Worse lung function, more allergic sensitization but less blood eosinophilia in elderly patients with long-standing versus late-onset asthma.

Background: Asthma in the elderly is usually considered homogeneous and non-atopic.

Objective: To compare clinical, functional and immunological features between elderly asthmatics with long-standing asthma (LSA) and those with late-onset asthma (LOA).

Methods: Eighty-two asthmatics older than 64 were included into LSA (asthma onset before age 40;  = 46) and LOA (asthma onset from 40 years of age on;  = 36) groups.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Nordic Occupational Skin Symptoms Questionnaire to Brazilian Portuguese.

Introduction: Occupational skin diseases are a frequently self-reported condition in industrialized countries. However, there are few developed and standardized self-report instruments to screen the population at risk for occupational dermatological diseases.

Objectives: Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the long and short versions of The Nordic Occupational Skin Symptoms Questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese.

Transoral endoscopic vestibular approach Sistrunk procedure (TEVAS)-case report and scoping review.

Background: Thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is the most common congenital neck mass among the pediatric population. Less than 10% of the cases occur in adults. The standard of care for TGDC is surgical treatment with the Sistrunk procedure via a traditional transverse cervicotomy.

Transoral thyroid and parathyroid surgery in Brazil: where are we?

Introduction: thyroid surgery through the transoral vestibular approach is a reality in many countries. While several competing remote access techniques have been developed in the last 20 years, many were not reproducible. Transoral Endoscopic Neck Surgery (TNS) has been shown to be reproducible in different centers around the world, and approximately five years after its description it has been adopted relatively quickly for various reasons.

SARS-Cov-2 pneumonia phenotyping on imaging exams of patients submitted to minimally invasive autopsy.

Background: Correlation between pathology and imaging of the new SARS-Cov-2 disease (COVID-19) is scarce. This study aimed to characterize SARS-Cov-2 pneumonia on imaging of patients submitted to minimally invasive autopsy (MIA).

Methods: This unicentric retrospective observational study included 46 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 who underwent MIA.

2021 Brazilian Thoracic Association recommendations for the management of severe asthma.

Advances in the understanding that severe asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disease and in the knowledge of the pathophysiology of asthma, with the identification of different phenotypes and endotypes, have allowed new approaches for the diagnosis and characterization of the disease and have resulted in relevant changes in pharmacological management. In this context, the definition of severe asthma has been established, being differentiated from difficult-to-control asthma. These recommendations address this topic and review advances in phenotyping, use of biomarkers, and new treatments for severe asthma.

Safely performing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit: A standardized approach.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the resulting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have afflicted hundreds of millions of people in a worldwide pandemic. During this pandemic, otolaryngologists have sought to better understand risk factors associated with COVID-19 contamination during surgical procedures involving the airways such as tracheostomies.

Objective: This study provides a standardized technique of performing an ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) on COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Quality of life after Supracricoid Partial Laryngectomy.

Background: Supracricoid partial laryngectomy has good oncologic results in the treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer with the advantage of preserving larynx phonatory function when compared with total laryngectomy. However the rehabilitation could be a challenge, especially regarding swallowing function. Is supracricoid partial laryngectomy associated with better quality of life than total laryngectomy?

Methods: Survey study that included 33 patients (16 total laryngectomy and 17 supracricoid partial laryngectomy) with advanced larynx cancer surgically treated and fully rehabilitated.

Hospital admission rate in children and adolescents with mild persistent asthma.

Introduction: The health and financial burden of mild-persistent asthma has been poorly investigated.

Objective: Our aim was to compare the rate of hospital admissions that have occurred during the preceding year between children and adolescents with current mild-persistent (MP) and moderate-severe (MS) asthma.

Methods: We screened children and adolescents with asthma at eight outpatient clinics.

Predictive factors of lethality and complications of deep fascial space infections of the neck.

Objective: to identify predictive factors for lethality and complications of deep fascial space infections of the neck (DFSIN), establishing an early and aggressive treatment in the neck before the progression to descending mediastinitis.

Methods: we retrospectively analyzed 133 cases of DFSIN treated at Discipline of Head and Neck Surgery of the Medicine School of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo. We accessed demographic characteristics, associated diseases, clinical presentation, laboratorial tests, length of hospital stay, number of involved anatomic neck spaces, intra-operative and microbiology findings.

Predictors of difficulty in bedside percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: pilot study.

Introduction: percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is currently one of the main procedures performed in an intensive care unit (ICU). However, there are no well-defined indicators of technical difficulty in performing the procedure.

Objectives: to define predictors of difficulty in performing bedside percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.

Supratracheal laryngectomy: a multi-institutional study.

