Alterações cardíacas em pacientes durante o primeiro ano de hemodiálise crônica: foco em preditores de fibrilação atrial / Cardiac changes in patients during the first year of chronic hemodialysis: focus on predictors of atrial fibrillation

Objetivos: Detecção precoce de alterações cardíacas, em especial de preditores de fibrilação atrial (FA), em pacientes renais crônicos dialíticos, permitem condutas terapêuticas que podem impactar na morbimortalidade cardiovascular desses pacientes. Descrevemos alterações elétricas e estruturais cardíacas nos pacientes durante o 1º ano de hemodiálise (HD). Métodos: Estudo observacional, transversal, prospectivo, em pacientes entre 20 e 80 anos, renais crônicos, pertencentes a serviços públicos de São Paulo, divididos pelo tempo de início de hemodiálise: grupo 1: 1 a 6 meses; grupo 2: 7 a12 meses. Coletados dados sociodemográficos, mórbidos, eletrocardiograma de repouso, Holter 48h, ecocardiograma transtorácico e exames de sangue pré e pós hemodiálise ( função renal, eletrólitos, bicarbonato e inflamatórios). Analisados por teste T student e Qui-quadrado. Resultados: 73 pacientes, hipertensos, predomínio homens, quinquagenários, escolaridade fundamental, brancos, não solteiros, procedentes da região sudeste metropolitana, com multimorbidades e polifarmácia. Grupo 2 apresentou maior idade (p=0,007), morbidades (p=0,04), medicações (p=0,02), preditores de FA caracterizados por extrassístoles ventriculares ( p=0,02), aumento dos volumes e diâmetros ventriculares e átrio esquerdo (todos p≤0,001), alteração do bicarbonato pré e pós hemodiálise (p<0,01). Grupo 1 apresentou maiores alterações eletrolíticas pós hemodiálise (p≤0,03). Conclusão: Além da hipertensão arterial, tempo de hemodiálise, acidose metabólica próxima dos limites de referência, associaram-se precocemente à progressiva disfunção sisto-diastólica de câmaras esquerdas cardíacas e preditores de fibrilação atrial, em especial o volume sistólico final, predominantemente no 2º semestre do início de hemodiálise. Sugere-se Holter e Ecocardiograma a partir do 7º mês de hemodiálise e controles mais rígidos de acidose para essa população.

Objectives: Early detection of cardiac alterations in chronic renal patients on hemodyalisis (HD), especially atrial fibrillation (AF) predictors, allows therapeutic approaches that can impact their cardiovascular prognosis. We describe electrical and structural cardiac alterations in patients during the 1st year of hemodyalisis. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, prospective study. Chronic kidney patients on dyalisis aged between 20 and 80 years, wihout atrial fibrillation, from public hemodyalisis services were divided by the time of hemodyalisis onset: group 1: 1 to 6 months; group 2: 7 to 12 months. Sociodemographic and morbid data, electrocardiogram at rest, Holter 48h, transthoracic echocardiogram and pre and post hemodialysis blood tests (kidney function, electrolytes and inflammatory tests) were collected. Data analyzed by Chi-square and Student T tests. Results: 73 hypertensive patients, predominantly men, aged in their fifties, elementary school, white, not single, from the metropolitan southeast region, with multimorbidities and polypharmacy were analyzed. Group 2 presented more age (p<0.01), morbidities (p=0.04), medications (p=0.02), atrial fibrillation, predictors especially ventricular extrasystoles (VES, p=0.02), increased left venticular and atrium volumes and diameters (all p≤0.001) and lower bicarbonate before and after hemodyalisis (both p≤0,01). Group 1 presented more changes in eletrolytes (p≤0.03). Conclusion: In addition to arterial hypertension, hemodyalisis duration was associated to systolic and diastolic dysfunction of the left cardiac chambers, atrial fibrillation predictors especially end-systolic volume (ESV) and mild acidosis, in the 2nd semestre predominantly. Holter and echocardiography are suggested from the 7th month of hemodyalisis onset and tighter metabolic control in this population

