What is Asthma? Pathophysiology, Demographics, and Health Care Costs

Maslan, Jonathan; Mims, James W.

doi:10.1016/j.otc.2013.09.010

Cited by 83 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…[1] In child population, asthma constitutes a clinically complex syndrome. The delineation of the underlying mechanisms involved in the precipitation of asthmatic disorder has not been achieved so far.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prescribing and Utilization Trends of Anti-Asthmatic Drugs amongst Children in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan

Ahmed¹,

Tanveer²,

Khan³

et al. 2017

JPPCM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: To describe and analyze the prevalent prescribing trends of anti-asthmatics drugs among 1-12 year old children in Lahore, a major city of Pakistan, is the objective of this study.In addition, the study attempts to determine the most prevalent type of asthma amongst the stated age group of subjects. Method: Drug utilization data was recorded from 100 prescriptions collected from Children Hospital, Model Town, Lahore, during the study period of December 2014 to December 2015. The study subjects were randomly selected with 18% falling in the age group of 0-4, 48% from the age group 4-8 and 34% falling in the age range of 8-12. There were 44% of female subjects and 56% of males. Combination therapy utilization was found in 99 patients while mono-therapy was employed in 1 subject. Results:The Study results reveal that the most common form of asthma prevalent in the study sample is intermittent asthma. The majority of the patients receiving therapeutic regimens have at least 3 drugs per prescription. An interesting aspect highlighted by the study is the practice of using trade names in prescribing drugs and its implications. Albuterol was prescribed in 34.90% of the subjects, followed Montelukast at 29.41%, flixitide occupied the third rank at 12.16% followed by Salmetrol+fluticasone combination at 7.84%, Clenil and loratidine occupied 5.49%, prednisolone 3.14%, and lastly Cetirizine at 1.18%. Conclusion:Polypharmacy was practiced in all patients with the exception of one. We also found that therapeutic regimens were irrationally prescribed to children which could cause damage to their vital organs. Thus, intensifying the need of proper strategy development to ensure appropriate and efficient use of resources. Furthermore, continuing educational programs for the physicians and patients on rational drug prescribing and utilization are needed to pave way for positive patient outcomes.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prescribing and Utilization Trends of Anti-Asthmatic Drugs amongst Children in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan

Ahmed¹,

Tanveer²,

Khan³

et al. 2017

JPPCM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…At the cellular level, asthmatics have raised levels of eosinophils, basophils and mast cells (measured in sputum), contributing to the inflammation of asthma [13]. …”

Section: Pathophysiology Of Asthmamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…IL-4 also causes IL-8 release by influencing the differentiation of epithelial cells; this contributes to inflammation via stimulation of neutrophils [15,16]. Certain inflammatory mediators, such as histamine, act on smooth muscle to induce bronchoconstriction - this requires lower amounts of mediators in asthmatics than in non-asthmatics [13]. …”

Section: Pathophysiology Of Asthmamentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Therapies to Inhibit Mucus Synthesis and Secretion in Airway Hypersecretory Diseases

Rogers²

2015

Pharmacology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: In asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), airway mucus hypersecretion contributes to impaired mucociliary clearance, mucostasis and, potentially, the development of mucus plugging of the airways. Summary: Excess mucus production can be targeted via therapies that focus on inhibition mucin synthesis, via reducing expression of mucin (MUC) genes, and/or inhibition of mucin secretion into the airways. Key Messages: This review discusses a number of therapeutic approaches to reduce airway mucus in asthma and COPD, including the use of synthetic and natural products. In particular, it highlights areas where clinical trials of inhibitors of particular target molecules are lacking. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors are an example of a targeted therapy that has been researched to reduce mucus synthesis, as have inhibitors of EGFR's downstream signalling pathways, for example, mitogen-activated protein kinase-13 and hypoxia inducible factor-1. However, their efficacy and safety profiles are currently not up to the mark. There is clinical potential in Bio-11006, which reduces mucus secretion via the inhibition of myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate and is currently in Phase IIb trial.

show abstract

“…Allergies including allergic asthma and severe food allergies affect~20% of the population while the prevalence of autoimmune diseases in the general population is currently at 4.5% [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. The standard-of-care as well as emerging therapies are centered on systemic delivery of immunosuppresive drugs that require chronic administration which can exacerbate opportunistic infections, reactivate latent pathogens and can predispose to malignancy [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33].…”

Section: The Immune System and Nanoparticlesmentioning

confidence: 99%