Publications by authors named "Lorenzo Marra"
Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of dysphagia in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and to correlate swallowing impairment with hypnologic and anatomic parameters.
Methods: The study population includes 36 patients suffering from OSA. Patients were divided into two groups using the presence of dysphagia as a distinctive parameter.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the standard procedure for feeding severely dysphagic patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is associated with prolonged survival and improvement in quality of life. Nasal inspiratory pressure during a sniff (SNIP) is a respiratory test used extensively in ALS for the assessment of inspiratory muscle strength.
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- The study analyzed the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in treating COVID-19 by observing 4,396 patients hospitalized in Italy from February to May 2020, revealing mixed results from previous research.
- Two patient clusters were identified: a younger, healthier group at lower risk of death and an older, sicker group at higher risk, highlighting differing impacts of HCQ on these populations.
- HCQ appeared to significantly reduce mortality risk in the lower risk cluster, suggesting that it may be more beneficial for patients with fewer comorbidities, potentially clarifying debates around its efficacy in COVID-19 treatment.
Protease inhibitors have been considered as possible therapeutic agents for COVID-19 patients. To describe the association between lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) or darunavir/cobicistat (DRV/c) use and in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Multicenter observational study of COVID-19 patients admitted in 33 Italian hospitals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Galectin-3, considered as a new inflammatory marker; it is increased in cardiovascular disease. We investigated Galectin-3 in relation to heart damage in patients with OSA and its role in inflammation, based on the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR).
Methods: Sixty-three consecutive patients (45 males, 18 females, 58.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated whether administering heparin in hospitals improves survival rates among COVID-19 patients, due to a linked hypercoagulable condition that can worsen the disease.
- - An analysis of 2,574 patients across Italy showed that 70.1% received heparin, leading to significantly lower death rates (7.4 vs. 14.0 per 1,000 person-days) among those treated with heparin.
- - The findings suggest that heparin is associated with a 40% reduction in death risk, especially for critically ill patients, indicating its potential benefit, although further randomized clinical trials are necessary for definitive guidance.
Common cardiovascular risk factors and in-hospital mortality in 3,894 patients with COVID-19: survival analysis and machine learning-based findings from the multicentre Italian CORIST Study.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis
October 2020
Article Synopsis
- A study investigated factors contributing to in-hospital death among COVID-19 patients in Italy, analyzing data from 3,894 hospitalized individuals from February to May 2020.
- Key findings showed that impaired renal function, high levels of C-reactive protein, and older age were significant predictors of mortality, with the highest death rates found in Northern Italy (15.6%) compared to Central/Southern regions (6.4%).
- The results indicated that factors like obesity, tobacco use, and cardiovascular conditions did not correlate with mortality risk, emphasizing the importance of renal health and inflammation in COVID-19 outcomes.
The importance of nocturnal hypoventilation (nHyp) in the development of cardiovascular comorbidity (CVM) in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is controversial. We recently hypothesized that nHyp may have a protective effect on CVM in OHS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the link between nHyp and CVM in patients with OHS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVoluntary lung function screening to reveal new COPD cases in southern Italy.
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis
April 2018
Background: Underdiagnosis of COPD is a relevant issue, and most frequently involves patients at early stages of the disease. Physicians do not routinely recommend smokers to undergo spirometry, unless they are symptomatic.
Aims: To investigate the effectiveness of voluntary lung function screening in bringing to light patients with previously unknown COPD and to evaluate the relationships among symptoms, smoking status, and airway obstruction.
An electronic nose may sniff out amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Respir Physiol Neurobiol
October 2016
Amyothrophic lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive degeneration of the cortical and spinal motor neuron. Exhaled molecular profiles that have potential in the diagnosis of several respiratory and systemic diseases can be obtained by analyzing human breath with an electronic nose. We hypothesized that exhaled molecular profiling may discriminate well-characterized patients with ALS from controls.
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