ABSTRACT Background: Due to laboratory logistic issues, our center has traditionally scheduled peripheral blood stem cell harvests based on timing from the start of mobilization. This has proved to be useful in some cases, but also resulted in many fruitless harvests due to poor mobilization. In order to improve the efficiency of collections and compare the effectiveness of peripheral blood CD34+ cells as a predictor with data from other reports, this study analyzed the implementation of this routine. Methods: Peripheral blood and leukapheresis samples were quantified by flow cytometry and the association between these parameters was assessed. Results: Sixty-six consecutive leukapheresis samples were collected from 34 patients after the collection of peripheral blood samples for CD34+ quantification. A moderate positive correlation was observed between peripheral blood CD34+ cell count and total CD34+ cell count/kg (r = 0.596; p-value < 0.001). A multivariable regression model also confirmed this association and allowed the estimation that for every increase in five CD34+ cells/µL in the peripheral blood, a mean increase of 0.38 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg could be predicted. Demographic characteristics, baseline comorbidities and mobilization regimen did not influence final CD34+ cell count in this sample. Conclusions: As observed in other centers, quantification of peripheral blood CD34+ progenitor cells is a strong predictor of effectiveness to guide stem cell harvesting. Due to the results of this study, a modification in the peripheral blood stem cell harvesting logistics was implemented at our center in order to incorporate this routine.

Introdução e objetivo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a prevalência de hepatite C em 649 pacientes diagnosticados com doença renal aguda ou crônica − eles se submeteram a tratamento hemodialítico em uma unidade de hemodiálise de um hospital de grande porte de Porto Alegre-RS, de janeiro a dezembro de 2012 −, bem como relacionar os dados encontrados com os apresentados no censo nacional, relatar casos de coinfecção de hepatite C e vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) e, finalmente, conhecer o perfil demográfico dos pacientes. Método: Realizou-se um estudo observacional do tipo transversal cujos dados foram obtidos por meio de informações dos prontuários eletrônicos dos pacientes. Resultado e Conclusão: A prevalência de hepatite C encontrada no presente estudo foi de 10,17% da população amostrada. Entretanto, seriam necessárias mais análises em outros centros a fim de estimar a real prevalência para infecção pelo vírus da hepatite C em pacientes submetidos a hemodiálise em Porto Alegre.

Introduction and Objective: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of hepatitis C among 649 patients diagnosed with chronic or acute kidney disease − patients were undergoing hemodialysis treatment at a large hemodialysis center in Porto Alegre-RS, from January through December, 2012 –, as well as relating our data to that presented in the national census, reporting cases of coinfection by hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and defining the demographic profile of these patients. Method: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted and data was obtained from information in patients’ electronic medical records. Result and conclusion: The prevalence of hepatitis C in this study was 10.17% of the sampled population. However, further analysis of other liver centers would be required to estimate an accurate prevalence rate of infection caused by the hepatitis C virus in patients undergoing hemodialysis in Porto Alegre.

A high performance liquid chromatographic-diode array detection method for the determination of busulfan in plasma was developed and validated. Sample preparation consisted of protein precipitation followed by derivatization with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate and liquid-liquid extraction with methyl-tert-butyl ether. Chromatograms were monitored at 277 nm. Separation was carried out on a Lichrospher RP 18 column (5 µm, 250 x 4 mm). The mobile phase consisted of water and acetonitrile (20:80, v/v). The method presented adequate specificity, linearity, precision and accuracy and allowed reliable determination of busulfan in clinical plasma samples, being applied to three patients submitted to bone marrow transplantation.

Imatinib has proved to be effective in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, but plasma levels above 1,000 ng/mL must be achieved to optimize activity. Therapeutic drug monitoring of imatinib is useful for patients that do not present clinical response. There are several analytical methods to measure imatinib in biosamples, which are mainly based on liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric or diode array spectrophotometric detection. The former is preferred due to its lower cost and wider availability. The present manuscript presents a review of the clinical and analytical aspects of the therapeutic drug monitoring of imatinib in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. The review includes references published over the last 10 years. There is evidence that the monitoring of plasmatic levels of imatinib is an useful alternative, especially considering the wide pharmacokinetic variability of this drug.

