The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of propofol administration (2 mg · kg ‐1 i.v.) on the airways resistances and respiratory mechanics of patients affected by COPD exacerbation, requiring mechanical ventilation. Twenty patients required anaesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Fourteen consecutive patients were divided at random into two groups: Group P received propofol and Group C (control) received only Intralipid 10%; an additional group of six patients received i.v. flunitrazepam (0.03 mg · kg ‐1 ). Lung mechanics (dynamic and static compliance, peak inspiratory pressure, intrinsic positive and expiratory pressure, minimal and maximal resistances of the respiratory system) were evaluated in basal conditions and 3 and 6 min after propofol, Intralipid or flunitrazepam administration. We did not observe significant variations of the evaluated variables after Intralipid or flunitrazepam (Groups C and F), while in patients who received propofol (Group P), we observed the following modifications: dynamic compliance increased from 2.3 ± 0.3 to 2.8 ± 0.4 ml · kPa ‐1 (P<0.05), peak inspiratory pressure decreased from 3.3 ± 0.7 to 2.8 ± 0.4 kPa ( P <0.05), minimal resistances of the respiratory system (that mainly reflect airways resistances) decreased from 1 ± 0.2 to 0.7 ± 0.2 kPa · 1 ‐1 · s ‐1 ( P <0.01). Our results suggest that propofol induces bronchodilation in mechanically ventilated COPD patients, and that this effect is not related specifically to the induction of general anesthesia.
Sodium oxybate (SMO) has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of patients with alcohol use disorders (AUDs); it was approved in Italy and Austria for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and for relapse prevention. The focus of this review is to discuss the clinical evidence on the therapeutic potential of SMO for AUDs.This review covers the studies in patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome who received SMO for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms and the studies in patients with AUDs who received SMO to achieve total alcohol abstinence, reduction of alcohol intake, and relapse prevention. Relevant medical literature on SMO was identified by searching databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE (searches last updated 20 September 2013), bibliographies from published literature, clinical trial registries/databases, and websites.SMO has proved safe and effective in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and in the prevention of relapses. Craving for and abuse of SMO have been reported, in particular in some subtypes of alcoholic patients, e.g., those affected by co-addiction and/or psychiatric comorbidity. Future multicenter, multinational, randomized clinical trials should be useful to optimize the treatments in relation with patients' characteristics, for example, pharmacogenetic, neurobiological, and psychological.
Personalized positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) might foster lung and diaphragm protection in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who are undergoing pressure support ventilation (PSV). We aimed to compare the physiologic effects of personalized PEEP set according to synchronized electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and driving transpulmonary pressure (∆PL) monitoring against a classical lower PEEP/FiO
Madelung's disease is a rare condition characterized by symmetric growth of fatty tumors (lipomas) around the neck, shoulders, upper arms, and trunk. It often affects men with a history of alcohol abuse. Here we report a review of the literature about this disease together with the description of a patient affected by Madelung's disease and acute alcoholic hepatitis.
It has been proposed that vaccines may exert an unspecific protective effect against infectious agents, different than expected. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic infection with high mortality in older patients due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The high number of vaccinations may be one of the reasons why children show a lower susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and milder severity when compared to adults. We have designed a study aimed at investigating whether the influenza vaccine may reduce the susceptibility and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We retrospectively enrolled 635 patients who accessed our Emergency Department from March 1st to June 30th, 2020, and were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection confirmed by an RT-PCR on an oropharyngeal swab. Clinical data, outcomes, and influenza vaccination status were collected from the electronic medical records of our Hospital. We also used data from the Italian Health Ministry to compare the prevalence of flu vaccination among the general population of the Lazio Region and our enrolled patients. We then compared clinical outcomes between vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients, by univariate and multivariate analysis. COVID-19-positive patients older than 65 years reported a lower prevalence of flu vaccination when compared to the general population residing in the Lazio (p = 0.004). After correction for gender, age, and comorbidities, we found a lower risk of death at 60 days in patients with flu vaccination than in not vaccinated patients (p = 0.001). Our study shows that flu vaccination could reduce the mortality of COVID-19. Prospective studies are needed to confirm this result.
The purpose of this paper is to contextualize the case of a patient with a synchronous diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and endocarditis from S. gallolyticus subsp. pasteuranus (former S. Bovis) within the current evidence, in order to determine if this condition is indicative of an underlying CRC and if it has any pathophysiologic significance.First, we describe the clinical case. Then, we review the literature focused on the association between infections from the former S. Bovis group and CRC and on the possible role of certain microbiota species on the occurrence of CRC. At last, we discuss the implications of this case considering the current evidence.There is a strong association between all the species of the former S. Bovis group and CRC. There is initial evidence that these bacteria may contribute to CRC by a genomic passenger mechanism.There are two main conclusions for this paper. The first one is that CRC neoplasms and endocarditis from all species of the former S. bovis group have a strong association. Any case of infection by these subspecies should prompt to a diagnostic completion by colonoscopy. The second one is that there is an increased need for detailed reports/series and original articles based on the evaluation of gut microbiota in patients with CRC, with the aim to clarify if the association between bacteria and CRC is causative or sporadic and to better understand the possible causative mechanism of specific bacteria in initiating and promoting CRC.
ABSTRACT Few data are available on the lung microbiota composition of patients with coronavirus disease 2019-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (C-ARDS) receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Moreover, it has never been investigated whether there is a potential correlation between lung microbiota communities and respiratory mechanics. We performed a prospective observational study in two intensive care units of a university hospital in Italy. Lung microbiota was investigated by bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing, performed on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples withdrawn after intubation. The lung bacterial communities were analyzed after stratification by respiratory system compliance/predicted body weight (Crs) and ventilatory ratio (VR). Weaning from IMV and hospital survival were assessed as secondary outcomes. In 70 C-ARDS patients requiring IMV from 1 April through 31 December 2020, the lung microbiota composition (phylum taxonomic level, permutational multivariate analysis of variance test) significantly differed between who had low Crs vs those with high Crs ( P = 0.010), as well as in patients with low VR vs high VR ( P = 0.012). As difference-driving taxa, Proteobacteria ( P = 0.017) were more dominant and Firmicutes ( P = 0.040) were less dominant in low- vs high-Crs patients. Similarly, Proteobacteria were more dominant in low- vs high-VR patients ( P = 0.013). After multivariable regression analysis, we further observed lung microbiota diversity as a negative predictor of weaning from IMV and hospital survival (hazard ratio = 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.52–7.20, P = 0.048). C-ARDS patients with low Crs/low VR had a Proteobacteria-dominated lung microbiota. Whether patients with a more diverse lung bacterial community may have more chances to be weaned from IMV and discharged alive from the hospital warrants further large-scale investigations. IMPORTANCE Lung microbiota characteristics were demonstrated to predict ventilator-free days and weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study, we observed that in severe coronavirus disease 2019 patients with ARDS who require invasive mechanical ventilation, lung microbiota characteristics were associated with respiratory mechanics. Specifically, the lung microbiota of patients with low respiratory system compliance and low ventilatory ratio was characterized by Proteobacteria dominance. Moreover, after multivariable regression analysis, we also found an association between patients’ microbiota diversity and a higher possibility of being weaned from mechanical ventilation and discharged alive from the hospital. For these reasons, lung microbiota characterization may help to stratify patient characteristics and orient the delivery of target interventions. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on 17 February 2020 under identifier NCT04271345.) Clinical Trial Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, 17 February 2020 ( NCT0427135 ).
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