Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease
https://www.monaldi-archives.org/macd
<p><strong>Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease</strong> is an international scientific Open Access journal of the <em>Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri</em>, Pavia, Italy, dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in all fields of cardiopulmonary medicine and rehabilitation. <!--It is published in two series: the “Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention Series†(volume, even numbers) which, since 2002, is the official journal of the Italian Association for Cardiovascular Prevention, Rehabilitation and Epidemiology (GICR-IACPR); and the “Pulmonary Medicine and Rehabilitation Series†(volume, odd numbers).--></p> <p><strong>Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease</strong> publishes original articles, new methodological approaches, reviews, opinions, editorials, position papers on all aspects of cardiac and pulmonary medicine and rehabilitation, and, in addition, provides a forum for the inter-exchange of information, experiences and views on all issues of the cardiology profession, including education. Accordingly, original contributions on nursing, exercise treatment, health psychology, occupational medicine, care of the elderly, health economics and other fields related to the treatment, management, rehabilitation and prevention of cardiac and respiratory disease are welcome.</p> <p><strong>Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease</strong> promotes excellence in the profession of cardiology and pneumology through its commitment to the publication of research, support to continuous education, and encouragement and dissemination of best practices.</p> <p>This journal does not apply a charge for publication to Authors as it is supported by institutional funds.</p>PAGEPress Scientific Publications, Pavia, Italyen-USMonaldi Archives for Chest Disease1122-0643<p><strong>PAGEPress</strong> has chosen to apply the <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License</strong></a> (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.</p>Gaining insights into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation through emerging biomarkers and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test score
https://www.monaldi-archives.org/macd/article/view/2955
<p>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a leading cause of mortality and morbidity, presents significant challenges, particularly with exacerbations, which drastically impact patients' health and healthcare costs. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines recommend comprehensive assessments beyond spirometry, with the COPD assessment test (CAT) emerging as a pivotal tool. Despite its utility, the relationship between CAT scores and specific biomarkers during exacerbations remains unclear. Hence, this study aims to assess the correlation between the CAT score and specific circulating biomarkers. A cross-sectional study from August 2023 to January 2024 included 59 COPD patients with exacerbations who underwent pulmonary function tests and completed the CAT score assessment. The CAT score cut-off point was set at 20, where a CAT score <20 indicated a low impact on health status and a CAT score ≥20 indicated a high impact on health status. On the same day, measurements of neutrophils, leukocytes, eosinophils, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were conducted. Patients with CAT scores ≥20 had significantly higher levels of neutrophils (p=0.001), leukocytes (p=0.006), procalcitonin (p=0.010), and forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity (p=0.002), but lower eosinophil levels (p=0.025). A positive correlation existed between total CAT score and neutrophils (p=0.001), leukocytes (p=0.000), and procalcitonin (p=0.010), while eosinophil levels showed a negative correlation (p=0.025). The spirometry parameters showed no correlation with the total CAT score. This study highlights the link between CAT and key inflammatory biomarkers, supporting the use of blood biomarkers to identify COPD patients at risk of exacerbations.</p>Megha HegdeSaurav RajAishwarya S PattanshettiSanatkumar Bharamu Nyamagoud
Copyright (c) 2024 The Author(s)
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2024-03-142024-03-1494110.4081/monaldi.2024.2955Prevalence and risk factors for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with acute exacerbations
https://www.monaldi-archives.org/macd/article/view/2927
