Asthma-associated bacterial infections: Are they protective or deleterious?

Eosinophilic, noneosinophilic, or mixed granulocytic inflammations are the hallmarks of asthma heterogeneity. Depending on the priming of lung immune and structural cells, subjects with asthma might generate immune responses that are TH2-prone or TH17-prone immune response. Bacterial infections caused by Haemophilus, Moraxella, or Streptococcus spp. induce the secretion of IL-17, which in turn recruit neutrophils into the airways. Clinical studies and experimental models of asthma indicated that neutrophil infiltration induces a specific phenotype of asthma, characterized by an impaired response to corticosteroid treatment. The understanding of pathways that regulate the TH17-neutrophils axis is critical to delineate and develop host-directed therapies that might control asthma and its exacerbation episodes that course with infectious comorbidities. In this review, we outline clinical and experimental studies on the role of airway epithelial cells, S100A9, and high mobility group box 1, which act in concert with the IL-17-neutrophil axis activated by bacterial infections, and are related with asthma that is difficult to treat. Furthermore, we report critically our view in the light of these findings in an attempt to stimulate further investigations and development of immunotherapies for the control of severe asthma.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Allergy Traits at Second Year of Life: BRISA Cohort Study.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSBs) consumption has risen in early life and it is plausible that it might increase children's risk of allergies. In this paper, we analyzed the association of SSB consumption with allergies in children's second year of life. This study analyzed data from a São Luís BRISA prenatal cohort in the follow-up of children (n = 1144) in their second year of life. Allergy Traits were a latent variable deduced from medical diagnoses of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergies. SSBs were investigated as a percentage of daily calories based on 24 h recalls, including industrialized fruit juices, soft drinks, and ready-made chocolate milk. Other variables analyzed were socioeconomic status, age, body mass index z-score, episodes of diarrhea, and breastfeeding. Our finds were that higher consumption of daily calories from SSBs was associated with higher Allergy Trait values (SC = 0.174; p = 0.025); older age (SC = -0.181; p = 0.030) was associated with lower Allergy Trait values; and episodes of diarrhea were correlated with Allergy Traits (SC = 0.287; p = 0.015). SSB exposure was associated with Allergy Traits in children's second year of life; thus, abstaining from these beverages may also confer additional advantages in curtailing allergic diseases during early childhood.

Factors associated with allergy traits around the 2nd year of life: a brazilian cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Allergic status has been strongly influenced by early exposures; however, allergic diseases are hard to measure in early life. Thus, this study proposed a latent variable allergy traits around the second year of life and analyzed pre- and perinatal factors associated with this phenomenon. METHODS: The study used data from the BRISA birth cohort, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil (n = 3644). The theoretical model included: family allergy (history of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma); gestational period variables (socioeconomic status, mother's skin color, pregestational body mass index - BMI, smoking, gestational diabetes, and hypertension); birth variables (gestational age, 5-minute Apgar score, birth weight, type of delivery), and early life factor (exclusive breast feeding). The outcome was allergy traits around the 2nd year of life, a latent variable deduced from the shared variance among medical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy. The model was analyzed by structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Higher socioeconomic status (SC = 0.256; p < 0.001) and higher family allergy values (SC = 1.224; p < 0.001) were associated with higher allergy trait values. Hypertension during pregnancy was associated with higher values (SC = 0.170; p = 0.022) and exclusive breast feeding (SC = -0.192; p < 0.001) with low allergy trait values. CONCLUSION: Although socioeconomic and environmental factors were associated with allergy traits around the 2nd year of life, the family component of allergy was the exposure that best explained this outcome.

Ensino do exame respiratório: o que é história e o que é necessidade? / Teaching the respiratory physical examination: what is history and what is needed?

