Longitudinal changes in the 6-minute walk test and the Glittre-activities of daily living test in adults with cystic fibrosis.

With the increasing use of highly effective modulator therapy (HEMT) in adults with cystic fibrosis (awCF), it is necessary to determine the evolution of the most dynamic physiological markers of this disease, such as the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the Glittre-activities of daily living test (TGlittre). The present study aimed to evaluate the 1-year changes in the 6- minute walking distance (6MWD), TGlittre time, and quality of life (QoL) in awCF before the initiation of HEMT and to determine the impact of habitual physical activity (HPA) and chest physiotherapy (CP). This longitudinal study enrolled 24 awCF who completed the 6MWT and TGlittre.

Ultrasonography as a way of evaluating the diaphragm muscle in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The respiratory muscles in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have reduced strength and resistance, leading to loss of the functional ability of these muscles. Lung hyperinflation is one of the main alterations, and air trapping is the main factor limiting diaphragmatic mobility (DM) in these patients; however, its correlation with functional parameters, exercise capacity, and indicators of disease severity remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess DM in stable COPD patients and relate the findings with parameters such as the 6-minute walk test distance, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) %predicted, residual volume (RV) %predicted, and dyspnea.

Questionnaire and polysomnographic evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea in a cohort of post-COVID-19 patients.

To evaluate the efficiency of 5 screening questionnaires for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), OSA frequency, and the association between OSA and COVID-19 severity in recent COVID-19 cases, and to compare the use of the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) as an alternative measure for the respiratory disturbance index (RDI). This open cohort study recruited patients with recent COVID-19 (within 30-180 days) diagnosed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Participants were screened for OSA using the following 5 sleep disorder questionnaires prior to undergoing type I polysomnography: the Sleep Apnea Clinical Score (SACS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP-Bang score, No-Apnea score, and Berlin questionnaire.

Reanalysis and validation of the transcriptional pleural fluid signature in pleural tuberculosis.

Introduction: Pleural tuberculosis (PlTB), the most common site of extrapulmonary TB, is characterized by a paucibacillary nature and a compartmentalized inflammatory response in the pleural cavity, both of which make diagnosis and management extremely challenging. Although transcriptional signatures for pulmonary TB have already been described, data obtained by using this approach for extrapulmonary tuberculosis and, specifically, for pleural tuberculosis are scarce and heterogeneous. In the present study, a set of candidate genes previously described in pulmonary TB was evaluated to identify and validate a transcriptional signature in clinical samples from a Brazilian cohort of PlTB patients and those with other exudative causes of pleural effusion.

Association between clinical, serological, functional and radiological findings and ventilatory distribution heterogeneity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the involvement of the pulmonary interstitium can lead to structural changes in the small airways and alveoli, leading to reduced airflow and maldistribution of ventilation. The single-breath nitrogen washout (SBN2W) test is a measure of the ventilatory distribution heterogeneity and evaluates the small airways. This study aimed to find out which clinical, serological, functional and radiological findings are useful to identify RA patients with pathological values of the phase III slope (SIII) measured by the SBN2W test.

Use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide as a potential predictor of bronchodilator response.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important product of eosinophilic metabolism, and its increase is associated with bronchial remodeling and airway hyperresponsiveness. Fractional exhaled NO (FENO) in the expired air of patients with suspected or diagnosed asthma has been used as a marker for eosinophilic inflammation. This cohort study included asthmatic patients classified under steps 3, 4, or 5 of the global strategy for asthma management and prevention.

Mortality and comorbidities in patients with bronchiectasis over a 3-year follow-up.

To identify the risk factors associated with all-cause mortality in patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB). This prospective cohort study included 120 adult patients with NCFB, who were regularly treated at a specialized outpatient clinic of a university hospital between January 2017 and June 2020. All patients were diagnosed using high-resolution computed tomography.

Follow-up of a cohort of patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis for 1 year.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis during a 1-year follow-up by using the EuroQol - 5 Dimensions - 3 Levels (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted with 100 patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and followed up with face-to-face visits or by telephone contact every 3 months for 1 year. All patients were recruited from a single referral center for bronchiectasis.

Hyporexia and cellular/biochemical characteristics of pleural fluid as predictive variables on a model for pleural tuberculosis diagnosis.

Objectives: Pleural tuberculosis (PlTB) diagnosis is a challenge due to its paucibacillary nature and to the need of invasive procedures. This study aimed to identify easily available variables and build a predictive model for PlTB diagnosis which may allow earlier and affordable alternative strategy to be used in basic health care units.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study compared PlTB and non-TB patients followed at a tertiary Brazilian hospital between 2010 and 2018.

The impact of healthcare-associated infections on COVID-19 mortality: a cohort study from a Brazilian public hospital.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital mortality in a cohort of patients admitted to a newly adapted intensive care unit in a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro.

Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, and descriptive study. Data were obtained from electronic medical records.

Is There a Link Between Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy and Pulmonary Function Tests in Systemic Sclerosis Patients?: A 24-Month Follow-up Monocentric Study.

Background/objective: The aim of this study was to explore the associations between nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Methods: This was a longitudinal study with follow-up of unselected Brazilian SSc patients. Baseline clinical examination, serological workup, high-resolution chest tomography, and NVC were performed.

Impulse Oscillometry Findings and Their Associations With Lung Ultrasound Signs in COVID-19 Survivors.