Anthropometry, bioimpedance and densitometry: Comparative methods for lean mass body analysis in elderly outpatients from a tertiary hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate lean mass index (LMI) measured by bioimpedance (BIA) and anthropometry compared to densitometry (DXA) in elderly outpatients from a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: Participants were over 60-year-old men, presenting no dementia or disability, from a tertiary geriatric ambulatory. LMI obtained by BIA, anthropometry and DXA were submitted to Baumgartner, Janssen and Delmonico calculations respectively. Sarcopenia was calculated as LMI by DXA and handgrip strength. Data were analyzed by T student's test, ANOVA for repeated measures and pos hoc Bonferroni test, Pearson's correlation test, regression equation and Bland Altman analysis, ROC curve and contingency table 2 × 2 for sensitivity, specificity and predictive values. RESULTS: A total of 92 participants completed the study. Most of them were married, aged 72.9 ± 6.6, lived a sedentary lifestyle, presented multiple morbidities, and in use of polypharmacy. Appendicular lean mass was lower in sarcopenic participants when compared to that in nonsarcopenic ones (20.2 kg/m2 and 23 kg/m2 respectively, p < 0.0001). BIA sensitivity, specificity and correlation to DXA were 37%, 98% and r = 0.81 (p < 0.001), and for anthropometry 67%, 92% and r = 0.77 (p < 0.0001) respectively. Bland Altman's analysis showed congruence between methods and DXA (anthropometry: bias = -0,05 ± 0,66, limits of agreement (LoA) = -1.37 and 1.26; BIA: bias = 2,2; LoA = 0,7 and 3,7). CONCLUSION: Aging and multiple chronic and degenerative morbidities affect LM in vulnerable elderly patients. Both anthropometry and BIA, are accurate to measure LMI independently in this population but Anthropometry presented better agreement to DXA than Bioimpedance and has the advantage of lower price, easier application and cheaper equipment to be applied.

Workers of São Paulo city, Brazil, exposed to air pollution: Assessment of genotoxicity.

Air pollution affects all major urban centers, particularly megacities with populations greater than 10 million people. Vehicular and industrial emissions are among the most important sources of air pollutants in these cities. Air pollution composition, dose, and time of exposure can cause differential effects on human health. We have evaluated the genotoxic effects of air pollution (PM2.5 and NO2) on São Paulo city workers. Fifty-seven male individuals, 28-66 years old, with occupational exposure to air pollution, participated in this study; all worked daily outdoor shifts in São Paulo. Participants were recruited from three occupations: traffic controllers (n = 18); taxi drivers (n = 21); and workers at the Forestry Institute (n = 18). These workers were classified into two groups based on their workplace locations: Downtown Group (DT): traffic controllers and taxi drivers; Outskirts of Town Group (OT): workers at the Forestry Institute. Individual samplers of air pollution (Harvard air impactor) were used to collect PM2.5 and NO2 pollutants. Genotoxicity analysis (micronucleus test) was performed on buccal mucosa epithelial cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes. PM2.5 concentrations were significantly different between the groups (DT = 32.92 µg m-3, OT = 25.77 µg m-3; p = 0.03); however, no difference was observed in NO2 concentrations. Micronucleus frequencies in both buccal mucosa (DT = 2.78%, OT = 1.16%; p < 0.0001) and in peripheral lymphocytes (DT = 1.51%, OT = 0.73%; p < 0.0001) were significantly different between the groups. We observed a direct correlation between the individual dose of PM2.5 and micronucleus frequency in the buccal mucosa (p = 0.0021). Our results indicate that workers in the most urban areas of São Paulo are exposed to higher concentrations of PM2.5 and showed higher micronucleus frequencies in both buccal mucosa and lymphocytes.

