Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1994. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1994. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Helsingin yliopisto, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Available in PDF format via the World Wide Web.

Objetivo: Estudar a concordância no diagnóstico radiológico da doença respiratória aguda baixa (DRAB) em crianças. Métodos: Sessenta radiogramas do tórax de crianças menores de cinco anos foram avaliados, individualmente, por três médicos: um radiologista pediátrico (RP), um pneumologista pediatra (PP) e 1 pediatra experiente no atendimento de sala de emergências (PE). Todas as crianças tinham procurado atendimento por apresentar um quadro agudo de infecção respiratória com aparente participação pulmonar. Os avaliadores desconheciam os diagnósticos originais, mas receberam uma ficha padrão com dados clínicos e laboratoriais dos pacientes no momento da consulta inicial. Variáveis: Agrupadas em cinco categorias: a) qualidade técnica do filme; b) localização da alteração; c) padrões radiográficos; d) outras alterações radiográficas; e) diagnóstico. Análise Estatística: Para estudar a concordância entre as três duplas posíveis de observadores, utilizou-se a estatística de Kappa, aceitándo-se os valores ajustados para viés de prevalência (PABAK). Resultados: Os valores Kappa totais de cada dupla de observadores (RP x PP, RP x PE e PP x PE) foram 0.41, 0.43, e 0.39 respectivamente, o que representa em média, uma concordância interobservadores moderada (0.41). Outras variáveis: “qualidade técnica” teve uma concordância regular (0.30); com “localização”, foi moderada (0.48); com “padrões radiográficos” foi regular (0.29); com “outras alterações radiográficas” foi moderada (0,43); e com “diagnóstico”, regular (0.33). Quanto à concordância global intraobservadores, a mesma foi moderada (0.54), com valores menores dos descritos na literatura. Conclusões: A variabilidade interobservadores é inerente à interpretação dos achados radiológicos, e determinar o diagnóstico exato da DRAB nas crianças tem seus desafíos. Nossos resultados foram similares aos descritos na literatura. / Objective: To evaluate the inter-observer agreement on the radiographic diagnosis of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in children. Methods: Chest X-Rays (CXR) from sixty children younger than 5 years of age were evaluated by three physicians: a pediatric radiologist (PR), a pediatric pulmonologist (PP) and an experienced emergency pediatrician (EP). All children had visited the Emergency Room for having an acute respiratory infection, with apparent lower respiratory tract involvement. Observers were blinded for the original diagnostic conclusions, but clinical and laboratory data from the initial medical evaluation were handed-in with each film. Variables: Grouped in five categories: a) film quality; b) site of abnormality; c) radiographic patterns; d) other radiographic images; e) diagnosis. Statistics: Inter-observer agreement was assessed using Kappa statistics, accepting its prevalence-bias-adjusted values (PABAK). Results: Kappa values for each of the three observers pairs formed (RP x PP, RP x EP, and PP x PE) were: 0,41, 0,43, and 0,39 respectively. The overall inter-observer agreement was moderate (0.41). Agreement on other variables: regular on “technical quality” (0.30); moderate on “site of abnormality” (0.48); fair on “radiographic patterns” (0.29); moderate on “other radiographic images” (0,43); and moderate on “diagnosis” (0.33). The overall intraobserver agreement was “moderate” (0.54), although lower than the ones reported in the medical literature on CXR variability. Conclusions: Inter-observer variability is an intrinsic characteristic of CXR interpretation, and to ascertain the exact diagnosis of LRTD in children has its challenges. Our results were similar to those reported on different medical journals.

