Clinical relevance and frequency of cytoplasmic and nuclear dense fine speckled patterns observed in ANA-HEp-2.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the frequency and antibody titers of nuclear dense fine and cytoplasmic patterns with possible clinical correlation.

Methods: From 2007 to 2009, the results of 2,788 autoantibody serological tests were assessed by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) at LAC-HUSM/UFSM, using as substrate HEp-2.

Results: Among the analyzed samples, 1,998 of them were negative for autoantibodies.

Plasmatic vitamin C in nontreated hepatitis C patients is negatively associated with aspartate aminotransferase.

Objectives: To evaluate the possible relationship between aminotransferases levels and markers of oxidative stress in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Design And Methods: Patients without treatment for hepatitis were divided in to group I (15-39 U/L); group II (41-76 U/L) and group III (81-311 U/L) of activity alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Blood markers of oxidative stress [catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS), nonprotein and protein thiol (NP-SH and P-SH) groups and vitamin C] were determined.