Mutagenic damage among bronchiectasis patients attending in the pulmonology sector of a hospital in southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by inflammation, irreversible dilation of the bronchi, and recurrent pulmonary infections, with a high morbidity and mortality rate, but is less studied from the point of view of its prevalence and associated factors not directly related to respiratory prognosis. As it is a disease related to the exacerbation of the inflammatory process and oxidative stress, this study searched to investigate the micronucleus frequency in patients with and without bronchiectasis treated at a specialized pulmonology service in a hospital in the extreme south of Brazil. METHODS: Patients with a confirmed tomographic diagnosis of bronchiectasis were defined as cases. Mutagenicity was evaluated by the micronucleus test in patients' oral mucosa cells. Data collection was performed through a questionnaire containing socioeconomic, demographic, lifestyle, and health condition information. RESULTS: Of the 95 patients involved in this study, 21 (22.1%) were diagnosed with bronchiectasis aged between 12 and 89 years. There was no significant difference in the frequency of micronucleus between patients with and without bronchiectasis. There was a significant positive association between age and frequency of micronucleus among patients with bronchiectasis, but this association does not occur among patients without the disease. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to investigate data on the prevalence and clinical and epidemiological aspects of this chronic disease in Brazil, especially those related to the genotoxicity outcome.

Mutagenic damage among bronchiectasis patients attending in the pulmonology sector of a hospital in southern Brazil

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by inflammation, irreversible dilation of the bronchi, and recurrent pulmonary infections, with a high morbidity and mortality rate, but is less studied from the point of view of its prevalence and associated factors not directly related to respiratory prognosis. As it is a disease related to the exacerbation of the inflammatory process and oxidative stress, this study searched to investigate the micronucleus frequency in patients with and without bronchiectasis treated at a specialized pulmonology service in a hospital in the extreme south of Brazil. METHODS: Patients with a confirmed tomographic diagnosis of bronchiectasis were defined as cases. Mutagenicity was evaluated by the micronucleus test in patients' oral mucosa cells. Data collection was performed through a questionnaire containing socioeconomic, demographic, lifestyle, and health condition information. RESULTS: Of the 95 patients involved in this study, 21 (22.1%) were diagnosed with bronchiectasis aged between 12 and 89 years. There was no significant difference in the frequency of micronucleus between patients with and without bronchiectasis. There was a significant positive association between age and frequency of micronucleus among patients with bronchiectasis, but this association does not occur among patients without the disease. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to investigate data on the prevalence and clinical and epidemiological aspects of this chronic disease in Brazil, especially those related to the genotoxicity outcome.

Staphylococcus aureus and its Effects on the Prognosis of Bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis, which is an abnormal and irreversible dilation of one or several bronchial segments, causes significant morbidity and impaired quality of life to patients, mainly as the result of recurrent and chronic respiratory infections. Staphylococcus aureus is a microorganism known for its high infectious potential related to the production of molecules with great pathogenic power, such as enzymes, toxins, adhesins, and biofilm, which determine the degree of severity of systemic symptoms and can induce exacerbated immune response. This review highlighted the clinical significance of S. aureus colonization/infection in bronchiectasis patients, since little is known about it, despite its increasing frequency of isolation and potential serious morbidity.