Autologous Infusion of Bone Marrow and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Phase I Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background And Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by the destruction of alveolar walls, chronic inflammation and persistent respiratory symptoms. There is no curative clinical treatment for COPD. In this context, cell-based therapy is a promising therapeutic alternative for COPD.

Impact of activities in self-esteem of patients in a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Objective: To evaluate self-esteem and self-image of respiratory diseases patients in a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, who participated in socialization and physical fitness activities, and of patients who participated only in physical fitness sessions.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional exploratory study. Out of a total of 60 patients analyzed, all enrolled in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, 42 participated in at least one of the proposed activities, 10 did not participate in any activity and 8 were excluded (7 were discharged and 1 died).

Comparison between the 6-minute walk tests performed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at different altitudes.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of the altitude on the 6-minute walking test in patients with moderate to severe pulmonary disease.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients performed the 6-minute walk test at a pulmonary rehabilitation clinic in Santo André (above sea level), in São Paulo State, and at the Enseada Beach, in Guarujá (at sea level), also in São Paulo State. Of these 29 patients, 8 did the test both on hard sand and on asphalt to analyze if there were differences in performance during the tests.

Clinical and haemodynamic evaluation of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients scheduled for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy: Is schistosomiasis hypertension an important confounding factor?

Introduction: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is a disease affecting approximately 4,000 people per year in the United States. The incidence rate in Brazil, however, is unknown. The estimated survival for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension without treatment is approximately three years.

[Clinical characteristics of pulmonary hypertension patients in two reference centers in the city of Sao Paulo].

Objectives: Describe the clinical profile of PH patients from two pulmonary hypertension centers.

Methods: Retrospective chart analysis.

Results: One hundred and twenty three PH patients were included in the study; 62% of these presented functional class III or IV (NYHA).

NT-proBNP as a tool to stratify disease severity in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The recent development of treatment modalities for patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension has been based on the evaluation of many different markers such as functional capacity, addressed by NYHA classification, six-minute walk test (6MWT) and hemodynamic parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of N-terminal fragment (NT-proBNP) with other markers in IPAH and its potential for patient stratification. We studied 42 IPAH patients consecutively evaluated through right heart catheterization in the absence of any specific treatment for pulmonary hypertension.