Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance to penicillin was studied in two hospitals in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between May 1998 and November 2001. From the 176 strains of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae that were identified, 2.28% (CI 0.62-5.74) presented intermediate resistance, and 3.42% (CI 1.26-7.31) presented high-level resistance. Conclusion was that the use of penicillin in Caxias do Sul was still justified as treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia, differently from other centers where the penicillin was replaced by other antibiotics. These results confirm the statement of IDSA (Infectious Diseases Society of America) guideline for the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults, that the choice of antimicrobial drug to treat pneumococcal pneumonia should be guided by local or regional prevalence of resistance to penicillin.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the joint use of cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy for the sampling of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and candidates for pulmonary resection. Methods: Sixty-two patients diagnosed with NSCLC were submitted to cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy. The samples obtained (from paratracheal chains, anterior and posterior subcarinal chains, paraesophageal chains and pulmonary ligament) were submitted to frozen section analysis. The following variables were also evaluated: age; gender; weight loss; diagnostic method; tomographic findings; histological type; staging; and location and size of the primary tumor. Results: In 11 patients, mediastinoscopy showed no involvement of the subcarinal chain, whereas such involvement was identified when video-assisted thoracoscopy was used: positive predictive value = 88.89% (95% CI: 51.75-99.72); negative predictive value = 94.34% (95% CI: 84.34-98.82); prevalence = 17.74% (95% CI: 9.2-29.53); sensitivity = 72.73% (95% CI: 39.03-93.98); and specificity = 98.77% (95% CI: 93.31-99.97). In 60% of the patients with involvement of the posterior subcarinal chain, the primary tumor was in the right inferior lobe. (p = 0.029) Conclusions: The joint use of cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy for the evaluation of posterior mediastinal lymph nodes proved to be an efficacious method. When there is no access to posterior chains by means of ultrasound with transbronchial or transesophageal biopsy, which dispenses with general anesthesia, this should be the method of choice for the correct evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with NSCLC.

Keywords: Neoplasm staging; Mediastinoscopy; Biopsy; Lymphatic metastasis.

Introduction: Inhalations, postural drainage and respiratory physiotherapy are not always effective in removing tracheobronchial secretions. Objectives: To evaluate an alternative surgical technique, modified crichothyroidotomy, to aspirate tracheobronchial secretions. Method: Modified crichothyroidotomy is the introduction of a catheter number 8, 10 or 12 into the crichothyroid membrane in order to stimulate coughing and the aspiration of secretions. This is a descriptive study of the benefits as well as immediate and late complications caused by the use of this technique in 45 patients with excessive tracheobronchial secretions inadequately removed by usual methods. Results: Immediate surgical complications were bleeding (10 patients), oropharynx deviation (3), subcutaneous emphysema (1) and difficult introduction (1). Mean catheter permanence was 14 ± 16 days and, in all cases, the catheter provoked coughing and allowed the easy aspiration of secretions. The most frequent occurrence (17 patients) was the expulsion of the catheter by coughing, inadequate catheter handling during aspiration and moving of the patients. Conclusion: This is a simple technique with a low morbidity rate and represents constitutes an effective alternative to be used in the aspiration of tracheobronchial secretions.

Keywords: Postural drainage. Aspiration.

Objective: To evaluate the limited participation by university students in a smoking cessation program. Methods: A cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted at the University of Caxias do Sul, located in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, involving students who enrolled in a smoking cessation program, together with those who did not. Results: Of the 108 student who did not enroll in the program, 102 (94.4%) stated that they had no intention to quit smoking (95% confidence interval: 88.29-97.93%. Comparisons between the enrolled and nonenrolled students revealed the following statistical differences: in mean age (35 vs. 23 years, p < 0.01); mean duration of the smoking habit (19.42 vs. 7.36 years, p < 0.01); considering oneself addicted (100% vs. 58.5%, p = 0.047); believing oneself able to stop smoking at any time (7.1% vs. 22.6%, p = 0.02); having no knowledge of any reasons to quit smoking (37.5% vs. 12%, p = 0.03); having suffered discrimination (42.9% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Among the university students evaluated, there was a phase, classified as precontemplative or contemplative, during which they were refractory to smoking cessation. Although all of the students were aware of the diseases caused by smoking, 41.5% did not consider themselves addicted. The concept of substance dependence does not apply to these students. It would seem more appropriate to define nicotine dependence as resulting from the lifetime consumption of at least 100 cigarettes. These students do not perceive that they are passing through the initial phase of the natural history of tobacco use disorder and do not realize that they are increasing their risk of presenting smoking-related diseases in the future.

Keywords: Smoking; Students; Smoking cessation