Repetitive nasal allergen challenge in allergic rhinitis: Priming and Th2-type inflammation but no evidence of remodelling.

BACKGROUND: Local tissue eosinophilia and Th2 cytokines are characteristic features of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Airway remodelling is a feature of asthma whereas evidence for remodelling in allergic rhinitis (AR) is conflicting. OBJECTIVE: By use of a novel human repetitive nasal allergen challenge (RAC) model, we evaluated the relationship between allergic inflammation and features of remodelling in AR. METHODS: Twelve patients with moderate-severe AR underwent 5 alternate day challenges with diluent which after 4 weeks were followed by 5 alternate day challenges with grass pollen extract. Nasal symptoms, Th1/Th2 cytokines in nasal secretion and serum were evaluated. Nasal biopsies were taken 24 hours after the 1st and 5th challenges with diluent and with allergen. Sixteen healthy controls underwent a single challenge with diluent and with allergen. Using immunohistochemistry, epithelial and submucosal inflammatory cells and remodelling markers were evaluated by computed image analysis. RESULTS: There was an increase in early and late-phase symptoms after every allergen challenge compared to diluent (both P < .05) with evidence of both clinical and immunological priming. Nasal tissue eosinophils and IL-5 in nasal secretion increased significantly after RAC compared to corresponding diluent challenges (P < .01, P = .01, respectively). There was a correlation between submucosal mast cells and the early-phase clinical response (r = 0.79, P = .007) and an association between epithelial eosinophils and IL-5 concentrations in nasal secretion (r = 0.69, P = .06) in allergic rhinitis. No differences were observed after RAC with regard to epithelial integrity, reticular basement membrane thickness, glandular area, expression of markers of activation of airway remodelling including α-SMA, HSP-47, extracellular matrix (MMP7, 9 and TIMP-1), angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis for AR compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Novel repetitive nasal allergen challenge in participants with severe persistent seasonal allergic rhinitis resulted in tissue eosinophilia and increases in IL-5 but no structural changes. Our data support no link between robust Th2-inflammation and development of airway remodelling in AR.

Paediatric and adult bronchiectasis: Monitoring, cross-infection, role of multidisciplinary teams and self-management plans.

Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease associated with structurally abnormal bronchi, clinically manifested by a persistent wet/productive cough, airway infections and recurrent exacerbations. Early identification and treatment of acute exacerbations is an integral part of monitoring and annual review, in both adults and children, to minimize further damage due to infection and inflammation. Common modalities used to monitor disease progression include clinical signs and symptoms, frequency of exacerbations and/or number of hospital admissions, lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 )% predicted), imaging (radiological severity of disease) and sputum microbiology (chronic infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa). There is good evidence that these monitoring tools can be used to accurately assess severity of disease and predict prognosis in terms of mortality and future hospitalization. Other tools that are currently used in research settings such as health-related quality of life (QoL) questionnaires, magnetic resonance imaging and lung clearance index can be burdensome and require additional expertise or resource, which limits their use in clinical practice. Studies have demonstrated that cross-infection, especially with P. aeruginosa between patients with bronchiectasis is possible but infrequent. This should not limit participation of patients in group activities such as pulmonary rehabilitation, and simple infection control measures should be carried out to limit the risk of cross-transmission. A multidisciplinary approach to care which includes respiratory physicians, chest physiotherapists, nurse specialists and other allied health professionals are vital in providing holistic care. Patient education and personalized self-management plans are also important despite limited evidence it improves QoL or frequency of exacerbations.

Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnea.

Affecting a large number of middle-aged, frequently overweight subjects, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep related breathing disorder. Partial or complete upper airway (UA) collapse during sleep causing repeated apneic episodes, which is the leading pathophysiological mechanism underlying the disorder, results in arterial oxygen desaturation and recurrent arousals from sleep to re-establish airway patency. Untreated OSA is commonly associated with a range of adverse consequences, including cardiovascular complications, such as arterial and/or pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmias, stroke, as well as diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, and motor vehicle accidents. Evidence-based guidelines are presently available for the diagnosis and management of OSA, and a variety of updated testing and treatment procedures and devices including some that are able to identify the site and degree of airway obstruction are becoming increasingly available. As the "one size fits all" approach falls to the wayside, a tailored personal therapeutic strategy is becoming increasingly popular in the field of sleep medicine. The aim of this review is to provide an overview for practicing clinicians on recent advances in the evaluation and management of obstructive sleep apnea in adults.