Background: Because impulse oscillometry (IOS) can detect changes in the small airways and is safer to perform during the COVID-19 pandemic than other pulmonary function tests, it may have value in investigating pulmonary sequelae in COVID-19 survivors. This study evaluated the performance of IOS in detecting lung abnormalities in COVID-19 survivors and investigated the associations of the findings with those of lung ultrasound (LUS) and spirometry.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 117 subjects underwent IOS at a frequency range of 4-20 Hz 2 months after COVID-19 diagnosis.

Pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis: diagnosis by systematic screening and prognosis after three years follow-up.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare disease, and the presence of pulmonary hypertension can be a determining factor in prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnosis, profile, and prognosis of systemic sclerosis pulmonary hypertension (SSc-PH) diagnosed by systematic screening in a Brazilian population.

Methods: A cohort of SSc patients underwent systematic screening for SSc-PH.

Diagnostic performance of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay in BAL fluid samples from patients under clinical suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis: a tertiary care experience in a high-tuberculosis-burden area.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, a rapid molecular test for tuberculosis, comparing it with that of AFB staining and culture, in BAL fluid (BALF) samples from patients with clinically suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) who are sputum smear-negative or produce sputum samples of insufficient quantity.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 140 cases of suspected PTB in patients who were smear-negative or produced insufficient sputum samples and were evaluated at a tertiary teaching hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All of the patients underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy with BAL.

One-month outcomes of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and their relationships with lung ultrasound signs.

Background: The role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in evaluating the mid- and long-term prognoses of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia is not yet known. The objectives of this study were to evaluate associations between LUS signs at the time of screening and clinical outcomes 1 month after LUS and to assess LUS signs at the time of presentation with known risk factors for COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of data prospectively collected 1 month after LUS screening of 447 adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Small airway evaluation in three subjects with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency without diagnosed lung disease.

We describe three cases of female subjects (aged 16, 44 and 41 years) with no respiratory symptoms, who have alpha-1 antitripsyn mutation (PiSZ, PiZZ and PiZZ) and who performed traditional pulmonary function tests and the single breath nitrogen washout test. They still did not have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or any identifiable change in traditional pulmonary function tests but already have change in nitrogen washout tests. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disorder associated with early-onset COPD.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics in outpatient diagnosis of COVID-19 in healthcare professionals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Aims: This study aimed to identify the symptoms associated with early stage SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infections in healthcare professionals (HCPs) using both clinical and laboratory data.

Methods: A total of 1297 patients, admitted between 18 March and 8 April 2020, were stratified according to their risk of developing COVID-19 using their responses to a questionnaire designed to evaluate symptoms and risk conditions.

Results: Anosmia/hyposmia (p<0.

Defining prognosis in sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic granulomatous disease. Affected individuals can show spontaneous healing, develop remission with drug treatment within 2 years, or become chronically ill. Our main goal was to identify features that are related to prognosis.

Evaluation of the Small Airways in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.

Introduction: Small airways are not evaluated with traditional pulmonary function tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the small airways in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a nitrogen washout test and to verify whether there is a difference between patients with COPD due to smoking and those with COPD due to alpha-1 antitrypsin mutation.

Methods: Sixteen patients with mutation in the gene and 45 patients with no mutation were included in this cross-sectional study.

Comparison Between Lung Ultrasound and Computed Tomographic Findings in Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe findings from lung ultrasound (LUS) and computed tomography (CT) in health professionals with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia and to evaluate the associations of the findings of both tests.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study evaluated 45 health professionals who were initially seen in screening tents and had a diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 as confirmed by a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and lung involvement diagnosed by LUS. Subsequently, these individuals were admitted to the hospital, where chest CT was performed.

Changes in lung ultrasound of symptomatic healthcare professionals with COVID-19 pneumonia and their association with clinical findings.

Purpose: To evaluate ultrasound signs of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pneumonia in symptomatic healthcare professionals and to correlate those changes with clinical findings.

Methods: All patients underwent real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), lung ultrasound (LUS) and clinical evaluation on the same day. In each of the 12 areas evaluated in the LUS, the LUS signs were scored to generate the aeration score.

Translation and cultural adaptation of the Sleep Apnea Clinical Score for use in Brazil.

Objective: To translate the Sleep Apnea Clinical Score (SACS) into Brazilian Portuguese and adapt it to the cultural setting, validating it for use as a screening method for polysomnography and as a tool to quantify the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in individuals in Brazil.

Methods: The translation was performed by two professionals, with subsequent synthesis of the translations. From that version, a back-translation was prepared, revised, and compared with the original by a team of experts.

Brazilian guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Official document of the Brazilian Thoracic Association based on the GRADE methodology.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a form of chronic interstitial lung disease of unknown cause, which predominantly affects elderly men who are current or former smokers. Even though it is an uncommon disease, it is of great importance because of its severity and poor prognosis. In recent decades, several pharmacological treatment modalities have been investigated for the treatment of this disease, and the classic concepts have therefore been revised.

Effects of isotemporal substitution of sedentary behavior with light-intensity or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on cardiometabolic markers in male adolescents.

Increasing prevalence of sedentary behavior (SB) combined with low levels of physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents has become a growing public health concern. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the daily behavioral pattern of adolescents and examine the isotemporal substitution effects of SB with light-intensity PA (LIPA) or moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) on cardiometabolic markers. In this cross-sectional study, the daily behavioral pattern of Brazilian male adolescents was objectively measured for 7 days.

IgA and IgG antibody detection of mycobacterial antigens in pleural fluid and serum from pleural tuberculous patients.

Background: A previous study demonstrated pleural fluid (PF) IgA immunodominance for the fused MT10.3:MPT64 protein in pleural tuberculosis (PLTB) cases. However, no clue on the role of IgA and IgG against this and other antigens in PF and serum concerning improved diagnosis is available.