Titration of Mechanical Insufflation–Exsufflation Optimal Pressure Combinations in Neuromuscular Diseases by Flow/Pressure Waveform Analysis

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to assess several air-pressure settings for MI–E to determine their effect on peak cough flow (PCF), and to compare the best pressures with those are more common used in the literature (±40 cmH₂O) in patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD).MethodsAdults with NMD in whom MI–E was indicated were recruited. Assisted PCF was measured by an external pneumotachograph. The protocol included 9 PCF measures per patient: 1 baseline (non-assisted), 4 with increasing inspiratory pressures without negative pressure (10, 20, 30 and 40 cmH₂O or maximum tolerated), and then 4 adding expiratory pressures (?10, ?20, ?30 and ?40 cmH₂O or maximum tolerated) with maximum inspiratory pressure previously achieved.ResultsTwenty one patients were included, 61% with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mean PCFs with recommended pressures (±40 cmH₂O) were lower than the scored in the individualized steps of the titration protocol (197.7 ± 67 l/min vs 214.2 ± 60 l/min, p < 0.05). Regarding subgroups, mean PCF_max values in ALS patients with bulbar symptoms were significantly higher than those achieved with recommended pressures (163.6 ± 80 vs 189 ± 66 l/min, p < 0.05).ConclusionThe PCF_max obtained with the protocol did not always match the recommended settings. It may be advisable to perform MI–E titration assessed by non-invasive PCF monitoring in patients with NMD, especially in ALS with bulbar involvement to improve the therapy detecting airway collapse induced by high pressures.     

Using a Decision Support Algorithm for Referrals to Post-Acute Care

Objectives

Although hospital clinicians strive to effectively refer patients who require post-acute care (PAC), their discharge planning processes often vary greatly, and typically are not evidence-based.

The management of incidental findings of reduction mammoplasty specimens

Reduction mammoplasty is one of the most commonly performed procedures in plastic surgery. Occasionally, there are findings reported by pathologists that are unfamiliar to the treating surgeon. The aim of the present study was to determine the types of pathologies encountered in reduction mammoplasty specimens. From this list of diagnoses, a best practice guideline for management will be organized to better assist plastic surgeons in the management of patients with incidental findings on pathology reports. A total of 441 pathology reports from patients who underwent bilateral or unilateral reduction mammoplasty in the past three years were identified. A list of 21 different pathologies was generated from the pathology reports, along with supplemental data from recent texts and articles. Occult carcinomas were encountered in two cases (0.45%) and high-risk lesions were found in three cases (0.68%) at the authors’ institution. An algorithm was then constructed to organize the pathologies according to risk of malignancy and assign them to a management guideline. There are many different lesions encountered incidentally in reduction mammoplasty specimens that may or may not confer some cancer risk. It is important for plastic surgeons to know which lesions need closer follow-up to provide the best care for their patients.     

On the management of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

The fast-moving coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) called for a rapid response to slowing down the viral spread and reduce the fatality associated to the pandemic. Policymakers have implemented a wide range of non-pharmaceutical interventions to mitigate the spread of the pandemic and reduce burdens on healthcare systems. An efficient response of healthcare systems is crucial to handle a health crisis. Understanding how non-pharmaceutical interventions have contributed to slowing down contagions and how healthcare systems have impacted on fatality associated with health crisis is of utmost importance to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated these dynamics in Italy at the regional level. We found that the simultaneous introduction of a variety of measures to increase social distance is associated with an important decrease in the number of new infected patients detected daily. Contagion reduces by 1% with the introduction of lockdowns in an increasing number of regions. We also found that a robust healthcare system is crucial for containing fatality associated with COVID-19. Also, proper diagnosis strategies are determinant to mitigate the severity of the health outcomes. The preparedness is the only way to successfully adopt efficient measures in response of unexpected emerging pandemics.     

Possible role of a radiation-induced p53 mutation in a Nelson’s syndrome patient with a fatal outcome

Nelson’s syndrome (NS) is characterized by the appearance and/or progression of ACTH-secreting pituitary macroadenomas in patients who had previously undergone bilateral adrenalectomy for the treatment of Cushing’s disease. Such corticotroph macroadenomas respond poorly to currently available therapeutic options which include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. P53 protein accumulation may be detected by immunohistochemistry in pituitary corticotroph adenomas and it has been suggested that it might be causally related to tumor development. Wild type P53 protein plays an important role in the cellular response to ionizing radiation and other DNA damaging agents and is mutated in many human tumors. In this study we report an adult male patient with NS who underwent both transsphenoidal and transcranial pituitary surgeries, conventional and stereotaxic radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Despite of the efforts to control tumor mass and growth, this macroadenoma displayed relentless growth and aggressive behavior. DNA extracted from the first two surgical samples, as well as DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes disclosed normal p53 sequence. DNA extracted from tumor samples obtained at surgeries performed after pituitary irradiation carried a somatic heterozygous mutation, consisting of a deletion of four cytosines between nucleotides 12,144–12,149 in exon 4 of the p53 gene. This frameshift mutation creates a stop codon in exon 4 excluding the expression of a functional protein from the defective allele. These data demonstrate a possible association between the P53 protein loss of function induced by radiotherapy and the aggressive course of the disease in this patient.     

A view of geriatrics through hormones. What is the relation between andropause and well-known geriatric syndromes?

Age related male hypogonadism, or “andropause”, is increasingly recognized as of frequent occurrence in older patients. Diagnosis requires both the presence of clinical symptoms and low testosterone levels. However, diagnosing andropause in this age group may be challenging since symptoms are frequently non specific and testosterone levels are influenced by a multitude of parameters such as lifestyle factors and chronic diseases. In this article we discuss the pathophysiology, definition and diagnostic difficulties of andropause in geriatric patients. Moreover, we review the relation between testosterone levels and frequent geriatric syndromes such as falls, osteoporosis, cognitive and mood disorders, anemia and cardiovascular disease. Finally, we examine the potential benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy in this age group.