RESUMO
PURPOSE: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a role in the immunosuppressive state in pancreatic cancer patients. We aimed to evaluate the changes of immune cells population including Tregs caused by gemcitabine (GEM)-based chemotherapy. METHODS: Fifty-three patients with pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study, of which 32 received GEM- based chemotherapy. Blood samples were collected before and at least 2 weeks after the last dose of chemotherapy. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were subjected to flow cytometry analysis after labeling with anti-CD4, anti-CD25, and anti-Foxp3 antibodies. Other lymphocytes and NK cell markers were also measured. The proliferative capacity of PBMCs stimulated with anti-CD3 was analyzed using H(3) thymidine. RESULTS: The percentage and number of Tregs were significantly decreased after chemotherapy (p = 0.032, p = 0.003, respectively). The other immune cells and the proliferative capacity did not change. CONCLUSION: This study showed that GEM-based chemotherapy produced an immunomodulatory effect via the depletion of Tregs.
Assuntos
Antimetabólitos Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Desoxicitidina/análogos & derivados , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/imunologia , Linfócitos T Reguladores/efeitos dos fármacos , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Desoxicitidina/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Citometria de Fluxo , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/sangue , GencitabinaRESUMO
PURPOSE: The pretreatment C-reactive protein (CRP) level is reported to be a prognostic indicator in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We investigated the prognostic implications of the changes in the CRP level after initial treatment in patients with HCC. We prospectively evaluated a cohort of 150 patients with newly diagnosed HCC. The patients were categorized into three groups: group 1 (n = 120) with pre- and post-treatment CRP <1.0 mg/dl, group 2 (n = 5) with pre-treatment CRP ≥1.0 mg/dl and post-treatment CRP <1.0 mg/dl, and group 3 (n = 25) with pre- and post-treatment CRP ≥1.0 mg/dl. RESULTS: The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 92.3 and 82.9 % for group 1, 80.0 and 53.3 % for group 2, and 58.8 and 4.2 % for group 3. The overall survival rate for group 3 was significantly lower than that for group 1 (P < 0.0001), or group 2 (P = 0.003). No significant difference was found between groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.627). A multi-variate analysis showed that albumin level (P = 0.049), the CRP group (P < 0.0001), and the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score (P < 0.0001) were independently associated with the overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: A persistently elevated CRP level after initial treatment is an independent marker of a poor prognosis, and normalization of the CRP level after initial treatment is associated with a better outcome in patients with HCC.
Assuntos
Proteína C-Reativa/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Biomarcadores Tumorais/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/diagnóstico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Prognóstico , Estudos Prospectivos , Análise de SobrevidaRESUMO
The Monro-Kellie doctrine states that the interior of the cranium is formed of three main components: blood, fluid and cerebral parenchyma. An increase in the volume of one or more components may increase the intracranial pressure (ICP). This doctrine also affirms that the skull cannot be expanded after the closure of the fontanels. Monro and Kellie's theory has been perfected during the last two centuries. This study leads to a new contribution that proves that even adults' consolidated skulls present volumetric changes as a consequence of ICP variations.