Chemical composition modulates the adverse effects of particles on the mucociliary epithelium.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the adverse effects of two types of real ambient particles; i.e., total suspended particles from an electrostatic precipitator of a steel mill and fine air particles from an urban ambient particulate matter of 2.5 µm, on mucociliary clearance. METHOD: Mucociliary function was quantified by mucociliary transport, ciliary beating frequency and the amount of acid and neutral mucous in epithelial cells through morphometry of frog palate preparations. The palates were immersed in one of the following solutions: total suspended particles (0.1 mg/mL), particulate matter 2.5 µm 0.1 mg/mL (PM0.1) or 3.0 mg/mL (PM3.0) and amphibian Ringer's solution (control). Particle chemical compositions were determined by X-ray fluorescence and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Exposure to total suspended particles and PM3.0 decreased mucociliary transport. Ciliary beating frequency was diminished by total suspended particles at all times during exposure, while particulate matter of 2.5 µm did not elicit changes. Particulate matter of 2.5 µm reduced epithelial mucous and epithelium thickness, while total suspended particles behaved similarly to the control group. Total suspended particles exhibited a predominance of Fe and no organic compounds, while the particulate matter 2.5 µm contained predominant amounts of S, Fe, Si and, to a lesser extent, Cu, Ni, V, Zn and organic compounds. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that different compositions of particles induced different airway epithelial responses, emphasizing that knowledge of their individual characteristics may help to establish policies aimed at controlling air pollution.

Chemical composition modulates the adverse effects of particles on the mucociliary epithelium

OBJECTIVE:We compared the adverse effects of two types of real ambient particles; i.e., total suspended particles from an electrostatic precipitator of a steel mill and fine air particles from an urban ambient particulate matter of 2.5 µm, on mucociliary clearance.METHOD:Mucociliary function was quantified by mucociliary transport, ciliary beating frequency and the amount of acid and neutral mucous in epithelial cells through morphometry of frog palate preparations. The palates were immersed in one of the following solutions: total suspended particles (0.1 mg/mL), particulate matter 2.5 µm 0.1 mg/mL (PM0.1) or 3.0 mg/mL (PM3.0) and amphibian Ringer’s solution (control). Particle chemical compositions were determined by X-ray fluorescence and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.RESULTS:Exposure to total suspended particles and PM3.0 decreased mucociliary transport. Ciliary beating frequency was diminished by total suspended particles at all times during exposure, while particulate matter of 2.5 µm did not elicit changes. Particulate matter of 2.5 µm reduced epithelial mucous and epithelium thickness, while total suspended particles behaved similarly to the control group. Total suspended particles exhibited a predominance of Fe and no organic compounds, while the particulate matter 2.5 µm contained predominant amounts of S, Fe, Si and, to a lesser extent, Cu, Ni, V, Zn and organic compounds.CONCLUSION:Our results showed that different compositions of particles induced different airway epithelial responses, emphasizing that knowledge of their individual characteristics may help to establish policies aimed at controlling air pollution.

An approach to using heart rate monitoring to estimate the ventilation and load of air pollution exposure.

BACKGROUND: The effects of air pollution on health are associated with the amount of pollutants inhaled which depends on the environmental concentration and the inhaled air volume. It has not been clear whether statistical models of the relationship between heart rate and ventilation obtained using laboratory cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) can be applied to an external group to estimate ventilation. OBJECTIVES: To develop and evaluate a model to estimate respiratory ventilation based on heart rate for inhaled load of pollutant assessment in field studies. METHODS: Sixty non-smoking men; 43 public street workers (public street group) and 17 employees of the Forest Institute (park group) performed a maximum cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Regression equation models were constructed with the heart rate and natural logarithmic of minute ventilation data obtained on CPET. Ten individuals were chosen randomly (public street group) and were used for external validation of the models (test group). All subjects also underwent heart rate register, and particulate matter (PM2.5) monitoring for a 24-hour period. RESULTS: For the public street group, the median difference between estimated and observed data was 0.5 (CI 95% -0.2 to 1.4) l/min and for the park group was 0.2 (CI 95% -0.2 to 1.2) l/min. In the test group, estimated values were smaller than the ones observed in the CPET, with a median difference of -2.4 (CI 95% -4.2 to -1.8) l/min. The mixed model estimated values suggest that this model is suitable for situations in which heart rate is around 120-140bpm. CONCLUSION: The mixed effect model is suitable for ventilation estimate, with good accuracy when applied to homogeneous groups, suggesting that, in this case, the model could be used in field studies to estimate ventilation. A small but significant difference in the median of external validation estimates was observed, suggesting that the applicability of the model to external groups needs further evaluation.