A semiologia é uma das técnicas mais utilizadas na prática médica há séculos. Ensinada por meio de roteiros sistematizados, estudantes de inúmeras escolas da área de saúde por todo o mundo aprendem as manobras semiológicas como fundamento na avaliação dos pacientes. No entanto, apesar de extremamente difundida, discute-se pouco sobre sua acurácia como manobra diagnóstica. Tendo este ponto em vista, este artigo aborda a precisão das diversas manobras semiológicas do exame físico do aparelho respiratório e a descrição comparativa do seu ensino em diferentes escolas médicas no mundo. Como resultados, tem-se valores de acurácia discordantes, o que pode ser justificado pela qualidade dos estudos ou pelas variáveis analisadas que diferem entre os estudos e propostas de padronização. Em conclusão, a semiologia é a base da avaliação médica, independentemente dos avanços e disponibilidade dos exames de imagens, e cada manobra deve ser ensinada com seu devido valor científico. Conhecer a aplicabilidade e individualizar a prática das etapas do exame respiratório pode ser um caminho possível de adequação aos tempos atuais, sem impor perdas de informações relevantes para o desenvolvimento do raciocínio clínico (AU)

Medical semiology has been one of the most common techniques used in medical practice for centuries. Health science students around the globe learn these techniques through a systematized model as a fundamental skill for patient evaluation. However, though being widespread, little is known about semiology's true accuracy as a diagnostic maneuver. Knowing that, through a literature review, this paper evaluated the precision of the preconized procedures that are used as part of the exam of the respiratory system and the comparative description of its teaching in different medical schools around the world. As a result, disagreement between several papers was found, which can be justified by the poor quality of the studies and the different variables that were studied in each one. However, one thing is still clear: respiratory physical examination continues to be essential in medical practice, independently of the recent advances and availability of imaging exams. Teaching each step should consider available scientific evidence. The knowledge of the applicability and practical individualization of the respiratory examination can be a possible way for the current times without missing relevant information for developing clinical reasoning (AU)

Comparison of body composition parameters in the study of the association between body composition and pulmonary function.

BACKGROUND: The excess adiposity, even in the absence of diseases, is responsible for a decline in pulmonary function, which is considered a predictor of mortality and a risk factor for diseases in several epidemiological studies. However, studies on the association between obesity and pulmonary function have found only few associations or inconclusive results. The aim of the study is to evaluate the association between body composition and spirometric parameters, comparing simple obesity measures such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference with more precise body composition measurements such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and air-displacement plethysmography (BOD POD). METHODS: This is an observational, cross-sectional study that used data from the 1978/79 Ribeirão Preto birth cohort (São Paulo, Brazil). The study included 1746 participants from the 5th follow-up of the cohort. Linear regressions were calculated to evaluate the association between BMI, waist circumference, waist-height ratio (WHtR), BOD POD- and DXA-measured fat mass percentage, and spirometric parameters FEV1, and FVC. RESULTS: For every 1-kg/m2 BMI increase, FVC decreased by 13 ml in males and by 6 ml in females and FEV1 decreased by 11 ml and 5 ml, respectively. Regarding body composition measurements, for a 1% increase in fat mass assessed by BOD POD, FVC decreased by 16 ml in males and by 8 ml in females and FEV1 decreased by 13 ml and 7 ml, respectively. Hence, negative associations between body measurements and FEV1 and FVC were observed in both genders, especially when using the fat mass measurement and were more expressive in men. CONCLUSION: The anthropometric and body composition parameters were negatively associated with the spirometric variables FVC and FEV1. We have also observed that simple measures such as waist-height ratio were sufficient to detect the association of body composition with pulmonary function reduction.

Provision of inhaled corticosteroids is associated with decrease in hospital admissions in Brazil: A longitudinal nationwide study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe trends of hospital admissions due to asthma from 2008 to 2015 and to evaluate their relationship with trends of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) provision by the government in Brazil. METHODS: We used Brazilian Government data to calculate hospital admission rates due to asthma, number of physicians, number of hospital beds, number of subjects that received ICS per 100,000 inhabitants in Brazil and in each of its municipalities for each year of the study. We performed Poisson Multilevel Regression Analyses to evaluate the relationship between the trends of hospital admission rates due to asthma with the trends of the number of subjects that had been receiving ICS during the study period. The analyses were adjusted for the number of physicians and hospital beds. FINDINGS: The number of patients who received ICS/100,000 inhabitants increased from 2008 to 2015 (943.9-1988.5). Hospital admissions/100,000 inhabitants decreased in patients aged 5-14 years (148.3-110.9) and in patients aged 15-39 years (59.9-32.3); the reduction was greater in municipalities in which ICS provision increased. The number of physicians/100,000 inhabitants increased and the number of hospital beds/100,000 inhabitants decreased in the study period. The increase in the number of physicians and in the number of subjects that received ICS were associated with reduction in hospital admissions. CONCLUSION: We found that provision of ICS by the Brazilian Government was associated with a decrease of hospital admissions for asthma in the municipalities and country levels from 2008 to 2015.

