Current pharmaceutical design
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Review
Central nervous system involvement in pediatric rheumatic diseases: current concepts in treatment.
Central nervous system (CNS) manifestations are not rare in pediatric rheumatic diseases. They may be a relatively common feature of the disease, as in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Behçet's disease. Direct CNS involvement of a systemic rheumatic disease, primary CNS vasculitis, indirect involvement secondary to hypertension, hypoxia and metabolic changes, and drug associated adverse events may all result in CNS involvement. ⋯ A thorough knowledge of the rheumatic diseases and therapy-related adverse events is mandatory for the management of a patient with rheumatic disease and CNS involvement. Severe CNS involvement is associated with poor prognosis, and high mortality rate. High dose steroid and cyclophosphamide (oral or intravenous) are first choice drugs in the treatment; plasmapheresis, IVIG, thalidomide, and intratechal treatment may be valuable in treatment-resistant, and serious cases.
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Over the past decade, trends in antimicrobial resistance, epidemiology, and drug development have occurred that affect both the empiric and definite selection of antimicrobials in the septic patient. The rapid spread of highly pathogenic community-associated methicillin resistant Staph aureus (MRSA) requires clinicians to consider the inclusion of empiric coverage for MRSA even in community-acquired sepsis. Moreover, vancomycin appears to be losing its effectiveness, and while a number of new agents with broad gram positive activity have been licensed, none have emerged as clearly superior. ⋯ Based on a desire to limit overall antimicrobial use, a re-evaluation of older data in both the neutropenic and non-neutropenic host has called into question the common practice of using combination therapy for some gram negative infections. An emerging consensus advocates emphasizing local unit specific antimicrobial sensitivity data in selecting empiric therapy and determining if combination therapy is required. New antifungal drugs and a better understanding of the risk factors for infection with Candida spp. has altered the approach to empiric and definitive treatment of Candida infections in the septic patient.
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Myocardial infarction necessitates new therapeutic interventions, since it still results in high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Reperfusion therapy itself results in (acceleration of) apoptosis, called myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. For several decades it is known that the inflammatory response during reperfusion is the major cause of myocardial I/R injury. ⋯ Which TLRs are involved in the 'good' and which in the 'bad' effects of the inflammatory response remains to be addressed. This review will discuss both experimental and clinical research on inflammatory reactions that occur after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Data and conclusions concerning potential therapeutic targets in both experimental as clinical research settings will be reviewed.
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Intravascular and extravascular fibrin formation are characteristic findings in patients with sepsis, suggesting that the activation of coagulation and the inhibiton of fibrinolysis are important in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Activation of coagulation during sepsis is primarily driven by the tissue factor (TF) pathway, while inhibition of fibrinolysis is primarily due to increases in plasminogen activator inhibitor -1(PAI-1). ⋯ Recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) is currently the only pharmacologic therapy that has been shown to reduce mortality in adults with severe sepsis, highlighting the importance of coagulation and fibrinolysis as a therapeutic target in sepsis. This review summarizes recent basic and clinical findings with regard to the role of the coagulation cascade in sepsis and explores potential therapeutic targets in the coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways in the management of sepsis.
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The inability of present therapies to mitigate the devastating effects of sepsis and multiple organ failure in the critically ill patient indicates that more knowledge of the pathophysiology of sepsis is needed if we are to develop better, more effective interventions. This review will examine the concept that a portion of the immune and organ dysfunctions encountered in the septic rodent/ patient is a reflection of not only the types of cells stimulating/ mediating the apoptotic response, but also the varying capacity of the target cell in a given tissue/ organ to perceive these death receptor stimuli as either an apoptotic, inflammatory and/or necrotic signal. We hope the discussion of such studies provides not only new insight into the pathobiology of sepsis, but also suggests possible therapeutic targets for the management of this devastating condition.