Why making smoking cessation a priority for rare interstitial lung disease smokers?

This review aims to discuss the complex relationship between smoking and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), emphasizing the significant morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions. While the etiology of ILDs remains multifactorial, cigarette smoking emerges as a prominent modifiable risk factor implicated in their pathogenesis and progression. This narrative review will provide insight into smoking-associated interstitial lung diseases and personalised approaches to smoking cessation. Epidemiological studies consistently link smoking to ILDs such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), respiratory bronchiolitis-associated ILD (RB-ILD), and desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP), highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive tobacco cessation strategies. Despite the established benefits of smoking cessation, adherence to cessation programs remains challenging due to nicotine addiction, psychological factors, and social influences. The modest success rates of smoking cessation in ILD patients, emphasises the importance of tailored interventions and ongoing support is needed to overcome barriers and to improve outcomes of quitting smoking in this category of vulnerable patients.

Laboratory Diagnostics Accuracy for COVID-19 versus Post-COVID-19 Syndrome in Lung Disease Patients with Multimorbidity.

The laboratory tests and identification of risk factors such as comorbidities are essential in the management, treatment and prognosis of patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Performing rigorous monitoring among patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome and early identification of risk factors associated with poor prognosis are crucial in improving patient outcomes. In the present study, 182 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and PCI during 2020-2022 were included. A clinical and epidemiological evaluation was performed for each patient. Laboratory tests at admission included complete blood count, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and biochemical tests. Receiver operating curve (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated to compare the diagnostic performance of each parameter. Regarding comorbidities, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity were the most frequent ones. In the case of chronic lung diseases, asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) were the most frequent. Pleurisy was found especially in patients with PCI Variations in serum LDH values were observed, especially in severe forms of COVID-19 in 2020, with a mean value of 481.44 U/L, compared to patients with PCI, whose mean values (122 U/L) were within the biological range of reference. High neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values quantified in this study were especially associated with moderate and severe forms of COVID-19 and also PCI. The Spearman correlation coefficient was determined to measure the correlations between the clinical parameters of all investigated subjects. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The statistical results indicated that serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP) are sensitive markers with a diagnostic role in COVID-19, and lymphocyte (Ly) count, CRP, ESR and glucose were evidenced to be target markers in PCI. LDH values were observed to be statistically significant (p < 0.005) in patients with COVID-19 and obesity evaluated in 2021, while Ly count was statistically significant (p = 0.05) in patients with PCI and arterial hypertension. Regarding comorbidities, it has been observed that obesity, arterial hypertension and cardiovascular diseases represent risk factors in COVID-19/PCI, associated especially with the severe forms of the disease.

Looking at the Data on Smoking and Post-COVID-19 Syndrome-A Literature Review.

Long COVID is a recently described entity that is responsible for significant morbidity and that has consequences ranging from mild to life-threatening. The underlying mechanisms are not completely understood, and treatment options are currently limited, as existing data focus more on risk factors and predictors. Smoking has been reported as a risk factor for poor outcomes of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and seems to also play a role in mediating post-COVID-19 symptoms. We aimed to review relevant work addressing the interaction between smoking and long COVID in order to characterize smoking's role as a risk factor and possibly identify new research directions. Methods: The PubMed/MEDLINE database was searched using the keywords 'smoking', 'long COVID', and 'post-acute COVID' to identify relevant English-language articles published up to October 2023. Results and conclusions: From the 374 initial hits, a total of 36 papers were deemed relevant to the aim of the review. There was significant variability concerning the ways in which tobacco usage was quantified and reported; still, there is compelling evidence linking smoking to an increased risk of developing manifestations of post-acute-COVID disease. Some clinical conditions, such as dyspnea, cardiovascular symptoms, and cognitive or mental-health impairment, seem to be relatively strongly associated with smoking, while the connection between smoking and upper-airway involvement seems less certain. The available data support recommending smoking cessation as a clinical tool for the prevention of long COVID.

A Debate on Surgical and Nonsurgical Approaches for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Comprehensive Review.

Regular and unobstructed breathing during the night is the prerequisite for an undisturbed and restful sleep. The most prevalent nocturnal breathing disturbance with morbid consequences is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasing, and a significant number of patients with OSA are undiagnosed. On the other hand, the "obesity epidemic" is a growing concern globally. A sleep test is required to diagnose sleep apnea and to individualize therapy. A multidisciplinary approach is the key to success. This narrative review presents a debate on whether surgery is a friend or a foe in the treatment of sleep apnea. Depending on the type and severity of the apnea, the causal factor, and the presence of obesity and hypercapnia as well as the associated pathologies, the optimal therapeutic method is determined for each individual case. The article concludes that each case is unique, and there is no ideal method. Positive pressure ventilation, although a therapeutic gold standard, has its disadvantages extensively discussed in this paper. Nevertheless, it is necessary prior to any surgical intervention, either for the curative treatment of the causal factor of apnea or for elective surgery for another condition. The anesthetic risks associated with the presence of apnea and obesity should not be neglected and should form the basis for decision making regarding surgical interventions for the treatment of sleep apnea.