Lifetime overweight and adult asthma: 1978/1979 Ribeirão Preto Birth Cohort, São Paulo, Brazil.

Studies focusing on obesity and asthma frequently consider the weight at a given time; thus, modeling pathways through lifetime overweight may contribute to elucidate temporal aspects in this relationship. This study modeled the pathways in the association of lifetime overweight with asthma in adult life, using data from the 1978/1979 Birth Cohort, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil (n = 2,063) at birth (baseline), school age (9/11 years) and adult age (23/25 years). A theoretical model was proposed to explore the effects of lifetime overweight on asthma in adult life analyzed by structural equation modeling. Parental obesity (SC - standardized coefficenttotal = 0.211, p < 0.001; SCdirect = 0.115, p = 0.007) and overweight at school age (SCtotal = 0.565, p < 0.0001; SCdirect = 0.565, p < 0.0001) were associated with overweight in adult life. Parental obesity (SCdirect = 0.105, p = 0.047) and nutritional status at birth (SCtotal = -0.124, p = 0.009; SCdirect = -0.131, p = 0.007) were associated with asthma in adult life. A higher "current adult socieconomic situation" was inversely associated to overweight (SCdirect = -0.171, p = 0.020) and to asthma in adult life (SCtotal = -0.179, p = 0.041; SCdirect = -0.182, p = 0.039). Parental obesity showed a transgenerational effect in weight, triggering to childhood and adulthood overweight. Parallel to underweight at birth, parental obesity was also a risk to asthma in adult life. While, the socioeconomic status in adult life protected from both, overweight and asthma.

2020 Brazilian Thoracic Association recommendations for the management of asthma.

The pharmacological management of asthma has changed considerably in recent decades, as it has come to be understood that it is a complex, heterogeneous disease with different phenotypes and endotypes. It is now clear that the goal of asthma treatment should be to achieve and maintain control of the disease, as well as to minimize the risks (of exacerbations, disease instability, accelerated loss of lung function, and adverse treatment effects). That requires an approach that is personalized in terms of the pharmacological treatment, patient education, written action plan, training in correct inhaler use, and review of the inhaler technique at each office visit. A panel of 22 pulmonologists was invited to perform a critical review of recent evidence of pharmacological treatment of asthma and to prepare this set of recommendations, a treatment guide tailored to use in Brazil. The topics or questions related to the most significant changes in concepts, and consequently in the management of asthma in clinical practice, were chosen by a panel of experts. To formulate these recommendations, we asked each expert to perform a critical review of a topic or to respond to a question, on the basis of evidence in the literature. In a second phase, three experts discussed and structured all texts submitted by the others. That was followed by a third phase, in which all of the experts reviewed and discussed each recommendation. These recommendations, which are intended for physicians involved in the treatment of asthma, apply to asthma patients of all ages.

Pathways in the association between sugar sweetened beverages and child asthma traits in the 2nd year of life: Findings from the BRISA cohort.

