Impaired pulmonary and muscle function during moderate exercise in female patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2.

This study aimed to assess pulmonary and muscle dysfunction by analyzing the slow component of oxygen uptake (VO), and mechanical and ventilatory efficiency in adult women recovered from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type II (SARS-CoV-2) during a constant load test. 32 women (N = 17 patients with SARS-CoV-2; N = 15 control group) performed two cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPX) on a cycle ergometer. In the first test, the participants performed incremental CPX until extenuation.

Severe loss of mechanical efficiency in COVID-19 patients.

Background: There is limited information about the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the muscular dysfunction, despite the generalized weakness and fatigue that patients report after overcoming the acute phase of the infection. This study aimed to detect impaired muscle efficiency by evaluating delta efficiency (DE) in patients with COVID-19 compared with subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and control group (CG).

Methods: A total of 60 participants were assigned to four experimental groups: COVID-19, COPD, IHD, and CG (n = 15 each group).

Serum levels of immunoglobulins and severity of community-acquired pneumonia.

Instruction: There is evidence of a relationship between severity of infection and inflammatory response of the immune system. The objective is to assess serum levels of immunoglobulins and to establish its relationship with severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and clinical outcome.

Methods: This was an observational and cross-sectional study in which 3 groups of patients diagnosed with CAP were compared: patients treated in the outpatient setting (n=54), patients requiring in-patient care (hospital ward) (n=173), and patients requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) (n=191).

IgG2 as an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains high despite improvements in treatment.

Objective: To determine immunoglobulin levels in patients with CAP and impact on disease severity and mortality.

Methodology: Observational study.

Serum immunoglobulins in the infected and convalescent phases in community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: A population-based case-control study was designed to assess changes of serum levels of immunoglobulins and IgG subclasses between infected and convalescent phase in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods: Over a 2-year period, all subjects who were >14 years of age living in the Maresme region (Barcelona, Spain) diagnosed of CAP were registered. Controls were healthy subjects selected from the municipal census.

Prone positioning in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Objective: We examined the effect on survival of prone positioning as an early and continuous treatment in ARDS patients already treated with protective ventilation.

Design And Setting: Open randomized controlled trial in 17 medical-surgical ICUs.

Patients: Forty mechanically ventilated patients with early and refractory ARDS despite protective ventilation in the supine position.

[Knowledge of the disease and the advance directives in patients with HIV infection].

Background And Objective: Advanced directives documents (ADD), allow respect and know patient's intentions in health matters, when they are not able by themselves, for decision making. The aim of this study is making a valoration of the knowledgment of this documents in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients, as well as their own knowledgment about this patology and possible complications.

Patients And Method: HIV infected patients controlled in 2 centers (Hospital de Mataró and Hospital de Granollers).