Electronic cigarettes: "wolves in sheep's clothing".

Objective: To provide cutting-edge information on the impact and risks of using Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) by children and adolescents, based on the latest evidence published in the literature.

Data Source: A comprehensive search was carried out on PubMed, using the expressions ''electronic cigarettes'' OR ''electronic nicotine delivery systems" OR "vaping" AND ''adolescent'' AND "risks" AND ''acute lung injury'. All retrieved articles had their titles and abstracts read to identify and fully read the papers reporting the most recent evidence on each subject.

Thymidine-dependent Staphylococcus aureus and lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis: a 10-year retrospective case-control study.

Objective: Thymidine-dependent small-colony variants (TD-SCVs) of Staphylococcus aureus are being isolated with increasing frequency from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between TD-SCV isolation and pulmonary function in patients with CF, as well as to determine whether the emergence of TD-SCVs was associated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) use and with coinfection with other microorganisms.

Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study including patients with CF who visited the Clinical Hospital Complex of the Federal University of Paraná, in Curitiba, Brazil, between 2013 and 2022.

Brazilian guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of the pulmonary symptoms of cystic fibrosis. Official document of the Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia (SBPT, Brazilian Thoracic Association).

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that results in dysfunction of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, which is a chloride and bicarbonate channel expressed in the apical portion of epithelial cells of various organs. Dysfunction of that protein results in diverse clinical manifestations, primarily involving the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, impairing quality of life and reducing life expectancy. Although CF is still an incurable pathology, the therapeutic and prognostic perspectives are now totally different and much more favorable.

Systematic review on fecal calprotectin in cystic fibrosis.

Objectives: Fecal calprotectin is an inflammatory marker used for monitoring intestinal diseases. It has been studied as a marker of intestinal inflammation in cystic fibrosis (CF), a multi-systemic genetic disease caused by alterations to the CFTR gene. Manifestations of the disease favor a systemic inflammation not limited to the respiratory tract, therefore, calprotectin is a non-invasive and effective diagnostic method.

Emergence of Thymidine-Dependent Staphylococcus aureus Small-Colony Variants in Cystic Fibrosis Patients in Southern Brazil.

We characterized Staphylococcus aureus small-colony variant (SCV) strains isolated from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in southern Brazil. Smaller colonies of S. aureus were isolated from respiratory samples collected consecutively from 225 CF patients from July 2013 to November 2016.

Thymidine-auxotrophic Staphylococcus aureus small-colony variant bacteremia in a patient with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Small-colony variants (SCVs) are a morphologic subtype of Staphylococcus aureus that may occur through several mechanisms including auxotrophism for thymidine, hemin, or menadione. Auxotrophic SCV for thymidine fail to synthesize DNA specifically because of mutations in the thymidylate synthase gene. We isolated S.

VITAMIN D RECEPTOR GENE MUTATIONS AND VITAMIN D SERUM LEVELS IN ASTHMATIC CHILDREN.

Objective: To verify the relationship between polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR), clinical findings, and serum vitamin D (VD) levels in asthmatics.

Methods: A cross sectional study of 77 children aged 7 to 14 years old, who were attended at a specialized clinic. The children were divided into 3 groups: asthmatics who had been using inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for more than one year; asthmatics who had not been using ICS; non-asthmatics, and children without allergies (according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood -- ISAAC).

Brazilian guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by dysfunction of the CFTR gene. It is a multisystem disease that most often affects White individuals. In recent decades, various advances in the diagnosis and treatment of CF have drastically changed the scenario, resulting in a significant increase in survival and quality of life.

Health implications of atmospheric aerosols from asbestos-bearing road pavements traditionally used in Southern Brazil.

Serpentine and amphibole asbestos occur naturally in certain geologic settings worldwide, most commonly in association with ultramafic rocks, along associated faults. Ultramafic rocks have been used in Piên County, Southern Brazil for decades for the purpose of road paving in rural and urban areas, but without the awareness of their adverse environmental and health impact. The aim of this study was the chemical characterization of aerosols re-suspended in two rural roads of Piên, paved with ultramafic rocks and to estimate the pulmonary deposition of asbestos aerosols.

Polyphasic characterisation of Burkholderia cepaciacomplex species isolated from children with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) pulmonary infections have high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to compare different methods for identification of Bcc species isolated from paediatric CF patients. Oropharyngeal swabs from children with CF were used to obtain isolates of Bcc samples to evaluate six different tests for strain identification.

