Matrix metalloproteinase gene polymorphisms: lack of association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Brazilian population.

There are many candidate genes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One such candidate is the group of genes that code for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which play an essential role in tissue remodeling and repair associated with COPD. We tested the hypothesis that polymorphic variation in MMP genes influences the risk of developing COPD by examining functional polymorphisms in the promoters of MMP-3, MMP-9 and MMP-12 genes in 111 COPD patients and 101 controls. The -1171 5A/6A MMP-3, -1562 C/T MMP-9 and -82 A/G MMP-12 polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction, followed by restriction digestion. No significant differences were observed in allele and genotype frequencies between COPD patients and controls. Haplotype analysis also did not reveal differences between COPD patients and controls. We found that MMP polymorphisms had no significant impact on the risk of developing COPD in this Brazilian sample.

The effect of control group selection in the analysis of risk factors for extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. A prospective controlled study.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of control selection on risk factor analysis for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) infections. Four contemporaneous case-control studies were conducted prospectively with 372 patients: Study 1 (ESBL-KP-infected vs non-infected); Study 2 (ESBL-KP-infected vs non-ESBL-KP-infected); Study 3 (all KP-infected vs non-infected); Study 4 (non-ESBL-KP-infected vs non-infected). Time at risk (TAR, i.e. duration of hospital stay) was the most significant risk factor [Study 1: odds ratio (OR): 5.74 (95% CI: 2.26-14.59; P<0.001); Study 2: 3.52 (1.47-8.43; P=0.005); Study 3: 2.68 (1.57-4.58; P<0.001)]; central venous catheterisation (CVC) was a risk factor in Study 1: 5.31 (1.67-16.82; P=0.005) and Study 3: 2.10 (1.04-4.27; P=0.04). Prior use of cephalosporins (PUC) was a risk factor only in studies with non-infected patients as controls [Study 1: 5.64 (1.90-16.72; P=0.002) and Study 3: 4.60 (2.09-10.13; P<0.001)]. The ORs were uniformly lower with 'non-ESBL-KP-infected' (TAR: 3.52; CVC: 2.07; PUC: 1.97) compared with 'non-infected' patients (TAR: 5.74; CVC: 5.31; PUC: 5.64) as control groups. Selection of control patients has a crucial role in the evaluation of risk factors for ESBL-KP infections. A consistent underestimation of the magnitude of the risk factors is observed when the control group is defined by the non-ESBL-KP-infected patients.

Inadequate treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia: risk factors and impact on outcomes.

Initial antibiotic therapy is an important determinant of clinical outcomes in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Several studies have investigated this issue, with conflicting results. This study investigated risk factors of inadequate empirical antimicrobial therapy and its impact on outcomes for patients with a clinical diagnosis of VAP. The primary outcome was adequacy of antimicrobial therapy. Secondary outcomes were duration of mechanical ventilation, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) lengths of stay, and mortality due to VAP. Mean age was 62.9+/-15.2 years, mean APACHE (Acute Physiological Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation) II score was 20.1+/-8.1 and mean MODS (Multiple Organ Dysfunction Score) was 3.7+/-2.5. Sixty-nine (45.7%) of 151 patients with a clinical diagnosis of VAP received inadequate antimicrobial treatment for VAP initially. There were 100 (66.2%) episodes of VAP caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens, of which 56% were inadequately treated, whereas the rate of inadequate antimicrobial therapy for VAP caused by susceptible-drug pathogens was 25.5% (P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of inadequate antimicrobial treatment was more than twice as great for patients with late-onset VAP [odds ratio (OR), 2.93; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.30-6.64; P=0.01], and more than three times for patients with VAP caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens (OR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.29-7.30; P=0.01) or with polymicrobial VAP (OR, 3.67; 95% CI, 1.21-11.12; P=0.02). Inadequate antimicrobial treatment was associated with higher mortality for patients with VAP. Two of three independent risk factors for treatment inadequacy were associated with the isolation and identification of micro-organisms.

Effect of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program on the levels of anxiety and depression and on the quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP) on the levels of anxiety and depression and the quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHOD: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who completed the PRP of 3 weekly sessions of 60 min duration for 12 weeks, a total of 36 sessions, were assessed using Beck Inventory (BAI and BDI) and Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). RESULTS: A total of 125 individuals, with an average age of 63.7 ± 8.8 years, FEV1: 1.17 ± 0.57L (43.18 ± 18.79% predicted), 61.6% male and 38.4% female, were analyzed. The BAI and BDI before and after PRP were, respectively, 10.15 ± 6.32 vs. 7.67 ± 7.21; p=0.0041 and 12.60 ± 7.99 vs. 8.96 ± 7.29; p=0.00016. The results of the SGRQ domains were, respectively, Before and After symptoms (48.53 ± 20.41 vs. 32.58 ± 18.95), Activity (69.15 ± 20.79 vs. 52.42 ± 23.70), Impact (32.92 ± 18.29 vs. 20.27 ± 16.70), Total (46.69 ± 16.90 vs. 32.07 ± 16.96). When correlating the BDI to the domains of the SGRQ, weak correlations were observed (Symptoms r=0.22; p=0.01; Activity r=0.28; p=0.001; Impact r=0.52; p=2.72; Total r=0.44; p=0.17). In the same way, weak correlations were observed when correlating the BAI to the SGRQ (Symptoms r=0.28; p=0.0009; Activity r=0.32; p=0.0005; Impact r=0.42; p=7.33; Total r=0.43; p=0.74). CONCLUSION: Although the PRP improves levels of depression and anxiety as well as the quality of life in patients with COPD, no significant correlation of these analyzed variables was observed.