Association of anti-nuclesome and anti C1q antibodies with lupus nephritis in an Egyptian cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract Introduction: Anti-nucleosome and anti-C1q antibodies demonstrated an association with the development of glomerulonephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Some investigators have proposed that monitoring anti- C1q and anti-nucleosome antibodies might be valuable for making predictions about lupus nephritis (LN) and assessment of disease activity as a non-invasive biological marker of renal disease. Objectives: The current study was proposed to investigate the presence of anti-C1q and anti-nucleosome antibodies in the sera of Egyptian patients with SLE and their association with LN. Methods: Eighty patients with SLE were included. Patients were classified into, a LN group including 40 cases with active LN (based on the results of renal biopsy and renal SLEDAI≥4) and a non renal SLE group including 40 patients (with no clinical or laboratory evidence of renal involvement that were attributed in the past or present to SLE). They were subjected to full medical history taking, clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, measurement of antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-ds DNA, anti-C1q & anti-nucleosome antibodies. Results: Anti-C1q antibody showed a statistically significant association with the presence of vasculitis and nephritis while anti-nucleosome antibody didn't show a significant association with the presence of any clinical features. Double positivity of anti-nucleosome and anti-C1q antibodies showed a statistically significant association with the presence of vasculitis and photosensitivity, high ECLAM score, elevated ESR, low serum albumin and low C3 levels. Conclusion: Serum anti-C1q antibody has a significant association with LN while double positive antibodies have a significant association with vasculitis and low C3 levels in Egyptian patients with SLE.

Estudio del estado clínico-funcional en pacientes asmáticos / Study of the clinical and functional conditions of asthmatic patients

Introducción: Las principales alteraciones funcionales del asma bronquial son la obstrucción del flujo aéreo, su reversibilidad, variabilidad y la hiperrespuesta bronquial. Objetivo: Determinar el estado clínico-funcional en pacientes con asma que asisten por primera vez a consulta de neumología. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal con 110 pacientes que asistieron por primera vez y fueron atendidos por asma en la consulta externa del Hospital Neumológico Benéfico Jurídico (HNBJ) en el año 2014-2015, se comprobó por la clínica y la espirometría la severidad de la enfermedad. Entre las variables de estudio están: edad, sexo, antecedentes patológicos familiares de asma o alergia, índice de masa corporal, gravedad o severidad del asma. Resultados: Predominó el asma de mayor gravedad entre los pacientes comprendidos entre los 40-59 años, con riesgo 4,4 veces superior en mayores de 40 años. El sexo femenino presentó 2,1 veces más riesgo. El 75,5 por ciento de pacientes tenía antecedentes patológicos familiares (APF) de asma o alergia y riesgo 3,4 veces superior de mayor gravedad. Más de la mitad presentó antecedentes patológicos personales (APP) de otras enfermedades y mayor proporción de asma de mayor gravedad. El 53.6 por ciento presentó sobrepeso u obesidad y 4,1 veces más riesgo de mayor gravedad. La mayoría de los pacientes no presentó adicción tabáquica. Conclusiones: Los pacientes mayores de 40 años, sexo femenino y con APF de asma o alergia, presentan asma de mayor gravedad. La obesidad es frecuente en pacientes asmáticos y constituye un riesgo importante de padecer asma más grave. Existe bajo porcentaje de asmáticos fumadores aunque esta condición favorece a padecer un asma más grave(AU)

Introduction: The main functional alterations in bronchial asthma are the obstruction of the air flow, its reversibility, variability, and bronchial hyper- responsiveness. Objective: To determine the clinical and functional conditions in patients with asthma who go to the outpatient pneumology service for the first time. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 110 patients with asthma that were treated for the first time in the outpatient department of the Pneumology Service at the "Benéfico Jurídico" Teaching Hospital in Havana from June 1st,2014 to June 31st,2015. The severity of asthma was confirmed by clinical diagnosis and spirometric tests. The variables consisted of age, sex, family pathological antecedents of asthma or allergy, body mass index, and seriousness or severity of asthma. Results: The most serious asthma prevailed in patients aged 40 to 59 years, and the patients 40 years old and older presented 4.4 times higher risks. The female sex exhibited 2.1 times higher risks. 75.5 percent of patients with family pathological antecedents (FPA) of asthma or allergy showed 3.4 times higher risk levels for more serious conditions. More than half of patients presented personal pathological antecedents (PPA) of other diseases and a more serious asthma. 53.6 percent were overweight or obese who were 4.1 times at higher risks of suffering from more serious conditions. Most patients did not report smoking addiction. Conclusions: Asthmatic patients over 40 years showed a more serious asthma during their first visit to the outpatient pneumology service, and the female sex prevailed. Asthma or allergy, FPA and PPA were the risk factors for suffering from both asthma and more serious conditions. There is a low percentage of smoking asthmatics although this condition provokes more serious symptoms(AU)

Aspergillosis pulmonar / Pulmonary aspergillosis

RESUMEN Se presenta a una paciente de 50 años de edad, atendida durante 2 años por Consulta de Neumología, en la ciudad de Matanzas. Presentaba bronquitis crónica con tratamiento para la misma, hace 3 meses ingresa por Servicio de Medicina Interna por una neumonía de lenta resolución, asociada un síndrome general. Durante el ingreso se manejan varias posibilidades diagnósticas como: posible tuberculosis pulmonar, neoplasia de pulmón o neumonía a gérmenes atípicos. Se confirmó diagnóstico de aspergilosis pulmonar mediante lavado bronquial por broncoscopio. Se aplicó tratamiento con antifúngicos sistémicos y se logró mejoría clínica y radiológica. En esta paciente no existían evidencias de inmunosupresión (AU).

