Molecular Biomarkers for Adrenoleukodystrophy: An Unmet Need.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Honey MIJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8699919 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Cough is among the most common complaints for which patients worldwide seek medical attention. Thus, the evaluation and treatment of cough result in tremendous financial expenditure and consumption of health care resources. Yet, despite the clinical significance of cough, research efforts aimed at improving diagnostic capabilities and developing more effective therapeutic agents have been, to date, disappointing in their limited scope and outcomes. Acute cough due to the common cold represents the most common type of cough. Currently, available medications for the symptomatic management of acute cough are inadequate due to lack of proven efficacy and/or their association with undesirable or intolerable side effects at anti-tussive doses. Subacute cough, often representing a prolonged post-viral response, is typically refractory to standard anti-tussive therapy. Few clinical trials have evaluated therapeutic options for subacute cough. Diagnostic challenges facing the clinician in the management of chronic cough include the determination of whether symptoms of upper airway cough syndrome (formerly, postnasal drip syndrome) or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease are indeed the underlying cause of cough. Chronic, refractory unexplained (formerly, idiopathic) cough must be distinguished from cough that has not been fully evaluated and treated according to current guideline recommendations. Eagerly awaited are new safe and effective anti-tussive agents for use when cough suppression is desired, regardless of underlying aetiology of cough, as well as practical, validated ambulatory cough counters to aid clinical assessment and future research in the field of cough.
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Project description:BACKGROUND:Admission criteria and standardized management strategies for bronchiolitis are addressed in several guidelines and have shown to be beneficial; however, guidance regarding discharge criteria is limited and widely variable. We assessed the impact on clinical outcomes of a discharge protocol for children <2 years of age hospitalized with bronchiolitis in a tertiary care pediatric hospital. METHODS:In October 2013, a protocol to standardize the discharge of children with bronchiolitis was implemented in the infectious diseases (ID) ward but not in other pediatric units caring for these children (non-ID). The protocol included objective clinical criteria and a standardized oxygen weaning pathway. Patients were identified via International Classification of Diseases-9 codes and data manually reviewed. We compared length of stay (LOS) and readmission rates within 2 weeks of discharge according to protocol implementation (ID versus non-ID), adjusted for demographic factors, comorbidities, viral etiology and stratified by pediatric intensive care unit admission. RESULTS:From October 2013 to May 2015, 1118 children were hospitalized in ID and 695 in non-ID units. Median age was 4.5 months, 55% were males and 28% had comorbidities. LOS was 36% longer in non-ID units (risk ratio: 1.36 [1.27-1.45]; P < 0.001) adjusted for age, gender, comorbidities and viral etiology. Difference in LOS remained significant after excluding children with comorbidities and stratifying by pediatric intensive care unit admission. Readmission rates were comparable between units (ID, 2.9% versus non-ID, 2.6%). CONCLUSIONS:A standardized discharge protocol for bronchiolitis reduced LOS without increasing readmission rates. Unifying bronchiolitis discharge criteria and oxygen weaning pathways could positively impact hospital-based patient care for this condition.
| S-EPMC5953775 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PURPOSE:Choroideremia is an incurable, X-linked, recessive retinal dystrophy caused by loss of function mutations in the CHM gene. It is estimated to affect approximately 1 in 50,000 male patients. It is characterized by progressive degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium, choroid, and photoreceptors, resulting in visual impairment and blindness. There is an unmet need in choroideremia, because currently, there are no approved treatments available for patients with the disease. METHODS:We review the patient journey, societal impact, and emerging treatments for patients with choroideremia. RESULTS:Its relative rarity and similarities with other retinal diseases in early years mean that diagnosis of choroideremia can often be delayed. Furthermore, its impact on affected individuals, and wider society, is also likely underestimated. AAV2-mediated gene therapy is an investigational treatment that aims to replace the faulty CHM gene. Early-phase studies reported potentially important visual acuity gains and maintenance of vision in some patients, and a large Phase 3 program is now underway. CONCLUSION:Choroideremia is a disease with a significant unmet need. Interventions that can treat progression of the disease and improve visual and functional outcomes have the potential to reduce health care costs and enhance patient quality of life.