Real-time 3D visualization of the thoraco-abdominal surface during breathing with body movement and deformation extraction.

Real-time 3D visualization of the breathing displacements can be a useful diagnostic tool in order to immediately observe the most active regions on the thoraco-abdominal surface. The developed method is capable of separating non-relevant torso movement and deformations from the deformations that are solely related to breathing. This makes it possible to visualize only the breathing displacements. The system is based on the structured laser triangulation principle, with simultaneous spatial and color data acquisition of the thoraco-abdominal region. Based on the tracking of the attached passive markers, the torso movement and deformation is compensated using rigid and non-rigid transformation models on the three-dimensional (3D) data. The total time of 3D data processing together with visualization equals 20 ms per cycle.In vitro verification of the rigid movement extraction was performed using the iterative closest point algorithm as a reference. Furthermore, a volumetric evaluation on a live subject was performed to establish the accuracy of the rigid and non-rigid model. The root mean square deviation between the measured and the reference volumes shows an error of ±0.08 dm(3) for rigid movement extraction. Similarly, the error was calculated to be ±0.02 dm(3) for torsional deformation extraction and ±0.11 dm(3) for lateral bending deformation extraction. The results confirm that during the torso movement and deformation, the proposed method is sufficiently accurate to visualize only the displacements related to breathing. The method can be used, for example, during the breathing exercise on an indoor bicycle or a treadmill.

Measurable impact of acupuncture on mucosal swelling of inferior turbinates: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

CONCLUSIONS: Sham acupuncture turned out to be more effective than expected. The effect of acupuncture cannot be assessed by optical rhinometry (ORM). OBJECTIVES: In most cases nasal congestion is caused by hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate as a result of allergic and chronic rhinitis. Topical decongestants cause severe side effects. As a consequence, there is an increasing demand for alternative treatment options such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). METHODS: A total of 25 patients with nasal congestion due to hypertrophic inferior turbinate were recruited. The mucosal swelling status of the inferior turbinate was assessed by continuous ORM for 20 min. Patients were asked to score the severity of their nasal congestion on a visual analogue scale (VAS) before and 10 and 20 min after acupuncture. Specific verum acupuncture points related to nasal congestion were tested against non-specific control sham acupuncture points. RESULTS: Sham acupuncture improved VAS scores, whereas ORM measured an increase in nasal swelling. The ORM revealed a quicker onset of the effect of verum acupuncture on the nasal blood flow. Also, verum acupuncture reaches its maximum effect in a shorter time period, so that the net reaction time was much shorter. However, ORM could not prove a decongestant effect of verum acupuncture on inferior turbinate.

Complementary home mechanical ventilation techniques. SEPAR Year 2014.

This is a review of the different complementary techniques that are useful for optimizing home mechanical ventilation (HMV). Airway clearance is very important in patients with HMV and many patients, particularly those with reduced peak cough flow, require airway clearance (manual or assisted) or assisted cough techniques (manual or mechanical) and suctioning procedures, in addition to ventilation. In the case of invasive HMV, good tracheostomy cannula management is essential for success. HMV patients may have sleep disturbances that must be taken into account. Sleep studies including complete polysomnography or respiratory polygraphy are helpful for identifying patient-ventilator asynchrony. Other techniques, such as bronchoscopy or nutritional support, may be required in patients on HMV, particularly if percutaneous gastrostomy is required. Information on treatment efficacy can be obtained from HMV monitoring, using methods such as pulse oximetry, capnography or the internal programs of the ventilators themselves. Finally, the importance of the patient's subjective perception is reviewed, as this may potentially affect the success of the HMV.

The diagnosis and treatment of acute cough in adults.

