INTRODUÇÃO: Dengue é uma doença viral prevalente e potencialmente fatal associada à alteração da permeabilidade capilar e coagulopatia. Entretanto, não há estudos concernentes aos achados tromboelastométricos nesta doença. Realizamos o presente estudo para analisar pacientes com dengue e plaquetopenia por meio de um exame rápido, efetivo e a beira leito comparando com os exames convencionais de coagulação. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo observacional e transversal conduzido entre os dias 6 de abril a 5 de maio de 2015, em São Paulo, Brasil, durante epidemia de dengue. Foi realizado tromboelastometria ROTEM® em 53 pacientes com dengue e trombocitopenia em associação com exames convencionais de coagulação: tempo de protrombina (TP), international normalized ratio (INR), tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativado (TTPa), tempo de trombina (TT), contagem de plaquetas, fibrinogênio e d-dímero. Um grupo controle de pacientes foi estabelecido para comparação do status tromboelastométrico. RESULTADOS: Um total de 38 pacientes de 53 (71,7%) apresentaram anormalidades no INTEM e 29/53 (57,4%) no EXTEM. Em contrapartida, alterações no FIBTEM foram encontradas apenas em 3/53 (5,7%). Houve significância estatística em pacientes correlacionando alterações tromboelastométricas no EXTEM e INTEM e contagem de plaquetas (p=0,052) e (p=0,005), respectivamente; assim como os valores de fibrinogênio (p=0,006) e (p=0,021), respectivamente. O grupo controle (GC) apresentou status tromboelastométrico normal em 10/10 (100%) na análise do INTEM, EXTEM, FIBTEM. Avaliação do EXTEM demonstrou significância estatística entre o GC e o grupo Dengue: CT (p=0,044); CFT (p<0,001); MCF (p < 0,001) e Alpha (p < 0,001). Foram observados níveis normais de fibrinogênio (mediana: 290) e altos níveis de d-dímero (mediana: 1330) com IQR (800-1840). Todos os pacientes (53/53) apresentavam trombocitopenia abaixo de 100 x 109/L (mediana 77 x 109/L) IQR (63-88). Exames convencionais de coagulação revelaram-se completamente normais: TP (mediana: 100%) IQR (90-100); INR (mediana: 1,0) IQR (1,0-1,1); TTPa (mediana: 28,9 segundos) IQR (26,0-32,5) e TT (mediana: 18,2 segundos) IQR (17,0-19,5). Apenas (7/49) 14,3% pacientes apresentaram sangramento e (3/52) 5,8% necessitou de hospitalização. Não houve associação entre alterações tromboelastométricas com sangramento ou hospitalização. CONCLUSÕES: Dengue representa um processo inflamatório intenso, mantendo níveis normais de fibrinogênio. Portanto, FIBTEM mantém-se normal promovendo boa formação do coágulo sem risco imediato de sangramento. Não houve correlação entre os achados tromboelastométricos com os exames convencionais de coagulação, sugerindo que testes viscoelásticos são exames mais sensíveis para análise de coagulopatia precoce nessa população / INTRODUCTION: Dengue is a prevalent and potentially fatal viral disease associated with plasma leakage and coagulopathy, though no information is available on thromboelastometric profile. We performed this study to analyze dengue fever patients with thrombocytopenia clot changes through point-ofcare thromboelastometry tests and standard coagulation tests. METHODS: This was an observational, transversal and cross sectional study conducted between April 6th and May 5th 2015 in São Paulo, Brazil, during a dengue outbreak. Thromboelastometry ROTEM® was performed in 53 patients with dengue and thrombocytopenia, in association with conventional coagulation tests: prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), thrombin time (TT); platelet count, fibrinogen level, and d-dimer. A control group of 10 patients was established to compare thromboelastometry profiles. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients in 53 (71,7%) had abnormalities in INTEM, 29 in 53 (57,4%) in EXTEM. Conversely, FIBTEM was abnormal in 3/53 (5,7%). Statistical analysis revealed significant relation in those patients with impairment EXTEM and INTEM with lowered platelet (p=0,052) and (p=0,005) respectively and lowered fibrinogen levels (p=0,006) and (p=0,021) respectively. Control group (CG) had normal status in 10/10 (100%) of INTEM, EXTEM, FIBTEM analysis. EXTEM analysis demonstrated statistical differences between CG and dengue group: CT (p=0,044); CFT (p < 0,001); MCF (p < 0,001) and Alpha (p < 0,001). Normal levels of fibrinogen (median: 290) and high levels of ddimer (median: 1330) IQR (800-1840) were found. All patients (53/53) had platelet under 100 x 109/L (median 77 x 109/L) IQR (63-88). Standard coagulation tests were completely normal: PT (median: 100%) IQR (90-100); INR (median: 1,0) IQR (1,0-1,1); aPTT (median: 28,9 seconds) IQR (26.0- 32,5) and TT (median: 18,2 seconds) IQR (17,0-19.5). Only (7/49) 14,3% patients had bleeding manifestations and (3/52) 5,8% needed hospitalization. There was no association between altered thromboelastometry with bleeding manifestations or hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Dengue represents an intense inflammatory process, maintaining normal levels of fibrinogen. FIBTEM remains normal providing good clot strength without immediate bleeding risk. There were no correlation between thromboelastometry findings and standard coagulation exams, suggesting that viscoelastic tests are more sensible method to analyze early coagulation impairments in this population

