Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex condition, whose diagnosis requires spirometric assessment. However, considering its heterogeneity, subjects with similar spirometric ...parameters do not necessarily have the same functional status. To overcome this limitation novel biomarkers for COPD have been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to explore the potential value of N-glycans as COPD biomarkers and to examine the individual variation of plasma protein and immunoglobulin G (IgG) glycosylation profiles in subjects with COPD and healthy controls.
Both the total plasma protein and IgG N-glycome have been profiled in the total of 137 patients with COPD and 95 matching controls from Croatia. Replication cohort consisted of 61 subjects with COPD and 148 controls recruited at another Croatian medical centre.
Plasma protein N-glycome in COPD subjects exhibited significant decrease in low branched and conversely, an increase in more complex glycan structures (tetragalactosylated, trisialylated, tetrasialylated and antennary fucosylated glycoforms). We also observed a significant decline in plasma monogalactosylated species, and the same change replicated in IgG glycome. N-glycans also showed value in distinguishing subjects in different COPD GOLD stages, where the relative abundance of more complex glycan structures increased as the disease progressed. Glycans also showed statistically significant associations with the frequency of exacerbations and demonstrated to be affected by smoking, which is the major risk factor for COPD development.
This study showed that complexity of glycans associates with COPD, mirroring also the disease severity. Moreover, changes in N-glycome associate with exacerbation frequency and are affected by smoking. In general, this study provided new insights into plasma protein and IgG N-glycome changes occurring in COPD and pointed out potential novel markers of the disease progression and severity.
To determine the characteristics of patients who experienced muscle fasciculations and migraine auras without headache after BNT162b2 immunization.
In January 2022, we published a case report that ...described a 48-year-old female patient who experienced muscle twitching and migraine auras without headache following BNT162b2 immunization. A self-administered online survey was sent to people who had written to us and complained of similar symptoms described in the case report (N=20).
The survey was completed by 11 participants, of whom 10 reported muscle twitching following BNT162b2 immunization lasting a median of 14 (4-36.5) days. Five of these participants (50%) reported migraine auras without headache. Participants further reported on self-identified triggers that altered the intensity of their symptoms, such as anxiety or caffeine. Fifty percent of participants who got an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (3/6) experienced increased muscle symptom intensity during the acute phase of the disease.
To the best of our knowledge, our survey is the first to summarize patients' experiences of these phenomena occurring after BNT162b2 immunization. It is important to note that no causal relationship between vaccination and these phenomena can be inferred.
Astma je najčešća plućna bolest, iako s manjim utjecajem na zbroj izgubljenih godina života zbog preuranjene smrtnosti i godina proživljenih s invaliditetom nego neke druge plućne bolesti, kao što je ...kronična opstruktivna plućna bolest. Budući da se radi o bolesti s velikim javnozdravstvenim utjecajem na radnu sposobnost i kvalitetu života oboljelih, kao i s potrošnjom značajnih zdravstvenih i financijskih resursa, potrebno je primijeniti
kvalitetno i standardizirano liječenje. Osnova liječenja astme – primjena temeljnoga protuupalnog lijeka s najmanjom dozom koja može održati dobru kontrolu – nije se značajno promijenila u odnosu na posljednje hrvatske smjernice za dijagnostiku i liječenje astme u odraslih, objavljene prije petnaestak godina. Međutim, u međuvremenu su se u globalnoj strategiji za upravljanje i prevenciju astme dogodile značajne promjene u stavu
prema kratkodjelujućem bronhodilatatoru salbutamolu, gdje se on više ne primjenjuje samostalno u akutnom bronhospazmu ili pri pojavi tegoba, bez inhalacijskog glukokortikoida. Također, značajan je napredak postignut u biološkoj terapiji teške astme, prepoznat je značaj izrade osobnog plana liječenja astme, kao i pojava novih mogućnosti liječenja (fiksna trojna terapija), što je uključeno u nove hrvatske smjernice za liječenje astme.
