Clinical Implications of Functional Imaging in the Assessment of Bronchiectasis-Associated Sarcopenia.

Introduction: Bronchiectasis is a complex lung disease with poorly studied systemic manifestations. Patients with bronchiectasis-associated sarcopenia exhibit a specific differential profile of functional muscle phenotype (vastus lateralis, VL), which may be analyzed using imaging (ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, MRI).

Methods: Ultrasound and MRI were used to explore functional imaging parameters in quadriceps of 20 patients with stable bronchiectasis and 10 healthy controls.

Nitrosative and Oxidative Stress, Reduced Antioxidant Capacity, and Fiber Type Switch in Iron-Deficient COPD Patients: Analysis of Muscle and Systemic Compartments.

We hypothesized that a rise in the levels of oxidative/nitrosative stress markers and a decline in antioxidants might take place in systemic and muscle compartments of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with non-anemic iron deficiency. In COPD patients with/without iron depletion ( = 20/group), markers of oxidative/nitrosative stress and antioxidants were determined in blood and vastus lateralis (biopsies, muscle fiber phenotype). Iron metabolism, exercise, and limb muscle strength were assessed in all patients.

[Could Inspiratory Muscle Function Be an Equivalent of Lung Hyperinflation in COPD Patients?].

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the respiratory disease that causes the greatest morbidity and mortality worldwide. Lung function parameters and systemic manifestations have been defined as prognostic factors; however, they have limitations. The aim of this study was to analyze whether inspiratory muscle strength could reflect lung hyperinflation, and therefore serve as a prognostic factor in COPD patients.

Incidence of pulmonary embolism in patients with non-invasive respiratory support during COVID-19 outbreak.

While the incidence of thrombotic complications in critically ill patients is very high, in patients under non-invasive respiratory support (NIS) is still unknown. The specific incidence of thrombotic events in each of the clinical scenarios within the broad spectrum of severity of COVID-19, is not clearly established, and this has not allowed the implementation of thromboprophylaxis or anticoagulation for routine care in COVID-19. Patients admitted in a semi-critical unit treated initially with NIS, especially Continuous-Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), were included in the study.