Actuellement, l'étude exploratoire de la fonction hémostatique en routine se fonde essentiellement sur les tests du bilan standard d'hémostase, c'est à dire la détermination du temps caractéristique de formation d'un gel de fibrine dans des conditions standardisées. Cependant, la dernière décennie a vu la naissance de nouveaux tests se focalisant sur les transformations mécaniques du sang lors de sa coagulation. Portés par les récentes avancées dans la connaissance des phénomènes biochimiques et biophysiques menant à ces transformations mécaniques, ces tests, basés sur une étude dynamique des propriétés viscoélastiques de la coagulation du sang total, sont aujourd'hui de plus en plus adoptés par les hématologues et sont au centre d'un nombre grandissant d'études cliniques. C'est dans ce contexte que, s'appuyant sur les récents développements des techniques ultrasonores haute-fréquence, un dispositif de monitoring ultrasonore haute-fréquence de la coagulation sanguine sur sang total a été développé au sein de notre équipe. Grâce à une analyse simultanée de plusieurs paramètres acoustiques, ce dispositif à montré ses capacités à suivre les transformations mécaniques du sang coagulant. Le travail de cette thèse a consisté à poursuivre le développement de ce dispositif en s'attachant notamment à discriminer le rôle respectif des différents phénomènes ayant lieu lors de la coagulation sur les cinétiques acoustiques mesurées. En analysant les effets de traitements anticoagulant et anti-agrégant plaquettaires sur notre monitoring ultrasonore dans le cadre d'une étude clinique pilote, un premier potentiel diagnostic du dispositif a été établi. Les résultats de cette étude ont ensuite mené à la mise en place de mesures spécifiques centrées sur deux phénomènes : la formation de la fibrine et la contraction plaquettaire. Une visualisation originale de la formation du réseau de fibrine a pu être mise en place et a mené à la détermination d'un nouveau paramètre capable de déterminer à la fois le temps de gélification et le temps de rétraction. La gélification du milieu s'est avéré être primordiale dans l'évolution de l'atténuation dans le milieu, tout comme la rétraction du caillot est essentiellement responsable de l'augmentation de la vitesse. / Today, routine blood coagulation tests rely principally on the measurement of the time for a blood sample to gel under standardized conditions. However, in the last decade, new tests focused on monitoring mechanical changes during blood coagulation have been developped. Thanks to a new understanding of the biochemical and biophysical phenomena leading to those mechanical changes, these tests, dynamically studying the viscoelastic properties of coagulating whole blood, tend to be more and more adopted by haematologists and are the focus of a tremendous amount of clinical studies. Within this context and due to the recent development of high-frequency ultrasound techniques, a high-frequency ultrasound apparatus allowing the monitoring of whole blood coagulaion has been developped by our team. Simultaneously analysing the kinetics of four acoustical parameters, it has shown its potential in monitoring the mechanical changes appearing in whole blood coagulation. In this PhD thesis, new developments of this technique have been carried out and allowed to discriminate the respective role of the different phenomena appearing during coagulation on our acoustical parameters. Analysing the effect of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy within a pilot clincal study, the diagnostic potential of our test has been established. Following the results of this study, specific measurements have been set up and have shown the importance of two phenomena : fibrin formation and platelet contraction. A new way to visualize the fibrin network formation has been devised and has led to the computation of a new parameter capable of defining gel time and retraction time. Gelation of the medium was shown to be linked to the changes in attenuation in the medium and retraction of the clot was found to be critical in the rise of longitudinal velocity.

