Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is progressive and is characterized by abnormal inflammation of the lungs in response to inhalation of noxious particles or toxic gases, especially cigarette smoke. Although this infirmity primarily affects the lungs, diverse extrapulmonary manifestations have been described. The likely mechanisms involved in the local and systemic inflammation seen in this disease include an increase in the number of inflammatory cells (resulting in abnormal production of inflammatory cytokines) and an imbalance between the formation of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant capacity (leading to oxidative stress). Weakened physical condition secondary to airflow limitation can also lead to the development of altered muscle function. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presents diverse systemic effects including nutritional depletion and musculoskeletal dysfunction (causing a reduction in exercise tolerance), as well as other effects related to the comorbidities generally observed in these patients. These manifestations have been correlated with survival and overall health status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. In view of these facts, the aim of this review was to discuss findings in the literature related to the systemic manifestations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphasizing the role played by systemic inflammation and evaluating various therapeutic strategies.

Objective: To evaluate the health-related quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receiving long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) at home through oxygen cylinders and compare these results with those obtained six months after the transition from oxygen cylinders to oxygen concentrators. Methods: A total of 45 patients were evaluated. Of those, 24 had chronic hypoxemia and 21 presented no evidence of hypoxemia. The patients with chronic hypoxemia had been regularly receiving LTOT for at least the last six months and were evaluated at baseline, while using cylinders, and six months after the transition from cylinders to concentrators. The non-hypoxemic patients were evaluated at the same time points as were the hypoxemic patients. In order to evaluate quality of life, a version of the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), translated and validated for use in Brazil, was administered. Results: At baseline, quality of life, as evaluated using the total score and the symptom and impact domain scores of the SGRQ, was more impaired in the hypoxemic patients than in the non-hypoxemic patients. After six months of using the concentrators, the hypoxemic patients presented a significant improvement in the quality of life, and, at that time, no difference was found between the patients with and without hypoxemia. Conclusion: Our findings show that quality of life is impaired in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic hypoxemia, that their quality of life can be improved through regular use of LTOT, and that the oxygen delivery system has an influence on this improvement.Keywords: Pulmonary disease, Chronic obstructive; Anoxemia; Oxygen inhalation therapy; Quality of life. ResumoObjetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de pacientes com doença obstrutiva crônica das vias aéreas recebendo oxigenoretapia domiciliar prolongada (ODP) por meio de cilindros de oxigênio e comparar estes resultados com os obtidos após seis meses de modificação do sistema de fornecimento para concentradores de oxigênio. Métodos: Um total de 45 pacientes, 24 com hipoxemia crônica e 21 sem evidências de hipoxemia, foram avaliados. Os pacientes com hipoxemia crônica estavam recebendo ODP regularmente durante pelo menos os últimos seis meses e foram avaliados no momento basal, em uso de cilindro, e após seis meses de transição para concentradores. Os pacientes não hipoxêmicos foram avaliados no mesmo intervalo de tempo que os pacientes hipoxêmicos. Para avaliar a qualidade de vida foi utilizada a versão validada para língua portuguesa (Brasil) do Questionário Respiratório Saint George (Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire -SGRQ). Resultados: No momento inicial, os pacientes hipoxêmicos apresentaram maior comprometimento da qualidade de vida, avaliada pelo escore total e pelos escores dos domínios sintomas e impacto do SGRQ, que os pacientes não hipoxêmicos. Após seis meses, houve melhora significativa da qualidade de vida dos pacientes hipoxêmicos e, neste momento, não...

A b s t r a c t This article focuses on medical pre s c r i p t i o n s dispensed at health centers under the Mu n i c ipal Health De p a rtment in Belo Ho r i zo n t e , Minas Ge rais St a t e , Bra z i l . The study analyze d 4,607 prescriptions from Ma rch to April 1999, g rouped according to origin (internal or ex t e rn a l ) . The analysis focused on information written on medical pre s c r i p t i o n s . The main findings were : (a) an ave rage of 2.4 drugs per prescription in both gro u p s ; (b) prescriptions filled out with 4 or more drugs accounted for 18.0% of internal and 17.6% of external pre s c r i p t i o n s ; (c) 84.3% of internal and 85.5% of external prescriptions provided no instructions for use of m e d i c a t i o n ; (d) information

