Expert opinion on emerging drugs
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It is difficult to overestimate the personal and socioeconomic impact of chronic low back pain (CLBP). It is the leading cause of years lost to disability and poses the highest economic toll among chronic illnesses. Despite the strong need for extensive research efforts, few drugs have consistently demonstrated effectiveness for this condition. ⋯ Many barriers exist for the development of medications for CLBP including difficulties in identifying pathophysiological mechanisms, biologic resiliency secondary to multiple concurrent pain pathways and off-target and sometimes serious side effects. Nevertheless, the volume and diversity of novel molecular entities has continued to surge and includes possible disease-modifying therapies such as gene and stem cell therapy.
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Acute respiratory distress syndromes (ARDS) are devastating disorders of overwhelming pulmonary inflammation and hypoxemia, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. ⋯ We suggest for future clinical trials addressing prevention and early intervention to attenuate lung injury and progression to respiratory failure.