Plusieurs types d’expérimentation existent pour étudier et comprendre les systèmes biologiques. Dans ces travaux, nous nous intéressons à la simulation in silico, c’est-à-dire à la simulation numérique de modèles sur un ordinateur. Les systèmes biologiques sont composés d’entités, à la fois nombreuses et variées, en interaction les unes avec les autres. Ainsi, ils peuvent être modélisés par l’intermédiaire de deux approches complémentaires : l’approche population-centrée et l’approche individu-centrée. Face à la multitude et à la variété des phénomènes composant les systèmes biologiques, il nous semble pertinent de coupler ces deux approches pour obtenir une modélisation mixte. En outre, en raison de la quantité conséquente d’informations que représente l’ensemble des entités et des interactions à modéliser, la simulation numérique des systèmes biologiques est particulièrement coûteuse en temps de calcul informatique. Ainsi, dans ce mémoire, nous proposons des solutions techniques de parallélisation permettant d’exploiter au mieux les performances offertes par les architectures multicoeur et multiprocesseur et les architectures graphiques pour la simulation de systèmes biologiques à base de modélisations mixtes. Nous appliquons nos travaux au domaine de la coagulation du sang et plus particulièrement à l’étude de la cinétique biochimique à l’échelle microscopique ainsi qu’à la simulation d’un vaisseau sanguin virtuel. Ces deux applications nous permettent d’évaluer les performances offertes par les solutions techniques de parallélisation que nous proposons, ainsi que leur pertinence dans le cadre de la simulation des systèmes biologiques. / Several types of experimentation exist to study and understand biological systems. Inthis document, we take an interest in in silico simulation, i.e. numerical simulation ofmodels on a computer. Biological systems are made of many various entities, interactingwith each other. Therefore, they can be modeled by two complementary approaches: thepopulation-based approach and the individual-based one. Because of the multitude anddiversity of the phenomena constituting biological systems, we find the coupling of thesetwo approaches relevant to provide a hybrid modelisation. Moreover, because of the hugequantity of data that the entities and interactions represent, numerical simulation of biologicalsystems is especially computationaly intensive. This is why, in this document, we proposeparallel computing methods to take advantage of the performances offered by multicore andmultiprocessor architectures and by graphical ones for the simulation of biological systemsusing hybrid modelisations. We apply our work to blood coagulation and especially to thestudy of biochemical kinetics at the microscopic scale and the simulation of a virtual bloodvessel. These two applications enable us to assess both the performances obtained by theparallel computing methods we proposed and their relevance for biological systems simulation.

