Fetal rhd genotyping from maternal plasma in a population with a highly diverse ethnic background.

Objective: To establish the performance of conventional PCR as a noninvasive method for fetal genotyping, by free fetal DNA analysis of distinct RHD regions from maternal plasma, in a population of a diverse ethnic origin.

Methods: We conducted a validity of the diagnostic test by analyzing 81 plasma samples from RhD-negative Brazilian pregnant women, from 4 to 41 gestational weeks. We tested for exon 10 and intron 4 gene regions by allele specific-PCR.

Analysis in non-human primates reveals that the ancestral Band 3 gene encodes Dib and the Band 3-Memphis phenotype.

Background: The anion exchanger, Band 3, carries antigens in the Diego blood group system, and can carry the Band 3-Memphis phenotype. Although Di(b) is of high prevalence and Band 3-Memphis is of low prevalence in humans, it has been suggested that both are on the ancestral gene. We determined the orthologue nucleotide sequences corresponding to these two polymorphic sites, Di(a)/Di(b) (2561T > C; Leu854Pro) and Band 3-Memphis(166A > G; Lys56Glu) in several nonhuman primates.

Dombrock gene analysis in Brazilian people reveals novel alleles.

Background And Objectives: The Doa and Dob polymorphisms are associated with three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exon 2 of the DO gene: 378C/T, 624T/C and 793A/G for the DOA and DOB alleles, respectively. The SNPs 350C/T (JO allele) and 323G/T (HY allele) are associated with the Jo(a-) and Hy-negative phenotypes. Recently, two new DO alleles [DOB-SH (378C, 624C, 793G) and DOA-HA (378T, 624T, 793A)] were identified using microarray technology.

High-density lipoprotein subfractions in normolipidemic individuals without clinical atherosclerosis lipoprotein subfractions in an adult population.

This study evaluated the serum concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions in Brazilian adults. We analyzed the distribution of lipids in HDL2 and HDL3 in a normolipidemic population without evidence of established cardiovascular disease (CVD). A total of 93 males and 92 females, healthy and normolipidemic, volunteered to be submitted to a clinical examination, a blood collection, and to answer a questionnaire aimed at determining signs and symptoms of atherosclerotic disease.

[Decubitus ulcer and nutritional status: literature review].

In order to better understand aspects related to the nutritional assessment of patients in risk for pressure ulcers, we reviewed the national and international literature indexed on Medline and LILACS bibliographic databases, from 1987 to 2001. The aim of this research was to investigate the knowledge production on pressure ulcers and nutritional status, as well as to learn about the authors and the publication focus. We concluded that patients in risk for pressure ulcers can be early identified based on nutritional assessment, including biochemical data, anthropometric evaluation, clinical data, diet history and energetic consumption.

Characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) produced by Cupriavidus necator in solid-state fermentation.

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has recently been proposed as an alternative to submerged fermentation for the production of poly(hydroxyalkanoates). In the present work, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy were employed to investigate the chemical structure, as well as the thermal properties and the crystalline morphology of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) samples produced by SSF, using as raw material either soy cake or soy cake supplemented with 2.5% (m/m) sugarcane molasses.

Use of leukocytes as treatment for endometritis in mares experimentally infected with Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus.

This study compared four treatments for bacterial endometritis in mares experimentally infected with Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Twenty-five mares were used, 20 resistant and five susceptible to endometritis. Mares would be in estrus when infected.

Biological rhythms of biochemical serum parameters in a Brazilian population: a three-year study.

A marked decrease in analytical and post-analytical variability has been achieved in clinical laboratories by the use of automated analytical systems. Current studies are now focused on the origin of pre-analytical variability, such as that due to intra-individual differences and biological rhythms. The objective of this work was to evaluate the occurrence of biological rhythms in several biochemical serum parameters in a Brazilian population.

Rhnull syndrome: identification of a novel mutation in RHce.

Background: The deficiency of Rh proteins on red blood cells (RBCs) from individuals of the Rh(null) amorph type are the result of homozygosity for a silent RHCE in cis with a deleted RHD. A novel mutation in RHce was identified in two Caucasian Brazilian girls with the amorph type of Rh(null) who were born to parents who were first cousins.

Study Design And Methods: RBCs from the Rh(null) sisters and from family members were analyzed by serology and flow cytometry with specific antibodies.

Sex-dependent variables in the modulation of postalimentary lipemia.

Objective: To quantify in young adults the sex-dependent differences in lipemic responses to a fat meal, we measured the association of these responses with markers of atherosclerosis and determined their metabolic regulators.

Methods: Forty-nine normolipidemic volunteers, 25 women and 24 men, were matched according to age, body mass index, waist circumference, diet, physical activity, and apolipoprotein-E phenotyping. After receiving a standardized fat meal (40 g of fat/m2 of body surface area), serial blood samples were drawn for laboratory analysis.

Twelve years of the Brazilian External Quality Assessment Program in Immunohematology: benefits of the program.

The Brazilian External Quality Assessment Program in Immunohematology (BEQAPI) was introduced with the objective of evaluating the quality of diagnosis in immunohematology. From 1992 to 2003, proficiency tests for ABO grouping, Rh (D, C, c, E, e), K phenotyping, direct antiglobulin testing (DAT), antibody screening (AS), and antibody identification (AI) were performed. A total of 41 evaluations were carried out in 223 institutions.

