Repositório RCAAP

Paciente com 54 anos, do sexo feminino, ex-tabagista, que após duas semanas de um resfriado comum procurou atendimento médico devido a tosse com expectoração amarela, obstrução nasal e desconforto facial. Sua radiografia do tórax mostra lesão nodular no lobo superior esquerdo compatível com nódulo pulmonar solitário. Submetida a uma toracotomia exploradora, foi estabelecido o diagnóstico de bronquiolite obliterante com pneumonia em organização (BOOP).

Cistos broncogênicos são a causa mais comum de massa mediastinal cística e o tratamento preconizado compreende a ressecção completa da lesão. Os autores relatam um caso de cisto broncogênico com tratamento efetivo por cirurgia torácica videoassistida (CTVA). Enfatizam os benefícios da CTVA no manejo dessa patologia em relação à toracotomia convencional.

O carcinoma mucoepidermóide é uma neoplasia infreqüente da árvore traqueobrônquica e de etiologia ainda indeterminada. Sua localização endobrônquica preferencial freqüentemente causa sintomas respiratórios obstrutivos e pneumopatias de resolução lenta. Normalmente, são tumores de crescimento lento, mas que podem apresentar comportamento agressivo, com invasão local e metástases para linfonodos, dependendo das suas características histopatológicas. O tratamento de eleição é o cirúrgico, com ressecção completa, seja através de lobectomia ou broncotomia e broncoplastia. O prognóstico dependerá do grau de diferenciação celular desses tumores. Relata-se um caso dessa rara neoplasia descrevendo suas características clínicas, radiológicas e o tratamento cirúrgico.

INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory diseases (ARDs) are a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: The present case-controlled study investigated the hospitalizations by ARDs in children under one year of age and the association with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in za Pelotas, RS. METHODS: All children under one year of age hospitalized due to ARDs from August 1997 to July of 1998 were followed-up in the four hospitals of the city. A standardized questionnaire was applied to the children's mother regarding symptoms of the actual illness in addition to social and demographic variables, nutrition, and previous morbidity. The final diagnosis of ARDs was performed by an arbiter (a pediatrician) based on the hospital records of the children and the data on the questionnaire. Nasopharyngeal secretions were collected for RSV detection by direct immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The study included 650 children and the annual incidence rate of hospital admissions for ARDs was 13.9%. Admissions showed a seasonal pattern with most of the hospitalizations occurring from July to October. The main causes of admission were: pneumonia (43.7%), bronchiolitis (31.0%), asthma (20.3%), influenza (3.5%), otitis media (0.8%) and laryngitis (0.6%). The overall prevalence of RSV was 30.7%, with 40.2% in bronchiolitis, 28.6% in influenza, 27.4% in asthma, 26.3% in pneumonia, and 25% in otitis media. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study confirm the high morbidity of ARDs in childhood and the seasonal pattern of ARDs hospitalizations and their association with RSV infection.

Patients with active tuberculosis (Tb) may be admitted to a hospital for different conditions, and not have Tb as their main diagnosis. In this study, 141 inpatient Tb cases are analyzed, which were notified to the São Paulo Hospital Central Control of Infectious Diseases from August, 1999, through April, 2001, with identification of causes, risk factors, and hospitalization time. Sixty-three percent of the patients were males, and 37% were females, with a mean age of 38.1 years. Twenty-eight percent of them were smokers, 23% were alcoholics, and 17% were drug addicts. Previous tuberculosis was reported by 23% of the patients. Forty-two of them were HIV-positive. Fifty-four point six percent had pulmonary Tb, 67.5% of which were sputum-positive. Twenty-two percent of the patients presented side effects to the Tb treatment during hospitalization, the most frequent of which were drug-induced hepatitis (65.7%), and gastric intolerance (25.7%). Eight point five percent of the patients required intensive care for an average of 11 days, and 54% stayed in a ward with respiratory isolation. Death occurred in 17.7% of cases, in 52% of them as a consequence of Tb. On the average, the patients stayed at the hospital for 29 days, and in isolation (when necessary) for 18 days. Drug addicted and smoking patients had longer hospitalization times. This was not the case of HIV-positive or sputum-positive patients.

Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance to penicillin was studied in two hospitals in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between May 1998 and November 2001. From the 176 strains of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae that were identified, 2.28% (CI 0.62-5.74) presented intermediate resistance, and 3.42% (CI 1.26-7.31) presented high-level resistance. The conclusion was that in Caxias do Sul the use of penicillin was still justified as treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia, differently from other centers where penicillin was replaced by other antibiotics. These results confirm the statement of IDSA (Infectious Diseases Society of America) guideline for the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults, that the choice of antimicrobial drug to treat pneumococcal pneumonia should be guided by local or regional prevalence of resistance to penicillin.

INTRODUCTION: Data on the relationship between personality profile and nicotine dependence may help health professionals to design and improve programs for the treatment and prevention of this dependence. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between personality profile and nicotine dependence in a group of smoking undergraduate students. METHODS: A total of 1,245 undergraduate students were randomly selected among 10,500 students enrolled at the Cuiabá campus of UFMT in 2001. A standard questionnaire was applied for social characterization and for the determination of the tobacco consumption pattern, comprising 80 students considered as smokers. These students were then submitted to the Fagerström Test (1978) for nicotine dependence and to the reduced version of the Comrey Personality Scale (CPS), that determines personality dimensions. RESULTS: Analysis of the mean scores (Student's t test) revealed an inversely proportional borderline association between dependence and the Order x Lack of Compulsion scale (p = 0.06), and a negative or inversely proportional association between the CPS Extroversion x Introversion (p = 0.002) and Control of Validity scales (p = 0.04). Linear regression analysis of the Fagerström Test points confirmed the inversely proportional borderline association between dependence and the Order x Lack of Compulsion (p = 0.06) and CPS Extroversion x Introversion scales (p = 0.02). However, when the interference of daily cigarette consumption was controlled, only the Extroversion x Introversion scale remained associated with dependence (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Students who are nicotine-dependent smokers are less extroverted than non-dependent smokers.

INTRODUCTION: A great emphasis has been placed on health-related quality of life of COPD patients and specific questionnaires have been developed in order to measure it. OBJECTIVE: This study describes the language and cultural adaptation of a new (and short) disease-specific health status questionnaire developed for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases: the Airways Questionnaire 20 (AQ20). METHODS: In order to validate this questionnaire in Brazil, it was initially translated into Portuguese. The cultural adaptation was taken into consideration and then a back translation to English was undertaken, in order to obtain a final Portuguese version. Correlations were made with FEV1, SpO2, BMI and another disease-specific health status questionnaire, the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), previously validated in Brazil. The interclass correlation ratio was done to test the reproducibility of AQ20. RESULTS: The interclass correlation ratio for the total score was alpha = 0.90 (intra-observer variability) and alpha = 0.93 (inter-observer variability) (p < 0.05 for both). The correlation with total SGRQ score was 0.76, with p < 0.001. The average time to answer the AQ20 was 4 min and 6 s. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian Portuguese version of AQ20 is reproducible, of fast application and with good a correlation with SGRQ total score, which makes it a valid questionnaire to measure health status in obstructive patients in Brazil.

Asthma is the most frequent chronic inflammatory disease in childhood, and its prevalence has increased remarkably over the last decades. Therefore, the scientific community became interested in studying the growth of the affected children. The relationship between asthma and growth suffers the influence of the clinical picture, of therapeutics, but the different study methods make it difficult to distinguish the factors responsible for the growth retardation detected by some authors. This review has the purpose of providing an overall outlook on this matter.

Sternal neoplasms are extremely rare. It is difficult to make prospective evaluations due to the lack of consistent reports in the literature. The authors report the case of a woman in her seventies, who presented a chondrosarcoma of the sternum, treated by them.

A male farmer, 20 years old, from the countryside of the State of Piauí, developed acute respiratory infection. Despite adequate antimicrobial therapy, his conditions worsened, requiring mechanical ventilation. His X-rays showed diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. His PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 58. Direct microscopy and culture of tracheal aspirates showed the presence of Coccidioides immitis. Autochthonous cases of coccidioidomycosis have only recently been described in Brazil, most of them from the State of Piauí. C. immitis has been isolated from humans, dogs and armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), and also from soil samples of armadillo's burrows. Failure to respond to antimicrobial therapy and a patient's origin from recognized endemic areas should alert to the possibility of acute pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

