Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and glucose metabolism remains controversial. This study investigates the relationship between OSA and incident type 2 diabetes (DM) and prediabetes (preDM), as well as the effect of long-term CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment.

Methods: Follow-up study in a retrospective clinical cohort of patients with OSA and randomly selected controls.

Usefulness of a predictive model to hospitalize patients with low-risk community-acquired pneumonia.

Introduction: A high proportion of patients with low-risk community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (classes I-III of the Pneumonia Severity Index) are hospitalized. The purpose of this study was to determine whether validated severity scales are used in clinical practice to make admission decisions, identify the variables that influence this decision, and evaluate the potential predictive value of these variables.

Materials And Methods: A prospective, observational study of patients ≥ 18 years of age with a diagnosis of low-risk CAP hospitalized or referred from the Emergency Department to outpatient consultations.

Diabetes and obstructive sleep apnoea: A case-control study.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are very prevalent diseases frequently associated. Their coexistence is independently associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities. As this association is underdiagnosed, it is necessary to optimise clinical suspicion by studying independent predictors of DM or prediabetes (preDM) in patients with OSA.

Characteristics of pleural effusion due to amyloidosis.

The characteristics of patients with pleural amyloidosis (PA) are poorly known. A systematic review was performed of studies reporting clinical findings, pleural fluid (PF) characteristics, and the most effective treatment of PA. Case descriptions and retrospective studies were included.

Cost-Effectiveness of a New Outpatient Pulmonology Care Model Based on Physician-to-Physician Electronic Consultation.

Introduction: This study assesses the impact of an electronic physician-to-physician consultation program on the waiting list and the costs of a Pulmonology Unit.

Materials And Methods: A prepost intervention study was conducted after a new ambulatory pulmonary care protocol was implemented and the capacity of the unit was adopted. In the new model, physicians at all levels of healthcare send electronic consultations to specialists.

Sarcoidosis. Disease progression based on radiological and functional course: Predictive factors.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multiorgan granulomatous disease with a variable course.

Oobjectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the patients that are more likely to experience disease progression.

Methods: A retrospective study in patients ≥18 years.

Health outcomes: Towards the accreditation of respiratory medicine departments.

National health systems must ensure compliance with conditions such as equity, efficiency, quality, and transparency. Since it is the right of society to know the health outcomes of its healthcare system, our aim was to develop a proposal for the accreditation of respiratory medicine departments in terms of care, teaching, and research, measuring health outcomes using quality of care indicators. The management tools proposed in this article should be implemented to improve outcomes and help us achieve our objectives.

Evaluation of the impact of an integrated care pathway for pulmonary embolism: a quasi-experimental pre-post study.

Background: An integrated care pathway (ICP) is intended to improve the management of prevalent resource-consuming, life-threatening diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the quality of patient care improved with the establishment of a dedicated unit for pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study (pre: years 2010-2013; post: 2015-2020; year 2014, "washing" period) of PE patients ≥18 years (January 2010-June 2020).

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis: Clinical, radiological and histopathological features.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare, generally idiopathic form of interstitial pneumonia with unique clinical, radiological and histopathological features. It is named after the presence of upper lobe pleural and subjacent parenchymal fibrosis, with accompanying elastic fibers. Although it is usually an idiopathic disease, it has been linked to other co-existent diseases.

Health Outcomes: Towards the Accreditation of Respiratory Medicine Departments.

National health systems must ensure compliance with conditions such as equity, efficiency, quality, and transparency. Since it is the right of society to know the health outcomes of its healthcare system, our aim was to develop a proposal for the accreditation of respiratory medicine departments in terms of care, teaching, and research, measuring health outcomes using quality of care indicators. The management tools proposed in this article should be implemented to improve outcomes and help us achieve our objectives.

Impact of cardiovascular risk factors on the clinical presentation and survival of pulmonary embolism without identifiable risk factor.

Background: The nature of pulmonary embolism (PE) without identifiable risk factor (IRF) remains unclear. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and PE without IRF (unprovoked) and assess their role as markers of disease severity and prognosis.

Methods: A case-control study was performed of patients with PE admitted to our hospital [2010-2019].

Development and validation of a clinical score to estimate progression to severe or critical state in COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized patients.

The prognosis of a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia is uncertain. Our objective was to establish a predictive model of disease progression to facilitate early decision-making. A retrospective study was performed of patients admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia, classified as severe (admission to the intensive care unit, mechanic invasive ventilation, or death) or non-severe.

Impact of sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome on diabetic neuropathy. A systematic review.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus and sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome appear to be related, but it is not well defined whether there is an increased risk of peripheral neuropathy in patients with both diseases. For this reason, we conducted a systematic review.

Methods: Bibliographic search in 3 electronic databases using a predefined strategy and the PRISMA methodology.

Diagnosis of infectious pleural effusion using predictive models based on pleural fluid biomarkers.

Introduction: Diagnosis of pleural infection (PI) may be challenging. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a clinical prediction model for the diagnosis of PI based on pleural fluid (PF) biomarkers.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on pleural effusion.

The Combined Use of Pleural Fluid Parameters Improves Diagnostic Accuracy in Complicated Pleural Infection/Empyema.

Introduction: Identifying infectious pleural effusions (IPE) that will progress to complicated infection or empyema is challenging. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a model based on multiple biochemical parameters in pleural fluid can predict which IPEs will produce empyema.

Methods: A prospective study was performed of all cases of IPEs treated in our unit.

Diaphragmatic dysfunction.

The diaphragm is the main breathing muscle and contraction of the diaphragm is vital for ventilation so any disease that interferes with diaphragmatic innervation, contractile muscle function, or mechanical coupling to the chest wall can cause diaphragm dysfunction. Diaphragm dysfunction is associated with dyspnoea, intolerance to exercise, sleep disturbances, hypersomnia, with a potential impact on survival. Diagnosis of diaphragm dysfunction is based on static and dynamic imaging tests (especially ultrasound) and pulmonary function and phrenic nerve stimulation tests.

Pulmonary vasculitis.

Systemic vasculitides frequently affect the pulmonary vasculature. As the signs and symptoms of pulmonary vasculitis are variable and nonspecific, diagnosis and treatment represent a real challenge. Vasculitides should be given consideration, as these diseases present severe manifestations of rapidly progressing pulmonary disease.

Inhibition of DYRK1A destabilizes EGFR and reduces EGFR-dependent glioblastoma growth.

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are very aggressive tumors that are resistant to conventional chemo- and radiotherapy. New molecular therapeutic strategies are required to effectively eliminate the subpopulation of GBM tumor-initiating cells that are responsible for relapse. Since EGFR is altered in 50% of GBMs, it represents one of the most promising targets; however, EGFR kinase inhibitors have produced poor results in clinical assays, with no clear explanation for the observed resistance.