Analysis of airborne volatile organic compounds of a steel industry by solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
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Air Pollutants↗
Biomedical subjects
C R de Carvalho
Publications and source records attributed to C R de Carvalho.
A software tool to straighten curved chromosome images.
A software tool for straightening curved chromosomes has been developed and integrated into the freely available image analysis application Image SXM (available via the Internet at http://reg.ssci.liv.ac.uk). This new tool straightens curvilinear objects in one simple step after minimal input from the user. The ends of a curvilinear chromosome are identified by the user using the mouse and a window is opened displaying the object as it would appear if it was straightened out. This image processing produces linear images of chromosomes with no loss of resolution or spatial calibration, making subsequent analysis significantly more straightforward.
Animals↗
Different low constant flows can equally determine the lower inflection point in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients.
Among the possible techniques to obtain the pressure-volume (P x V) curve at the bedside the low constant flow (CF) is the easiest and quickest one. However, the best value for CF to perform a good semi-static P x V curve is still to be determined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of 4 different CFs (1, 2, 5, and 10 L/min) on determination of lower inflection point of the P x V curve (L-Pflex) and upper inflection point of the P x V curve (U-Pflex) on the maximum slope and on the inspiratory work of breathing (up to volume of 1.35 L; inspiratory work L/cm H2O), comparing the volume estimated from the CF with the measured volume obtained by the respiratory inductive plethysmograph. The design was a prospective study, and the setting was an adult medical intensive care unit of a university hospital. There were 7 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients, less than 5 days of installation, after the standardization of lung volume history received sequentially from 4 different low inspiratory CFs in 2 trials. The P x V curve lasted from 73 +/- 1.6 s (1 L/min) to 8.8 +/- 0.69 s (10 L/min). The L-Pflex differed in the 2 performed trials (p = 0.04). There was no difference of L-Pflex among the 4 CFs comparing the 3 methods (p = 0.072) used for its calculation as well as comparing the estimated and the measured volume (p = 0.456). The maximum slope decreased significantly while increasing the flow from 1 to 10 L/min just in the estimated volume (p = 0.03). The inspiratory work did not increase with the increment of the flow either in the estimated volume (p = 0.217) or in the measured volume (p = 0.149). The U-Pflex differed among the trials (p = 0.003) and the methods used for its calculation (p < 0.01). Constant flows from 1 to 10 L/min can equally determine L-Pflex in ARDS patients and is an easy and quick way to obtain the L-Pflex in order to optimize positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) in ARDS patients.
Adult↗
Solid-phase microextraction method for the quantitative analysis of styrene in water.
A headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) method is developed for the determination of styrene in drinking water. Gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry is utilized for qualitative analysis. A manual SPME holder with 85-microm polyacrylate coating is used to extract the styrene from water, which is determined to have good linearity (correlation coefficient r = 0.9999 for 1.00-100.00 microg/L range), a relative standard deviation of 1.9%, and a detection limit of 0.30 microg/L. This method is compared with a classical headspace GC method.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗
Chromomeric pattern of maize pachytene chromosomes after trypsin treatment.
The bivalent chromomeres of maize were analyzed by means of enzymatic treatment with trypsin. The aim was to verify if the effect of swelling observed in human meiotic chromosomes also occurs in these bivalents, and if this morphological change allows a greater visual resolution of the chromomeric pattern. Bivalents treated with trypsin showed a structure with sequential and linear distribution of small rings. Comparisons between bivalent morphology, treated and non-treated, indicated a collinearity among the sequences of rings and the chromomeres. The results obtained were considered useful to analyze and to make a chromomere map. This treatment can also provide cytological evidence that may help to understand the pairing process. It was concluded that the ring-shape was caused by trypsin-induced "disjoining" just in the chromomeric but not in the interchromomeric regions.
Chromosomes↗
Quantitation in inflammatory pleural disease to distinguish tuberculous and paramalignant from chronic non-specific pleuritis.
