Fatores associados à Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica em idosos / Factors associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease among the elderly

Resumo Este estudo objetivou identificar os fatores associados à Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica (DPOC) em idosos não institucionalizados. Trata-se de um estudo transversal conduzido a partir de inquérito domiciliar, seguido de espirometria. Pessoas com diagnóstico de DPOC foram comparadas com outras com espirometria normal, por meio de análises bivariadas seguidas de análise de regressão multivariada. Foram identificados 53 idosos com DPOC. Após análise multivariada, foram identificados os seguintes fatores associado à DPOC: tabagismo pregresso ou atual (OR:3,74; IC95%:1,65-8,46), presença de catarro como sintoma respiratório (OR:4,92; IC95%:2,03-11,95), oximetria de pulso em repouso ≤ 90% (OR:8,74; IC95%:1,27-60,07) e autorrelato de asma (OR:3,41; IC95%:1,01-11,57). Os resultados revelam fatores associados que destacam a necessidade de revisão dos critérios de seleção dos pacientes de risco para DPOC entre idosos.

Abstract This study aimed to identify factors associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) among non-institutionalized elderly people. It involved a cross-sectional study conducted on the basis of a household survey, followed by spirometry. People diagnosed with COPD were compared with those with normal spirometry, through bivariate analysis, followed by multivariate regression analysis. We identified 53 elderly people were identified with COPD. After multivariate analysis, the following factors associated with COPD were identified: past or current smoking (OR: 3.74; 95% CI: 1.65-8.46), presence of chronic sputum (OR: 4.92; 95% CI: 2.03-11.95), pulse oximetry at rest ≤ 90% (OR: 8.74; 95%CI: 1.27-60.07), self-reported asthma (OR: 3.41; 95% CI: 1.01-11.57). The results reveal associated factors that highlight the need to review the selection criteria for patients at risk of COPD among the elderly.

Hiperinsuflação pulmonar com ventilador mecânico como manobra de higiene brônquica / Hyperinflation with mechanical ventilation as a bronchial hygiene maneuver

Introdução: Um dos objetivos da ventilação mecânica (VM) é a aplicação de terapêuticas específicas na higiene brônquica, como a hiperinsuflação mecânica com o ventilador, que visa promover a expansão das unidades atelectasiadas através dos canais colaterais, favorecendo o deslocamento da secreção pulmonar das vias aéreas periféricas para as centrais. Objetivos: Comparar a segurança e eficácia da técnica de hiperinsuflação com ventilador mecânico em relação à quantidade de secreção pulmonar aspirada com a técnica de aspiração isolada. Para isso, será realizada uma avaliação dos parâmetros ventilatórios e hemodinâmicos e da quantidade de secreção pulmonar aspirada antes e após as manobras e uma comparação entre os resultados obtidos por elas. Métodos: Ensaio clínico randomizado cruzado desenvolvido no centro de terapia intensiva (CTI) do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. A amostra constituiu-se de 23 pacientes em VM. Resultados: Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as manobras quanto à quantidade de secreção aspirada e aos valores hemodinâmicos e ventilatórios. A pressão arterial média (PAM) teve um aumento significativo após a manobra de aspiração, mas sem relevância clínica (AU)

Introduction: One of the objectives of mechanical ventilation (MV) is the application of specific therapies in bronchial hygiene, such as mechanical ventilator hyperinflation, which aims to promote the expansion of atelectatic units through the collateral channels, favoring the displacement of the pulmonary secretion from the peripheral airways to the central ones. Objectives: To compare the safety and efficacy of the mechanical ventilator hyperinflation technique in the amount of secretion aspirated with the technique of isolated aspiration. This was done by. evaluating the ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters and the amount of pulmonary secretion aspirated before and after the maneuvers and by comparing the results found in both of them. Methods: A randomized crossover clinical trial developed at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. The sample consisted of 23 patients on MV. Results: There were no significant differences between the maneuvers regarding the amount of aspirated secretion and hemodynamic and ventilatory values. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) had a significant increase after the aspiration maneuver, but without clinical relevance. Conclusion: Hyperinflation with the mechanical ventilator is a safe technique and as effective as isolated aspiration as a bronchial hygiene technique (AU)

