One Year Follow-Up Assessment of Impact of Rigorous Diet Regimen and Adequate C-PAP Therapy on Obese Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Retrospective Study.

This study evaluated the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (C-PAP) therapy combined with a rigorous diet regimen on obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Sixty obese patients (BMI ≥ 30) diagnosed with severe OSAS were recruited in order to establish the evaluation of CPAP therapy with different extents of adherence to a rigorous diet regimen. After one year, significant improvements were observed.

The hospital emigration to another region in the light of the environmental, social and governance model in Italy during the period 2004-2021.

The following article presents an analysis of the impact of the Environmental, Social and Governance-ESG determinants on Hospital Emigration to Another Region-HEAR in the Italian regions in the period 2004-2021. The data are analysed using Panel Data with Random Effects, Panel Data with Fixed Effects, Pooled Ordinary Least Squares-OLS, Weighted Least Squares-WLS, and Dynamic Panel at 1 Stage. Furthermore, to control endogeneity we also created instrumental variable models for each component of the ESG model.

Significant burden of post-COVID exertional dyspnoea in a South-Italy region: knowledge of risk factors might prevent further critical overload on the healthcare system.

Background: Exertional dyspnoea in post-COVID syndrome is a debilitating manifestation, requiring appropriate comprehensive management. However, limited-resources healthcare systems might be unable to expand their healthcare-providing capacity and are expected to be overwhelmed by increasing healthcare demand. Furthermore, since post-COVID exertional dyspnoea is regarded to represent an umbrella term, encompassing several clinical conditions, stratification of patients with post-COVID exertional dyspnoea, depending on risk factors and underlying aetiologies might provide useful for healthcare optimization and potentially help relieve healthcare service from overload.

Economic impact of implementing prescription of single-inhaler triple therapies versus current multiple-inhaler triple therapies for COPD in the Apulia Region.

Background: The most impacting direct costs associated to COPD for the National Health Systems (NHS) are those related to accesses to the emergency room and hospital admissions, due to the onset of one or more COPD exacerbations. At the same time, severe COPD treatment, that often require a combination of medicaments, represents a substantial economic burden for the National Health Systems (NHS). This study aimed to evaluate the potential saving deriving from the implementation in the prescription of the two currently available single-inhaler triple therapies (SITTs) versus the currently used multiple-inhaler triple therapies (MITTs) in an eligible COPD population residing in the Apulia Region.

Predictive tools for nocturnal respiratory failure in patients with moderate and severe OSAS.

Purpose: The impact of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in terms of mortality, morbidity, and quality of life has been well established. Phenotyping OSAS is essential in order to make the best therapeutic choice. A particular subset of patients with OSAS shows nocturnal respiratory failure, defined by a nighttime oxygen saturation <90% in more than 30% of the total sleep time (TST90).

Early effectiveness of type-2 severe asthma treatment with dupilumab in a real-life setting; a FeNO-driven choice that leads to winning management.

Background: Dupilumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the IL4/IL13 signaling pathway, already used for atopic dermatitis and chronic rhinitis with nasal polyps, recently approved for severe type-2 asthma. Its efficacy has been demonstrated in randomized control trials. The aim of our study is to evaluate possible early clinical improvement and type 2 biomarkers modifications in severe asthmatic patients treated with dupilumab in a real-life setting.

Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab administered in an outpatient setting for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The early administration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) could decrease the risk of severe disease and the need of inpatients care. Herein, our clinical experience with Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab for the treatment of early SARS-CoV-2 infection through an outpatient service was described. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 were selected by General Practitioners (GPs) if eligible to mAb administration, according to manufacturer and AIFA (Agenzia-Italiana-del-Farmaco) criteria.

The association between dysphagia and OSA.

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of dysphagia in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and to correlate swallowing impairment with hypnologic and anatomic parameters.

Methods: The study population includes 36 patients suffering from OSA. Patients were divided into two groups using the presence of dysphagia as a distinctive parameter.

Relationships between Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and cardiovascular risk in a naïve population of southern Italy.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a worldwide increasing syndrome, which, by promoting endothelial dysfunction, contributes to extend the cardiovascular risk. We evaluated the cardiovascular risk in a group of OSA patients.

Methods: A total of 185 OSA subjects (19 normal weight, 57 overweight, 109 obese), who entered the Ambulatory of Sleep Disorders of the Institute of Respiratory Diseases of the University of Bari, during 1 year, were enrolled in the study.

Impact of smoking, COPD and comorbidities on the mortality of COVID-19 patients.

The prognosis of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is variable and depends on several factors. Current data about the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smoking on the clinical course of COVID-19 are still controversial. This study evaluated the prevalence and the prognosis of COPD patients and smokers in a cohort of 521 patients admitted to four intermediate Respiratory Intensive Care Units (Puglia, Italy) with respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia.

Mild/Moderate Asthma Network in Italy (MANI): a long-term observational study.

Objective: The prevalence of asthma in Italy is estimated to be around 4%; it affects approximately 2,000,000 citizens, and up to 80-90% of patients have mild-to-moderate asthma. Despite the clinical relevance of mild-to-moderate asthma, longitudinal observational data are very limited, including data on disease progression (worsening vs. improvement), the response to treatment, and prognosis.

Reduction of Sniff Nasal Inspiratory Pressure (SNIP) as an Early Indicator of the Need of Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the standard procedure for feeding severely dysphagic patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is associated with prolonged survival and improvement in quality of life. Nasal inspiratory pressure during a sniff (SNIP) is a respiratory test used extensively in ALS for the assessment of inspiratory muscle strength.