Objetivo: Estudar a concordância no diagnóstico radiológico da doença respiratória aguda baixa (DRAB) em crianças. Métodos: Sessenta radiogramas do tórax de crianças menores de cinco anos foram avaliados, individualmente, por três médicos: um radiologista pediátrico (RP), um pneumologista pediatra (PP) e 1 pediatra experiente no atendimento de sala de emergências (PE). Todas as crianças tinham procurado atendimento por apresentar um quadro agudo de infecção respiratória com aparente participação pulmonar. Os avaliadores desconheciam os diagnósticos originais, mas receberam uma ficha padrão com dados clínicos e laboratoriais dos pacientes no momento da consulta inicial. Variáveis: Agrupadas em cinco categorias: a) qualidade técnica do filme; b) localização da alteração; c) padrões radiográficos; d) outras alterações radiográficas; e) diagnóstico. Análise Estatística: Para estudar a concordância entre as três duplas posíveis de observadores, utilizou-se a estatística de Kappa, aceitándo-se os valores ajustados para viés de prevalência (PABAK). Resultados: Os valores Kappa totais de cada dupla de observadores (RP x PP, RP x PE e PP x PE) foram 0.41, 0.43, e 0.39 respectivamente, o que representa em média, uma concordância interobservadores moderada (0.41). Outras variáveis: “qualidade técnica” teve uma concordância regular (0.30); com “localização”, foi moderada (0.48); com “padrões radiográficos” foi regular (0.29); com “outras alterações radiográficas” foi moderada (0,43); e com “diagnóstico”, regular (0.33). Quanto à concordância global intraobservadores, a mesma foi moderada (0.54), com valores menores dos descritos na literatura. Conclusões: A variabilidade interobservadores é inerente à interpretação dos achados radiológicos, e determinar o diagnóstico exato da DRAB nas crianças tem seus desafíos. Nossos resultados foram similares aos descritos na literatura. / Objective: To evaluate the inter-observer agreement on the radiographic diagnosis of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in children. Methods: Chest X-Rays (CXR) from sixty children younger than 5 years of age were evaluated by three physicians: a pediatric radiologist (PR), a pediatric pulmonologist (PP) and an experienced emergency pediatrician (EP). All children had visited the Emergency Room for having an acute respiratory infection, with apparent lower respiratory tract involvement. Observers were blinded for the original diagnostic conclusions, but clinical and laboratory data from the initial medical evaluation were handed-in with each film. Variables: Grouped in five categories: a) film quality; b) site of abnormality; c) radiographic patterns; d) other radiographic images; e) diagnosis. Statistics: Inter-observer agreement was assessed using Kappa statistics, accepting its prevalence-bias-adjusted values (PABAK). Results: Kappa values for each of the three observers pairs formed (RP x PP, RP x EP, and PP x PE) were: 0,41, 0,43, and 0,39 respectively. The overall inter-observer agreement was moderate (0.41). Agreement on other variables: regular on “technical quality” (0.30); moderate on “site of abnormality” (0.48); fair on “radiographic patterns” (0.29); moderate on “other radiographic images” (0,43); and moderate on “diagnosis” (0.33). The overall intraobserver agreement was “moderate” (0.54), although lower than the ones reported in the medical literature on CXR variability. Conclusions: Inter-observer variability is an intrinsic characteristic of CXR interpretation, and to ascertain the exact diagnosis of LRTD in children has its challenges. Our results were similar to those reported on different medical journals.

Planejou-se um estudo com o objetivo de se avaliar os níveis plasmáticos de vitamina A, carotenóides e proteína ligadora de retinol (RBP) em 311 crianças, de 7 meses a onze anos de idade, com história de infecções das vias aéreas superiores (IVAS), pneumonia e diarréia, residentes na área urbana da Cidade de São Paulo, Brasil, e atendidas na santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo. As crianças foram classificadas de acordo com seus níveis de vitamina A e carotenóides segundo o critério proposto pelo Interdepartmental Committee on Nutrition for National Defense (ICNND). Para caracterizar estado nutricional das crianças determinou-se o hematócrito e foram realizadas dosagens de hemoglobina e proteinas plasmáticas, medidas antropométricas e avaliação do consumo dietético de alimentos fontes de carotenóides e vitamina A, pelo método da freqüência de consumo alimentar. Os niveis plasmáticos de vitamina A (ug/dl) e RBP (mg/dl) foram mais baixos (p<0,05) nos grupos diarréia e pneumonia (15,2 ug/dl e 1,7 mg/dl; 15,2 ug/dl e 0,7 mg/dl, respectivamente), quando comparados com os grupos IVAS e testemunha (19,0 ug/dl; 2,4 mg/dl e 18,8 ug/dl; 2,6 mg/dl, respectivamente). Os níveis de carotenóides foram mais baixos nos três grupos de estudo em relação ao grupo testemunha (p<0,05). Trinta e quatro pacientes internados do grupo pneumonia foram divididos aleatóriamente, em dois sub-grupos: testemunha (com tratamento de rotina hospitalar) e experimental (tratamento de rotina mais suplementação com 200.000 UI de palmitato de