No summary/description provided

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pleuropulmonary alterations caused by intrapleural injection of silver nitrate or talc in an experimental model, in order to consider its use in human beings. METHOD: 112 rabbits were randomly selected to receive intrapleural 0.5% silver nitrate or 400 mg/kg talc slurry in 2 ml saline. Eight rabbits of each group were sacrificed after 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 months. Regarding the pleural cavity, the degree of macroscopic pleurodesis (adherences) and microscopic alterations, represented by inflammation and pleural fibrosis, were analyzed. The parenchyma was evaluated regarding the degree of alveolar collapse, intra-alveolar septum edema, and cellularity, on a 0 to 4 scale. RESULTS: Intrapleural injection of silver nitrate produced earlier and more intense pleurodesis than talc slurry injection. The parenchymal damage was more evident with silver nitrate, considered as moderate, and limited to the first evaluation (after one month). From the second month on and throughout the entire one-year follow-up, the parenchymal damage was similar with both substances, only the pleural adherences were more intense with silver nitrate. CONCLUSIONS: Intrapleural silver nitrate produces better and longer-lasting than intrapleural talc injection. The parenchymal alterations, although discreet, are more pronounced when silver nitrate is used, but minimal after two months, and similar to those produced by talc injection during the entire one-year observation period. These effects on the pulmonary parenchyma do not contraindicate the use in humans. Thus, the use of intrapleural silver nitrate to produce fast and effective pleurodesis can be considered in patients in which pleural cavity symphysis is desired.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a public health problem. Tobacco smoking is the major cause, but not the only one. Air pollution, exposure to chemicals, environmental smoke exposure, and passive smoking are among other contributing causes; being viral and bacterial infections also risk factors. Gender and weight are associated to the severity of the disease. Co-morbidity is frequent. OBJECTIVE: To characterize a population of COPD outpatients followed at an outsourced medical service. METHODS: Questionnaires were applied to patients with COPD. The data included gender, age, weight, body mass index (BMI), oxygen delivery users, and FEV1, exposure to tobacco smoke, exposure to wood smoke, history of tuberculosis and co-morbid diseases. RESULTS: Of the 70 patients enrolled in the study, 70% (49) were men with an average age of 64 ± 10 years, average weight of 63 ± 16 kg and average BMI of 22 ± 5 kg/m². Mean FEV1 was 35 ± 14% and 45.7% were oxygen dependent. Nine (12.8%) patients never smoked, while 78.8% had quit tobacco smoking, (38 ± 11 pack/years was the average). Nine (12.8%) smoked corn husk cigarettes. Eighteen (25.7%) were exposed to wood smoke. Eleven (15.7%) patients had tuberculosis, 5.7% complained of asthma symptoms, 2.8% had bronchiectasis, 11.4% diabetes mellitus, 51.4% hypertension, and 20% Cor pulmonale. CONCLUSION: Other possible COPD etiologies must be investigated. Determinants of the pulmonary injury could be environmental smoke exposure associated to former infections. Men with low BMI are typically representative of this severe patient population. Hypertension and Cor Pulmonale are frequent co-morbidity factors.

OBJECTIVE: There are few studies on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) establishing differences between the functional parameters of the disease and sleep variables. The aim of the study was to describe the sleep pattern of these patients and to correlate spirometric, gasometric and polysomnographic variables. METHODS: Transversal study using COPD patients submitted to spirometry, arterial gasometry, and polysomnography. RESULTS: 21 male patients were studied with average age = 67 ± 9; 7 ± 4 average points in the Epworth sleepiness scale, average Tiffenau's index (FEV1/FVC) = 54 ± 13.0%, average PaO2 = 68 ± 11 mmHg, average PaCO2 = 37 ± 6 mmHg. Sleep efficiency decreased (65 ± 16%) with the reduction of slow wave sleep (8 ± 9%) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (15 ± 8%). Average T90 was 43 ± 41%. Average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) = 3 ± 5/h, where two patients (9.5%) presented obstructive sleep apnea. A significant correlation was observed between PaO2 and T90 (p < 0.01), PaCO2 and T90 (p < 0.05), and AHI and the cardiac rate during REM (p < 0.01). A higher number of arousals and stage change was observed. There was no linear correlation between spirometric and polysomnographic variables. CONCLUSION: Poor sleep quality of these patients was characterized by low sleep efficiency, high number of awakenings and shift of stages. There were no correlations between the spirometric and polysomnographic variables.