O impacto da doença crônica no cuidador / The impact of chronic disease on caregivers

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Apesar da grande importância do cuidador no processo saúde-doença do portador de doença crônica, poucos estudos analisam os efeitos ou seu impacto sobre o cuidador. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o impacto da doença crônica na vida do familiar cuidador do paciente crônico. MÉTODO: Noventa e nove cuidadores responderam a um questionário sobre o impacto da doença crônica em seus sentimentos e em sua rotina diária. Foram testadas associações entre as variáveis dependentes (Questionário: Impacto da Doença Crônica) e variáveis independentes (dados do Questionário Sócio-Demográfico). RESULTADOS: O perfil destes cuidadores é de predomínio de filhos (57,6%) ou cônjuges (31,3%), do sexo feminino (74,7%),faixa etária até 53 anos (69,7%), nível superior (43,4%), casados (58,6%) e procedentes da região Sudeste do país (63,6%). A melhor resposta adaptativa ao impacto da doença crônica foi nos indivíduos procedentes da região Nordeste do Brasil e pior nos cuidadores procedentes da região Sul. CONCLUSÃO: A doença crônica exerce sofrimento para os cuidadores, afetando sua qualidade de vida, fato geralmente negligenciado e por vezes, demanda tratamento por profissionais da saúde.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite the great importance of the caregiver in the health-illness process of patients with chronic disease, few studies analyze the effects or impact of disease on the caregiver. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of chronic disease in life of the family caregiver of the chronic patient. METHOD: Ninety-nine caregivers answered a questionnaire about the impact of chronic disease in their feelings and daily routine. It was tested the associations between the dependent variables (Survey: Impact of Chronic Disease) and independent variables (data from the Socio-Demographic Questionnaire). RESULTS: The profile of caregivers is predominantly of children (57.6%) or spouses (31.3%), female (74.7%), up to age 53 years (69.7%), complete college (43.4%), married (58.6%) and from the region Southeast of the country (63.6%). The best adaptive response to the impact of chronic disease was of individuals from the Northeast region of Brazil and the worst in caregivers coming from the South. CONCLUSION: The chronic disease bring suffering to caregivers, affecting their quality of life, a fact often overlooked and that sometimes demand treatment by health professionals.

Avaliação da qualidade de vida em idosos pós-fratura da extremidade proximal do fêmur / Evaluation of quality of life in the elderly with proximal femural fracture

INTRODUÇÃO: A fratura proximal do fêmur é causa de alta morbimortalidade tardia, comprometendo a funcionalidade e podendo afetar a qualidade de vida, principalmente em idosos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida de idosos após alta hospitalar por cirurgia de fratura proximal do colo do fêmur da região do Grande ABC paulista. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal com pacientes seis meses pós-cirurgia de fratura da extremidade proximal do fêmur realizada em dois hospitais pertencentes ao sistema de saúde suplementar no município de Santo André (SP) no período de 2006 a 2009, por meio de dois questionários: um sociobiodemográfico e o de qualidade de vida SF-36. Os dados foram submetidos à análise descritiva e teste U de Mann-Whitney. O nível de significância foi 5%. RESULTADOS: Foram entrevistados 50 pacientes entre 60 e 97 anos, média de 74,5 (desvio padrão=10,8). Houve predominância do sexo feminino (68%), viúvas (52%), na cor branca (70%) e com nível de instrução até o Ensino Fundamental incompleto (62%). As doenças mais prevalentes foram a hipertensão arterial sistêmica e osteoartrite. Com relação à qualidade de vida, houve diferença entre os sexos. Os homens apresentaram melhor escore para os domínios capacidade funcional (p<0,001), dor (p=0,025), aspectos físicos (p=0,023) e aspectos sociais (p=0,050), enquanto as mulheres pontuaram melhor em saúde mental (p=0,024). CONCLUSÃO: Entre os idosos da região do Grande ABC paulista, após longo período do procedimento cirúrgico para fratura de colo de fêmur, observou-se melhor qualidade de vida para pacientes do sexo masculino quando comparados ao feminino.