Expression of Semaphorin 3A and Neuropilin 1 in Asthma

Neuropilin 1 (NP1) is a part of essential receptor complexes mediating both semaphorin3A (SEMA3A) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which is one of important mediators involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. Therefore, it is possible that SEMA3A plays a role in the pathogenesis of asthma through attenuation of VEGF-mediated effects. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate expression levels of SEMA3A and NP1 using induced sputum of asthmatics and a murine model of asthma. Firstly, SEMA3A and NP1 expressions in induced sputum of asthmatics and SEMA3A and NP1 expression on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells and lung homogenates of asthmatic mice were determined. Then we evaluated the immunolocalization of VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1), VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), and NP1 expressions on asthmatic mice lung tissue and their subcellular distributions using fibroblast and BEAS2B cell lines. Sputum SEMA3A and NP1 expressions were significantly higher in asthmatics than controls. Similarly, SEMA3A and NP1 expressions on BAL cells and lung homogenates were significantly elevated in asthmatic mice compared to control mice. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and NP1 expressions were also uniformly increased in asthmatic mice. Our observations suggest that SEMA3A and NP1 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of asthma.

Influência da técnica de pressão expiratória positiva oscilante utilizando pressões expiratórias pré-determinadas na viscosidade e na transportabilidade do escarro em pacientes com bronquiectasia / Influence that oscillating positive expiratory pressure using predetermined expiratory pressures has on the viscosity and transportability of sputum in patients with bronchiectasis

OBJETIVO: Verificar a efetividade da técnica de pressão expiratória positiva oscilante (PEPO) utilizando pressões expiratórias pré-determinadas sobre a viscosidade e a transportabilidade do escarro em pacientes com bronquiectasia. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 15 pacientes estáveis com bronquiectasia (7 homens; média de idade = 53 ± 16 anos), submetidos a duas intervenções PEPO consecutivas, com 24 h de intervalo entre si, utilizando pressões expiratórias de 15 cmH2O (P15) e 25 cmH2O (P25). O protocolo consistiu de tosse voluntária; nova expectoração voluntária após 20 min, denominado tempo zero (T0); repouso de 10 min; e utilização da técnica em duas séries de 10 min (S1 e S2) de PEPO em P15 e P25, com intervalo de 10 min entre si. A viscosidade e transportabilidade do escarro foram avaliadas pela viscosimetria, velocidade relativa de transporte no palato de rã, deslocamento em máquina simuladora de tosse e ângulo de adesão. As amostras de escarro foram coletadas em T0, após S1 e após S2. Testes estatísticos específicos foram aplicados de acordo com a distribuição dos dados. RESULTADOS: Houve diminuição significante da viscosidade do escarro após S1 em P15 e após S2 em P25. Não houve diferenças significantes entre todas as amostras para a transportabilidade. CONCLUSÕES: Houve diminuição da viscosidade do escarro quando a PEPO foi realizada em P15 e P25, o que sugere que não seja necessário gerar alta pressão expiratória para obter o resultado desejado.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) using predetermined expiratory pressures on the viscosity and transportability of sputum in patients with bronchiectasis. METHODS: The study involved 15 stable patients with bronchiectasis (7 males; mean age = 53 ± 16 years), submitted to two consecutive OPEP interventions, with a 24-h interval between the two, using positive expiratory pressures set at 15 cmH2O (P15) and 25 cmH2O (P25). The protocol consisted of a voluntary cough; another voluntary cough 20 min later, designated time zero (T0); a 10-min rest period; and two 10-min series (S1 and S2, using OPEP at P15 and P25 in both), with a 10-min interval between the two. The viscosity and transportability of sputum were evaluated by viscometry, relative transport velocity on frog palate, transport in a simulated cough machine and contact angle. Sputum samples were collected at T0, after S1 and after S2. Specific statistical tests were performed depending on the type of data distribution. RESULTS: In comparison with the values obtained at T0, sputum viscosity decreased significantly after S1 at P15 and after S2 at P25. There were no significant differences among all of the samples in terms of transportability. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that sputum viscosity decreased whether OPEP was performed at P15 or at P25 suggests that there is no need to generate high expiratory pressure to achieve the desired result.

