High frequency and severity of pleural changes in former workers exposed to anthophyllite associated with other contaminating amphibole asbestos in Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency and severity of pleuropulmonary alterations in anthophyllite-exposed former workers in Itapira, São Paulo, Brazil. The amphibole anthophyllite, a magnesium-iron silicate, had its mining, marketing, and use forbidden in Brazil in 1995.

Methods: Former workers were followed from 1999 to 2011.

Rheumatoid pneumoconiosis (Caplan's syndrome) with a classical presentation.

Although rare, rheumatoid pneumoconiosis, also known as Caplan's syndrome, can occur in workers exposed to silica, as well as in patients with silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis or asbestosis. Prevalence is higher among patients with silicosis, despite the fact that it was originally described in coal workers with pneumoconiosis. The classical finding that defines this syndrome is that of rheumatoid nodules in the lungs, regardless of whether there are small rounded opacities suggestive of pneumoconiosis or large opacities consistent with massive pulmonary fibrosis, with or without clinical rheumatoid arthritis.

Wood charcoal and activated carbon dust pneumoconiosis in three workers.

Background: Data on prevalence of lung diseases due to inhalation of carbonaceous materials other than mineral coal is very limited.

Methods: We present three cases of wood charcoal pneumoconiosis, two due to activated carbon, and one from wood charcoal artisan handling. To our knowledge, no clinical cases of wood charcoal pneumoconiosis, from artisan handling has been published so far.

Cystic fibrosis in adults.

The aim of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to describe clinical and functional characteristics and the microbiological profile of an adult population with cystic fibrosis. The study was performed at the Pulmonary Diseases Service of the Hospital of the Medical School of the State University of Campinas. The charts of 54 adults (27 males, 27 females) with cystic fibrosis were reviewed.

Six-minute walk test for the evaluation of pulmonary disease severity in scleroderma patients.

Background: Pulmonary involvement is the leading cause of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related deaths. A simple test to evaluate exercise capacity is the 6-min walk test (6MWT), and the walk distance is used as a primary outcome in clinical trials. Hemoglobin desaturation during a 6MWT is predictive of mortality in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary involvement in ankylosing spondylitis.

This is a prospective study analyzing 52 asymptomatic, consecutive patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), who submitted to a pulmonary investigation that included plain chest radiography, pulmonary function test (PFT), and thoracic high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The results were compared according to sex, race, dorsal spine involvement, thoracic diameter, smoking status, and HLA-B27. There were four patients (8%) with an altered plain chest radiograph.

Reversed halo sign in pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the reversed halo sign in pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis.

Materials And Methods: The high-resolution CT scans (1- or 2-mm collimation scans) of 148 consecutive patients with proven pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis were reviewed to determine the prevalence of the reversed halo sign in these patients. The reversed halo sign was defined as central ground-glass opacity surrounded by a crescent or ring of consolidation.

Unusual manifestations of metastatic pulmonary calcification: high-resolution CT and pathological findings.

The aim of this report is to describe the high-resolution CT and pathologic findings of 3 patients with unusual manifestations of metastatic pulmonary calcification. These include a case that presented with extensive dense consolidation, a case of metastatic calcification that improved spontaneously, and a case of metastatic calcification in a patient with no demonstrable biochemical abnormality or underlying disease. We conclude that metastatic calcification may present with dense bilateral consolidation, may improve spontaneously, and may rarely present in patients with no apparent underlying biochemical abnormality.