Sarcopenia in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a prospective study exploring prevalence, associated factors and diagnostic approach.

Background: Sarcopenia gained importance in the evaluation of patients with chronic respiratory diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), since it may impact negatively on clinical outcomes.

Aim: Aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia, defined according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) 2019 definition, and to evaluate the prevalence of the single criteria that define the EWGSOP2 definition (muscle strength, muscle quantity and physical performance), in a cohort of consecutive patients with IPF prospectively followed up in 9 hospitals in Northern Italy between December 2018 and May 2021.

Methods: Enrolled patients underwent an extensive pulmonary and nutritional assessment, including bioelectrical impedance analysis, dynamometry and 4-m gait speed test, both at IPF diagnosis and at 6-month follow-up.

One-year pulmonary impairment after severe COVID-19: a prospective, multicenter follow-up study.

Background: Long-term pulmonary sequelae following hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is largely unclear. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise pulmonary sequelae caused by SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia at 12-month from discharge.

Methods: In this multicentre, prospective, observational study, patients hospitalised for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and without prior diagnosis of structural lung diseases were stratified by maximum ventilatory support ("oxygen only", "continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)" and "invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV)") and followed up at 12 months from discharge.

Nutritional assessment in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a prospective multicentre study.

Background: Nutritional status impacts quality of life and prognosis of patients with respiratory diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, there is a lack of studies performing an extensive nutritional assessment of IPF patients. This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status and to identify nutritional phenotypes in a cohort of IPF patients at diagnosis.

Six-Month Pulmonary Impairment after Severe COVID-19: A Prospective, Multicentre Follow-Up Study.

Background: Long-term pulmonary sequelae following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia are not yet confirmed; however, preliminary observations suggest a possible relevant clinical, functional, and radiological impairment.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify and characterize pulmonary sequelae caused by SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia at 6-month follow-up.

Methods: In this multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study, patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and without prior diagnosis of structural lung diseases were stratified by maximum ventilatory support ("oxygen only," "continuous positive airway pressure," and "invasive mechanical ventilation") and followed up at 6 months from discharge.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: an integrated approach beyond antibiotics.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease (PD) is an emerging condition with heterogeneous manifestations from both the microbiological and the clinical point of view. Diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines are available but there are still unmet patients' and physicians' needs, including therapy-related adverse events, symptom control, management of comorbidities, risk of re-exposure to the pathogen and unfavourable outcomes. In the present review, we provide currently available evidence for an integrated approach to NTM-PD beyond antibiotic therapy.

Healthy Promotion for Fighting Metabolic Syndrome: Insights from Multi-Center HeRO-FiT Cohort.

We know that metabolic syndrome (MS) is a modern cardiovascular (CV) "epidemic", especially in western populations. MS is indeed strictly related to the risk of developing CV diseases (CVD) and/or diabetes. Therefore, the aim of our multi-center study was to promote a "healthy style" for fighting MS.

Individualized Breakfast Programs or Glycogen Super-Compensation: Which Is the Better Performing Strategy? Insights from an Italian Soccer Referees Cohort.

The role of soccer referees has grown in importance in the last decades, as has attention to their performance, which may be influenced and improved with specific and evolved training programs. Today, multiple specialists are working as a team in order to develop effective training programs. Moreover, for athletes, it is becoming more and more important to be attentive to nutrition.

Management of Chronic Respiratory Failure in Interstitial Lung Diseases: Overview and Clinical Insights.

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) may be complicated by chronic respiratory failure (CRF), especially in the advanced stages. Aim of this narrative review is to evaluate the current evidence in management of CRF in ILDs. Many physiological mechanisms underlie CRF in ILDs, including lung restriction, ventilation/perfusion mismatch, impaired diffusion capacity and pulmonary vascular damage.

Foot and Soccer Referees': A Pilot Study Searching "Performance" Throughout Prevention.

Soccer refereeing is a "not-conventional" sport in which aerobic workload is prevalent. Along the years, several studies have attempted to define best markers of referees' performance. Many studies focused their attention on field tests and their relationship with aerobic power.

