Prognostic Implications of Initial Radiological Findings of Pulmonary Fibrosis in Patients with Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Prospective Multicentric Study.

Pulmonary fibrosis detected during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection may significantly influence patient prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of initial high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of pulmonary fibrosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and to examine how these findings relate to disease severity and clinical outcomes, with a particular focus on the development and validation of predictive scoring systems. In this multicentric prospective cohort study from January 2023 to January 2024, 120 adult patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospitalization were enrolled from two Romanian university hospitals.

Predictive Value and Diagnostic Potential of IL-10, IL-17A, IL1-β, IL-6, CXCL, and MCP for Severe COVID-19 and COVID-19 Mortality.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) necessitates advanced prognostic tools to anticipate disease progression and optimize patient outcomes. This study evaluates the predictive value and diagnostic potential of interleukins interleukin (IL) IL-10, IL-17A, IL1-β, IL-6, chemokine ligand (CXCL), and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein (MCP) for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and COVID-19 mortality, aiming to correlate cytokine levels with disease severity. Conducted from January 2023 to January 2024, this prospective cohort study involved patients hospitalized with moderate and severe COVID-19 from Romania.

Exploring the Preventive Potential of Vitamin D against Respiratory Infections in Preschool-Age Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Recent studies hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation and subsequent higher 25(OH)D serum levels could protect against respiratory infections in children. This cross-sectional study, conducted from May 2022 to December 2023 in Timisoara, Romania, aimed to evaluate the potential influence of vitamin D supplementation on the incidence of respiratory infections among preschool-age children. This study examined 215 children over 18 months who were split into a group of patients with recurrent respiratory infections ( = 141) and another group of patients with only one respiratory tract infection in the past 12 months ( = 74).

Impact of Pre-Infection COVID-19 Vaccination on the Incidence and Severity of Post-COVID Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review critically evaluated the impact of a pre-infection COVID-19 vaccination on the incidence and severity of post-COVID-19 syndrome and aimed to assess the potential protective effect across different vaccines and patient demographics. This study hypothesized that vaccination before infection substantially reduces the risk and severity of post-COVID-19 syndrome. In October 2023, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across three databases, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, focusing on studies published up to that date.

Assessing the Quality of Life, Coping Strategies, Anxiety and Depression Levels in Patients with Long-COVID-19 Syndrome: A Six-Month Follow-Up Study.

This longitudinal study investigates the psychosocial effects of long-COVID Syndrome, a domain still not extensively researched. It specifically evaluates the quality of life, coping mechanisms, anxiety and depression levels in COVID-19 survivors, differentiating between those with and without long-COVID Syndrome. Conducted at the Victor Babes Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology in Timisoara, Romania, the study utilized a cohort of patients diagnosed with mild to moderate COVID-19.

Clinicopathological Outlines of Post-COVID-19 Pulmonary Fibrosis Compared with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

This review brings together the current knowledge regarding the risk factors and the clinical, radiologic, and histological features of both post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis (PCPF) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), describing the similarities and the disparities between these two diseases, using numerous databases to identify relevant articles published in English through October 2022. This review would help clinicians, pathologists, and researchers make an accurate diagnosis, which can help identify the group of patients selected for anti-fibrotic therapies and future therapeutic perspectives.

Endothelial dysfunction: The possible link between cardiovascular comorbidities and phenomenon of inflammaging from COPD.

Aging is a risk factor for many chronic noncommunicable diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is often associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Moreover, aging is associated with a mild form of systemic inflammation. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship between age, systemic and vascular inflammation, and the presence of CVD comorbidities in a stable COPD population.

Surfactant proteins analysis in perinatal deceased preterm twins among the Romanian population.

The molecular basis of the evaluation of children suspected of having disorders of surfactant proteins is still under discussion. In this study, we aimed to describe the morphological characteristics and to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of surfactant proteins (surfactant protein A [SPA], surfactant protein B, and pro-surfactant protein C) in the preterm twins that deceased due to unexplained respiratory distress syndrome (n = 12). Results showed statistically significant positive correlations between surfactant protein B expressions and pulmonary hemorrhage (ρ = 0.