HPLC Analysis and Risk Assessment of 15 Priority PAHs in Human Blood Serum of COPD Patient from Urban and Rural Areas, Iasi (Romania).

One of the leading risk factors for environmental health problems is air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that this risk factor is associated with one of every nine deaths worldwide. Epidemiological studies conducted in this field have shown a solid connection between respiratory pathology and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure. COPD and asthma are respiratory diseases that were shown to have a strong association with exposure to PAHs. The purpose of the present study was to assess the serum levels of 15 PAHs in 102 COPD patients and to evaluate the results according to the residence environment of the investigated subjects. Analyses were carried out using a high-performance liquid chromatograph Nexera X2-Shimadzu Japan, which was equipped with an LC-30AD pump and an SIL-30AC autosampler. Spiked matrices, procedure blanks, spiked controls, and calibration standards in the acetonitrile were used as quality-assurance samples. Benzo(a)pyrene is the main representative of PAHs and was determined in higher concentrations in subjects with COPD versus the control group from the urban area (0.90/0.47 ng/mL) and rural area (0.73/0.44 ng/mL). The values obtained for the Benzo(a)pyrene-equivalent factor indicate a higher carcinogenic potential for patients diagnosed with COPD in urban areas compared to those in rural areas. These results could be due to traffic and vehicle emissions. This research identifies the need for legislative action to decrease semi-volatile organic compounds, especially PAHs, mainly in urban cities, in order to improve environmental management and health conditions.

Is There a Potential Link between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections in Children?

BACKGROUND: The implications of gastroesophageal reflux disease in respiratory tract infections have been investigated over time. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between these two pathologic entities and the outcome after proper antireflux treatment. METHODS: A group of 53 children with recurrent respiratory tract infections admitted in the gastroenterology clinic of a children's hospital in North-East Romania was investigated for gastroesophageal reflux disease through 24 h pH-metry. Those with a Boix-Ochoa score higher than 11.99 received proton pump inhibitor treatment and were reevaluated after 2 months. RESULTS: A total of 41 children were found with a positive Boix-Ochoa score. After 2 months of antireflux therapy, eight patients still had a positive Boix-Ochoa score. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent respiratory tract infections with symptoms resistant to treatment should be considered a reason to investigate for gastroesophageal reflux, because the symptoms may be due to micro- or macro-aspiration of the gastric refluxate or to an esophageal-bronchial reflex mediated through the vagal nerve.

Prognostic Role of Clinical Features of Moderate Forms of COVID-19 Requiring Hospitalization.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to characterize the clinical features of moderate forms of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization and potentially identify predictors for unfavorable outcomes. METHODS: Pooled anonymized clinical data from 452 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in two regional Romanian respiratory disease centers during the Alpha and Delta variant outbreaks were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Cough and shortness of breath were the most common clinical features; older patients exhibited more fatigue and dyspnea and fewer upper airway-related symptoms such as smell loss or sore throat. The presence of confusion, shortness of breath and age over 60 years were significantly associated with worse outcomes (odds ratios 5.73, 2.08 and 3.29, respectively). CONCLUSION: The clinical picture on admission may have a prognostic role for moderate forms of COVID-19. Clear clinical definitions and developing adequate informational infrastructure allowing complex data sharing and analysis might be useful for fast research response should a similar outbreak occur in the future.

Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children: A Possible Reason for Headache?

(1) Background: The correlation between infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and headache has been argued and explored for a long time, but a clear association between the simultaneous presence of the two in children has not been established yet. In this study, we aimed to explore this relationship in children from the Northeast region of Romania. (2) Methods: A retrospective study exploring the correlation between children having H. pylori infection and headache or migraine was conducted on a batch of 1757 children, hospitalized over 3 years in a pediatric gastroenterology department in Northeast Romania. (3) Results: A total of 130 children of both sexes had headache. From 130 children, 54 children (41.5%) also presented H. pylori infection. A significant association between headache and H. pylori infection (χ2; p < 0.01) was noticed. (4) Conclusions: More studies are needed on this relationship, and we emphasize the importance of further analyses, as they present great clinical importance for both prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children in Northeast Romania.

