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To identify demographic, clinical, functional and inherent quality of life (QOL) and depression factors with impact on use of the Emergency Services (ES) or readmission after hospital discharge for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) over a period of 66 weeks. QOL was evaluated by the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The Beck Depression Inventory assessed depression. We prospectively evaluated 45 patients (84.4% male, median age 73 years, stage IV 51%). The median total SGRQ score was 50.6, with a greater impact on symptoms, especially in younger patients (r=-0.425; p=0.043), and activity limitation than emotional impact of the disease. More than half were depressed. Worse QOL meant depression (R=0.699; p=0.02). Low FEV1 correlated with depression (r=-0.46; p =0.05) but not with QOL. Long-acting anti-cholinergic bronchodilator and inhaled steroids improved QOL. Almost 85% of patients used ES (25.8% for exacerbated COPD). Rate of hospital readmission for all reasons and exacerbated COPD was 64.9% and 33.3%. The number of readmissions (all reasons) was correlated with age (R=0.48; p=0003), cor pulmonale (R=-0.46; p=0.03) and QOL (R=0.67; p=0.004). Depressed patients (R=0.51; p=004), with low FEV1 (R=-0413; p=0.04) and with cor pulmonale (R=-046, p=0.005) had more inhospital days for exacerbation of COPD. QOL and depression are variables to consider in the evaluation and treatment of patients with COPD as part of a set of clinical and functional data that can predict the risk of readmission after hospital discharge for exacerbated COPD.

Objetivos: Descrever a percepção dos enfermeiros sobre o atendimento ao paciente politraumatizado em um Pronto Socorro (PS). Metodologia: Estudo qualitativo, descritivo e exploratório. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturada e analisados conforme análise temática. Resultados: Participaram sete enfermeiros assistenciais de um Pronto Socorro localizado no sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Os enfermeiros percebem a atuação de liderança como um diferencial desta categoria, com iniciativa durante a assistência e capacidade de coordenar ações gerenciais e assistenciais. A ausência de protocolos foi mencionada, porém, destacam que realizam capacitação e curso de aperfeiçoamento para suprir esta carência. Todos os enfermeiros referem a pouca infraestrutura como um fator negativo no atendimento. Em relação as facilidades no atendimento, destacou-se a necessidade de desempenhar atividades em equipe. Considerações finais: Destaca-se a importância de investir no aperfeiçoamento destes profissionais. A infraestrutura precária, com espaços reduzidos, ficou em evidência como uma dificuldade para realizar o atendimento.

The authors intend, by presenting a case study, emphasize the neuromodulation process of orofacial pain induced by the stimulation of the sensory and motor stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, which can play an important role on pain modulation. Materials and methods: A 25 year-old woman presenting orofacial pain was referred to the stomatology service at the Centro Hospitalar do Porto. After collecting the patient's anamnesis, the thermographic camera FLIR i7 was used to record the thermal status of the orofacial structures, before the adhesive dentistry sensory stimulus protocol, after 45 minutes, and after one week. Results: This study suggests the relation of adhesive dentistry sensory stimulus technique in the neuromodulation of orofacial pain and its association with the temporomandibular disorders. As the tongue senses the stimulus of the resin composite placed on the palatal surface of the 1 st premolar, 2 nd premolar and 1 st molar of the maxilla, this can promote and induce an effect regarding a peripheral nerve neuromodulation resulting in a blockage of the nociceptive trigeminal pathway from temporomandibular disorders. Conclusion: Orofacial pain is a common complaint among the patients that come to a dentistry appointment, which may have different diagnosis and treatments. A positive effect on the patient's symptomatology was confirmed clinically on subsequent dental appointments and monitored by infrared thermography.

When stroke patients present with respiratory failure, the first thought that clinicians have is that it is probably related to aspiration pneumonia. However, other causes should be considered, such as intracardiac or intrapulmonary shunts, that could present with paradoxical embolism. Paradoxical embolism is a rare entity defined by the occurrence of a venous thrombotic event associated with a systemic arterial embolism. Frequently, paradoxical embolism presents with platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome. Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome is uncommon and is characterized by dyspnoea and hypoxaemia induced by orthostatic position, where symptoms and oxygenation are relieved by recumbency. The authors report a case of a patient who presented with an ischaemic stroke and progression to platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome with documentation of simultaneous pulmonary embolism and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.

The subject of this study is the benefits of immunonutrition or immunomodulation, based on the concept that malnutrition impairs immune function. It is a therapeutic approach in an artificial form of food with the function of rebuilding cells for the immune response, which involves specific amino acids such as arginine, glutamine, and fiber. In this sense, it is intended to deal specifically with glutamine, which is a “conditionally essential” amino acid, as its concentration in plasma can decrease by up to 50% during stress, causing a deficiency condition. In the treatment of cancer patients, glutamine constitutes an immunomodulatory nutrient, being a fundamental substrate for the cells of the immune system, stimulating the multiplication of lymphocytes, the differentiation of B cells, the production of interleukin 1, and the phagocytosis of macrophages. The high use of glutamine by lymphocytes and macrophages suggests that the provision of this amino acid is of paramount importance for the functioning of these cells and also for the proper functioning of the immune response. Important in viral infections and in combating tumor cells, Natural Killer (NK) cells are dependent on adequate glutamine stores for their proliferation. It also exerts a local immunostimulating effect, increasing intestinal T cells, and is a precursor of an important intracellular antioxidant, glutathione. This is bibliographical research, of a qualitative nature, carried out through specialized scientific articles on the chosen topic.

Multiple myeloma (MM) accounts for 1% of all cancers. It consists of malignant proliferation of plasma cells, which is often associated with hypersecretion of a monoclonal protein. Pleural effusion (PE) in MM is not an uncommon finding, comprising about 6-14% of patients with MM. The most common causes of MM-associated PE are congestive heart failure, renal failure, parapneumonic effusion and amyloidosis. In <1% of cases, the effusion is a direct result of MM, designated as myelomatous PE (MPE). MPE is usually a diagnosis of exclusion and carries a poor prognosis. Therefore, efforts should be made to optimally detect MPE. The present report describes an MPE associated with IgG/λ MM presenting as a septic shock and renal failure in which a rare diagnosis was made after excluding all other possible etiologies in a complex intensive care patient.