Ensaio quantitativo em tempo real para o DNA do vírus da hepatite B (HBV) desenvolvido para detectar todos os genótipos do HBV

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Besides genotype, quantitative analysis of HBV infection is extensively used for monitoring disease progression and treatment. Affordable viral load monitoring is desirable in resource-limited settings and it has been already shown to be useful in developing countries for other viruses such as Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV. In this paper, we describe the validation of a real-time PCR assay for HBV DNA quantification with TaqMan chemistry and MGB probes. Primers and probes were designed using an alignment of sequences from all HBV genotypes in order to equally amplify all of them. The assay is internally controlled and was standardized with an international HBV panel. Its efficacy was evaluated comparing the results with two other methods: Versant HBV DNA Assay 3.0 (bDNA, Siemens, NY, USA) and another real-time PCR from a reference laboratory. Intra-assay and inter-assay reproducibilities were determined and the mean of CV values obtained were 0.12 and 0.09, respectively. The assay was validated with a broad dynamic range and is efficient for amplifying all HBV genotypes, providing a good option to quantify HBV DNA as a routine procedure, with a cheap and reliable protocol.O vírus da Hepatite B (HBV) é uma das principais causas de doença crônica do fígado no mundo. Além do genótipo, a análise quantitativa do HBV é amplamente utilizada para monitorar a progressão da doença e o tratamento. Em locais com recursos escassos, métodos baratos para o monitoramento da carga viral são desejáveis e, em países em desenvolvimento, sua utilidade já foi demonstrada para outros vírus, como o da Hepatite C e HIV. Neste trabalho, descrevemos a validação de um teste de PCR em Tempo Real para a quantificação do DNA do HBV utilizando sondas Taqman/MGB. Os oligos e sondas foram escolhidos usando um alinhamento contendo seqüências de todos os genótipos do HBV para garantir uma amplificação igual de todos eles. O teste possui um controle interno e foi padronizado com um painel internacional de HBV. Sua eficácia foi testada comparando-se os resultados com outros dois métodos: Versant HBV DNA Assay 3.0 (bDNA, Siemens, NY, USA) e outro PCR em tempo real realizado em um laboratório de referência. As reprodutibilidades intra e inter-ensaio foram determinadas e a média dos valores de CV obtidos foram de 0,12 e 0,09, respectivamente. O teste foi validado com uma ampla faixa dinâmica e amplificou com eficiência os diferentes genótipos de HBV, fornecendo uma boa opção para a quantificação de rotina do DNA do HBV, com um protocolo barato e confiável

A Novel Assay for the Identification of NOTCH1 PEST Domain Mutations in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Aims. To develop a fast and robust DNA-based assay to detect insertions and deletions mutations in exon 34 that encodes the PEST domain of NOTCH1 in order to evaluate patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Methods. We designed a multiplexed allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with a fragment analysis assay to detect specifically the mutation c.7544 7545delCT and possibly other insertions and deletions in exon 34 of NOTCH1. Results. We evaluated our assay in peripheral blood samples from two cohorts of patients with CLL. The frequency of NOTCH1 mutations was 8.4% in the first cohort of 71 unselected CLL patients. We then evaluated a second cohort of 26 CLL patients with known cytogenetic abnormalities that were enriched for patients with trisomy 12. NOTCH1 mutations were detected in 43.7% of the patients with trisomy 12. Conclusions. We have developed a fast and robust assay combining allele-specific PCR and fragment analysis able to detect NOTCH1 PEST domain insertions and deletions

Correlation between flow cytometry and histologic findings: ten year experience in the investigation of lymphoproliferative diseases

Objective: To demonstrate the advantages of correlatingflow cytometry immunophenotyping with the pathology/immunohistochemistry of lymph nodes or nodules in the diagnosisof lymphoproliferative diseases. Methods: A retrospective studywas carried out of 157 biopsy or fine-needle aspiration lymph nodes/nodule specimens taken from 142 patients, from 1999 and 2009.The specimens were simultaneously studied with flow cytometryand pathology at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. The specimenswere prepared in hematoxylin/eosin, Giemsa, or monoclonal antibodystained slides for detecting specific antibodies for the purposesof pathology/immunohistochemical analysis. The samples werehemolyzed and marked with different monoclonal antibody panels fordifferent antigens in flow cytometry immunophenotyping. Results:The diagnostic results of pathology/immunohistochemical studiesand flow cytometry immunophenotyping agreed in 115 patients(81%), corresponding to 127 specimens, as follows according tothe pathologic diagnosis: 63 patients with non-Hodgkin’s B-celllymphoma; 26 patients with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia; 5 patientswith non-Hodgkin’s T-cell lymphoma; 4 patients with atypical lymphoidproliferation; 5 patients with a chronic granulomatous inflammatoryprocess; 5 patients with a non-hematologic diagnosis; 2 patientswith granulocytic sarcoma; 2 patients with thymoma; 1 patientwith byphenotypic leukemia; 1 patient with kappa plasmocytoma;1 patient with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Subtypes of lymphomas couldbe classified by associating the two techniques: 19 patients withfollicular lymphoma; 15 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; 7patients with small lymphocytic B-cell lymphoma/chronic lymphocyticleukemia; 3 patients with mantle cell lymphoma; 1 patient withBurkitt’s lymphoma; 1 patient with MALT type lymphoma; 1 patientwith post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease; 2 patients with highgrade non-Hodgkin’s B-cell lymphoma; 1 patient with low grade non-Hodgkin’s B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified; 1 patient withHodgkin’s lymphoma; and 12 patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin’slymphoma not otherwise specified. Conclusion: Flow cytometryadds to the results of morphologic and immunohistochemical studies,facilitating a rapid and accurate diagnosis of lymphoproliferativediseases

A Novel Assay for the Identification of NOTCH1 PEST Domain Mutations in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Aims. To develop a fast and robust DNA-based assay to detect insertions and deletions mutations in exon 34 that encodes the PEST domain of NOTCH1 in order to evaluate patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Methods. We designed a multiplexed allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with a fragment analysis assay to detect specifically the mutation c.7544_7545delCT and possibly other insertions and deletions in exon 34 of NOTCH1. Results. We evaluated our assay in peripheral blood samples from two cohorts of patients with CLL. The frequency of NOTCH1 mutations was 8.4% in the first cohort of 71 unselected CLL patients. We then evaluated a second cohort of 26 CLL patients with known cytogenetic abnormalities that were enriched for patients with trisomy 12. NOTCH1 mutations were detected in 43.7% of the patients with trisomy 12. Conclusions. We have developed a fast and robust assay combining allele-specific PCR and fragment analysis able to detect NOTCH1 PEST domain insertions and deletions

Full-length genomic sequence of hepatitis B virus genotype C2 isolated from a native Brazilian patient

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is among the leading causes of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In Brazil, genotype A is the most frequent, followed by genotypes D and F. Genotypes B and C are found in Brazil exclusively among Asian patients and their descendants. The aim of this study was to sequence the entire HBV genome of a Caucasian patient infected with HBV/C2 and to infer the origin of the virus based on sequencing analysis. The sequence of this Brazilian isolate was grouped with four other sequences described in China. The sequence of this patient is the first complete genome of HBV/C2 reported in Brazil