B-Lines in the Assessment of Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Scleroderma: The Role of Handheld Devices.

: Timely detection and aggressive management of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) are essential to improving outcomes and reducing risks of irreversible lung injury. : to explore the usefulness of an ultraportable ultrasound device for the management of SSc-related ILD and to compare it with clinical and instrumental data. : A total of 19 consecutive SSc patients underwent a comprehensive pulmonary evaluation: clinical, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) (spirometry, DLCO), lung CT (1.

Opioids in Treatment of Refractory Dyspnea in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Yes, No or Maybe.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a complex condition with significant impact on prognosis, especially in advanced stages where symptom burden becomes critical. Breathlessness affects patients' quality of life, and despite various therapeutic strategies, the role of opioids in palliative care for COPD remains under investigation. The acceptance of a therapeutic trial of different types of opioids is increasing not only in end-of-life situations but also for stable COPD patients experiencing intolerable refractory breathlessness despite optimal conventional therapy.

The Role of Lung Microbiome in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease-A Systematic Review.

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) involves lung disorders marked by chronic inflammation and fibrosis. ILDs include pathologies like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), connective tissue disease-associated ILD (CTD-ILD), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) or sarcoidosis. Existing data covers pathogenesis, diagnosis (especially using high-resolution computed tomography), and treatments like antifibrotic agents.

Impact of Pre-Infection COVID-19 Vaccination on the Incidence and Severity of Post-COVID Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review critically evaluated the impact of a pre-infection COVID-19 vaccination on the incidence and severity of post-COVID-19 syndrome and aimed to assess the potential protective effect across different vaccines and patient demographics. This study hypothesized that vaccination before infection substantially reduces the risk and severity of post-COVID-19 syndrome. In October 2023, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across three databases, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, focusing on studies published up to that date.

COVID-19 "Nightmare": Perceived Stress, Emotional Distress, and Burnout Syndrome among Medical Staff after One Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) After one year of treating patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, physical exhaustion is added to emotional stress and burnout syndrome. (2) By applying specific questionnaires, we evaluated healthcare workers who handled patients infected with SARS-CoV-2in terms of disease perception, perceived stress, emotional distress, and burnout syndrome after one year of the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them with staff who did not handle infected patients. (3) A total of 165 persons were evaluated, with 79 working in the COVID-19 department and 86 working in the non-COVID-19 department.

Managing Severe Adverse Reactions to Biologicals in Severe Asthma.

Background: The use of biological agents in the treatment of various inflammatory and malignancy conditions has expanded rapidly. However, these agents can induce hypersensitivity reactions, posing significant clinical challenges.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study that included nine patients with severe asthma who experienced hypersensitivity reactions to biological agents (omalizumab, benralizumab and dupilumab).

[The profile of serum inflammatory biomarkers in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: how well do they reflect the presence of pulmonary involvement?].

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with inflammatory and imaging alterations that vary depending on the disease severity.

Objective: Monitoring changes in inflammatory biomarkers may offer insights into the extent of pulmonary alterations observed in chest-CT. This study aimed to evaluate the profile of different inflammatory biomarkers, widely available and routinely measured in COVID-19 patients, and to determine whether alterations in their activity at admission and discharge correlate with lung involvement assessed through CT scans.

Lung Microbiota in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, and Unclassified Interstitial Lung Diseases: A Preliminary Pilot Study.

(1) Introduction: Although historically, the lung has been considered a sterile organ, recent studies through 16S rRNA gene sequencing have identified a substantial number of microorganisms. The human microbiome has been considered an "essential organ," carrying about 150 times more information (genes) than are found in the entire human genome. The purpose of the present study is to characterize and compare the microbiome in three different interstitial lung diseases: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and nondifferential interstitial lung disease.

Prognostic Role of Clinical Features of Moderate Forms of COVID-19 Requiring Hospitalization.

Introduction: We aimed to characterize the clinical features of moderate forms of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization and potentially identify predictors for unfavorable outcomes.

Methods: Pooled anonymized clinical data from 452 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in two regional Romanian respiratory disease centers during the Alpha and Delta variant outbreaks were included in the analysis.

Results: Cough and shortness of breath were the most common clinical features; older patients exhibited more fatigue and dyspnea and fewer upper airway-related symptoms such as smell loss or sore throat.

Factors Associated with Prolonged RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 Positive Testing in Patients with Mild and Moderate Forms of COVID-19: A Retrospective Study.

This article aims to evaluate the number of days necessary for patients with mild and moderate forms of COVID-19 to reach undetectable levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the upper respiratory tract specimens. As a secondary objective, we sought to establish a correlation between different conditions associated with longer viral load as this could result in a longer period of contagion and infectivity. It is a retrospective study.

COPD in Firefighters: A Specific Event-Related Condition Rather than a Common Occupational Respiratory Disorder.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Smoking remains the most important risk factor, but occupational exposures may play an essential role as well. Firefighters are among occupations regularly exposed to a variety of irritative inhalational products, and they may be expected to develop respiratory health problems because of such an occupational exposure.

