Thiago Thomaz Mafort

Lean mass as a predictor of bone density and microarchitecture in adult obese individuals with metabolic syndrome

The effects of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) on bone health are controversial. Furthermore, the relationship between body composition and bone quality has not yet been determined in this context. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) and bone microstructure in obese individuals with MS. This cross-sectional study assessed 50 obese individuals with MS with respect to their body composition and BMD, both assessed using dual X-ray absorptiometry, and bone microarchitecture, assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) of the distal tibia and radius. Several HR-pQCT measurements exhibited statistically significant correlations with lean mass. Lean mass was positively correlated with parameters of better bone quality (r: 0.316-0.470) and negatively correlated with parameters of greater bone fragility (r: -0.460 to -0.310). Positive correlations were also observed between lean mass and BMD of the total femur and radius 33%. Fat mass was not significantly correlated with BMD or any HR-pQCT measurements. Our data suggest that lean mass might be a predictor of bone health in obese individuals with MS.

Obesity: systemic and pulmonary complications, biochemical abnormalities, and impairment of lung function

Obesity is currently one of the major epidemics of this millennium and affects individuals throughout the world. It causes multiple systemic complications, some of which result in severe impairment of organs and tissues. These complications involve mechanical changes caused by the accumulation of adipose tissue and the numerous cytokines produced by adipocytes. Obesity also significantly interferes with respiratory function by decreasing lung volume, particularly the expiratory reserve volume and functional residual capacity. Because of the ineffectiveness of the respiratory muscles, strength and resistance may be reduced. All these factors lead to inspiratory overload, which increases respiratory effort, oxygen consumption, and respiratory energy expenditure. It is noteworthy that patterns of body fat distribution significantly influence the function of the respiratory system, likely via the direct mechanical effect of fat accumulation in the chest and abdominal regions. Weight loss caused by various types of treatment, including low-calorie diet, intragastric balloon, and bariatric surgery, significantly improves lung function and metabolic syndrome and reduces body mass index. Despite advances in the knowledge of pulmonary and systemic complications associated with obesity, longitudinal randomized studies are needed to assess the impact of weight loss on metabolic syndrome and lung function.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome) as a differential diagnosis of hypereosinophilic syndromes

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome, is a rare systemic disease situated between primary small vessel vasculitides associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) and hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES). Here, we present a case of EGPA in a 38-year-old male, with a previous diagnosis of asthma, who presented with fever, migratory lung infiltrates and systemic eosinophilia that was refractory to previous courses of antibiotics. This case highlights the importance of the primary care physician understanding the differential diagnosis of pulmonary eosinophilic syndromes.

Pleural Cholesterol to the Diagnosis of Exudative Effusion

Introduction: Diagnostic approaches to patients with a pleural effusion must be precise because many procedures depend on the nature of the fluid in the effusion. To date, no biochemical test is considered an appropriate alternative to Light’s criteria. This study compared the absolute pleural cholesterol (PC) level and the pleural cholesterol/serum cholesterol (PC/SC) ratio with Light’s criteria to determine exudative pleural effusions. Materials and Methodology: This study was a case series of 100 consecutive patients with pleural effusions. The clinical parameters that were used to diagnosis an exudative effusion included the cholesterol level, a pleural cholesterol level ≥ 50 mg/dL, a pleural/serum ratio ≥ 0.4, and Light’s criteria. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of each test for the diagnosis of an exudative effusion were assessed. Results: A total of 79 patients were definitively diagnosed with an exudative effusion and were included in the trial and analyzed. The mean PC level in the exudates was 90.39 mg/dL. The PC levels demonstrated a sensitivity of 97.22%, a specificity of 85.71%, a positive predictive value of 98.59% and a negative predictive value of 75%. The PC/SC ratio demonstrated a sensitivity of 81.48%, a specificity of 57.14%, a positive predictive value of 93.61% and a negative predictive value of 28.57%. Conclusion: The pleural cholesterol dosage level and the pleural/serum cholesterol ratio can be utilized as unique biomarkers to identify an exudative effusion and replace Light’s criteria.

