Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation Use-Practice Recommendations of the Slovak Society of Pulmonology and Phthisiology.

Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is increasingly used as a treatment method for patients with respiratory failure. The first recommendations for the use of NIPPV in Slovakia were developed by the Slovak Society of Pulmonology and Phthisiology in 2007 and were partially revised in 2015. New scientific evidence prompted the present update, which is based on widely accepted international guidelines and was adapted to address local needs.

Predictors of Quality-of-Life Improvement at Different Minimum Clinically Important Difference Values in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease after Climatic Rehabilitation Treatment.

Background: The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) is debated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) quality-of-life (QoL) assessments. This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference in predictors of clinically significant improvement between the traditional (value of 4) and newly proposed MCID SGRQ (value of 7) after climatic rehabilitation treatment. Climatic rehabilitation treatment consists of two main parts: climatotherapy, which typically involves the controlled exposure of individuals to natural environmental elements, and climatic rehabilitation, which includes other therapeutic factors such as physical activities as well as educating the patient to change their lifestyle.

Baseline clusters and the response to positive airway pressure treatment in obstructive sleep apnoea patients: longitudinal data from the European Sleep Apnea Database cohort.

Introduction: The European Sleep Apnea Database was used to identify distinguishable obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) phenotypes and to investigate the clinical outcome during positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment.

Method: Prospective OSA patient data were recruited from 35 sleep clinics in 21 European countries. Unsupervised cluster analysis (anthropometrics, clinical variables) was performed in a random sample (n=5000).

Clinical presentation and pulmonary function tests in post-acute COVID-19 patients.

Aims: The study analysed post-acute COVID-19 symptoms and the pulmonary function test (PFT) results in patients surviving the native strain of the virus.

Methods: The study was prospective; the inclusion criteria were positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 and age 18-100. Exclusion criteria were active respiratory infection, known or suspicious pre-existing pulmonary disease, cardiac failure, recent or acute pulmonary embolism, anaemia, and neuromuscular diseases.

Management of obstructive sleep apnea in Europe - A 10-year follow-up.

Objective: In 2010, a questionnaire-based study on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management in Europe identified differences regarding reimbursement, sleep specialist qualification, and titration procedures. Now, 10 years later, a follow-up study was conducted as part of the ESADA (European Sleep Apnea Database) network to explore the development of OSA management over time.

Methods: The 2010 questionnaire including questions on sleep diagnostic, reimbursement, treatment, and certification was updated with questions on telemedicine and distributed to European Sleep Centers to reflect European OSA management practice.

Obstructive sleep apnoea in adult patients post-tonsillectomy.

Background: The impact of removing the upper airway lymphoid tissue and in particular, tonsillectomy, in adults with OSA has not been demonstrated in large populations.

Aims: To compare the severity of OSA and the prevalence of cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory co-morbidities between patients with OSA who had undergone previous tonsillectomy and those who had not.

Methods: The 19,711 participants in this study came from the European sleep apnea database (ESADA) which comprises data from unselected adult patients aged 18-80 years with a history of symptoms suggestive of OSA referred to sleep centers throughout Europe.

Impact of Sleep Apnea on Cardioembolic Risk in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Data From the ESADA Cohort.

Background And Purpose: An accurate determination of the cardioembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is crucial to prevent consequences like stroke. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a known risk factor for both AF and stroke. We aim to explore a possible association between OSA and an increased cardioembolic risk in patients with AF.

Long-term positive airway pressure therapy is associated with reduced total cholesterol levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: data from the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA).

Background And Aim: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent risk factor for dyslipidemia. The current study examined the effects of positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment on lipid status in the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA).

Methods: The prospective cohort study enrolled 1564 OSA subjects (74% male, mean age 54 ± 11y, body mass index (BMI) 32.

Effects of sleep apnea and kidney dysfunction on objective sleep quality in nondialyzed patients with chronic kidney disease: an ESADA study.

Study Objectives: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often report poor sleep quality, but they commonly exhibit OSA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of OSA severity and of estimated glomerular filtration rate impairment on objective sleep quality in nondialyzed patients with CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73m².

Periodic limb movements during sleep and blood pressure changes in sleep apnoea: Data from the European Sleep Apnoea Database.

Background And Objective: OSA and PLMS are known to induce acute BP swings during sleep. Our current study aimed to address the independent effect of PLMS on BP in an unselected OSA patient cohort.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 1487 patients (1110 males, no previous hypertension diagnosis or treatment, mean age: 52.

Association of JAG1 gene polymorphism with systemic blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a prospective cohort study.

Aim: To assess the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on blood pressure control in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study, conducted between 2004 and 2014, examined the associations of SNPs of JAG1, GUCY1A3-GUCY1B3, SH2B3, and NPR3-C5orf23 genes with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) in 1179 adults evaluated for OSA with overnight polysomnography. Genotyping was performed by unlabeled probe melting analysis.

The Effect of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Mountain Environment on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Chronic Bronchitis.

