COVID-19: the difference between the nose and the lung.

To the Editor An elegant study reported dysmorphic cells and syncytia in the deceased's lungs for COVID-19. The authors reasonably considered that most of these syncytia-forming cells were pneumocytes, as identified by specific biomarkers. However, cellular dysmorphism and syncytia are pathological features common in other respiratory infections caused by different viruses, including the human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), as correctly documented..

Reduced temperature sensitivity of the polarization properties of hydrogenated InGaAsN V-groove quantum wires

We investigated the effects of hydrogen irradiation on the degree of linear polarization, rho, of the light emitted by site-controlled, dilute-nitride InGaAsN V-groove quantum wires (QWRs). While in the as-grown sample the polarization of the QWR emission is highly sensitive to the increasing temperature (T), after sample hydrogenation the value of rho remains nearly unchanged (and similar to 25%) for T <= 220 K. This observation-potentially important for the development of devices based on the QWR polarization-points to a larger energy separation between hole subbands in the hydrogenated QWRs, due to the strain increase associated with the H-induced passivation of nitrogen. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4758685

Reduced temperature sensitivity of the polarization properties of hydrogenated InGaAsN V-groove quantum wires

We investigated the effects of hydrogen irradiation on the degree of linear polarization, rho, of the light emitted by site-controlled, dilute-nitride InGaAsN V-groove quantum wires (QWRs). While in the as-grown sample the polarization of the QWR emission is highly sensitive to the increasing temperature (T), after sample hydrogenation the value of rho remains nearly unchanged (and similar to 25%) for T <= 220 K. This observation-potentially important for the development of devices based on the QWR polarization-points to a larger energy separation between hole subbands in the hydrogenated QWRs, due to the strain increase associated with the H-induced passivation of nitrogen. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4758685

Effects of hydrogen irradiation on the optical and electronic properties of site-controlled InGaAsN V-groove quantum wires

The properties of InGaAsN V-groove QWRs are assessed here by polarization-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and micro-magneto-PL. Both the polarization anisotropy of the QWR emission and the strong dependence of the diamagnetic shift on the orientation of the applied magnetic field confirm the 1D nature of the QWR excitons. Further, the possibility of passivating N impurities by H irradiation is used to estimate the N content (x) in the QWRs by turning off the effects of N incorporation. Both the H-induced blueshift of the QWR emission (70 meV) and the measured value of the electron effective mass are consistent with x ∼1%. Nitrogen is also found to enhance the In intake in the QWR, likely due to the strain reduction resulting from the smaller lattice parameter of the InGaAsN alloy. Such strain reduction is also responsible for the quick decay of the degree of linear polarization (ρ) of the QWR emission with increasing temperature, indicating a small splitting between the QWR valence-band levels. In fully hydrogenated samples, conversely, ρ remains roughly constant up to ∼240 K, suggesting the recovery of a larger energy separation between the QWR hole states upon N passivation

Clinical-cytological-grading and phenotyping in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: the relevance in clinical practice

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) includes two main phenotypes: without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). CRSwNP may be associated with comorbidity, mainly concerning asthma, aspirin intolerance, and allergy. CRSwNP patients may also be evaluated by clinical-cytological grading (CCG). The current study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of the different CCG and phenotypes in CRSwNP outpatients examined in clinical practice. This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 791 consecutive CRSwNP outpatients (424 males, mean age 48.8 years). In the total population, asthma was a common comorbidity (30.8%) as well as aspirin intolerance (24.8%), and allergy (50.8%). As concerns CCG-grading, 210 (26.5%) outpatients had low-grade, 366 (46.3%) medium, and 215 (27.2%) high. As regards cytological phenotypes, 87 (11%) had neutrophilic type, 371 (46.3%) eosinophilic, 112 (14.2%) mast cell, and 221 (27.9%) mixed. High-grade CCG was significantly associated with more frequent asthma, aspirin intolerance, allergy, recurrent surgery, and mixed cytological phenotype. Low-grade CCG was characterized by fewer comorbidities and operations, and neutrophilic phenotype. Therefore, the present study confirmed that CCG is a useful tool in the management of outpatients with CRSwNP. CRSwNP is frequently associated with asthma, aspirin intolerance, and allergy comorbidity. High-grade CCG is frequently characterized by a mixed cytological phenotype, thus, by more severe progress. These real-world outcomes underline that CRSwNP deserves adequate attention for careful management and optimal identification of the best-tailored therapy; CCG and cytological phenotyping could be fruitful tools in clinical practice. Asthma and aspirin intolerance should be adequately investigated in all CRS patients

Clinical factors associated with death in 3044 COVID-19 patients managed in internal medicine wards in Italy: results from the SIMI-COVID-19 study of the Italian Society of Internal Medicine (SIMI)

During the COVID-19 2020 outbreak, a large body of data has been provided on general management and outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Yet, relatively little is known on characteristics and outcome of patients managed in Internal Medicine Units (IMU). To address this gap, the Italian Society of Internal Medicine has conducted a nationwide cohort multicentre study on death outcome in adult COVID-19 patients admitted and managed in IMU. This study assessed 3044 COVID-19 patients at 41 referral hospitals across Italy from February 3rd to May 8th 2020. Demographics, comorbidities, organ dysfunction, treatment, and outcomes including death were assessed. During the study period, 697 patients (22.9%) were transferred to intensive care units, and 351 died in IMU (death rate 14.9%). At admission, factors independently associated with in-hospital mortality were age (OR 2.46, p = 0.000), productive cough (OR 2.04, p = 0.000), pre-existing chronic heart failure (OR 1.58, p = 0.017) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 1.17, p = 0.048), the number of comorbidities (OR 1.34, p = 0.000) and polypharmacy (OR 1.20, p = 0.000). Of note, up to 40% of elderly patients did not report fever at admission. Decreasing PaO2/FiO(2) ratio at admission was strongly inversely associated with survival. The use of conventional oxygen supplementation increased with the number of pre-existing comorbidities, but it did not associate with better survival in patients with PaO2/FiO(2) ratio &lt; 100. The latter, significantly benefited by the early use of non-invasive mechanical ventilation. Our study identified PaO2/FiO(2) ratio at admission and comorbidity as the main alert signs to inform clinical decisions and resource allocation in non-critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to IMU