scholarly journals How to design an education programme for patients with chronic obstructive disease?

2020 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 109-115
Author(s):  
Mate Olah ◽  
Katalin Inczeffy-Ivicsics ◽  
Agnes Meszaros

Introduction: COPD is a debilitating disease and a major death cause by 2020. Our current knowledge of the opportunities of patient education in the community pharmacy is growing, though yet limited. Objectives: (1) To assess the potential of a patient education programme in a Hungarian pharmacy, (2) to understand patient attitudes and gather insight for the development of an education project, (3) to create a sustainable local good practice. Methods: We invited patients with a confirmed COPD diagnosis to take part in an in-depth interview, and to assess their symptoms. Later on, we offered them tailor-made education to learn about their attitudes to create the guidelines for optimal content. Results: Key elements of the education content should focus on the desire of active life, improve poor adherence, teach about reliever and maintenance therapy and emphasise the chronic component of the disease. Smoking cessation should be fostered, whilst patients would benefit from proper breathing techniques and posture. Conclusion: Hungarian patients may prefer to get fast and basic education in the community pharmacies. The ideal education content should include pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, treatment options, explanation of medication, inhaler use, smoking cessation and breathing techniques.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Dejcman ◽  
Valentin Sebastian Schäfer ◽  
Dirk Skowasch ◽  
Carmen Pizarro ◽  
Andreas Krause ◽  
...  

: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most common form of pulmonary impairment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, patients with RA or other arthritic diseases such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) may develop several other pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) with a higher risk than patients without arthritis. The article at hand aims at summarizing the current knowledge on the prevalence of pulmonary diseases in the above-mentioned forms of arthritis, the challenges for prevalence studies and detecting pulmonary diseases in patients with arthritis as well as possible treatment options. Dyspnea, cough or other pulmonary symptoms or findings in arthritis patients should prompt gradual diagnostic procedures considering pulmonary manifestations as a major cluster of differential diagnosis. Considering its poor prognosis and morbidity burden, RA-ILD needs to be ruled out. Treatment of manifestations often lacks solid evidencebased guidelines and referrals to specialized centers are often necessary.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-198
Author(s):  
Ann A Elshamy ◽  
Khaled M Aboshanab ◽  
Mahmoud A Yassien ◽  
Nadia A Hassouna

Background: The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) uropathogens has become a public health threat and current knowledge of the genotypic basis of bacterial resistance is essential for selecting appropriate treatment options. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among MDR uropathogens and to elucidate the molecular bases of plasmid-mediated resistance. Methods: Bacterial isolates were recovered from urine specimens of 150 out-patients with signs and symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) at El-Demerdash Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Standard methods were used for identification, antimicrobial suscep- tibility testing was performed according to CLSI guidelines. Results: Among the recovered isolates, 22.7% and 77.3% were Gram-positive, and negative, respectively. Of which; 43.3% were MDR with 60% harboring plasmids. Extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes blaCTX-M, blaSHV, and blaTEM were detected on plasmids of 89.7%, 41%, and 84.6% of the tested isolates, respectively. The aminoglycoside resistance gene aac6’-Ib/aac-6’-Ib- cr was found on plasmids of 92.3% of the tested isolates followed by qnrS (92.3%), qnrB (46.2%), and qnrA (7.7%). The most prevalent quinolone efflux pump gene was oqxB (38.5%), followed by oqxA (20.5%), then qepA (10.3%). Conclusion: High levels of resistance to nitrofurans, β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones were detected, and their use as empirical treatment for UTIs has become questionable. Keywords: ESBLs; qnR; plasmid-mediated; uropathgens; antibacterial resistance. 


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ponrathi Athilingam ◽  
Andrew Bugajski ◽  
Usha Menon

UNSTRUCTURED Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) predominantly affects older adults, and claimed 3 million lives in 2016, making it the third leading cause of death worldwide. Over 35 million Americans aged 40 or older have lung function consistent with diagnosable COPD. COPD and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have a bidirectional relationship, in that one is a risk factor for developing the other. National and international consortiums recommend early screening of adults at risk of COPD, such as those with CVD. Recommended screening strategies include screening tools to assess symptoms, medical history, and handheld spirometry. Handheld spirometry has high diagnostic accuracy and if impaired lung function is indicated, these patients are referred for pulmonary function testing (PFT), the diagnostic gold standard for COPD. However, there is no clinical consensus for pulmonary screening in people with CVD. Current knowledge relating to the prevalence and incidence of CVD in people with COPD and the mechanisms that underlie their coexistence is key in combating the global burden of COPD.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guanghui Xu ◽  
Yuhao Wang ◽  
Hushan Zhang ◽  
Xueke She ◽  
Jianjun Yang

Neuroendocrine neoplasias (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of rare tumors scattered throughout the body. Surgery, locoregional or ablative therapies as well as maintenance treatments are applied in well-differentiated, low-grade NENs, whereas cytotoxic chemotherapy is usually applied in high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas. However, treatment options for patients with advanced or metastatic NENs are limited. Immunotherapy has provided new treatment approaches for many cancer types, including neuroendocrine tumors, but predictive biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the treatment of NENs have not been fully reported. By reviewing the literature and international congress abstracts, we summarize the current knowledge of ICIs, potential predicative biomarkers in the treatment of NENs, implications and efficacy of ICIs as well as biomarkers for NENs of gastroenteropancreatic system, lung NENs and Merkel cell carcinoma in clinical practice.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 909
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Kotowski ◽  
Jakub Rosik ◽  
Filip Machaj ◽  
Stanisław Supplitt ◽  
Daniel Wiczew ◽  
...  

