[Comparative study on diagnostic probes: spirometry vs plethysmography in asymptomatic adult asthmatics]. / Estudio comparativo de dos pruebas diagnósticas: espirometría vs pletismografía en adultos asmáticos asintomáticos.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study to aim to do the comparison the sensibility between spirometry and pletismography in 20 asthmatic adult free of acute symptoms in basals conditions and to use subsequent of salbutamol spray. RESULTS: Were found to equal value for vital capacity (CV) with p = 0.02 for the both methods. For the total capacity pulmonary (CPT) with p = 0.05, p = 0.02 and increment in residual volume (VA) with p = 0.001 in the pletismography in both conditions (basal and post-salbutamol). The specific conductance (CE) to show p = < 0.001. The flows velocities (VF50, VF25-75) and (VF75, VF75-85) to show similar obstructions for aerial track smaller and smallest with p = < 0.20. CONCLUSION: Than both methods to have the same specificity, but no sensibility. The pletismography apparently to be more sensitive to diagnostic obstruction in airway tract of caliber medium.

[Hereditary Osler angioedema (report of case)]. / Angioedema heredofamiliar de Osler (informe de un caso).

A case of Osler's hereditary angioedema, that show a halimark of aedema of facing, neck, hands and foots, respiratory difficulty, to feel sick, to vomit, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, from the seven years old.

[Spirometric pulmonary age and its correlation with the chronological age of asthma patients]. / Edad pulmonar por espirometría y su correlación con la edad cronológica de pacientes con asma.

AIMS: Pulmonary age as a linear regression spirometric index, expresses pulmonary ventilatory function. OBJECTIVE: A pilot study was done to assess the differences of the values of the pulmonary age index and chronological age in patients with bronchial asthma and healthy volunteers. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studies 111 subjects, 31 healthy and 80 with asthma. RESULTS: All of them underwent spirometry. Healthy individuals showed a mean chronological age of 35 years, and a pulmonary age of 26 years. Asthmatic patients showed a mean chronological age of 38 years, and a pulmonary age of 59 years. CONCLUSION: Both the time course and the severity of the disease increased pulmonary age.

[Comparative study of the treatment of autoimmune uveitis with prednisone and with cyclophosphamide and azathioprine]. / Estudio comparativo entre el tratamiento de la uveítis autoinmune con prednisona y con ciclofosfamida y azatioprina.

BACKGROUND: Uveitis is considered an autoimmune disease that compromises any internal structure of eye; its main characteristic is the inflammatory process inside eye. OBJECTIVE: To determine which is the most effective therapy for autoimmune uveitis: cyclophosphamide, azathioprine and prednisone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients between 16 and 65 years old, both sexes, with diagnosis of autoimmune uveitis (anterior, intermediate and posterior). Patients were submitted to clinical history, physical exploration and clinical studies. Their written informed consent was requested and patients were divided into three treatment groups: group 1 (azathioprine) 14 (42.4%) patients; group 2 (prednisone) 15 (45.5%) patients, and group 3 (cyclophosphamide) 4 (12.1%) patients. Blind double observations and assessments at day 0 and at week 1, 2, 4 and 6 of treatment were performed. RESULTS: Out of 33 patients studied, 13 (39.4%) were male and 20 (60.6%) female, the most frequent diagnosis was uveitis due to Toxoplasmosis. With azathioprine 100 mg/day it was observed a better and faster control of inflammation after 6.2 weeks at anterior chamber with p < 0.0001, with prednisone, p = .000, and with cyclophosphamide, p = 135. In the posterior chamber there were no significant inflammatory changes for three groups with p = .353. The most frequent adverse effects occurred in the prednisone group with p < 0.05 in 24.2%, characterized by neutropenia and urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS: Azathioprine, 100 mg/day oral during six weeks, is considered the most effective drug, since it demonstrated significant diminishment of inflammatory process in less time, with less side effects and with conservation of visual acuity.