Pre-treatment with dexamethasone attenuates experimental ventilator-induced lung injury.

Objective: To evaluate the effects that administering dexamethasone before the induction of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) has on the temporal evolution of that injury.

Methods: Wistar rats were allocated to one of three groups: pre-VILI administration of dexamethasone (dexamethasone group); pre-VILI administration of saline (control group); or ventilation only (sham group). The VILI was induced by ventilation at a high tidal volume.

Physical Activity in Hemodialysis Patients Measured by Triaxial Accelerometer.

Different factors can contribute to a sedentary lifestyle among hemodialysis (HD) patients, including the period they spend on dialysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate characteristics of physical activities in daily life in this population by using an accurate triaxial accelerometer and to correlate these characteristics with physiological variables. Nineteen HD patients were evaluated using the DynaPort accelerometer and compared to nineteen control individuals, regarding the time spent in different activities and positions of daily life and the number of steps taken.

Efficacy and safety of two dry-powder inhalers for the administration of mometasone furoate in asthma patients.

Objective: Mometasone furoate (MF) is a new, potent synthetic inhaled corticosteroid. Worldwide, MF is administered via a dry-powder inhaler that contains multiple doses. As a preparation that would be more cost-effective, single-dose MF capsules were developed in Brazil.

Early versus late tracheostomy in patients with acute severe brain injury.

Objective: To compare the effects of early tracheostomy and of late tracheostomy in patients with acute severe brain injury.

Methods: A retrospective study involving 28 patients admitted to the ICU of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora University Hospital in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, diagnosed with acute severe brain injury and presenting with a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score < 8 within the first 48 h of hospitalization. The patients were divided into two groups: early tracheostomy (ET), performed within the first 8 days after admission; and late tracheostomy (LT), performed after postadmission day 8.

Accuracy of clinical diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome in comparison with autopsy findings.

Objective: To compare the American-European Consensus Conference (AECC) definition of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to autopsy findings.

Methods: All patients who died in the intensive care unit of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora University Hospital between 1995 and 2003 and were submitted to autopsy were included in the study. Patient clinical charts were reviewed to establish whether cases met the AECC criteria for a diagnosis of ARDS, histologically defined as the presence of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD).