COPD Update 2015: Zellbiologie goes Clinic? – Wichtige Forschungsergebnisse für den Kliniker

Abstract

The COPD is a very common, chronic, non-contagious disease causing high mortality as well as high socio-economical costs worldwide. Its clinical assessment progressively becomes more comprehensive including the lung function, the rate of exacerbations, the physical capacity, the sensation of dyspnoea, and comorbidities. On the other hand, our therapeutic options are very limited: Although there are several well-tolerated and effective combinable bronchodilators of the group of long-acting beta2-mimetics and anticholinergics, drugs causally affecting pathophysiology are barely available. As anti-inflammatory principles only inhaled glucocorticoids as well as one orally available inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 are approved, each improving the course of disease in a subgroup of patients. This lack of effective causative therapeutic principles on the one hand and of biomarkers clearly stratifying patients on the other hand to a large extend are caused by our limited understanding of the pathophysiology. Therefore, this review presents the current progress in clinical and experimental research on COPD with regard to clinical practice.

The Toxicological Mechanisms of Environmental Soot (Black Carbon) and Carbon Black: Focus on Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Pathways

“…The pathophysiology of asthma involves the inflammation of airways, tissue remodeling and fibrosis, obstruction of airflow intermittently, and hyper responsiveness of bronchi (134, 135). The pathophysiology of COPD includes airway inflammation, mucociliary dysfunctions, and structural changes (136, 137). There are numerous evidences that support the linkage of soot or CB with asthma and COPD.…”