Lack of a prompt normalization of immunological parameters is associated with long-term care and poor prognosis in COVID-19 affected patients receiving convalescent plasma: a single center experience.

Objectives: Being COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) a therapeutic option that can have a potential impact on the normalization of immunological parameters of COVID-19 affected patients, a detailed analysis of post-infusion immunological changes was conducted in CCP treated patients, aiming to identify possible predictive hallmarks of disease prognosis.

Methods: This prospective observational study describes a cohort of 28 patients who received CCP shortly after being hospitalized for COVID-19 and diagnosed for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. All patients were subjected to a detailed flow cytometry based evaluation of immunological markers at baseline and on days +3 and +7 after transfusion.

Variant of Concern-Matched COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Usage in Seronegative Hospitalized Patients.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) has been the only specific anti-viral therapy against SARS-CoV-2 available for more than one year. Following the negative results from most randomized controlled trials on its efficacy in COVID-19 hospitalized patients and the availability of anti-spike monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), the use of CCP has subsequently rapidly faded. However, the continuous appearance of new variants of concern (VOCs), most of which escape mAbs and vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), has renewed the interest towards CCP, at least in seronegative immunocompetent patients, and in immunocompromised patients not able to mount a protective immune response.

Convalescent Plasma for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Single-Center Experience.

In Winter 2020, Italy, and in particular the Lombardy region, was the first country in the Western hemisphere to be hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Plasma from individuals recovered from COVID-19 (COVID-19 convalescent plasma, CCP) was the first therapeutic tool adopted to counteract the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this retrospective cohort study, we report the experience of the city hospital of Mantua, Lombardy region, on the compassionate use of CCP in patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in a Patient With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Secondary to SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a potentially life-threatening entity resulting from the dysregulated activation of T-lymphocytes. Secondary HLH (sHLH) complicates various medical conditions. Similar to 2009 H1N1 influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection appears to trigger a cytokine storm in a subset of individuals.

Pulmonary embolism in patients with severe COVID-19 treated with intermediate- to full-dose enoxaparin: A retrospective study.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may predispose patients to pulmonary embolism (PE), despite standard thromboprophylaxis. Our retrospective study aimed to report the prevalence of PE in patients with COVID-19 and severe respiratory failure (SRF) treated with intermediate- to full-dose enoxaparin. We analyzed data from patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and SRF admitted to our Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU) from February 27 to April 20, 2020.

Safety and Efficacy of Convalescent Plasma in Elderly COVID-19 Patients: The RESCUE Trial.

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) transfusion in elderly people with moderate to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) living in a long-term care facility (LTCF).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-two consecutive elderly patients with COVID-19 infection living in an LTCF in Lombardy, Italy, who were given CP during May 15 to July 31, 2020, were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Their clinical, instrumental, and laboratory parameters were assessed following the CP treatment.

Low testosterone levels predict clinical adverse outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia patients.

Background: The pandemic of new severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to coronavirus (CoV) 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has stressed the importance of effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of clinical worsening and mortality. Epidemiological data showing a differential impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on women and men have suggested a potential role for testosterone (T) in determining gender disparity in the SARS-CoV-2 clinical outcomes.

Objectives: To estimate the association between T level and SARS-CoV-2 clinical outcomes (defined as conditions requiring transfer to higher or lower intensity of care or death) in a cohort of patients admitted in the respiratory intensive care unit (RICU).

Autologous blood patch in persistent air leaks after pulmonary resection.

Objective: Persistent air leak is among the most common complications after pulmonary resection, leading to prolonged hospitalization and increased costs. At present there is not yet a consensus on their treatment.

Methods: During a 7-year experience, 21 patients submitted to pulmonary resection were postoperatively treated with an autologous blood patch for persistent air leaks.

Exacerbations as a starting point of pro-active chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations could represent an opportunity for pro-active COPD management rather than mere treatment if previously unknown disease is discovered; the extent of underdiagnosis and undertreatment of COPD in patients attending an emergency department (ED) with an exacerbation is not known. During 2002, we recalled 131 COPD patients in stable conditions, 4-8 weeks after they had attended the ED or been discharged from our University Hospital (North-West of Italy). Information on diagnosis and management prior to the ED attendance were collected; spirometry and arterial blood gas analyses were performed.

Effects of exercise and beta 2-agonists on lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The effects of inhaled bronchodilators at rest and during exercise were studied in 15 subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In a crossover study against placebo, albuterol caused a significant increase in expiratory flow and reduced lung hyperinflation and dyspnea at rest, but this was not associated with differences in symptoms with exercise or any relevant parameter of physical performance. Dynamic hyperinflation occurred during exercise similarly after placebo or albuterol and was associated with a reduction of forced expiratory flows.