Retinal ischemia as the first manifestation of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome / Isquemia retiniana como primeira manifestação da síndrome do anticorpo antifosfolipídio

ABSTRACT Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is characterized by the development of venous and/or arterial thrombosis and by gestational morbidity (recurrent fetal losses) in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. We report the case of a 38-year-old woman who was diagnosed with primary APS from thromboembolic abnormalities in the retinal periphery that led to retinal ischemia. The aim of this study is to share with physicians and medical undergraduates an atypical manifestation of the syndrome that is the most common acquired thrombophilia, that should be part of the diagnostic routine of all clinical specialties.

RESUMO A síndrome do anticorpo antifosfolipídio (SAAF) caracteriza-se pelo desenvolvimento de tromboses venosas e/ou arteriais e pela morbidade gestacional (perdas fetais recorrentes) na presença de anticorpos antifosfolipídicos. Foi relatado o caso de uma paciente de 38 anos que foi diagnosticada com SAAF primária, a partir de alterações tromboembólicas na periferia da retina, que levaram à isquemia retiniana. O objetivo desse estudo é compartilhar com médicos e acadêmicos de medicina uma manifestação atípica da síndrome que é a trombofilia adquirida mais comum, devendo fazer parte da rotina diagnóstica de todas as especialidades clínicas.

Mieloma múltiplo aos 30 anos: o avesso da epidemio / Multiple myeloma at 30: the reverse of the epidemiology

Mieloma múltiplo é uma neoplasia maligna resultante da proliferaçãoclonal de plasmócitos no microambiente da medula óssea.É doença relacionada à senilidade, com pico de incidência entre60 e 70 anos, sendo incomum em pessoas jovens. Caracteriza-sepela produção de imunoglobulinas monoclonais e disfunçãoorgânica, incluindo doença óssea, anemia, insuficiência renal ehipercalcemia. O tratamento depende da idade principalmentebiológica do paciente, sendo indicada para os pacientes comidade inferior a 65 anos e sem comorbidades importantes terapiade indução com múltiplas drogas (por exemplo: talidomida,lenalidomida e bortezomibe), transplante de células-troncohematopoéticas e manutenção pós-transplante com talidomidaou lenalidomida. Descrevemos o caso de um paciente com mielomamúltiplo diagnosticado aos 30 anos de idade, submetidoa transplante autólogo de células-tronco hematopoéticas comterapia de manutenção com talidomida, que mantém remissãocompleta da doença até então.(AU)

Multiple myeloma is a neoplastic disorder that is originatedfrom clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in thebone marrow microenvironment. It is a disease of the elderly,with a peak incidence between 60 and 70 years of age and itis uncommon in young people. The disease is characterizedby monoclonal protein production and associated organdysfunction, including bone disease, anemia, renal insufficiencyand hypercalcemia. The treatment is mainly related to biologic age and it is usually recommended for patients under the ageof 65 years who do not have substantial comorbidities theinduction therapy with multiple drugs (such as thalidomide,lenalidomide, or bortezomib), plus hematopoietic stem-celltransplantation and maintenance therapy with thalidomide orlenalidomide after transplantation. This case report is about a30-year-old man diagnosed with multiple myeloma treated withautologous stem-cell transplantation and maintenance therapywith thalidomide, who has been remaining in remission.(AU)

Differential expression of apoptosis-related genes from death receptor pathway in chronic myeloproliferative diseases.

BACKGROUND: Chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) are clonal haematopoietic stem cell malignancies characterised by an accumulation of mature myeloid cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood. Deregulation of the apoptotic machinery may be associated with MPD physiopathology. AIMS: To evaluate expression of death receptors' family members, mononuclear cell apoptosis resistance, and JAK2 allele burden. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Bone marrow haematopoietic progenitor CD34 cells were separated using the Ficoll-hypaque protocol followed by the Miltenyi CD34 isolation kit, and peripheral blood leukocytes were separated by the Haes-Steril method. Total RNA was extracted by the Trizol method, the High Capacity Kit was used to synthesise cDNA, and real-time PCR was performed using SybrGreen in ABIPrism 7500 equipment. The results of gene expression quantification are given as 2(-ΔΔCt). The JAK2 V617F mutation was detected by real-time allelic discrimination PCR assay. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by the Ficoll-hypaque protocol and cultured in the presence of apoptosis inducers. RESULTS: In CD34 cells, there was mRNA overexpression for fas, faim and c-flip in polycythaemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythaemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF), as well as fasl in PMF, and dr4 levels were increased in ET. In leukocytes, fas, c-flip and trail levels were increased in PV, and dr5 expression was decreased in ET. There was an association between dr5 and fasl expression and JAK2V617F mutation. PBMCs from patients with PV, ET or PMF showed resistance to apoptosis inducers. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate deregulation of apoptosis gene expression, which may be associated with MPD pathogenesis leading to accumulation of myeloid cells in MPDs.