(1) Background: Although gastritis has been associated with multiple etiologies, in pediatrics the main etiology is idiopathic. Many studies have reported mild-to-severe gastritis Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) as an etiological factor. We evaluated the distribution of the infection with H. pylori by age, gender and place of living; (2) Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over a period of 3 years, over a cohort of 1757 patients of both sexes, aged between 1 and 18 years, admitted to a regional gastroenterology center in Iasi, Romania, with clinical signs of gastritis which underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The research was based on the analysis of data from patient observation charts and hospital discharge tickets, as well as endoscopy result registers; (3) Results: Out of the 1757 children, in 30.8% of cases the H. pylori infection was present. Out of them, 26.8% were males and 73.2% females. The average age of children with an H. pylori infection was higher (14.1 + 2.8 DS), compared with children without H. pylori (12.8 + 3.7 SD), an average difference of 1.3 years (95% confidence interval 0.96 to 1.66; p < 0.001). By place of living, children with H. pylori infection were from urban areas at 24.7% and from rural areas at 75.3%; (4) Conclusions: H. pylori infection incidence is still high in children, especially in teenagers, so extensive prevention and treatment programs are needed.

The Risk of Sarcoidosis Misdiagnosis and the Harmful Effect of Corticosteroids When the Disease Picture Is Incomplete.

Sarcoidosis is a complex granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Due to the heterogeneity of the disease, the diagnosis remains challenging in many cases, often at the physician's discretion, requiring a thorough and complex investigation. Many other granulomatous diseases have the potential to mimic sarcoidosis, whether infectious, occupational, or autoimmune diseases and starting an unnecessary corticosteroid treatment can worsen the patient's prognosis, leading to side effects that can be harder to treat than the actual disease.

Assessment of Some Risk Factors and Biological Predictors in the Post COVID-19 Syndrome in Asthmatic Patients.

Long COVID-19 or post-COVID infection (PCI) refers to the prolongation of symptoms in people who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Some meta-analysis studies have shown that patients with comorbidities, such as diabetes, obesity or hypertension, have severe complications after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The presence of chronic respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma, COPD, pulmonary hypertension or cystic fibrosis increases the risk of developing severe forms of the COVID-19 disease. The risk of developing the severe form of COVID-19 was observed in patients with bronchial asthma being treated with corticosteroids, but also in those hospitalized with severe asthma. The biological variables determined in patients with PCI infection showed changes, especially in the hematological parameters, but also in some inflammatory markers. The aim of this study was to investigate some biological predictors in post-COVID-19 infection in patients with asthma and various comorbidities. In the case of patients diagnosed with moderate and severe forms of COVID-19, the variation in biological tests has shown high concentrations for serum glucose, lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein. Additionally, the calculation of the relative risk (RR) based on the associated comorbidities in patients with PCI points to higher values for patients with asthma, hypertension, diabetes and obesity (RR moderate/severe form = 0.98/1.52), compared to patients with PCI and asthma (RR moderate/severe form = 0.36/0.63). Based on the statistical results, it can be concluded that the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity (p = 0.006) and the age of patients (p = 0.001) are the variables that contribute the most to the separation of the four classes of comorbidities considered.

The Prevalence of Liver Cytolysis in Children with Helicobacter pylori Infection.

(1) Background: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and liver disease has been discussed for many years, but the association between the infection and liver cytolysis in children has been insufficiently explored. In our study, we evaluate this relationship in a pediatric population from the northeast of Romania. (2) Methods: A retrospective study of children with H. pylori infection and liver cytolysis was conducted on a group of 1757 children, admitted to a pediatric gastroenterology regional center in northeast Romania over 3 years. (3) Results: Liver cytolysis syndrome was present in 112 children of both sexes. Of the 112 children, 20 children (17.9%) also had H. pylori infection. In the statistical analysis, we noted a significant association between liver cytolysis syndrome and H. pylori infection (χ2; p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: This relationship requires further in-depth studies that also consider certain parameters that may influence the results of these correlations. In addition, we point out the need for further analyses evaluating, in terms of the histopathological changes in each liver disease, the efficacy of H. pylori eradication.

The Relationship between Anemia and Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Children.

(1) Background: Many studies suggest that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with a higher prevalence of anemia. The aim of this study is to explore this fact for a pediatric population from the northeast of Romania; (2) Methods: A correlational retrospective study between infection with H. pylori and anemia was performed on a group of 542 children in a pediatric gastroenterology regional center in Northeast Romania; (3) Results: Out of 542 children with confirmed H. pylori infection, microcytic hypochromic anemia was present in 48 children, of whom 7 (14.5%) also had iron deficiency.; (4) Conclusions: The study results demonstrate a significant association of H. pylori infection with iron-deficiency anemia and iron deficiency in children in accordance with the results established in the published literature. Although the direct relationship between them it is not clear yet, prevention represents one of the first clinical measures that need to be implemented when encountering a refractory moderate to severe iron-deficiency anemia and, especially, when associated with gastrointestinal tract symptoms.

Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

(1) Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause several complications as a result of the acidic pH over various cellular structures, which have been demonstrated and evaluated over time. Anemia can occur due to iron loss from erosions caused by acidic gastric content. In children, anemia has consequences that, in time, can affect their normal development. This study evaluates the presence of anemia as a result of pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease. (2) Methods: 172 children were diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux in the gastroenterology department of a regional children's hospital in northeast Romania by esophageal pH-metry and they were evaluated for presence of anemia. (3) Results: 23 patients with GERD from the studied group also had anemia, showing a moderate correlation (r = -0.35, p = 0.025, 95% confidence interval) and lower levels of serum iron were found in cases with GERD, with statistical significance (F = 8.46, p = 0.012, 95% confidence interval). (4) Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that there is a relationship between anemia or iron deficiency and gastroesophageal reflux due to reflux esophagitis in children, which needs to be further studied in larger groups to assess the repercussions on children's development.

Nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis in an ulcerative colitis patient - a putative adverse reaction to mesalazine: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Lung and airway involvement in inflammatory bowel disease are increasingly frequently reported either as an extraintestinal manifestation or as an adverse effect of therapy. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of a patient with ulcerative colitis controlled under mesalazine treatment who presented with chronic cough and hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography and bronchoscopy findings supported tracheal involvement in ulcerative colitis; pathology examination demonstrated an unusual eosinophil-rich inflammatory pattern, and together with clinical data, a nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis diagnosis was formulated. Full recovery was observed within days of mesalazine discontinuation. CONCLUSION: Mesalazine-induced eosinophilic respiratory disorders have been previously reported, generally involving the lung parenchyma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of mesalamine-induced eosinophilic involvement in the upper airway.

Endocan - a potential diagnostic marker for early onset sepsis in neonates.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal early onset sepsis assessment is based on the history of pregnancy and delivery and nonspecific clinical signs. None of the biomarkers currently in use for clinical practice has adequate prognostic value, so it is not possible to clearly distinguish neonates with culture-proven sepsis from those with only risk factors or clinical suspicion. Endocan is an endothelial mediator involved in the inflammatory response that is present in low concentrations in the serum of healthy subjects, and in much higher concentrations in patients with SIRS and septic shock. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of serum endocan serum levels as a biomarker for the diagnosis of neonatal early onset sepsis (EOS). METHODOLOGY: Serum endocan concentration was measured in newborns with clinical suspicion of EOS admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on day 1, 3 and 7. RESULTS: Serum endocan levels were significantly increased in septic compared to non-septic neonates in the early stages of sepsis (2.43 ± 0.95 vs. 1.77 ± 0.57, p = 0.004), continued to rise up to 72 hours from onset and then decreased by the seventh day under treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a potential role for endocan as an early marker for diagnosis and follow-up in neonatal EOS. Studies on a larger number of cases are needed in order to establish the practical utility of this molecule as a diagnostic tool for clinical practice.

Comparison of next generation sequencing, SNaPshot assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction for lung adenocarcinoma EGFR mutation assessment.

BACKGROUND: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status assessment has become increasingly important given the significant impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer management. Our aim was to compare real life operational characteristics for three EGFR mutation assays - two targeted approaches and a next generation sequencing (NGS) technique. METHODS: EGFR mutation status was assessed for lung adenocarcinoma samples (formalin fixed- paraffin embedded samples) using qPCR, SNaPshot and NGS (Ion Torrent™) techniques. RESULTS: A total of 15 high clinical significance mutations were identified by at least one technique from the total of 64 samples. All mutations were identified by the TaqMan qPCR technique while SNaPshot in conjunction with fragment analysis identified 11 EGFR mutations. The NGS approach followed by an automatic analysis using the default calling parameters identified 10 mutations from the SNaPshot/qPCR panel and other three insertions, five point mutations and 58 silent variants; manual data review identified all 15 high significance mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Performance was similar for high tumor content samples but careful data analysis and post hoc variant calling filter alterations were necessary in order to obtain robust results from low tumor content samples by NGS. NGS is able to generate a comprehensive mutational profile albeit at a higher cost and workload. Result interpretation should take into account not only general run parameters such as mean read depth but also relative coverage and read distribution; currently there is an acute need to define firm recommendations/standards concerning NGS data interpretation and quality control.