Determinants of response to hypercapnia and to progressive and transient hypoxia in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Background: The knowledge regarding the control of breathing during wakefulness in patients affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) is still challenging. The aim of this study is firstly to analyze hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory response in OSA patients in comparison to controls and secondly, to investigate correlations between chemosensivity and both lung function tests, such as arterial blood gas analysis and spirometric parameters, and clinical characteristics, such as age and BMI.

Methods: Seventeen never treated OSA patients (16M; 53±13.

A new sensitive and accurate model to predict moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in patients with obesity.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has a high prevalence in patients with obesity. Only patients with clinical symptoms of OSA are admitted to polysomnography; however, many patients with OSA are asymptomatic. We aimed to create and validate a population-based risk score that predicts the severity of OSA in patients with obesity.

The Respiratory "Overlap Syndrome": Efficacy and Usefulness of the Combined Double Bronchodilation.

The coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in a single patient is known as "overlap syndrome," and worsens the prognosis of the affected subjects. A marked bronchodilation may be useful for the treatment of this condition. In fact, as stated in the GOLD 2017 guidelines, the combination of indacaterol/glycopyrronium may exert positive synergistic effects on smooth muscle cell and airway resistance, with a more pronounced efficiency in reducing lung hyperinflation.

Abnormal thyroid hormones and non-thyroidal illness syndrome in obstructive sleep apnea, and effects of CPAP treatment.

Objective: In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), while both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have been studied, the occurrence of non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) (normal thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] with low triiodotironine) has not been investigated. We explored the occurrence of NTIS in patients with moderate to severe OSA and its relationship to the severity of nocturnal respiratory disorders. We also studied the occurrence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH, ie, high TSH with normal thyroxine) in OSA and changes in circulating TSH, free triiodotironine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4) after CPAP treatment.

Look at the lung: can chest ultrasonography be useful in pregnancy?

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of chest ultrasound (US) in the detection, diagnosis and follow-up of pathologic processes of both peripheral lung parenchyma and pleural space in pregnant women.

Findings: Pregnant women admitted to Obstetric Pathology Hospital Department for respiratory diseases were enrolled. Chest US examination was performed when there was a respiratory disease highly suggestive of pneumonia and/or pleural effusion and chest X-ray (CXR) should have been obtained.