Nocturnal Polysomnography without Technical Supervision in the Diagnosis of Respiratory Sleep Disorders, Diagnostic Performance of Home and Sleep Laboratory Studies.

Introduction Unattended Polysomnography (type 2 PSG) is a procedure for the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Published evidence on its performance and efficacy is limited. Available studies reveal a high rate of lost records that could limit its application. Objective To assess the efficacy of type 2 PSG and the rate of studies that must be repeated due to critical loss of signals. Methods prospective, descriptive study. Adult patients with suspected SDB were included. Unattended PSG was performed using portable equipment. 75 patients were connected at home and another 75 in the laboratory, without subsequent monitoring. Records were evaluated to determine the percentage of the night with adequate quality for each of the signals, considered as an evaluable signal for = 70% of the total recording time (TRT). The need to repeat the studies was also estimated. Results: 150 patients were recruited; 44% women; age 57.3 ± 15.4 years; BMI 29.4 ± 6.5. EEG and EOG signals were adequate in 149 records. Flow signal by pressure cannula was adequate in 146 and by thermistor in 67.8%. In only one study the signal of both effort bands were inadequate. Oximetry was lost in 4 cases. Ten tracings (6%) met the criteria for repetition; 8 hospital and 2 home. Conclusions Acceptable records were obtained in most unattended PSG studies, both at home and in the sleep laboratory. The rate of repetition of studies due to loss of signal was 6%, with failure in SaO2 or in flow signals being the main cause of the indication.

Normativa: técnica de esputo inducido en enfermedades inflamatorias broncopulmonares / Technical Guidelines for Induced Sputum in Bronchopulmonary Inflammatory Diseases

Las enfermedades broncopulmonares se asocian a diversos mecanismos inflamatorios de las vías aéreas. Evaluar y comprender el perfil inflamatorio de estos pacientes podría contribuir a conocer la etiología y así optimizar el tratamiento. El esputo inducido es una técnica mínimamente invasiva, por lo que su implementación resulta de interés en la práctica habitual. Aunque el estudio del esputo inducido ha demostrado utilidad y seguridad, los centros que desarrollan esta técnica en la Argentina son escasos. Con el objetivo de estandarizar el procedimiento de recolección y análisis de muestras de esputo inducido en pacientes con enfermedades inflamatorias broncopulmonares, se desarrolló esta guía consensuada por los centros con experiencia en esta técnica en nuestro país. Es nuestra intención difundir esta técnica, mínimamente invasiva, para su aplicación en servicios especializados. Esta guía de procedimientos detalla los materiales que son requeridos, los métodos y los estándares de calidad y seguridad tanto para los pacientes como para los operadores.

Bronchopulmonary diseases are associated with different inflammatory mechanisms of the airways. Assessing and understanding the inflammatory profile of these patients could contribute to the understanding of the etiology and thus optimize the treatment. Induced sputum is a minimally invasive technique, so its implementation is of interest in the usual practice. Although the studies of induced sputum have shown usefulness and safety, the centers that develop this technique in Argentina are scarce. With the aim of standardizing the procedure that includes the collection and analysis of induced sputum samples in patients with bronchopulmonary inflammatory diseases, some centers in our country with experience in this technique achieved a consensus on the development of this Guide. It is our intention to disseminate this minimally invasive technique for its application in specialized services. This procedure guide details the necessary materials and methods and quality and safety standards for both patients and operators.

The Impact of Age and Comorbidities on the Mortality of Patients of Different Age Groups Admitted with Community-acquired Pneumonia.

RATIONALE: Comorbidities, age, severity of illness, and high risk pathogens are well-known outcome determinants in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). How these factors interact has not yet been clarified. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this study to analyze the complex interaction of comorbidities, age, illness severity, and pathogens in relation to CAP. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia Organization database to evaluate the impact of age in different age groups (<65, 65-79, and ≥80 yr), comorbidities (malignant disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal and liver disease, cerebrovascular accident, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus), severity of illness at admission, and etiology on the mortality of patients admitted to the hospital with CAP. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 6,205 patients met the inclusion criteria, and 508 (8.2%) died within 30 days. Factors independently associated with mortality were malignant disease, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident, renal disease, diabetes mellitus, altered mental status, hypoxemia, pleural effusion, hematocrit less than 30%, requirement for mechanical ventilation, and being age 80 years and older. A total of 1,699 pathogens were defined in 1,545 cases; the etiology was the same for all age groups. In the overall population, mortality increased with age, but etiology was not associated with mortality. When we analyzed the patients with one comorbidity or less, we found that mortality was not different between patients younger than 65 old and those 65-79 years old, but it was higher for those aged 80 years and older. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of comorbidities is associated with poorer outcomes in CAP. However, when one comorbidity or less was present, we found that being age 80 years or older was a factor that increased mortality. From a clinical standpoint, this study suggests that being age 80 years or older, instead of age 65 years and older, should be considered a risk factor for poor outcome in CAP.