Studies on the exposure of children to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) at an early age may contribute to better understand the common causes and the temporal order of the relationships between obesity and asthma in early childhood. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between SSB and child asthma traits in the 2nd year of life, modeling direct and indirect pathways mediated by the highest BMI-z of the child and allergic inflammation. Data from the BRISA cohort, São Luís-MA, Brazil (n = 1140), were obtained from the baseline and from the follow-up performed at the 2nd year of life. The main explanatory variable was the calories from added sugars in SSBs as a percentage of the total daily energy intake. The outcome child asthma traits was a latent variable deduced from four indicators: medical diagnosis of asthma, wheezing, emergency visit due to intense wheezing, and medical diagnosis of rhinitis. A high percentage of daily calories from sugars added to SSBs was directly associated with higher values of child asthma traits (standardized coefficient (SC = 0.073; P = .030)). High levels of eosinophils were also directly associated with child asthma traits (SC = 0.118; P = .049). No mediation pathways were observed via greater BMI-z or eosinophil counts. Therefore, early exposure of children to SSB may contribute to increased risk of childhood asthma, preceding the link between sugar consumption and overweight/obesity, not yet evident in children in the first 2 years of life.

Lifetime overweight and adult asthma: 1978/1979 Ribeirão Preto Birth Cohort, São Paulo, Brazil / Sobrepeso ao longo da vida e asma na idade adulta: Coorte de Nascimento de 1978/1979, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil / Sobrepeso a lo largo de la vida y asma en adultos: Cohorte de Nacimientos de 1978/1979 en Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil

Studies focusing on obesity and asthma frequently consider the weight at a given time; thus, modeling pathways through lifetime overweight may contribute to elucidate temporal aspects in this relationship. This study modeled the pathways in the association of lifetime overweight with asthma in adult life, using data from the 1978/1979 Birth Cohort, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil (n = 2,063) at birth (baseline), school age (9/11 years) and adult age (23/25 years). A theoretical model was proposed to explore the effects of lifetime overweight on asthma in adult life analyzed by structural equation modeling. Parental obesity (SC - standardized coefficenttotal = 0.211, p < 0.001; SCdirect = 0.115, p = 0.007) and overweight at school age (SCtotal = 0.565, p < 0.0001; SCdirect = 0.565, p < 0.0001) were associated with overweight in adult life. Parental obesity (SCdirect = 0.105, p = 0.047) and nutritional status at birth (SCtotal = -0.124, p = 0.009; SCdirect = -0.131, p = 0.007) were associated with asthma in adult life. A higher "current adult socieconomic situation" was inversely associated to overweight (SCdirect = -0.171, p = 0.020) and to asthma in adult life (SCtotal = -0.179, p = 0.041; SCdirect = -0.182, p = 0.039). Parental obesity showed a transgenerational effect in weight, triggering to childhood and adulthood overweight. Parallel to underweight at birth, parental obesity was also a risk to asthma in adult life. While, the socioeconomic status in adult life protected from both, overweight and asthma.

Os estudos sobre obesidade e asma frequentemente analisam o peso em um determinado momento; portanto, a modelagem de trajetórias de sobrepeso ao longo da vida pode ajudar a explicar os aspectos temporais dessa relação. O estudo atual modelou as trajetórias na associação entre história de sobrepeso e asma na vida adulta, utilizando dados da Coorte de Nascimento de 1978/1979, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil (n = 2.063), coletados ao nascer (linha de base), na idade escolar (9-11 anos) e na idade adulta (23-25 anos). Foi proposto um modelo teórico para explorar a associação entre o sobrepeso ao longo da vida e asma na vida adulta, analisada pela modelagem de equações estruturais. Obesidade dos pais (CP - coeficiente padronizadoglobal = 0,211, p < 0,001; CPdireto = 0,115; p = 0,007) e sobrepeso na idade escolar (CPglobal = 0,565; p < 0,0001; CPdireto = 0,565; p < 0,0001) mostraram associação com sobrepeso na idade adulta. Obesidade dos pais (CPdireto = 0,105; p = 0,047) e estado nutricional ao nascer (CPglobal = - 0,124; p = 0,009; CPdireto = -0,131; p = 0,007) mostraram associação com asma na idade adulta. "Condição socioeconômica" mais alta na vida adulta mostrou associação inversa com sobrepeso (CPdireto = -0,171, p = 0,020) e com asma na vida adulta (CPglobal = -0,179; p = 0,041; CPdireto = -0,182; p = 0,039). Obesidade dos pais mostrou um efeito transgeracional sobre o peso, como gatilho na infância e no sobrepeso na vida adulta. Em paralelo ao baixo peso ao nascer, a obesidade dos pais também esteve associada com asma na vida adulta. A condição socioeconômica na vida adulta mostrou efeito protetor contra sobrepeso e asma.

