Factors Affecting CPAP Adherence in an OSA Population during the First Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder associated with major cardiovascular and neurocognitive sequelae. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the standard treatment for OSA. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associations of long-term CPAP adherence in newly diagnosed OSA patients.

Clinical identification of malignant pleural effusions.

Introduction: Pleural effusions frequently signal disseminated cancer. Diagnostic markers of pleural malignancy at presentation that would assess cancer risk and would streamline diagnostic decisions remain unidentified.

Methods: A consecutive cohort of 323 patients with pleural effusion (PE) from different etiologies were recruited between 2013 and 2017 and was retrospectively analyzed.

The utility of diaphragm ultrasound thickening indices for assessing respiratory decompensation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Introduction/aims: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) leads to diaphragmatic weakness at some point during its course, which is a major cause of respiratory insufficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrasound-based measures for assessing the diaphragmatic competency and the need for ventilatory support.

Methods: Twenty-six subjects with ALS and 12 healthy controls were enrolled.

Shifting gears: Study of immune system parameters of male habitual marathon runners.

Aim: Marathon is a running event in which athletes must cover a distance of 42.195 km. In addition to participating in marathons, marathoners have incorporated extensive running into their lifestyle.

The Presence of Smoking and Alcohol Imaginary in Popular Movies Available in Netflix Online Streaming Platform.

Exposure of tobacco and alcohol consumption in media and filmmaking has been related to promotion of smoking and drinking in adults. Current regulation aims to restrict tobacco and alcohol advertising in order to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking habits. We aimed to assess the impact of smoking and drinking habits in video-on-demand services.

"The Saint" gone good. Smoking and drinking over time in the popular series.

Background: Alcohol-related health and social problems are prevalent in almost all societies that consume alcohol and the presence of alcohol use in the movies is a known issue. The same holds true for smoking prevalence in film-making.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess tobacco-related content and alcohol consumption in "The Saint" series and movies.

Exercise Limitation in Children and Adolescents with Mild-to-Moderate Asthma.

Background: Children with uncontrolled asthma are less tolerant to exercise due to ventilatory limitation, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), or physical deconditioning. The contribution of these factors in children with controlled mild-to-moderate asthma is unknown.

Objective: To explore the underlying mechanisms of reduced exercise capacity in children with controlled mild-to-moderate asthma.

The impact of osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures on mortality and association with pulmonary function in COPD: A meta-analysis.

Objective: Osteoporosis is highly prevalent among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and most commonly presents as a vertebral compression fracture (VCF). Our objective was to quantify the effect of osteoporosis and VCFs on the mortality and pulmonary function tests (PFTs), such as forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV) and forced vital capacity (FVC), of patients with COPD.

Methods: A PubMed/Medline search was conducted using the search terms "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease", "osteoporosis" and "vertebral compression fracture".

Oesophageal atresia without major cardiovascular anomalies: Is management justified at a district paediatric surgical institution?

Background: Oesophageal atresia lacks sufficiently documented treatment approach, as guidelines are based rather on the opinion of experts than on systematic data. We aimed to answer the question if treatment of patients without major cardiovascular anomalies could be justified at a peripheral paediatric surgical institution, by evaluating the outcome of surgical correction.

Methods: Thirty-three neonates underwent surgery for correction of oesophageal atresia during a period of 20 years.

The Role of Interleukin-6 in the Pathogenesis, Prognosis and Treatment of Severe COVID-19.

A newly identified virus appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 presents similarities with two previous coronavirus pandemics, MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARSCoV, concerning phylogenetic origin, structural composition, and clinical symptoms, thus, leading to common pathogenic mechanisms. The purpose of this review is to declare the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the pathogenesis, prognosis, and treatment of COVID-19 by comparing its effect on SARS-CoV and MERS cases.

Bronchoscopic, non-interventional management of hemoptysis in resource limited settings: insights from the literature.

The non-invasive management of clinically significant hemoptysis by bronchoscopy remains a therapeutic challenge. Various agents have been used endobronchially in order to control hemoptysis, such as cold saline, tranexamic acid, and epinephrine. This review summarizes all available data in that view, especially in resource limited settings, where more advanced means of controlling hemoptysis are not available.

Measles-associated pneumonia and hepatitis during the measles outbreak of 2018.

Background Between 2017 and 2018, Greece experienced a measles outbreak, affecting >3000 patients, most of which were unvaccinated. Measles-associated pneumonia (MAP) is the most common serious compilation of the disease, but very few recent reports regarding its presentation are available. Materials and Methods Between January and May 2018, 11 adult patients presented to our department with acute measles virus infection, hypoxia and findings on chest X-ray.

