New diagnostic tools to screen and assess a still too underestimated disease: the role of the wrist-worn peripheral arterial tonometry device-a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Home sleep apnea testing devices aim to overcome the drawbacks of polysomnography (PSG). Among these, the WatchPAT (WP) (Itamar Medical Ltd., Caesarea, Israel) has recently been introduced on the market for diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the studies validating the WP for the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing through comparison with PSG. METHODS: A systematic review was performed to identify all clinical studies concerning WP validation compared with PSG as diagnostic tools. A qualitative analysis of the data was conducted. RESULTS: In this review, 18 studies were included for a total of 1049 patients, aged 8 to 70 years old, with 74 of these being pediatric patients. In most studies, patients completed an overnight PSG and simultaneously wore WatchPAT in a sleep laboratory, while others compared the results obtained on two different nights. Both protocols showed good results in terms of AHI, ODI, RDI, and SO2. Moreover, some studies calculated the sensitivity and specificity of the WP ranging from 87 to 96% and from 66 to 80%, respectively. Excellent results were found also in pediatric patients. CONCLUSION: The WP represents an effective and convenient tool for OSA diagnosis compared to standard reference systems.

Platelet-Rich Plasma for Patients with Olfactory Dysfunction: Myth or Reality? A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: With promising outcomes, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has recently been suggested as a treatment for olfactory dysfunction (OD). METHODS: Clinical studies utilizing PRP in OD caused by COVID-19, trauma, anesthetic exposure, viral infection, and chronic rhinosinusitis were included in a systematic review. RESULTS: Ten clinical studies were qualitatively analyzed. Six of these studies used the PRP for OD caused by COVID-19, one on OD after functional endoscopic sinus surgery, and three on post-infectious or post-trauma OD. The population included 531 patients, ranging in age from 15 to 63. CONCLUSION: The use of PRP may be a risk-free and efficient therapeutic option with very encouraging outcomes. Indeed, it enhances olfactory perception in patients who not only exhibit COVID-19 infection aftereffects, but also in those who have lost their sense of smell due to trauma, rhinosinusitis, rhinitis, or even surgery. To evaluate the PRP's therapeutic benefits in OD patients and to compare the efficacy of different therapeutic protocols with regard to treatment schedules, there is an urgent need for focused controlled trials.