No abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a clinical syndrome caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. Patients can be asymptomatic or present respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, and even multiple-organ failure which can lead to death. The balance between an effective antiviral response and dysregulated immune response is the key factor determining the severity of COVID-19 progression. A systematic review was performed using the NCBI-PubMed database to find the articles related to COVID-19 immunity and inflammatory response published from 1 December 2019 to 15 April 2020. Haematological, immunological and biochemical parameters were extracted and correlated with disease severity, age and presence of comorbidities. Twelve articles were analysed comprising a total of 1042 hospitalized patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and 95 different parameters. Total lymphocyte count and levels of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells were decreased in severe and critical cases. Neutrophilia was found in patients who progressed to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Interleukin-six (IL-6) was high in mild and severe patients regardless of comorbidities.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and count and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were increased regardless of disease severity or presence of comorbidities. High levels of D-dimer and lactate dehydrogenase were present in diabetic patients and patients who developed ARDS. Procalcitonin levels were elevated to varying degrees in severe and critical patients. We conclude that the total lymphocyte count, CD3+ and CD4+ T cells are low, especially in severe and critical COVID-19 patients; ESR, CRP and IL-6 were elevated, independent of the severity of disease.Understanding the inflammatory response of COVID-19 patients is essential for the development of better therapeutic and management strategies.

The relationship between wheezing or asthma and serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels in early life is unclear. The aim of this study was to follow-up the IgE immune response in infants that did, or did not, develop recurrent wheezing during their first year of life.One-hundred and two randomised term neonates were included, in which IgE levels were quantified in cord blood samples, at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Specific IgE levels for food and inhalant allergens and the skin-prick test for inhalant allergens were also assessed at 6 and 12 months.During clinical follow-up, 32 (31%) infants presented with two or more wheezing episodes, while 70 (69%) had no wheezing. Total IgE levels were significantly higher up to 12 months in wheezing infants when compared to nonwheezing group. At 12 months, the specific IgE levels to cow9s milk, egg white and mites were higher in infants with recurrent wheezing. There was no influence of family history for atopy on IgE levels. The skin-prick tests were positive in 14% and 23% in wheezing infants at 6 and 12 months, respectively.These results indicate an early allergic sensitisation in wheezing infants, suggesting an altered immunoregulatory T-cell role in immunoglobulin E production. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: 640-645.

ResumoObjetivo: analisar o efeito da cisaprida e da fisioterapia respiratória em lactentes chiadores (LC), com doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE).Métodos: avaliamos, prospectivamente, em 13 LC com DRGE e 12 sem DRGE, a densidade nuclear de tecnécio ( 99 Tc) em 3 topografias esofágicas. Os 2 grupos foram submetidos a investigação clínica, exames laboratoriais, radiológicos e cintilográficos para investigação etiológica da Síndrome do LC e DRGE. A técnica fisioterápica denominada aceleração de fluxo expiratório (AFE) foi realizada antes e após tratamento com cisaprida. O tempos totais de RGE (TTRGE), primeiramente durante a cintilografia basal, e em seguida, durante a AFE, foram analisados e somados, para cada topografia esofágica.Resultados: a cisaprida diminuiu o TTRGE, com significância estatística somente no terço superior do esôfago (p<0,05) e não influenciou o TTRGE durante a AFE. Após tratamento com cisaprida, a AFE causou aumento do TTRGE nas topografias esofágicas média e superior, porém sem significância estatística. Lactentes com DRGE, antes do tratamento com cisaprida, tiveram menor TTRGE em esôfago distal durante a AFE (p<0,05). Após tratamento com cisaprida, essa significância estatística deixou de existir. Os LC sem DRGE também apresentaram menor TTRGE em esôfago distal durante a AFE (p<0,05). Os LC com DRGE apresentaram maior TTRGE em esôfago distal (p<0,05), antes e após tratamento com cisaprida, tanto durante a cintilografia basal como durante a AFE.Conclusão: a cisaprida foi eficaz na diminuição do TTRGE em LC com DRGE, principalmente no terço superior do esôfago. A fisioterapia respiratória, segundo a técnica de AFE, foi potencialmente refluxogênica. Outros estudos são necessários para investigar os efeitos da fisioterapia respiratória segundo posições corporais.J Pediatr (Rio J) 2001; 77 (5):393-400: fisioterapia respiratória, síndrome do lactente chiador, refluxo gastroesofágico, cintilografia. AbstractObjective: to evaluate the effect of cisapride and chest physical therapy on the gastroesophageal reflux of wheezing babies.Methods: we prospectively assessed the presence of technetium ( 99 Tc) in the upper, middle, and lower esophagus of 25 wheezing babies (13 with GERD and 12 without GERD) using scintigraphy. Both groups underwent clinical investigation, including laboratory, X-ray and scintigraphy tests, for the etiology of the wheezing baby syndrome (WBS) and GERD. Expiratory Flow Acceleration (EFA) was performed before and after treatment with cisapride. The total time of GER episodes was accounted for each portion of the esophagus during scintigraphy and during EFA.Results: cisapride significantly reduced the total reflux time in the upper esophagus (P<0.05), but showed no influence during EFA. After cisapride therapy, EFA increased the total reflux time in the upper and medium esophagus; however, no statistical significance was found. Infants with GERD presented a shorter total reflux time in the distal esophagus (P<0.05) during EFA. After cisapride treatment, no statistical signi...

No abstract