Delving into Uncontrolled or Severe Asthma: Perspectives from Patients and Healthcare Professionals in a Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Despite the effectiveness of inhalation therapy, uncontrolled or severe asthma remains prevalent challenges in respiratory care Narrative Medicine (NM) offers a linguistic approach to comprehending illness experiences, thereby providing a framework for advancing healthcare.

Aim: The primary aim of this study was to gather narratives from individuals grappling with severe or uncontrolled asthma and their Healthcare Professionals (HCPs), in order to explore the intricate interplay among quality of care, quality of life, psychological and social determinants, and adherence patterns.

Methods: A cross-sectional NM study was conducted in Italy from February to December 2023, encompassing 135 patients with uncontrolled or severe asthma (54.

Narrative Analysis of the Impact of COVID-19 on Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Their Caregivers, and Healthcare Professionals in Italy.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many lives, including those of people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their caregivers. The main aim of this study was to use narrative medicine, a validated approach promoting quality of care to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the quality of care, quality of life, psychological factors and social factors of people affected by COPD and their caregivers and healthcare professionals (HCPs). A secondary aim was to explore the role of telemedicine in combating isolation and providing access to care.

Health outcomes in COPD smokers using heated tobacco products: a 3-year follow-up.

Given that many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) smoke despite their symptoms, it is important to understand the long-term health impact of cigarette substitution with heated tobacco products (HTPs). We monitored health parameters for 3 years in COPD patients who substantially attenuated or ceased cigarette consumption after switching to HTPs. Changes in daily cigarette smoking, annualized disease exacerbations, lung function indices, patient-reported outcomes (CAT scores) and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) from baseline were measured in COPD patients using HTPs at 12, 24 and 36 months.

COPD smokers who switched to e-cigarettes: health outcomes at 5-year follow up.

Background And Aims: The long-term health effects of the use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are largely unexplored. We present findings from a 5-year prospective assessment of respiratory parameters in a cohort of COPD patients who substantially reduced conventional smoking or achieved abstinence by switching to ECs.

Methods: Patients were evaluated prospectively for their measurements of respiratory exacerbations, spirometric indices, quality of life using the COPD assessment tool (CAT), 6-min walk distance (6MWD), as well as conventional cigarette consumption.

Physical Functioning in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Treated with Tiotropium/Olodaterol Respimat in Routine Clinical Practice in Italy.

Introduction: Clinical studies have shown significant improvements in exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are treated with a tiotropium/olodaterol fixed-dose combination (FDC). However, the effects of this treatment, which is administered in a single device, on physical functioning in a real-life setting of patients with COPD had not been fully determined.

Methods: An open-label, observational study was conducted in 309 patients with COPD from 29 sites across Italy who received tiotropium/olodaterol FDC for 6 weeks.

Successful Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Treatment in an Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Complicating Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia: A Challenging Case.

BACKGROUND Patients with HIV infection tend to have poor intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes; however, survival in the modern combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) era has markedly improved, but Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) still remains a preeminent cause of respiratory failure in AIDS patients. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an adapted cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for temporary life support for patients not responding to conventional treatment. CASE REPORT A 43-year-old male HIV "late presenter" was admitted to our hospital for fever and dyspnea.

Non-inferiority trial comparing cigarette consumption, adoption rates, acceptability, tolerability, and tobacco harm reduction potential in smokers switching to Heated Tobacco Products or electronic cigarettes: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Despite the introduction of tobacco control measures, smoking remains highly prevalent in most EU countries. In Italy, one in four adults were still regular smokers in 2017. Increasing use of combustion-free delivering nicotine technologies for cigarette substitution may accelerate the current downward trends in smoking prevalence.

Efficacy of osteopathic treatment in patients with stable moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Background This randomized controlled pilot study evaluated the efficacy of osteopathic treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessed using spirometry, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and six minutes walking test (6MWT). The main goals were to improve the quality of life of patients with stable moderate-to-severe COPD, and to revise the parameters of the assessment tests, such as spirometry and 6MWT. Methods The study comprised several phases and patients were divided into two groups: group A (controls) received conventional pharmacological treatment with Indacaterol-Glycopyrronium and, while group B (OMT group) received both traditional therapy and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) at different stages of the study.

Health effects in COPD smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes: a retrospective-prospective 3-year follow-up.

Background: Health effects of electronic cigarette (EC) use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are largely unexplored.

Aim: We present findings from a long-term prospective assessment of respiratory parameters in a cohort of COPD patients who ceased or substantially reduced conventional cigarette use with ECs.

Methods: We prospectively re-evaluated COPD exacerbations, spirometric indices, subjective assessments (using the COPD Assessment Tool [CAT] scores), physical activity (measured by the 6-minute walk distance [6MWD]), and conventional cigarette use in EC users with COPD who were retrospectively assessed previously.

Evidence for harm reduction in COPD smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes.

Background: Electronic cigarettes (ECs) are battery-operated devices designed to vaporise nicotine, which may help smokers quitting or reducing their tobacco consumption. There is a lack of data on the health effects of EC use among smokers with COPD and whether regular use results in improvement in subjective and objective COPD outcomes. We investigated long-term changes in objective and subjective respiratory outcomes in smokers with a diagnosis of COPD who quit or reduced substantially their tobacco consumption by supplementing with or converting only to ECs use.

Linking MRI hyperintensities with patterns of neuropsychological impairment: evidence for a threshold effect.

Background And Purpose: Leukoaraiosis (LA) might interrupt intra- and interhemispheric communication and thus induce cognitive impairments and dementia. It remains unclear, however, if there is a volume threshold of LA that is needed before either the signs of dementia and/or a specific pattern of neuropsychological impairment become manifest. Roman et al has suggested that 25% of white matter may need to be involved before white matter alterations influence the clinical signs associated with dementia.