ABSTRACT Background: COVID-19 has been associated with persistent symptoms and functional changes, especially in those surviving severe disease. Methods: We conducted a prospective multicenter study in patients with severe COVID-19 to determine respiratory sequelae. Patients were stratified into two groups: ward admission (WA) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. In each follow-up visit, the patients where inquired about cough and dyspnea, and performed spirometry, lung volumes, carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP). Results of pulmonary function tests at 45 days and 6 months after hospital admission were compared using paired analysis. Results: 211 patients were included, 112 in WA and 99 in ICU. Dyspnea persisted in 64.7% in the WA and 66.7% in the ICU group after 6 months. Lung function measures showed significant improvement between 45 days and 6 months, both in WA and ICU groups in VC, FVC, FEV1, total lung capacity, and 6MW distance measures. The improvement in the proportions of the altered functional parameters was significant in the ICU group for VC (44.2% 45 d; 20.8% 6 m; p = 0,014), FVC (47.6% 45 d; 28% 6 m; p = 0,003), FEV1 (45.1% 45 d; 28% 6 m; p = 0,044), DLCO (33.8% 45 d; 7.7% 6 m; p < 0,0001). Conclusion: Six months follow-up of patients with the severe forms of COVID-19 showed significant improvement in the lung function measures compared to 45 days post hospital discharge. The difference was more evident in those requiring ICU admission.

RESUMO Objetivo: Como a infecção por SARS-CoV-2 pode afetar gravemente os pulmões e podem ocorrer alterações funcionais persistentes após doença grave, nosso objetivo foi determinar os parâmetros de função pulmonar de pacientes com COVID-19, 45 dias após a alta hospitalar e comparar as alterações de acordo com a gravidade da doença. Métodos: Estudo multicêntrico, prospectivo, descritivo e analítico. Os participantes foram alocados em três grupos: grupo internação em enfermaria (IE); grupo internação em UTI sem ventilação mecânica (UTI/VM−); e grupo internação em UTI com VM (UTI/VM+). Volumes pulmonares, DLCO, PImáx, PEmáx e distância percorrida no teste de caminhada de seis minutos (DTC6) foram medidos 45 dias após a alta. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 242 pacientes (média de idade = 59,4 ± 14,8 anos; 52,1% do sexo masculino), e 232 (96%) apresentavam alteração da função pulmonar. Na coorte total, observou-se distúrbio restritivo em 96%, assim como redução da DLco (em 21,2% dos pacientes), VEF1/CVF (em 39,7%) e PEmáx (em 95,8%), sem diferença entre os grupos para todos. Na comparação entre os grupos, o grupo UTI/VM+ apresentou DLCO reduzida em 50% dos pacientes (p < 0,001) e teve menor média da DTC6 do valor previsto (p = 0,013). Dessaturação de oxigênio no teste de caminhada de seis minutos foi observada em 32,3% da coorte e foi menos frequente no grupo IE. Conclusões: Este é o primeiro estudo sul-americano envolvendo sobreviventes de COVID-19 grave cuja função pulmonar foi avaliada 45 dias após a alta hospitalar. Alterações foram frequentes, principalmente naqueles em VM, o que destaca a importância da avaliação da função pulmonar após COVID-19 grave.

ABSTRACT Objective: Because SARS-CoV-2 infection can severely affect the lungs and persistent functional changes can occur after severe disease, we aimed to determine lung function parameters of COVID-19 patients at 45 days after hospital discharge and compare changes according to the severity of the disease. Methods: This was a prospective descriptive analytical multicenter study. The participants were allocated into three groups: ward admission (WA) group; ICU admission not on mechanical ventilation (ICU/MV−) group; and ICU admission on MV (ICU/MV+) group. Lung volumes, DLco, MIP, MEP, and six-minute walk distance (6MWD) were measured 45 days after discharge. Results: The sample comprised 242 patients (mean age = 59.4 ± 14.8 years; 52.1% of males), and 232 (96%) had altered lung function. In the total cohort, restrictive disorder was observed in 96%, as well as reductions in DLco (in 21.2% of the patients), FEV1/FVC (in 39.7%), and PEmax (in 95.8%), with no differences between the groups. Comparing the groups, the ICU/MV+ group had reduced DLco in 50% of the patients (p < 0.001) and a lower mean 6MWD % of the predicted value (p = 0.013). Oxygen desaturation in the six-minute walk test was observed in 32.3% of the cohort and was less frequent in the IE group. Conclusions: This is the first South American study involving severe COVID-19 survivors whose lung function was assessed 45 days after hospital discharge. Changes were frequent, especially in those on MV, which highlights the importance of lung function evaluation after severe COVID-19.

