OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de tabagismo e do aconselhamento para a cessação do tabagismo em um grupo de pacientes de um hospital universitário, assim como comparar a carga tabágica entre fumantes e ex-fumantes. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 629 pacientes do Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, localizado em Curitiba. RESULTADOS: Dos 629 pacientes, 206 (32,7%) eram do sexo masculino, 76 (12,1%) eram fumantes, 179 (28,5%) eram ex-fumantes, e 374 (59,5%) eram não fumantes. A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 49,9 ± 15,0 anos (variação: 18-84 anos). Dos 76 fumantes e 179 ex-fumantes, 72 (94,7%) e 166 (92,7%), respectivamente, foram indagados sobre o hábito de fumar. A carga tabágica e o grau de dependência de nicotina foram maiores entre os ex-fumantes (p = 0,0292 e p = 0,0125, respectivamente). Gênero, idade ao início do tabagismo, questionamento médico sobre hábito de fumar e orientação para cessação do fumo foram semelhantes entre os dois grupos. O índice de cessação de tabagismo foi de 0,70. A prevalência de fumo pesado variou entre os gêneros e as faixas etárias - maior entre os homens e na faixa etária de 41-70 anos. CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência de tabagismo neste grupo de pacientes foi menor do que a observada em pacientes de outro hospital universitário e na população adulta de Curitiba e do Brasil. O índice de cessação do tabagismo foi maior do que o da população de Curitiba. Fumantes e ex-fumantes diferiram em relação à idade, à carga tabágica e ao grau de dependência. Fumo pesado e dependência média ou elevada não impediram cessação do tabagismo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of smoking and the frequency of smoking cessation counseling among patients at a university hospital, as well as to compare smokers and former smokers in terms of smoking history. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 629 patients at the Federal University of Paraná Hospital de Clínicas, located in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. RESULTS: Of the 629 patients, 206 (32.7%) were male, 76 (12.1%) were smokers, 179 (28.5%) were former smokers, and 374 (59.5%) were nonsmokers. The mean age of the patients was 49.9 ± 15.0 years (range, 18-84 years). Of the 76 smokers and 179 former smokers, 72 (94.7%) and 166 (92.7%), respectively, were questioned about tobacco use. Smoking history and degree of nicotine dependence were higher among the former smokers (p = 0.0292 and p = 0.0125, respectively). Gender, age at smoking initiation, physician inquiry about tobacco use, and smoking cessation counseling were comparable between the two groups. The smoking cessation rate was 0.70. The prevalence of heavy smoking varied by gender and by age bracket, being higher in males and in the 41-70 year age bracket. CONCLUSIONS: The smoking prevalence in this group of patients was lower than that reported for patients at another university hospital, for adults in Curitiba, and for adults in Brazil. The smoking cessation rate was higher in these patients than in the general population of Curitiba. Smokers and former smokers differed regarding age, smoking history, and degree of nicotine dependence. Heavy smoking and a moderate or high degree of nicotine dependence were not obstacles to smoking cessation.

Several factors are implicated in the increased vulnerability of multiple trauma victims to infection, especially in intensive care-units (ICU). This cohort study was designed to report the incidence, the topography, the etiology and to identify the risk factors for infection in trauma patients admitted in an ICU. From January 2000 to December 2001, 416 trauma patients were admitted to the ICU for more than 24 hours, the mean length of stay was 9.3 days (range 2-65) and 188 (45%) patients developed a total of 290 NI. The most prevailing infections were pneumonia (49%), bloodstream (19%) and urinary tract infections (12%). The variables studied were: the demographic data, diagnosis on admission, site and mechanism of injury, type and number of surgeries, use of invasive devices, days under mechanical ventilation (MV) and site and number of NI. These variables were analyzed with a univariable and multivariable regression analysis. The NI was associated with injury in more than 1 anatomic segment (OR=1.6; CI95%1.06-2.40); mechanical ventilation for more than 3 days (OR=12; CI95% 6.87-24.02); more than 1 surgery (OR=3.13;CI95%1.75-5.65) and more than 2 invasive devices (OR=4.7; CI95%2.99-7.37). Deaths over the first 5 days had high association (RR=3.18) with NI. Three significant variables were identified in the logistic regression, which are: more than 3 days under MV, number of invasive devices and number of surgeries.