INTRODUÇÃO: Estudos recentes têm demonstrado que ocorre geração normal de trombina na cirrose hepática mesmo nos pacientes com diminuição da atividade de protrombina e plaquetopenia, de forma que a utilidade dos testes convencionais de coagulação em predizer o risco de sangramento associado a procedimentos seria questionável. OBJETIVO: O objetivo principal deste estudo foi avaliar se as alterações dos parâmetros de coagulação influenciam a frequência e gravidade do sangramento por úlcera após ligadura elástica de varizes de esôfago. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: Neste estudo prospectivo de coorte realizado no período de dois anos, no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, foram incluídos 150 pacientes com o diagnóstico de cirrose hepática, encaminhados para realização de ligadura elástica como profilaxia primária (n=45) e secundária (n=105) de sangramento por varizes de esôfago. Os critérios de inclusão foram: a) presença de varizes de esôfago de médio ou grosso calibre; b) idade superior a 18 anos; c) concordância em participar do estudo. Os critérios de exclusão foram: a) doenças pulmonares e cardíacas graves ou síndrome hepatorrenal associada; b) carcinoma hepatocelular avançado; c) insuficiência renal com uremia; d) doenças ou uso de drogas que alteram a coagulação sanguínea. Foram analisados em todos os pacientes: International Normalized Ratio (INR), tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativada e contagem de plaquetas. Em 92 pacientes foram avaliados: atividade do fator V, fator de von Willebrand, fibrinogênio, proteínas C e S, dímero-D e tromboelastografia. Os pacientes foram estratificados de acordo com: a) grau de disfunção hepática, avaliado pela classificação de Child-Pugh [Child A, n=74 (49%); Child B, n=42 (28%); Child C, n=34 (23%)]; b) valores de corte de INR [>1,5 (n=28); 1,5 (n=122)]; e plaquetas [<50x103/mm3(n=18); 50x103/mm3 (n=132)]; c) padrões da tromboelastografia; d) valores e/ou atividade dos fatores pró-coagulantes e anticoagulantes naturais. As sessões de ligadura foram realizadas a cada 2 semanas. Os dados de cada paciente foram registrados até dois meses após erradicação das varizes. RESULTADOS: Onze pacientes apresentaram sangramento por úlcera após LE. Sangramento ocorreu em cinco pacientes com Child A/B (4,3%) e em 6 pacientes com Child C (17%) (p=0,0174 para Child A/B versus Child C). Oito pacientes (7,3%) apresentaram sangramento entre os 110 pacientes com valores de corte tradicionalmente considerados seguros para INR e plaquetas e apenas três (7,5%) entre os 40 pacientes com valores de risco (p=1,0). Dentre os 92 pacientes com testes expandidos de coagulação, o sangramento ocorreu em cinco. Não houve diferença em nenhum dos parâmetros de coagulação incluindo os padrões da tromboelastografia entre os pacientes com e sem sangramento. CONCLUSÕES: O sangramento por úlcera após ligadura elástica de varizes de esôfago foi associado com o grau de disfunção hepática (Child C), mas não com os fatores convencionais ou expandidos da coagulação em pacientes cirróticos sem insuficiência renal ou infecção submetidos à ligadura elástica eletiva. Estes resultados tornam discutível a necessidade de administração profilática de agentes pró-coagulantes previamente a procedimentos invasivos eletivos / BACKGROUND & AIMS. There is controversy over whether coagulation status predicts bleeding caused by ulceration after esophageal varices band ligation (EVL). METHODS: EVL was performed for primary (n=45) or secondary (n=105) prophylaxis in 150 patients with cirrhosis (Child A, n=74 [49%]; Child B, n=42 [28%]; Child C, n=34 [23%]). International Normalized Ratio (INR) and platelet counts (PC) were assessed in all. In 92 patients, levels of factor V, fibrinogen, D-dimer, protein C and protein S, von Willebrand factor and thromboelastography (TEG) were assessed. PC <50x103/mm3 and INR >1.5 were considered high-risk cutoffs for bleeding. Conversely, PC 50x103/mm3 with INR 1.5 were safe cutoffs. RESULTS: Overall, 11 patients (7.3%) had post-EVL ulcer bleeding. Bleeding occurred in 5 patients with Child A/B (4.3%) and 6 patients with Child C (17%) (p=0.0174 for Child A/B versus Child C). Eight patients with bleeding were among the 110 below the cutoff for INR and PC, whereas only 3 of the patients with bleeding were among the 40 patients with purported high-risk values (p=1.0). Among the 92 patients with expanded coagulation tests, bleeding occurred in 5. There was no difference in any of the coagulation parameters, including overall TEG patterns, between patients who did and did not bleed. CONCLUSION: Post-EVL ulcer bleeding was associated with Child C status but not with conventional or expanded coagulation indices in cirrhotic patients without renal failure or infection undergoing elective EVL. These results call into question the common use of prophylactic procoagulants in the elective setting. common use of prophylactic procoagulants in the elective setting