AIM: To determine by morphometry if pleural biopsies with the histopathological diagnosis of "non-specific pleuritis", malignant, and tuberculous disease could be distinguished morphologically from those with truly non-specific disease. METHODS: Each pleural biopsy was reviewed taking into account three compartments of reference: the visceral/parietal mesothelial compartment, the submesothelial screen compartment, and the submesothelial adipose tissue compartment. Normal connective tissue, granulation tissue, fibrocellular proliferation, fibrin, polymorphonuclear cells, mononuclear cells, and mesothelial cells were measured using conventional point counting procedures in terms of the fractional area occupied by each parameter within each compartment of reference. Ranking was carried out on 164 patients, based on their diagnosis: chronic non-specific disease (n = 57), tuberculosis (n = 27), malignant disease (n = 58), and conditions associated with transudative effusions (n = 22). RESULTS: Stepwise discriminant analysis of the resulting data showed that biopsies from patients with tuberculosis, malignant disease, and chronic non-specific disease could be distinguished between themselves and normal cases. Statistical differences among the four groups were observed for eight morphometric parameters related to components of inflammation and extension throughout the three pleural anatomical compartments. A robust discriminant function permitted an adequate classification of the three groups of disease in 88.41% of the cases. Pleural biopsies with fibrin incorporated within granulation tissue on the submesothelial screen compartment showed 100% specificity for patients with tuberculosis, while mononuclear cells in a band-like infiltrate on the submesothelial adipose tissue compartment showed 93.1% specificity for patients with malignant disease. The truly non-specific pleuritis was characterised by deposits of fibrin in the subpleural compartment and discrete signs of chronic inflammation and reparatory fibrosis on the submesothelial screen. CONCLUSIONS: Morphometric analysis of pleural biopsies may be a useful supplementary histological procedure to support the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis and malignant disease.
Biopsy, Needle↗
Interstitial lung disease in primary Sjögren's syndrome. Clinical-pathological evaluation and response to treatment.
Interstitial disease is a recognized form of lung involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome in which frequency and severity have not yet been established. We studied 20 patients 61.2 +/- 36.4 mo after the first symptoms of the syndrome that fulfilled criteria for both xerostomia and xerophtalmia. Eighteen patients exhibited pulmonary symptoms; nine presented a restrictive functional pattern. The chest roentgenogram disclosed interstitial involvement in nine patients. Gallium-67 lung scan presented hypercaptation in 15 of 19 patients studied. Thirteen patients who submitted to bronchoalveolar lavage presented higher cell counts with increases of lymphocytes and/or polymorphonuclear cells. All patients had abnormal results in at least one of the above. Lung biopsy, undertaken in 12 patients, showed a whole spectrum of interstitial disease, from a follicular bronchiolitis to a lymphoid interstitial pneumonia and finally fibrosis with honeycombing. One patient presented with associated sarcoid granulomas. We treated 11 patients with an azathioprine-based regimen and found a significant improvement in the forced vital capacity (p < 0.05) after at least 6 mo when compared with nontreated patients. We conclude that the frequency of interstitial lung disease is high in Sjögren's syndrome and that an azathioprine-based treatment can favorably change the outcome in this population.
Adult↗
Volume-assured pressure support ventilation (VAPSV). A new approach for reducing muscle workload during acute respiratory failure.
This study reports the preliminary clinical evaluation of a new mode of ventilation--volume-assured pressure support ventilation (VAPSV)--which incorporates inspiratory pressure support (PSV) with conventional volume-assisted cycles (VAV). This combination optimizes the inspiratory flow during assisted/controlled cycles, reducing the patient's respiratory burden commonly observed during VAV. Different from conventional PSV, VAPSV assures precise control of tidal volume (VT) in unstable patients. Eight patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) were submitted to assisted ventilation under VAV and VAPSV. Patient's ventilatory workload (evaluated through the pressure-time product, mechanical work per liter of ventilation, and work per minute) and patient's ventilatory drive (occlusion pressure--P0.1) were significantly reduced during VAPSV. This "relief" was more evident among the most distressed patients (p < 0.001), allowing a reduction of more than 60 percent in muscle load, without the need of increasing peak tracheal pressure. Mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI), VT, and effective dynamic compliance were significantly increased during VAPSV, whereas the effective inspiratory impedance decreased. These mechanical advantages of VAPSV allowed a reduction of intrinsic PEEP, whenever it was present. Blood gas values were similar in both periods. We concluded that VAPSV is a promising form of ventilatory support. At the same time that it was able to safely assure a minimum preset VT, VAPSV reduced patient workload and improved synchrony between the patient and the ventilator during ARF.
Acute Disease↗
Respiratory failure caused by adiaspiromycosis.
Adiaspiromycosis is a rare pulmonary disorder caused by the fungus Emmonsia crescens (or Chrysosporium parvum var crescens). According to the amount of inhaled conidia, man may develop symptomatic disease. After reaching the alveoli, the adiaconidia do not multiply or disseminate, but will induce a granulomatous inflammatory reaction that may lead to fatal respiratory failure. Up to now, only five cases of disseminated pulmonary infection have been documented. This work describes the occurrence, in Brazil, of two further cases of symptomatic disease with diffuse interstitial infiltrates and severe functional impairment. Possible massive infestation during activities in closed and stuffy environments is suggested. The specific diagnosis was troublesome and could not be made by cultures, skin tests or bronchoalveolar lavage. Both patients were successfully treated, but a spontaneous resolution of the process is seriously considered.
