OBJECTIVES: To determine the possible association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels with disease activity and respiratory infection in granulomatosis with polyangiitis patients during two different periods: winter/spring and summer/autumn. METHODS: Thirty-two granulomatosis with polyangiitis patients were evaluated in the winter/spring, and the same patients (except 5) were evaluated in summer/autumn (n=27). The 25OHD levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Disease activity was assessed by the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score Modified for Wegener’s Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG) and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positivity. Respiratory infection was defined according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. RESULTS: 25OHD levels were lower among patients in winter/spring than in summer/autumn (32.31±13.10 vs. 38.98±10.97 ng/mL, p=0.04). Seven patients met the criteria for respiratory infection: 5 in winter/spring and 2 in summer/autumn. Patients with respiratory infection presented lower 25OHD levels than those without infection (25.15±11.70 vs. 36.73±12.08 ng/mL, p=0.02). A higher frequency of low vitamin D levels (25OHD<20 ng/mL) was observed in patients with respiratory infection (37.5% vs. 7.8, p=0.04). Serum 25OHD levels were comparable between patients with (BVAS/WG≥1 plus positive ANCA) and without disease activity (BVAS/WG=0 plus negative ANCA) (35.40±11.48 vs. 35.34±13.13 ng/mL, p=0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Lower 25OHD levels were associated with respiratory infection but not disease activity in granulomatosis with polyangiitis patients. Our data suggest that hypovitaminosis D could be an important risk factor for respiratory infection in granulomatosis with polyangiitis patients.

O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a presença de resíduos de clorpirifós e tiametoxam em amostras de batata e solo em diferentes circunstâncias, após a otimização e validação da técnica de extração sólido-líquido e partição em baixa temperatura. Porcentagens de recuperação entre 93% e 105% foram obtidas para os pesticidas nas amostras. O método otimizado e validado foi aplicado às amostras de batata obtidas em supermercado e foi obtido resíduo de clorpirifós na concentração de 0,67 mg kg-1. Batatas cultivadas no campo foram tratadas com os pesticidas em diferentes dias e resíduo de clorpirifós foi detectado. As batatas cultivadas em vasos foram tratadas com clorpirifós e tiametoxam somente no plantio. Após 91 dias, foi observada uma concentração de tiametoxam acima do LMR permitido. O método proposto foi eficiente na determinação de clorpirifós e tiametoxam e foi concluído que o monitoramento de agrotóxicos deve ser realizado periodicamente para garantir a qualidade dos produtos e a saúde do consumidor.

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the presence of residues of chlorpyrifos and thiamethoxam in potato and soil samples under different circumstances after optimization and validation of solid-liquid extraction and partitioning at low temperature technique. Recovery percentages between 93% and 105% were obtained for pesticides in the samples. The optimized and validated method was applied to potatoes from supermarkets and it was obtained chlorpyrifos residue at concentrations of 0.67 mg kg-1. Potatoes grown in the field were treated with pesticide on different days and chlorpyrifos was the only residue detected. The potatoes grown in pots were treated with chlorpyrifos and thiamethoxam only at planting. After 91 days, it was observed the concentration of thiamethoxam in the potatoes higher than the tolerable MRL. The proposed method was efficient in the determination of chlorpyrifos and thiamethoxam and it was concluded that the monitoring of pesticides in food must be performed periodically to ensure the product quality and the safety of consumer's health.

Neste estudo retrospectivo, 47 pacientes com diagnóstico clínico de metástases do sistema nervoso por câncer de mama foram avaliados por tomografia computadorizada (TC), ressonância nuclear magnética (RNM) e por exames do líquido cefalorraqueano (LCR). Os pacientes foram divididos em 2 grupos: 1, sem neoplasia leptomeníngea e 2, com neoplasia leptomeníngea. No grupo 2 o intervalo de tempo entre a doença primária e o comprometimento do sistema nervoso e o tempo de sobrevida foram menores do que no grupo 1 (40 e 4,3 meses no grupo 2 versus 57 e 10 meses respectivamente, no grupo 1). Os sinais e sintomas neurológicos mais frequentes foram hipertensão intracraniana e déficits motores. Os exames mais sensíveis para o diagnóstico foram a TC e RNM no grupo 1 e o exame do LCR no grupo 2. O uso dos marcadores CEA e CA-15.3 na rotina do LCR mostrou resultados promissores, particularmente nas formas leptomeníngeas.

In this retrospective study, 47 patients with clinical diagnosis of central nervous system metastases of breast cancer were evaluated by computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination. The patients were divided in 2 groups: 1, without leptomeningeal neoplasm and 2, with leptomeningeal neoplasm. In the group 2, the time interval between the primary disease and the central nervous system metastasis as well as the survival time were shorter than in group 1 (40 and 4.3 months in group 2 versus 57 and 10 months respectively, in group 1). In both groups the most common neurological symptoms and signs were intracranial hypertension and motor deficits. The most sensitive diagnostic methods were CT and MRI in group 1, and the CSF examination in group 2. The use of the tumor markers CEA and CA-15.3 in the routine examination of CSF showed promising results, mainly in leptomeningeal forms.