Aproximadamente 5,8 milhões de pessoas morrem anualmente vítimas de trauma no mundo. A reposição volêmica inicial dos pacientes graves politraumatizados com choque hemorrágico tem características distintas hoje quando comparada à proposta não mais do que uma década atrás. A infusão reduzida de fluidos associada à transfusão precoce de hemoderivados é o padrão adotado em portadores de hemorragia maciça, no que se chama na literatura de damage control resuscitation (DCR). Entretanto, a administração precoce de componentes do sangue, implica em limitações de armazenamento, transporte, disponibilidade, compatibilidade, reações transfusionais e custo. Assim, estratégias medicamentosas que possam beneficiar o paciente politraumatizado no tratamento do sangramento devem ser desenvolvidas. As pesquisas atuais buscam medidas que possam agir na resposta inflamatória e na coagulopatia envolvidas nas lesões traumáticas e no choque hemorrágico. Desta forma, decidiu- se avaliar o potencial da administração precoce de Pentoxifilina (PTX) em associação com Ringer lactato (RL) e seus efeitos na coagulopatia associada ao trauma. Foi utilizado modelo experimental suíno de choque hemorrágico e politrauma. Foram utilizados 23 suínos, machos, da raça Landrace, com peso médio de 28,5 kg randomizados em 3 grupos: Controle (n=5), RL (n=5) e PTX (n=7). Os animais foram submetidos à anestesia geral, exceto o grupo controle, a uma fratura de fêmur, seguido de choque hemorrágico controlado e, por fim, uma lesão hepática como hemorragia não controlada. Foram analisados parâmetros hemodinâmicos, laboratoriais e gasometria, testes de coagulação padrão e tromboelastometria. Os animais submetidos ao experimento apresentaram taquicardia, hipotensão arterial, hipotermia, acidose, redução de hemoglobina e alteração nos testes de coagulação e viscoelásticos. O lactado no tempo Final mostrou-se mais elevado no grupo PTX, quando comparado ao grupo RL (p=0,01). Os dados da tromboleastometria não mostraram diferença entre os grupos submetidos ao experimento. No tempo Final, observou-se uma redução do fibrinogênio menor no grupo tratado com PTX, quando comparado ao grupo RL (p < 0,01). A análise dos efeitos da pentoxifilina associada à reanimação volêmica sugere melhora dos níveis de fibrinogênio após sua administração seguindo a hemorragia e trauma / Approximately 5.8 million people die each year victim of trauma worldwide. The initial volume replacement of severely injured patients with hemorrhagic shock has different characteristics today than a decade before. Low-volume fluid resuscitation associated with early transfusion of blood products is the standard adopted in patients with massive hemorrhage, so called damage control resuscitation (DCR). However, early administration of blood components implies limitations in storage, transport, availability, compatibility, transfusion reactions, and cost. Thus, drug strategies that may benefit the severely injured patient in the treatment of bleeding should be developed. Current research seeks measures that can modulate the inflammatory response and coagulopathy involved in traumatic injuries and hemorrhagic shock. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the role of early administration of Pentoxifylline (PTX) in association with RL and its effects on coagulopathy and traumatic inflammatory response. A porcine model of multiple trauma and hemorrhagic shock was used. Twenty-three Landrace male pigs were used, with a mean weight of 28.5 kg randomized into three groups: Control (n=5), RL (n=5), and PTX (n=7). The animals were submitted to general anesthesia (except the control group), femur fracture, followed by controlled hemorrhagic shock, and, finally, a hepatic injury (as uncontrolled hemorrhage simulation). Hemodynamic parameters, laboratory tests, standard coagulation tests and thromboelastometry were analyzed. The animals submitted to the experiment presented tachycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, acidosis, hemoglobin decrease and impaired coagulation and viscoelastic tests. Lactate levels at the end of the experiment were higher in the PTX group when compared to RL (p=0,01). Data extracted from thromboelastometric tests have shown no difference between the groups submitted to the protocol. Fibrinogen reduction (consumption) were significantly lower in the PTX group when compared to RL (p < 0,01). The analysis of pentoxifylline effects suggests less fibrinogen consumption after PTX administration