BACKGROUND: Cough is the most common complaint for which patients visit their primary care physician, being present in about 8% of consultations. A profusion of new evidence has made it necessary to produce a comprehensively updated version of the guideline on cough of the German College of General Practitioners and Family Physicians (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin, DEGAM), which was last issued in 2008. METHOD: The interdisciplinary evidence and consensus based S3 guideline on cough of the DEGAM was updated on the basis of a systematic review of the relevant literature published from 2003 to July 2012 (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science). Evidence levels were assessed and consensus procedures were followed as prescribed by AWMF standards, with the participation of 7 medical societies. RESULTS: 182 publications were used to update the guideline, including 45 systematic reviews (26 of which included a meta-analysis) and 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). 11 recommendations for acute cough were approved by consensus in a nominal group process. The history and physical examination are the basis of diagnostic evaluation. When the clinical diagnosis is that of an acute, uncomplicated bronchitis, no laboratory tests, sputum evaluation, or chest x-rays should be performed, and antibiotics should not be given. There is inadequate evidence for the efficacy of antitussive or expectorant drugs against acute cough. The state of the evidence for phytotherapeutic agents is heterogeneous. Persons with community-acquired pneumonia should receive empirical antibiotic treatment for 5 to 7 days; specific risk factors can influence the choice of drug to be used. It is recommended that laboratory tests should not be performed and neuraminidase inhibitors should not be given in the routine management of influenza. CONCLUSION: A specifically intended effect of these recommendations is to reduce the use of antibiotics to treat colds and acute bronchitis, for which they are not indicated. Further clinical trials of treatments for cough should be performed in order to extend the evidence base, which is now fragmentary.

Development of the clinic of pulmonology and allergy.

University Pulmology and Allergy Clinic was founded in 1975 when the Depertment of Internal Medicine, directed by Prof. Dr. Dimitar Arsov, later member of the Macedonian Academy of Sciencies and Arts, was divided into eight separate and independent clinics. The first head of the Pulmonology and Allergy Clinic was Prof. Dr. Ljubomir Kotevski. He had a very difficult goal: to establish and further develop the newly formed clinic. The Clinic flourished and became one of the leading Clinics in the Clinical Centre during the directorship of Prof. dr. Dejan Dokic.. He completely rebuilt and refurbished the Clinic, which became a modern Clinic providing excellent working conditions for the employees and, most importantly, provided a first class service to the patients. During his mandate he obtained a grant from the Japanese Government worth $1,000,000 which was used to obtain a new, modern and sophisticated medical equipment. Since the establishment of the clinic, many national and international scientific projects were carried out and many scientific papers were published as well as many monographs, and chapters in scientific books. As a result of continuous education, of the total number of 24 doctors there are 16 subspecialists in respiratory medicine and 4 specialists in internal medicine. There are 9 professors in internal medicine at the University of Pulmonology and Allergy Clinic lecturing at the Medical Faculty in Skopje. The University Pulmonology and Allergy Clinic has an international reputation due to many contacts with famous European Institutions. All these international interrelations have resulted in honouring 3 professors: Prof. Dr. Gert Kunkel from Berlin, Germany, Prof. Dr. Robert Loddenkemper from Berlin, Germany and Prof. Dr. Peter Howard from Southampton, UK.

The diagnosis of asthma / O diagnóstico da asma

O diagnóstico de asma — como exposto em diversas diretrizes nacionais — é fundamentado na história clínica e corroborado pelo exame clínico e pela função pulmonar, que demonstra obstrução ao fluxo aéreo, reversível espontaneamente ou após o uso de broncodilatador ou corticosteroide. Diversos diagnósticos diferenciais devem ser cuidadosamente excluídos na avaliação clínica — incluindo bronquiolite viral na infância e DPOC nos adultos. Neste artigo, consideramos que o diagnóstico de asma deve agora avançar com o reconhecimento de que a asma é uma síndrome clínica heterogênea (casos individuais têm evolução e resposta ao tratamento diversos).Recomendamos que a broncoscopia e a biópsia brônquica devam participar do processo diagnóstico nos casos de pacientes que seguem o tratamento e, mesmo assim, não obtêm o controle da asma com doses moderadas de corticosteroides inalatórios. Desse modo, uma melhor caracterização da alteração clínica do paciente será obtida, visando o uso de terapias alternativas (disponíveis ou ainda a serem desenvolvidas)

Diagnosis and treatment of acute bronchitis.