Los estudios que se centran en la obesidad y asma frecuentemente consideran el peso en un determinado momento; por este motivo, la creación de modelos de patrones de sobrepeso a lo largo de la vida quizás puede contribuir a elucidar aspectos temporales en esta relación. Este estudio modeló los patrones en la asociación de sobrepeso a lo largo de la vida con el asma en etapa adulta, usando datos de una cohorte nacimientos de 1978/1979, en Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil (n = 2.063), considerando: nacimiento (base de referencia), edad escolar (9-11 años) y edad adulta (23-25 años). Se propuso un modelo teórico para analizar los efectos del sobrepeso a lo largo de la vida en el asma, durante la etapa adulta, analizado mediante modelos de ecuaciones estructurales. La obesidad de los padres (CE - coeficiente estandarizadototal = 0,211, p < 0,001; CEdirecto = 0,115; p = 0,007) y sobrepeso en edad escolar (CEtotal = 0,565; p < 0,0001; CEdirecto = 0,565; p < 0,0001) estuvieron asociados con sobrepeso en la vida adulta. La obesidad de los padres (CEdirecto = 0,105; p = 0,047) y el estatus nutricional al nacer (CEtotal = - 0,124; p = 0,009; CEdirecto = -0,131; p = 0,007) estuvieron asociados con el asma en la vida adulta. Un "condición socioeconómica actual en la etapa adulta" más alto estuvo inversamente asociado con el sobrepeso (CEdirecto = -0,171; p = 0,020) y al asma en la vida adulta (CEtotal = -0,179; p = 0,041; CEdirect = -0,182; p = 0,039). La obesidad de los padres mostró un efecto transgeneracional en el peso, desencadenando sobrepeso en la infancia y etapa adulta. Junto al bajo peso al nacer, la obesidad de los padres fue también un riesgo para el asma en la etapa adulta. Mientras que el estatus socioeconómico en la etapa adulta protegía tanto ante el sobrepeso como el asma.

2020 Brazilian Thoracic Association recommendations for the management of asthma / Recomendações para o manejo da asma da Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia - 2020

ABSTRACT The pharmacological management of asthma has changed considerably in recent decades, as it has come to be understood that it is a complex, heterogeneous disease with different phenotypes and endotypes. It is now clear that the goal of asthma treatment should be to achieve and maintain control of the disease, as well as to minimize the risks (of exacerbations, disease instability, accelerated loss of lung function, and adverse treatment effects). That requires an approach that is personalized in terms of the pharmacological treatment, patient education, written action plan, training in correct inhaler use, and review of the inhaler technique at each office visit. A panel of 22 pulmonologists was invited to perform a critical review of recent evidence of pharmacological treatment of asthma and to prepare this set of recommendations, a treatment guide tailored to use in Brazil. The topics or questions related to the most significant changes in concepts, and consequently in the management of asthma in clinical practice, were chosen by a panel of experts. To formulate these recommendations, we asked each expert to perform a critical review of a topic or to respond to a question, on the basis of evidence in the literature. In a second phase, three experts discussed and structured all texts submitted by the others. That was followed by a third phase, in which all of the experts reviewed and discussed each recommendation. These recommendations, which are intended for physicians involved in the treatment of asthma, apply to asthma patients of all ages.