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) représentent le composant principal de la membrane externe des bactéries Gram-négatives. Étant libérés dans le flux sanguin, les LPS induisent une forte réponse immunitaire accompagnée d'une coagulation intensifiée du sang activée à la fois par l'endommagement de la paroi vasculaire et par l'activation de la voie de contact. Dans cette thèse, nous développons des modèles théoriques pour élucider les détails de la coagulation sanguine induite par les molécules LPS. Dans les deux premiers chapitres, nous décrivons l'état de l'art du problème et les méthodes utilisées. Le troisième chapitre est consacré à l'analyse des modèles mathématiques de la coagulation sanguine. Nous déterminons les conditions de l'existence de solutions en ondes progressives dans le modèle de la croissance du caillot, estimons la vitesse de leur propagation et démontrons l'existence de la solution en forme de pulse déterminante la valeur critique de la condition initiale qui assure le processus de coagulation. Ensuite, nous étudions le modèle de la formation de caillot dans l'écoulement sanguin et déterminons la taille critique de la zone endommagée conduisante à l'occlusion complète du vaisseau par le caillot. Enfin, nous développons et analysons le modèle de l'activation du système de contact par les agrégats des LPS. Dans le quatrième chapitre, nous modélisons la structure supramoléculaire des LPS, qui a un impact crucial sur leur activité biologique. Nous développons des modèles de la dynamique moléculaire des LPS, de leurs agrégats et des membranes des compositions variées, et analysons le comportement conformationnel des LPS en fonction de leur environnement / The outer membrane of the Gram-negative bacteria cell wall is composed of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules. Being released to the blood flow during sepsis, LPS induce strong immune response accompanied by pathological blood clotting. Blood coagulation is activated both due to the vessel wall damage, and the activation of the contact pathway. The details of the mechanisms involved remain obscure despite the extensive experimental studies. In the present work we develop theoretical models of the different time and space scales to elucidate the details of the LPS-induced blood coagulation during the Gram-negative sepsis. In the first two chapters we provide the state of the art of the problem and describe the methods we use. The third chapter is devoted to the analysis of the mathematical models of blood coagulation. We determine the conditions of the existence of the traveling wave solutions in the model of the self-sustained clot growth, estimate the speed of their propagation and demonstrate existence of the pulse solution determining the critical value of the initial condition. Then, we consider the model of blood coagulation under flow conditions and determine the critical size of the damaged zone leading to the complete vessel occlusion by the clot. Finally, we develop and analyze the model of the contact system activation by the LPS aggregates. In the fourth chapter we model the LPS supramolecular structure, which has crucial impact on the LPS biological activity. We develop molecular dynamics models of the LPS molecules, their aggregates and LPS-containing membranes of different composition and analyze LPS conformational behavior in different environment

Trauma é a maior causa de óbito entre adultos jovens no Brasil e no mundo, considerado um problema grave de saúde mundial. Atualmente, o controle da hemorragia é feito com uma reanimação hemostática, que preconiza a hipotensão permissiva, limita o uso de cristalóides, estimula o uso precoce de hemoderivados e medicamentos que possam minimizar o sangramento. Entretanto, a administração precoce de componentes do sangue, apresenta limitações de armazenamento, transporte, disponibilidade, compatibilidade, reações transfusionais e custo. Assim, devem ser desenvolvidas estratégias medicamentosas que possam beneficiar o paciente politraumatizado no tratamento do sangramento e na coagulopatia traumática. Por isso, decidiuse avaliar o efeito da administração precoce de N-acetilcisteína (NAC) e do ácido tranexâmico (TXA) em associação com Ringer lactato e seus efeitos na coagulação. Foi utilizado modelo experimental de choque hemorrágico e politrauma em 36 suínos, machos, da raça Landrace, com peso médio de 28,34 kg e distribuídos em cinco grupos: Controle (n=5), Ringer lactato (n=5), NAC (n=6), TXA (n=6) e NAC+TXA (n=6). Os animais foram submetidos à anestesia geral, fratura de fêmur, choque hemorrágico controlado e, por fim, a uma lesão hepática com hemorragia não controlada. Foram analisados os parâmetros fisiológicos, testes laboratoriais e tromboelastometria. Todos os animais submetidos ao experimento apresentaram taquicardia, hipotensão arterial, hipotermia, acidose, redução de plaquetas e hemoglobina e alteração nos testes de coagulação e viscoelásticos. O