COPD and Anticoagulation Therapy: Time for a New Approach?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most challenging chronic disease nowadays due to increased morbidity and mortality, despite the multiple new therapies included in the therapeutic scheme. A possible cause may be insufficient approach to thromboembolic risk in these patients, scientific data being so far insufficient and relatively controversial. Areas covered: anticoagulant therapy is used mainly during severe exacerbations.

Biological therapies targeting the type 2 inflammatory pathway in severe asthma (Review).

Asthma is a variable chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion. While most patients with asthma achieve good control of the disease, 5-10% experience severe symptoms and recurrent exacerbation despite the maximal offered therapy with inhaled corticosteroids and long acting bronchodilators. In previous years, novel biological therapies have become available, and various asthma phenotypes that are characterized by specific biomarkers have been identified.

Romanian clinical guideline for diagnosis and treatment of COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease with increasing prevalence and burden for health systems worldwide. Every country collects its own epidemiological data regarding COPD prevalence, morbidity and mortality while taking steps to educate the population and medical community to improve early detection and treatment. The rising COPD prevalence creates a need for comprehensive guidelines.

Palliative Care Initiation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Prognosis-Based, Symptoms-Based or Needs-Based?

The absence or late initiation of palliative care (PC) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is multidimensional. To provide palliative care from the moment of COPD diagnosis remains utopic. Even the advanced forms or the end-of-life stages benefit late or never from these services.

The efficacy of a mobile phone application to improve adherence to treatment and self-management in people with chronic respiratory disease in Romanian population - a pilot study.

Background: Many studies assessed the effect of mobile phone applications on self-management outcomes in patients with asthma, but all of them presented variable results. In this paper. we examined the effect of a mobile phone application on self-management and disease control in Romanian population.

Risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. COPD has a major impact on public health, mainly because of its increasing prevalence, morbidity and mortality. The natural course of COPD is aggravated by episodes of respiratory symptom worsening termed exacerbations that contribute to disease progression.

Inhaler technique errors in Romanian patients with asthma - a multicenter study.

Background: Non-adherence to treatment is associated with poor asthma control, increased exacerbations, decline in lung function, and decreased quality of life. M-health applications have become increasingly in the last years, but little research regarding the efficiency of the instructional videos for correct inhaler use exist. The aim of this study is to assess and improve the inhalator technique and to establish which types of errors were made more often with the help of a mobile health application.

Lethal disseminated tuberculosis in patients under biological treatment - two clinical cases and a short review.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors are highly used in Romania for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and ankylosing spondylitis. Biological therapy using TNF-α inhibitors is very effective but is associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infections, including active tuberculosis. Here, two cases are presented of patients with RA and psoriasis under biological therapy who developed very aggressive forms of disseminated tuberculosis, with a rapid progression to death.

Aging and extrapulmonary effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Introduction: People with COPD have a decline in functional status, but little is known about the rate of decline and factors that contribute. Of particular concern is the decline in cognitive and functional performance. Decrease in cognitive and functional performance will finally lead to decreased health status, sedentary life style and premature frailty.

Respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease - an unexpected form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia in a young male.

Cigarette smoking is the most frequently encountered risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. The latest American Thoracic Society÷European Respiratory Society classification of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia includes two entities related to smoking habits: respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease and desquamative interstitial pneumonia. The new approach to diagnosis is to combine pathological pattern with clinical and radiological data.

Infectious cause of an interstitial lung disease.

We present a case of a previously health middleage male patient, without personal history of other condition, who was admitted in our hospital presenting fever, weight loss, and signs and symptoms of acute respiratory distress. The chest computed tomography showed numerous cystic lesions, diffuse ground-glass opacities, honeycombing, and consolidation areas. An HIV infection was confirmed, and the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia was made on induced sputum smear stain.

Treatment options in stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is responsible for over 1 million deaths annually, worldwide. The disease becomes symptomatic in advanced stages, so the diagnosis is delayed and 90% of cases cannot benefit from a curative treatment. In NSCLC surgical resection represents the best option for long term survival in resectable stage III and in clinical stage I/II.