ABSTRACT We present a female patient aged 50 years, attended for two years in the Pulmonology consultation, in the city of Matanzas. She suffered chronic bronchitis with treatment; three months ago she was admitted in the Internal Medicine Service due to a low resolution pneumonia associated to a general syndrome. During her staying in the hospital several diagnostic possibilities were managed: possible pulmonary tuberculosis, lung neoplasia or pneumonia to atypical germs. The diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis was confirmed through bronchial lavage `per bronchoscope. no existían evidencias de inmunosupresión. The pronosis is Lung Aspergilosis due to a bronchial washing for bronchoscopy and the treatment begins with systemic antifúngicos, achieving clinical and radiological improvement. There is no evidence of inmunosupression in the patient (AU).

Intervenção fisioterapêutica no paciente queimado: uma abordagem pneumofuncional em estudo piloto / Physiotherapeutic intervention in burned patient: a respiratory therapy approach in a pilot study / Intervención fisioterapéutica en paciente quemado: una aproximación pneumofuncional en un estudio piloto

Introdução: As queimaduras representam um grave problema médico-social no Brasil e no mundo, atingindo principalmente crianças abaixo de 5 anos e idosos, sendo responsáveis por cerca de 240 mil mortes no mundo. Objetivo: Analisar os benefícios da fisioterapia respiratória no paciente queimado, comparar os marcadores funcionais antes e depois da intervenção fisioterapêutica e correlacionar volume inspiratório com pressão inspiratória máxima nos pacientes da Unidade de Tratamento de Queimados (UTQ) de Sergipe. Método: A amostra foi composta por seis pacientes internados na UTQ. Trata-se de um estudo piloto, de intervenção, de aspecto comparativo, sendo utilizada uma amostra por conveniência na UTQ. Para a avaliação pneumofuncional, foram utilizados o Voldyne, a cirtometria, a manuvacuometria e o peak flow. Resultados: Dos pacientes atendidos, 50% foram do gênero masculino, com média de idade de 32,5 anos, sendo que 50% das queimaduras foram causadas por álcool em combustão. A região corporal mais atingida foi o tórax e todos da amostra apresentaram queimadura nessa região. Conclusões: Após as sessões de fisioterapia, foi possível observar uma resposta pneumofuncional satisfatória nos pacientes queimados, por meio dos marcadores funcionais. É de grande importância que, a partir deste estudo piloto, sejam realizadas novas pesquisas seguindo essa metodologia.

Introduction: Burns represent a serious medical and social problem in Brazil and worldwide, affecting mainly the elderly and children below the age of five, which represents approximately 240 thousand deaths in the world. Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the benefits of the respiratory therapy for burn injuries; compare the functional markers before and after the rehabilitation; recognize the principal respiratory complications in the patient with burns; and correlate the inspiratory volume with the maximal respiratory pressure of the patients from the Burn Unit Care in Sergipe. Method: The sample was composed of six patients admitted to the Burn Unit Care. This is a pilot study of rehabilitation with comparative aspects, and with the use of a sample for convenience at Burn Unit Care. Voldyne, cirtometry, peak flow, and manometer were used for the respiratory therapy evaluation. Results: Fifty percent (50 percent) of the sample were consisted of men, on the average age of 32.5 years-old; alcohol in combustion caused 50% of the burns; and the most affected part of the body was the chest and all patients from the sample presented burns there. Conclusions: It was possible to notice an increase in the pulmonary volume of the sample patients after the physical therapy sessions. It is of great importance to carry out new studies after this pilot study by using this method.

Introducción: Quemaduras representan un problema médico y social en Brasil y en todo el mundo, que afecta principalmente a los niños menores de cinco años y las personas mayores, lo que representa alrededor de 240.000 muertes en todo el mundo. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los beneficios de la terapia respiratoria en pacientes con quemaduras, comparar los marcadores funcionales antes y después de la intervención de terapia física y correlacionar el volumen inspiratorio con la presión inspiratoria máxima en pacientes Unidad de Tratamiento Quemado Sergipe. Método: La muestra consistió en seis pacientes hospitalizados en la unidad de cuidado de quemaduras. Se trata de un estudio piloto, la intervención, aspecto comparativo, se utiliza una muestra de conveniencia en la Unidad de Tratamiento de Quemaduras. Para la evaluación del pecho, se utilizó el Voldyne, cirtometry el flujo manuvacuometria y pico. Resultados: De los pacientes tratados, el 50% eran mujeres y 50% hombres, con una edad media de 32,5 años, y el 50% de las quemaduras fueron causadas por la combustión del alcohol. La región del cuerpo más afectado fue el pecho y toda la muestra se había quema en esta región. Conclusión: Después de las sesiones de terapia física, se observó una respuesta satisfactoria en pacientes con quemaduras, observamos a través de los marcadores funcionales. Es muy importante que, a partir de este estudio piloto se llevó a cabo estudios complementarios tras esta metodología.

Lasers in pulmonology.

Lasers have multiple applications in pulmonary medicine. The Nd: Yag laser is at present widely accepted for the management of respiratory problems. The major indications are central tracheobronchial obstruction due to neoplasms, uncontrolled haemorrhage from malignant lesions and tracheal stenosis. Its role is entirely palliative and only occasionally curative. Two main complications are perforation and bleeding. The basic concepts, techniques and use in various respiratory problems are discussed.