BACKGROUND We aimed to test the effectiveness of the pulmonary rehabilitation in a mountain environment on the pulmonary function, physical performance, dyspnea, affective factors, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis (CB), as well as to determine predictors of clinical improvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS 128 consecutive patients (90 diagnosed with COPD and 38 diagnosed with CB) underwent comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation for a duration of 3 weeks in one of 3 mountain health resorts in the High Tatras. The examination included spirometry (FEV1 and FEV1/FVC), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Borg scale of dyspnea, and assessment of depression (Zung score), anxiety (Beck score), and QoL using the SF-36 scales.

Erickson solution-focused coaching for weight management in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: ECOHEALTH pilot study.

Coaching as a lifestyle modification approach to weight management is insufficiently explored in obstructive sleep apnoea. We investigated anthropometry and body composition after 20 weeks of Erickson coaching in 26 obstructive sleep apnoea patients (19 males; 47.6 ± 2.

Severity of nocturnal hypoxia and daytime hypercapnia predicts CPAP failure in patients with COPD and obstructive sleep apnea overlap syndrome.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. In patients with OSA and concurrent COPD, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy improves survival. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of such patients do not tolerate CPAP.

Sarcopenic Obesity, Functional Outcomes, and Systemic Inflammation in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Both loss of muscle mass (ie, sarcopenia) and obesity adversely impact clinically important outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Currently, there are only a few studies in patients with COPD with sarcopenia and concurrent obesity, termed sarcopenic obesity (SO).

Objective: To explore the effects of SO on exercise capacity, health status, and systemic inflammation in COPD.

Relationship Between the Apolipoprotein E Genotype and LDL Particle Size in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with dyslipidemia and increased cardiovascular risk. We assessed the effects of apolipoprotein E ( APOE) genotype on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle size and lipid subclasses (separated by gradient gel electrophoresis) in patients with OSA. Stable patients (n = 181) prospectively recruited underwent full polysomnography.

Circulatory osteoprotegerin is related to osteoporosis of the hip in patients with COPD.

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a potent inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis, decreases bone resorption and has protective effects on bone mineral density (BMD). Recently we have shown that the adipose-tissue derived OPG relates to BMD in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition associated with increased risk of osteoporosis.

Objective: Here we aimed to investigate the potential of circulatory OPG to reflect hip BMD in patients with COPD.

Relationship between osteoporosis and adipose tissue leptin and osteoprotegerin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Introduction: The role of fat-bone interactions in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is poorly understood. Our aim was to investigate expressions of leptin and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in the adipose tissue, and their relationships to osteoporosis in patients with COPD.

Methods: In 39 patients with stable COPD, bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition was assessed by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry.

Metabolic phenotype and adipose tissue inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Potential links between metabolic derangements and adipose tissue (AT) inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are unexplored. We investigated AT expressions of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, CD68 (macrophage cell surface receptor), caspase-3, and Bax, and their relationships to the metabolic phenotype in nine cachectic, 12 normal-weight, 12 overweight, and 11 obese patients with COPD (age 62.3 ± 7.

Increased adipose tissue expression of proinflammatory CD40, MKK4 and JNK in patients with very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: CD40, a transmembrane receptor of the tumor necrosis factor gene superfamily, is activated in response to cellular stress, including hypoxia, and orchestrates the process of inflammation via secondary messengers such as mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4) and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinases (JNK).

Objectives: We hypothesized that CD40, MKK4 and JNK expression is increased in the adipose tissue of patients with very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: In 20 patients with stable COPD, lung function was assessed using body plethysmography, and samples of subcutaneous adipose tissue were analyzed using real-time PCR.

Nutritional status in relation to respiratory impairment and systemic inflammation in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD.

Background: Knowledge of the effects of undernourishment on the severity of respiratory impairment, systemic inflammation and oxidative stress during acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) is limited. In patients with AECOPD, we assessed the relationships between BMI, lung function, and markers of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.

Material/methods: We measured pulmonary function, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, malondialdehyde (MDA), erythrocytic glutathione-peroxidase (GPx), superoxiddismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in 113 patients admitted to the hospital due to an AECOPD (80 males, age 66.

Beta2-adrenergic receptor haplotype and bronchodilator response to salbutamol in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD.

Background: The role of the beta2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) genotype in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unclear. In patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD), we assessed the role of ADRB2 haplotypes in morning lung function and in the bronchodilator response to salbutamol.

Material/methods: In 107 patients with AECOPD, polymorphisms in the amino acid position 16 (Arg16/Gly16) and 27 (Gln27/Glu27) of the ADRB2 gene were assessed by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction, identifying 31 subjects with the Gly16/Glu27-negative and 76 with the Gly16/Glu27-positive ADRB2 haplotype.

Glutathione S-transferase and microsomal epoxide hydrolase gene polymorphisms and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Slovak population.

Aim: To determine the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with polymorphisms in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1, GST T1, and microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1) genes in a cohort of Slovak population.

Methods: Two hundred and seventeen patients with the diagnosis of COPD and 160 control subjects were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected from all subjects and the DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes was used for subsequent genotyping assays, using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment-length polymorphism methods.