Cough is the most common symptom bringing patients to the primary care physician's office, and acute bronchitis is usually the diagnosis in these patients. Acute bronchitis should be differentiated from other common diagnoses, such as pneumonia and asthma, because these conditions may need specific therapies not indicated for bronchitis. Symptoms of bronchitis typically last about three weeks. The presence or absence of colored (e.g., green) sputum does not reliably differentiate between bacterial and viral lower respiratory tract infections. Viruses are responsible for more than 90 percent of acute bronchitis infections. Antibiotics are generally not indicated for bronchitis, and should be used only if pertussis is suspected to reduce transmission or if the patient is at increased risk of developing pneumonia (e.g., patients 65 years or older). The typical therapies for managing acute bronchitis symptoms have been shown to be ineffective, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends against using cough and cold preparations in children younger than six years. The supplement pelargonium may help reduce symptom severity in adults. As patient expectations for antibiotics and therapies for symptom management differ from evidence-based recommendations, effective communication strategies are necessary to provide the safest therapies available while maintaining patient satisfaction.

Pulmonary marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT type--what is a prognostic factor and which is the optimal treatment, operation, or chemotherapy?: Consortium for Improving Survival of Lymphoma (CISL) study.

Pulmonary marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the MALT type (P-MZL) is a relatively rare form of lymphoma. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical features and treatment outcomes of P-MZL for the evaluation of prognostic factors, and to collect information about the optimal treatment modality for this condition. From 1991 to 2008, a total of 61 patients with biopsy-confirmed P-MZL were retrospectively analyzed. The median age of our subjects was 60 (range, 34-79) years. Twenty-five of the patients (41%) were initially diagnosed without any symptoms. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was utilized for diagnosis in 19 patients (31%). Thirty-eight patients' conditions (62%) involved a single lobe. Lung lesions were bilateral in 15 patients (25%). Eleven patients evidenced synchronous involvement of extra-pulmonary site MZL. Overall, 56 of 61 patients were treated with surgery (n = 22), chemotherapy (n = 28), or radiotherapy (n = 6). Among them, 46 patients achieved complete or partial remission. The median time to progression (TTP) was 5.6 (95% CI, 2.6-8.6) years. Five patients died during follow-up. Extra-pulmonary MZL and LN involvement were shown to be poor prognostic factors for TTP. We noted no differences between the operation group and chemotherapy group in terms of TTP. P-MZL tends to be an indolent disease-characterized by prolonged survival with frequent relapses. This is similar to what is observed with other cases of MALT-type site MZL. In order to conserve lung function and reduce the risks of operation, chemotherapy should be considered as a first-line option for the treatment of P-MZL.

The traditional diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases: a description from Avicenna's Canon of Medicine.

This article presents selected text on respiratory medicine from the famous book of medicine, Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb (the Canon of Medicine) by Avicenna (981-1037 AD), which was taught for 600 years as a standard text of medicine across medieval Europe. The authentic manuscript of the Canon of Medicine is located in the Central Library of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and the section on respiratory diseases was studied for the most relevant information - information that would be informative and interesting for present day physicians and pulmonologists. The results of the analysis are presented in the article. Respiratory diseases are discussed in depth in volume 3 of the Canon of Medicine. Avicenna discusses in detail the functional anatomy and physiopathology of the pulmonary diseases that were known in his time. He also describes the signs and symptoms of various respiratory diseases and conditions in the five chapters of volume 3 (breathing, voice, cough and hemoptysis, internal wounds and inflammations and principles of treatments) that are remarkably similar to those of modern pulmonary medicine. In addition, the herbal and nonherbal treatment of respiratory diseases and their signs and symptoms, mentioned in volume 2 of the Canon of Medicine, is also presented. In the time of Avicenna, the presentation of respiratory diseases, their treatment and their prognosis was much different than in modern times. There was more reliance on history, physical examination (which was mostly based on visual observation), individual variation, environmental factors, diet, and so on, for diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless, going through a popular historic text such as the Canon of Medicine adds to our knowledge of the developments in the area of respiratory medicine at the time of Avicenna.

