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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.