Diagnostic Value of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in Various Respiratory Diseases: A Retrospective Analysis.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR) ratio are two extensively used inflammatory markers that have been proved very useful in evaluating inflammation in several diseases. The present article aimed to investigate if they have any value in distinguishing among various respiratory disorders. One hundred and forty-five patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 219 patients with different chronic respiratory diseases (interstitial lung disease, obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome, bronchiectasis) and 161 healthy individuals as a control group were included in the study.

Increased Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Serum Level and the Role of +936C/T Gene Polymorphism in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a debilitating disease, with rising morbidity and mortality. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a major role in angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and airway remodeling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between VEGF serum levels and VEGF +936 C/T gene polymorphism (rs3025039) with COPD, for the first time in a Romanian population.

Alveolar proteinosis - an underdiagnosed condition in young people.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease characterized by an abnormal intra-alveolar accumulation of surfactant derived lipoproteinaceous compounds, leading to dyspnea and, in severe cases, to respiratory failure. The most common form of PAP is the auto-immune one. Secondary PAP has been recognized in myeloid leukemia, non-hematological neoplasms, lung infections or environmental exposure to noxious particles.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelets-to-lymphocyte ratio, and eosinophils correlation with high-resolution computer tomography severity score in COVID-19 patients.

Inflammation has an important role in the progression of various viral pneumonia, including COVID-19. Circulating biomarkers that can evaluate inflammation and immune status are potentially useful in diagnosing and prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Even more so when they are a part of the routine evaluation, chest CT could have even higher diagnostic accuracy than RT-PCT alone in a suggestive clinical context.

Modification of exhaled air nitric oxide in patients with asthma - cortisone monotherapy or dual inhalation therapy?

Introduction: Asthma, a chronic lung disease, is a major health challenge worldwide with increased addressability to health services. There are different asthma phenotypes, which have different evolution and can be specifically tracked. The measurement of fractional expired nitric oxide (FeNo) with different devices reflects the eosinophilic inflammation of the airways, and can be used to evaluate the allergic phenotype and predict the treatment responses.

Palliative Care Initiation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Prognosis-Based, Symptoms-Based or Needs-Based?

The absence or late initiation of palliative care (PC) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is multidimensional. To provide palliative care from the moment of COPD diagnosis remains utopic. Even the advanced forms or the end-of-life stages benefit late or never from these services.

Correlation between Transthoracic Lung Ultrasound Score and HRCT Features in Patients with Interstitial Lung Diseases.

Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is considered the "gold" standard radiological method in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the correlation between two transthoracic lung ultrasound (LUS) scores (total number of B-lines score = the total sum of B-lines in 10 predefined scanning sites and total number of positive chest areas score = intercostal spaces with ≥3 B-lines) and the features in HRCT simplified scores, in different interstitial disorders, between LUS scores and symptoms, as well as between LUS scores and pulmonary function impairment. We have evaluated 58 consecutive patients diagnosed with ILD.

Fatal hypersensitivity pneumonitis after chemical occupational exposure.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP; extrinsic allergic alveolitis) is a rare non-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated inflammatory lung disease caused by inhalation exposure (occupational, recreational or ordinary home exposure). A 36-year-old female patient, without significant medical history, is referred to an outpatient pulmonology clinic for dry cough, shortness of breath, fever, fatigue and weight loss. Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed, and significant lung fibrosis (especially centrilobular and interlobular in bilateral "thick lines"), traction bronchiectasis and alveolitis in both superior lobes are described.

Tuberculosis and its particularities in Romania and worldwide.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health issue, with a rising incidence since the beginning of this century. It poses a severe mortality risk and also poses a serious economic risk as it reduces the working capacity of an individual in the most productive part of life. Developing countries face widespread tuberculosis infection - up to 95% of all cases and 98% of deaths, respectively.

Smoking cessation for free: outcomes of a study of three Romanian clinics.

In 2007, Romania implemented a national program for smoking cessation, providing medication and counseling, entirely for free. The present study focuses on the results of the program among participating smokers treated in three smoking cessation centers from three main cities of Romania: Iasi, Targu Mures and Cluj. Telephone interviews of 832 subjects from three databases of the Romanian cessation clinics of Iasi, Cluj and Targu Mures cities were conducted.

Assessment of the correlations between nicotine dependence, exhaled carbon monoxide levels and oral hygiene status: an observational study.

Background And Aim: Cigarette smoking has negative effects on general health, including oral health. The aim of our study was to assess the correlations between nicotine dependence, exhaled carbon monoxide levels and oral hygiene status.

Methods: Smoker and non-smoker participants were enrolled in this observational study.

Opinions and practices regarding electronic cigarette use among Romanian high school students.

Objective: The study assessed awareness, opinions, practices regarding electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and factors associated with their use among Romanian high school students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 in two major Romanian cities, distributing anonymous questionnaires to 342 high school students aged 16-18.

Results: 52.