Recomendaciones de vacunación en adultos con enfermedades respiratorias: Documento de la Asociación Argentina de Medicina Respiratoria para los neumonólogos / Recommendations on Vaccination for Adults with Respiratory Diseases. Document of the Argentina Association of Respiratory Medicine for Pulmonologists

El neumonólogo de adultos acostumbra a prescribir vacunas. Este documento hecho por expertos en aspectos de la especialidad que involucran vacunar a pacientes con enfermedades respiratorias, perteneciente a la Asociación Argentina de Medicina Respiratoria, resumió la información disponible proponiendo una participación activa en la vacunación contra influenza (VAG), neumococo (VAN), pertusis y zoster. El Ministerio de Salud (MSAL) en Argentina, como el CDC y su comité de consulta sobre inmunización (ACIP) en Estados Unidos, elaboran calendarios y recomendaciones para vacunación. La ACIP recomienda la VAG a mayores de 6 meses sin contraindicaciones; el MSAL a mayores de 65 años y a quienes tengan comorbilidades (incluye enfermedades respiratorias y tabaquismo) o contacto con personas vulnerables. La clásica VAN polisacárida de 23 serotipos es recomendada para adultos con riesgo de enfermedad invasiva, incluyendo a mayores de 65 años, revacunando a los inmunosuprimidos y una única vez a los mayores de 65 que hubieran sido vacunados 5 años antes o más; la ACIP recomienda dar la VAN conjugada de 13 serotipos, más inmunogénica, secuencialmente con la polisacárida de 23, en adultos con factores de riesgo y en mayores de 65 años. Sugerimos usarla en menores de 65 con comorbilidad respiratoria. El neumonólogo debe recordar al menos 2 vacunas más: dar el refuerzo decenal contra difteria y tétanos (DT) en mayores de 18, una vez con vacuna triple acelular (difteria, pertusis y tétanos) protegiendo contra pertusis y reduciendo su transmisión. El herpes zoster produce un rash cutáneo vesicular doloroso. Uno cada 2 mayores de 85 sufrirán al menos un ataque de herpes zoster. La vacuna reduce más del 50% la incidencia y más del 60% la neuralgia post herpética; el ACIP la recomienda en mayores de 60 años. Un gran número de los pacientes con afecciones pulmonares crónicas tienen esa edad.

The pulmonologist uses to prescribe vaccines to adult patients. Experts of the Argentina Association of Respiratory Medicine who are specialists in areas involving vaccination of patients with respiratory diseases prepared this document which summarizes the available information and proposes an active prescription of the infuenza, pneumococcus, pertussis and herpes zoster vaccinations. The Ministry of Health in Argentina as the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in the USA, made recommendations on vaccination indications and schedules. The ACIP recommends influenza vaccination to persons older than 6 months of age without any contraindication. The Ministry of Health recommends this vaccination to persons over 65 years of age, to those with morbidities (including respiratory diseases and smoking habit) and to persons in contact with high risk people. The classic 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for adults at risk of invasive disease, including persons over 65 years of age. Revaccination is recommended to immunosuppressed patients and persons over 65 years of age at 5-year intervals. The ACIP recommends vaccination with the 13-valent serotypes polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine, which is more immunogenic, sequentially with the 23-valent vaccine in adults with risk factors and over 65 years of age. We suggest this practice in patients under 65 years of age with respiratory morbidities. The pulmonologist must remember at least two other vaccines: a booster vaccination every 10 years of diphtheria and tetanus vaccine to persons over 18 years of age, and once the triple acellular vaccine (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) to protect against pertussis and reduce transmission. Herpes zoster (shingles) causes a painful vesicular rash; 50% of persons over 85 years suffer at least one bout of herpes zoster. The vaccine reduces more than 50% incidence and more than 60% postherpetic neuralgia. This vaccine is recommended by ACIP for persons over 60 years. In this age group there are many patients with chronic lung conditions.