A workshop on asthma management programs and centers in Brazil: reviewing and explaining concepts.

Objective: To report the results of a workshop regarding asthma management programs and centers (AMPCs) in Brazil, so that they can be used as a tool for the improvement and advancement of current and future AMPCs.

Methods: The workshop consisted of five presentations and the corresponding group discussions. The working groups discussed the following themes: implementation of asthma management strategies; human resources needed for AMPCs; financial resources needed for AMPCs; and operational maintenance of AMPCs.

MALDI-TOF: a useful tool for laboratory identification of uncommon glucose non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria associated with cystic fibrosis.

The predisposition of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) for recurrent pulmonary infections can result in poor prognosis of the disease. Although the clinical significance in CF of micro-organisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is well established, the implication of uncommon glucose non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (UGNF-GNB) in respiratory samples from CF patients is still unclear. Because of limitations of traditional methods used in most clinical laboratories, the accurate identification of these microbes is a challenge.

Utility of Asthma Control Questionnaire 7 in the assessment of asthma control.

Our objective was to evaluate the reproducibility of Asthma Control Questionnaire 7 (ACQ-7) in asthma patients, comparing our results against those obtained with the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) criteria. We evaluated 52 patients. Patients completed the ACQ-7, underwent spirometry, and were clinically assessed to determine the level of asthma control according to the GINA criteria, in two visits, 15 days apart.

Respiratory allergy to moth: the importance of sensitization to Bombyx mori in children with asthma and rhinitis.

Objective: this study aimed to prepare a silkworm moth (Bombyx mori) antigenic extract and to perform skin prick tests with this extract in patients with allergic respiratory diseases; to evaluate serum specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to Bombyx mori using ImmunoCAP® system and to report the frequency of positivity between the two methods and with clinical data.

Methods: this was a cross-sectional study with 99 children and adolescents diagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis, who had skin reactivity to at least one of the six aeroallergens tested. Clinical data were evaluated: skin prick tests with Bombyx mori in-house extract, and total and specific IgE analysis using ImmunoCAP® were performed.

Epidemiology of ocular allergy and co-morbidities in adolescents.

Objective: The prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis (AC) has not been established. Estimates suggest that ocular allergies affect 15% to 20% of the worldwide population, yet most epidemiological studies encompass nasal and ocular allergy symptoms and have not been specific to AC. The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of ocular allergy symptoms, co-morbidities, and their impact on adolescents.

Nebulizers in cystic fibrosis: a source of bacterial contamination in cystic fibrosis patients?

Objective: To determine whether nebulizers are a source of microbial contamination in patients with cystic fibrosis, as well as whether the technique and frequency of disinfection of these devices is appropriate.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, uncontrolled observational study. Samples were collected from 28 patients with cystic fibrosis.

Rhinitis is also common in infants with asthma.

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of rhinitis in asthmatic infants. A cross-sectional study was conducted using clinical data obtained from a standardized allergy work-up form that includes specific questions on common allergic diseases. Asthmatic patients were seen at the first visit to the Pediatric Allergy Unit, from January 2001 to January 2006, were selected for analysis.

Early microbial colonization of cystic fibrosis patients identified by neonatal screening, with emphasis on Staphylococcus aureus.

Objectives: To assess bacterial colonization prospectively in patients with cystic fibrosis identified by neonatal screening. To assess susceptibility to antimicrobials and to perform the molecular typing of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from the oropharynx of patients during the study.

Methods: Twenty-five cystic fibrosis patients receiving regular treatment at the Cystic Fibrosis Outpatient Clinic of Hospital de Clínicas of Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil, were included in the study.

[Neonatal cystic fibrosis screening program in the state of Paraná: evaluation 30 months after implementation].

Objectives: To present and analyze the results of the National Neonatal Cystic Fibrosis Screening Program in Paraná, 30 months after its implementation.

Methods: This is a descriptive study, with an analysis of the data from the screening of around 98% of all neonates in the period from September 2001 to April 2004, undertaken at the Neonatal Screening Program laboratory of the Fundação Ecumênica de Proteção ao Excepcional do Paraná. Blood samples for the Guthrie test were collected on hospital discharge, ideally between the second and sixth days postpartum, and filter papers were sent for immunoreactive trypsin assay by the immunofluorometric method.