Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep disordered breathing, with a signifi cant impact on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold-standard treatment for moderate-severe OSA, but is associated with poor patient compliance (due to fi nancial issues and frequent side eff ects). The purpose of this study is to evaluate HR-QoL among patients with moderate-severe OSA from NorthEastern Romania, at baseline and after 2 months of CPAP. 75 patients were initially included in our study but only 59 subjects returned for a second evaluation. HR-QoL was assessed using the European Quality of Life 5 Domain questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). OSA has a signifi cant impact on quality of life in our group, with an average EQ-5D-5L index of 0.70±0.27 and an EQ-5D-5L Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of 63.71±17.74%. Short-term CPAP use was associated with a statistically signifi cant improvement in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (Δ = 4.44, p <0.0000001), EQ-5D-5L index (Δ = 0.1, p=0.0008) and EQ-5D-5L VAS (Δ = 9.38%, p=0.00002). All patients with a high income (> 4000 lei/month) decided to continue using the device, while the decision not to continue CPAP was signifi cantly more frequent among patients with a low income (< 1000 lei /month-52.63% versus 21.21%, p=0.01). Our results suggest that income level signifi cantly infl uences CPAP compliance.

No abstract

SummaryCatecholamine tumoral syndrome is caused by lesions of the medulosuprarenal cromafin tissue (pheochromocytoma or pheochromocytoblastoma) or of the neural crest (paraganglioma), from the ganglionar cells (ganglioneurinoma or ganglioneuroblastoma) or from the sympathetic nervous cells (sympathogonia – sympathoblastoma and sympathoblasts – neuroblastoma), tumors that excessively secrete cathecolamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline), but also neuropeptides. Indications for testing are associated with the clinical context. Because the pheochromocytoma means a heterogeneous group of secretory tumours, there is no analysis achieving the 100% accuracy. The diagnosis can be established by hormonal dosages for basal determinations and by dynamic tests or through nonspecific tests. Imagistic explorations like computer tomography, abdominal and pelvic MRI can localise the tumour. Plasma and urinary metanephrines dosage are the first intention tests because have a higher accuracy compared to catecholamines or other metabolites. Considering the low prevalence of catecholamine secreting tumours, we considered it necessary to systematise diagnostic possibilities.

No abstract

No abstract