Children and adolescents with mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma: aerobic capacity between attacks.

OBJECTIVE: To assess children and adolescents diagnosed with mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma, in terms of their aerobic capacity between attacks. METHODS: We included 33 children and adolescents recently diagnosed with asthma (mild intermittent or mild persistent) and 36 healthy children and adolescents. Those with asthma were evaluated between attacks. All participants underwent clinical evaluation; assessment of baseline physical activity level; pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry; and a maximal exercise test, including determination of maximal voluntary ventilation, maximal oxygen uptake, respiratory quotient, maximal minute ventilation, ventilatory equivalent, ventilatory reserve, maximal HR, SpO2, and serum lactate. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among the groups (intermittent asthma, persistent asthma, and control) regarding anthropometric or spirometric variables. There were no significant differences among the groups regarding the variables studied during the maximal exercise test. CONCLUSIONS: A diagnosis of mild intermittent/persistent asthma has no effect on the aerobic capacity of children and adolescents between asthma attacks.

Capacidade aeróbica em crianças e adolescentes com asma intermitente e persistente leve no período intercrises / Children and adolescents with mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma: aerobic capacity between attacks

OBJETIVO: Aferir a capacidade aeróbica de crianças e adolescentes com diagnóstico de asma brônquica intermitente leve ou persistente leve no período intercrises. MÉTODOS: Foram estudadas 33 crianças e adolescentes com diagnóstico clínico recente de asma leve intermitente e asma leve persistente, no período intercrises, e 36 crianças e adolescentes saudáveis. Foram realizadas avaliação clínica, avaliação do nível basal do nível de atividade física, espirometria antes e após o uso de broncodilatador e determinação de ventilação voluntária máxima, consumo máximo de oxigênio, quociente respiratório, ventilação minuto máxima, equivalente ventilatório, reserva ventilatória, FC máxima, SpO2 e lactato. RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos asma intermitente, asma persistente e controle em relação às variáveis antropométricas e espirométricas. Não houve diferenças significativas em relação às variáveis analisadas durante o teste de esforço máximo entre os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: O diagnóstico de asma intermitente ou persistente leve não influenciou a capacidade aeróbica em crianças e adolescentes no período intercrises.

OBJECTIVE: To assess children and adolescents diagnosed with mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma, in terms of their aerobic capacity between attacks. METHODS: We included 33 children and adolescents recently diagnosed with asthma (mild intermittent or mild persistent) and 36 healthy children and adolescents. Those with asthma were evaluated between attacks. All participants underwent clinical evaluation; assessment of baseline physical activity level; pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry; and a maximal exercise test, including determination of maximal voluntary ventilation, maximal oxygen uptake, respiratory quotient, maximal minute ventilation, ventilatory equivalent, ventilatory reserve, maximal HR, SpO2, and serum lactate. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among the groups (intermittent asthma, persistent asthma, and control) regarding anthropometric or spirometric variables. There were no significant differences among the groups regarding the variables studied during the maximal exercise test. CONCLUSIONS: A diagnosis of mild intermittent/persistent asthma has no effect on the aerobic capacity of children and adolescents between asthma attacks.

Radiograma de tórax e tomografia computadorizada na avaliação do enfisema pulmonar / Chest X-ray and computed tomography in the evaluation of pulmonary emphysema: [review]

O enfisema é uma condição do pulmão, caracterizada pelo aumento acima do normal no tamanho dos espaços aéreos distais ao bronquíolo terminal. Atualmente, o enfisema é a quarta causa de morte nos EUA, afetando 14 milhões de pessoas. O presente artigo descreve as principais ferramentas no diagnóstico por imagem do enfisema, desde o início até os dias de hoje. Relata as técnicas tradicionais, como radiograma de tórax, e as evoluções no campo da tomografia computadorizada (TC), como a TC de alta resolução e a densitovolumetria pulmonar por TC tridimensional.

Emphysema is a condition of the lung, characterized by the abnormal increase in the size of the airspace distal to the terminal bronchioles. Currently, emphysema is the fourth leading cause of death in the USA, affecting 14 million people. The present article describes the principal tools in the imaging diagnosis of emphysema, from the early days until the present. We describe traditional techniques, such as chest X-ray, together with the evolution of computed tomography (CT) to more advanced forms, such as high resolution CT, as well as three-dimensional CT densitometry and volumetric assessment.

[Chest X-ray and computed tomography in the evaluation of pulmonary emphysema]. / Radiograma de tórax e tomografia computadorizada na avaliação do enfisema pulmonar.

Emphysema is a condition of the lung, characterized by the abnormal increase in the size of the airspace distal to the terminal bronchioles. Currently, emphysema is the fourth leading cause of death in the USA, affecting 14 million people. The present article describes the principal tools in the imaging diagnosis of emphysema, from the early days until the present. We describe traditional techniques, such as chest X-ray, together with the evolution of computed tomography (CT) to more advanced forms, such as high resolution CT, as well as three-dimensional CT densitometry and volumetric assessment.