Introduction: Supratracheal laryngectomy has been described as a surgical procedure for glottic or supraglottic cancer extending to the subglottic region and/or involving the cricoarytenoid joint, aiming to preserve laryngeal function (breathing, phonation and swallowing), without diminishing locoregional cancer control. The choice of supracricoid laryngectomy in these cases could result in a high risk of compromised resection margins.

Objective: To determine the safety, viability, adequacy of surgical margins and the supratracheal laryngectomy results for intermediate and advanced laryngeal cancer by reviewing the results at three different institutions in Brazil.

Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in Head And Neck Surgery reconstructions: critical analysis.

Objective: to evaluate the results of the use of the pectoralis major flap in the reconstruction of head and neck surgeries.

Methods: we conducted a retrospective study with data bank analysis and review of medical records of patients with head and neck cancer operated at the Discipline of Head and Neck Surgery, Surgery Department, São Paulo Holy Home of Mercy, using the pectoralis major flap for reconstruction, in a period of 16 years. We analyzed age, gender, primary site of neoplasia, clinical staging, preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and complications, classified as major and minor.

The efficacy and safety of mannitol challenge in a workplace setting for assessing asthma prevalence.

Objective: There is no standard definition of asthma for epidemiological purposes; most surveys use symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Few studies tested mannitol challenge test (MCT) in occupational settings. We sought to determine efficacy and safety of MCT in detecting subjects with asthma symptoms in the workplace.

Quantitative computed tomography analysis of the airways in patients with cystic fibrosis using automated software: correlation with spirometry in the evaluation of severity.

Objective: To perform a quantitative analysis of the airways using automated software, in computed tomography images of patients with cystic fibrosis, correlating the results with spirometric findings.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-four patients with cystic fibrosis were studied-20 males and 14 females; mean age 18 ± 9 years-divided into two groups according to the spirometry findings: group I ( = 21), without severe airflow obstruction (forced expiratory volume in first second [FEV1] > 50% predicted), and group II ( = 13), with severe obstruction (FEV1 ≤ 50% predicted). The following tracheobronchial tree parameters were obtained automatically: bronchial diameter, area, thickness, and wall attenuation.

Asthma self-management model: randomized controlled trial.

Information for patients provided by the pharmacist is reflected in adhesion to treatment, clinical results and patient quality of life. The objective of this study was to assess an asthma self-management model for rational medicine use. This was a randomized controlled trial with 60 asthmatic patients assigned to attend five modules presented by a pharmacist (intervention group) and 59 patients in the control group.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus types and variants and p16(INK4a) expression in head and neck squamous cells carcinomas in São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) diverges geographically. The reliability of using p16(INK4a) expression as a marker of viral infection is controversial in HNSCC. We evaluated HPV types and HPV-16 variants prevalence, and p16(INK4a) expression in HNSCC specimens provided by two different Institutions in São Paulo.

Toxoplasmic encephalitis: role of Human Leucocyte Antigens/alleles associated with rapid progression to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

Background/aims: The frequency of Human Leucocyte Antigens/alleles associated with rapid progression from Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome was evaluated in Brazilian patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome with and without Toxoplasmic Encephalitis.

Methods: 114 patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (41 with Toxoplasmic Encephalitis, 43 with anti- antibodies, without Toxoplasmic Eencephalitis, and 30 without anti- antibodies circulating and without Toxoplasmic Encephalitis) were studied.

Results: Human Leucocyte Antigens/alleles associated with rapid progression to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, particularly HLA-B35, -DR3, and -DR1 allele group, were significantly less represented in patients with Toxoplasmic Encephalitis and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

Pemberton Sign: A Recommendation to Perform Arm Elevation Spirometry With Flow-Volume Loops.

We report a case of intrathoracic goiter with positive Pemberton sign. Conventional spirometry did not show abnormalities, but arm elevation spirometry with flow-volume loops revealed expiratory flow limitation with a plateau. Clinicians should consider repeating flow-volume loops with arm elevation in all cases of intrathoracic goiter with initially normal loops.

BRAF mutation in the elderly submitted to thyroidectomy.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of the BRAF V600E mutation in patients over 65 years of age undergoing thyroidectomy, correlating its presence or absence with the different histologic lesions, their variants and with prognostic factors of papillary carcinoma.

Methods: We evaluated 85 patients over 65 years of age who underwent thyroidectomy, analyzing the BRAF V600E mutation by RT-PCR performed after DNA extraction from the paraffin blocks.

Results: The study detected the presence or absence of BRAF V600E mutation in 47 patients (55.

Susceptibility to toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is associated with HLA alleles reported to be implicated with rapid progression to AIDS.

Background/aims: The frequency of HLA markers associated with rapid progression to AIDS was evaluated in Brazilian patients with AIDS exhibiting or not toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TRC).

Methods: 98 AIDS patients (25 with TRC, 43 with anti-T. gondii antibodies but without TCR, and 30 without anti-T.