Pulmonary pharmacology & therapeutics
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Pulm Pharmacol Ther · Jun 2014
β-Catenin overexpression is associated with gefitinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells.
Acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) presents great challenges in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, while the mechanisms are still not well understood. The β-catenin signaling pathway has been found to be associated with chemoresistance and can activate the EGFR and its downstream pathways. This study aimed to investigate the role of β-catenin in acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC cell lines. ⋯ β-catenin plays an important role in acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC cell lines and may be a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC patients who have failed to respond to targeted therapy.
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Pulm Pharmacol Ther · Jun 2014
Iron laden macrophages in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: the telltale of occult alveolar hemorrhage?
A number of observations suggest that iron accumulates in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with vascular abnormalities, including pulmonary hypertension. ⋯ The data show exaggerated accumulation of iron in IPF broncho-alveolar ELF and alveolar cells with no association with tobacco smoke, thus suggesting, occult pulmonary hemorrhage as a likely cause.
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Pulm Pharmacol Ther · Apr 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of two systemic steroid regimens for the treatment of COPD exacerbations.
Systemic steroids shorten recovery time, improve lung function and hypoxemia in COPD exacerbations. Although several studies have shown that both parenteral and oral steroids are effective and GOLD guideline recommends use of oral steroids at a dose of 30-40 mg/day, very little data exists as to whether any route of admininstration (parenteral vs oral) or any dose is more effective and/or safer. ⋯ These data show that oral administration of MP at a dose 32 mg/day for seven days significantly improves lung function, symptom scores and oxygenation in patients admitted to the hospital for COPD exacerbation and is as effective as and possibly safer than parenteral admininistration of higher doses.
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Pulm Pharmacol Ther · Feb 2014
Aminophylline infusion for status asthmaticus in the pediatric critical care unit setting is independently associated with increased length of stay and time for symptom improvement.
The role of aminophylline in the treatment of severe acute asthma in the pediatric critical care unit (PCCU) is not clear. We sought to examine the association of aminophylline treatment with PCCU length of stay and time to symptom improvement. ⋯ The addition of aminophylline to therapy with corticosteroids and inhaled β-agonists was associated with statistically and clinically significant increases in functional length of stay and time to symptom improvement in the PCCU. This potential morbidity supports the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guideline proscribing aminophylline use in acute asthma.
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Pulm Pharmacol Ther · Feb 2014
Meta AnalysisEfficacy and safety of roflumilast in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis.
Currently, several large studies showed that roflumilast has been demonstrated efficacy during treatment chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, but also caused some side effects. ⋯ Roflumilast significantly reduces the mean exacerbation rate in COPD patients. Although there are insufficient clinical evidence on other clinical endpoints and high risk of some adverse events, roflumilast therapy may benefit COPD patients. Further studies are needed to pay more attention to the long-term efficacy and safety of roflumilast.