INTRODUCTION: The proximal femur fracture is responsible for late high morbid-mortality rate, which may affect the quality of life, mainly in the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life of elderly patients from the Grande ABC paulista in the late post operatory period of surgery of fracture of the proximal end of the femur. METHOD: It is a cross-sectional study, conducted on patients six months after surgery of fracture of the proximal end of the femur held in two hospitals that belong to the additional health system in the municipality of Santo André (SP, Brazil) during 2006-2009. We applied two questionnaires: the SF-36, about quality of life, and a biodemographic survey. Data were analyzed by descriptive and Mann-Whitney U tests. The significance level was 5%. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were recruited, aged between 60 and 97 years, average 74.5 (standard deviation=10.8). There was a female predominance (68%), widowed (52%), white (70%) and last than eight years of education (62%). The most prevalent diseases were systemic hypertension and osteoarthritis. Men presented better score than women for functional capacity (p<0.01), pain (p=0.025), physical aspects (p=0.023) and social aspects (p=0.050) domains, while women scored better on mental health (p=0.024). CONCLUSION: Among older people, after long period of surgical procedure for fracture of neck of femur, it was found a better quality of life for male patients compared to females.

Prevalência da síndrome de Burnout em anestesiologistas de Instituição de Ensino Superior em Medicina / Prevalence of Burnout syndrome in anesthetists from a Medical Education Institution

INTRODUÇÃO: A moderna estrutura social vigente que, historicamente, privilegia as leis de mercado, atualmente se vê refletida, também, no âmbito profissional, uma vez que o indivíduo é avaliado a partir de parâmetros de produtividade e eficiência empresarial. A intensificação profissional cotidiana sobrecarregada acarreta importante redução do tempo disponível para si mesmo, facilitando amplo prejuízo em sua vida particular, favorecendo o aparecimento da síndrome de Burnout. OBJETIVO: Verificar a prevalência da síndrome de Burnout em anestesiologistas ligados à Faculdade de Medicina do ABC e sua relação com atividade física. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado por meio de dois questionários autoaplicados. Um abrangendo informações biodemográficas e o Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Foi realizada a análise descritiva e o teste U de Mann-Whitney. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que a maioria de anestesiologistas era do sexo masculino, casados e com filhos. 45,8% praticavam atividade física. Houve diferença apenas para o domínio despersonalização, no qual quem não praticava atividade física apresentou grau de despersonalização maior que os que têm essa prática rotineiramente (teste U de Mann-Whitney, p<0,05). A maior parte dos anestesistas era de plantonistas e diaristas ao mesmo tempo e a maioria não conhecia o que é síndrome de Burnout. CONCLUSÕES: Embora a prevalência da síndrome nesse grupo de anestesistas tenha se mostrado baixa, ela e suas repercussões apontam para a urgente necessidade de intervenções institucionais com capacitação e apoio para que o profissional possa lidar com os aspectos objetivos e subjetivos da atividade assistencial específica da profissão.

INTRODUCTION: Modern social structure prevailing today, favouring the laws of the market as throughout history, today also sees reflected under professional, being the professional evaluated from parameters of productivity and business efficiency. OBJECTIVE: Verify the prevalence of Burnout among anesthesiologist connected the Faculty of Medicine of ABC and its relationship with physical activity. CASUISTRY AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted by applying two questionnaires. One about general informations and the other about Burnout syndrome (Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)). The descriptive analysis was conducted and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Most anesthesiologist laborers, almost most don't know what is Burnout. There is a prevalence of anesthetists male, married, with children. Almost 50% of anesthetists practice physical activity. There is a significant difference just for domain disidentification, where those who do not practice physical activity expose a degree of disidentification greater than those who practice (test of Mann-Whitney U, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Burnout Syndrome and its repercussions point to the need for institutional interventions with training and support so that the trader can handle the subjective and objective aspects of activity specific assistential some professions.

