Respiratory oscillometry and functional analyses in patients with idiopathic scoliosis

Scoliosis is a condition that affects the spine and causes chest rotation and trunk distortion. Individuals with severe deformities may experience dyspnea on exertion and develop respiratory failure. Respiratory oscillometry is a simple and non-invasive method that provides detailed information on lung mechanics. This work aims to investigate the potential of oscillometry in the evaluation of respiratory mechanics in patients with scoliosis and its association with physical performance. We analyzed 32 volunteers in the control group and 32 in the scoliosis group. The volunteers underwent traditional pulmonary function tests, oscillometry, and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Oscillometric analysis showed increased values of resistance at 4 Hz (R4, P<0.01), 12 Hz (R12, P<0.0001), and 20 Hz (R20, P<0.01). Similar analysis showed reductions in dynamic compliance (Cdyn, P<0.001) and ventilation homogeneity, as evaluated by resonance frequency (fr, P<0.001) and reactance area (Ax, P<0.001). Respiratory work, described by the impedance modulus, also showed increased values (Z4, P<0.01). Functional capacity was reduced in the group with scoliosis (P<0.001). A significant direct correlation was found between Cobb angle and R12, AX, and Z4 (P=0.0237, P=0.0338, and P=0.0147, respectively), and an inverse correlation was found between Cdyn and Cobb angle (P=0.0190). These results provided new information on respiratory mechanics in scoliosis and are consistent with the involved pathophysiology, suggesting that oscillometry may improve lung function tests for patients with scoliosis.

Lombalgia: alguns aspectos e analise estatistica (1.353 casos). / Backache: some aspects and statistical analysis (1,353 cases)

Os autores fazem uma revisao nos diagnosticos reumatologicos, no periodo de 1968 a 1983, com o proposito de determinar a frequencia da incidencia de lombalgia, dentre as Doencas Reumaticas,suas provaveis etiologias, analisando faixa etaria e sexo

Esclerose sistemica progressiva: terapeutica com colchicina. / Progressive systemic sclerosis: treatment with colchicine

A esclerose sistemica progressiva (ESP) caracteriza-se por um excesso de deposito de colageno na pele e nos orgaos internos.Nos ultimos anos, com um melhor conhecimento da sintese e catabolismo das fibras do colageno,tornou-se possivel desfrutarmos melhores condutas terapeuticas para ESP. Os autores estudaram o efeito da colchicina oral sobre a sintese do colageno em 5 pacientes portadores de ESP pelo criterio da American Rheumatism Association, no periodo de 1 ano. Tres pacientes mostraram boa resposta, avaliados pelos indices de abertura da boca e pelas provas de funcoes pulmonares

Gota urica: informacoes estatisticas da incidencia em Pernambuco. / Gout: statistic informations of incidence in Pernambuco

Os autores fazem uma revisao nos diagnosticos reumatologicos, no periodo de 1958 a 1981, com o proposito de determinar estatisticamente a incidencia de gota urica no Estado de Pernambuco. Foram utilizados os seguintes parametros: sexo, idade, raca, biotipo, nacionalidade, profissao, numero de articulacoes envolvidas, tofos, uricemia, analise do sedimento urinario e, finalmente, associacao com diabetes e/ou hipertensao arterial. A presenca regular desta doenca metabolica no Estado de Pernambuco foi enfatizada