Pulmonary pharmacology & therapeutics
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Pulm Pharmacol Ther · Feb 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEffectiveness of 0.05% oxymetazoline (Vicks Sinex Micromist®) nasal spray in the treatment of objective nasal congestion demonstrated to 12 h post-administration by magnetic resonance imaging.
This study aimed to assess the qualitative and quantitative utility of MRI imaging to illustrate the magnitude and duration of the effect of a standard 100 μg dose of oxymetazoline in a commercially available formulation that also contains aromatic oils. ⋯ This study showed that MRI assessment of nasal congestion in human volunteers is a robust, repeatable and viable measurement technique. The application of a 100 μg Vicks Sinex Micromist(®) nasal decongestant (0.05% oxymetazoline solution) delivered a highly significant reduction in inferior and middle turbinate volumes compared with the application of a control, measurable by the MRI method up to and including a 12 h post-dose scan.
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Pulm Pharmacol Ther · Feb 2014
Intermedin modulates hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling by inhibiting pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation.
Hypoxic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disabling disease with limited treatment options. Hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling is a major cause of hypoxic PAH. Pharmacological agents that can inhibit the remodeling process may have great therapeutic value. ⋯ These results demonstrate that IMD treatment attenuates hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling, and thereby hypoxic PAH mainly by inhibiting PASMC proliferation. Promotion of PASMC apoptosis may also contribute to the inhibitory effect of IMD. Activations l-arginine-NO pathway and of ER stress-specific apoptosis pathway could be the mechanisms mediating the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of IMD.
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Pulm Pharmacol Ther · Dec 2013
Comparative StudyEarly vancomycin, amikacin and gentamicin concentrations in pulmonary artery and pulmonary tissue are not affected by VA ECMO (venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) in a pig model of prolonged cardiac arrest.
ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) is increasingly used in severe hemodynamic compromise and cardiac arrest (CA). Pulmonary infections are frequent in these patients. Venoarterial (VA) ECMO decreases pulmonary blood flow and antibiotic availability in lungs during VA ECMO treated CA is not known. We aimed to assess early vancomycin, amikacin and gentamicin concentrations in the pulmonary artery as well as tracheal aspirate and to determine penetration ratios of these antibiotics to lung tissue in a pig model of VA ECMO treated CA. ⋯ In a pig model of VA ECMO treated prolonged CA, despite diminished pulmonary flow, VA ECMO does not decrease early vancomycin, gentamicin, and amikacin concentrations in pulmonary artery. Within 1 h post administration, antibiotics can be detected in tracheal aspirate in adequate concentrations.
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Pulm Pharmacol Ther · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudySafety and tolerability of the inhaled phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor GSK256066 in moderate COPD.
Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) represents an approach to anti-inflammatory therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). GSK256066 is a potent and selective inhaled PDE4 inhibitor. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and tolerability of 28 days repeat inhaled dosing with GSK256066 in moderate COPD. ⋯ Administration of inhaled GSK256066 was well-tolerated in patients with moderate COPD. Further studies would be required to confirm the favorable safety profile and to demonstrate clinical efficacy of this compound. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00549679).
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Pulm Pharmacol Ther · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPrulifloxacin versus levofloxacin in the treatment of severe COPD patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.
Antimicrobial therapy of chronic bronchitis exacerbations in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is based on empiric antibiotic treatment. ⋯ Both prulifloxacin and levofloxacin showed efficacy rates higher than 90% in the treatment of severe COPD patients with exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, with no statistically significant differences between the two antibiotics. The long-term follow-up confirmed a very low incidence of relapse, endorsing the appropriateness of this therapeutic approach. EUDRACT no. 2006-004167-56.