Outcomes of COVID-19 patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure outside ICU

Aim We aim at characterizing a large population of Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) patients with moderate-to-severe hypoxemic acute respiratory failure (ARF) receiving CPAP outside intensive care unit (ICU), and ascertaining whether the duration of CPAP application increased the risk of mortality for patients requiring intubation. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included COVID-19 adult patients, treated with CPAP outside ICU for hypoxemic ARF from March 1 st to April 15th, 2020. We collected demographic and clinical data, including CPAP therapeutic goal, hospital length of stay (LOS), and 60- day in-hospital mortality. Results The study includes 537 patients with a median age of 69 (IQR, 60-76) years. Males were 391 (73%). According to predefined CPAP therapeutic goal, 397 (74%) patients were included in full treatment subgroup, and 140 (26%) in the do-not intubate (DNI) subgroup. Median CPAP duration was 4 (IQR, 1-8) days, while hospital LOS 16 (IQR, 9-27) days. Sixty-day in-hospital mortality was overall 34% (95%CI, 0.304-0.384), and 21% (95%CI, 0.169-0.249) and 73% (95%CI, 0.648-0.787) for full treatment and DNI subgroups, respectively. In the full treatment subgroup, in-hospital mortality was 42% (95%CI, 0.345-0.488) for 180 (45%) CPAP failures requiring intubation, while 2% (95%CI, 0.008- 0.035) for the remaining 217 (55%) patients who succeeded. Delaying intubation was associated with increased mortality [HR, 1.093 (95%CI, 1.010-1.184)]. Conclusions We described a large population of COVID-19 patients treated with CPAP outside ICU. Intubation delay represents a risk factor for mortality. Further investigation is needed for early identification of CPAP failures

Effect of Lactoferrin on Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: The LAC Randomized Clinical Trial

: As lactoferrin is a nutritional supplement with proven antiviral and immunomodulatory abilities, it may be used to improve the clinical course of COVID-19. The clinical efficacy and safety of bovine lactoferrin were evaluated in the LAC randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. A total of 218 hospitalized adult patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 were randomized to receive 800 mg/die oral bovine lactoferrin (n = 113) or placebo (n = 105), both given in combination with standard COVID-19 therapy. No differences in lactoferrin vs. placebo were observed in the primary outcomes: the proportion of death or intensive care unit admission (risk ratio of 1.06 (95% CI 0.63-1.79)) or proportion of discharge or National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) ≤ 2 within 14 days from enrollment (RR of 0.85 (95% CI 0.70-1.04)). Lactoferrin showed an excellent safety and tolerability profile. Even though bovine lactoferrin is safe and tolerable, our results do not support its use in hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19

La calcolosi cistinica: nuovi orientamenti diagnostici e terapeutici

Relatore Di Silverio F.; Bibliogr.: p.41-48. Coll.: TSU 1991/1SIGLEITItal

Checking syrup adulteration of honey using bioluminescent bacteria and chemometrics

Accomplishing the Italian law to verify honey quality is onerous, because it requires measuring many chemical and physical parameters. On the contrary, bioluminescence-based analytical methods allow for rapid and inexpensive analysis. Bioluminescence has never been applied before to verify honey adulteration. The application of chemometrics to analytical methods based on bioluminescence has been here explored for this scope. Several honey samples were prepared, in which sugar syrup was added without exceeding legal limits: in this case, univariate analysis prescribed by the law cannot reveal the fraud. All samples were subjected to measurements of parameters prescribed by the law and also to bioluminescence analysis, executed using the Vibrio fischeri bacterium, one of the most common bioluminescent bacteria. Principal components analysis, linear discriminant analysis, and partial least square regression were applied to discriminate sugar-added honeys with respect to natural honeys, both by regulated physicochemical parameters and by bioluminescence ones. The feasibility of combining bioluminescence and multivariate analysis for a rapid screening of honey authenticity was demonstrated

Prone Positioning in Patients with COVID-19: Analysis of Multicenter Registry Data and Meta-analysis of Aggregate Data

Background/Aim: Evidence suggests a beneficial effect of prone positioning (PP) in COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Meta-analysis of individual (7 investigators’ groups) and aggregate data (PubMed/EMBASE) regarding the impact of PP on the ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PO2/FiO2) in patients with COVID-19. Results: Among 121 patients (mean age±SD 59.1±10.7 years, 55% males, 57% intubated) the mean post-versus pre- PP PO2/FiO2 difference was: (i) 50.4±64.3 mmHg, p<0.01, (ii) similar in awake (58.7±72.1 mmHg) versus intubated patients (44.1±57.5 mmHg, p=NS), (iii) inversely correlated with body mass index (r=–0.43, p<0.01). Meta-analysis of 23 studies (n=547, weighted age 58.3±4.1, 73% males, 59% intubated) showed a pooled PO2/FiO2 difference of 61.8 [95% confidence intervals=49.9-73.6] mmHg. Meta-regression analysis revealed no associations with baseline demographics, the time in PP before assessment, and the risk of bias of the studies. Conclusion: PP seems to improve oxygenation of patients with COVID-19. © 2022 International Institute of Anticancer Research. All rights reserved