Reproducibility, validity, and reliability of the incremental step test for subjects with moderate to severe asthma.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the measurement properties of the incremental step test in subjects with moderate to severe asthma. METHODS: Subjects with moderate to severe persistent asthma were recruited from a tertiary university hospital specializing in treating severe asthma. All subjects performed one cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and two incremental step tests (IST) in random sequences. Pulmonary gas exchange was measured during all exercise tests. The measurement properties investigated were reliability by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), measurement error by the standard error of measurement and minimum detectable difference, construct validity by Pearson's correlation, and interpretability by the ceiling and floor effects. RESULTS: Fifty subjects (38 females, mean [SD], age 43.7 [11.6] yr, % FEV1 70 [14.3], BMI 28.5 [5.3] kg/m2) completed the study. The peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) for the CPET was 27.6 [±6.8] ml/kg/min, for the first IST was 22.3 [±5.3] ml/kg/min and for the second IST was 23.3 [±5.3] ml/kg/min. The IST presented excellent reliability (ICC=0.93, CI95% 0.88-0.96), very good measurement error (2.5%), and construct validity for peak VO2 measurement compared to the CPET (r = 0.85; p < 0.001) to assess exercise capacity in subjects with moderate to severe asthma, with appropriate ceiling (10%) and floor (0%) effects. CONCLUSION: The IST presented excellent reliability and very good measurement error and validity to assess exercise capacity in subjects with moderate to severe asthma, without ceiling or floor effects.

Aspectos clínicos e laboratoriais do complexo gengivite-estomatite em gatos domés / Clinic and laboratorial profile of Gingivostomatitis Complex in domestic cats

Foram incluídos 76 gatos domésticos com diferentes graus (I a IV) de lesões em cavidade oral, os quais foram avaliados clinicamente e tiveram coletadas amostras de sangue e suabes da cavidade oral. A maioria dos gatos portadores de CGE eram machos, castrados, adultos, sem raça definida e com estilo de vida confinado. Os sinais clínicos observados e associados à gravidade da inflamação na cavidade oral foram halitose (98,7%); ptialismo (22,4%); hemorragia bucal (9,2%) e úlcera na parte superior dos lábios (2,6%); desconforto à manipulação da cavidade oral (44,7%) e perda dentária (55,3%). A maioria dos gatos avaliados foi classificada no grau II (43,4%). Não se observou diferença significativa nos resultados do eritrograma dos gatos portadores de CGE, independentemente da gravidade das lesões e da sintomatologia clínica. Entretanto, observou-se neutrofilia (21,1%) e aumento de proteínas plasmáticas totais (47,3%), na maioria dos animais de grau II, sugerindo que esses parâmetros laboratoriais, quando aumentados, possam estar associados a graus menos graves de CGE. A análise das lâminas de citologia da cavidade oral dos gatos demonstrou que a presença de Simonsiella spp. foi mais frequente nos animais incluídos no grau IV, entretanto não é possível afirmar que essa bactéria esteja relacionada à gravidade das lesões.(AU)

Seventy six domestic cats classified with different scores (I to IV) of oral lesions have been included in the study, being clinically examined and having blood samples and oral cavity swabs collected. Most cats diagnosed with Gingivostomatitis Complex (GSC) were male, neutered, adult, DSH, and lived confined. Clinical signs observed and related to the severity of mouth inflammation were halitosis (98.7%), ptyalism (22.4%), oral hemorrhage (9.2%), and upper lip ulcers (2.6%); discomfort during mouth examination (44.7%) and tooth loss (55,3%). Most cats have been classified as score II (43.4%). The red blood cell count showed no significant statistical difference regardless the different scores of oral lesions and clinical symptoms. However, the leukogram showed neutrophilia (21.1%) and plasmatic proteins had an increased level (47.3%), in most of the animals classified as score II, suggesting that these parameters, when increased, may be associated to less severe GSC scores. Oral cavity microscope slides analysis showed that Simonsiella spp. have been more frequent in the cytology of the score IV animals, however, it does not allow us to correlate the presence of the bacteria with the severity lesions degree.(AU)

Seventy six domestic cats classified with different scores (I to IV) of oral lesions have been included in the study, being clinically examined and having blood samples and oral cavity swabs collected. Most cats diagnosed with Gingivostomatitis Complex (GSC) were male, neutered, adult, DSH, and lived confined. Clinical signs observed and related to the severity of mouth inflammation were halitosis (98.7%), ptyalism (22.4%), oral hemorrhage (9.2%), and upper lip ulcers (2.6%); discomfort during mouth examination (44.7%) and tooth loss (55,3%). Most cats have been classified as score II (43.4%). The red blood cell count showed no significant statistical difference regardless the different scores of oral lesions and clinical symptoms. However, the leukogram showed neutrophilia (21.1%) and plasmatic proteins had an increased level (47.3%), in most of the animals classified as score II, suggesting that these parameters, when increased, may be associated to less severe GSC scores. Oral cavity microscope slides analysis showed that Simonsiella spp. have been more frequent in the cytology of the score IV animals, however, it does not allow us to correlate the presence of the bacteria with the severity lesions degree.(AU)

In vitro study of the antibiotic activity of diterpenes

The antibiotic activity of 16 diterpenes and of 2 phenanthrehene derivatives of diterpene origin, isolated from Brazilian plants was investigated against bacteria, yeasts, dermatophytes and aflatoxin-producing fung. Eight of the compounds were completely inactive. None showed inhibitory activity against the Gram-negative bacteria assaywed or aginst the Aspergillus species. The phenanthrene derivatives, chemically very simular to phytoalexins isolated from orchids, were especially active