Asthma results from a combination of three essential features: airflow obstruction, hyperresponsiveness of airways to endogenous or exogenous stimuli and inflammation. Inadequacy of the techniques to use different inhalation devices is one of the causes of therapeutic failure. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate how 20 medical students, 36 resident physicians of Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, and 40 asthma patients used three devices for inhalation therapy containing placebo. All patients were followed at the Pulmonary Outpatient Service of Botucatu Medical School and had been using inhaled medication for at least six months. The following devices were evaluated: metered dose inhalers (MDI), dry powder inhalers (DPI), and MDI attached to a spacer device. A single observer applied a protocol containing the main steps necessary to obtain a good inhaler technique to follow and grade the use of different devices. Health care professionals tested all three devices and patients tested only the device being used on their management. MDI was the device best known by doctors and patients. MDI use was associated with errors related to the coordination between inspiration and device activation. Failure to exhale completely before inhalation of the powder was the most frequent error observed with DPI use. In summary, patients did not receive precise instruction on how to use inhaled medication and health care professionals were not well prepared to adequately teach their patients.

Pneumoconioses make up a group of lung diseases related to exposure to mineral dusts in work environments. They represent a public health problem, considering that such diseases could already have been eradicated from Brazil, if control measures had been taken in such environments. The aim of this research was to map the distribution of deaths due to pneumoconioses in the different geographical areas and states of Brazil, by means of an ecological survey carried out in the working population older than 15 years. The preliminary results of this investigation in the Brazilian macro-regions from 1979 to 1998 are presented. This study used mortality data provided by the Mortality Information System of Datasus - Data Processing Department of the Unified Health System, using the codes of the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) 9 and ICD 10. The results showed an increase in the mortality coefficient due to pneumoconioses per 1 million inhabitants per year along the studied period of time. By shifting from ICD 9 to ICD 10, the frequency of deaths doubled. We concluded that the mortality coefficients due to pneumoconioses do not reflect the problem properly, thus masking the transcendence and magnitude of the disease. In order to obtain more representative indicators, the actually exposed population and the territorial distribution of the disease have to be known.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a severe and feared problem, that is difficult to control and has shown a tendency to increase worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk factors for acquired MDR-TB. CASUISTIC AND METHODS: A retrospective population-based case-control study was conducted. A bacillus was considered multidrug-resistant whenever it was resistant at least to rifampin (RFP) + isoniazid (INH), and a case was considered as sensitive tuberculosis (TB) if it had undergone the first treatment during a similar period as the first treatment of an MDR-TB case, but was cured at the time of the interview. Case selection was made based on the list of Sensitivity Tests (ST) performed at the Central Public Health Laboratory of the State of Ceará, from 1990 through 1999. The Proportion Method was used to investigate resistance to the six antituberculosis drugs (isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, ethionamide, streptomycin) used as the standard treatment in Brazil. Controls were selected from the registry of the TB Control Program. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed, with p < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Out of the 1,500 STs performed during the studied period, 266 strains were multidrug-resistant; 153 patients were identified, 19 of which were excluded. The Group of Cases comprised 134 patients, and the Group of Controls comprised 185. Multivariate analysis helped to detect the following risk factors: lack of home sewer system, alcoholism + smoking, number of previous treatments, irregular treatment, and lung cavities. CONCLUSION: These five factors are important for the development of acquired MDR-TB, and an attempt to neutralize them might contribute to control TB.

Two quite dyspneic HIV positive patients were admitted to the Emergency Room; they presented clinical signs and images suggesting pericardial effusion. The analysis of an initial liquid puncture did not show any specificity and the patients did not exhibit any clinical improvement. Both patients were submitted to a subxiphoid pericardial window, all the effusion liquid was drained, and a biopsy of the pericardium tissue was completed, revealing a granulomatous process. Immediately after the onset of specific treatment, the patients showed a good evolution. Such findings draw attention to a high possibility of pericardial suffusion in AIDS patients being tuberculosis, particular if one considers the high prevalence of this disease in Brazil. The results also showed that the opening of a subxiphoid pericardial window and the specific triple scheme was a procedure that led to good therapeutic evolution in these patients.

Reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE) is a rare, but frequently lethal, clinical condition. The precise pathophysiologic abnormalities associated with this disorder are still unknown, though decreased pulmonary surfactant levels and a pro-inflammatory status are putative mechanisms. Early diagnosis is crucial, since prognosis depends on early recognition and prompt treatment. Considering the high mortality rates related to RPE, preventive measures are still the best available strategy for patient handling. This review provides a brief overview of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of RPE, with practical recommendations for adequate intervention.