The Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Public Health Problem-Interactions with Sleep Efficacy and Mental Health

With the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, it was stipulated that patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have a greater risk of morbidity and mortality and may even experience changes in their mental health. The aim of the current study is to evaluate how patients managed their disease (sleep apnea) during the COVID-19 pandemic, to determine if continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) usage changed after the beginning of the pandemic, to compare the stress level with the baseline, and to observe if any modifications are related to their individual characteristics. The present studies highlight the level of anxiety, which was high among patients with OSA during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.05), with its influence on weight control (62.5% of patients with high levels of stress gained weight) and sleep schedule (82.6% reported a change in sleep schedule). Patients with severe OSA and high levels of stress increased their CPAP usage (354.5 min/night vs. 399.5 min/night during the pandemic, p < 0.05). To conclude, in OSA patients, the presence of the pandemic led to a greater level of anxiety, changes in sleep schedule and weight gain because of job loss, isolation, and emotional changes, influencing mental health. A possible solution, telemedicine, could become a cornerstone in the management of these patients.

Haloaerosoltherapy: Mechanisms of Curative Effect and Place in the Respiratory Rehabilitation

Introduction. Management of patients with chronic pathology requires development of long-term programs with organic combinations of medicamental and non-medicamental influences. Haloaerosoltherapy is a group inhalation of rock salt aerosol with concentration of more than 2-3mg/m3 and certain dispersion (with presence of large-, medium- and small-grained aerosol) aboveground. Material and method. On the basis of literature data review and results of own researches a comprehensive description of haloaerosoltherapy, its mechanisms, available technologies, indications and effectiveness at pulmonary pathology was given. Results and discussion. Basis of haloaerosol curative influence is hyperosmolar stimulus that improves drainage function of bronchi and provides sanitizing effect, which causes further changes at local and systemic levels. This justifies haloaerosoltherapy usage as method of rehabilitation treatment. Comparison of haloaerosoltherapy and other methods of halotherapy (use of halite), in particular, "salt rooms (caves)" was made. It has been proven that "salt rooms" can be used only as spa procedure. Conclusions. Application of term "halotherapy" to all methods that use halite or underground treatment is incorrect. This determines necessity for stop using this term. It is necessary to differentiate clearly applied methods of treatment using terms that reflect the essence of therapeutic effect. Haloaerosoltherapy should be considered a method of respiratory rehabilitation with a proven mechanism of action and effectiveness. Haloaerosol is obtained using specific devices - halogenegenerators. The effectiveness of haloaerosoltherapy immediately after the course of treatment and in remote period is testified. Keywords: Respiratory rehabilitation, halotherapy, haloaerosoltherapy, speleotherapy,

Oxygen Toxicity to the Immature Lung-Part II: The Unmet Clinical Need for Causal Therapy

Oxygen toxicity continues to be one of the inevitable injuries to the immature lung. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is the initial step leading to lung injury and, subsequently, the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Today, BPD remains the most important disease burden following preterm delivery and results in life-long restrictions in lung function and further important health sequelae. Despite the tremendous progress in the pathomechanistic understanding derived from preclinical models, the clinical needs for preventive or curative therapies remain unmet. This review summarizes the clinical progress on guiding oxygen delivery to the preterm infant and elaborates future directions of research that need to take into account both hyperoxia and hypoxia as ROS sources and BPD drivers. Many strategies have been tested within clinical trials based on the mechanistic understanding of ROS actions, but most have failed to prove efficacy. The majority of these studies were tested in an era before the latest modes of non-invasive respiratory support and surfactant application were introduced or were not appropriately powered. A comprehensive re-evaluation of enzymatic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory therapies to prevent ROS injury is therefore indispensable. Strategies will only succeed if they are applied in a timely and vigorous manner and with the appropriate outcome measures.