Maternal mortality profile in Great ABC region from 1997 to 2005.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the maternal mortality in the ABC Region, comparing indicators from the Committee for the Study of Maternal Mortality in the Great ABC Region (CEMM) of the II Regional Health Center of Santo Andre (DIR II), and the State Data Analysis System Foundation (SEADE). METHODS: This is a cross sectional study. The information was obtained from the database of CEMM DIR II - Santo André, which includes data from seven counties of the ABC Region. We analyzed all deaths of childbearing-age women that occurred from 1997 to 2005 in that region. The paired t test, Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were differences regarding the maternal mortality rates in the towns of Diadema, São Bernardo do Campo, Santo André and DIR II, with the coefficients calculated by CEMM being higher than those provided by the SEADE (p < 0.001). Concerning the towns of Mauá, Rio Grande da Serra, Ribeirão Pires and São Caetano do Sul, no significant differences were observed between these two coefficients (p ≥ 0.05), although the coefficients provided by CEMM were higher than the coefficients obtained from SEADE. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the official data of maternal mortality in Brazil are still underestimated and point to the lack of healthcare quality during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.

Perfil da mortalidade materna na região do Grande ABC de 1997 a 2005 / Maternal mortality profile in Great ABC region from 1997 to 2005

OBJETIVO: Analisar a situação da mortalidade materna na Região do ABC comparando indicadores produzidos pelo Comitê de Estudos da Mortalidade Materna da Região do Grande ABC (CEMM), da Direção Regional de Saúde II de Santo André (DIR II), e pela Fundação Sistema Estadual de Análise de Dados (SEADE). MÉTODOS: Este é um estudo transversal. As informações foram obtidas junto ao banco de dados do CEMM da DIR II - Santo André, que compreende dados dos sete municípios da região do Grande ABC. Foram analisados todos os óbitos de mulheres em idade fértil ocorridos no período de 1997 a 2005 na região. Os testes t pareado, Wilcoxon e Kruskal-Wallis foram utilizados para a análise estatística. RESULTADOS: Observam-se diferenças entre os coeficientes de mortalidade materna para os municípios de Diadema, São Bernardo do Campo, Santo André e DIR II, sendo os coeficientes calculados pelo CEMM maiores do que os fornecidos pelo SEADE (p < 0,001). Para os municípios de Mauá, Rio Grande da Serra, Ribeirão Pires e São Caetano do Sul não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre esses dois coeficientes (p ≥ 0,05), apesar de os coeficientes fornecidos pelo CEMM serem maiores do que os coeficientes fornecidos pelo SEADE. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo demonstram que os dados oficiais de mortalidade materna no Brasil ainda são subestimados e sinalizam a falta de qualidade dos serviços de assistência a gestação, parto e puerpério.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the maternal mortality in the ABC Region, comparing indicators from the Committee for the Study of Maternal Mortality in the Great ABC Region (CEMM) of the II Regional Health Center of Santo Andre (DIR II), and the State Data Analysis System Foundation (SEADE). METHODS: This is a cross sectional study. The information was obtained from the database of CEMM DIR II - Santo André, which includes data from seven counties of the ABC Region. We analyzed all deaths of childbearing-age women that occurred from 1997 to 2005 in that region. The paired t test, Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were differences regarding the maternal mortality rates in the towns of Diadema, São Bernardo do Campo, Santo André and DIR II, with the coefficients calculated by CEMM being higher than those provided by the SEADE (p < 0.001). Concerning the towns of Mauá, Rio Grande da Serra, Ribeirão Pires and São Caetano do Sul, no significant differences were observed between these two coefficients (p ≥ 0.05), although the coefficients provided by CEMM were higher than the coefficients obtained from SEADE. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the official data of maternal mortality in Brazil are still underestimated and point to the lack of healthcare quality during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.

The time course of vasoconstriction and endothelin receptor A expression in pulmonary arterioles of mice continuously exposed to ambient urban levels of air pollution.

The present study aimed to verify the time course of the effects of environmental levels of urban air pollution toxicity on lung arterioles. BALB/c mice (n=56) were continuously exposed to selective chambers equipped with (filtered, F) or without (non-filtered, NF) filter devices for particles and toxic gases for 24h/day, over 14, 21, 30 or 45 days. After exposure, we evaluated the lumen-wall relationship (an estimator of arteriolar narrowing), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and endothelin type A receptor (ETAr) expression in the vascular wall and inflammatory influx of the peribronchiolar area. Concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM

Air pollution and antibodies against modified lipoproteins are associated with atherosclerosis and vascular remodeling in hyperlipemic mice.

