A Multidisciplinary Approach as a Goal for the Management of Complications in Systemic Scleroderma: A Literature Review and Case Scenario.

Systemic sclerosis (also known as scleroderma) is a chronic fibrosing autoimmune disease with both skin and multisystem organ involvement. Scleroderma has the highest mortality among all rheumatic diseases. The pathophysiology mechanism of systemic sclerosis is a progressive self-amplifying process, which involves widespread microvascular damage, followed by a dysregulation of innate and adaptive immunity and inflammation and diffuse fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs. Fibrosis of internal organs is a hint for systemic sclerosis, moreover associated with interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is a complex process. In order to correlate scientific data from the literature with clinical experience, we present the case of a 56-year-old woman who was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis 16 years ago. The association of numerous comorbidities characterized by a considerable level of seriousness characterizes this case: the highly extensive systemic damage, the cardiovascular impact of the illness, and the existence of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. The systemic and clinical manifestations, respiratory functional tests, radiological features, and specific therapy are discussed.

Comorbidities and Laryngeal Cancer in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Review.

Introductions: The global prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea shows that this disease appears in 1 billion people, with the prevalence exceeding 50% in some countries. Treatment is necessary to minimize negative health impacts. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is defined as a cause of daytime sleepiness, as well as a clinical manifestation of sleep-disordered breathing. In the literature, there are numerous controversial studies regarding the etiology of this condition, but it is universally accepted that reduced activity in the upper airway muscles plays a significant role in its onset. Additionally, OSA has been associated with a series of comorbidities, such as type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions, as well as head and neck tumors, especially oropharyngeal and laryngeal tumors. This is a review of the subject of OSA that considers several aspects: an analysis of the comorbidities associated with OSA, the involvement of tumor pathology in the onset of OSA, and the association of OSA with various types of laryngeal cancers. Additionally, it includes an evaluation of postoperative and medical outcomes for patients with OSA and laryngeal tumors treated surgically and medically, including chemotherapy. Relevant Sections: By taking into consideration the stated objective, a systematic analysis of the available literature was conducted, encompassing the PubMed, Medline, and Scopus databases. The evaluation was based on several keywords, including head and neck cancer, diabetes, diabetic, overlap syndrome, cardiovascular conditions, laryngeal neoplasm, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, as well as the concept of quality of life in laryngectomized patients and patients with OSA. Discussions: The review evaluates the involvement of OSA in the presence of comorbidities, as well as the increased incidence of OSA in patients with laryngeal cancer. It is important to note that surgical and post-surgical treatment can play a significant role in triggering OSA in these patients. Conclusions: The studies regarding the correlations between OSA, comorbidities, and head and neck tumors indicate a significantly increased risk of OSA in association with conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and head and neck tumors, particularly laryngeal tumors. This association has a physio-pathological basis. The various surgical methods followed by radiation and chemotherapy for tumor treatment do not exclude an increased risk of developing OSA after treatment. This significantly influences the quality of life of patients who survive these types of tumors. Future directions: Due to the multiple comorbidities associated with OSA, the extension of polysomnography associated with investigations during sleep, such as drug-induced sleep endoscopy, represents a tendency for the early diagnosis of this pathology, which affects the quality of life of these patients. Patients with head and neck cancer are at high risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea; this is why it is necessary to expand the polysomnographic investigation of these patients after surgical procedures or after radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

[The profile of serum inflammatory biomarkers in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: how well do they reflect the presence of pulmonary involvement?] / A gyulladásos biomarkerek profilja SARS-CoV-2-fertozésben szenvedo betegekben: mennyire tükrözik a tüdoérintettséget?

INTRODUCTION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with inflammatory and imaging alterations that vary depending on the disease severity. OBJECTIVE: Monitoring changes in inflammatory biomarkers may offer insights into the extent of pulmonary alterations observed in chest-CT. This study aimed to evaluate the profile of different inflammatory biomarkers, widely available and routinely measured in COVID-19 patients, and to determine whether alterations in their activity at admission and discharge correlate with lung involvement assessed through CT scans. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study, wherein chest-CT scans were performed upon admission, and blood tests were conducted at admission and discharge. Treatment and monitoring adhered to national and international guidelines. RESULTS: The profile of serum inflammatory markers (including values at admission and discharge, as well as their evolution during hospitalization) demonstrated a correlation with lung involvement as assessed by the total severity score. The high activity of serum inflammatory markers upon admission, accompanied by minimal changes during hospitalization, indicated a severe form of COVID-19 with notable lung involvement. While statistically significant differences were observed in C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, lactate dehydrogenase, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein emerged as the most reliable marker for assessing pulmonary involvement. CONCLUSION: Changes in serum inflammatory markers during hospitalization exhibited a weak to moderate negative correlation with the severity of lung involvement. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(41): 1607-1615.

[Characteristics of the association between tuberculosis and HIV infection in Mures county, Romania]. / A tuberkulózis és a HIV-fertozés kapcsolatának jellemzoi Maros megyében, Romániában.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the decrease in morbidity due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Romania, it remains a significant risk factor for tuberculosis. OBJECTIVE: Analyzing the characteristics of tuberculosis-HIV co-infection in Maros county, Romania, during 2014-2020. METHOD: Retrospective data processing of the study group and comparing with internationally reported data (similar group, same geographic region, during 2004-2013). RESULTS: The study includes 40 patients with tuberculosis-HIV co-infection: 24 men, 16 women, 22 from rural areas, 22 smokers, 20 alcohol and 4 drug users. Most of them had poor living conditions. 30 patients were in the 26-40-year-old age group, significantly influencing their personal development. 25 patients were diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We identified 28 pulmonary tuberculosis cases, 1 extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and 11 mixed forms. In 13 cases, the pathogen was not identified; the diagnosis was based on probability criteria (epidemiology, clinical, and imaging methods). The number of hepatitis, parasitological, and other opportunistic infections decreased significantly, but the frequency of anemia, neurological and respiratory diseases increased. The incidence of drug-resistant forms and the death rate also decreased significantly. DISCUSSION: Due to the poor living conditions, these patients are not adherent to examinations and treatment. Tuberculosis-HIV co-infection is more likely to cause complications, drug resistance, and high mortality rate. For early diagnosis, screening all patients with tuberculosis for HIV infection and all HIV-infected patients for tuberculosis is crucial. CONCLUSION: Prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of both diseases must be increased by intensifying the fight against poverty and promoting better education. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(1): 19-28.

