COPD - Biotech, Pharma and Life Science Channel
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is used for a number of conditions including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which all lead to the airways in the lungs becoming damaged and thus narrower, making inhalation and exhalation harder.
The most common cause of COPD is smoking. Upon giving up, disease progression slows, or chances of getting it are reduced. Other causes are occupational factors, such as coal dust, and some inherited problems. Pollution as a risk factor is under investigation.
Cough, phlegm and shortness of breath can be symptoms of COPD.
COPD cannot be cured, but there are options for alleviating the symptoms. These include lifestyle changes (such as stopping smoking and changing diets) and medications such as bronchodilators, nebulisers, steroids or antibiotics. Flu vaccination may also be given, and flu can exacerbate the symptoms. In severe cases, the obstruction in lungs may reduce the oxygen content of the blood, in which case, oxygen tanks and breathing tubes can be used.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that COPD as a single cause of death shares 4th and 5th places with HIV/AIDS (after coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and acute respiratory infection).
Source; Adapted from The British Lung Foundation
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PubMed Articles
Temsirolimus controlled metastatic advanced renal cell carcinoma for over 4 years: a case study.
We present a case report of long-term response with temsirolimus in cytokine refractory metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A 74-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with advanced RCC in November 20...
Abstract Significance: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predominantly a tobacco smoke-triggered disease with features of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and aging (inflammaging)...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress resulting from tobacco smoking has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the present...
Inhaled glycopyrronium bromide (Seebri(®) Breezhaler(®) capsules; NVA237) is a once-daily, long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist (LAMA) that is approved in several countries, including the EU,...
Collection, synthesis, and interpretation of evidence: a proof-of-concept study in COPD.
We present a clinical proof-of-concept (PoC) study in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with the objective of assessing the bronchodilatory effect of an experimental drug as compared with an activ...
Elevated circulating CTLA-4 levels are related to lung function and inflammation in COPD.
BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to assess the association of obesity and malnutrition with the mortality of hospitalised patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (...
Perfusion SPECT in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.
PURPOSE: Ventilation/perfusion tomography (V/PSPECT), with new interpretation criteria and newer tracers for ventilation imaging, has markedly improved the diagnostic yield in acute pulmonary embolism...
Combination bronchodilator therapy in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality, with a substantial economic impact. Recent changes in the Global initiative for chronic O...
BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, debilitating disease associated with significant clinical burden and is estimated to affect 15 million individuals in the US....
News Articles
Novartis International AG / New data reinforces strength of Novartis once-daily COPD portfolio in improving lung function, shortness of breath and reducing rate of exacerbations . Processed and tran...
Novartis International AG / New data reinforces strength of Novartis once-daily COPD portfolio in improving lung function, shortness of breath and reducing rate of exacerbations . Processed and tra...
COPD patients are more oliley to suffre from depression
Patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) typically suffer from depression more frequently than those without COPD, resulting in higher levels of disability and illness and...
Study: Use of bronchodilators linked with increased risks of cardiovascular events
A study of older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suggests that new use of the long-acting bronchodilators β-agonists and anticholinergics was associated with similar increa...
RIDGEFIELD, Conn., May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim today announced data from Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies from the Company's ongoing clinical trial program investigating the efficacy...
People exposed to wood and tobacco smoke are at greater risk for developing COPD
People who are consistently exposed to both wood smoke and tobacco smoke are at a greater risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and for experiencing more frequent and severe sympto...
Antibiotic therapy appears beneficial for patients with COPD
(American Thoracic Society) Extended use of a common antibiotic may prolong the time between hospitalizations for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a post-hoc...
Exercise levels may predict hospitalizations in COPD population
(American Thoracic Society) Clinical measurement of physical activity appears to be an independent predictor of whether or not patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will end up be...
Bronchodilators appear associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events
A study of older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suggests that new use of the long-acting bronchodilators β-agonists and anticholinergics was associated with similar increa...
Inhalers Link to Cardiac Events in COPD (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) -- Newly initiated treatment with bronchodilators significantly increased the risk of cardiac events in older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a large...
Events
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Companies
Promedior has developed a novel drug discovery platform to regulate the monocyte-derived cell populations that play key roles in fibrotic, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. By...
Lineagen (www.lineagen.com) is a provider of diagnostic and healthcare services focused on complex diseases for which individualsâ genetic profiles contribute strongly to...
Mission statement: The Alpha-1 Project will work with patients, academia, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and public health organizations in the relentless pursuit of cures...
Rotech Healthcare Inc. is one of the largest providers of home medical equipment and related products and services in the United States, with a comprehensive offering of respirato...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the only chronic disease growing in mortality. It affects approximately 24 millio...
Alulim Pharma, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company delivering aerosolized therapeutic medications. The companyâs products treat transplant rejection, asthma, COPD...
MicroDose Therapeutx is a privately-held pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the quality of life for people suffering from serious diseases. The company focuses on devel...
Amakem NV is a biopharmaceutical company developing safe and effective kinase inhibitors using its "Localized Drug Action" platform for the treatment of diseases, such as COPD, gl...
Marinomed is a biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing innovative anti-viral and immunological treatments. Marinomed develops therapies against respiratory diseases based on its innova...
Pulmatrix, Inc., is a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing a new class of therapies for the prevention, treatment and control of respiratory...
Clinical Trials
The purpose of this study is to assess the control of COPD using a symptom and exacerbation risk based treatment strategy based on GOLD 2011. This study is conducted in Japanese subjects w...
Primary Care Management/Action Plans for Advanced Chronic Diseases
Patients living with advanced chronic diseases (ACD), such as congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) present substantial care and economic challenges fo...
ANTEAB: a Study of Early Antibiotherapy in the ICU Management of Acute Exacerbations of COPD
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in such patients. Although bacterial of mo...
Selenium Supplementation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients
Does an oral selenium supplement increase blood levels of antioxidants in patients with established, smoking-related lung disease? Members of our study group recently discovered that elev...
Placebo Versus Antibiotics in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
The role of antibiotic therapy in patients with COPD remains controversial. While the outcome of several clinical trials is in favour of antibiotics, the quality of these studies in insuff...
Women with chronic lung disease characterised by chronic cough report urinary incontinence. Recently there have been reports of increased urinary incontinence in girls and women with cysti...
This is a clinical research study to assess whether after exhaling a single cigarette smoke through the nose there are changes in the inflammatory cells and proteins of nasal secretions....
In this randomised, cross-over, controlled study, a total of 84 subjects will be included: 12 healthy non-smoking volunteers; 12 current smokers; 30 patients with mild steroid-naïve asthm...
Biomarkers of iNOS Activity in COPD, Asthma, Healthy Control
This pilot study will measure the baseline levels and the intra- and inter-subject variability of exhaled (alveolar and bronchial) and nasal NO in smoking subjects with mild and moderate C...
Regulation of the Release of Inflammatory Mediators From Lung Macrophages.
The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms whereby specific white cells called macrophages found in the lung release inflammatory mediators or chemicals together with enzymes t...
Videos
Understanding Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD#1)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects 12 million Americans—most of them smokers. Here, we'll cover the basics on America's fourth leading cause of de...
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
A disease of chronic diffuse irreversible airflow obstruction. Subcategories of COPD include CHRONIC BRONCHITIS and PULMONARY EMPHYSEMA.