Ischemic preconditioning (IPC), a strategy used to attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury, consists of brief ischemic periods, each followed by reperfusion, prior to a sustained ischemic insult. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the local and systemic anti-inflammatory effects of hind limb IPC in male Wistar rat (200-250 g) models of acute inflammation. IPC was induced with right hind limb ischemia for 10 min by placing an elastic rubber band tourniquet on the proximal part of the limb followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Groups (N = 6-8) were submitted to right or left paw edema (PE) with carrageenan (100 µg) or Dextran (200 µg), hemorrhagic cystitis with ifosfamide (200 mg/kg, ip) or gastric injury (GI) with indomethacin (20 mg/kg, vo). Controls received similar treatments, without IPC (Sham-IPC). PE is reported as variation of paw volume (mL), vesical edema (VE) as vesical wet weight (mg), vascular permeability (VP) with Evans blue extravasation (µg), GI with the gastric lesion index (GLI; total length of all erosions, mm), and neutrophil migration (NM) from myeloperoxidase activity. The statistical significance (P < 0.05) was determined by ANOVA, followed by the Tukey test. Carrageenan or Dextran-induced PE and VP in either paw were reduced by IPC (42-58.7%). IPC inhibited VE (38.8%) and VP (54%) in ifosfamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. GI and NM induced by indomethacin were inhibited by IPC (GLI: 90.3%; NM: 64%). This study shows for the first time that IPC produces local and systemic anti-inflammatory effects in models of acute inflammation other than ischemia-reperfusion injury.

OBJETIVO. O objetivo dos autores foi avaliar o efeito da ventilação com CPAP oferecida por meio de máscara nasofacial como método de suporte ventilatório em pacientes com insuficiência respiratória aguda com critérios de indicação para intubação traqueal. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODO. Foram estudados 11 pacientes com idade média de 41,3 anos em insuficiência respiratória aguda internados na Unidade Respiratória do Hospital São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina. À admissão, era colhida gasometria arterial em ar ambiente e monitorizava-se freqüência respiratória (f), freqüência cardíaca (FC) e pressão arterial (PA). Os mesmos parâmetros eram avaliados após oxigenoterapia via máscara facial aberta e com máscara facial de CPAP usando PEEP de 5cm H2O. RESULTADOS. Com o uso de CPAP através de máscara nasofacial, houve melhora significativa dos níveis de PaO2 e diminuição da freqüência respiratória (p<0,05), quando comparados aos valores em ar ambiente e com máscara facial aberta. CONCLUSÃO. Este trabalho permitiu concluir que a máscara facial de CPAP com 5cm H2O foi eficiente em melhorar a oxigenação arterial e diminuir a freqüência respiratória dos pacientes com insuficiência respiratória aguda, proporcionando-lhes maior conforto, constituindo uma medida terapêutica capaz de evitar o suporte ventilatório invasivo.

OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) administered by face mask in patients with acute respiratory failure with indication of mechanical ventilation. MATERIALS AND METHOD. Eleven patients (mean age 41.3 years) in acute respiratory failure were admitted in the Respiratory Unit - Hospital São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina. At the admission pH, PaO2, PaCO2, respiratory rate (f), arterial pressure and heart rate were measured. The measurements were repeated with administration of oxigen with a high flow face mask at ambient airway pressure and then with 5cm H2O of CPAP by face mask. RESULTS. The use of CPAP by face mask significantly improved the arterial blood oxigenation and decreased the respiratory rate (p<0.05). CONCLUSION. These data allow the conclusion that CPAP administered by face mask improves gas exchange and decreases respiratory rate in patients with acute respiratory failure and may reduce the need for invasive mechanical ventilation.