Prolonged Active Prone Positioning in Spontaneously Breathing Non-intubated Patients With COVID-19-Associated Hypoxemic Acute Respiratory Failure With PaO/FiO >150.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to new approaches to manage patients outside the ICU, including prone positioning in non-intubated patients. To report the use of prolonged active prone positioning in spontaneously breathing patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory failure. Spontaneously breathing vs non-invasive respiratory support for COVID19 associated acute respiratory failure.

Noninvasive respiratory support outside the intensive care unit for acute respiratory failure related to coronavirus-19 disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Noninvasive respiratory support (NIRS) has been diffusely employed outside the intensive care unit (ICU) to face the high request of ventilatory support due to the massive influx of patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) caused by coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19). We sought to summarize the evidence on clinically relevant outcomes in COVID-19 patients supported by NIV outside the ICU.

Methods: We searched PUBMED®, EMBASE®, and the Cochrane Controlled Clinical trials register, along with medRxiv and bioRxiv repositories for pre-prints, for observational studies and randomized controlled trials, from inception to the end of February 2021.

COVID-19 clinical phenotypes and short-term outcomes: differences between the first and the second wave of pandemic in Italy.

There are no comparative studies between patients belonging to the first and second waves of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the virus triggering coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the clinical characteristics and the short-term outcomes of two groups of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) belonging to two different waves of the pandemic.  We analyzed 97 consecutive patients from 11 March 2020 to 31 May 2020 and 52 consecutive patients from 28 August 2020 to 15 October 2020.

Criteria of prescription of antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids among pulmonologists and general practictioners during asthma and COPD exacerbations: a southern Italian survey.

To date, there is still a lack of unanimity regarding the definition of exacerbation of asthma and COPD and about objective measurements in the currently used criteria. The aim of our study was to conduct a survey among general practitioners (GPs) and pulmonologists regarding the clinical criteria arbitrarily considered as important to start a course of systemic corticoids and/or antibiotics in asthma and COPD. We conducted a survey enrolling 50 general practitioners (GPs) and 50 pulmonologists, that evaluated the clinical criteria arbitrated as essential to start a course of systemic corticosteroids or antibiotics during asthma and/or COPD exacerbations.

Incidence of deep venous thrombosis in patients with both Pulmonary Embolism and COPD.

Background: There are no studies investigating populations of patients with both pulmonary embolism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PE-COPD) with and without deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Aim Of The Study: To define prevalence of DVT in COPD with PE and to compare characteristics of COPD patients who develop PE, with and without DVT. Secondly, we aimed to assess differences in the localization of PE among study groups.

Postprandial glucose and HbA1c are associated with severity of obstructive sleep apnoea in non-diabetic obese subjects.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an underdiagnosed condition frequently associated with glycaemic control impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To assess the relationship between glycometabolic parameters and OSA in obese non-diabetic subjects.

Methods: Ninety consecutive subjects (mean age 44.

Risk factors for transfer from Respiratory Intermediate Care Unit to Intensive Care Unit in COVID-19.

Background: Patients hospitalized for COVID-19-related pneumonia often need several degrees of ventilatory support, which are performed between Respiratory Intermediate Care Units (RICUs) and Intensive Care Units (ICUs), and which depend on the severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome. There is no firm consensus on transfer predictors from the RICU to the ICU.

Methods: In this retrospective observational single center study, we evaluated 96 COVID-19 patients referred to the RICU for acute respiratory failure (ARF) according to their transferal to the ICU or their stay at the RICU.

Galectin-3 and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are indicative of heart remodelling and disease severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Background: Galectin-3, considered as a new inflammatory marker; it is increased in cardiovascular disease. We investigated Galectin-3 in relation to heart damage in patients with OSA and its role in inflammation, based on the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR).

Methods: Sixty-three consecutive patients (45 males, 18 females, 58.

Clinical and economic consequences of switching from omalizumab to mepolizumab in uncontrolled severe eosinophilic asthma.

Severe asthma is burdened by frequent exacerbations and use of oral corticosteroids (OCS), which worsen patients' health and increase healthcare spending. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and economic impact of switching from omalizumab (OMA) to mepolizumab (MEP) in patients eligible for both biologics, but not optimally controlled by omalizumab. We retrospectively enrolled uncontrolled severe asthmatic patients who switched from OMA to MEP during the last two years.

Surgical mask and N95 in healthcare workers of Covid-19 departments: clinical and social aspects.

Unlabelled: Introdution. In order to prevent or slow down the transmission of COVID-19, various public health measures have been introduced, including social distancing, environmental disinfection and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). In this perspective, the clinical practice of healthcare professionals has changed dramatically.

More skilled clinical management of COVID-19 patients modified mortality in an intermediate respiratory intensive care unit in Italy.

Background: Some studies investigated epidemiological and clinical features of laboratory-confirmed patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but limited attention has been paid to the follow-up of hospitalized patients on the basis of clinical setting and the expertise of clinical management.

Methods: In the present single-centered, retrospective, observational study, we reported findings from 87 consecutive laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory syndrome hospitalized in an intermediate Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU), subdividing the patients in two groups according to the admission date (before and after March 29, 2020).

Results: With improved skills in the clinical management of COVID-19, we observed a significant lower mortality in the T2 group compared with the T1 group and a significantly difference in terms of mortality among the patients transferred in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from our intermediate RICU (100% in T1 group vs.