Determinants of serum lipoprotein(a) concentration in normolipidaemic individuals without clinical atherosclerosis.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an independent risk factor for coronary artery diseases. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the determinants of plasma Lp(a) concentrations in normolipidaemic individuals.

Methods: Immunonephelometric quantification of Lp(a) was made in 177 volunteers.

High frequency of Fredrickson's phenotypes IV and IIb in Brazilians infected by human immunodeficiency virus.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is very prevalent in Brazil. HIV therapy has been recently associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for CHD that is frequently described in HIV positive patients, but very few studies have been conducted in Brazilian patients evaluating their lipid profiles.

High-yield Bacillus subtilis protease production by solid-state fermentation.

A Bacillus subtilis isolate was shown to be able to produce extracellular protease in solid-state fermentations (SSF) using soy cake as culture medium. A significant effect of inoculum concentration and physiological age on pro tease production was observed. Maximum activities were obtained for inocula consisting of exponentially growing cells at inoculum concentrations in the range of 0.

Lipase production by solid-state fermentation: cultivation conditions and operation of tray and packed-bed bioreactors.

The production of lipase by Penicillium simplicissimum in solid-state fermentation was studied using babassu cake as the basal medium. Tray-type and packed-bed bioreactors were employed. In the former, the influence of temperature; content of the medium, and medium supplementation with olive oil, sugarcane molasses, corn steep liquor, and yeast hydrolysate was studied.

[Laparoscopic adrenalectomy--experience of 10 years].

Introduction: The laparoscopic approach to the adrenal gland was first reported in 1992. Since then, many publications about this issue have come from Europe, Japan and North America. We reviewed our 10-year experience with laparoscopic adrenal surgery.

High frequency of partial DIIIa and DAR alleles found in sickle cell disease patients suggests increased risk of alloimmunization to RhD.

We have set out to determine the frequency of DIIIa and DAR alleles among sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. These D variants permit the unexpected development of antibodies to RhD among individuals who are otherwise classified as RhD+. DNA samples from 130 SCD patients were tested for 455A>C (specific for DIIIa), 602C>G, 667T>G (common for both DIIIa and DAR) and 1025T>C (specific for DAR) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequence analysis.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy in live donor.

Objective: To present the initial experience of videolaparoscopic nephrectomy in live renal donor.

Materials And Methods: In the period from April 2000 to August 2003, 50 left nephrectomies in live donor were performed by videolaparoscopy for transplantation. Twenty-eight patients were male (56%) and 22 female (44%).

Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by solid-state fermentation with Ralstonia eutropha.

The use of solid-state fermentation is examined as a low-cost technology for the production of poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) by Ralstonia eutropha. Two agroindustrial residues (babassu and soy cake) were evaluated as culture media. The maximum poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) yield was 1.

A novel FY allele in Brazilians.

The GATA box single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position -33 (T>C) in Blacks silences the expression of FY*B in erythrocytes, and the substitution 265 C>T, together with 298 G>A, weakens the Fy(b) antigen (Fy(x)). Individuals with these phenotypes/genotypes who receive Fy(b+) blood are unlikely to be alloimmunized to Fy(b) because, in the presence of 265 T, the Fy(b) antigen is expressed, and in the case of -33 C, other tissues express Duffy protein and probably the Fy(b) antigen. We studied samples from 361 blood donors (182 of African ancestry and 179 of Caucasian ancestry) by haemagglutination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

Phospholipid transfer protein activity in two cholestatic patients.

Context: Plasma phospholipid transfer protein mediates the transfer of phospholipids from triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins and low density lipoproteins to high density lipoproteins, a process that is also efficient between high density lipoprotein particles. It promotes a net movement of phospholipids, thereby generating small lipid-poor apolipoprotein AI that contains particles and subfractions that are good acceptors for cell cholesterol efflux.

Case Report: We measured the activity of plasma phospholipid transfer protein in two cholestatic patients, assuming that changes in activity would occur in serum that was positive for lipoprotein X.

Weakened expression of 'e' owing to concomitant occurrence of Cys16 and Val245 (VS antigen).

Background And Objectives: The 48 G>C transversion in exon 1 of the RHCE gene leads to Trp16Cys, usually present in the conventional RHCE Ce, while Trp16 is associated with RHCE ce. The presence of Cys16 in RHCE ce is associated with the R(0) (Dce) haplotype in Africans, leading to a weak 'e' antigen expression on red blood cells (RBCs). VS is a common red cell antigen in individuals of African descent and results from a single point mutation in exon 5 of the RHCE (733C>G), leading to Leu245Val substitution; VS positivity is also associated with weak expression of 'e'.

Isolation and cryopreservation of functionally competent equine leucocytes.

Sufficient numbers of functionally competent polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes (PMN) seem to be of major importance during the course of equine endometritis. In this study, we wanted to establish a method for cryopreservation of functionally competent neutrophils for an intended local endometritis therapy in mares. The separation of leucocytes by hypotonic lysis of whole blood from clinically healthy mares was superior to the separation by dextrose sedimentation.