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Background The risk of barotrauma associated with different types of ventilatory support is unclear in COVID- 19 patients. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the different respiratory support strategies on barotrauma occurrence; we also sought to determine the frequency of barotrauma and the clinical characteristics of the patients who experienced this complication. Methods This multicentre retrospective case-control study from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021 included COVID-19 patients who experienced barotrauma during hospital stay. They were matched with controls in a 1:1 ratio for the same admission period in the same ward of treatment. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression (OR) were performed to explore which factors were associated with barotrauma and in-hospital death. Results We included 200 cases and 200 controls. Invasive mechanical ventilation was used in 39.3% of patients in the barotrauma group, and in 20.1% of controls (p

Thoracoscopy is commonly used minimally invasive procedure in the field of interventional pulmonology. While medical thoracoscopy is the widely preferred modality, modifications to the technique and expansion in the scope of its utility have always challenged the conventional approach. We describe a modified technique of medical thoracoscopy in absence of pleural effusion also known as dry thoracoscopy under sedation and local anaesthesia.

Endobronchial ultrasound has revolutionized the field of bronchoscopy and has become one of the most important tools for the diagnosis of intrathoracic lymphadenopathy and para-bronchial structures. The reach of this technique has not been limited to these structures and pleural lesions have been at times accessible. To our knowledge, pleural fluid collections have not been accessed with endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) through oesophageal approach and rationale behind using this approach. We report a case of 70 years old man who has been referred from physician for the EBUS in view of hilar mass with mediastinal lymphadenopathy with pleural effusion. The endobronchial ultrasound through oesophagus (EUS-B) was done for thoracocentesis and lymph node cytology evaluation and ultimately endobronchial biopsy of hilar mass was done as rapid on-site (ROSE) analysis of lymph node was suggestive of necrotic tissue. The cytology report of lymph node and pleural effusion was positive for malignant cells. The final diagnosis was metastatic poorly differentiating adeno-squamous carcinoma.

Introduction: Mepolizumab is an anti-IL5 humanized antibody approved for severe eosinophilic uncontrolled asthma. Long term safety has been assessed in registration studies, but few data are available on patients with echinococcus hepatic cyst (EHC) or other comorbidities i.e. lung cancer requiring chemotherapy (CT). Aim: analysis of one-year treatment outcomes in 30 patients on treatment with Mepolizumab, including one patient with known EHC and hepatic cyrrosis and one patient on treatment with cisplatin-gemcitabine for lung cancer (stage IV adenocarcinoma ). Methods: All patients were evaluated for blood eosinophylic count, oral corticosteroids (OCS) use and comorbidities in a single-center cohort case-note analysis. Results: Mepolizumab reduced OCS use (p Conclusions: Mepolizumab treatment improved asthma outcomes and was not related with hepatic impairment, relapse of EHC and did not affected chemotherapy at one year follow up.

With large volumes of data acquired every month, the Copernicus satellites provide essential information for analysing and monitoring our environment. However, technical and knowledge barriers may affect user’s uptake of such a wealth of information. The RUS (Research and User Support for Sentinel Core Products) Service (funded by the EC and managed by ESA) began operations in October 2017 and aims to support overcoming such issues. A scalable cloud environment offers the possibility to remotely store and process data by bringing data and associated processing closer to the user. An integral part of the solution is the exploitation and adaptation of the platform, Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS). In addition, technical and scientific support (including training sessions) are provided to simplify exploitation of Copernicus data. The RUS Service is specially addressed to users from Copernicus countries who are willing to discover and use Copernicus core products and datasets. Other users willing to access the Service should first liaise with RUS to check their eligibility. The service is free. Commercial and operational activities cannot be carried out through the RUS Service.

Background and Aim. Out-patient high-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) is a possible option in the palliation of symptoms in patients with advanced lung cancer, but literature data is limited and the technique is still under development in Italy. Our aim was to evaluate safety and effectiveness of out-patient HDREB for palliation of malignant endobronchial tumours in the context of a multidisciplinary approach. Methods. Out-patient HDREB sessions were scheduled at weekly intervals (500-1000 cGy per session) with prior Diodi-laser resection in some cases. Response was assessed bronchoscopically, clinically and functionally at the end of treatment and one month after the last HDREB session. Inclusion criteria was: histological evidence of malignant tumour not susceptible to surgical treatment for extension or co-morbidity. Results. 150 outpatient HDREB sessions were carried out on consecutive 35 patients (mean age 69 yrs, M/F 29/6) with symptoms due to central airway obstruction. A shortterm endoscopic response was observed in 15/28 patients. After delivering 2000 cGy dyspnoea decreased significantly. After one month cough decreased and haemoptysis disappeared. Palliation was obtained in all patients except one during. Lung function tests did not significantly improve after HDREB. No fatal complication occurred. A temporary radiation bronchitis was observed in six patients. Conclusions. This non-comparative, prospective observational study showed a palliative response of HDREB in most of patients with advanced endoluminal lung cancer. The safety of the procedure was good and the rate of non-fatal serious complications was very low.

We have described a 67-year-old man, diagnosed to have adenocarcinoma of lung by transvascular approach with esophageal ultrasound using ultrasound bronchoscope (EUS-B). To the best of our knowledge this is the first case where EUS-B has been used for transvascular fine needle aspiration cytology to diagnose lung carcinoma. Keywords: EUS-B, TVNA, Transesophageus, EBUS

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (11): 1197–1204 Abstract Background The low-grade chronic inflammation present in obesity has been recognized as a risk factor for thrombosis, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. In this context, production by adipose organ of a number of inflammatory adipokines could play a crucial role. It has been reported that obesity represents a risk factor for acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a disease caused by ADAMTS13 deficiency because of anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies, but the pathophysiological link between obesity and TTP is still unknown. We aimed to investigate mechanisms linking obesity to risk of TTP. Materials and methods Eighty obese patients consecutively admitted to Bariatric Unit of Padua between 2006 and 2009, and 39 lean subjects were characterized by anthropometric, metabolic and inflammatory parameters. ADAMTS13 autoantibodies, activity and antigen levels, and several cytokines including thrombospondin-1 were measured. Results 21·3% of obese patients were positive for noninhibitory ADAMTS13 autoantibodies, while all lean subjects were negative (P

Objective Androgens inhibit adipogenic differentiation through an androgen receptor (AR)-mediated pathway, increase lipolysis and reduce lipid accumulation in adipocytes. Undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOCN) regulates insulin and adiponectin secretion and is released by adipose tissue (AT). Our objective was to investigate, ex vivo and in vivo, the role of androgens on osteocalcin (OCN) modulation in human AT. Design, Patients, Setting Omental AT (OAT) for in vitro study and blood samples from 91 male patients of Padova University Hospital were used. Measurements Omental AT was treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in presence and in absence of flutamide. cOCN and ucOCN release by AT in a simple growth medium was evaluated by ELISA. OCN, both undercarboxylated (ucOCN) and carboxylated (cOCN) forms, was measured in serum by ELISA. Results After 24-h DHT stimulation, the release of both cOCN and ucOCN by OAT was statistically increased (P

Visceral and intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) depots account for most obesity-related metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Muscle satellite cells (SCs) are mesenchymal stem cells giving rise to myotubes and also to adipocytes, suggesting their possible contribution to IMAT origin and expansion. We investigated the myogenic differentiation of SCs and the adipogenic potential of both preadipocytes and SCs from genetically obese Zucker rats (fa/fa), focusing on the role of Wnt signaling in these differentiation processes. SCs were isolated by single-fiber technique from flexor digitorum brevis muscle and preadipocytes were extracted from subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT). Morphological features and gene expression profile were evaluated during in vitro myogenesis and adipogenesis. Wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 10b (Wnt10b) expression was quantified by quantitative PCR in skeletal muscle and AT. We did not observe any difference in the proliferation rate and in the myogenic differentiation of SCs from obese and lean rats. However, a decreased insulin-induced glucose uptake was present in myotubes originating from fa/fa rats. Under adipogenic conditions, preadipocytes and SCs of obese animals displayed an enhanced adipogenesis. Wnt10b expression was reduced in obese rats in both muscle and AT. Our data suggest that the increase in different fat depots including IMAT and the reduced muscle insulin sensitivity, the major phenotypical alteration of obese Zucker rats, could be ascribed to an intrinsic defect, either genetically determined or acquired, still present in both muscle and fat precursors. The involvement of Wnt10b as a regulator of both adipogenesis and muscle-to-fat conversion is suggested.

Satellite cells (SCs) are undifferentiated skeletal muscle cells that allow muscular growth and regeneration. Since their first description, SCs were simply considered myogenic precursors, but now it is widely accepted that SCs are a heterogeneous stem cell population characterized by plasticity and self-renewal. In this report we focus on SCs capacity to undergo adipogenic differentiation both spontaneous and induced by adipogenic factors. Understanding SC behavior is especially important because their adipogenic potential could represent a pathophysiological explanation for the intramuscular fat depots and associated insulin resistance that characterize many metabolic diseases and age-related sarcopenia. Moreover, SC are a therapeutic promise for neuromuscular diseases in the context of tissue engineering, representing an interesting cell source for implantation.