RESUMO O manejo farmacológico da asma mudou consideravelmente nas últimas décadas, com base no entendimento de que a asma é uma doença heterogênea e complexa, com diferentes fenótipos e endótipos. Agora está claro que o objetivo do tratamento da asma deve ser alcançar e manter o controle da doença e evitar riscos futuros (exacerbações, instabilidade da doença, perda acelerada da função pulmonar e efeitos adversos do tratamento). Isso implica em uma abordagem personalizada, incluindo tratamento farmacológico, educação do paciente, plano de ação por escrito, treinamento para uso do dispositivo inalatório e revisão da técnica inalatória a cada visita ao consultório. Um painel de 22 pneumologistas brasileiros foi convidado a revisar criticamente evidências recentes de tratamento farmacológico da asma e a preparar esta recomendação, um guia de tratamento adaptado à nossa realidade. A escolha dos tópicos ou questões relacionadas às mudanças mais significativas nos conceitos e, consequentemente, no manejo da asma na prática clínica foi realizada por um painel de especialistas. Foi solicitado a cada especialista que revisasse criticamente um tópico ou respondesse a uma pergunta, com base em evidências, para estas recomendações. Numa segunda fase, três especialistas discutiram e estruturaram todos os textos submetidos pelos demais e, na última fase, todos revisaram e discutiram cada recomendação. As presentes recomendações se aplicam a adultos e crianças com asma e destinam-se a médicos envolvidos no tratamento da doença.

Evaluation of the preference, satisfaction and correct use of Breezhaler® and Respimat® inhalers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - INHALATOR study.

The INHALATOR study was a randomized, multicentre, open label, two-period of 7 days each, crossover study, with 7 days of washout in-between, aiming to evaluate the correct use, satisfaction and preference between Breezhaler® and Respimat® devices in patients under daily use of open Spiriva® or open Onbrize®, as monotherapy for treatment of mild or moderate COPD. Patients aged ≥40 years with a smoking history of at least 10 pack-year were included in the study. Primary endpoint was the rate of correct use of each device at the first day of treatment after reading the drug leaflet information and was evaluated under the supervision of a trained evaluator. At the end of each treatment phase, the inhaler use was re-evaluated and a satisfaction questionnaire was completed. The patients' preference for the inhaler devices was assessed at the end of the study. After exclusions due to screening failures, 140 patients were randomized: 136 received at least one dose of Breezhaler® and 135 of Respimat®. At treatment start, the rate of correct inhaler use was 40.4% (95%CI: 32.2%-48.7%) for Breezhaler® and 36.3% (95%CI: 28.2%-44.4%) for Respimat® (p = 0.451). After 7 days, the rates were 68.9% (95%CI: 61.1%-76.7%) and 60.4% (95%CI: 52.2%-68.7%), respectively (p = 0.077). According to the Feeling of Satisfaction with Inhaler Questionnaire - FSI 10 patients were more satisfied using Breezhaler® than Respimat® and 57.1% preferred using Breezhaler® (p = 0.001) while 30.1% preferred Respimat® (p < 0.001).

Accuracy of spirometry for detection of asthma: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with airway hyperresponsiveness. Spirometry is the most commonly used test among asthmatic patients. Another functional test used for diagnosing asthma is the bronchial challenge test. The aim of this study was to analyze the accuracy of spirometry for detecting asthma in the general population. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study with data analysis to evaluate the accuracy of spirometry through calculating sensitivity, specificity and predictive values and through the kappa agreement test. METHODS: Subjects who constituted a birth cohort were enrolled at the age of 23 to 25 years. Spirometric abnormality was defined as reduced forced expiratory volume in one second, i.e. lower than 80% of the predicted value. Measurement of bronchial responsiveness was performed by means of the bronchial challenge test with methacholine. The gold-standard diagnosis of asthma was defined as the presence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in association with respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: Asthma was detected in 200 subjects (10.4%) out of the sample of 1922 individuals. Spirometric abnormality was detected in 208 subjects (10.9%) of the sample. The specificity of spirometric abnormality for detecting asthma was 90%, sensitivity was 23%, positive predictive value was 22%, and negative predictive value was 91%. The kappa test revealed weak agreement of 0.13 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.07-0.19) between spirometry and the diagnosis of asthma. CONCLUSION: Spirometry, as a single test, has limitations for detecting asthma in the general population.

The First 1000 Days of Life Factors Associated with "Childhood Asthma Symptoms": Brisa Cohort, Brazil.

