BackgroundThe new Corona-Virus disease (COVID-19) can result in a large variety of chronic health issues like impaired lung function, reduced exercise performance, and diminished quality of life. Our study aimed to investigate the efficacy, feasibility, and safety of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in COVID-19 patients and to compare outcomes between patients with a mild/moderate and a severe/critical course of the disease.MethodsPatients in the post-acute phase of a mild to critical course of COVID-19 admitted to a comprehensive three-week inpatient PR were included in this prospective, observational cohort study. Several measures of exercise performance (6-minute walk distance, 6MWD), lung function (forced vital capacity, FVC), and quality of life (36 question short-form health survey, SF-36) were assessed before and after PR.ResultsFifty patients were included in the study (24 with mild/moderate and 26 with severe/critical COVID-19). On admission, patients had a reduced 6MWD (mild: 509 m [426–539]; severe: 344 m [244–392]), an impaired FVC (mild: 80% [59–91]; severe: 75% [60–91]) and a low SF-36 mental health score (mild: 49 pts [37–54]; severe: 39 pts [30–53]). Patients attended a median of 100% [94–100] of all provided PR sessions. At discharge, patients in both subgroups improved in 6MWD (mild/moderate: +48 m [35–113 m]; severe/critical: +124 m [75–145 m], both p<0.001), FVC (mild/moderate: +7.7% [1.0–17.8], p=0.002; severe/critical: +11.3% [1.0–16.9], p<0.001) and SF-36 mental component (mild/moderate +5.6 pts [1.4–9.2], p=0.071; severe/critical: +14.4 pts [−0.6–24.5], p<0.001). No adverse event was observed.ConclusionOur study shows that PR is a feasible, safe, and effective therapeutic option in COVID-19 patients independent of disease severity.

We conclude that this de novo mutation can contribute to the cause of "sporadic" childhood absence epilepsy by a loss of function and haploinsufficiency of the GABA(A) receptor alpha(1)-subunit, and that GABRA1 mutations rarely are associated with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

BackgroundPatients with stable COPD show improvements in exercise capacity and muscular function after the application of whole body vibration. We aimed to evaluate whether this modality added to conventional physiotherapy in exacerbated hospitalised COPD patients would be safe and would improve exercise capacity and quality of life.Methods49 hospitalised exacerbated COPD patients were randomized (1:1) to undergo physiotherapy alone or physiotherapy with the addition of whole body vibration. The primary endpoint was the between-group difference of the 6-minute walking test (day of discharge – day of admission). Secondary assessments included chair rising test, quality of life, and serum marker analysis.ResultsWhole body vibration did not cause procedure-related adverse events. Compared to physiotherapy alone, it led to significantly stronger improvements in 6-minute walking test (95.55 ± 76.29 m vs. 6.13 ± 81.65 m; p = 0.007) and St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (-6.43 ± 14.25 vs. 5.59 ± 19.15, p = 0.049). Whole body vibration increased the expression of the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator receptor gamma coactivator-1-α and serum levels of irisin, while it decreased serum interleukin-8.ConclusionWhole body vibration during hospitalised exacerbations did not cause procedure-related adverse events and induced clinically significant benefits regarding exercise capacity and health-related quality of life that were associated with increased serum levels of irisin, a marker of muscle activity.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00005979. Registered 17 March 2014.

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Loss of inhibitory synaptic transmission within the dorsal horn of the spinal cord plays a key role in the development of chronic pain following inflammation or nerve injury. Inhibitory postsynaptic transmission in the adult spinal cord involves mainly glycine. Cannabidiol is a nonpsychotropic plant constituent of Cannabis sativa. As we hypothesized that non-CB receptor mechanisms of cannabidiol might contribute to its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, we investigated the interaction of cannabidiol with strychnine-sensitive α₁ and α₁β glycine receptors by using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Cannabidiol showed a positive allosteric modulating effect in a low micromolar concentration range (EC₅₀ values: α₁ = 12.3 ± 3.8 μmol/l and α₁β = 18.1 ± 6.2 μmol/l). Direct activation of glycine receptors was observed at higher concentrations above 100 μmol/l (EC₅₀ values: α₁ = 132.4 ± 12.3 μmol/l and α₁β = 144.3 ± 22.7 μmol/l). These in vitro results suggest that strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors may be a target for cannabidiol mediating some of its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a disorder caused by episodic unintentional paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords, which may induce acute severe dyspnoea attacks not responsive to conventional asthma therapy. The aetiology of VCD is complex and often multifactorial. The essential pathophysiology is that of a hyperfunctional laryngeal reflex to protect the lower airway as a result of any combination of post-nasal drip, gastro-oesophageal reflux, laryngopharyngeal reflux and/or psychological conditions. Laryngoscopic demonstration of the paradoxical motion while wheezing or stridorous is considered the diagnostic gold standard. Speech therapy, including the use of special relaxed-throat breathing patterns is effective for VCD that is purely of the functional nature. Knowledge of the clinical features of VCD and identifying factors that may be contributing to the development of VCD can provide adequate clues to the correct diagnosis and management.

This document is a revision of the guideline for diagnosis and treatment of COPD that replaces the version from 2007. A multitude of recent reports regarding risk factors, diagnosis, assessment, prevention and pharmacological as well as non-pharmacological treatment options made a major revision mandatory. The new guideline is based on the GOLD document taking into account specifics in Germany and Austria.

LPA can easily be assessed in LT candidates as part of pretransplant evaluation and was significantly associated with short-term outcome, whereas BMI was not. Assessment of LPA may provide additional information on body composition beyond BMI. However, the clinical utility has to be further evaluated.