retinila hidromiscível). Após cerca de uma semana da administração de vitamina A, foi verificado aumento estatisticamente significante (p<0,05) nas médias dos niveis de vitamina A (experimental: 26,5 ug/dl; testemunha: 24,1 ug/dl) e RBP (experimental: 2,2 mg/dl; testemunha: 2,9 mg/dl) nos dois grupos, em relação aos niveis basais de vitamina A (experimental: 14,1 ug/dl; testemunha: 16,1 ug/dl) e RBP (experimental: 0,8 mg/dl; testemunha: O, 6 mg/dl)· Não houve diferenças estatísticas quando foram comparadas as médias dos niveis de vitamina A nos grupos experimental e testemunha, após a suplementação (26,5 ug/dl e 24,1 ug/dl, respectivamente). O estudo sugere que os baixos níveis circulantes de vitamina A podem ser conseqüência da reduzida mobilização da vitamina A durante a fase de infecção, devido a baixa disponibilidade de RBP. / The present study was carried out in order to assess the plasma levels of vitamin A, carotenoids and retinol binding protein (RBP) of three-hundred and eleven children aged from seven months to eleven years, who had a history of upper respiratory infection (URI), pneumonia and diarrhoea. The children were resident in the urban area of the Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, and were seen at the \"Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo\" Hospital. The Interdepartmental Committee on Nutrition for National Defense (ICNND) criterion was used to classify the children according to their plasma vitamin A and carotenoid levels. Other measurements such as hemoglobin, hematocrit and plasma proteins dosage, anthropometry, as well as vitamin A and carotenoids qualitative intake, evaluated through the food frequency method, were taken in order to characterize the nutritional status of the children. The data shows that plasma vitamin A (ug/dl) and RBP (mg/dl) levels in the diarrhoea (15.2 ug/dl; 1.7 mg/dl) and pneumonia (15.2 ug/dl; 0.7 mg/dl) groups were lower (p<0.05) than those observed in the control (18.8 ug/dl; 2.6 mg/dl) and URI (19.0 J.lg/dl; 2.4 mg/dl) groups. The plasma carotenoid levels were lower in all study groups when compared to the control group (p<0.05). Thirty four hospitalized patients from the pneumonia group were randomly allocated into two groups. The experimental group, besides the routine treatment, received 200.000 UI of aqueous retinyl palmitate oral solution, whereas the control group recei ved only the routine treatment. This clinical trial showed that after one week there was a statistically signif icant (p<0.05) increase in average levels of vitamin A (experimental group: 14.1 ug/dl --> 26.5 ug/dl; control group: 16.1 ug/dl --> 24.1 ug/dl) and RBP (experimental group: O. 8 mg/dl --> 2. 2 mg/dl; control group: 0.6 mg/dl --> 2.9 mg/dl) in both groups as from the baseline. When the final average levels of vitamin A (26.5 ug/dl and 24.1 ug/dl) were compared, any statistically significant difference was found between the groups. This study suggests that low levels of circulating plasma vitamin A maybe a consequence of a reduced mobilization of this vitamin during infectious disease due to low plasma RBP levels.

Objetivo: Estudar a concordância no diagnóstico radiológico da doença respiratória aguda baixa (DRAB) em crianças. Métodos: Sessenta radiogramas do tórax de crianças menores de cinco anos foram avaliados, individualmente, por três médicos: um radiologista pediátrico (RP), um pneumologista pediatra (PP) e 1 pediatra experiente no atendimento de sala de emergências (PE). Todas as crianças tinham procurado atendimento por apresentar um quadro agudo de infecção respiratória com aparente participação pulmonar. Os avaliadores desconheciam os diagnósticos originais, mas receberam uma ficha padrão com dados clínicos e laboratoriais dos pacientes no momento da consulta inicial. Variáveis: Agrupadas em cinco categorias: a) qualidade técnica do filme; b) localização da alteração; c) padrões radiográficos; d) outras alterações radiográficas; e) diagnóstico. Análise Estatística: Para estudar a concordância entre as três duplas posíveis de observadores, utilizou-se a estatística de Kappa, aceitándo-se os valores ajustados para viés de prevalência (PABAK). Resultados: Os valores Kappa totais de cada dupla de observadores (RP x PP, RP x PE e PP x PE) foram 0.41, 0.43, e 0.39 respectivamente, o que representa em média, uma concordância interobservadores moderada (0.41). Outras variáveis: “qualidade técnica” teve uma concordância regular (0.30); com “localização”, foi moderada (0.48); com “padrões radiográficos” foi regular (0.29); com “outras alterações radiográficas” foi moderada (0,43); e com “diagnóstico”, regular (0.33). Quanto à concordância global intraobservadores, a mesma foi moderada (0.54), com valores menores dos descritos na literatura. Conclusões: A variabilidade interobservadores é inerente à interpretação dos achados radiológicos, e determinar o diagnóstico exato da DRAB nas crianças tem seus desafíos. Nossos resultados foram similares aos descritos na literatura. / Objective: To evaluate the inter-observer agreement on the radiographic diagnosis of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in children. Methods: Chest X-Rays (CXR) from