<p>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients often experience acute exacerbations requiring hospitalization. Recently, attention has focused on Aspergillus sensitization in the airways of these COPD patients. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) in COPD patients with acute exacerbations and identify associated risk factors. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research from January 2021 to June 2022. Sixty-one COPD patients presenting with acute exacerbations were included. Demographic details, blood investigations, and sputum examinations were performed for all patients. A high-resolution computed tomography thorax was conducted for eligible patients. The prevalence of CPA among patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD was found to be 9.8%, with chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis being the most common presentation (50%). Among post-tubercular COPD patients, the prevalence of CPA was significantly higher at 22.7%. Hemoptysis (p<0.001) and a previous history of tuberculosis (p=0.008) were associated with Aspergillus sensitization. This study highlights the substantial prevalence of CPA in COPD patients with acute exacerbations, particularly in those with a history of tuberculosis. Early recognition and targeted management of CPA in COPD patients may improve outcomes and reduce hospitalization rates. Further large-scale multi-center studies are needed to validate these findings and comprehensively address the impact of CPA on all COPD patients.</p>Jayabharathi PalanivelMadhusmita Mohanty MohapatraManju RajaramDebasis GochhaitSunitha Vellathussery ChakkalakkoombilRakesh Singh
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2024-03-212024-03-2194110.4081/monaldi.2024.292720-year follow-up of rheumatic mitral stenosis patients after percutaneous mitral commissurotomy: invasive transmitral gradient differential as a predictor of events
https://www.monaldi-archives.org/macd/article/view/2941
<p>Percutaneous mitral valve commissurotomy (PMC) is a viable alternative to mitral valve (MV) surgery in the treatment of patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS). In this single-center retrospective study of consecutive patients with RMS submitted to PMC from 1991 to 2008, we analyzed clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic data and events during follow-up (FUP) until December 2021. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were a combined endpoint of all-cause death, cardiovascular hospitalization, and MV re-intervention. A total of 124 patients were enrolled: 108 (87.1%) were female, with a mean age at PMC of 46 [standard deviation (SD) 11] years. PMC was successful in 91.1%, with a mean reduction in invasive transmitral pressure gradient (TMPG) of 8 (SD 7) mmHg at PMC time. During the mean FUP of 20 (SD 6) years, 51 (41.1%) patients had MV re-intervention (86.3% surgery and 13.7% redo-PMC), 37 (29.8%) were hospitalized, and 30 (24.2%) died. Approximately 75% of patients remained MACE-free after 10 years, and this percentage decreased to around 40% after 20 years; at this time mark, about 8 in 10 patients were alive. A reduction of <5 mmHg in TMPG at PMC time was associated with a 2.7-fold greater rate of MACE compared to a reduction of ≥5 mmHg, independent of MV regurgitation after PMC and moderate disease of other valves (adjusted hazard ratio 2,7; 95% confidence interval 1.395-5.298, p=0.003). In this cohort with favorable long-term results after PMC, a reduction of <5 mmHg in TMPG at PMC time was associated with MACE during FUP. More studies are needed to validate this independent predictor.</p>Ana Filipa AmadorCatarina CostaRicardo PintoMiguel CarvalhoTânia ProençaJoão CalvãoSandra AmorimMariana PaivaJoão Carlos SilvaRui Rodrigues
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2024-03-112024-03-1194110.4081/monaldi.2024.2941Diagnostic accuracy of daytime polysomnography: a reappraisal during the COVID-19 era
https://www.monaldi-archives.org/macd/article/view/2945
<p>Level I conventional polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), requires an overnight stay. This study evaluated the role of daytime PSG as an alternative diagnostic tool. A prospective cohort study was undertaken with consecutive patients with suspected OSA at a tertiary care sleep center. The primary objective was to evaluate the sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of daytime PSG for diagnosing OSA. The secondary objective was to find out the factors associated with a falsely negative daytime PSG result. All individuals were subjected to level I daytime PSG, done in the sleep lab in the presence of an experienced sleep technician during the daytime from 12 PM to 4 PM. Out of 162 patients, 105 underwent daytime PSG. OSA was diagnosed on daytime PSG in 86.7 out of the 19 remaining patients refused a repeat PSG study. Out of the 12 individuals who underwent the nighttime PSG for confirmatory diagnosis, 10 were diagnosed as OSA (false negatives), and 2 were confirmed as not-OSA (true negatives). The sensitivity, diagnostic accuracy, and negative predictive value of daytime PSG were 89.58%, 89.80%, and 16.67%, respectively. The false negatives had a higher prevalence of mild OSA. Daytime PSG is sensitive in diagnosing OSA and can be considered in individuals with severe symptoms at centers with a high patient load or when the individual wishes to avoid a nighttime study. A negative result in daytime PSG must be followed by conventional overnight PSG for confirmatory diagnosis.</p>Mahismita PatroNipun MalhotraDipti GothiRahul KumarGanjam Yasasvini
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2024-02-292024-02-2994110.4081/monaldi.2024.2945