grupo NAC+TXA apresentou melhora do pH e excesso de base nas fases mais tardias do experimento quando comparados com os demais grupos (p < 0,05). No tempo Final, observou-se uma redução do fibrinogênio menor no grupo tratado com NAC+TXA. Na análise da tromboelastometria, os grupos tratados com TXA e NAC+TXA apresentaram o ML menor do que os tratados apenas com Ringer lactato ou NAC (p < 0,05). As análises do estudo sugerem um efeito benéfico da NAC em associação com TXA na melhora da acidose e fibrinólise. / Trauma is the major cause of death among young adults in Brazil and is considered a worldwide public health problem. Today, hemorrhage control begins with a homeostatic approach which preconizes permissive hypotension, limits the use of crystalloids, uses early transfusion and drugs that can minimize bleeding. However, early administration of blood components implies concerns, which includes storage, transport, availability, compatibility, transfusion reactions and cost. Therefore, there must be strategies that could bring benefits to the patient victim of trauma with bleeding and traumatic coagulopathy. Thus, it was decided to evaluate the potential of early administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and Tranexamic Acid (TXA) associated or not to Ringer lactate and its potential benefits in coagulopathy. A model of multiple trauma and hemorrhagic shock previously described was used to evaluate these aspects in 36 male pigs, Landrace race, with an average weight of 28,34 kg and randomized into five groups: Control (n=5), Ringer lactate (n=5), NAC (n=6), TXA (n=6) and NAC + TXA (n=6). The animals were submitted to general anesthesia, a femur fracture, followed by controlled hemorrhagic shock, and an uncontrolled hepatic hemorrhage. Physiological parameters, standard laboratory tests and thromboelastometry were analyzed. All the animals showed tachycardia, low blood pressure, hypothermia, acidosis, lower platelets and hemoglobina levels and viscoelastics tests. The group NAC + TXA showed improvement in pH and base excess at the final phase of the experiment when compared with the others groups (p < 0.05). At the final phase, fibrinogen was lower reduced in the NAC + TXA group. In the thromboelastometry, the groups TXA and NAC + TXA had lower ML (Maximum Lysis) than the groups Ringer lactate and NAC. The study suggests a beneficial effect of NAC in association with TXA in improving acidosis and fibrinolysis

Tissue factor (TF) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that initiates the blood coagulation cascade and is also involved in cell migration, tumour metastasis and angiogenesis. Pathologic expression of tissue factor by monocytes contributes to several thrombotic complications like acute coronary artery disease and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the clinically important pathologic expression of TF in myelo-monocytic leukaemia cells and reveal the cellular signals leading to the suppression of TF expression. The studies in this thesis indicate that TF is a marker of immature myelo-monocytic cells. Markedly higher levels of TF were expressed in immature myelo-monocytic cell lines compared to mature monocyte-like cells. Induction of terminal differentiation in immature cells resulted in down-regulation of TF expression, irrespective of the specific phenotypes induced by retinoic acid (RA) or vitamin D3 in monoblastic U-937 cells. TF suppression was also found independent of differentiation pathways, i.e. monocytic or granulocytic. The nuclear receptor activation requirements for transcriptional suppression of TF by retinoic acid (RA) were shown to differ between acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) NB4 and U-937 cells. In NB4 cells the binding of the agonist to the RA receptor (RAR)α alone is needed for down-regulation of TF, whereas ligand binding to both RARαand retinoic X receptor was necessary for efficient suppression of TF expression in U-937 cells. To analyse the transcriptional regulation of TF, stable NB4 and U-937 clones expressing the luciferase gene under the control of various 5' flanking regions of the TF gene were selected. Different promoter regions were found to control the basal TF transcriptional activity. Analysis of protein binding to the 140 bp promoter region, responsible for basal TF activity in NB4 cells, revealed binding of RFX-1. RA suppressed the promoter activity in NB4, but not in U-937 cells. The ectopic expression of the APL fusion proteins PML/RARα or PLZF/RARα in U-937 reporter clones were shown to confer sensitivity to RA-induced suppression of TF promoter activity. These results provide a more detailed picture of TF regulation in leukaemic and haematopoietic cells and may have a bearing on new clinical treatment strategies in APL and other leukaemias.