This prospective study used data from the BRISA Cohort, São Luís, Brazil (n = 1140) and analyzed associations between environmental factors up to the first 1000 days of life and "Childhood Asthma Symptoms". "Childhood Asthma Symptoms" was a latent variable based on the number of wheezing episodes, emergency care visit due to wheezing, diagnosis of asthma and diagnosis of rhinitis. A theoretical model that included prenatal factors (socioeconomic status, pregestational body mass index-BMI, soft drink and junk food consumption), birth factors (gestational age, smoking and diseases during pregnancy, birth weight and type of delivery), first year of life factors (breastfeeding, environmental aeroallergens and respiratory diseases) and BMI z-score in the second year of life, was analyzed by structural equation modeling. High pregestational BMI, high soft drink consumption, cesarean section without labor, chill in the first three months of life, carpeted floor and child's exposure to tobacco were associated with higher values of "Childhood Asthma Symptoms". In contrast, high birth weight, breastfeeding and infant's age were associated with lower values of "Childhood Asthma Symptoms". These findings support the hypothesis that environmental factors that are present before conception and up to the first 1000 days of life are associated with asthma.

Accuracy of spirometry for detection of asthma: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with airway hyperresponsiveness. Spirometry is the most commonly used test among asthmatic patients. Another functional test used for diagnosing asthma is the bronchial challenge test. The aim of this study was to analyze the accuracy of spirometry for detecting asthma in the general population. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study with data analysis to evaluate the accuracy of spirometry through calculating sensitivity, specificity and predictive values and through the kappa agreement test. METHODS: Subjects who constituted a birth cohort were enrolled at the age of 23 to 25 years. Spirometric abnormality was defined as reduced forced expiratory volume in one second, i.e. lower than 80% of the predicted value. Measurement of bronchial responsiveness was performed by means of the bronchial challenge test with methacholine. The gold-standard diagnosis of asthma was defined as the presence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in association with respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: Asthma was detected in 200 subjects (10.4%) out of the sample of 1922 individuals. Spirometric abnormality was detected in 208 subjects (10.9%) of the sample. The specificity of spirometric abnormality for detecting asthma was 90%, sensitivity was 23%, positive predictive value was 22%, and negative predictive value was 91%. The kappa test revealed weak agreement of 0.13 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.07-0.19) between spirometry and the diagnosis of asthma. CONCLUSION: Spirometry, as a single test, has limitations for detecting asthma in the general population.

Asthma self-management model: randomized controlled trial.

Information for patients provided by the pharmacist is reflected in adhesion to treatment, clinical results and patient quality of life. The objective of this study was to assess an asthma self-management model for rational medicine use. This was a randomized controlled trial with 60 asthmatic patients assigned to attend five modules presented by a pharmacist (intervention group) and 59 patients in the control group. Data collection was performed before and after this 4-month intervention and included an evaluation of asthma knowledge, lifestyle, inhaler techniques, adhesion to treatment, pulmonary function and quality of life. An economic viability analysis was also performed. The intervention group obtained an increase in asthma knowledge scores of 58.3-79.5% (P < 0.001). In this group, there was also an increase in the number of individuals who practiced physical exercise (36-43%), in the number of correct replies regarding the use of inhalers, in the percentage of adherent patients, and in quality of life scores for all domains. We concluded that this asthma self-management model was effective in improving the quality of life of asthma patients.

