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The aim of the study was to assess the short-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia, also in relation to radiologic/laboratory/clinical indices of risk at baseline. This prospective follow-up cohort study included 94 patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to a medical ward at the Montichiari Hospital, Brescia, Italy from February 28th to April 30th, 2020. Patients had COVID-19 related pneumonia with respiratory failure. Ninety-four patients out of 193 survivors accepted to be re-evaluated after discharge, on average after 4 months. In ¼ of the patients an evidence of pulmonary fibrosis was detected, as indicated by an altered diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO); in 6–7% of patients the alteration was classified as of moderate/severe degree. We also evaluated quality of life thorough a structured questionnaire: 52% of the patients still lamented fatigue, 36% effort dyspnea, 10% anorexia, 14% dysgeusia or anosmia, 31% insomnia and 21% anxiety. Finally, we evaluated three prognostic indices (the Brixia radiologic score, the Charlson Comorbidity Index and the 4C mortality score) in terms of prediction of the clinical consequences of the disease. All of them significantly predicted the extent of short-term lung involvement. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia is associated to relevant short-term clinical consequences, both in terms of persistence of symptoms and in terms of impairment of DLCO (indicator of a possible development of pulmonary fibrosis); some severity indices of the disease may predict short-term clinical outcome. Further studies are needed to ascertain whether such manifestations may persist long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to simultaneously assess several potential predictors of outcome (co-morbidity, previous and in-hospital treatment, radiologic Brixia score) in patients with COVID-19. This retrospective cohort study included 258 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to a medical ward at Montichiari Hospital, Brescia, Italy from February 28th to April 30rd, 2020. Patients had SARS-CoV-2 related pneumonia with respiratory failure, and were treated with hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir plus ritonavir. In some patients, additional treatment with tocilizumab, dexamethasone and enoxaparin was adopted. Outcomes (death or recovery) were assessed at the end of the discharge period or at the end of the follow-up (August 2020). During hospitalization, 59 patients died, while 6 died after discharge. The following variables were demonstrated to be associated with a worse prognosis: Radiologic Brixia score higher than 8, presence at baseline of hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, cancer, previous treatment with ACE-inhibitors or anti-platelet drugs. Anticoagulant treatment during hospital admission with enoxaparin at a dose higher than 4000 U once daily was associated with a better prognosis. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that some co-morbidities and cardiovascular risk factors may affect prognosis. The radiologic Brixia score may be a useful tool to stratify the risk of death at baseline. Anticoagulant treatment with enoxaparin might be associated to a clinical benefit in terms of survival in patients with COVID-19., (© 2020 The Author(s).)

Objective: Sleep disturbances are frequently reported in Mowat-Wilson Syndrome (MWS). The current study aimed to evaluate clinical and video-polysomnographic (VPSG) characteristics of the sleep architecture and abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns during sleep in MWS., Methods: Sixteen individuals with MWS (range 16 months-25 years), attending the Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry of the University of Bologna, were included. The "Sleep Disturbances Scale for Children (SDSC)" questionnaire was administered to all parents of MWS patients, and all patients underwent a VPSG recording., Results: The analysis of the SDSC questionnaire revealed disturbances mainly at the sleep-wake transition and in initiating and maintaining sleep. Evaluation of sleep structure in MWS patients showed a significant reduction of total sleep time, an increase of wake after sleep onset and arousal index as compared to normal controls. An EEG pattern characterized by slowing of background activity and poverty of physiological sleep characterisitcs was observed in all patients. Moreover, in patients aged >7 years, anteriorly predominant spike and waves were observed, markedly activated by sleep configuring a sub-continuous or continuous activity., Conclusion: Our data (both clinical and VPSG) documented the presence of significant and clinically relevant sleep disturbances in MWS patients. Moreover, we identified a characteristic age-dependent sleep EEG pattern that could provide a new element to assist in the management of MWS., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Our study was aimed at comparing health behavior data collected from a Web-based self-administered questionnaire (Web SAQ) versus a paper-and-pencil self-administered questionnaire and assessing the feasibility of the application., Materials and Methods: One hundred and ninety (n = 190) pupils (ages 14-16 years) of senior high schools anonymously completed a questionnaire, with demographics and queries about lifestyle, alcohol, and tobacco use. For each class, the adolescents were randomly assigned to complete either the paper version of the questionnaire or the equivalent Web-based one, which used a customized platform developed for the purposes of this survey., Results: Females who filled out the Web SAQ required significantly less time and completed a significantly higher percentage of its items. Although the majority of questions on tobacco and alcohol did not differ significantly across the two administration modes, there were gender-related differences in some sensitive information. Male adolescents on the Web SAQ accounted higher per hour drink consumption (r = 0.27, p = 0.015) and more numerous episodes of inebriety (r = 0.26, p = 0.010), whereas females seemed to state a younger age of alcohol onset (r = 0.33, p = 0.002). Females were more likely to report being monthly smokers on the Web SAQ (odds ratio = 0.37). Adolescents felt significantly less observed and females referred being more independent while compiling the Web SAQ., Conclusions: The findings of the study suggest that differences in reporting of some behavior of adolescents when using a Web SAQ do exist, despite the small-to-medium effect sizes. Exploiting the Web requires further investigation for extensive comprehension of the reasons for such differences.

Objective: To report the results of the routine application of Italian guidelines that apply to infertile patient candidates for any assisted reproduction technique (ART). The guidelines recommend performing a karyotype analysis in each couple and the screening test for mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in one of the two partners., Design: Case series., Setting: Infertility unit., Patient(s): Two thousand seven hundred ten consecutive infertile couple candidates for ART., Intervention(s): Peripheral blood evaluation of karyotype and CFTR gene., Main Outcome Measure(s): Frequency of aberrant karyotype and mutated CFTR gene., Result(s): A total of 74 aberrant karyotypes were diagnosed, corresponding to 1.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9%-1.7%) in women and to 1.5% (95% CI, 1.0%-2.0%) in men. In men, the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities differed according to the treatment group (0.3%, 1.1%, and 2.2% in IUI, IVF, and ICSI, respectively). The same was not observed in women. Excluding the 5T variant, 3.8% of the screened patients showed a mutated CFTR gene (95% CI, 3.1%-4.5%), and the mutation was found in both partners in 0.2% of the couples (95% CI, 0.0-0.4%)., Conclusion(s): The frequency of aberrant karyotypes is higher in infertile couples than in the general population, whereas the frequency of a mutation of the CFTR gene is similar.