Cluster analysis on breath print of newly diagnosed COPD patients: effects of therapy.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly heterogeneous disease and airflow limitation and symptoms only partially capture such heterogeneity. Since COPD is known to affect the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), we aimed to verify to which extent exhaled VOCs can characterize newly diagnosed COPD patients and changes in response to inhaled therapy.

Materials And Methods: Fifty newly diagnosed COPD patients were consecutively recruited among those attending the pulmonary medicine outpatient clinic at 'Campus Bio-Medico' University Hospital.

Chest ultrasonography in health surveillance of asbestos related pleural disease.

High resolution computed tomography, (HRCT), is currently considered the diagnostic gold standard to diagnose early stage malignant pleural mesothelioma and other non-malignant pleural conditions, but it is expensive and exposes the patient to radiation dose. In a screening and population medicine perspective, Thoracic Ultrasounds may become a valuable alternative because it can detect minimal changes in pleural surface, is widely available and safe. On these bases, we therefore validated thoracic US in subjects with history of exposure to asbestos, having HRCT as the reference standard.

Short-term effects of a vibrotactile neck-based treatment device for positional obstructive sleep apnea: preliminary data on tolerability and efficacy.

Background: Positional supine obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) characterizes a subgroup of patients suffering from OSAS. Several devices designed to limit supine position have been developed, but evidences of their efficacy and safety are lacking. It is unclear whether a neck-worn vibrating device could induce positional change in patients with positional OSAS.

Long-term home noninvasive mechanical ventilation increases systemic inflammatory response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective observational study.

Background: Long-term home noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) is beneficial in COPD but its impact on inflammation is unknown. We assessed the hypothesis that NIV modulates systemic and pulmonary inflammatory biomarkers in stable COPD.

Methods: Among 610 patients referred for NIV, we shortlisted those undergoing NIV versus oxygen therapy alone, excluding subjects with comorbidities or non-COPD conditions.