Glycolysis is a crucial metabolic process in rapidly proliferating cells such as cancer cells. Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) is a key rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis. Its efficiency is allosterically regulated by numerous substances occurring in the cytoplasm. However, the most potent regulator of PFK-1 is fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (F-2,6-BP), the level of which is strongly associated with 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activity (PFK-2/FBPase-2, PFKFB). PFK-2/FBPase-2 is a bifunctional enzyme responsible for F-2,6-BP synthesis and degradation. Four isozymes of PFKFB (PFKFB1, PFKFB2, PFKFB3, and PFKFB4) have been identified. Alterations in the levels of all PFK-2/FBPase-2 isozymes have been reported in different diseases. However, most recent studies have focused on an increased expression of PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 in cancer tissues and their role in carcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge on all PFKFB genes and protein structures, and emphasize important differences between the isoenzymes, which likely affect their kinase/phosphatase activities. The main focus is on the latest reports in this field of cancer research, and in particular the impact of PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 on tumor progression, metastasis, angiogenesis, and autophagy. We also present the most recent achievements in the development of new drugs targeting these isozymes. Finally, we discuss potential combination therapies using PFKFB3 inhibitors, which may represent important future cancer treatment options.


Author(s):  
Akylbek Sydykov ◽  
Argen Mamazhakypov ◽  
Abdirashit Maripov ◽  
Djuro Kosanovic ◽  
Norbert Weissmann ◽  
...  

Alveolar hypoxia is the most prominent feature of high altitude environment with well-known consequences for the cardio-pulmonary system, including development of pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension due to an exaggerated hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction contributes to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a life-threatening disorder, occurring at high altitudes in non-acclimatized healthy individuals. Despite a strong physiologic rationale for using vasodilators for prevention and treatment of HAPE, no systematic studies of their efficacy have been conducted to date. Calcium-channel blockers are currently recommended for drug prophylaxis in high-risk individuals with a clear history of recurrent HAPE based on the extensive clinical experience with nifedipine in HAPE prevention in susceptible individuals. Chronic exposure to hypoxia induces pulmonary vascular remodeling and development of pulmonary hypertension, which places an increased pressure load on the right ventricle leading to right heart failure. Further, pulmonary hypertension along with excessive erythrocytosis may complicate chronic mountain sickness, another high altitude maladaptation disorder. Importantly, other causes than hypoxia may potentially underlie and/or contribute to pulmonary hypertension at high altitude, such as chronic heart and lung diseases, thrombotic or embolic diseases. Extensive clinical experience with drugs in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension suggests their potential for treatment of high altitude pulmonary hypertension. Small studies have demonstrated their efficacy in reducing pulmonary artery pressure in high altitude residents. However, no drugs have been approved to date for the therapy of chronic high altitude pulmonary hypertension. This work provides a literature review on the role of pulmonary hypertension in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic high altitude maladaptation disorders and summarizes current knowledge regarding potential treatment options.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi206-vi206
Author(s):  
Audra Boscoe ◽  
Ted Wells ◽  
Christina Graham ◽  
Caitlin Pohl ◽  
Brooke Witherspoon ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Patients with lower grade glioma (LGG) (i.e., grade II or III) have limited treatment options. After surgical resection of their tumor, patients will undergo either a period of expectant management (watch and wait) or treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Approximately 80% of patients with LGG have an isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation, which is a viable target for molecular therapy. This offers a therapeutic intervention that could potentially delay the need for chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in select patients. Several prognostic and patient-specific factors contribute to the decision to recommend expectant management, including concerns about the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The aim of this project was to understand patients’ signs and symptoms during the expectant management period and how LGG impacts their lives. METHODS Concept elicitation interviews were conducted in the US with patients with LGG as well as key opinion leaders (KOLs) with experience treating patients with LGG. Interview data were analyzed using Atlas.ti, and patient data were reviewed against KOL data. RESULTS Seven patients with ≥ 3 months of expectant management experience and three KOLs were interviewed. During their expectant management periods, patients reported 12 signs/symptoms, mostly related to deficits in cognition. Patients reported 16 impacts across four categories, with a substantial proportion of the impacts identified as negatively affecting emotional function. The signs/symptoms and impacts reported by patients were generally also reported by KOLs. During expectant management, patients typically resume their original quality of life post-surgery, but may also experience anxiety. Patients and KOLs indicated a preference for expectant management and delaying chemotherapy or radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Patient and KOL interviews characterized the LGG experience and indicated a preference for expectant management, which may be supported by therapies that delay the initiation of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (144) ◽  
pp. 170044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Geiger ◽  
Daniela Hirsch ◽  
Felix G. Hermann

Besides cancer and cardiovascular diseases, lung disorders are a leading cause of morbidity and death worldwide. For many disease conditions no effective and curative treatment options are available. Cell therapies offer a novel therapeutic approach due to their inherent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) are the most studied cell product. Numerous preclinical studies demonstrate an improvement of disease-associated parameters after MSC administration in several lung disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, results from clinical studies using MSCs for the treatment of various lung diseases indicate that MSC treatment in these patients is safe. In this review we summarise the results of preclinical and clinical studies that indicate that MSCs are a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of lung diseases. Nevertheless, further investigations are required.


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