Early or delayed bronchoscopy in patients admitted to the emergency department for mild-to-moderate hemoptysis?

Background: The correct timing for bronchoscopy in massive hemoptysis is well established, whereas in mild-to-moderate hemoptysis there still is uncertainty. The aim of our study was to evaluate if performing a fibrobronchoscopy (FBS) within 48 hours after the onset of mild-to-moderate hemoptysis was related to a higher possibility to identify the site and the cause of bleeding, compared to a delayed one.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study over one-year period from March 2015, in which consecutive patients admitted to the emergency department underwent FBS for spontaneous mild-to-moderate hemoptysis in our medium-size teaching hospital.

Length of stay and short-term functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty: Can we predict them?

Background: To identify variables influencing length of stay (LOS) and short-term functional outcome in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A secondary aim was to verify the effect of the same variables on blood management and the rate of postoperative infection.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed 353 patients, 258 females and 85 males, who underwent primary TKA in a single specialist orthopaedic centre.

Evaluating health-related quality of life, work ability, and disability in pulmonary arterial hypertension: an unmet need.

To our knowledge, there are no specific and validated measures of quality of life (QoL) or degree of disability for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A review of the literature shows that, with the exception of one recently designed specifically for pulmonary hypertension, QoL questionnaires used in PAH studies are generic measures. These are selected because of shared symptoms that do not necessarily correlate well with functional or physiologic measures and have not been validated for applicability in PAH.

Non-invasive assessment of coronary flow reserve and ADMA levels: a case-control study of early rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: Plasma concentration of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a major endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, is considered a novel risk factor for endothelial dysfunction associated with enhanced atherosclerosis. Coronary microcirculation abnormalities have been demonstrated in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) without any signs or symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the study was to compare the ERA and control groups with ADMA, intima-media thickness (IMT) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) levels.

Subclinical impairment of coronary flow velocity reserve assessed by transthoracic echocardiography in young renal transplant recipients.

Background: In renal transplant recipients (RTR) an increased risk to develop cardiovascular injury is present. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic assessment of coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), a sensitive and minimally invasive technique, was recently employed to detect both macrovascular and microvascular coronary artery disease (CAD) in different clinical settings. The prevalence of coronary involvement in young adult RTR is still unknown.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension: the key role of echocardiography.

Given the nonspecific nature of its early symptoms and signs, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is often diagnosed in its advanced stages. Although clinical assessment is essential when initially evaluating patients with suspected PAH, echocardiography is a key screening tool in the diagnostic algorithm. It not only provides an estimate of pulmonary pressure at rest and during exercise, but it may also help to exclude any secondary causes of pulmonary hypertension, predict the prognosis, monitor the efficacy of specific therapeutic interventions, and detect the preclinical stage of the disease.

Cardiovascular response to exercise in elite ice hockey players.

Background: High-performance ice hockey requires unique strength and endurance, which are facilitated by training.

Objectives: To investigate the cardiovascular response to training and competition at rest and during recumbent bicycle echocardiography Doppler exercise in 26 elite ice hockey players, and to compare the results with those of 14 healthy, active, young male student volunteers.

Methods: Two-dimensional echocardiography Doppler was applied to determine cardiac chamber size and wall thickness, and to estimate rest and exercise tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity (TRV), stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output.

The interpretation of the electrocardiogram in patients with pulmonary hypertension: the need for clinical correlation.

Background: The detection and treatment of pulmonary hypertension have become increasingly important for the clinician. While the electrocardiogram is often used as a screening tool in patients suspected of having pulmonary hypertension, the sensitivity for detecting right ventricular hypertrophy in the era of computerized electrocardiogram analysis is highly suspect. The aim of the study was to determine the importance of clinical information in providing an accurately edited electrocardiographic system.

Range of pulmonary artery pressures in patients undergoing percutaneous atrial septal defect device closure.

The secundum type of atrial septal defect is one of the most common conditions associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension. In a series of 274 consecutive patients who have undergone percutaneous atrial septal defect device closure at our institution we observed an increase in pulmonary artery pressure with age, but only three patients had overt pulmonary arterial hypertension.