Tomographic Aspects of Advanced Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Evaluation of Sequelae following Treatment

Objectives. To evaluate tomographic changes in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), degree of agreement among three radiologists regarding tomographic diagnoses, and sequelae following treatment. Methods. Cross-sectional and descriptive study of 74 TB patients confirmed by sputum culture and chest computed tomography before (CT1) and 6 months after (CT2) drug therapy. Results were performed by three radiologists blinded to clinical and laboratory results. Results. Main findings in CT1 included nodules indicating the presence of a tree-in-bud pattern in 93% of cases, ill-defined nodules in 84% of cases, consolidation in 77% of cases, architectural distortion in 71% of cases, cavitary lesions in 62% of cases, and ground glass opacities in 37% of cases. Airway involvement, characterized by increased thickness and dilatation of the bronchial walls, occurred in 93% of cases. Pleural involvement occurred in 54%. There was an agreement on active TB among the three radiologists in 85% of cases. The results in CT2 indicated the presence of architectural distortion in 91% of cases and cylindrical bronchiectasis in 86%. Conclusions. The study established a tomographic pattern for diagnosis of active TB characterized by the presence of airway nodules, consolidation, architectural distortion, and cavitary lesions, and an almost complete degree of agreement (Kappa) was observed among the radiologists (0.85). CT after treatment assists in defining the cure.

Main microorganisms found and products used in contaminated tissular lesions: an integrative review

Aim: To make an integrative review to examine the scientific evidences relating to the identification of microorganisms commonly isolated in contaminated tissular lesions and the main products used on them. Method: This is an integrative review originating from the search with the descriptors Leg ulcer, infection, bacteria and Nursing, in the databases LILACS, IBECS, MEDLINE, Cochrane and SciELO, including articles published between 2003 and 2013. Results: A total of 14 articles were selected, of which seven were observational and the other seven were experimental studies. Discussion: Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most prevalent microorganisms in the evaluated tissular lesions, followed by Enterobacter, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter. The main products used were silver alginate, silver sulfadiazine, ultraviolet light and papain, which are effective in reducing the bacterial load of infected injuries. Conclusion: The early identification of the presence of microorganisms in lesions allows the decision in terms of the appropriate propaedeutics to be performed.

Symptomatic bacterial contamination of an intragastric balloon

Commentary The prognosis of patients with primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is poor, and the mean survival is under 1 year. I might speculate the typically grim prognosis of this exceptionally rare cancer (representing perhaps 1 in a thousand esophageal cancers) is multifactorial: an insidious growth pattern resulting in delayed detection (at which point there might be metastases), misclassification (and perhaps inappropriate or ineffective treatment), and, of course, plain old aggressive tumor biology. About half of the hapless patients with esophageal melanoma already in fact have metastatic disease, and the routes of early dissemination are both lymphatic and vascular. Melanoma, both primary and metastaticd especially the amelanotic variety (a term not be confused with the absence of upper GI bleeding)dhas secured its place on the “great imitator” list and can be confused with small cell carcinoma, epidermoid carcinoma, and sarcoma. Excision of the typically pigmented and polypoid lesion, whether surgical or endoscopic, is the only chance of cure. The authors, whose endoscopic sangfroid is hard to ignore, note this is the first reported case of successful ESD for primary malignant esophageal melanoma, and I’m not about to disagree. David Robbins, MD, MSc Assistant Editor for Focal Points

Application of Venn's diagram in the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis using IFN-γ, IP-10 and adenosine deaminase