Exhaled breath temperature (EBT) is a known biomarker of inflammation and airways blood flow. As opposed to previous studies, we were able to measure temperature of separate fractions of exhaled ...breath (fEBT) (those from the peripheral and central airways). The aim was to validate the fEBT measurement method to determine the reference values and the influence of endogenous and exogenous factors on fEBT in healthy subjects. This cross-sectional study included 55 healthy adults in whom fEBT was repeatedly measured, two days in a row, using a FractAir
device. Also, basal metabolic rate, level of physical activity, distance from the main road, outdoor and ambient temperature, air pressure and humidity, haematology and inflammation markers, lung function, cumulative EBT and body temperature at characteristic points on the body were measured. The results showed that fEBT from central airways was lower compared to fEBT from the periphery and that fEBTs were not related to body temperature (
> 0.05 for all). We also showed repeatability of fEBT measurements for two consecutive days. All EBT fractions correlated significantly with ambient temperature (<0.01). No associations of fEBT with other personal and external factors were found using multivariate analysis. At room temperature of 22 °C, the physiological temperature values of the first fraction were 23.481 ± 3.150 °C, the second fraction 26.114 ± 4.024 °C and the third fraction 28.216 ± 3.321 °C. The proposed reference values represent the first part of validation of fEBT as the method for the use in clinical practice.
Background and Aims
COPD is progressive lung disease with known higher cardiovascular (CV) risk, mainly attributed to smoking of cigarettes as the main etiological factor of disease. The aim of this ...study was to compare CV risk in patients with COPD to control groups of smokers and non‐COPD and to investigate the relation of lung function variables, COPD severity, and smoking with Systemic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE) risk calculation, arterial stiffness (AS) values, and biological systemic inflammatory markers.
Methods
A total of 208 subjects were included in this study: 61 subjects diagnosed with COPD, 83 smokers without COPD, and 64 nonsmokers without COPD. Medical history and clinical data were recorded, including assessment of pulmonary function and AS, calculation of ankle‐brachial index, blood analysis, and CV risk assessment by SCORE risk calculation.
Results
Subjects with COPD had significantly higher values of SCORE calculation of risk, central aortic pressure, AS, and markers of systemic inflammation compared to control groups of smokers and nonsmokers without COPD (p < 0.001). Furthermore, statistically significant increase in hs‐CRP concentration was found between the COPD group and the control group of non‐COPD smokers (p < 0.001), and a statistically significantly higher SCORE calculation was found in the COPD group compared to control groups of smokers and nonsmokers without COPD (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
The results of the research support further identification and research of biological markers and simple specific tests such as arteriography that will enable progress in personalized treatment of patients with COPD and better primary and secondary prevention of comorbidities with the aim of improved treatment outcome.
SARS-CoV-2 has been circulating in population worldwide for the past year and a half, and thus a vast amount of scientific literature has been produced in order to study the biology of the virus and ...the pathophysiology of COVID-19, as well as to determine the best way to prevent infection, treat the patients and eliminate the virus. SARS-CoV-2 binding to the ACE2 receptor is the key initiator of COVID-19. The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect various types of cells requires special attention to be given to the cardiovascular system, as it is commonly affected. Thorough diagnostics and patient monitoring are beneficial in reducing the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and to ensure the most favorable outcomes for the infected patients, even after they are cured of the acute disease. The multidisciplinary nature of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic requires careful consideration from the attending clinicians, in order to provide fast and reliable treatment to their patients in accordance with evidence-based medicine principles. In this narrative review, we reviewed the available literature on cardiovascular implications of COVID-19; both the acute and the chronic.