We analyzed the impact of chronic exposure to urban air pollution on the development of atherosclerosis. Hyperlipemic mice (LDLR(-/-)) were submitted to a high fat diet and air pollution for four months. We measured the susceptibility of LDL to oxidative modifications (TBARS), the presence of anti-oxLDL and an apoB-derived peptide (apoB-D) in blood and the degree of atherosclerosis in the aortic arch. Air pollution increased the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation as well as anti-oxLDL and anti-apo-B levels. These levels were even higher than in mice submitted to a high fat diet and non-polluted air. The lipid content of the atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta was increased in groups with a high cholesterol diet independently of the air quality. However, the thickness of the arterial wall was greater in mice fed a high lipid diet with polluted air. Thus, we conclude that urban air pollution exacerbates the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation, atherogenesis and vascular remodeling in hyperlipemic mice and that an immune response accompanies this process.

Effects of chronic exposure to air pollution from Sao Paulo city on coronary of Swiss mice, from birth to adulthood.

To explore the hypothesis that air pollution promotes cardiovascular changes, Swiss mice were continuously exposed, since birth, in two open-top chambers (filtered and nonfiltered for airborne particles

BCG modulation of anaphylactic antibody response, airway inflammation and lung hyperreactivity in genetically selected mouse strains (Selection IV-A).

The effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment in allergic pulmonary reaction was studied in mice genetically selected accordingly to a High (H-IVA) or Low (L-IVA) antibody responsiveness. Mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) or OVA plus BCG. Two days after nasal antigenic challenge, seric IgE and IgG1 anti-OVA, eosinophils in pulmonary tissue, inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage and the compliance and conductance of respiratory system were evaluated. H-IVA mice were found more susceptible than L-IVA, and BCG was able to inhibit simultaneously the production of IgE, the bronchopulmonary inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in these genetically selected mice.

BCG modulation of anaphylactic antibody response, airwayinflammation and lung hyperreactivity in geneticallyselected mouse strains (Selection IV-A)

The effect of Bacillus Calmette–Gue´rin (BCG) treatment in allergic pulmonary reaction was studied in micegenetically selected accordingly to a High (H-IVA) or Low (L-IVA) antibody responsiveness. Mice wereimmunized with ovalbumin (OVA) or OVA plus BCG. Two days after nasal antigenic challenge, seric IgE andIgG1 anti-OVA, eosinophils in pulmonary tissue, inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage and the complianceand conductance of respiratory system were evaluated. H-IVA mice were found more susceptible than L-IVA, andBCG was able to inhibit simultaneously the production of IgE, the bronchopulmonary inflammation and bronchialhyperresponsiveness in these genetically selected mice.

Poliartrite crônica com afecçäo cutânea disseminada: diagnóstico diferencial e evoluçäo com infecçäo terminal por Toxoplasma gondii / Chronic polyarthritis with disseminated cutaneous disease: differential diagnosis and course with terminal infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii

Descreve-se um caso de poliartrite crônica simétrica aditiva, de grandes e pequenas articulaçöes, com acometimento axial lombar, associado à psoríase, coriorretinite, conjuntivite, úlceras do trato gastrintestinal, fator reumatóide em altos títulos e radiologia sugestiva de artrite reumatóide. Esses dados säo discutidos, concluindo-se a impossibilidade de se chegar a um único diagnóstico, mas sim a hipóteses diagnósticas de Artrite Psoriásica ou Artrite Reumatóide com Psoríase ou Síndrome de Reiter. Em sua evoluçäo apresentou quadro séptico que culminou em óbito e à necropsia foi demonstrada disseminaçäo encefálica de toxoplasmose latente associada à septicemia por Klebsiella pneumonie. É ressaltada a disseminaçäo de infecçöes crônicas em pacientes com doenças que imunedeprimem, em especial a toxoplasmose em colagenoses e neoplasias malignas