The optimal duration of spontaneous breath trial (SBT) for patients with difficult extubation from mechanical ventilation is unknown.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common heart valve disease, especially in aging populations. While surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the standard treatment, many patients are ineligible. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) offers an alternative, especially for high-risk patients, but is not without complications. Identifying biomarkers that predict post-TAVI mortality is essential for optimizing outcomes.

Secondary Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) differs from primary TTS in terms of clinical characteristics, management, and prognosis. COPD exacerbation has been recognized as a physical trigger for TTS, but its prognostic implications for secondary TTS are poorly understood.

Metabolic dysfunction is associated with respiratory diseases, and the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is an important indicator of metabolic dysfunction.

Dyspnea-related kinesiophobia refers to restrictions or avoidance of activities due to fear of dyspnea and is prevalent among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hence, there is a need to identify subgroups of dyspnea-related kinesiophobia among older adults with COPD to support the development of strategies to increase activity levels.

Family caregivers of ICU patients experience difficulty communicating with patients during mechanical ventilation. Little is known about patient-family communication in the ICU and the associated emotional distress.

Preprocedural evaluation, including frailty estimation, is crucial in managing patients undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). This involves mandatory computed tomography (CT) scans for assessing body composition parameters. The impact of low bone mineral density (BMD) on TAVR outcomes remains unclear, especially when measured using both non-enhanced and contrast-enhanced CT scans.

Lymphocyte-based inflammatory indices such as monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) have long been recognized as reliable coronary artery disease (CAD) predictors. More recently, novel indices like the Systemic Inflammatory Index (SII), Systemic Inflammatory Response Index (SIRI), and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SIIRI) have emerged. These newer markers offer a more comprehensive assessment of inflammation by integrating multiple immune cell types, potentially enhancing the prediction of cardiovascular outcomes.

Heart failure (HF) imposes significant disability. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 is a generic instrument that measures disability. Although it has been used in HF, no previous study has investigated its measurement properties in this group.

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) treatment guidelines recommend initial dosages for diuretic drugs but lack guidance on treatment timing. Recent evidence indicates that faster treatment, or shorter Door-to-Diuretic (D2D) Time, may improve outcomes.

The role of home oxygen therapy for patients recovering from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, characterized by impaired gas exchange, is not well-defined.

With the evolution of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) and the progression towards heart failure (HF), patients may show a decline in inspiratory muscle strength, lung function, and functional capacity.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) involves increased arterial stiffness and reduced vascular tone, affecting pulmonary arterial wave reflections. The Reflection Index (RI) may provide insights into these changes.

Unhealthy sleep patterns and accelerated biological age are frequently associated with multiple chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), including COPD, asthma, and interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, few studies have explored the role of biological age in the relationship between sleep patterns and CRDs.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by increased pulmonary artery pressure with significant morbidity and mortality. Inflammatory processes are crucial in PAH pathogenesis, with inflammatory cells and mediators present early in disease progression. IL-34 involvement in inflammatory pathways suggests that IL-34 could be an important player in the progression of PAH, influencing both pulmonary pressures and vascular changes.

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) may develop concomitant advanced heart failure (HF). However, there is limited data on the clinical outcomes of HCM patients without sarcomere gene mutations who have advanced HF.

Complete heart block (CHB) is a conduction disorder that can be fatal if not treated promptly. Admission on a week or weekend day may influence the outcomes of cardiac emergencies, such as CHB.

Heart transplantation (HT) recipients often report improved quality of life and increased overall happiness, viewing the transplantation as a rebirth and a second chance at life. However, interpretations of normality vary among individuals. Understanding patients' and caregivers' experiences in depth is crucial to adjust clinical care paths and avoid complications.

Medical ICU (MICU) and neuroscience ICU (NSICU) populations undergoing compassionate extubation (CE) may have different characteristics that affect post-procedure outcomes.

Complementary health approaches have shown therapeutic benefits in symptom reduction and improved patients' quality of life for chronic debilitating conditions such as cancer and pulmonary hypertension. Urban Zen Integrative Therapy (UZIT) is a mindfulness-based multicomponent complementary intervention shown to improve symptom management and quality of life in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Consistent intervention delivery across interventionists is critical to test mindfulness-based multicomponent interventions on a larger scale and further implementations as an augmented practice in routine care.