Exposure to high endotoxin concentration increases wheezing prevalence among laboratory animal workers: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Endotoxin from Gram-negative bacteria are found in different concentrations in dust and on the ground of laboratories dealing with small animals and animal houses. METHODS: Cross-sectional study performed in workplaces of two universities. Dust samples were collected from laboratories and animal facilities housing rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits or hamsters and analyzed by the "Limulus amebocyte lysate" (LAL) method. We also sampled workplaces without animals. The concentrations of endotoxin detected in the workplaces were tested for association with wheezing in the last 12 months, asthma defined by self-reported diagnosis and asthma confirmed by bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to mannitol. RESULTS: Dust samples were obtained at 145 workplaces, 92 with exposure to animals and 53 with no exposure. Exposed group comprised 412 subjects and non-exposed group comprised 339 subjects. Animal-exposed workplaces had higher concentrations of endotoxin, median of 34.2 endotoxin units (EU) per mg of dust (interquartile range, 12.6-65.4), as compared to the non-exposed group, median of 10.2 EU/mg of dust (interquartile range, 2.6-22.2) (p < 0.001). The high concentration of endotoxin (above whole sample median, 20.4 EU/mg) was associated with increased wheezing prevalence (p < 0.001), i.e., 61 % of workers exposed to high endotoxin concentration reported wheezing in the last 12 months compared to 29 % of workers exposed to low endotoxin concentration. The concentration of endotoxin was not associated with asthma report or with BHR confirmed asthma. CONCLUSION: Exposure to endotoxin is associated with a higher prevalence of wheezing, but not with asthma as defined by the mannitol bronchial challenge test or by self-reported asthma. Preventive measures are necessary for these workers.

Study of risk factors for atopic sensitization, asthma, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in animal laboratory workers.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this estudy was to investigate the influence of allergen exposure levels and other risk factors for allergic sensitization, asthma, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in workers exposed to laboratory animals. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study performed at two universities, 123 workplaces with 737 subjects. Dust samples were collected from laboratories and animal facilities housing rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, or hamsters and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure allergen concentrations. We also sampled workplaces without animals. Asthma was defined by both symptoms and BHR to mannitol. The concentrations of allergens were tested for association with a skin prick test, respiratory symptoms, spirometry data, and BHR. This multivariate analysis was performed by using Poisson regression to estimate the relative risk (RR) for the exposed group. RESULTS: Our sample comprised students and workers, with 336 subjects in the nonexposed group and 401 subjects in the exposed group. Sixty-nine subjects (17%) had positive results in the skin prick test for animal allergens in the exposed group; in the nonexposed group, 10 subjects had positive results (3%) (p<0.001). Exposure to laboratory animals over 2.8 years was associated with atopic sensitization (RR=1.85; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-3.15; p=0.02). Allergen concentration was not associated with sensitization, asthma, or BHR. CONCLUSION: Exposure to laboratory animals was associated with atopic sensitization. However, we did not find a cutoff allergen concentration that increased the risk for sensitization. Duration of exposure seems to be more relevant to sensitization than concentration of allergens in dust.

Pemberton Sign: A Recommendation to Perform Arm Elevation Spirometry With Flow-Volume Loops.

We report a case of intrathoracic goiter with positive Pemberton sign. Conventional spirometry did not show abnormalities, but arm elevation spirometry with flow-volume loops revealed expiratory flow limitation with a plateau. Clinicians should consider repeating flow-volume loops with arm elevation in all cases of intrathoracic goiter with initially normal loops.

Characteristics of undiagnosed COPD in a senior community center.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a senior community center. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional, observational study with the following procedures: questionnaire to record demographic and health status data, anthropometry, questionnaire about COPD risk factors and symptoms, spirometry, and socioeconomic evaluation. Simple logistic regression and multiple analyses were carried out to assess associations. The studied variables were tested for associations with previous COPD diagnosis. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-five subjects aged 50 years or older were recruited and 318 completed the protocol. Seventy-one (22%) had presumptive COPD. Among them, 57 (80%) did not have a previous physician-made diagnosis of COPD. We found no associations between previous diagnosis and socioeconomic status, anthropometric data, or risk factors. Regarding respiratory symptoms, there was an association between previous COPD diagnosis and wheezing (P=0.011). FEV1 and FVC values were lower in the previous diagnosis group compared to the group without a previous diagnosis (P<0.001, Student's t-test). We found an association of lower FEV1 (<50% predicted value) with a previous diagnosis (P=0.028). CONCLUSION: Our results showed a high prevalence of undiagnosed obstructive ventilatory defects in a senior community center. Previous COPD diagnosis was associated with more severe disease and more frequent wheezing. This study highlights the potential of these centers to increase COPD diagnosis and to reduce its risks.