sixty children younger than 5 years of age were evaluated by three physicians: a pediatric radiologist (PR), a pediatric pulmonologist (PP) and an experienced emergency pediatrician (EP). All children had visited the Emergency Room for having an acute respiratory infection, with apparent lower respiratory tract involvement. Observers were blinded for the original diagnostic conclusions, but clinical and laboratory data from the initial medical evaluation were handed-in with each film. Variables: Grouped in five categories: a) film quality; b) site of abnormality; c) radiographic patterns; d) other radiographic images; e) diagnosis. Statistics: Inter-observer agreement was assessed using Kappa statistics, accepting its prevalence-bias-adjusted values (PABAK). Results: Kappa values for each of the three observers pairs formed (RP x PP, RP x EP, and PP x PE) were: 0,41, 0,43, and 0,39 respectively. The overall inter-observer agreement was moderate (0.41). Agreement on other variables: regular on “technical quality” (0.30); moderate on “site of abnormality” (0.48); fair on “radiographic patterns” (0.29); moderate on “other radiographic images” (0,43); and moderate on “diagnosis” (0.33). The overall intraobserver agreement was “moderate” (0.54), although lower than the ones reported in the medical literature on CXR variability. Conclusions: Inter-observer variability is an intrinsic characteristic of CXR interpretation, and to ascertain the exact diagnosis of LRTD in children has its challenges. Our results were similar to those reported on different medical journals.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O metapneumovÃrus humano (MPVh) à um vÃrus que tem se destacado como um dos agentes mais freqÃentes de infecÃÃes respiratÃrias agudas (IRA) virais na infÃncia. Este estudo teve como objetivos: observar a freqÃÃncia das infecÃÃes causadas pelo MPVh em crianÃas atendidas por IRA no Hospital Infantil Albert Sabin, hospital pediÃtrico de referÃncia do estado do CearÃ, no perÃodo de janeiro de 2006 a dezembro de 2007; descrever aspectos de sazonalidade dessas infecÃÃes relacionando-as com a ocorrÃncia de chuvas e a circulaÃÃo de outros vÃrus respiratÃrios; descrever as caracterÃsticas clÃnico-epidemiolÃgicas dos pacientes infectados pelo MPVh, comparando com os pacientes negativos e com os positivos para outros vÃrus e avaliar a tÃcnica de IFI como mÃtodo de diagnÃstico para a detecÃÃo do MPVh. Amostras de secreÃÃo de nasofaringe foram coletadas de crianÃas com sintomas de IRA e submetidas à tÃcnica de imunofluorescÃncia indireta para detecÃÃo dos seguintes vÃrus respiratÃrios: MPVh, vÃrus sincicial respiratÃrio (VSR), influenza A e B, adenovÃrus e parainfluenza 1, 2 e 3. Durante os 24 meses de estudo, foram colhidas amostras de 1276 crianÃas sendo detectado algum vÃrus respiratÃrio em 380 (29,78%) amostras. O MPVh foi o segundo vÃrus respiratÃrio mais encontrado representando um total de 8,69% de todas as amostras e de 29% dentre as amostras positivas para os vÃrus pesquisados. NÃo foi observado para o MPVh um padrÃo de sazonalidade nem correlaÃÃo com perÃodo chuvoso. A maioria dos pacientes positivos para MPVh foram atendidos na emergÃncia (89,2%). A mÃdia de idade dos pacientes positivos para o MPVh foi de 27 meses sendo significativamente superior que a das crianÃas infectadas pelo VSR (15 meses), adenovÃrus (14 meses) e vÃrus parainfluenza 3 (18 meses). Dentre os pacientes infectados pelo MPVh, 53,2% tiveram o diagnÃstico de infecÃÃes das vias aÃreas superiores e 46,7% tiveram o diagnÃstico de infecÃÃes das vias aÃreas inferiores. As infecÃÃes por MPVh apresentaram o mesmo espectro de infecÃÃes causadas pelos demais vÃrus pesquisados. O MPVh associou-se mais a casos de pneumonia que levaram à hospitalizaÃÃo das crianÃas infectadas do que outros vÃrus analisados. Mais da metade dos pacientes infectados pelo MPVh utilizaram o aerossol / salbutamol no seu tratamento (68,5%). A tÃcnica de IFI mostrou-se bastante eficaz como mÃtodo de diagnÃstico para a detecÃÃo do MPVh nesse estudo / The human metapneumovÃrus (hMPV) is a newly discovered virus that has been considered as one of the most common agents of acute respiratory infections (ARI) virus in childhood. The objectives of this study were: 1) to observe the frequency of infections caused by hMPV among children attending Hospital Infantil Albert Sabin, a major pediatric hospital in CearÃ, from January 2006 to December 2007; 2) to describe aspects of seasonality of these infections relating them to the occurrence of rain and the circulation of other respiratory viruses, 3) to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients infected by hMPV, compared with positive and negative patients for other viruses; 4) to evaluate the IFI assay as a method of diagnosis for the detection of hMPV. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from children with symptoms of ARI and submitted to indirect immunofluorescence assays for the detection of the following respiratory viruses: hMPV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A and B, adenovirus and parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3. During the 24 months of study, samples were collected from 1276 and respiratory viruses were demonstrated in 380 (29.78%) samples. The hMPV was the second most frequently detected respiratory viruses representing a total of 8.69% of all samples and 29% among the samples positive for the virus analyzed. It was not observed for hMPV a pattern of seasonality or correlation with the rainy season. Most patients positive for hMPV were attended in the emergence (89.2%). The mean age of patients infected by hMPV was 27 months, wich is significantly older than that for VSR (15 months), adenovirus (14 months) and parainfluenza virus 3 (18 months). Among patients infected by hMPV, 53.2% had a diagnosis of infections of the upper airways and 46.7% had a diagnosis of infections of the lower airways. The hMPV infections showed the same spectrum of infections caused by other viruses analyzed. The hMPV associated to more cases of pneumonia that led to the hospitalization of children infected than other viruses analyzed. More than half of these patients used the aerosol / salbutamol as conduct therapy (68.5%). The IFI assay proved to be quite effective as a method of diagnosis for the detection of hMPV in this study

M.Tech. (Homeopathy) / The common cold and influenza (flu) are both acute viral infections affecting the upper respiratory tract (Beers & Porter, 2006). The common cold typically presents with rhinorrhea, sneezing, and a sore throat (Kansal & Kaushal, 2004), and influenza causes fever, coryza, cough, headache, malaise and body pain (Beers & Porter, 2006). Millions of school and work days are missed annually due to cold and influenza symptoms (Fendrick et al., 2003). Students at universities have a high incidence of colds and influenza due to raised levels of stress and close contact with other infected individuals (Zachary, 2006). Researchers believe that Interleukin-6 (a protein in the body responsible for co-ordination of immune response) may be a biological link between psychological stress and the severity of cold and influenza symptoms. This may make students more susceptible to the common cold and influenza (Mercola, 1999). Conventional treatment for both conditions is comprised of analgesics, antipyretics, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anti-viral drugs, all of which have numerous adverse effects (Roxas & Jurenka, 2007). Linctagon® Forte capsules consists of four ingredients: Pelargonium sidoides (333mg), Quercetin (80mg), Bromelain (53mg) and Zinc (5mg) and are purported to provide antiviral support in the treatment of colds and influenza. The aim of this eight-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to assess the efficacy of Linctagon® Forte Capsules in the treatment of cold and influenza symptoms on first and second year Health Sciences students from the University of Johannesburg. Thirty seven students from the first and second year Health Sciences Faculty of the University of Johannesburg, suffering from common cold or influenza symptoms, were recruited to participate. This included male and female students between the ages of 18 to 30 years. Advertisements (Appendix A) were placed at the UJ Health Training Centre, classrooms and on campus, with relevant permission given. Thirty participants completed the study and seven students did not complete due to poor compliance. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were dealt with by completion of a Participant Information and Consent Form (Appendix B) as well as a Participant Profile Form which recorded all initial symptoms (Appendix C). All participants were required to have a minimum of five of the ten symptoms represented on the Participant Profile form (Appendix C). Once participants were accepted into the study they were allocated to either Group A or Group B, with 15 participants in each group. The medication bottles were packaged and labelled by Nativa (24 capsules in a 100mg container), and the active medication and the placebo were randomised by means of a coding system, Batch “A” and Batch “B”. Group A received the Linctagon® Forte Capsules and Group B received the unmedicated lactose capsules. The participants were requested to take 1 capsule three times per day. Each participant was given eight Symptom Score Cards (Appendix D) to complete each card every morning and evening for the eight day period, to rate the severity of their symptoms according to a 5-point rating system. The influenza and common cold symptoms were analysed according to their decrease in frequency and intensity over the set period of time. Data was only recorded and analysed for days one to seven due to poor compliance by participants in both groups with regards to completion of the Symptom Score Cards towards the end of the study. Both the treatment (Group A) and the placebo (Group B) groups showed similar improvement in symptom severity over the entire research period, and there was no statistical significance between the two groups. This shows neither group outperformed the other, supporting the null hypothesis. Small sample size, the placebo effect and low dosages of certain of the active ingredients are possible factors involved in the results seen, and should be considered for future studies.