Rhinophototherapy, an alternative treatment of allergic rhinitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis / Rinofototerapia, uma alternativa para o tratamento de rinite alérgica: revisão sistemática e metanálise

Abstract Introduction: Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa, mediated by immunoglobulin E, affecting 1 in 6 individuals. The treatment aims at attaining symptomatic control with minimal side effects, a requirement for new alternative therapies, including phototherapy, as it has an immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory effect. Objective: To identify the effectiveness of phototherapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis through a meta-analysis. Methods: We searched Web of Science, Scielo, PubMed, SCOPUS, PEDro, and LILACS databases, using the terms: ''intranasal irradiation'', ''phototherapy'' and ''allergic rhinitis''. The R software Metafor package was used for the meta-analysis and the effect size was calculated for each symptom individually. Results: All symptoms decreased considerably after phototherapy: rhinorrhea (ES• = -1.35; p < 0.0001; I2 = 91.84%), sneezing (ES• = -1.24; p < 0.0001; I2 = 91.43%), nasal pruritus (ES• = -1.10; p < 0.0001; I2 = 91.43%); nasal obstruction (ES• = -1.11; p < 0.0001; I2 = 91.88%). The effects were more significant in perennial allergic rhinitis than in the seasonal type. Conclusion: Considering the effect size and the statistical significance attained in our study, rhinophototherapy showed to be an effective treatment for reducing the nasal symptom scores triggered by AR.

Resumo Introdução: A rinite alérgica é uma doença inflamatória crônica da mucosa nasal, imunomediada por imunoglobulina E, que afeta 1/6 dos indivíduos. O tratamento visa o controle dos sintomas com efeitos colaterais mínimos, uma prerrogativa para novas terapias alternativas, como a fototerapia, por apresentar efeitos imunossupressor e imunomodulador. Objetivo: Identificar, mediante uma metanálise, a eficácia da fototerapia no tratamento da rinite alérgica. Método: Usamos as bases de dados: Web of Science, Scielo, PubMed, SCOPUS, PEDro e LILACS, com os termos de busca: intranasal irradiation, phototherapy, allergic rhinitis. Para a metanálise foi usado o pacote metafor do software R, o tamanho do efeito foi calculado para cada sintoma separadamente. Resultados: Todos os sintomas apresentaram diminuição significante após a fototerapia: coriza (ES =-1,35; p < 0,0001; I2 = 91,84%), espirros (ES =-1,24; p < 0,0001; I2 = 91,43%), prurido nasal (ES =-1,10; p < 0,0001; I2 = 91,43%); obstrução nasal (ES =-1,11; p < 0,0001; I2 = 91,88%), com efeitos mais expressivos na rinite alérgica perene do que na rinite alérgica sazonal. Conclusão: Considerando-se a magnitude do efeito e a significância estatística alcançadas em nosso estudo, a rinofototerapia demonstrou-se um tratamento eficaz para a redução dos escores dos sintomas nasais desencadeados pela rinite alérgica.

Temporal changes in the clinical-epidemiological profile of patients with Chagas disease at a referral center in Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION We aimed to describe the sociodemographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics of patients with chronic Chagas disease (CD) at an infectious disease referral center. Changes in patient profiles over time were also evaluated. METHODS This retrospective study included patients with CD from November 1986-December 2019. All patients underwent an evaluation protocol that included sociodemographic profile; epidemiological history; anamnesis; and physical, cardiologic, and digestive examinations. Trend differences for each 5-year period from 1986 to 2019 were tested using a nonparametric trend test for continuous and generalized linear models with binomial distribution for categorical variables. RESULTS A total of 2,168 patients (52.2% women) were included, with a mean age of 47.8 years old. White patients with low levels of education predominated. The reported transmission mode was vectorial in 90.2% of cases. The majority came from areas with a high prevalence (52.2%) and morbidity (67.8%) of CD. The most common clinical presentation was the indeterminate form (44.9%). The number of patients referred gradually decreased and the age at admission increased during the study period, as did the patients' levels of education. CONCLUSIONS The clinical profile of CD is characterized by a predominance of the indeterminate form of the disease. Regarding the patients who were followed up at the referral center, there was a progressive increase in the mean age and a concomitant decrease in the number of new patients. This reflects the successful control of vector and transfusion transmission in Brazil as well as the aging population of patients with CD.