Objective: To assess and compare the prevalence of comorbidities and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in COPD patients according to disease severity. Methods: The study included 25 patients with mild-to-moderate COPD (68% male; mean age, 65 ± 8 years; mean FEV 1 , 73 ± 15% of predicted) and 25 with severe-to-very severe COPD (males, 56%; mean age, 69 ± 9 years; mean FEV 1 , 40 ± 18% of predicted). Comorbidities were recorded on the basis of data obtained from medical charts and clinical evaluations. Comorbidities were registered on the basis of data obtained from medical charts and clinical evaluations. The Charlson comorbidity index was calculated, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score was determined. Results: Of the 50 patients evaluated, 38 (76%) had been diagnosed with at least one comorbidity, 21 (42%) having been diagnosed with at least one CVD. Twenty-four patients (48%) had more than one CVD. Eighteen (36%) of the patients were current smokers, 10 (20%) had depression, 7 (14%) had dyslipidemia, and 7 (14%) had diabetes mellitus. Current smoking, depression, and dyslipidemia were more prevalent among the patients with mild-to-moderate COPD than among those with severe-to-very severe COPD (p < 0.001, p = 0.008, and p = 0.02, respectively). The prevalence of high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, ischemic heart disease, and chronic heart failure was comparable between the two groups. The Charlson comorbidity index and HADS scores did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: Comorbidities are highly prevalent in COPD, regardless of its severity. Certain risk factors for CVD, themselves classified as diseases (including smoking, dyslipidemia, and depression), appear to be more prevalent in patients with mild-to-moderate COPD.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of mortality according to the presence of metabolic syndrome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who were followed for 5 years. We did not establish the influence of metabolic syndrome on mortality rate. However, an increase of 100 mg of triglycerides was associated with a 39% increase in the probability of death in the period of the study (hazard ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.83).

Resumo Este estudo de caso objetivou descrever o perfil dos farmacêuticos, caracterizar os serviços farmacêuticos e desvelar os fatores determinantes para a provisão do acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico fundamentados no modelo de prática do cuidado farmacêutico na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Cinquenta farmacêuticos responderam a um questionário sobre seu perfil e atividades. Aplicou-se a análise de conteúdo de Bardin para análise dos dados sobre as atividades, resultando em duas categorias: caracterização das atividades desempenhadas pelos farmacêuticos e os determinantes para a provisão do acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico. Observou-se que o cuidado farmacêutico ainda é um desafio a ser enfrentado, principalmente devido à demanda de atividades gerenciais e à deficiência na formação para o cuidado, necessitando reorganizar os processos de trabalho e as diretrizes institucionais para a ampliação do acesso aos serviços farmacêuticos centrados no paciente. Destaca-se, contudo, o crescente número de farmacêuticos trabalhando no cuidado, reorganizando e redefinindo seu papel, buscando transformar a realidade da Assistência Farmacêutica municipal. Apesar dos desafios ainda existentes referentes a formação, estrutura e processos, destaca-se a busca de soluções para a organização do serviço, com o aprimoramento das atividades clínicas, fortalecendo a Assistência Farmacêutica no Sistema Único de Saúde.

BackgroundSmoking is known to be associated with oxidative stress; however, it has not been elucidated whether the oxidative response is influenced by the intensity of smoking exposure.ObjectivesEvaluate the effect of smoking exposure on the secretion of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by the peripheral blood monocytes of smokers.MethodsA total of 25 smokers (50.3±8.8 years, 48% male) underwent the following evaluations: spirometry, pulse oximetry, body composition and total peripheral blood count. Peripheral blood monocyte (PBM) cultures were isolated and maintained, and IL-6 and TNF-α were measured in the plasma and in the supernatants of spontaneous and stimulated cultures. H2O2 was evaluated in the supernatants of the PBM cultures, and a subset of the PBM culture supernatants was stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). We also evaluated 38 healthy controls (49.1±8.2 years, 42% male).ResultsThe spontaneous and stimulated monocytes’ secretion of H2O2 were statistically higher in the smokers than in the healthy controls (p<0.001). The H2O2 secretions were statistically significant higher after stimulation with PMA in both groups (p<0.001). In the multiple regression analysis, we identified a positive, statistically significant association between pack-years of smoking and the spontaneous secretion of H2O2 by PBM culture, adjusted for potential confounding variables. The association between PBM culture secretion of H2O2 and the production of TNF-α and IL-6 was not significant.ConclusionWe identified a positive association between higher production of H2O2 in smokers and higher smoking exposure during life. The influence of pack-years smoking may be a key modifiable factor in oxidative stress associated to smoking.

This brief communication demonstrates the correlation of persistent respiratory symptoms with functional, tomographic, and transbronchial pulmonary biopsy findings in patients with COVID-19 who had a long follow-up period. We report a series of six COVID-19 patients with pulmonary involvement who presented with persistent dyspnea within 4-15 months of discharge. We performed transbronchial biopsies, and the histopathological pattern consistently demonstrated peribronchial remodeling with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, lung biopsy may be useful in the approach of patients with long COVID-19, although the type of procedure, its precise indication, and the moment to perform it are yet to be clarified. (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials-ReBEC; identifier: RBR-8j9kqy [http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br])