Background Pleural tuberculosis (PlTB) is the most common extrapulmonary manifestation of this infectious disease which still presents high mortality rates worldwide. Conventional diagnostic tests for PlTB register multiple limitations, including the lack of sensitivity of microbiological methods on pleural specimens and the need of invasive procedures such as pleural biopsy performance. In this scenario, the search for biological markers on pleural fluid (PF) has been the target of several studies as a strategy to overcome the limitations of PlTB diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the use either isolated or in combination with adenosine deaminase (ADA), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interferon-gamma inducible protein of 10-kD (IP-10) levels on PF in order to guide an accurate anti-TB treatment in microbiologically non-confirmed cases. Methods and findings Eighty patients presenting pleural effusion under investigation were enrolled in a cross-sectional study conducted at Pedro Ernesto University Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Peripheral blood (PB) and PF samples collected from all patients were applied to the commercial IFN-γ release assay, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube, and samples were analyzed for IFN-γ and IP-10 by immunoassays. ADA activity was determined on PF by the colorimetric method. Based on microbiological and histological criteria, patients were categorized as follow: confirmed PlTB (n = 16), non-confirmed PlTB (n = 17) and non-PlTB (n = 47). The Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen-specific production of IFN-γ and IP-10 on PB or PF did not show significant differences. However, the basal levels of these biomarkers, as well as the ADA activity on PF, were significantly increased in confirmed PlTB in comparison to non-PlTB group. Receiver operating characteristics curves were performed and the best cut-off points of these three biomarkers were estimated. Their either isolated or combined performances (sensitivity [Se], specificity [Sp], positive predictive value [PPV], negative predictive value [NPV] and accuracy [Acc]) were determined and applied to Venns diagrams among the groups. Based on the confirmed PlTB cases, IFN-γ showed the best performance of them at a cut-off point of 2.33 IU/mL (Se = 93.8% and Sp = 97.9%) followed by ADA at a cut-off of 25.80 IU/L (Se = 100% and Sp = 84.8%) and IP-10 (Cut-point = 4,361.90 pg/mL, Se = 75% and Sp = 82.6%). IFN-γ plus ADA (cut-point: 25.80 IU/L) represent the most accurate biomarker combination (98.4%), showing Se = 93.7%, Sp = 100%, PPV = 100% and NPV = 97.9%. When this analysis was applied in non-confirmed PlTB, 15/17 (88.2%) presented at least two positive biomarkers in combination. Conclusion IFN-γ, IP-10, and ADA in PlTB effusions are significantly higher than in non-PlTB cases. IFN-γ is an excellent rule-in and rule-out test compared to IP-10 and ADA. The combination of IFN-γ and ADA, in a reviewed cut-off point, showed to be particularly useful to clinicians as their positive results combined prompts immediate treatment for TB while both negative results suggest further investigation.

Impact of Weight Loss With Intragastric Balloon on Bone Density and Microstructure in Obese Adults

The historical concept that obesity protects against bone fractures has been questioned. Weight loss appears to reduce bone mineral density (BMD); however, the results in young adults are inconsistent, and data on the effects of weight loss on bone microstructure are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of weight loss using an intragastric balloon (IGB) on bone density and microstructure. Forty obese patients with metabolic syndrome (mean age 35.1 ± 7.3 yr) used an IGB continuously for 6 mo. Laboratory tests, areal BMD, and body composition measurements via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and volumetric BMD and bone microstructure measurements via high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography were conducted before IGB placement and after IGB removal. The mean weight loss was 11.5%. After 6 mo, there were significant increases in vitamin D and carboxyterminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen levels. After IGB use, areal BMD increased in the spine but decreased in the total femur and the 33% radius. Cortical BMD increased in the distal radius but tended to decrease in the distal tibia. The observed trabecular bone loss in the distal tibia contributed to the decline in the total volumetric BMD at this site. There was a negative correlation between the changes in leptin levels and the measures of trabecular quality in the tibia on high-resolutionperipheral quantitative computed tomography. Weight loss may negatively impact bone microstructure in young patients, especially for weight-bearing bones, in which obesity has a more prominent effect.

Síndrome hemofagocítica devido a sarcoidose pulmonar

Although hemophagocytic syndrome is a rare clinical condition, it is associated with high mortality and the number of cases described in the literature has progressively increased. The diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome is made on the basis of a finding of hemophagocytosis. Sarcoidosis is a highly prevalent disease whose course and prognosis might correlate with the initial clinical presentation and the extent of the disease. We report the case of a patient with long-standing sarcoidosis who presented with intermittent fever and fatigue. The diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome was made by bone marrow aspiration, and specific treatment was ineffective. This is the third case of sarcoidosis-related hemophagocytic syndrome reported in the literature and the first reported in Latin America. All three cases had unfavorable outcomes.