Isolation and analysis of circulating tuberculous antigens in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Serological techniques like enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting are useful for detection of mycobacterial antigens of diagnostic importance in tuberculosis. AIM: To isolate and identify circulating tuberculous antigens reactive with sputum positive and sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) sera. METHODS: Circulating tuberculous antigen was isolated by ammonium sulphate fractionation from the sera of sputum positive and sputum negative (clinically and radiologically diagnosed) PTB cases. The circulating antigen fractions and individual patients' serum samples were resolved by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting was performed using anti M.tb sonicate IgG as a probe to detect antigens. RESULTS: Anti M.tb sonicate IgG was found to be reactive with mycobacterial proteins 170 kDa, 140 kDa, 85 kDa, 55 kDa, 43 kDa, 20 kDa and 16 kDa in the antigen fraction isolated from sputum positive tuberculosis sera by immunoblotting. However only 85 kDa, 55kDa, 43 kDa and 20 kDa antigenic proteins were found to be recognized by anti sonicate IgG in the antigen isolated from sputum negative sera. These observations were further confirmed by analysis of individual S+ and S- PTB serum by immunoblotting. CONCLUSION: Seroreactive studies of circulating tuberculous antigens showed the presence of 170 kDa, 140 kDa, 85 kDa, 55 kDa, 43 kDa, 20 kDa and 16 kDa protein antigens in sputum positive sera, while 85 kDa, 55 kDa, 43 kDa and 20 kDa antigens were found to be present in sputum negative PTB which need further evaluation for their use in serological diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Nitric oxide metabolites in induced sputum: a noninvasive marker of airway inflammation in asthma.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to examine for nitric oxide (NO) metabolites in induced sputum as a marker of airway inflammation in asthmatic children. DESIGN. Prospective interventional SETTING: Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Clinic of a tertiary care referral hospital in Northern India. SUBJECTS: Twenty-one children with asthma who were not receiving corticosteroids for the preceding 3 months and 10 healthy controls were enrolled. METHODS: Hypertonic saline-induced sputum was obtained at study entry in controls, and at study entry and after 6 weeks of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy in asthmatic children. Fresh expectorated sputum was treated with dithiothreitol and cytospinned for cell count. NO metabolites were measured in the supernatant by the modified Griess reaction. RESULTS: Asthmatic children, compared with controls, had significantly higher concentration of NO metabolites (22.4 +/- 209.69 vs 39.2 +/- 15.9 (moL/L, P <0.01) and a higher percentage of eosinophils (15.3 +/- 12.0 vs 0.8 +/- 1.1%, P <0.01) in induced sputum. Both NO metabolites and eosinophil percentage declined following treatment with ICS for 6 weeks (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: The study confirms that the level of NO metabolites is increased in the tracheobronchial secretions of asthmatic children and decreases following ICS therapy. Measurement of NO metabolites in induced sputum may be useful for monitoring airway inflammation in children with asthma.

A Case of Pneumonia Caused by Ewingella americana in a Patient with Chronic Renal Failure

Though the pathogenic significance and the reservoir of Ewingella americana have not been clarified, this organism has caused several pathogenic infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. We report a pneumonia in a patient with chronic renal failure, who had chronic rejection of transplanted kidney. E. americana was identified to be the pathogen of pneumonia with clinical symptoms and signs and radiological examination. As soon as he was treated with ceftriaxone and isepamicin, clinical improvement was followed with no further growth of E. americana or other pathogenic isolates from sputum culture. This suggests to be the case of pneumonia caused by E. americana for the first time in the Korean literature.

Acute and Chronic Changes of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)in Induced Sputum of Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI)-induced Asthma Patients

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multi-functional cytokine involved in inflammation, repair and angiogenesis in asthmatic airway. This study aimed to evaluate the role of VEGF in immediate bronchoconstriction induced by TDI inhalation, and in chronic TDI-asthma patients. 11 newly diagnosed TDI-asthma patients (group I), 12 chronic TDI-asthma patients with persistent asthma symptoms followed for >4 yr and 15 unexposed healthy controls were enrolled. In group I, induced sputum and serum were collected before and 7 hr after placebo- and TDI-bronchoprovocation test (BPT). In group II, induced sputum and serum were collected every 2 yr. VEGF levels were measured by ELISA. There were no significant differences in sputum and serum VEGF levels between patients and controls. Before and after placebo and TDI-BPT, no significant changes were noted in sputum and serum VEGF levels of group I. In group II patients, sputum VEGF showed variable changes at 1-yr, then decreased significantly at 2-yr (p<0.05), while serum VEGF showed variable changes at 2-yr, which decreased significantly at 4-yr (p<0.05). These results suggest that VEGF may play a minor role in immediate bronchoconstriction after TDI-BPT. In chronic TDI-asthma, VEGF may be involved to 2 yr after the diagnosis and the contribution may decrease after then.

