Confirmation of increased and more severe adolescent mental health-related in-patient admissions in the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath: A 2-year follow-up study

: COVID-19 pandemic may have affected youth's mental wellbeing. Youth admissions for mental health emergencies over the 2-year period following the COVID-19 outbreak (March 2020-February 2022) were compared to those occurring in the same period of 2018-2020, with reference to individual and clinical data. The study identified 30 admissions in the pre-pandemic period and 65 (+116.7%) in the post-pandemic period, with the latter being younger, less likely to have a personal psychiatric history, and more likely to receive psychopharmacological treatment. A higher likelihood of earlier, ex novo psychiatric manifestations, requiring medication to reach clinical stability, in the post-COVID era, is suggested

Surfactant Components and Tracheal Aspirate Inflammatory Markers in Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

In 93 preterm infants ≤32 weeks of gestational age and 12 control infants, epithelial lining fluid disaturated-phosphatidylcholine, surfactant protein A and B, albumin, and myeloperoxidase activity were assessed after intubation and before exogenous surfactant administration. We found that disaturated-phosphatidylcholine, surfactant protein B, and myeloperoxidase were significantly higher in preterms with chorioamnionitis

Inspiratory-Expiratory Muscle Training Improved Respiratory Muscle Strength in Dialysis Patients: A Pilot Randomised Trial

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) exposes patients to progressive physical deconditioning involving the respiratory muscles. The aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of low-intensity respiratory muscle training (RMT) learned at the hospital and performed at home. A group of ESKD patients (n = 22) were randomized into RMT or usual care (control group, CON) in a 1:1 ratio. The respiratory training was performed at home with an inspiratory-expiratory system for a total of 5 min of breathing exercises in a precise rhythm (8 breaths per minute) interspersed with 1 min of rest, two times per day on nondialysis days for a total of 4 weeks, with the air resistance progressively increasing. Outcome measures were carried out every 4 weeks for 3 consecutive months, with the training executed from the 5th to the 8th week. Primary outcomes were maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure (MIP, MEP), while secondary outcomes were lung capacity (FEV1, FVC, MVV). Nineteen patients without baseline between-group differences completed the trial (T: n = 10; Age: 63 +/- 10; Males: n = 12). Both MIP and MEP significantly improved at the end of training in the T group only, with a significant difference of MEP of 23 cmH(2)O in favor of the RMT group (p = 0.008). No significant variations were obtained for FVC, FEV1 or MVV in either group, but there was a greater decreasing trend over time for the CON group, particularly for FVC (t = -2.00; p = 0.046). Low-fatiguing home-based RMT, with a simple device involving both inspiratory and expiratory muscles, may significantly increase respiratory muscle strength

Inspiratory–Expiratory Muscle Training Improved Respiratory Muscle Strength in Dialysis Patients: A Pilot Randomised Trial

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) exposes patients to progressive physical deconditioning involving the respiratory muscles. The aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of low-intensity respiratory muscle training (RMT) learned at the hospital and performed at home. A group of ESKD patients (n = 22) were randomized into RMT or usual care (control group, CON) in a 1:1 ratio. The respiratory training was performed at home with an inspiratory–expiratory system for a total of 5 min of breathing exercises in a precise rhythm (8 breaths per minute) interspersed with 1 min of rest, two times per day on nondialysis days for a total of 4 weeks, with the air resistance progressively increasing. Outcome measures were carried out every 4 weeks for 3 consecutive months, with the training executed from the 5th to the 8th week. Primary outcomes were maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure (MIP, MEP), while secondary outcomes were lung capacity (FEV1, FVC, MVV). Nineteen patients without baseline between-group differences completed the trial (T: n = 10; Age: 63 ± 10; Males: n = 12). Both MIP and MEP significantly improved at the end of training in the T group only, with a significant difference of MEP of 23 cmH2O in favor of the RMT group (p = 0.008). No significant variations were obtained for FVC, FEV1 or MVV in either group, but there was a greater decreasing trend over time for the CON group, particularly for FVC (t = −2.00; p = 0.046). Low-fatiguing home-based RMT, with a simple device involving both inspiratory and expiratory muscles, may significantly increase respiratory muscle strength

Pulmonary surfactant synthesis after unilateral lung injury in mice.

Aspiration pneumonitis can lead to alveolar surfactant dysfunction. We employed a murine model of unilateral aspiration to compare surfactant synthesis in the injured (I) and noninjured (NI) contralateral lung. Mice were instilled with hydrochloric acid in the right bronchus and, after 18 h, an intraperitoneal dose of deuterated water was administered as precursor of disaturated phosphatidylcholine (DSPC)-palmitate. Selected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected at scheduled time points and lungs were removed. We measured DSPC-palmitate synthesis in lung tissue and secretion in BALF by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry, together with total proteins and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) by spectrophotometry. BALF total proteins and MPO were significantly increased in the I lungs compared with NI and na\uefve control lungs. The DSPC pool size was significantly lower in the BALF of the I lungs compared with na\uefve controls. DSPC synthesis was accelerated in the I and NI lungs. DSPC secretion of the I lungs was similar to their respective na\uefve controls, and it was markedly lower compared with their respective NI contralateral lungs. DSPC synthesis and secretion were faster, especially in the NI lungs, compared with na\uefve control lungs, as a possible compensatory mechanism due to a cross-talk between the lungs triggered by inflammation, hyperventilation, and/or undetermined type II cell reaction to the injury

Children with covid-19 in pediatric emergency departments in Italy

none47nononeParri N.; Lenge M.; Buonsenso D.; Cantoni B.; Arrighini A.; Romanengo M.; Urbino A.; Da Dalt L.; Verdoni L.; Limoli G.; Musolino A.M.; Pilotto C.; La Fauci G.; Chiossi M.; Agostiniani R.; Plebani A.; Barbieri M.A.; Lanari M.; Masi S.; Giacalone M.; Leo M.C.; Falconi M.; Indolfi G.; D'Antiga L.; Mazza A.; De Martiis D.; Bertolozzi G.; Marchisio P.; Chidini G.; Calderini E.; Agostoni C.; Gori A.; Bondone C.; Dona' D.; Todeschini M.; Scilipoti M.; Cogo P.; Ginocchio F.; Russotto V.S.; Biban P.; Stera G.; Margherita M.; Maiandi S.; Tubino B.; Chiaretti A.; Zampogna S.; Mazzuca A.Parri, N.; Lenge, M.; Buonsenso, D.; Cantoni, B.; Arrighini, A.; Romanengo, M.; Urbino, A.; Da Dalt, L.; Verdoni, L.; Limoli, G.; Musolino, A. M.; Pilotto, C.; La Fauci, G.; Chiossi, M.; Agostiniani, R.; Plebani, A.; Barbieri, M. A.; Lanari, M.; Masi, S.; Giacalone, M.; Leo, M. C.; Falconi, M.; Indolfi, G.; D'Antiga, L.; Mazza, A.; De Martiis, D.; Bertolozzi, G.; Marchisio, P.; Chidini, G.; Calderini, E.; Agostoni, C.; Gori, A.; Bondone, C.; Dona', D.; Todeschini, M.; Scilipoti, M.; Cogo, P.; Ginocchio, F.; Russotto, V. S.; Biban, P.; Stera, G.; Margherita, M.; Maiandi, S.; Tubino, B.; Chiaretti, A.; Zampogna, S.; Mazzuca, A