Težina i učestalost akutnih egzacerbacija važna su odrednica kronične opstruktivne plućne bolesti (KOPB), a uspjeh liječenja ove bolesti u znatnoj mjeri ovisi upravo o brzini i kakvoći njihova ...zbrinjavanja. U liječenju težih egzacerbacija, koje su u pravilu bakterijske, koriste se različite terapijske mjere pri čemu racionalan odabir antibiotika često ima centralno mjesto. Učestala primjena antibiotika u ovih bolesnika može uzrokovati rezistenciju bakterija na jedan ili više antibiotika te uz neadekvatan imunološki odgovor pogodovati reinfekciji. Radi toga, osobito u bolesnika s čestim egzacerbacijama, valja razmotriti mogućnost primjene imunostimulansa poput pročišćenog bakterijskog lizata OM 85-BV. U kontekstu rezultata dosadašnjih kliničkih ispitivanja i činjenice da je svaka terapijska mjera koja smanjuje broj, trajanje i težinu egzacerbacija KOPB-a dobrodošla, može se zaključiti da je OM 85-BV potencijalna terapijska opcija koja može pomoći bolesnicima s KOPB-om, osobito onima s čestim bakterijskim egzacerbacijama.
Sigurnost primjene simpatomimetika dugog djelovanja (LABA) u bolesnika s astmom zasigurno je jedan od najčešće raspravljanih predmeta u farmakoterapiji ove bolesti tijekom posljednjih dvadesetak ...godina. Prisutni su stavovi u rasponu od mišljenja o njihovoj potpunoj sigurnosti do prijedloga da budu zabranjeni. Kao moguće posljedice primjene LABE zagovornici njihove štetnosti ističu toleranciju i smanjenu učinkovitost simpatomimetika kratkog djelovanja (SABA). To bi moglo rezultirati gubitkom kontrole astme, povećanom stopom egzacerbacija, a u konačnici i povećanim mortalitetom. Višestruke pažljive, nezavisne i nepristrane analize baza podataka dosadašnjih ispitivanja nisu potvrdile rizičnost propisivanja LABE kada se, sukladno preporukama smjernica, propisuje uz inhalacijske kortikosteroide (ICS). Konačan odgovor trebalo bi dati planirano prospektivno ispitivanje s ciljem usporedbe primjene kombinacije LABE i ICS-a u odnosu prema samom ICS-u. Neki autoriteti ističu da je ovakvo istraživanje neracionalno te da će s obzirom na potrebnu veličinu uzorka biti vrlo skupo, a da precizan odgovor možda neće bit moguć ni nakon njegova završetka. Bilo kako bilo, do objave rezultata tog ispitivanja vrijede višestruko provjereni naputci aktualnih smjernica. Oni dopuštaju propisivanje LABE u liječenju astme samo u kombinaciji s ICS- -om, i to u bolesnika u kojih kontrola astme nije postignuta niskim ili srednje visokim dozama ICS-a. Preporučuje se uporaba fiksnih kombinacija u istom raspršivaču što onemogućuju potencijalno rizično uzimanje same LABE.
Uloga antikolinergika u liječenju astme Ljubičić, Đivo; Matković, Zinka; Piskač-Živković, Nevenka ...
Medicus (Zagreb, Croatia : 1992),
12/2011, Letnik:
20, Številka:
2_Alergije
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Iako su antikolinergici prihvaćeni kao prva linija bronhodilatacijskog liječenja KOPB-a, mnogi ih liječnici tradicionalno propisuju i u astmatičara. Učinkovitost ipratropija u akutnoj i stabilnoj ...astmi etablirana je još prije dvadesetak godina, a nekoliko recentnih ispitivanja ističe terapijski potencijal tiotropija u liječenju ove bolesti. Antikolinergici su tradicionalno klasificirani kao brohodilatatori. Na temelju istraživanja “neživčanoga” kolinergičkog sustava dišnih putova očito je da barem neki od njih (tiotropij) uz poznati mehanički, bronhorelaksacijski učinak manifestiraju i nemehaničke, protuupalne i protuproliferativne, učinke. Ovi rezultati promiču tiotropij od pukog bronhodilatatora u preparat s potencijalnim protuupalnim djelovanjem koji bi mogao modificirati tijek astme i/ili KOPB-a. Za potvrdu ovog koncepta potrebni su dodatni klinički pokusi planirani na način da se izravno dokažu navedene postavke.
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