A hemoglobina A1c é o parâmetro laboratorial mais importante no monitoramento do controle metabólico de pacientes portadores de diabetes melito. Dentre as metodologias existentes para a quantificação desta fração de hemoglobina, a cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) baseada em troca catiônica apresenta a melhor precisão, sendo o método de escolha. O objetivo deste trabalho foi adaptar o método Mono S a um sistema de CLAE convencional permitindo a disponibilidade da determinação altamente seletiva de Hb A1c sem a aquisição de kits e comparar os resultados obtidos com o método imunoturbidimétrico Tinaquant® (Roche®) e com o método de cromatografia líquida Bio-Rad Variant®. O método desenvolvido apresentou precisão intra-ensaio de 1,39-3,65% e inter-ensaio de 2,80-3,02%. Os coeficientes de determinação entre os métodos foram: CLAE Mono S x Tinaquant®: r² = 0,9856 (n=60) e CLAE Mono S x Bio-Rad Variant®: r² = 0,9806 (n=16). Não foram observadas diferenças entre CLAE Mono S e Bio-Rad Variant® através de gráfico de Bland-Altman e regressão de Passing-Bablok. Foi obtida uma equação de conversão entre os valores do método teste e os valores obtidos por métodos rastreáveis ao National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP), permitindo a obtenção de valores comparáveis e intercambiáveis entre as metodologias com o uso de instrumentos convencionais de CLAE e com custo reduzido.

Hemoblobin A1c is the most important parameter for the monitoring of metabolic control of patients with diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to adapt the Mono S method to a conventional HPLC system, allowing highly selective HbA1c determination without the acquisition of kits or the use of dedicated systems The results obtained were compared to the Tinaquant® immune turbidimetric method and the Bio-Rad Variant® chromatographic method. The developed method presented intra-study precision (C.V. %) of 1.39-3.65 and inter-study precision (C.V. %) of 2.80-3.02%. The determination coefficients among methods were: HPLC Mono S x Tinaquant®: r²: 0.9856 (n=60) and HPLC Mono S x HPLC Bio-Rad Variant®: r²: 0.9806 (n=16). A conversion equation between HPLC Mono S and Bio-Rad Variant® was calculated allowing yielding comparable and interchangeable values. The HPLC Mono-S is a precise, low-cost method which yields similar values to the Bio-Rad Variant® method on conventional HPLC equipment.

A leucemia mielóide crônica (LMC) representa 15% das leucemias e apresenta três fases: crônica, acelerada e crise blástica. A partir da análise citogenética, pode ser identificado o cromossomo Philadelphia, característico da LMC. O transplante de células-tronco é o único tratamento curativo, mas é acompanhado de altas taxas de morbimortalidade, dificultando sua aplicação. A doença residual mínima é de grande importância para avaliar a resposta ao tratamento, tanto na verificação de doença residual, quanto na identificação de pacientes com alto risco de recaída. Muitas técnicas específicas têm sido introduzidas para detectar as translocações ou os produtos do cromossomo Philadelphia. A mais sensível é a Real-Time PCR, que detecta uma célula leucêmica em 10(5) células normais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a LMC, dando ênfase à utilização da técnica por Real-Time PCR.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) represents about 15% of all leukemias and has three phases: the chronic phase, accelerated phase and blast crisis. After cytogenetic analysis, the Philadelphia chromosome, characteristic of CML, can be identificated. Stem cell transplantation is the only curative treatment for CML, but it is accompanied by high levels of morbimortality, difficulting its application. The minimal residual disease is very important for the evaluation of the response to treatment, to verify the residual disease and also to identify patients with a high risk of relapse. Many specific techniques have been introduced for the detection of translocations or products of the Philadelphia chromosome; the most sensitive being Real-Time PCR which detects 1 leukemia cell in 10(5) normal cells. The aim of this study was to perform a bibliographic review of CML, with emphasis on the utilization of the Real-Time PCR technique.