Avaliação da associação entre mês de nascimento e sensibilização doméstica em uma população específica / Evaluation of the association between the month of bird and sensitization to grass pollen or house dust mites in a specific population

Objetivo: Investigar a associação entre o mês de nascimento e a sensibilização a ácaros da poeira doméstica e a polens de gramíneas em pacientes encaminhados a uma clínica privada de alergia do município de Passo Fundo-RS. Pacientes e Métodos: Estudo transversal com análise de 4650 prontuários no período de 1987 a 2006. Incluídos pacientes com até vinte anos de idade, diagnóstico de doença atópica (asma, rinite alérgica e/ou eczema) e monossensibilizados para ácaros da poeira doméstica ou polens de gramíneas. O grupo de comparação consistiu no total de nascidos vivos em Passo Fundo durante o mesmo período do estudo. Foram analisados idade, gênero e sensibilização alérgica, e todos os pacientes foram submetidos a testes cutâneos (puntura) para ambos os alérgenos estudados. Resultados: Neste estudo, 1303 pacientes (28 per cent) preencheram os critérios de inclusão, sendo que 42,8 per cent eram do sexo feminino, com idade variando entre dois e 20 anos. Desses, 1125 (86,3 per cent) apresentaram positividade apenas para ácaros da poeira doméstica e 178 (13,7 per cent) apenas para polens de gramíneas, sendo que a média de idade para os grupos foi, respectivamente, de 9,4 ± 5,1 anos (IC95 per cent: 9,1 a 9,7) e de 11,8 ± 5,8 anos (IC95 per cent = 11,0 a12,7). Não foi encontrada associação estatisticamente significativa entre o mês de nascimento e a sensibilização a ácaros da poeira doméstica (p = 0,55) e polens de gramíneas (p = 0,10). Conclusão: Não houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre mês de nascimento e sensibilização a aeroalérgenos nos pacientes estudados.

Purpose: To investigate the association between the month of birth and sensitization to house dust mites and grass pollen in patients evaluated in an outpatient allergy c1inic in Passo Fundo-RS. Methods: Cross-sectional study was performed with 4650 patient reports from 1987 to 2006. The patients were aged from 2 to 20 years old, had the diagnosis of atopic disease (asthma, allergic rinitis and/or eczema) and were monosensitizated to house dust mites or grass pollen. The comparison group consisted in total live births in Passo Fundo during the same period of the study. Age, gender and allergic sensitization were analyzed and prick test was performed in all the patients. Results: In this study, 1303 patients (28 per cen) full field the inclusion criteria, 42,8 per cent were female, with age varying from 2 to 20 years. Among the patients, 1125 (86,3 per cent) showed positivity only to house dust mites and 178 (13,7 per cent) only to grass pollen, and the mean of age for the both groups was, respectively, 9,4 ± 5,1 years (95 per cent CI = 9,1 - 9,7) and 11,8 ± 5,8 years (95 per cent CI = 11,0 - 12,7). Statistically significant association was not found between the month of birth and sensitization to house dust mites (p = 0,55) or grass pollen (p = 0,10). Conclusion: Month of birth did not show statistically significant association with sensitization to aeroallergens among the patients evaluated in the study. .

Descriptive study of the implementation and impact of the directly observed treatment, short-course strategy in the São José do Rio Preto municipal tuberculosis control program (1998-2003).

OBJECTIVE: To describe treatment outcomes (cure, noncompliance or death) after the implementation of the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) strategy for tuberculosis control in the city of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, between 1998 and 2003. METHODS: A descriptive study, based on secondary data (National Case Registry database, Tuberculosis Epidemiology database, and the 'Black Book' Registry), was conducted using a specific instrument. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: After the implementation of the DOTS strategy, there was a decrease in noncompliance and case detection rates as well as an increase in cure and death rates. The increase in the number of tuberculosis-related deaths might be attributable to three factors: the predominance of the disease in individuals over 50 years of age, tuberculosis/HIV co-infection, and the presence of accompanying diseases. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the DOTS strategy strengthened the decentralization of the tuberculosis control plans as well as the integration of the Basic Health Care Clinic teams with the Tuberculosis Control Program team. Political commitment of the administrator to tuberculosis control, in conjunction with the policy of benefits and incentives, is essential for the sustainability of the DOTS strategy.

Complementary roles of capsaicin cough sensitivity test and induced sputum test to methacholine bronchial provocation test in predicting response to inhaled corticosteroids in patients with chronic nonproductive cough.