| S-EPMC7347087 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex and heterogeneous tumor most commonly associated with underlying chronic liver disease, especially hepatitis. It is a growing problem in the United States and worldwide. There are two potential ways to prevent HCC. Primary prevention which is based on vaccination or secondary prevention involving agents that slow down carcinogenesis. Several pathways have been thought to play a role in the development of HCC; specifically, those involving vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis, WNT, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and c-MET. Currently, there are only a limited number of drugs which have been proven as effective treatment options for HCC and several clinical trials are testing drugs which target aberrations in the pathways mentioned above. In this review, we discuss currently approved therapies, monotherapies and combination therapy for the treatment of HCC.
| S-EPMC5528787 | biostudies-other
Project description:The management of mitral regurgitation (MR) is challenging - patients may be asymptomatic, oligosymptomatic, older with comorbidities, or clinically symptomatic and not appropriate for surgery. The current review assesses morbidity, mortality, and risk factors associated with functional and organic MR, with a focus on severe MR.A structured literature review was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and via hand-searching of conference proceedings. Prospective randomised controlled trials and observational studies including adult patients with MR reporting on treatment response rates, survival, time-to-treatment failure, quality of life, and adverse events were eligible for inclusion.In total, 32 publications met the inclusion criteria (9 in functional, 18 in organic, and 5 in functional/organic). Despite study heterogeneity, an increased risk of mortality and morbidity was observed which increased with MR severity. Risk factors associated with mortality and morbidity included advancing age, presence of atrial fibrillation, increasing effective regurgitant orifice, ejection fraction, left ventricle end systolic diameter, diabetes, and increasing New York Heart Association class.The current review represents one of the most comprehensive conducted in the medical/conservative management of MR. An increased risk of mortality and morbidity, which appeared to rise with greater severity, was associated with MR (versus no MR). An unmet need exists in the management of patients with severe symptomatic MR and a high surgical risk as they have a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Further research into alternative medical strategies and patient management is needed to improve prognoses and reduce mortality and morbidity.
| S-EPMC5497153 | biostudies-other
Project description:Access to care for headache sufferers is not always simple. A survey conducted in a large number of members of lay associations point to the existence of multiple barriers to care for headache in several European countries. Patients usually discover the existence of specialized structures with a delay of several years after the onset of their headache. Furthermore, a relevant portion of them are not satisfied with the management of their disease, partly because of the poor efficacy of treatments and partly because of the difficulty to get in touch with the specialist. Headache disorders, and primary headaches in particular, represent an important issue in public health, because they are common, disabling and treatable. A joint effort is required from the relevant stakeholders (scientists, lay organizations, decision-makers, healthcare policymakers, and others) to improve the access to care for headache sufferers.
| S-EPMC4021552 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Robust thrombus imaging is an unresolved clinical unmet need dating back to the mid 1970s. While early molecular imaging approaches began with nuclear SPECT imaging, contrast agents for virtually all biomedical imaging modalities have been demonstrated in vivo with unique strengths and common weaknesses. Two primary molecular imaging targets have been pursued for thrombus imaging: platelets and fibrin. Some common issues noted over 40 years ago persist today. Acute thrombus is readily imaged with all probes and modalities, but aged thrombus remains a challenge. Similarly, anti-coagulation continues to interfere with and often negate thrombus imaging efficacy, but heparin is clinically required in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis or coronary ruptured plaque prior to confirmatory diagnostic studies have been executed and interpreted. These fundamental issues can be overcome, but an innovative departure from the prior approaches will be needed.
