Effects of positive expiratory pressure on pulmonary clearance of aerosolized technetium-99m-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid in healthy individuals.

Objective:: To evaluate the effects of positive expiratory pressure (PEP) on pulmonary epithelial membrane permeability in healthy subjects.

Methods:: We evaluated a cohort of 30 healthy subjects (15 males and 15 females) with a mean age of 28.3 ± 5.

Pulmonary hypertension as estimated by Doppler echocardiography in adolescent and adult patients with cystic fibrosis and their relationship with clinical, lung function and sleep findings.

Background: In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, end stage of pulmonary disease is characterized by pulmonary hypertension (PH), hypoxemia, decrease in exercise tolerance, and sleep quality.

Objective: To evaluate the association between clinical, lung function, sleep quality, and polysomnographic variables with PH in CF patients aged 16 years or older.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 51 clinically stable CF patients underwent a clinical evaluation, an overnight polysomnography and answered sleep questionnaires (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth sleepiness scale).

High frequency hearing thresholds and product distortion otoacoustic emissions in cystic fibrosis patients.

Introduction: The treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis involves the use of ototoxic drugs, mainly aminoglycoside antibiotics. Due to the use of these drugs, fibrocystic patients are at risk of developing hearing loss.

Objective: To evaluate the hearing of patients with cystic fibrosis by High Frequency Audiometry and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions.

Post-traumatic stress symptoms and exacerbations in COPD patients.

Background: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common psychological consequence of exposure to traumatic stressful life events. During COPD exacerbations dyspnea can be considered a near-death experience that may induce post-traumatic stress symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between COPD exacerbations and PTSD- related symptoms.

Activity level predicts 6-minute walk distance in healthy older females: an observational study.

Background: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is widely used in clinical practice and research. Few studies have investigated activity level as a predictor of 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), and existing predictive models do not allow for activity level.

Objectives: To evaluate if knowledge of the level of physical activity enhanced the ability to predict 6MWD, and if the inclusion of activity level added to the predictive accuracy of existing models for the 6MWT in healthy older women; and to validate existent predictive models for 6MWD in a new sample.

D-dimer levels in stable COPD patients: a case-control study.

Background: High D-dimer levels have been detected in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation, irrespective of presence of venous thromboembolism. On the other hand, there is a continuing debate about the diagnostic efficiency of D-dimer tests in patients with stable COPD.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate if basic laboratory investigations suggest hypercoagulability state in stable COPD patients, and if there is an association with D-dimer levels and pulmonary function tests.

Effects of expiratory positive airway pressure on dynamic hyperinflation during exercise in patients with COPD.

Background: Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) is a form of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilatory support that, in spite of not unloading respiratory muscles during inspiration, may reduce the inspiratory threshold load and attenuate expiratory dynamic airway compression, contributing to reduced expiratory air-flow limitation in patients with COPD. We sought to determine the effects of EPAP on operational lung volumes during exercise in COPD patients.

Methods: This was a nonrandomized, experimental comparison of 2 exercise conditions (with and without EPAP); subjects completed a treadmill exercise test and performed, before and immediately after exercise, lung volume measurements.

Sleep findings and predictors of sleep desaturation in adult cystic fibrosis patients.

Purpose: Questions remain about the polysomnographic findings and the predictors for sleep desaturation in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Our study aimed to evaluate sleep parameters in a sample of adult CF patients comparing them with healthy controls and to determine the best predictors of sleep desaturation in CF patients with awake resting peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) ≥90%.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, with data collected prospectively, 51 clinically stable adult CF patients (mean age 25.

Sleep abnormalities in untreated patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type VI.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) is a lysosomal storage disease that affects an enzyme responsible for the degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Partially degraded GAGs accumulate in several tissues, such as the upper airways (UA), which leads to the development of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our objective was to determine the prevalence of OSA in a group of untreated patients with MPS VI and the association of OSA with clinical and echocardiographic findings.

Perfused lung volume to thoracic gas volume ratio (perfused lung fraction) in patients with COPD and in controls.

Background: The deterioration of the ventilation-to-perfusion distribution in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reflects structural changes affecting both the airways and the blood vessels. These changes result in lung perfusion abnormalities that may be quantified by lung perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Objective: To compare the perfused lung fraction (PLF) in patients with airflow obstruction and controls.

[Recommendations for the management of pulmonary thromboembolism, 2010].

Pulmonary thromboembolism and deep vein thrombosis together constitute a condition designated venous thromboembolism. Despite the advances, the morbidity and the mortality attributed to this condition are still high, because the patients present with more complex diseases, are submitted to a greater number of invasive procedures and survive longer. Although there are various international guidelines available, we decided to write these recommendations for their application in medical practice in Brazil.

Bacteriological analysis of induced sputum for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in the clinical practice of a general tertiary hospital.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic sensitivity of bacteriological analyses in induced sputum (IS) for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and to identify the clinical characteristics associated with the confirmed diagnosis, as well as to determine the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy carried out when IS tests negative for AFB in smear microscopy.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study of patients suspected of having active pulmonary TB and referred to our clinic for sputum induction. We consecutively reviewed the laboratory data of all patients submitted to sputum induction between June of 2003 and January of 2006, as well as their electronic medical records.

Association between nutritional status and dietary intake in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Objective: To determine the relationship between nutritional status and dietary intake in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 85 cystic fibrosis patients between 6 and 18 years of age. Dietary intake was evaluated by the 3-day diet record (weighing the food consumed).