BACKGROUND: The capsaicin cough sensitivity test (CCST), methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT), and induced sputum test (IST) are widely used in the clinical evaluation of chronic nonproductive cough. However, little is known about their roles in predicting response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) in patients with chronic nonproductive cough. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the CCST and IST play complementary roles to the MBPT for predicting the response to ICS treatment in patients with chronic nonproductive cough. METHODS: A total of 43 patients with chronic nonproductive cough who showed isolated capsaicin cough hypersensitivity (CCST group) and 55 patients with chronic nonproductive cough who had methacholine airway hyperresponsiveness (MBPT group) were enrolled. These patients underwent the IST followed by treatment with ICSs for 4 weeks. Measurement of symptom improvement was recorded by the visual analog scale. RESULTS: The response rates to ICS treatment in the CCST and MBPT groups were similar (74.5% vs 86.0%; P = .21). Only the neutrophil count in the IST group was significantly different in responders and nonresponders after the ICS treatments (P = .005 for the CCST group and P = .006 for the MBPT group). Interestingly, the absence of sputum neutrophilia used as a criterion for subgroup analysis increased response rates in the patients with either methacholine airway hyperresponsiveness or capsaicin cough hypersensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we demonstrate that CCST and IST play complementary roles to MBPT. By combining the results of these tests, we are able to identify more patients with chronic nonproductive cough and treat patients more successfully with ICSs by improving the response rate to ICS treatment.

Estudo descritivo sobre a implantação da estratégia de tratamento de curta duração diretamente observado no controle da tuberculose em São José do Rio Preto e seus impactos (1998-2003) / Descriptive study of the implementation and impact of the directly observed treatment, short-course strategy in the São José do Rio Preto municipal tuberculosis control program (1998-2003)

OBJETIVO: Descrever os resultados de tratamento (cura, abandono ou óbito) após a implantação da estratégia de tratamento de curta duração diretamente observado (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course - DOTS) no controle da tuberculose em São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, no período de 1998 a 2003. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo que utilizou fontes secundárias de informações (Sistema Nacional de Agravos de Notificação, Sistema de Notificação de Tuberculose, Livro de Registro/Livro Preto) por meio de um instrumento específico. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva. RESULTADOS: Após a implantação da estratégia DOTS houve uma diminuição das taxas de abandono e detecção de casos e um aumento das taxas de cura e óbito. O aumento do número de óbitos por tuberculose pode ter ocorrido devido a três fatores: o predomínio da doença em indivíduos acima de 50 anos; a co-infecção tuberculose/HIV e a presença de doenças associadas. CONCLUSÕES: A implantação da estratégia DOTS fortaleceu a descentralização das ações de controle da tuberculose e a integração das equipes das Unidades Básicas de Saúde com a equipe do Programa de Controle da Tuberculose. O compromisso político do gestor com o combate à tuberculose, aliado à política de benefícios e incentivos, é fundamental para a sustentabilidade da estratégia DOTS.

OBJECTIVE: To describe treatment outcomes (cure, noncompliance or death) after the implementation of the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) strategy for tuberculosis control in the city of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, between 1998 and 2003. METHODS: A descriptive study, based on secondary data (National Case Registry database, Tuberculosis Epidemiology database, and the 'Black Book' Registry), was conducted using a specific instrument. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: After the implementation of the DOTS strategy, there was a decrease in noncompliance and case detection rates as well as an increase in cure and death rates. The increase in the number of tuberculosis-related deaths might be attributable to three factors: the predominance of the disease in individuals over 50 years of age, tuberculosis/HIV co-infection, and the presence of accompanying diseases. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the DOTS strategy strengthened the decentralization of the tuberculosis control plans as well as the integration of the Basic Health Care Clinic teams with the Tuberculosis Control Program team. Political commitment of the administrator to tuberculosis control, in conjunction with the policy of benefits and incentives, is essential for the sustainability of the DOTS strategy.

Asma e rinite, uma mesma doença? / Asthma and rhinitis: a same disease?