Diffusion weighted image documented cerebral ischemia in the postprocedural period following pipeline embolization device with shield technology treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: a prospective, single center study.

Objective: Acute ischemic stroke and silent cerebral infarctions following pipeline embolization device (PED) treatment of intracranial aneurysms have been estimated to occur in 3-6% and in 50.9-90% of patients respectively. The PED with Shield technology (PED-Shield) incorporates a surface phosphorylcholine polymer to reduce the thrombogenicity of the implant.

Osteonectin as a screening marker for pancreatic cancer: A prospective study.

Objective Osteonectin plays a central role in various processes during the development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This prospective pilot study was performed to determine the feasibility of serum osteonectin as a screening tool for pancreatic cancer. Methods Blood samples were collected from 15 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer and 30 matched healthy controls.

Potential Prediction of Acute Biliary Pancreatitis Outcome on Admission.

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility of serum values of osteonectin, adiponectin, transforming growth factor beta 1, and neurotensin being used in clinical practice to predict the severity of acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 45 consecutive newly diagnosed acute pancreatitis patients and 30 matched healthy controls. The 2 groups were matched according to age, sex, weight, height, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

EBUS: Faster, cheaper and most effective in lung cancer staging.

The use of endobronchial ultrasound trans-bronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) as the initial diagnostic and staging procedure in patients with suspected, non-metastatic lung cancer has gained substantial support, and is now recommended by numerous guidelines. Whereas considerable attention has been pointed to the reductions in costs achieved by EBUS-TBNA, that has not been the case for some of its more significant benefits, namely the reduction of the diagnostic work-up time and its ability to accurately assess and restage lymph nodes, which were previously stated incorrectly by CT or PET scan. Both these benefits translate into improved outcomes for patients, as delays are reduced, futile surgeries are prevented and curable operations can be performed on patients previously excluded by CT or PET scan.

Association between the severity of newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients without overt cardiovascular disease.

Objective: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) has been associated with both subclinical and accelerated atherosclerosis; however, it still remains unknown whether this association is unique or is mediated by the higher burden of co-existing cardio-metabolic disorders frequently seen in patients with OSA.

Patients And Methods: A total of 40 subjects without clinically diagnosed cardiovascular disease (CVD) referred for polysomnography test were included in the study. Subjects with apnea/hypopnea index (AHI > 15/h) were classified as moderate/severe OSA.

Computed tomography cephalometric and upper airway measurements in patients with OSA and erectile dysfunction.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study used computed tomography (CT) to identify cephalometric and upper airway anatomic features in patients with OSA that correlate with the presence of ED.

Methods: In this prospective study, 20 CT cephalometric and upper airway measurements, most commonly associated with OSA, were analyzed in 53 age- and BMI-matched consecutive eligible subjects.

The impact of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on renin and aldosterone.

Objective: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS) is a respiratory disorder characterized by recurrent airflow obstruction caused by total or partial collapse of the upper airway. OSAS is an established independent factor of cardiovascular risk together with other risk factors such as smoking and increased lipids. The aim of our study was to measure serum levels of aldosterone and renin in OSAS patients that did not suffer from arterial hypertension and compare them to matched healthy subjects in order to reveal the impact of chronic intermittent hypoxia on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Derived Arterial Stiffness is Increased in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Periodic Limb Movements during Sleep.

Study Objectives: Both periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). OSA has also been linked to increased large arterial stiffness, which is considered an independent risk factor for CVD. We utilized a previously validated index of large artery stiffness (SIDVP) derived from the digital volume pulse (DVP) to seek comparison in patients with PLMS and OSA.

The late effect of intraoperative wound infiltration with local anaesthetic in surgical patients; is there any? A randomized control trial.

Introduction: Intraoperative wound infiltration with local anaesthetic is commonly used. Apart from the obvious immediate action it has been supported that a possible down regulation of pain receptors may lead to longer effects. Our aim was to compare the use of local anaesthetic versus placebo in order to assess if indeed there is a late beneficial effect.

Laparoscopic versus Open Adrenalectomy for Stage I/II Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Meta-Analysis of Outcomes.

Aim: The aim of the present meta-analysis was to investigate the safety and oncologic efficacy of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for stage I and II adrenocortical carcinoma. The issue of level I evidence is entirely unreturned.

Methods: Electronic databases were used to search for articles from 1992 to 2014 in the English language literature.