, em diferentes faixas etárias. RESULTADOS: A resposta ao DNCB foi ausente ou fracamente reativa em 76% dos pacientes. Níveis séricos elevados de IgG (45,7%) e de IgM (61,4%) e baixos de IgA (23,9%) foram detectados nos pacientes. A determinação das subpopulações de linfócitos T em sangue periférico mostrou: deficiência nas proporções de células CD3+ (p<0,05) e de CD4+ (p<0,05), aumento de CD8+ (p<0,01) e diminuição da relação CD4 / CD8 (p<0,001). A proporção de células CD1+ no grupo controle manteve-se menor que 3%, enquanto que em 18% dos pacientes esses níveis variaram entre 3 e 11%. A resposta proliferativa de linfócitos frente a PHA revelou índices blastogênicos significativamente mais baixos apenas quando células dos pacientes foram cultivadas na presença do próprio plasma (plasma autólogo). Quando estas células foram cultivadas na presença de plasma AB, não se evidenciou diferença significativa em relação ao grupo controle. CONCLUSÃO: A imunodeficiência na SW caracterizou-se por: anergia, alteração de imunidade mediada por células e dos níveis de imunoglobulinas, presença de timócitos imaturos na circulação periférica e deficiência funcional de linfócitos T induzida por fatores plasmáticos inibidores. Discutem-se as principais evidências de disfunção imune como imunodeficiência e autoimunidade.

Cell adhesion and growth on surfaces modified by plasma and ion implantation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Cell Adhesion to Plasma-Coated PVC

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase from ectopic mineralization and rat bone marrow cell culture

Cells from rat bone marrow exhibit the proliferation-differentiation sequence of osteoblasts, form mineralized extracellular matrix in vitro and release alkaline phosphatase into the medium. Membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase was obtained by method that is easy to reproduce, simpler and fast when compared with the method used to obtain the enzyme from rat osseous plate. The membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase from cultures of rat bone marrow cells has a MWr of about 120 kDa and specific PNPP activity of 1200 U/tng. The ecto-enzyme is anchored to the plasma membrane by the GPI anchor and can be released by PIPLC (selective treatment) or polidocanol (0.2 mg/mL protein and 1% (w/v) detergent). The apparent optimum pH for PNPP hydrolysis by the enzyme was pH 10. This fraction hydrolyzes ATP (240 U/mg), ADP (350 U/ mg), glucose 1-phosphate (1100 U/mg), glucose 6-phosphate (340 Wing), fructose 6-phosphate (460 U/mg), pyrophosphate (330 U/mg) and (3glycerophosphate (600 U/mg). Cooperative effects were observed for the hydrolysis of PPi and beta-glycerophosphate. PNPPase activity was inhibited by 0.1 mM vanadate (46%), 0.1 mM ZnCl2 (68%), 1 mM levamisole (66%), 1 mM arsenate (44%), 10 mM phosphate (21%) and 1 mM theophylline (72%). We report the biochemical characterization of membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase obtained from rat bone marrow cells cultures, using a method that is simple, rapid and easy to reproduce. Its properties are compared with those of rat osseous plate enzyme and revealed that the alkaline phosphatase obtained has some kinetics and structural behaviors with higher levels of enzymatic activity, facilitating the comprehension of the mineralization process and its function. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a primaquine prodrug without red blood cell membrane destabilization property

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of target bias on magnetic field enhanced plasma immersion ion implantation

Recent studies have demonstrated that sheath dynamics in plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) is significantly affected by an external magnetic field, especially in the case when the magnetic field is parallel to the workpiece surface or intersects it at small angles. In this work we report the results from two-dimensional, particle-in-cell (PIC) computer simulations of magnetic field enhanced plasma immersion implantation system at different bias voltages. The simulations begin with initial low-density nitrogen plasma, which extends with uniform density through a grounded cylindrical chamber. Negative bias voltage is applied to a cylindrical target located on the axis of the vacuum chamber. An axial magnetic field is created by a solenoid installed inside the target holder. A set of simulations at a fixed magnetic field of 0.0025 T at the target surface is performed. Secondary electron emission from the target subjected to ion bombardment is also included. It is found that the plasma density around the cylindrical target increases because of intense background gas ionization by the electrons drifting in the crossed E x B fields. Suppression of the sheath expansion and increase of the implantation current density in front of the high-density plasma region are observed. The effect of target bias on the sheath dynamics and implantation current of the magnetic field enhanced PIII is discussed. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.