Nitric Oxide Metabolites, Eosinophils and Eosinophilic Cationic Protein in Patients with Asthma: Sputum versus Blood

The monitoring of airway inflammation has assessed in bronchial asthma directly by sputum examination, and indirectly by measurements in peripheral blood. To investigate the diagnostic value of these two methods, we compared nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, eosinophils, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in sputum and blood in patients with asthma and control subjects. Sputum and serum were obtained from fifteen patients with asthma, and then were examined before anti-asthma treatment, including steroid preparations. ECP was measured by fluoroimmunoassay. NO metabolites were assayed by using modified Griess reaction. Asthmatic patients, compared with control subjects, had significantly higher level of NO metabolites, higher proportion of eosinophils, and higher levels of ECP in sputum. Asthmatic patients, compared with control subjects, however, had significantly higher number of eosinophils, and were at higher levels of ECP in blood. FEV1, FEV1 /FVC was negatively correlated with sputum eosinophils. The area under receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve showed that eosinophils in sputum are significantly accurate markers than NO metabolites in sputum and blood. These findings suggest that the proportion of eosinophils in sputum have more accurate diagnostic marker of asthmatic airway inflammation than NO metabolites in sputum in differentiating asthmatic patients from control subjects.

Bula infectada: reporte de un caso / Infected bullae: report a case

Las bulas infectadas son una entidad clínica poco frecuente que es confundida con el absceso pulmonar. Presentamos un caso con una evolución característica. Se documentó la presencia de bulas antes de la infección. La enfermedad se desarrolló con tos hemoptoica, dolor tipo pleurítico y fiebre. Como ocurre con frecuencia, la resolución radiológica fue a las 12 semanas. Reconocer bulas infectadas es importante para evitar intervenciones diagnósticas o terapéuticas inapropiadas

Positividad de las baciloscopias de esputo mantenidas a temperatura ambiente durante ocho días

De acuerdo con las normas bacteriológicas las muestras de esputo para baciloscopia no deben permanecer por más de 24 horas a temperatura ambiente antes de su procesamiento. La carencia de neveras para la conservación de muestras en los centros de salud de Pereira generaban una baja captación de sintomáticos respiratorios e incremento en la pérdida de envases. Se realizó un estudio en el Consultorio de vías Respiratorias de Pereira con 332 muestras de esputo positivas las cuales se mantuvieron ocho días a temperatura ambiente. Se realizaron extendidos y lecturas en cada uno de los días y se compararon con la lectura inicial. Al analizar los resultados se apreció que no había una tendencia a la disminución de la positividad ni a la negativización y que los aumentos y los decrementos eran simplemente un fenómeno del azar. Por lo tanto, se puede recomendar que los organismos con dificultades en el procesamiento inmediato de las muestras de esputo para baciloscopia pueden conservarlas a la temperatura ambiente sin peligro de menoscabo en su positividad.

Diagnóstico bacteriológico da tuberculose pulmonar pelo lavado traqueobrônquico e pelo broncoaspirado: positividade e valor do anestésico / Bacteriologic diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis by tracheobronchial washing and by bronchial aspiration: positivity and anesthetic action

As colheitas alternativas de secreçäo brônquica através do lavado traqueobrônquico e do broncoaspirado säo indicadas nos casos suspeitos de tuberculose pulmonar, com baciloscopia e/ou cultura negativas de escarro ou com secreçäo insuficiente. Para o lavado traqueobrônquico, foi usada a técnica supraglótica e, para o broncoaspirado, o broncoscópico rígido ou flexível, ambos sob anestesia tópica com a lidocaína. Foram usados métodos confiáveis de bacteriologia: baciloscopia, cultura, testes de sensibilidade e identificaçäo das espécies de microbactérias. Em 213 pacientes suspeitos de tuberculose, com baciloscopia negativa, a positividade da cultura foi de 35,2% no escarro e 38,0% no lavado traqueobrônquico. Em 585 pacientes suspeitos de alguma pneumonia, com baciloscopia negativa, a positividade da cultura do escarro foi de 10,6%, e a do broncoaspirado, 11,6%. A positividade da cultura do lavado traqueobrônquico ou do broncoaspirado näo difere significativamente da positividade da cultura do escarro, o que indica que o anestésico usado na colheita näo inibe o crescimento do bacilo. A açäo inibidora da lidocaína sobre a cultura do bacilo da tuberculose näo ficou comprovada nas diluiçöes mais elevadas do inóculo. A concentraçäo e o tempo de açäo da lidocaína sobre do bacilo da tuberculose devem ser controlados