Tailored Therapies for Cardiogenic Shock in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Navigating Emerging Strategies.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex and heterogeneous cardiac disorder, often complicated by cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening condition marked by severe cardiac output failure. Managing cardiogenic shock in HCM patients presents unique challenges due to the distinct pathophysiology of the disease, which includes dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, diastolic dysfunction, and myocardial ischemia. This review discusses current and emerging therapeutic strategies tailored to address the complexities of HCM-associated cardiogenic shock and other diseases with similar pathophysiology that provoke left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

Mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementia.

Introduction: Adjustable lifestyle factors, such as diet, are associated with cognitive functions, structural and functional brain measures, but the association between the functional connectivity (FC) and the Mediterranean Diet (Medicine) in population without dementia is yet to be explored.

Methods: The association between MeDi and brain FC in 105 individuals without dementia aged 63 (SD ± 8.72) years old who underwent brain MRI including resting-state (rs) functional MRI (fMRI) was examined.

Εosinophilic Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. What Do We Know So Far?

The latest advances in asthma treatment have highlighted the significance of eosinophilia and the possible role of some pro-eosinophilic mediators, like interleukins (IL) IL-5, IL-4/IL-13, and IL-33 in the disease's pathogenesis. Considering that a subgroup of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have blood eosinophilia akin to that seen in asthma, numerous studies in the last decade have suggested that eosinophilic COPD is a separate entity. While the exact role of blood eosinophils in the pathophysiology of COPD remains unclear, eosinophilia seems to increase the effectiveness of corticosteroid therapy.

Prevalence of SARS-COV-2 infection and outcomes in Greek sarcoidosis patients.

Background And Aim: There is limited data on the prevalence of SARS-COV-2 in sarcoidosis patients and the underlying parameters linked to severity. We aimed to conduct a national multicenter study to explore the prevalence of SARS-COV-2 in sarcoidosis patients and investigate its impact on hospitalization and infection rates, describe the characteristics of the infected population and assess the role of these characteristics in determining the likelihood of infection or hospitalization.

Methods: We recruited all the adult sarcoidosis patients with who were examined across eight Greek Health Interstitial Lung Disease Referral Centers from the beginning of the pandemic until August 1, 2022.

Palliative care in lung cancer: tumour- and treatment-related complications in lung cancer and their management.

Palliative care pertains to the holistic multidimensional concept of "patient-centred" care. It is an interprofessional specialty, primarily aiming to improve quality of care for cancer patients and their families, from the time of diagnosis of malignant disease, over the continuum of cancer care, and extending after the patient's death to the period of bereavement to support the patient's family. There are various complex and frequently unmet needs of lung cancer patients and their families/caregivers, not only physical but also psychological, social, spiritual and cultural.

The Clinical Utility of Pulmonary Function Tests in the Diagnosis and Characterization of Central Airway Obstruction: A Narrative Review.

Central airway obstruction is of major clinical importance since it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and is usually clinically diagnosed late. Pulmonary function tests, with the recent incorporation of oscillometry, can have a crucial role in earlier diagnosis. In this review, we summarize all recent advances in that view, including the crucial role of oscillometry.

Stage III NSCLC treatment options: too many choices.

Stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents a wide range of tumour (T1 to T4) and nodal (N0 to N3) components, requiring variable management and a multidisciplinary approach. Recent advancements in minimally invasive techniques, molecular biology and novel drug discoveries have accelerated the refinement of stage III NSCLC management. The latest developments in staging include the forthcoming update of the nodal component in the 9th TNM (tumour-node-metastasis) edition, which emphasises the critical role for endobronchial ultrasonography in mediastinal staging.

New diagnostic and nonsurgical local treatment modalities for early stage lung cancer.

This paper highlights developments in diagnostic and nonsurgical local treatment modalities that have changed the management of early-stage lung cancer. These innovations aim to enhance diagnostic accuracy, minimize invasiveness, and improve patient outcomes. Liquid biopsies are emerging as promising tools for non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring, enabling earlier intervention without being standardized yet as well as not yet anchored in the guidelines.

Lung cancer: an update on the multidisciplinary approach from screening to palliative care.

https://bit.ly/3XQexmp.

Stage I and II nonsmall cell lung cancer treatment options.

Chest radiography, computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT are required for staging nonsmall cell lung cancers. Stage I cancers may be up to 4 cm in maximal diameter, with stage IA tumours being up to 3 cm and stage IB up to 4 cm. A lung cancer becomes stage II if the tumour is between 4 and ≤5 cm (stage IIA), or it spreads to ipsilateral peribronchial or hilar lymph nodes (stage IIB).