Paciente masculino, 27 anos, com sintomas respiratórios, linfonodomegalia cervical anterior bilateral e hepatomegalia. Os estudos de imagem evidenciaram linfonodomegalia hilar bilateral e infiltrado pulmonar. O paciente foi submetido a biópsias pulmonar e hepática, que evidenciaram presença de granulomas não caseosos. Também foi submetido à biópsia de linfonodo hilar, que revelou a presença de material amilóide. Os achados clínicos, radiológicos e histopatológicos foram compatíveis com sarcoidose e amiloidose ganglionar. A associação entre sarcoidose e amiloidose é raramente descrita.

A 27-year-old male patient presented with respiratory symptoms, bilateral enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes and enlarged liver. In the imaging studies, bilateral enlargement of the hilar nodes was observed, together with pulmonary infiltrate. The patient was submitted to lung and liver biopsies, which revealed noncaseating granulomas. The clinical, radiological and histopathological findings were consistent with sarcoidosis and lymph node amyloidosis. The combination of sarcoidosis and amyloidosis has rarely been reported.

RACIONAL: O esôfago de Barrett é uma condição na qual a mucosa escamosa esofágica é substituída por metaplasia intestinal especializada, que predispõe o paciente ao desenvolvimento de adenocarcinoma esofágico. Este é precedido por displasia e carcinoma precoce; o rastreamento dessas lesões faz-se através de endoscopias digestivas periódicas com biopsias randomizadas. A incidência aumentada desse, tem despertado interesse no desenvolvimento de novas técnicas endoscópicas, como a cromoendoscopia com azul de metileno, para melhorar a identificação do esôfago de Barrett e suas complicações. OBJETIVO: Determinar se as biopsias dirigidas pela cromoendoscopia com azul de metileno oferecem vantagem em relação ao método convencional na detecção do esôfago de Barrett. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudaram-se 45 pacientes com diagnóstico prévio de esôfago de Barrett, todos submetidos a dois exames de endoscopia digestiva alta com biopsias, em intervalo de 4 semanas, um convencional e outro com aplicação do corante, no período entre abril e outubro de 2002. RESULTADOS: Os resultados histológicos das biopsias de todos os exames foram comparados. Observou-se sensibilidade de 62,5%, especificidade de 15,4%, valor preditivo positivo de 57,7% e valor preditivo negativo de 18,2%. Não houve diferença significativa quanto ao número de biopsias. O tempo de duração da técnica de cromoendoscopia foi significativamente maior quando comparado ao da técnica convencional. CONCLUSÃO: Não se observou vantagem na utilização da cromoendoscopia em relação à técnica randomizada no diagnóstico do esôfago de Barrett.

BACKGROUND: Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the normal stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus is replaced by specialized intestinal metaplasia, that carries an increased risk for the development of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Dysplasia and initial stage carcinoma generally precede this neoplasm; the increased risk has led to attempts at early detection of these lesions through periodic upper endoscopy and biopsies. The continued rise in the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus has fueled resurgent interest in the use of a variety of endoscopic techniques, like methylene blue chromoendoscopy, to improve the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus and associated complications. AIM: To determine if methylene blue chromoendoscopy directed biopsies offer advantage over the conventional technique in the detection of Barrett's esophagus. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Forty-five patients with previous diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus were enrolled in this study; all of them underwent upper endoscopy with random biopsies and upper endoscopy with methylene-blue directed biopsies within 4 weeks, in the period between April and October, 2002. RESULTS: Results of histologic examination of random biopsies and those of methylene blue directed biopsies were compared. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 62,5%, 15,4%, 57,7% and 18,2%, respectively. No significant differences were found in the total number of biopsy specimens. Differences were found in the total amount of time spent during each procedure (chromoendoscopy x conventional technique), with chromoendoscopy being significantly longer. CONCLUSION: We concluded that methylene blue chromoendoscopy offered no advantage over the conventional method in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus.