Aclidinium bromide and formoterol fumarate for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Treatment options for COPD have evolved rapidly in the last decade and inhaled bronchodilators have largely supplanted the use of oral bronchodilators because of their increased efficacy and excellent safety with topical delivery to the lung. Recently added to the therapeutic armamentarium are fixed-dose combinations (FDC) of two long acting bronchodilators. LAMAs (long acting muscarinic antagonists) and LABAs (long acting beta agonists) are the main classes available and use different pathways to effectively produce bronchial smooth muscle relaxation.

Areas covered: The most recent inhaled FDC LAMA/LABA to come to market is Aclidinium Bromide and Formoterol Fumarate. We searched databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and manufacturers’ websites and retrieved all the randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) conducted with these drugs up to September 2019.

Expert opinion: It is likely that FDCs will become the core of our COPD pharmacotherapy for all but the mildest COPD patients. These individual drugs have excellent efficacy and safety records for the maintenance treatment of COPD. Studies have demonstrated that twice daily treatment with aclidinium/formoterol resulted in significant improvement in lung function and an improved exercise tolerance when compared to placebo. Adverse effects are within the range of what is seen with other LAMA/LABA combinations.     

Association of IL-8 gene polymorphisms with non small cell lung cancer in Tunisia: A case control study

Interleukin 8 (IL-8), is a proinflammatory chemokine, has been reported to have angiogenic activity and to be responsible for tumor-associated angiogenesis in several cancers. In this study, we aimed to study the (IL-8) gene polymorphism in relation with risk development of non small cell lung cancer in Tunisian patient. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (−251T/A [rs4073], +781C/T [rs2227306]) of the IL-8 gene were screened in 170 patients with NSCLC and 225 healthy controls by PCR–RFLP.     

COPD病人焦虑、抑郁状况与社会支持的相关性研究

目的:探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)病人焦虑、抑郁与社会支持的关系,为开展个性化的心理护理提供参考。方法:对2018年10月—2019年3月在广州5家三级甲等综合医院就诊的111例COPD病人进行问卷调查,问卷包括焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)和社会支持评估量表(SSRS),并对调查结果进行统计分析。结果:COPD病人的焦虑、抑郁发生率较高,高于国内常模;COPD病人的焦虑、抑郁受年龄、文化程度、职业、居住地等因素的影响(P<0.05);COPD病人的焦虑、抑郁与社会支持呈负相关(P<0.001)。结论:COPD病人焦虑、抑郁与社会支持的关系应予以关注和重视,良好的社会支持能帮助病人减轻焦虑、抑郁情绪,对疾病的康复起积极作用。     

COPD病人肺康复运动训练的质性研究

目的:探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,COPD)病人肺康复运动训练的影响因素,为更好地开展肺康复运动提供指导,从而进一步提高慢性阻塞性肺疾病病人的运动耐量和生活质量。方法:采用质性研究中现象学方法,以半结构式深入访谈了12例慢性阻塞性肺疾病病人,包括有意愿、已参与和拒绝或中途退出肺康复运动项目的病人。结果:运用Colaizzi分析程序进行分析,得到影响病人肺康复运动训练的因素,并归纳为4个主题:慢性阻塞性肺疾病病人的个人因素;客观因素;家庭成员的态度及锻炼环境因素;住院期间医护人员因素。结论:加强对慢性阻塞性肺疾病病人肺康复运动的宣教,提高病人的依从性和积极性,在临床护理中,发挥医务人员的主导作用,鼓励病人家属的支持并合理的利用社区资源,促使病人形成健康的行为习惯,以促进康复、提高生活质量。     

Phenotype classification using the combination of lung sound analysis and fractional exhaled nitric oxide for evaluating asthma treatment

Background

We report the utility of combining lung sound analysis and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) for phenotype classification of airway inflammation in patients with bronchial asthma.We investigated the usefulness of the combination of the expiration-to-inspiration sound power ratio in the mid-frequency range (E/I MF) of 200–400 Hz and FeNO for comprehensively classifying disease type and evaluating asthma treatment.

Bone mineral density improvement after lung volume reduction surgery for severe emphysema

BACKGROUND: In patients with severe emphysema, bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced and the risk of osteoporosis is increased. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To identify the impact of lung volume reduction surgery on BMD. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Forty emphysematous patients, all receiving oral steroid therapy, underwent bilateral lung volume reduction surgery. Thirty similar patients, who refused the operation, followed a standard respiratory rehabilitation program. MEASUREMENTS: All subjects were evaluated pretreatment and 12 months posttreatment for respiratory function, nutritional status, and bone-related biochemical parameters. BMD was assessed by dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry. RESULTS: After surgery, we observed significant improvements in respiratory function (FEV1, + 18.8% [p < 0.01]; residual volume [RV], -29.6% [p < 0.001]; diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide [Dlco], + 21.6% [p < 0.01]) nutritional parameters (fat-free mass, + 6.0% [p < 0.01]), levels of bone-related hormones (free-testosterone, + 20.5% [p < 0.01]; parathormone, -11.2% [p < 0.01]), bone turnover markers (osteocalcin, -12.7% [p < 0.05]; bone-alkaline-phosphatase, -14.0% [p < 0.05]; beta-crosslaps, -33.6% [p < 0.001]), BMD (lumbar, + 8.8% [p < 0.01]; femoral, + 5.5% [p < 0.01]), and T-score (lumbar, + 21.0% [p < 0.01]; femoral, + 12.4% [p < 0.01]) with reduction in osteoporosis rate (50 to 25%). Nineteen patients who had undergone surgery were able to discontinue treatment with oral steroids. These subjects showed a more significant improvement in BMD (lumbar, + 9.6%; femoral, + 6.8%; p < 0.001) and T-score (lumbar, + 27.3%; femoral, + 14.3%; p < 0.001). The remaining 21 patients who had undergone surgery experienced significant improvement compared to respiratory rehabilitation subjects despite continued therapy with oral steroids (BMD: lumbar, + 4.5% vs -0.7%, respectively [p < 0.01]; femoral, + 2.7% vs -1.1%, respectively [p < 0.05]; T-score: lumbar, + 14 vs -2.1, respectively [p < 0.01]; femoral, + 7.4 vs -2.7, respectively [p < 0.01]). The increase in lumbar BMD was correlated with the surgical reduction of RV (p = 0.02) and with the increase in Dlco (p = 0.01) and fat-free mass (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Lung volume reduction surgery significantly improves BMD compared to respiratory rehabilitation therapy, even in patients requiring oral steroids. The increase in BMD correlates with RV, Dlco, and fat-free mass, suggesting that the restoration of respiratory dynamics, gas exchange, and nutritional status induces improvement in bone metabolism and mineral content.