Adverse drug events and the associated factors in patients with chronic Chagas disease

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Herein, we aimed to identify the factors associated with adverse drug events (ADEs) in chronic Chagas disease (CD) patients. METHODS: We analyzed 320 medical notes from 295 patients. The Naranjo algorithm was applied to determine the cause of ADEs. Mixed effects logistic regression was performed to evaluate the factors associated with ADEs. RESULTS: ADEs were described in 102 medical notes (31.9%). Captopril was most frequently associated with ADEs. Age (RR 0.96; 95%CI 0.94-0.99) and cardiac C/D stages (RR 3.24; 95%CI 1.30-4.58) were the most important clinical factors associated with ADEs. CONCLUSIONS: Close follow-up is warranted for CD patients.

A lesão apical em cardiopatas chagásicos crônicos: estudo necroscópico / Apical lesions in Chagas' heart disease patients: an autopsy study

INTRODUÇÃO: A lesão apical ventricular é típica da cardiopatia chagásica e sua presença representa risco de fenômenos tromboembólicos. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a frequência de LA à necropsia de portadores de cardiopatia chagásica crônica. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva de necropsias de chagásicos maiores que 17 anos. Efetuada análise estatística comparativa das variáveis clínicas e dos achados necroscópicos entre o grupo A (com lesão apical) e o grupo B (ausência de lesão apical). RESULTADOS: Estudados 51 casos: 25 no grupo A (idade média de 53 anos, 64 por cento do sexo masculino)e 26 no B.. A LA localizava-se no ventrículo esquerdo em 80 por cento casos. No grupo B, a média de idade foi de 56 anos e 46,1 por cento eram do sexo masculino. A forma clínica prevalente nos dois grupos foi a miopática, mas arritmia cardíaca também esteve presente em ambos (57,9 por cento no grupo A e 32,1 por cento no B). Foi constatada a presença de trombos em 60 por cento dos casos do grupo A (53,3 por cento localizados na LA ) e 30,7 por cento no B; CONCLUSÕES: Houve predomínio da forma miopática nos casos com LA, com média de peso cardíaco maior em relação ao B. Em ambos os grupos observamos relação diretamente proporcional entre maior peso cardíaco e presença de tromboses. Houve predomínio do número de tromboses no grupo A, mais de 50 por cento eram localizadas na lesão, cujo diferencial clínico principal consistiu na presença maior de arritmias. A miopatia (com aumento de peso acima de 500g) foi primordial para aparecimento de tromboses.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of an apical ventricular lesion increases the risk of intracardiac thrombosis and thromboembolic phenomena. The study evaluated the incidence of apical lesions and intracardiac thrombosis in Chagas' heart disease patients at autopsy. METHODS: A retrospective review of autopsies of Chagas' heart disease patients was conducted. Statistical analysis included comparison of clinical variables and autopsy findings between two groups: group A (apical lesions) and group B (no apical lesions). RESULTS: A total of 51 cases of Chagas' disease patients were studied: 25 in group A (mean age 53 years-old; 64 percent male) and 26 in group B. Apical lesions were verified in the left ventricle in 80 percent of cases. The prevalent clinical subtype in both groups was myopathic, but significant cardiac arrhythmia was present in 57.9 percent of patients in group A, while 76.9 percent in group B did not present arrhythmias. Mean heart weight was 500.9g in group A and 408.4g in group B. The presence of thrombosis occurred in 60 percent of group A with 8 (53.3 percent) thrombi occurring in the apical lesion. CONCLUSIONS: The myopathic subtype was the most common clinical form in group A and the mean heart weight was statistically higher in this group. Clear prevalence of thrombosis was verified in group A, with 50 percent located in the apical lesion, whose main differential factor was a greater incidence of arrhythmias. Myopathy (heart weight above 500g) was primordial for the presence of thrombosis in both groups.