| S-EPMC5741521 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundIn the central nervous system (CNS) myelin sheaths stabilize, protect, and electrically insulate axons. However, in demyelinating autoimmune CNS diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) these sheaths are destroyed which ultimately leads to neurodegeneration. The currently available immunomodulatory drugs for MS effectively control the (auto)inflammatory facets of the disease but are unable to regenerate myelin by stimulating remyelination via oligodendroglial precursor cells (OPCs). Accordingly, there is broad consensus that the implementation of new regenerative approaches constitutes the prime goal for future MS pharmacotherapy.Main textOf note, recent years have seen several promising clinical studies investigating the potential of substances and monoclonal antibodies such as, for instance, clemastine, opicinumab, biotin, simvastatin, quetiapin and anti-GNbAC1. However, beyond these agents which have often been re-purposed from other medical indications there is a multitude of further molecules influencing OPC homeostasis. Here, we therefore discuss these possibly beneficial regulators of OPC differentiation and assess their potential as new pharmacological targets for myelin repair in MS.ConclusionRemyelination remains the most important therapeutic treatment goal in MS in order to improve clinical deficits and to avert neurodegeneration. The promising molecules presented in this review have the potential to promote remyelination and therefore warrant further translational and clinical research.
| S-EPMC7650135 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveThe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a disaster of unprecedented proportions with global repercussions. Psychological preparedness, the primed cognitive awareness and anticipation of dealing with emotional responses in an adverse situation, has assumed a compelling relevance during a health disaster of this magnitude.MethodsAn anonymized eSurvey was conducted in India to assess psychological preparedness toward the ongoing pandemic with a focus on knowledge, management of own and others' emotional response, and anticipatory coping mechanisms among the survey population. An adapted version of the qualitative Psychological Preparedness for Natural Disaster Scale validated by the World Health Organization was widely circulated over the Internet and various social media platforms for assessment. Results are expressed as median ± standard deviation. Descriptive statistics were used and figures downloaded from surveymonkey.com.ResultsOf the 1120 respondents (M:F 1.7:1, age 35 years ±14.1), most expressed a high level of perceived knowledge and confidence of managing COVID-19, such as awareness of the symptoms of the illness (95.1%), actions needed (94.4%), hospital to report to (88.9%), and emergency contact number (89.1%). A majority (95%) monitored regularly the news bulletins and scientific journals regarding COVID-19. However, nearly one-third (29.2%) could not assess their likelihood of developing COVID-19, and 17.5% were unaware of the difference between a mild and severe infection. Twenty-three percent (23.3%) were unfamiliar with the materials needed in an acute illness situation.ConclusionPsychological disaster preparedness is reasonable, although lacking in specific domains. Timely but focused interventions can be a cost-efficient administrative exercise, which federal agencies may prioritize working on.
| S-EPMC7385318 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:The assessment of unmet need is one way to gauge inequities in access to healthcare services. While there are multiple reasons for unmet need, financial barriers are a major reason particularly in low- and middle-income countries where healthcare systems do not offer financial protection. Moreover, accessibility and affordability are paramount in achieving universal health coverage. This study examines the extent of unmet need in Kenya due to financial barriers, the associated determinants, and the influence of regional variations. METHODS:We use data from the 2013 Kenya household health expenditure and utilization (KHHEUS) cross sectional survey. Self-reported unmet need due to lack of money and high costs of care is used to compute the outcome of interest. A multilevel regression model is employed to assess the determinants of cost-related unmet need, confounding for the effect of variations at the regional level. RESULTS:Cost-related barriers are the main cause of unmet need for outpatient and inpatient services, with wide variations across the counties. A positive association between county poverty rates and cost-related unmet is noted. Results reveal a higher intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.359(35.9%) for inpatient services relative to 0.091(9.1%) for outpatient services. Overall, differences between counties accounted for 9.4% (ICC ~ 0.094) of the total variance in cost-related unmet need. Factors that positively influence cost-related unmet need include older household heads, inpatient services, and urban residence. Education of household head, good self-rated health, larger household size, insured households, and higher wealth quintiles are negatively associated with cost-related unmet need. CONCLUSION:The findings underscore the important role of cost in enabling access to healthcare services. The county level is seen to have a significant influence on cost-related unmet need. The variations noted in cost-related unmet need across the counties signify the existence of wide disparities within and between counties. Scaling up of health financing mechanisms would fundamentally require a multi-layered approach with a focus on the relatively poor counties to address the variations in access. Further segmentation of the population for better targeting of health financing policies is paramount, to address equity in access for the most vulnerable and marginalized populations.
| S-EPMC7164162 | biostudies-literature