Prolonged higher dose methylprednisolone conventional dexamethasone in COVID-19 pneumonia: a randomised controlled trial (MEDEAS).

Background: Dysregulated systemic inflammation is the primary driver of mortality in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Current guidelines favour a 7-10-day course of any glucocorticoid equivalent to dexamethasone 6 mg daily. A comparative randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a higher dose and a longer duration of intervention was lacking.

A proposal of a new model for long-term weaning: respiratory intensive care unit and weaning center.

Background: Respiratory intermediate care units (RICU) are hospital locations to treat acute and acute on chronic respiratory failure. Dedicated weaning centers (WC) are facilities for long-term weaning.

Aim: We propose and describe the initial results of a long-term weaning model consisting of sequential activity of a RICU and a WC.

End stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) die each year as those with lung cancer but current guidelines make few recommendations on the care for the most severe patients i.e. those with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages III and IV with chronic respiratory failure.

Sleep apnea in morbidly obese patients: prevalence and clinical predictivity.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in morbidly obese patients and whether such patients show peculiar clinical findings that may make it easier to suspect and diagnose OSAHS.

Objectives: To investigate prevalence of OSAHS in patients with morbid obesity and find a simple structured model for predicting the results of polysomnography.

Methods: The study enrolled a group of 101 consecutive inpatients (33 males, age range 20-80 years) with a body mass index > or =40, whose symptoms of OSAHS were not known, and a validation group of 45 patients.