Skeletal effects and refeeding syndrome in anorexia nervosa

Purpose Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder which can lead to numerous medical complications. In the clinical practice, during weight restoration, it is relatively common to observe potentially fatal complications, such as refeeding syndrome (RS). The objective of this case report is to highlight some key factors regarding nutritional support and the therapeutic approach in AN to avoid life-threatening complications, for example severe hypophosphatemia. Methods We present the case of a 14-year-old girl suffering from AN, who was admitted to our hospital with lethargy, emaciation with bitemporal wasting, hirsutism and pitting lower extremity edema. Results Based on the laboratory findings, the concerning condition of the patient was attributed to hypophosphatemia (1,64 mg/dl) caused by RS. Conclusions Refeeding syndrome is a potentially lethal condition in the case of AN patients. Hypophosphatemia, which is a result of the refeeding syndrome, is a relatively common complication of overly aggressive nutritional rehabilitation. Physicians who are involved in treating this condition, should be aware of this potentially life-threatening syndrome, and assess their therapeutic approach accordingly Keywords: anorexia nervosa, hypophosphatemia, refeeding syndrome, nutritional support,

Music, A “Body-Mind Medicine” In Rehabilitation Programs of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease characterized by dyspnea and chronic cough. The main risk factor is cigarette smoking, but there are other ones implicated in the COPD etiology such as air pollution, childhood asthma, aging, chemical exposure, dietary factors, and genetic predisposition. Besides, COPD is associated with several comorbidities that influence prognostic and management, like asthma, lung cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and depression or anxiety. The management is multidisciplinary and its role is to ease symptoms, prevent complications, slow disease progression, and improve the quality of life. In the last years, many alternative techniques have been implemented such as speleotherapy, halotherapy, muscular training, neuromuscular electrostimulation, acupuncture, thermotherapy, and music therapy. From those, music therapy has become a form of “mind-body medicine” indispensable in rehabilitation programs, whether used actively or passively, and has gained a lot of interest in alternative medicine. Keywords: COPD, music therapy, alternative medicine,

Winter Exercise and Speleotherapy for Allergy and Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

(1) Background: The prevalence of allergic respiratory diseases is still rising and efforts towards holistic treatments should be made. Although speleotherapy is widely applied in Europe to treat chronic airway diseases, the existing scientific evidence is rather low. Recreational winter exercise has been shown to improve allergic airway inflammation, but little is known about the combined effects of speleotherapy and recreational winter exercise. (2) Methods: In this clinical study we investigated the effects of winter exercise and speleotherapy on adults with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. The speleotherapy group (n = 23) participated in a ten-day combined winter exercise and speleotherapy program and the exercise group (n = 18) joined a full-day winter sports program. The effects on allergic airway inflammation, quality of life, spirometry and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed. (3) Results: No significant effects were found for fractional exhaled nitric oxide or nasal nitric oxide. Quality of life (p < 0.001 time effect) and allergic symptoms (p < 0.001 time effect) were improved in the speleotherapy and in the exercise group. (4) Conclusions: Winter exercise alone and winter exercise in combination with speleotherapy improve quality of life and allergic symptoms in adults with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. Further studies are required to investigate the specific effects of speleotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation examining speleotherapy in combination with winter exercise. Recreational outdoor winter exercise and speleotherapy may be recommended for highly functioning patients with good disease control.

