®

Free independent abstract service This service is provided to the IPCRG as a grant from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The IPCRG is represented in the editorial process by its team of Research leads who monitor and review the selection, summarising process and regional applicability. 2012 © Published by B. Ami Medical Information Ltd. The service should not be considered as a recommendation for treatment. The abstracts printed here contain only a general description of the main ideas embedded in the original publication. Comments are welcome. Please send any comments to the Project Manager, Katie Searles at Administration@theipcrg.org

Issue 30, February 2012

The causal relationship between interstitial lung diseases and reflux is investigated Hershcovici T et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Dec;34(11-12):1295-1305. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04870.x. Epub 2011 Oct 17.

Are interstitial lung diseases (ILD) and oesophageal reflux disease related (GERD)? In this meta-analysis which included 22 relevant articles, it was found that although a relationship was found between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and concomitant GERD, a causal relationship could not be found. The same was true for other diseases such as mixed connective tissue disease and systemic sclerosis where a relationship was established between the degree of lung disease and the degree of oesophageal motor impairment. As far as the efficacy and significance of anti-reflux treatments in ILD - very little evidence could be found. Biomarkers of COPD are being sought that could lead to new intervention strategies

Martinez FJ et al. Lancet. 2011 Sep 10;378(9795):1027-37. The authors review the many problems facing attempts at research aimed at plotting the inflammatory processes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Current research seems to be aimed at utilizing biomarkers to identify key processes in the inflammatory cascade. The authors suggest that it is likely that the ideal treatment for COPD would be to create an inflammatory blockade which would stop the inflammatory cascade leading to airway remodelling and progression of COPD. Hope is expressed that medications targeting the damaging cascade might be developed in the near future. Plenty of room for improving the care of COPD patients Rabe KF et al. Lancet. 2011 Sep 10;378(9795):1038-47. Despite its prevalence and morbidity, many issues in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management remain unresolved. The role of corticosteroids, the value of earlier intervention and the efficacy of long term antibiotic use, are all issues which are discussed in this review. In addition, the subject of diagnostic and evaluation tests other than traditional

spirometry are discussed. These tests have been suggested as diagnostic alternatives which provide the added value of better evaluating COPD severity and co-morbidities. Finally, the issue of developing novel new drugs is discussed.

Construction of a daily diary tool for evaluating COPD exacerbations

Jones PW et al. Chest. 2011 Jun;139(6):1388-94. Epub 2010 Nov 11. Using patient interviews of 411 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, a patient diary of COPD symptoms was constructed. Diary results were then compared to physician diagnosed COPD exacerbations. It was found that 14 items were of statistical significance for evaluating COPD exacerbations. These 14 items were used to form a tool for evaluating COPD known as the Exacerbations of Chronic Pulmonary Disease Tool (EXACT), a diary for detecting and quantifying COPD exacerbations which has been found to provide clinically relevant results. Statins reduce mortality in patients hospitalized with influenza Vandemeer ML et al. J Infect Dis. 2012 Jan; 205(1): 13-19. This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of statins. 3043 patients that were hospitalized with influenza during the 2007-2008 season in 10 US states were included. 33.3% of them received statins and 5% died within 30 days. Statins were associated with a statistical protective effect in terms of mortality (OR 0.59). Statins could reduce mortality in hospitalized patients with influenza. How COPD develops and progresses

Brusselle GG et al. Lancet. 2011 Sep 10;378(9795):1015-26.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is related to exposure to noxious particles leading to an abnormal inflammatory response. Lung inflammation continues even after exposure cessation. Exacerbations can also be induced by viral and bacterial infections. In this review, the interactions of various inflammatory components combined with the dysregulation of microRNA, tissue hypoxia, oxidative stress, auto-antibodies and auto-immunity are discussed in the context of the inflammatory aspects of COPD.