Lymphatic fluctuation in the parenchymal remodeling stage of acute interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Because the superficial lymphatics in the lungs are distributed in the subpleural, interlobular and peribroncovascular interstitium, lymphatic impairment may occur in the lungs of patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) and increase their severity. We investigated the distribution of lymphatics in different remodeling stages of IIPs by immunohistochemistry using the D2-40 antibody. Pulmonary tissue was obtained from 69 patients with acute interstitial pneumonia/diffuse alveolar damage (AIP/DAD, N = 24), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia/organizing pneumonia (COP/OP, N = 6), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP/NSIP, N = 20), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis/usual interstitial pneumonia (IPF/UIP, N = 19). D2-40+ lymphatic in the lesions was quantitatively determined and associated with remodeling stage score. We observed an increase in the D2-40+ percent from DAD (6.66 +/- 1.11) to UIP (23.45 +/- 5.24, P = 0.008) with the advanced process of remodeling stage of the lesions. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a better survival for patients with higher lymphatic D2-40+ expression than 9.3%. Lymphatic impairment occurs in the lungs of IIPs and its severity increases according to remodeling stage. The results suggest that disruption of the superficial lymphatics may impair alveolar clearance, delay organ repair and cause severe disease progress mainly in patients with AIP/DAD. Therefore, lymphatic distribution may serve as a surrogate marker for the identification of patients at greatest risk for death due to IIPs.

Immunophenotyping and extracellular matrix remodeling in pulmonary and extrapulmonary sarcoidosis

Objective: To investigate the significance of cellular immune markers, as well as that of collagen and elastic components of the extracellular matrix, within granulomatous structures in biopsies of patients with pulmonary or extrapulmonary sarcoidosis. Methods: We carried out qualitative and quantitative evaluations of inflammatory cells, collagen fibers, and elastic fibers in granulomatous structures in surgical biopsies of 40 patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary sarcoidosis using histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry, picrosirius red staining, and Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin staining. Results: The extrapulmonary tissue biopsies presented significantly higher densities of lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils than did the lung tissue biopsies. Pulmonary granulomas showed a significantly higher number of collagen fibers and a lower density of elastic fibers than did extrapulmonary granulomas. The amount of macrophages in the lung samples correlated with FVC (p < 0.05), whereas the amount of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ lymphocytes correlated with the FEV1/FVC ratio and VC. There were inverse correlations between TLC and the CD1a+ cell count (p < 0.05), as well as between DLCO and collagen/elastic fiber density (r = -0.90; p = 0.04). Conclusions: Immunophenotyping and remodeling both showed differences between pulmonary and extrapulmonary sarcoidosis in terms of the characteristics of the biopsy samples. These differences correlated with the clinical and spirometric data obtained for the patients, suggesting that two different pathways are involved in the mechanism of antigen clearance, which was more effective in the lungs and lymph nodes.

Internações por condições sensíveis à atenção primária no hospital geral de uma microrregião de saúde do município de São Paulo, Brasil

O indicador Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária é adotado no Brasil para avaliação da atenção básica. Considerando a sua recente adoção, este estudo tem como objetivo apresentar o panorama dessas internações em um hospital do município de São Paulo. Foi realizado um estudo ecológico exploratório, tendo como fontes o Sistema de Informação Hospitalar do Sistema Único de Saúde e uma amostra de prontuários de pacientes internados neste hospital. Para análise, foi utilizada a estatística descritiva. As Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária seguem tendência de redução, sendo as pneumonias bacterianas as que mais internaram no período; maior frequência para a faixa etária de 65 anos de idade e mais, e para o sexo feminino. Internações por Condições Sensíveis, somente, não são suficientes para avaliação da atenção básica, mas permite avaliar a organização da rede de saúde, que deve assegurar continuidade do cuidado em busca do princípio da integralidade.

Perineal rectosigmoidectomy on treatment of rectal procidentia: analysis of 48 cases

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate results obtained in 48 cases of perineal rectosigmoidectomy in patients with rectal procidentia. METHODS: 48 medical records of patients undergoing PRS were analyzed, retrospectively. RESULTS: Before surgery, 44 patients (77.1%) reported complaints of anal mass and rectal bleeding was reported 13 times (22.8%). The period of hospitalization was 3.91 days (2 to 12 days). Women were the majority (85.4%). The mean age was 73.8 years (49 to 101 years). The average time of surgery was 72 minutes (40 to 90 minutes). Mechanical anastomosis was performed in 72.9% and manual in 27.1%. Among the 12 (25%) patients with fecal incontinence, continence was achieved in 2 cases. Postoperative complications occurred in five cases - 10.5% (two pneumonia and three anastomotic leakages). Recurrence was verified in four patients (8,3%). There were no deaths related to the procedure. CONCLUSION: Perineal rectosigmoidectomy is a good surgical option for rectal procidentia, with low morbidity and mortality, low recurrence rate and short hospitalization length.