Assuntos
Circulação Cerebrovascular/fisiologia , Hipotensão Intracraniana/fisiopatologia , Pressão Intracraniana , Modelos Biológicos , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Postura , Transdutores de PressãoRESUMO
The aim of the method described here is to remove hemoglobin, the major contaminant in the bovine plasma obtained from slaughterhouses, by adding a mixture of 19 percent cold ethanol and 0.6 percent chloroform, followed by fibrinogen and globulin precipitation by the Cohn method and nonspecific hemagglutinin by thermocoagulation. The experimental volume of bovine plasma was 2,000 ml per batch. Final purification was performed by liquid chromatography using the ion-exchange gel DEAE-Sepharose FF. The bovine albumin thus obtained presented > or = 99 percent purity, a yield of 25.0 + or 1.2 g/l plasma and >71.5 percent recovery. N-acetyl-DL-tryptophan (0.04 mmol/g protein) and sodium caprylate (0.04 mmol/g protein) were used as stabilizers and the final concentration of albumin was adjusted to 22.0 percent (w/v), pH 7.2 to 7.3. Viral inactivation was performed by pasteurization for 10 h at 60 degres C. The bovine albumin for the hemagglutination tests used in immunohematology was submitted to chemical treatment with 0.06 percent (w/v) glutaraldehyde and 0.1 percent (w/v) formaldehyde at 37 degrees C for 12 h to obtain polymerization. A change in molecular distribution was observed after this treatment, with average contents of 56.0 percent monomers, 23.6 percent dimers, 12.2 percent trimers and 8.2 percent polymers. The tests performed demonstrated that this polymerized albumin enhances the agglutination of Rho(D)-positive red cells by anti-Rho(D) serum, permitting and improving visualization of the results
Assuntos
Animais , Bovinos , Cromatografia Líquida/métodos , Soroalbumina Bovina/isolamento & purificação , Testes de Aglutinação/métodos , Desinfetantes/farmacologia , Eletrocoagulação , Eletroforese em Acetato de Celulose , Formaldeído/farmacologia , Glutaral/farmacologia , Hemaglutininas , Polímeros , Soroalbumina Bovina/biossínteseRESUMO
The aim of the method described here is to remove hemoglobin, the major contaminant in the bovine plasma obtained from slaughterhouses, by adding a mixture of 19% cold ethanol and 0.6% chloroform, followed by fibrinogen and globulin precipitation by the Cohn method and nonspecific hemagglutinin by thermocoagulation. The experimental volume of bovine plasma was 2,000 ml per batch. Final purification was performed by liquid chromatography using the ion-exchange gel DEAE-Sepharose FF. The bovine albumin thus obtained presented > or =99% purity, a yield of 25.0 +/- 1.2 g/l plasma and >71.5% recovery. N-acetyl-DL-tryptophan (0.04 mmol/g protein) and sodium caprylate (0.04 mmol/g protein) were used as stabilizers and the final concentration of albumin was adjusted to 22.0% (w/v), pH 7.2 to 7.3. Viral inactivation was performed by pasteurization for 10 h at 60 degrees C. The bovine albumin for the hemagglutination tests used in immunohematology was submitted to chemical treatment with 0.06% (w/v) glutaraldehyde and 0.1% (w/v) formaldehyde at 37 degrees C for 12 h to obtain polymerization. A change in molecular distribution was observed after this treatment, with average contents of 56.0% monomers, 23.6% dimers, 12.2% trimers and 8.2% polymers. The tests performed demonstrated that this polymerized albumin enhances the agglutination of Rho(D)-positive red cells by anti-Rho(D) serum, permitting and improving visualization of the results.
Assuntos
Cromatografia Líquida/métodos , Soroalbumina Bovina/isolamento & purificação , Testes de Aglutinação/métodos , Animais , Bovinos , Desinfetantes/farmacologia , Eletrocoagulação , Eletroforese em Acetato de Celulose , Formaldeído/farmacologia , Glutaral/farmacologia , Hemaglutininas , Polímeros , Soroalbumina Bovina/químicaRESUMO
We detected primary human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection in 5 infants who received living related liver transplantation from their HHV-6 seropositive mothers. Primary HHV-6 infection was confirmed by demonstrating the seroconversion of HHV-6 antibodies with an immunofluorescence assay, by the isolation of the virus, or both. Seroconversion of HHV-6 immunoglobulin G antibody was demonstrated in all 5 recipients. HHV-6 was isolated from 3 of the 5 recipients between 2 and 3 weeks after transplantation. Moreover, the virus genome was detected in plasma by polymerase chain reaction in 4 of the 5 recipients during the same period. Although the 5 recipients had pyrexia at the time of primary HHV-6 infection, none of the recipients had a skin rash after defervescence. Clinical symptoms disappeared without specific antiviral treatment in all but 1 of the recipients.