Portuguese-language version of the Epworth sleepiness scale: validation for use in Brazil.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a Portuguese-language version of the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) for use in Brazil.

Methods: The steps involved in creating the ESS in Brazilian Portuguese (ESS-BR) were as follows: translation; back-translation; comparison (by a committee) between the translation and the back-translation; and testing in bilingual individuals. The ESS-BR was applied to a group of patients who were submitted to overnight polysomnography in order to identify obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), insomnia and primary snoring.

Respiratory patterns in spirometric tests of adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis.

Objective: To evaluate spirometric patterns of respiratory disorders and their relationship with functional severity and maximal expiratory flows at low lung volumes in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study including adolescents and adults with CF. All of the patients were submitted to spirometry.

Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension evaluated by Doppler echocardiography in a population of adolescent and adult patients with cystic fibrosis.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), to compare clinical characteristics, radiographic scores, pulmonary function, and echocardiographic parameters in patients with and without PH, and to correlate echocardiographic findings with clinical characteristics, radiographic scores, and pulmonary function.

Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study involving clinically stable patients (aged 16 or older) enrolled in an adult CF program. The patients were submitted to clinical evaluation, Doppler echocardiography, pulmonary function tests, and chest X-rays.

[Factors that contributed to quit smoking].

Sixteen smokers from Porto Alegre, Rio Grando do Sul, Brazil, in abstinence for more than six months were interviewed to investigate the factors that contribute for the success in quitting smoking. Interviews were examined by Content Analysis and seven categories emerged: determination to stop smoking, support received, social restrictions to smoking, benefits related to quitting smoking, information on the problems caused by smoking, elucidating campaigns, and the use of tricks. Results show that the individual's willingness to quit smoking overwhelms other factors, and that the smoker needs a lot of determination, as well as the support of society to be able to overcome the barrier of nicotine dependence.

Submaximal exercise capacity in adolescent and adult patients with cystic fibrosis.

Objective: To determine the submaximal exercise capacity of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) by means of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), correlating the results with clinical score, nutritional status, radiographic score, and pulmonary function tests.

Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study involving patients aged 16 or older enrolled in a program for adults with CF. The patients were submitted to clinical evaluation, determination of maximal respiratory pressures, 6MWT, spirometry, and chest X-ray.

Lack of effect of dopaminergic antagonists in a rodent model of peritoneal sepsis.

Central nervous system dopaminergic mechanisms have been implicated in the cytokine response to stress and sepsis. We here describe the effects of haloperidol or clozapine in the treatment of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Male Wistar rats were subjected to the CLP procedure were treated with haloperidol or clozapine and plasma cytokines, myeloperoxidase activity, markers of organ injury and survival was analyzed.

Doppler echocardiogram, oxygen saturation and submaximum capacity of exercise in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Study Objectives: To determine the relationship between pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) and submaximum capacity of exercise, using the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and to investigate the relation between echocardiographic findings and results of 6MWT, clinical scores, chest radiograph scores and lung function tests.

Design: This was a prospective cross-sectional study in patients with CF (16 years and older) with clinical stability, attending the Adult CF Program at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. The patients had Doppler echocardiography and performed a 6MWT.

Transbronchoscopic pulmonary emphysema treatment: 1-month to 24-month endoscopic follow-up.

Objective: Describe the results of a 1- to 24-month follow-up of individuals undergoing transbronchoscopic placement of one-way valves.

Design: Longitudinal, noncomparative study.

Setting: University hospital.

Prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and atopic eczema in 13- to 14-year-old schoolchildren from southern Brazil.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and atopic eczema in schoolchildren from southern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out with the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood phase III written questionnaire. The questionnaire was self-applied by 2,948 randomly selected schoolchildren aged 13 to 14 years.

Obesity and its relationship with asthma prevalence and severity in adolescents from southern Brazil.

Obesity has been pointed out as a risk factor for higher prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms in adolescents. The objective was to evaluate the relationship between the prevalence of asthma and obesity in adolescents living in Santa Maria and surroundings (state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil), applying the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol. A total of 4,010 of 6,123 schoolchildren, 13 to 14 years of age, enrolled in the ISAAC phase III protocol (asthma core questionnaire) and were nutritionally evaluated: height, weight, and triceps skinfold (TSF) measurements.

Effects of N-acetylcysteine plus deferoxamine in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in the rat.

Objectives: Interventions that reduce the generation or the effects of reactive oxygen species exert controversial effects in animal models of lung injury, and these could be secondary to the pro-oxidant effects of antioxidants generally by their interaction with iron. We here describe the effects of N-acetylcysteine, deferoxamine, or both in the treatment of acute lung injury induced by intratracheal lipopolysaccharide injection.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled experiment.

Community-acquired pneumonia by Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1-6 in Brazil.

A prospective cohort study of adult patients hospitalized due to community-acquired pneumonia was carried out for 1 year in a Brazilian university general hospital to detect the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia by Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1-6. During a whole year, a total of 645 consecutive patients who were hospitalized due to a initial presumptive diagnosis of respiratory disease by ICD-10 (J00-J99), excluding upper respiratory diseases, were screened to detect the patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Fifty-nine consecutive patients hospitalized due to community-acquired pneumonia between July 19, 2000 and July 18, 2001, were included in the study.