Interventional bronchoscopy in lung cancer treatment.

Interventional bronchoscopy has seen significant advancements in recent decades, particularly in the context of lung cancer. This method has expanded not only diagnostic capabilities but also therapeutic options. In this article, we will outline various therapeutic approaches employed through either a rigid or flexible bronchoscope in multimodal lung cancer treatment.

A scoping review of lung cancer surgery with curative intent: workup, fitness assessment, clinical outcomes.

Lung cancer surgery with curative intent has significantly developed over recent years, mainly focusing on minimally invasive approaches that do not compromise medical efficiency and ensure a decreased burden on the patient. It is directly linked with an efficient multidisciplinary team that will perform appropriate pre-operative assessment. Caution is required in complex patients with several comorbidities to ensure a meaningful and informed thoracic surgery referral leading to optimal patient outcomes.

Adjuvant immunotherapy and targeted therapy in early and locally advanced resectable lung cancer: expanding treatment tentacles?

Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy has been the main treatment following surgical resection with curative intent in early and locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) albeit with a 5% improvement in 5-year survival rates. Recent advances in biomarkers pave the way for targeted treatments and immunotherapy in a broader spectrum of patients with subsequently improved clinical outcomes. Targeted treatments and immunotherapy have established their place in the adjuvant setting of resected NSCLC.

Treatment Adherence and Health Status of Patients With COPD Under Treatment With Salmeterol/Fluticasone via the Elpenhaler® Device: The AHEAD Study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous progressive lung condition characterized by long-term respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. Appropriate bronchodilation is the cornerstone of COPD treatment, leading to better health status as well as benefits in prognosis and mortality.

Methods: In the current open, noninterventional, observational study, 716 patients diagnosed with COPD of variable severity were administered a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol (500 + 50 mcg) through the Elpenhaler® device.

Unravelling the diagnostic pathology and molecular biomarkers in lung cancer.

The progress in lung cancer treatment is closely interlinked with the progress in diagnostic methods. There are four steps before commencing lung cancer treatment: estimation of the patient's performance status, assessment of disease stage (tumour, node, metastasis), recognition of histological subtype, and detection of biomarkers. The resection rate in lung cancer is <30% and >70% of patients need systemic therapy, which is individually adjusted.

Gestational Metabolic Risk: A Narrative Review of Pregnancy-Related Complications and of the Effectiveness of Dietary, Exercise and Lifestyle Interventions during Pregnancy on Reducing Gestational Weight Gain and Preventing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

This study is a Narrative Review that aims at investigating the implications of obesity, excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Additionally, this Review seeks to explore the effectiveness of nutrition, and/or exercise interventions during pregnancy on reducing GWG and preventing GDM. The search in literature included studies that identified obesity, GWG, GDM and associated risks during pregnancy.

The Effectiveness of Atezolizumab in Metastatic Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lungs: Insights from the LANCE Pilot Study.

Background: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) presents significant treatment challenges due to its rarity and limited therapeutic options. The LANCE study was designed to explore the survival benefits of incorporating atezolizumab in chemotherapy for metastatic LCNEC.

Methods: In this non-randomized study, patients with metastatic LCNEC were prospectively enrolled and assigned to receive either standard chemotherapy plus atezolizumab followed by maintenance with atezolizumab or standard chemotherapy alone.

How will lung cancer screening and lung nodule management change the diagnostic and surgical lung cancer landscape?

Introduction: Implementation of lung cancer screening, with its subsequent findings, is anticipated to change the current diagnostic and surgical lung cancer landscape. This review aimed to identify and present the most updated expert opinion and discuss relevant evidence regarding the impact of lung cancer screening and lung nodule management on the diagnostic and surgical landscape of lung cancer, as well as summarise points for clinical practice.

Methods: This article is based on relevant lectures and talks delivered during the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Respiratory Society Collaborative Course on Thoracic Oncology (February 2023).

The Role of Biomarkers in Lung Cancer Screening.

Background: Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) is an evolving field with variations in its implementation in various countries. There are only scarce data from National LCS programs.

Aim: We aim to provide an up-to-date overview of the current evidence regarding the use of biomarkers in LCS.

Transradial Prostatic Artery Embolization as a Salvage Procedure in a Patient With Severe Deformities and Refractory Hematuria of Prostatic Origin.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common condition causing urinary symptoms in older men. It can sometimes lead to hematuria of prostatic origin, due to increased vascularity of the enlarged gland. If this type of hematuria is severe and refractory to conservative measures, it can be life-threatening.