Clinical utility of bedside Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of pneumonia in elderly patients: Comparison with clinical, -radiological and ultrasound diagnosis.

Aims: to measure the clinical impact of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of -community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), compared to clinical, radiological and ultrasound diagnosis.

Methods: 84 patients (47/37 males/females, mean age:78,57±11,7 Y) with clinical suspicion of pneumonia and with ultrasound findings of peripheral lung lesions, were investigated with CEUS for a better characterization. Final diagnosis of 65 cap was obtained with complete disappearance of symptoms and pulmonary nodule(s); 19 neoplasms: 16 patients performed histologically with bronchoscopy; 3 refused (non-invasive diagnosis with basal CT-scan and positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)).

Prolonged Low-Dose Methylprednisolone in Patients With Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Background: In hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, progression to acute respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Severe dysregulated systemic inflammation is the putative mechanism. We hypothesize that early prolonged methylprednisolone (MP) treatment could accelerate disease resolution, decreasing the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality.

Exercise capacity and comorbidities in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Objectives: There are few studies evaluating (1) exercise capacity as assessed by the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) test in large populations with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); and (2) correlations with patients' comorbidities.

Methods: This study presents a cluster analysis performed on the data of 1,228 patients. Severity of exercise limitation was defined on the basis of 6MWD.

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on respiratory drive in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have an altered control of breathing during wakefulness. Thus far, whether and how treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may restore these abnormalities has been poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of CPAP on the breathing pattern, ventilatory drive (VDr), and chemoreceptor sensitivity in OSA patients.

Implementation of a real-world based ICF set for the rehabilitation of respiratory diseases: a pilot study.

Background: International Classification Functioning (ICF) Core Sets represent a holistic approach to functioning within rehabilitation field. Information-reporting efficacy of a rehabilitation-based Respiratory ICF set applied on a large scale throughout the ICS Maugeri network was tested.

Methods: A prospective multi-center study (May-November 2018) was conducted for all respiratory inpatients consecutively admitted for rehabilitation.