Environmental analysis of the logistics of agricultural products from roof top greenhouses in Mediterranean urban areas.

BACKGROUND: As urban populations increase so does the amount of food transported to cities worldwide, and innovative agro-urban systems are being developed to integrate agricultural production into buildings; for example, by using roof top greenhouses (RTGs). This paper aims to quantify and compare, through a life cycle assessment, the environmental impact of the current linear supply system with a RTG system by using a case study for the production of tomatoes. RESULTS: The main results indicate that a change from the current linear system to the RTG system could result in a reduction, per kilogram of tomatoes (the functional unit), in the range of 44.4-75.5% for the different impact categories analysed, and savings of up to 73.5% in energy requirements. These savings are associated with re-utilisation of packaging systems (55.4-85.2%), minimisation of transport requirements (7.6-15.6%) and reduction of the loss of product during transportation and retail stages (7.3-37%). CONCLUSIONS: The RTG may become a strategic factor in the design of low-carbon cities in Mediterranean areas. Short-term implementation in the city of Barcelona could result in savings of 66.1 tonnes of CO2 eq. ha(-1) when considering the global warming potential, and of 71.03 t ha(-1) when considering that the transformation from woodland to agricultural land is avoided.

Impact of bacteremia in a cohort of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: Bacteremia is the most common presentation of invasive disease in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. We investigated whether bacteremia in pneumococcal CAP worsens outcomes and whether it is related to pneumococcal vaccination (PV). METHODS: Secondary analysis of a cohort of patients with pneumococcal CAP confirmed by blood culture, sputum culture, or urinary antigen testing. Demographic, clinical, radiographic, and biochemical data were collected, as were Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and pneumonia severity index (PSI) scores, comorbidities, and PV history. We drew comparisons between patients with bacteremic pneumococcal CAP (BPP) and those with non-bacteremic pneumococcal CAP (NBPP). RESULTS: Forty-seven patients had BPP, and 71 had NBPP (confirmed by sputum culture in 45 and by urinary antigen testing in 26); 107 had some indication for PV. None of the BPP patients had received PV, compared with 9 of the NBPP patients (p = 0.043). Among the BPP patients, the mean age was higher (76.4 ± 11.5 vs. 67.5 ± 20.9 years), as were APACHE II and PSI scores (16.4 ± 4.6 vs. 14.1 ± 6.5 and 129.5 ± 36 vs. 105.2 ± 45, respectively), as well as the rate of ICU admission for cardiopathy or chronic renal failure (42.5% vs. 22.5%), whereas hematocrit and plasma sodium levels were lower (35.7 ± 5.8 vs. 38.6 ± 6.7% and 133.9 ± 6.0 vs. 137.1 ± 5.5 mEq/L, respectively), although mortality was similar (29.8% vs. 28.2%). CONCLUSIONS: In this population at high risk for CAP due to S. pneumoniae, the PV rate was extremely low (8.4%). Although BPP patients were more severely ill, mortality was similar between the two groups. Because PV reduces the incidence of BPP, the vaccination rate in at-risk populations should be increased.

Impacto de la bacteriemia en una cohorte de pacientes con neumonía neumocócica / Impact of bacteremia in a cohort of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia

