Background Pneumonia induced by 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) is characterized by hypoxemic respiratory failure that may present with a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes. At the beginning, patients may have normal lung compliance and be responsive to noninvasive ventilatory support, such as CPAP. However, the transition to more severe respiratory failure - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), necessitating invasive ventilation is often abrupt and characterized by a severe V/Q mismatch that require cycles of prone positioning. The aim of this case is to report the effect on gas exchange, respiratory mechanics and hemodynamics of tripod (or orthopneic sitting position) used as an alternative to prone position in a patient with mild SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia ventilated with helmet CPAP. Case presentation A 77-year-old awake and collaborating male patient with mild SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and ventilated with Helmet CPAP, showed sudden worsening of gas exchange without dyspnea. After an unsuccessful attempt of prone positioning, we alternated three-hours cycles of semi-recumbent and tripod position, still keeping him in CPAP. Arterial blood gases (PaO2/FiO2, PaO2, SaO2, PaCO2 and A/a gradient), respiratory (VE, VT, RR) and hemodynamic parameters (HR, MAP) were collected in the supine and tripod position. Cycles of tripod position were continued for 3 days. The patient had a clinically important improvement in arterial blood gases and respiratory parameters, with stable hemodynamic and was successfully weaned and discharged to ward 10 days after pneumonia onset. Conclusions Tripod position during Helmet CPAP can be applied safely in patients with mild SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, with improvement of oxygenation and V/Q matching, thus reducing the need for intubation.

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Background In polytrauma intensive care unit (ICU) patients, glutamine (GLN) becomes a “conditionally essential” amino acid; its role has been extensively studied in numerous clinical trials but their results are inconclusive. We evaluated the IgA-mediated humoral immunity after GLN supplementation in polytrauma ICU patients. Methods All consecutive patients with polytrauma who required mechanical ventilation and enteral nutrition (EN) provided within 24 h since the admission in ICU at the University Hospital of Foggia from September 2016 to February 2017 were included. Thereafter, two groups were identified: patients treated by conventional EN (25 kcal/kg/die) and patients who have received conventional EN enriched with 50 mg/kg/ideal body weight of alanyl-GLN 20% intravenously. We analysed the plasmatic concentration of IgA, CD3+/CD4+ T helper lymphocytes, CD3+/CD8+ T suppressor lymphocytes, CD3+/CD19+ B lymphocytes, IL-4 and IL-2 at admission and at 4 and 8 days. Results We identified 30 patients, with 15 subjects per group. IgA levels increased significantly in GLN vs the control group at T0, T4 and T8. CD3+/CD4+ T helper lymphocyte and CD3+/CD8+ T suppressor lymphocyte levels significantly increased in GLN vs the control group at T4 and T8. CD3+/CD19+ B lymphocyte levels increased significantly in GLN vs the control group only at T8. IL-2 and IL-4 levels showed no significant differences when comparing GLN with the control group. Conclusions Our study showed that there was an improvement in humoral and cell-mediated immunity with GLN supplementation in polytrauma ICU patients using recommended doses.

Background In polytrauma intensive care unit (ICU) patients, glutamine (GLN) become a "conditionally essential" amino acid; its role has been extensively studied in numerous clinical trials but their results are inconclusive. We evaluated the IgA–mediated humoral immunity after GLN supplementation in polytrauma ICU patients. Results All consecutive patients with polytrauma who required mechanical ventilation and enteral nutrition (EN) provided within 24 hours since the admission in ICU at the University Hospital of Foggia from September 2016 to February 2017 were included. Thereafter, two groups were identified: patients treated by conventional EN (25 kcal/kg/die) and patients who have received conventional EN enriched with 50 mg/kg/ideal body weight of alanyl-GLN 20% intravenously. We analyzed plasmatic concentration of IgA, CD3+/CD4+ T Helper Lymphocytes, CD3+/CD8+ T suppressor Lymphocytes, CD3+/CD19+ B Lymphocytes, IL-4 and IL-2 at admission, at 4, 8 days. We identified 30 patients, with 15 subjects per group. IgA levels increased significantly in GLN vs control group at T0, T4 and T8.CD3+/CD4+ T helper lymphocytes and CD3+/CD8+ T suppressor lymphocytes levels significantly increased in GLN vs control group at T4 and T8. CD3+/CD19+ B lymphocytes levels increased significantly in GLN vs control group only at T8.IL-2 and IL-4 levels showed no significant differences when comparing GLN with control group. Conclusions Our study showed that there was an improvement in humoral and cell-mediated immunity with GLN supplementation in polytrauma ICU patients using recommended doses.