Role of Free Radicals in the Pathophysiology of OSA: A Narrative Review of a Double-Edged Sword.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder, primarily characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep. Individuals affected by OSA are at increased risk for a variety of adverse health outcomes, particularly neurocognitive impairments and cardiovascular complications, highlighting the clinical significance of this condition. A defining feature of OSA is intermittent hypoxemia, which contributes to the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the subsequent development of oxidative stress.

One Year Follow-Up Assessment of Impact of Rigorous Diet Regimen and Adequate C-PAP Therapy on Obese Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Retrospective Study.

This study evaluated the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (C-PAP) therapy combined with a rigorous diet regimen on obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Sixty obese patients (BMI ≥ 30) diagnosed with severe OSAS were recruited in order to establish the evaluation of CPAP therapy with different extents of adherence to a rigorous diet regimen. After one year, significant improvements were observed.

Therapeutic Potential of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Management: A Narrative Review.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder characterized by repetitive upper airway obstructions during sleep, leading to intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation. Current treatments, particularly Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), face adherence challenges, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches. : This review explores the potential of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), commonly used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, in managing OSA.

Exhaled volatile organic compounds for diagnosis and monitoring of asthma.

The asthmatic inflammatory process results in the generation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are subsequently secreted by the airways. The study of these elements through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which can identify individual molecules with a discriminatory capacity of over 85%, and electronic-Nose (e-NOSE), which is able to perform a quick onboard pattern-recognition analysis of VOCs, has allowed new prospects for non-invasive analysis of the disease in an "omics" approach. In this review, we aim to collect and compare the progress made in VOCs analysis using the two methods and their instrumental characteristics.

Short-Term Effect of Cigarette Smoke on Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds Profile Analyzed by an Electronic Nose.

Breath analysis using an electronic nose (e-nose) is an innovative tool for exhaled volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis, which has shown potential in several respiratory and systemic diseases. It is still unclear whether cigarette smoking can be considered a confounder when analyzing the VOC-profile. We aimed to assess whether an e-nose can discriminate exhaled breath before and after smoking at different time periods.

Relationships between Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and cardiovascular risk in a naïve population of southern Italy.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a worldwide increasing syndrome, which, by promoting endothelial dysfunction, contributes to extend the cardiovascular risk. We evaluated the cardiovascular risk in a group of OSA patients.

Methods: A total of 185 OSA subjects (19 normal weight, 57 overweight, 109 obese), who entered the Ambulatory of Sleep Disorders of the Institute of Respiratory Diseases of the University of Bari, during 1 year, were enrolled in the study.

mTOR-Inhibition and COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Focus on Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Kidney transplant recipients are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19 due to the coexistence of several transplant-related comorbidities (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes) and chronic immunosuppression.

Criteria of prescription of antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids among pulmonologists and general practictioners during asthma and COPD exacerbations: a southern Italian survey.

To date, there is still a lack of unanimity regarding the definition of exacerbation of asthma and COPD and about objective measurements in the currently used criteria. The aim of our study was to conduct a survey among general practitioners (GPs) and pulmonologists regarding the clinical criteria arbitrarily considered as important to start a course of systemic corticoids and/or antibiotics in asthma and COPD. We conducted a survey enrolling 50 general practitioners (GPs) and 50 pulmonologists, that evaluated the clinical criteria arbitrated as essential to start a course of systemic corticosteroids or antibiotics during asthma and/or COPD exacerbations.

Incidence of deep venous thrombosis in patients with both Pulmonary Embolism and COPD.

Background: There are no studies investigating populations of patients with both pulmonary embolism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PE-COPD) with and without deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Aim Of The Study: To define prevalence of DVT in COPD with PE and to compare characteristics of COPD patients who develop PE, with and without DVT. Secondly, we aimed to assess differences in the localization of PE among study groups.

Breathing Rhythm Variations during Wash-In Do Not Influence Exhaled Volatile Organic Compound Profile Analyzed by an Electronic Nose.

E-noses are innovative tools used for exhaled volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis, which have shown their potential in several diseases. Before obtaining a full validation of these instruments in clinical settings, a number of methodological issues still have to be established. We aimed to assess whether variations in breathing rhythm during wash-in with VOC-filtered air before exhaled air collection reflect changes in the exhaled VOC profile when analyzed by an e-nose (Cyranose 320).