OBJETIVO: Bacteriemia es la forma invasiva más común de neumonía adquirida en la comunidad (NAC) por Streptococcus pneumoniae. Investigamos si la bacteriemia en NAC neumocócica empeora los resultados y si ella guarda relación con la vacunación antineumocócica (VAN). MÉTODOS: Análisis secundario de una cohorte de pacientes con NAC neumocócica confirmada por cultivo de sangre o esputo o antígeno urinario. Se registraron datos demográficos, clínicos, radiográficos y de laboratorio, escores Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) y pneumonia severity index (PSI), comorbilidades y antecedente de VAN. Se compararon pacientes con NAC neumocócica bacteriémica (NNB) vs. no bacteriémica (NNNB). RESULTADOS: Cuarenta y siete pacientes tenían NNB y 71 NNNB (45 por cultivo de esputo y 26 por antígeno urinario); 107 tenían alguna indicación de VAN. Ningún paciente con NNB, pero 9 con NNNB, habían recibido VAN (p = 0,043). Los pacientes con NNB eran mayores (76,4 ± 11,5 vs. 67,5 ± 20,9 años), tenían mayor APACHE II (16,4 ± 4,6 vs. 14,1 ± 6,5) y PSI (129,5 ± 36 vs. 105,2 ± 45), más frecuentemente cardiopatía e insuficiencia renal crónica e internación en UTI (42,5% vs. 22,5%) y menor hematocrito (35,7 ± 5,8 vs. 38,6 ± 6,7%) y sodio plasmático (133,9 ± 6,0 vs. 137,1 ± 5,5 mEq/L). La mortalidad fue similar (29,8% vs. 28,2%). CONCLUSIONES: Los niveles de VAN (8,4%) en esta población con alto riesgo de NAC por S. pneumoniae fueron extremadamente bajos. Los pacientes con NNB estaban más graves, pero la mortalidad fue similar entre los dos grupos. La VAN reduce la incidencia de NNB y es razonable incrementar el nivel de vacunación de la población en riesgo.

OBJECTIVE: Bacteremia is the most common presentation of invasive disease in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. We investigated whether bacteremia in pneumococcal CAP worsens outcomes and whether it is related to pneumococcal vaccination (PV). METHODS: Secondary analysis of a cohort of patients with pneumococcal CAP confirmed by blood culture, sputum culture, or urinary antigen testing. Demographic, clinical, radiographic, and biochemical data were collected, as were Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and pneumonia severity index (PSI) scores, comorbidities, and PV history. We drew comparisons between patients with bacteremic pneumococcal CAP (BPP) and those with non-bacteremic pneumococcal CAP (NBPP). RESULTS: Forty-seven patients had BPP, and 71 had NBPP (confirmed by sputum culture in 45 and by urinary antigen testing in 26); 107 had some indication for PV. None of the BPP patients had received PV, compared with 9 of the NBPP patients (p = 0.043). Among the BPP patients, the mean age was higher (76.4 ± 11.5 vs. 67.5 ± 20.9 years), as were APACHE II and PSI scores (16.4 ± 4.6 vs. 14.1 ± 6.5 and 129.5 ± 36 vs. 105.2 ± 45, respectively), as well as the rate of ICU admission for cardiopathy or chronic renal failure (42.5% vs. 22.5%), whereas hematocrit and plasma sodium levels were lower (35.7 ± 5.8 vs. 38.6 ± 6.7% and 133.9 ± 6.0 vs. 137.1 ± 5.5 mEq/L, respectively), although mortality was similar (29.8% vs. 28.2%). CONCLUSIONS: In this population at high risk for CAP due to S. pneumoniae, the PV rate was extremely low (8.4%). Although BPP patients were more severely ill, mortality was similar between the two groups. Because PV reduces the incidence of BPP, the vaccination rate in at-risk populations should be increased.

Cáncer de pulmón en no fumadores: [revisión] / Lung cancer in nonsmokers: [review]

Estudios provenientes de muchos países asiáticos establecen que los pacientes con cáncer de pulmón no fumadores (CPNF) constituyen un grupo de pacientes que no deben ser ignorados. Afecta mayormente a mujeres, y los factores de riesgo propuestos incluyenla exposición ambiental al humo de tabaco, radón, asbestos, vapores de aceites, infección viral por papiloma y susceptibilidad genética. El adenocarcinoma es el subtipohistológico predominante reportado, y las mutaciones del receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico (RFCE) han sido detectadas frecuentemente en este grupo. Mejores tasas de respuestas al tratamiento con inhibidores del RFCE en pacientes con CPNF avanzado indican un comportamiento distinto en estos pacientes. El propósito de estarevisión es evaluar las implicancias prácticas que podrían tener estas diferencias.

Studies from many Asian countries report that the group of patients with lung cancer and are never smokers (LCNS) should not be ignored. It affects mostly women, and the known risk factors include environmental exposure to tobacco smoke, radon, asbestosand oil fumes, human papillomavirus infection and genetic susceptibility.Adenocarcinoma is the predominant histologic subtype reported, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations have frequently been detected in this group. Best response rates to treatment with EGFR inhibitors in patients with advanced LCNS indicatea different prognosis in these patients. The purpose of this review is to assess the practical implications that this difference could have.