Assuntos
Infecções por Herpesviridae/transmissão , Herpesvirus Humano 6 , Transplante de Fígado , DNA Viral/sangue , Feminino , Herpesvirus Humano 6/isolamento & purificação , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Complicações Pós-Operatórias , Doadores de TecidosRESUMO
A liver transplantation from an asymptomatic mother, who was a carrier of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, to her daughter, who had severe manifestation, was successfully performed. One-year monitoring of plasma amino acid and urinary orotate/orotidine levels revealed no abnormality in the urea cycle in either subject.
Assuntos
Heterozigoto , Transplante de Fígado , Doadores Vivos , Doença da Deficiência de Ornitina Carbomoiltransferase/cirurgia , Uridina/análogos & derivados , Adulto , Aminoácidos/sangue , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Ácido Orótico/urina , Resultado do Tratamento , Uridina/urinaRESUMO
We report a child with neonatal-onset propionic acidemia treated with living-related liver transplantation. Despite minimal improvement in the levels of circulating propionyl CoA metabolites, hyperammonemia was corrected, and no episode of metabolic decompensation was experienced after the transplantation was performed. Natural protein intake could be increased from 0.5 g/kg per day to 2 g/kg per day. Anemia was corrected, and the growth rate and mental development improved significantly.
Assuntos
Carboxiliases/deficiência , Transplante de Fígado , Doenças Metabólicas/cirurgia , Propionatos/sangue , ATPase Trocadora de Sódio-Potássio , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Metilmalonil-CoA DescarboxilaseRESUMO
Genome analysis was carried out on adenovirus strains isolated from patients with acute follicular conjunctivitis in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Eighteen conjunctival scrapings, collected between December 1993 and March 1994, were analyzed by two methods: a combination of polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism and viral DNA restriction analysis, carried out using 10 restriction endonucleases: BamHI, BglI, BglII, HindIII, KpnI, SacI, SalI, SmaI, XbaI, and XhoI. Among 11 adenovirus detected by cell culture isolation, nine were Ad8, and two were Ad7. By restriction analysis the Ad8 isolates were typed as two new variants-Ad8/D11 (seven of nine samples) and Ad8/D12 (two of nine samples). Ad7 isolates were identified as a subtype of the widespread genome type Ad7b and the virulent type Ad7h, a predominant genome type circulating in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay but absent in Brazil until 1991.
Assuntos
Infecções por Adenoviridae/virologia , Adenoviridae/genética , Conjuntivite Viral/virologia , Doença Aguda , Adenoviridae/classificação , Adenoviridae/isolamento & purificação , Adulto , Brasil , DNA Viral/análise , Feminino , Genótipo , Humanos , Masculino , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de RestriçãoRESUMO
In order to obtain intravenous immunoglobulin G (iv IgG) of high quality from F-I+II+III or F-II+III pastes prepared by the Cohn method, we developed a chromatography process using ion exchange gels, Q-Sepharose FF and CM-Sepharose FF, and Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. Viral inactivation was performed by incubating the preparation with pepsin at pH 4.0 at 35 degrees C for 18 h. The characteristics of 28 batches produced by us were: yield 4.3 +/- 0.2 g/l plasma, i.e., a recovery of 39.1 +/- 1.8%; IgG subclasses distribution: IgG1 = 58.4%, IgG2 = 34.8%, IgG3 = 4.5% and IgG4 = 2. 3%; IgG size distribution was 98.4% monomers, 1.2% dimers and 0.4% polymers and protein aggregates; anticomplement activity was less than 0.5 CH50/mg IgG, and prekallikrein activator activity (PKA) was less than 5 IU/ml. These characteristics satisfied the requirements of the European Pharmacopoea edition, and the regulations of the Brazilian Health Ministry (M.S. Portaria No. 2, 30/10/1998).