2022 Brazilian Thoracic Association recommendations for long-term home oxygen therapy.

Some chronic respiratory diseases can cause hypoxemia and, in such cases, long-term home oxygen therapy (LTOT) is indicated as a treatment option primarily to improve patient quality of life and life expectancy. Home oxygen has been used for more than 70 years, and support for LTOT is based on two studies from the 1980s that demonstrated that oxygen use improves survival in patients with COPD. There is evidence that LTOT has other beneficial effects such as improved cognitive function, improved exercise capacity, and reduced hospitalizations. LTOT is indicated in other respiratory diseases that cause hypoxemia, on the basis of the same criteria as those used for COPD. There has been an increase in the use of LTOT, probably because of increased life expectancy and a higher prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, as well as greater availability of LTOT in the health care system. The first Brazilian Thoracic Association consensus statement on LTOT was published in 2000. Twenty-two years later, we present this updated version. This document is a nonsystematic review of the literature, conducted by pulmonologists who evaluated scientific evidence and international guidelines on LTOT in the various diseases that cause hypoxemia and in specific situations (i.e., exercise, sleep, and air travel). These recommendations, produced with a view to clinical practice, contain several charts with information on indications for LTOT, oxygen sources, accessories, strategies for improved efficiency and effectiveness, and recommendations for the safe use of LTOT, as well as a LTOT prescribing model.

Frequency of respiratory pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2 detected during COVID-19 testing.

The frequencies of 19 respiratory pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2 were assessed in 6,"?>235 Brazilian individuals tested for COVID-19. Overall, only 83 individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had codetection of other pathogens. Individuals infected with Rhinovirus/Enterovirus, Human Coronavirus (HCoV)-HKU1, HCoV-NL63, HPIV-4, Influenza A (-H1N1 and other subtypes), Influenza B, Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Human Metapneumovirus were less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2. Infection with Streptococcys pyogenes, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Bordetella pertussis were more frequent in individuals who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, but without significancy. We found 150 individuals infected with ≥2 pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2, only 3 out of whom tested positive for COVID-19. The codetection frequency was low in individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Other viral infections may provide a cross-reactive, protective immune response against SARS-CoV-2. Screening for bacterial respiratory infections upon COVID-19 testing is important to drive suitable therapeutic approaches and avoid unnecessary antibiotic prescription.

2022 Brazilian Thoracic Association recommendations for long-term home oxygen therapy / Recomendações para oxigenoterapia domiciliar prolongada da Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia (2022)

ABSTRACT Some chronic respiratory diseases can cause hypoxemia and, in such cases, long-term home oxygen therapy (LTOT) is indicated as a treatment option primarily to improve patient quality of life and life expectancy. Home oxygen has been used for more than 70 years, and support for LTOT is based on two studies from the 1980s that demonstrated that oxygen use improves survival in patients with COPD. There is evidence that LTOT has other beneficial effects such as improved cognitive function, improved exercise capacity, and reduced hospitalizations. LTOT is indicated in other respiratory diseases that cause hypoxemia, on the basis of the same criteria as those used for COPD. There has been an increase in the use of LTOT, probably because of increased life expectancy and a higher prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, as well as greater availability of LTOT in the health care system. The first Brazilian Thoracic Association consensus statement on LTOT was published in 2000. Twenty-two years later, we present this updated version. This document is a nonsystematic review of the literature, conducted by pulmonologists who evaluated scientific evidence and international guidelines on LTOT in the various diseases that cause hypoxemia and in specific situations (i.e., exercise, sleep, and air travel). These recommendations, produced with a view to clinical practice, contain several charts with information on indications for LTOT, oxygen sources, accessories, strategies for improved efficiency and effectiveness, and recommendations for the safe use of LTOT, as well as a LTOT prescribing model.

RESUMO Algumas doenças respiratórias crônicas podem evoluir com hipoxemia e, nessas situações, a oxigenoterapia domiciliar prolongada (ODP) está indicada como opção terapêutica com o objetivo principal de melhorar a qualidade e a expectativa de vida desses pacientes. O oxigênio domiciliar é usado há mais de 70 anos, e a ODP tem como base dois estudos da década de oitenta que demonstraram que o uso de oxigênio melhora a sobrevida de pacientes com DPOC. Existem evidências de que a ODP tem outros efeitos benéficos como melhora da função cognitiva e da capacidade de exercício e redução de hospitalizações. A ODP está indicada para outras doenças respiratórias que cursam com hipoxemia, segundo os mesmos critérios estabelecidos para a DPOC. Tem sido observado aumento no uso da ODP provavelmente pela maior expectativa de vida, maior prevalência de doenças respiratórias crônicas e maior disponibilidade de ODP no sistema de saúde. O primeiro consenso sobre ODP da Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia foi publicado em 2000; após 22 anos, apresentamos esta versão atualizada. Este documento é uma revisão não sistemática da literatura, realizada por pneumologistas que avaliaram evidências científicas e diretrizes internacionais sobre ODP nas diversas doenças que cursam com hipoxemia e em situações específicas (exercício, sono e viagens aéreas). Estas recomendações, tendo em vista a prática clínica, oferecem diversos quadros com informações sobre indicações, fontes de oxigênio, acessórios e estratégias para melhor eficiência, efetividade e uso seguro da ODP, assim como um modelo para sua prescrição.

Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in TLR4, TLR2, TLR9, VDR, NOS2 and CCL5 genes with acute viral bronchiolitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute viral bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants during the first year of life. Most infants hospitalized for bronchiolitis do not present risk factors and are otherwise healthy. Our objective was to determine the genetic features associated with the risk and a severe course of bronchiolitis. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 181 infants with severe bronchiolitis admitted at three hospitals over a 2-year period, who required oxygen therapy. The control group consisted of 536 healthy adults. Patients were evaluated for the presence of comorbidities (premature birth, chronic respiratory disease, and congenital heart disease), underwent nasopharyngeal aspirate testing for virus detection by multiplex-PCR, and SNPs identification in immune response genes. Patient outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: We observed association between SNP rs2107538*CCL5 and bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) and RSV-subtype-A, and between rs1060826*NOS2 and bronchiolitis caused by rhinovirus. SNPs rs4986790*TLR4, rs1898830*TLR2, and rs2228570*VDR were associated with progression to death. SNP rs7656411*TLR2 was associated with length of oxygen use; SNPs rs352162*TLR9, rs187084*TLR9, and rs2280788*CCL5 were associated with requirement for intensive care unit admission; while SNPs rs1927911*TLR4, rs352162*TLR9, and rs2107538*CCL5 were associated with the need for mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide some evidence that SNPs in CCL5 and NOS2 are associated with presence of bronchiolitis and SNPs in TLR4, TLR2, TLR9, VDR and CCL5 are associated with severity of bronchiolitis.

Respiratory syncytial virus in Brazilian infants - Ten years, two cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Each year, a considerable amount of children will experience at least one episode of acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB) during their first year of life. About 10% of them will be hospitalized, with significant physical and economic burdens. OBJECTIVES: To compare two cohorts of infants with AVB, from same region, in a ten-year interval, regarding epidemiologic factors and viral etiology. STUDY DESIGN: Cohorts: 142 (2004) and 172 (2014) infants at ages zero to 12 months; clinical diagnosis of AVB; medical care in hospital and genetic screening of nasopharyngeal secretion for respiratory viruses. RESULTS: The comparative analysis showed a difference in the percentage of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) positive patients [2004 (33.1%); 2014 (70.3%)] (p<0.01). No differences were noted regarding gender, breastfeeding, tobacco exposure, crowding and maternal education. There was a difference as to the month of incidence (seasonality) of AVB (higher in April 2014). There was a higher age at attendance in the first cohort, and lower birth weight and gestational age ratios in the second cohort (p<0.05). There were no differences in hospitalization time, need of mechanical ventilation and number of deaths, however a difference regarding co-morbidities was noted (higher in 2004) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: None of the analyzed variables had an impact on severity features. Virology and immunology must be considered in this kind of situation, by studying genetic variants and the maturation of the immune system in AVB by RSV or other viruses.

Epidemiological and genetic characteristics associated with the severity of acute viral bronchiolitis by respiratory syncytial virus.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the epidemiological and genetic factors associated with severity of acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB) by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). DATA SOURCE: the key words "bronchiolitis", "risk factor", "genetics" and "respiratory syncytial virus", and all combinations among them were used to perform a search in the PubMed, SciELO, and Lilacs databases, of articles published after the year 2000 that included individuals younger than 2 years of age. DATA SYNTHESIS: a total of 1,259 articles were found, and their respective summaries were read. Of these, 81 were selected, which assessed risk factors for the severity of AVB, and were read in full; the 60 most relevant studies were included. The epidemiologic factors associated with AVB severity by RSV were prematurity, passive smoking, young age, lack of breastfeeding, chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, male gender, ethnicity, viral coinfection, low weight at admission, maternal smoking during pregnancy, atopic dermatitis, mechanical ventilation in the neonatal period, maternal history of atopy and/or asthma during pregnancy, season of birth, low socioeconomic status, Down syndrome, environmental pollution, living at an altitude > 2,500 meters above sea level, and cesarean section birth. Conversely, some children with severe AVB did not present any of these risk factors. In this regard, recent studies have verified the influence of genetic factors on the severity of AVB by RSV. Polymorphisms of the TLRs, RANTES, JUN, IFNA5, NOS2, CX3CR1, ILs, and VDR genes have been shown to be associated with more severe evolution of AVB by RSV. CONCLUSION: the severity of AVB by RSV is a phenomenon that depends on the varying degrees of interaction among epidemiological, environmental, and genetic variables.

Associação entre deficiência de alfa-1-antitripsina e a gravidade da fibrose cística / Association between alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency and cystic fibrosis severity

OBJETIVO: Verificar a distribuição dos genótipos da alfa-1-antitripsina e correlacionar com a gravidade da doença pulmonar em pacientes fibrocísticos. MÉTODO: Estudo clínico-laboratorial de corte transversal, com 70 pacientes fibrocísticos do Hospital Universitário da UNICAMP. Os fibrocísticos tiveram diagnóstico confirmado clínica e laboratorialmente. A gravidade da fibrose cística foi avaliada pelo escore de Shwachman. Todos os pacientes foram analisados para os alelos S e Z de alfa-1-antitripsina usando a reação em cadeia da polimerase. RESULTADOS: Nove pacientes (12,8 por cento) foram heterozigotos para os alelos S ou Z ou heterozigoto composto (SZ). Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada na gravidade clínica da fibrose cística entre os genótipos da alfa-1-antitripsina. Nenhuma diferença com significância estatística foi encontrada quando os pacientes foram separados pela presença ou ausência da mutação deltaF508. CONCLUSÃO: Neste estudo, o primeiro realizado no Brasil sobre a associação entre deficiência de alfa-1-antitripsina e fibrose cística, não encontramos uma associação entre essa deficiência e a gravidade da fibrose cística.