Brazil↗
Glucocorticoid receptor in active pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Glucorticoid receptor (GR) content of open-chest lung biopsies of 8 patients with active non treated pulmonary sarcoidosis was compared to 10 normal lungs. Results showed a higher GR level in sarcoid lungs (86.0 +/- 8.0 fMol/mg protein) than in control ones (8.2 +/- 3.1 fMol/mg protein). Our findings suggest that this increase is due to the accumulation of active cells in the sarcoid granuloma, possibly lymphocytes and or macrophages that may express cytosolic GR. The high level of this receptor in sarcoidosis may represent an indicator of the responsiveness of this disease to corticoids.
Adult↗
Obstructive respiratory failure in cicatricial pemphigoid.
A 20 year old woman died of respiratory failure due to cicatricial pemphigoid of the trachea and bronchi. This is the first case with the lower airways affected to be reported.
Adult↗
Pulmonary histiocytosis X: comparison of radiographic and CT findings.
The authors retrospectively evaluated radiographs, computed tomographic (CT) scans, and results of pulmonary function tests (when available) for 17 patients with biopsy-proved pulmonary histiocytosis X. In 11 patients, high-resolution CT was used. In 12 patients, CT demonstrated cystic air spaces, usually less than 10 mm in diameter. In three of these 12, cysts were the only abnormality, but in six others, nodules (usually less than 5 mm in diameter) were also present. Two patients had only nodules and one, only emphysema. CT showed that many lesions that appeared reticular on plain radiographs were actually cysts. CT showed no central or peripheral concentration of lesions, but it did reveal that many small nodules were distributed in the centers of secondary lobules around small airways. CT findings correlated better with the diffusing capacity (rho = -0.71) than did the plain radiographic findings (rho = -0.57). Thus, CT was better than radiography at showing the morphology and distribution of lung abnormalities.
Adult↗
Histochemical evaluation of lung collagen content in acute and chronic interstitial diseases.
The collagen content and its aggregational state was histochemically measured in interstitial lung diseases. Open chest biopsies of ten patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome, seven patients with sarcoidosis, and nine patients with fibrosis associated with connective tissue diseases and with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF/CTD) were compared with eight samples of normal lungs. The collagen content of diseased lungs was significantly increased when compared to control lungs, but no difference was observed among the pathologic groups. The analysis of collagen aggregational state showed maximal aggregation in IPF/CTD, followed by sarcoidosis, ARDS, and control lungs, in decreasing order. The results suggest that measurement of collagen aggregation coupled with collagen content could be used in the evaluation of interstitial lung disease and encourage the use of new techniques in order to better explain the dramatic histologic and functional alterations observed in many disease-associated lung processes.
Azo Compounds↗
[Septic pulmonary embolism and endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus in the tricuspid valve after infectious abortion. Report of 2 cases].
We report the cases of two patients with septic pulmonary embolism and respiratory failure after septic abortion. Hysterectomy was performed in both patients after unsuccessful uterine curettage and antibiotic therapy for treatment of the infection. The first patient (27 years-old) remained feverish. The blood cultures yielded Staphylococcus aureus. Tricuspid valve endocarditis was identified as the reason for persistent infection. Antibiotic treatment properly planned was administered and the patient was discharged. The second patient (23 years-old) apparently recovered after hysterectomy. Nevertheless, one month later, infection and septic pulmonary embolism recurred. The diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus tricuspid valve endocarditis was made. Persistent infection unresponsive to medical treatment led to surgical treatment. The patient died after valve replacement. Thus the persistence or recurrence of infection and septic abortion may be due to tricuspid valve endocarditis.
Abortion, Septic↗
Behçet's disease: a rare case of simultaneous pulmonary and cerebral involvement.
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Adult↗
Congenital bronchobiliary fistula: first case in an adult.
The first adult case of a congenital communication between the biliary tract and the right main bronchus is reported. Treatment by surgical excision and pneumonectomy was successful.
Adult↗
Association of Sjögren's syndrome and sarcoidosis. Report of a case.
We report a case of a 57 year-old woman with Sjögren's syndrome and pulmonary complaints. After an initial evaluation, a lung biopsy was made and disclosed sarcoid lesions. This association is very rare, and the present case does not fulfill the criteria for TASS (Thyroiditis, Addison's disease, Sjögren, and Sarcoidosis). Sarcoidosis and Sjögren can coexist since both diseases may share the same immunological profile. This case report warrants further research on the overlapping of these diseases.
Female↗
Changes in the pulmonary glucocorticoid receptor content in the course of interstitial disease.
The level of cytosolic glucocorticoid receptors (GR) was measured in 12 open-chest lung biopsies of interstitial pulmonary diseases. The results showed an increase in the GR content in the diseased lungs correlated to the degree of septal cellularity in nine cases. Two pulmonary sarcoidosis and one end-stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients presented higher levels of GR than those predicted by the septal cellularity. It was concluded that the GR content of the lungs increases in the course of interstitial diseases, reflecting the number of cells that express cytosolic GR in pulmonary parenchyma.
Adult↗