Twenty-six coal miners, without associated functional chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD), assessed by normal airway resistance, were divided into three groups: (1) Group C, normal X-ray; (2) Group S1, micronodular silicosis; and (3) Group S2, complicated silicosis. All subjects were evaluated while at rest and during exercise. Significant lung volume reduction was observed in the S2 Group only. Blood gases, pulmonary pressure, and cardiac output were found to be within the normal range for all three groups when at rest. The pulmonary pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were higher, however, for the S1 and S2 Groups when compared to the C Group. During exercise, pulmonary hypertension was observed in 50% of teh patients with complicated silicosis. When all data (N = 26) were included, the high values for pulmonary pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance correlated well with the loss in vital capacity (VC) and the decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV 1.0). From the initial 26 patients, 19 were selected on the basis of their normal airway resistance and FEV 1.0/VC ratio. This selection did not alter the differences noted for the pulmonary pressure and total pulmonary vascular resistance, which previously existed between the groups, even though the correlations were not statistically significant. We conclude that silicosis without associated COLD leads to mineral hemodynamic impairment at rest and during exercise, and that airway resistance does not detect impairment of flow as effectively as FEV 1.0 reduction. The increased pulmonary vascular resistance observed, especially in complicated silicosis, may be best explained by the loss of lung parenchyma and possible impairment of small airways.

: escritura del protocolo de investigación, documento de alcance y objetivos, búsqueda de la literatura. Juan Sebastián Castillo: orientación metodológica en la aplicación de la metodología ADAPTE y búsqueda de la literatura. Luz Helena Alba y Raúl Murillo: escritura del presente artículo. Todos los autores calificaron la 'evidencia', realizaron la extracción de datos e intervinieron en diferentes fases del proceso de adaptación de la guía nacional, y revisaron el manuscrito. ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL Biomédica 2013;33:186-204 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v33i2.651 Recomendaciones para la cesación de la adicción al tabaco en Colombia Introducción. El tabaquismo es el principal factor de riesgo para enfermedades crónicas que constituyen la mayor carga en Colombia. Objetivos. Generar recomendaciones de práctica clínica sobre eficacia y seguridad del tratamiento para la cesación de la adicción al tabaco en adultos colombianos. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo una adaptación basada en la metodología ADAPTE. Se buscaron guías de práctica clínica en Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS y Cochrane. Se evaluó la cesación a seis meses para consejería breve e intensiva, terapia de reemplazo nicotínico, bupropión, vareniclina, clonidina, nortriptilina, acupuntura, hipnosis, homeopatía y la combinación de tratamientos. Se utilizó el German Instrument for Methodological Guideline Appraisal (DELBI) para evaluar las guías de práctica clínica. Se seleccionaron las guías con puntaje mayor de 60 % en rigor metodológico y aplicabilidad en Colombia. Las preguntas sin evidencia fuerte se llevaron a consenso. Resultados. Se encontraron 925 referencias, se preseleccionaron 17 guías de práctica clínica y se escogieron 5 para adaptación. La consejería breve e intensiva, la terapia de reemplazo nicotínico, el bupropión, la nortriptilina y la vareniclina son eficaces en la cesación de tabaquismo (incrementó 5,1 % a 22,7 %). Los tratamientos alternativos no tienen eficacia demostrada en la cesación. El uso simultáneo de diferentes formas de terapia de reemplazo nicotínico es la única combinación con eficacia demostrada (OR 1,9; IC 95% : 1,3-2,7). Conclusiones. Existen diversas alternativas con eficacia demostrada para dejar de fumar. Los incrementos en las tasas de cesación son variables y la duración del efecto necesita mayor seguimiento. Para aplicar la consejería breve e intensiva en Colombia, se deben usar formatos estándar. Se requieren evaluaciones económicas para valorar el impacto y seleccionar las mejores intervenciones en el contexto colombiano.Palabras clave: tabaco, tabaquismo, nicotina, cese del tabaquismo, cese del uso de tabaco, guías de práctica clínica como asunto doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v33i2.651 Recommendations for smoking cessation in ColombiaIntroduction: Chronic diseases represent the greatest burden of disease in Colombia for which smoking is the major risk factor. Objectives: To provide clinical practice recommendations based upon efficacy and safety of smoking cessation therapies for Colombian ad...

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Cancer patients have an increased risk of reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection. It is unknown which strategy on screening should be used in this population in developing countries. We aimed to determine the concordance between the tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON®-TB (QFT) assay in order to diagnose latent tuberculosis infection in cancer patients.We conducted a cross-sectional study of the agreement of diagnostic tests. Prevalence and agreement between tests were calculated. A logistic regression to assess predictors of discordance was performed. The accuracy of the TST to predict QFT results by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was evaluated.We included 149 adults with cancer without active tuberculosis. Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection was 21.5% (n=32), defined as positive results on either test. Test agreement was moderate for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (κ=0.43, 90% CI 0.26–0.6). No predictor was associated with the chance of discordant results. Agreement improved slightly using a cut-off point ≥8 mm (κ=0.5, 90% CI 0.35–0.66).In a moderate-incidence setting, a moderate agreement was found between tests in cancer patients. Modification of the cut-off points of test results achieved marginally better agreement between the TST and QFT.

Summary A patient with severe asthma induced by the inhalation of plexiglas dusts is reported. Inhalation testing against various industrial products to which he was exposed at work, showed a specific and reproducible asthmatic reaction to plexiglas dusts. Complete pulmonary investigations after positive challenge excluded associated alveolitis and demonstrated an immediate and a late obstructive response. The patient was not atopic and his clinical history did not suggest occupational disease due to chronic exposure. Reduction of the plexiglas dust exposure resulted in progressive improvement.