Galectin-3 and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are indicative of heart remodelling and disease severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Background: Galectin-3, considered as a new inflammatory marker; it is increased in cardiovascular disease. We investigated Galectin-3 in relation to heart damage in patients with OSA and its role in inflammation, based on the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR).

Methods: Sixty-three consecutive patients (45 males, 18 females, 58.

Covid-19 and ex-smokers: an underestimated prognostic factor?

Dear Editor, The recent and explosive worldwide outbreak of Covid-19 leads many scientists and clinicians to identify the most responsible triggering risk factors in individuals without comorbidities, as well as potential prognostic factors. A notable field of research has been conducted on the role of smoking, which has been initially hypothesized as being a protective factor for Covid-19..

The importance of maintaining the same order of performance of lung function and SNIP tests in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

: Sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP), a useful tool for the assessment of diaphragm function in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), is usually performed together with lung function tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether SNIP results are influenced by the order of performance of the tests. : 103 consecutive patients (65% males, 80% spinal onset) were recruited.

Exhaled volatile organic compounds analysis by e-nose can detect idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The current diagnostic work-up and monitoring of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is often invasive and time consuming. Breath analysis by e-nose technology has shown potential in the diagnosis of numerous respiratory diseases. In this pilot study, we investigated whether exhaled breath analysis by an e-nose could discriminate among patients with IPF, healthy controls and COPD.

Assessment of Induced Sputum Cellularity in COPD Patients Belonging to Two Different Classes of Air Pollution Exposure.

Introduction: Several studies have previously demonstrated that long-term exposure to outdoor pollution present airway inflammation in term of an increase of sputum neutrophils.

Aim And Methods: The aim of our study was to evaluate the level of airway inflammation by induced sputum in a group of 15 non-professionally exposed population of well-characterized COPD patients, residing in urban areas with high rate of outdoor pollution, compared to a control group of 13 individuals with COPD, living in rural areas with a low pollution rate. All participants underwent spirometry and sputum induction.

Exhaled breath profiling by electronic nose enabled discrimination of allergic rhinitis and extrinsic asthma.

Aim: To assess whether an e-nose could discriminate between subjects affected by allergic rhinitis with and without concomitant extrinsic asthma, as well as from healthy controls, in terms of exhaled VOC-profile.

Methods: Fourteen patients with Extrinsic Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis (AAR), 14 patients with Allergic Rhinitis without asthma (AR) and 14 healthy controls (HC) participated in a cross-sectional study. Exhaled breath was collected by a standardized method and sampled by an e-nose (Cyranose 320).

Nocturnal Hypoventilation May Have a Protective Effect on Ischemic Heart Disease in Patients with Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome.

The importance of nocturnal hypoventilation (nHyp) in the development of cardiovascular comorbidity (CVM) in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is controversial. We recently hypothesized that nHyp may have a protective effect on CVM in OHS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the link between nHyp and CVM in patients with OHS.

In Vitro Identification of New Transcriptomic and miRNomic Profiles Associated with Pulmonary Fibrosis Induced by High Doses Everolimus: Looking for New Pathogenetic Markers and Therapeutic Targets.

The administration of Everolimus (EVE), a mTOR inhibitor used in transplantation and cancer, is often associated with adverse effects including pulmonary fibrosis. Although the underlying mechanism is not fully clarified, this condition could be in part caused by epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of airway cells. To improve our knowledge, primary bronchial epithelial cells (BE63/3) were treated with EVE (5 and 100 nM) for 24 h.

Evaluation of endothelial function and cardiovascular risk in non-obese patients with slight degree of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Recently, it has been clearly described an independent relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and cardiovascular risk, with underlying mechanisms also including endothelial dysfunction. We enrolled 32 consecutive non-obese patients (mean age of 39.5±11.

The ovarian cycle may influence the exhaled volatile organic compound profile analyzed by an electronic nose.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate whether the sex hormone profile during the ovarian cycle in healthy women could affect the volatile organic compound (VOC) profile analyzed by an electronic nose (e-nose).

Methods: We enrolled 21 healthy, never-smoking, regularly menstruating women who were not taking any medications. A series of exhaled breath measurements were performed on all subjects at predefined intervals (days 1-6, 7-12, 13-19, 20-25 and 26-31; day 1 was the first day of menstruation) during their ovarian cycle and analyzed by an e-nose (Cyranose 320).