Introduction This study evaluated the efficacy of retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) with regard to treatment outcomes and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (ST) profiles. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed 144 patients treated at a referral hospital in Brazil. All of them had undergone prior treatment, were smear-positive for TB and received a standardized retreatment regimen. Fisher's 2-tailed exact test and the χ2 test were used; RRs and 95% CIs were calculated using univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression. Results The patients were cured in 84 (58.3%) cases. Failure was associated with relapsed treatment and abandonment (n=34). Culture tests were obtained for 103 (71.5%) cases; 70 (48.6%) had positive results. ST results were available for 67 (46.5%) cases; the prevalence of acquired resistance was 53.7%. There were no significant differences between those who achieved or not therapeutic success (p=0.988), despite being sensitive or resistant to 1 or more drugs. Rifampicin resistance was independently associated with therapeutic failure (OR: 4.4, 95% CI:1.12-17.37, p=0.034). For those cases in which cultures were unavailable, a 2nd model without this information was built. In this, return after abandonment was significantly associated with retreatment failure (OR: 3.59, 95% CI:1.17-11.06, p=0.026). Conclusions In this cohort, the general resistance profile appeared to have no influence on treatment outcome, except in cases of rifampicin resistance. The form of reentry was another independent predictor of failure. The use of bacterial culture identification and ST in TB management must be re-evaluated. The recommendations for different susceptibility profiles must also be improved.

O controle do estado de saúde de cada animal que fará parte de um experimento é essencial para prevenir falsa interpretação dos resultados. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi comparar as condições de saúde de ratos Wistar adultos, machos dos biotérios experimentais da FAFICH (n=10) e do ICB-Bloco C-2 (n=10) provenientes do mesmo biotério de criação (Centro de Bioterismo CEBIO-ICB) com dados da literatura de ratos SPF (livres de patógenos específicos). Foram utilizados para avaliação os seguintes critérios: a) sinais clínicos evidentes (p. ex. alteração no comportamento, queda de pêlos), b) contagem manual de leucócitos, c) exame copro-parasitológico e d) necropsia de pulmão (exame anatomopatológico). Os animais não apresentaram sinais clínicos de doença. No entanto, quando comparados com ratos SPF, a contagem de leucócitos dos ratos provenientes dos dois biotérios foi significativamente diferente (p<0,05). Através dos exames parasitológicos e necropsia de pulmão foram detectados parasitas patogênicos e fungos presentes em processos inflamatórios. Nossos resultados indicam que as condições de saúde dos animais não são satisfatórias e uma das causas prováveis pode ser as atuais condições dos biotérios (talvez as condições do ambiente, alojamentos, população por gaiola, barreiras, divisão interna da área do biotério).

A study was conducted to compare health status of male adult Wistar rats from two Experimental Animal Houses of UFMG with literature data of SPF (free from specific pathogens) and conventional rats. The animals were divided into two groups: Group I (n=10), rats from the experimental animal houses of FAFICH and Group II (n=10) from ICB and following aspects were studied: a) evident clinical signs (behavior modification, hair loss (alopecia), b) leukocyte counts, c) feces exam and d) histological study of the lungs. The rats did not show clinical signs. However, when compared with SPF and conventional rats, both the groups showed a significant increase (p<0,05) of leukocyte count. On feces exam we detected some parasites and on lung histological exam we observed fungus (Group I) and bacteria (Group II). These results showed that the health status of the rats was not satisfactory and required improvements in the conditions of the animal houses.