[Exacerbation of obstructive pulmonary diseases by SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients treated in the Pulmonology Clinic of Târgu Mures]. / Obstruktív tüdobetegségek súlyosbodása SARS-CoV-2-fertozés hatására a marosvásárhelyi Pulmonológiai Klinika beteganyagában.

INTRODUCTION: Literature data show an increased severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with cardiovascular, renal comorbidities, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, obesity, diabetes, tumors and immunosuppression. METHOD: This retrospective study includes 90 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with COPD or asthma exacerbations from 303 patients hospitalized during a 7-month period (29.7%). The clinical aspect of COPD/asthma exacerbations overlapped to the one by SARS-CoV-2 infection, therefore, we compared our group with 90 patients with SARS-CoV-2 without obstructive disease. We excluded from both groups the patients with known severe cardiac impairment, diabetes, or tumors in order to not having interference with other unfavorable prognostic factors. We assessed the cases severity on clinical basis, pulzoximetry, CT/chest x-ray, and inflammatory markers. RESULTS: 72.2% of our group (48/52 with COPD and 17/38 with asthma) had moderate/severe pneumonia (bilateral interstitial-alveolar infiltrates, increased inflammatory markers, respiratory dysfunction) compared with 56.6% from the nonobstructive group. 14 patients required intensive therapy (including mechanical ventilation). We recorded 4 deaths in COPD group, 1 in asthma group, compared to 2 in non-obstructive patients (fatality 7.6% in COPD compared to 2.2% in nonobstructive group). Treatment included maximized inhaled bronchodilators ± corticosteroids, oxygen, antivirals, anticoagulants, corticosteroids, symptomatic. All patients were referred for clinical-functional and CT scan reassessment 2 months after discharge. CONCLUSION: The association of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with COPD or asthma was common, leading to exacerbation with significant severity. Fatality increased in COPD. Outpatient follow-up aims to restage adjust the treatment and monitor post-COVID-19 possible sequels. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(2): 43-50.

Lung function and comorbidities in patients with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospitalized in Tirgu-Mureș Pulmonology Clinic / Súlyos krónikus obstruktív tüdobetegségben szenvedo betegek tüdofunkciója és társbetegségei a marosvásárhelyi Tüdogyógyászati Klinikán

two-thirds and partial remission in one-third of the lesions. At doses above 100 J/cm², severe erythema was observed 24 hours after the treatment. To avoid this, we calculated the time to be spent outdoor by dosimetry. Partial remission was achieved in 15%, complete remission in 85% of the actinic keratoses with good tolerability. Discussion: The stepwise modification of the treatment protocol resulted in an effective and well-tolerated treatment in actinic keratoses under the local climatic conditions. Conclusion: The method has been successfully adapted in our clinic and is used in daily practice to treat actinic keratoses.

Applicability of lung ultrasound in the assessment of COVID-19 pneumonia: Diagnostic accuracy and clinical correlations.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound (LUS) in determining the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia compared with thoracic computed tomography (CT) and establish the correlations between LUS score, inflammatory markers, and percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2). METHODS: This prospective observational study, conducted at Târgu-Mureș Pulmonology Clinic included 78 patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection via nasopharyngeal real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (30 were excluded). Enrolled patients underwent CT, LUS, and blood tests on admission. Lung involvement was evaluated in 16 thoracic areas, using AB1 B2 C (letters represent LUS pattern) scores ranging 0-48. RESULTS: LUS revealed bilateral B-lines (97.8%), pleural irregularities with thickening/discontinuity (75%), and subpleural consolidations (70.8%). Uncommon sonographic patterns were alveolar consolidations with bronchogram (33%) and pleural effusion (2%). LUS score cutoff values of ≤14 and > 22 predicted mild COVID-19 (sensitivity [Se] = 84.6%; area under the curve [AUC] = 0.72; P = 0.002) and severe COVID-19 (Se = 50%, specificity (Sp) = 91.2%, AUC = 0.69; P = 0.02), respectively, and values > 29 predicted the patients' transfer to the intensive care unit (Se = 80%, Sp = 97.7%). LUS score positively correlated with CT score (r = 0.41; P = 0.003) and increased with the decrease of SpO2 (r = -0.49; P = 0.003), with lymphocytes decline (r = -0.52; P = 0.0001). Patients with consolidation patterns had higher ferritin and C-reactive protein than those with B-line patterns (P = 0.01; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: LUS is a useful, non-invasive and effective tool for diagnosis, monitoring evolution, and prognostic stratification of COVID-19 patients.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis - a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge / Extrapulmonalis tuberculosis - diagnosztikai és terápiás kihívás

Allograft degeneration can be effectively treated with the use of covered stents. Transaxillary approach is an alternative to a compromised transfemoral access. Ipsilateral transradial access may increase the safety of a percutaneous transaxillary puncture.