Respiratory rehabilitation techniques used for the treatment of COPD patients

Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. At present, the pharmacological therapy is not enough for a patient with COPD in regard to heath status and exercise tolerance. It requires additional therapies aimed to improve the quality of life, delay the lung function decline, increase exercise capacity, and reduce the respiratory symptoms and the number of exacerbations. Pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) has been shown to improve respiratory muscle, to optimize functional, psychosocial, behavioral and nutritional status. The aim of the present study was to asses the impact of PRP on COPD patients, focusing on the clinical benefits of PRP, which may further provide to the patients a good support for change. Material and method. Sixty-seven patients with clinically stable COPD were enrolled in this prospective study, consisting in a 6-weeks of PRP. There were recorded demographic data, smoking and medical history, and abnormal findings at the physical examination. All patients completed CAT (COPD Assessment Test) questionnaire and dyspnea on Borg scale, they performed spirometry, and six minutes walking test (6MWT), before and after the completion of the rehabilitation program. Results and Discussions. After the 6-week period of PRP, a large proportion of patients presented higher values of spirometric parameters, although the change was no statistically significant. The impact of COPD on the patient’s health was significantly improved, 58.2% of patients registered < 10 points of CAT questionnaire after PRP (p<0.05). 75% of patients reported a 0-5 points of dyspnea on Borg scale comparing with 29% before the PRP (p=0.0147), and 56% a 0-5 points of fatigue while only 25% of patients had the same score before the rehabilitation programme (p=0,022). Only 8 patients (11.94% vs 31.34%, p<0.05) reported a SaO2 lower than 90% after the PRP. The 6MWD was longer than 250m at the end of the 6-weeks of PRP for 38 patients (56.7% vs 22.38%, p<0.05). Conclusions. The present study showed that a PRP added to pharmacological treatment had a beneficial role of increasing the patient’ health status and exercise tolerance for COPD patients.

The efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation in improving the clinical status in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, fatal lung disease with a median survival rate of 2-4 years after diagnosis, occurring primarily in older adults. The diagnosis is suggested by histology or radiologic evidence of a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern and exclusion of known cases of pulmonary fibrosis. There are some comorbidities associated with IPF such as pulmonary hypertension, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep disorders and psychiatric disturbances. The management of IPF focuses on the amelioration of symptoms, preserving lung function, improving health status, minimizing the adverse effects of therapy and improving survival. Pulmonary rehabilitation is suggested for IPF patients when adequate medical therapy controls poorly the disease progression and mental, physical or social consequences of the illness persist during daily life. Currently, there are only two approved available antifibrotic therapies, pirfenidone and nintedanib, capable to reduce disease progression and physical deterioration, but cure is elusive and improvements are hardly observed. In addition, there is a continuous need of non-drug therapy components which should be included in IPF patient management: education, psychosocial support, exercise training, nutrition, symptom management and palliative care, non-invasive ventilation and pulmonary transplant. These complementary therapies have been proven to improve dyspnea, exercise capacity, fatigue and quality of life. Key words: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, rehabilitation, quality of life, palliative care,

Impact of pulmonary rehabilitation programs in improving health status in COPD patients

Pulmonary rehabilitation programme (PRP) have a positive impact on multiple outcomes of COPD, such as decreasing symptoms, increasing exercise tolerance and improving general health status. The aim of this study is to evaluate exercise tolerance impairment and to assess the impact of PRP in improving health status in patients diagnosed with COPD. It was conducted a prospective parallel group study in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department of the Clinical Hospital "V. Babes”, Timisoara, from 2007 to 2010. The subjects included in the study were patients diagnosed with COPD stages I-IV GOLD, initially evaluated and started a PRP, then re-evaluated after 3 weeks and 6 months. The study group included 168 patients, 158 men, mean age 61.73 years. The initial evaluation revealed higher values of dyspnea scores using mMRC scale in advanced COPD stages (3.69±0.77 in patients with COPD stage IV, vs 0.88±0.5 in patients with COPD stage, p<0.05), decreased Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), PImax and PEmax, and 6 minutes walking distance values corresponding with COPD severity stages. Re-evaluation at 3 weeks and 6 months after the pulmonary rehabilitation programme was applied showed significant improved dyspnea scores and exercise tolerance. The results of this study reconfirmed the positive and persistent impact of pulmonary rehabilitation programme on muscle dysfunction, dyspnea, and quality of life in COPD patients, regardless of severity. Key words: COPD, pulmonary rehabilitation programme, 6 minutes walking test, pedometry,