A prevalência das doenças alérgicas respiratórias - asma e rinite - têm aumentado muito nos últimos anos e representam um grande problema, tanto no nível de saúde pública quanto para os indivíduos acometidos, comprometendo seu bem-estare a qualidade de vida. Acarretam também em número significativode dias perdidos de trabalho, escola e enorme dispêndio de recursos pessoais e do erário, especialmente com os atendimentos emergenciais e internamentos. A asma e a rinite freqüentemente co-existem no mesmo indivíduo, mas devido às suas características clínicas, a rinite freqüentemente é encarada de forma trivial, tanto pelos pacientes quanto pelos pais e até mesmo pelos médicos, resultando em tratamento menos satisfatório do paciente como um todo. As evidências cada vez mais numerosas e consistentes de que estas doenças não apenas possuem bases epidemiológicas comuns, mas também genéticas, istopatológicas, fisiopatológicas, ambientais, imunológicas e clínicas, têm feito com que sejam consideradas como manifestações de uma mesma síndrome comprometendo as vias aéreas como um todo. A percepção da importância desta associação tem sofrido com a fragmentação da informação característica da nossa era, sem uma síntese e divulgação necessárias para o cuidado integral dos pacientes, mesmo com o esforço da Iniciativa ARIA, com o apoio da OMS, em organizar e empreender a divulgação de programa educativo sobre o impacto da rinite alérgica na asma. Nesta revisão não sistemática da literatura os autores pretendem abordar algumas destas evidências e suas conseqüências práticas para os médicos e pacientes com o objetivo de contribuir para uma visão holística do problema e sua divulgação

Efeitos fisiológicos da fisioterapia respiratória convencional associada à aplicação de BiPAP no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca / Physiological effects of the conventional respiratory physical therapy associated to BiPAP in post cardiac surgery

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as alterações da função pulmonar pela Força Muscular Respiratória (FMR-PImax e PEmax), Capacidade Vital (CV), Freqüência Respiratória (FR) e Oxigenação (SpO2) do pré-operatório ao 1º pós-operatório (PO) e deste à pré-alta; e verificar a eficácia da Fisioterapia Respiratória Convencional (FRC) associada à Ventilação não-invasiva (BiPAP) no PO de cirurgia cardíaca. Incluiu-se 27 pacientes, 12 tratados com FRC associada à BiPAP (Grupo1-G1) e 15 com FRC (Grupo2- G2), com avaliação das variáveis citadas no pré-operatório, 1ºPO, 3ºPO e pré-alta. Para a análise utilizou-se Friedman ANOVA e Mann-Whitney (p ≤ 0,05). Quanto a FMR, apenas G1 aumentou significativamente do 1ºPO para pré-alta, e os valores de PImax apresentaram-se significativamente maiores que G2. Em ambos os grupos, a CV aumentou significativamente do 1º para o 3ºPO, mas apenas G1 mostrou valores da pré-alta próximos ao pré-operatório. A oxigenação aumentou do 3ºPO à pré-alta para ambos, mas apenas o G1 aproximou-se dos valores do pré-operatório. Quanto à FR, apenas o G1 reduziu significativamente no PO. A FRC associada à BiPAP mostrou-se mais eficiente do que a FRC isolada, no aumento da FMR, CV e oxigenação, e na reversão da FR, apesar dos valores não terem sido recuperados completamente até a pré-alta.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the pulmonary function alterations by the Respiratory Muscular Force (RMF- MIP and MEP), Vital Capacity (VC), Breathing Frequency (BF) and Oxigenation (SpO2) from the Pre-operation to the 1st post-operation (PO) and from that one to the pre-discharge; and to verify the efficiency of the Conventional Respiratory Physical Therapy (CRP) associated to the Non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP) in the cardiac surgery PO. 27 patients were included; 12 of them were treated with FRC associated to the BiPAP (Group 1-G1) and 15 with FRC (Group 2-G2). These patients were evaluated in the pre-operation ,1st PO, 3rd PO and pre-discharge as for the mentioned variables. To the analysis were used Friedman ANOVA and Mann-Whitney (p ≤ 0,05). As for the RMF, only G1 increased significantly from the first PO to the pre-discharge, and the values of MIP were significantly bigger than G2. In both groups, the VC increased significantly from the 1st to the 3rd PO, but only G1 presented pre-discharge values near to the pre-operation. The oxigenation increased from the 3rd PO to the pre-discharge for both, but only the G1 came near to the preoperation values. As for RF, only the G1 decreased significantly in the PO. In conclusion, the CRF associated to the BiPAP seemed be more efficient than the isolated CRF, in the RMF increasing, VC and oxigenation, and in the RF reversion, despite of the values have not been completely recuperated until the pre-discharge.