A mathematical model of blood coagulation under defined flow conditions, initiated and modulated by spatially discrete regions of surface bound tissue factor (TF) and thrombomodulin (TM), respectively, is presented. The model incorporates fluid phase and surface-associated reactions of the extrinsic, intrinsic, and common pathways, as well as three inhibitory pathways. The spatially heterogeneous model is formulated by finite element method, and an effective prothrombotic zone, which quantifies the spatial propagation of thrombin generation is defined. Characteristic features of coagulation are simulated under physiologic conditions, and the behavior of the system in response to perturbations in TF and TM surface densities, TF site dimensions, and wall shear rate is explored. The major findings of these studies include: (i) The model system responds in an 'all-or-none', threshold-like manner to changes in model parameters. (ii) It was found that prothrombotic effects may extend significantly beyond the dimensions of the spatially discrete site of TF expression in both axial and radial directions. (iii) The relationship between the length of the effective prothrombotic zone and the interval distance between tandem sites of TF expression dictate the net response of the system. Additive prothrombotic effects of sub-clinical lesions as well as suppressive antithrombotic effects of intervening TM-containing regions were observed. Secondly, the computational model is applied to calculate an individualized, systems-based metric of clotting potential for 210 pre-menopausal women in the Leiden Thrombophilia Study (LETS). The simulated variable was found to be a highly predictive parameter for deep venous thrombosis risk.

The surface of biomaterials can induce contacting blood to coagulate, similar to the response initiated by injured blood vessels to control blood loss. This poses a challenge to the use of biomaterials as the resulting coagulation can impair the performance of hemocompatible devices such as catheters, vascular stents and various extracorporeal tubings [1], what can moreover cause severe host reactions like embolism and infarction. Biomaterial induced coagulation processes limit the therapeutic use of medical products, what motivates the need for a better understanding of the basic mechanisms leading to this bio-incompatibility [2] in order to define modification strategies towards improved biomaterials [3]. Several approaches for the enhancement of hemocompatible surfaces include passive and active strategies for surface modifications. The materials’ chemical-physical properties like surface chemistry, wettability and polarity are parameters of passive modification approaches for improved hemocompatibility and are the focus of the present work. In the present study self assembled monolayers with different surface functionalities (-COOH, -OH, -CH3) were applied as well as two-component-layers with varying fractions of these, as they allow a defined graduation of surface wettability and charge. The ease of control over these parameters given by these model surfaces enables the evaluation of the influence of specific surface-properties on biological responses. To evaluate the effects of different surface chemistry on initial mechanisms of biomaterial induced coagulation, the surfaces were incubated with protein solution, human plasma, blood cell fractions or fresh heparinised human whole blood. Indicative hemocompatibility parameters were subsequently analysed focusing on protein adsorption, coagulation activation, contact activation (intrinsic/ enhancer pathway), impact of tissue factor (extrinsic/ activator pathway) and cellular systems (blood platelets and leukocytes).