Deregulated expression of A1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Mcl-1 antiapoptotic proteins and Bid, Bad, and Bax proapoptotic genes in polycythemia vera patients

Apoptosis deregulation might have a role in the pathophysiology of polycythemia vera (PV). This study evaluated Bcl-2 molecule expression in CD34+ cells and leukocytes in 12 PV patients. Gene expression was investigated by real time PCR using SybrGreen Quantitect kit and protein expression was evaluated by western-blotting. JAK2 V617F mutation was detected according to Baxter et al (2005). CD34+ cells from PV patients presented higher levels of A1 and Mcl-1 expression (median: 22.6 and 5.2, respectively) in comparison with controls (0.9 and 0.5, p=0.004 and p=0.020); while Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression decreased in PV patients (0.18 and 1.19) compared with controls (1.39 and 2.01, p=0.006 and p=0.020). CD34+ cells in PV patients showed an elevated Bid expression (14.4) in comparison with healthy subjects (1.0; p=0.002). Patients' leukocytes showed an A1 augmentation (7.41, p=0.001) and a reduced expression of Bax (0.19; p=0.040) and Bad (0.2; p=0.030). There was no correlation between JAK2 V617F allele burden and molecular expression. PV patients showed alterations in Bcl-2 members' expression, which may interfere with control of apoptotic machinery and contribute to disease pathogenesis.

A desregulação da apoptose parece participar da fisiopatologia da policitemia vera (PV). Este estudo avaliou a expressão das moléculas da família Bcl-2 em células hematopoéticas CD34 + e leucócitos de 12 pacientes com PV. Foram realizados: a quantificação da expressão gênica por PCR em tempo real utilizando kit Sybrgreen Quantitect, avaliação da expressão de proteínas por western-blot e detecção da mutação JAK2 V617F segundo Baxter et al. (2005). Células CD34 + dos pacientes com PV apresentaram maior expressão de A1 e Mcl-1 (mediana: 22,6 e 5,2, respectivamente) em comparação com controles (0,9 e 0,5, p = 0,004 e p = 0,020) e expressão de Bcl-2 e Bcl-xL diminuída nestes pacientes (0,18 e 1,19) em relação aos controles (1,39 e 2,01, p = 0,006 e p = 0,020). Células CD34 + dos pacientes com PV mostraram expressão elevada de bid (14,4) em comparação aos controles (1,0; p = 0,002). Leucócitos dos pacientes mostraram aumento de A1 (7,41, p = 0,001) e expressão reduzida do Bax (0,19; p = 0,04) e Bad (0,2; p = 0,030). Não houve correlação entre percentagem de alelos JAK2 V617F mutados e expressão molecular. Pacientes com PV apresentaram alterações na expressão de moléculas Bcl-2 que podem interferir no controle da apoptose e contribuir para a patogênese da doença.

Rotura uterina espontânea precoce em gravidez de 20 semanas / Early spontaneous uterine rupture in twenty weeks pregnancy

O presente trabalho relata um caso de rotura uterina espontânea e precoce em paciente de 22 anos, com história de três cesáreas anteriores, tendo a última ocorrido há oito meses. A paciente deu entrada no serviço com idade gestacional de 19 semanas e seis dias, apresentando quadro inespecífico de dor abdominal e hemorragia. Com a evoluçäo insatisfatória do quadro, optou-se por intervençäo cirúrgica, sendo diagnosticada rotura uterina e realizado, portanto, tratamento näo- conservador.