Complex interactions between host and environment in allergic diseases and the roles of integrative management | |
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July 10, 2013
Complex interactions between host and environment in allergic diseases and the roles of integrative management
Efficacy of levofloxacin versus cefuroxime in treating acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Efficacy of levofloxacin versus cefuroxime in treating acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Original Research
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Authors: Yoon HI, Lee CH, Kim DK, Park GM, Lee SM, Yim JJ, Kim JY, Lee JH, Lee CT, Chung HS, Kim YW, Han SK, Yoo CG
Published Date July 2013 Volume 2013:8 Pages 329 - 334
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S41749
| Received: | 17 December 2012  |
|---|---|
| Accepted: | 12 April 2013 |
| Published: | 10 July 2013 |
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Lung Institute, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea; 2Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Lung Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; 4Division of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Republic of Korea; 5Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Background: Antibiotic treatment is one of the major pharmacologic treatments for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). However, the choice of antibiotic depends on the local resistance pattern. A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial was done in patients with AECOPD to compare the efficacy of levofloxacin with that of cefuroxime axetil.
Methods: Patients with AECOPD and without radiographic evidence of pneumonia were enrolled and randomized to either levofloxacin 500 mg daily or cefuroxime 250 mg twice daily in the mild-moderate exacerbation group, or 500 mg twice daily in the severe exacerbation group, for seven days. Clinical efficacy and microbiologic response were evaluated 5–7 days after the last dose.
Results: Treatment was clinically successful in 90.4% of patients in the levofloxacin group, and in 90.6% of patients in the cefuroxime group (95% confidence interval -9.40 to 10.91), within a noninferiority margin of 10%. The microbiologic response appeared to be higher in the levofloxacin group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The safety profile was similar in both groups.
Conclusion: Levofloxacin is not inferior to cefuroxime with regard to clinical efficacy in treating AECOPD.
Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute exacerbation, levofloxacin, cefuroxime
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July 9, 2013
New Aspects on Human Rhinovirus Infections
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Structural and Antigenic Definition of Hepatitis C Virus E2 Glycoprotein Epitopes Targeted by Monoclonal Antibodies
Clinical and Developmental Immunology
Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 450963, 12 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/450963
Review Article
Structural and Antigenic Definition of Hepatitis C Virus E2 Glycoprotein Epitopes Targeted by Monoclonal Antibodies
1Laboratorio di Microbiologia e Virologia, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy
2School of Molecular Medical Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
3Biomedical Research Unit in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
2School of Molecular Medical Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
3Biomedical Research Unit in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
Received 9 May 2013; Accepted 10 June 2013
Academic Editor: Roberto Burioni
Copyright © 2013 Giuseppe Sautto et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major cause of chronic liver disease as well as the major indication for liver transplantation worldwide. Current standard of care is not completely effective, not administrable in grafted patients, and burdened by several side effects. This incomplete effectiveness is mainly due to the high propensity of the virus to continually mutate under the selective pressure exerted by the host immune response as well as currently administered antiviral drugs. The E2 envelope surface glycoprotein of HCV (HCV/E2) is the main target of the host humoral immune response and for this reason one of the major variable viral proteins. However, broadly cross-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against HCV/E2 represent a promising tool for the study of virus-host interplay as well as for the development of effective prophylactic and therapeutic approaches. In the last few years many anti-HCV/E2 mAbs have been evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials as possible candidate antivirals, particularly for administration in pre- and post-transplant settings. In this review we summarize the antigenic and structural characteristics of HCV/E2 determined through the use of anti-HCV/E2 mAbs, which, given the absence of a crystal structure of this glycoprotein, represent currently the best tool available.
CSACI position statement: safety of topical calcineurin inhibitors in the management of atopic dermatitis in children and adults
The Immune Factors Involved in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Sjogren's Syndrome
Clinical and Developmental Immunology Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 160491, 6 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/160491
Review Article
The Immune Factors Involved in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Sjogren's Syndrome
State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Received 3 May 2013; Accepted 20 June 2013
Academic Editor: Guixiu Shi
Copyright © 2013 Yi-fan Huang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic, autoimmune disorder characterized by salivary insufficiency and lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands. Even though the mechanism of its pathology and progression has been researched ever since its discovery, the roles of different parts of immune system remain inconclusive. There is no straightforward and simple theory for the pathogenesis and diagnosis of Sjogren’s syndrome because of the multiple kinds and functions of autoantibodies, changing proportion of different T-lymphocyte subsets with the progression of disease, unsuspected abilities of B lymphocytes discovered recently, crosstalk between cytokines connecting the factors mentioned previously, and genetic predisposition that contributes to the initiation of this disease. On the other hand, the number of significant reports and open-label studies of B-cell depletion therapy showing clinical efficacy in sjogren’s syndrome has continued to accumulate, which provides a promising future for the patients. In a word, further elucidation of the role of different components of the immune system will open avenues for better diagnosis and treatment of SS, whose current management is still mainly supportive.
Moisturizers for patients with atopic dermatitis
Moisturizers for patients with atopic dermatitis | |
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease with epidermal barrier defects which leads to dry skin that is easily disturbed by external exacerbating factors. It is now well established that moisturizers play an important role in preventing skin inflammation in AD, including reducing the amount of topical corticosteroid use. Thus, the use of moisturizers is currently recognized as one of standard treatment for AD. This review summarizes the role and classification of moisturizers. We also review some ingredients that are commonly added in moisturizers which are claimed to have an anti-inflammatory effects in AD.
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