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Cureus Oct 2023Background Cough is one of the most common presenting complaints for physicians across the world, with the potential to result in a significant influence on one's daily...
Background Cough is one of the most common presenting complaints for physicians across the world, with the potential to result in a significant influence on one's daily life. It is typically categorized into acute cough (<3 weeks), subacute cough (three to eight weeks), and chronic cough (>8 weeks). The lack of specific treatment guidelines and evidence-based recommendations for resolving cough creates reasonable controversy in the medical field. This retrospective study aims to identify the clinical features of cough and evaluate the comparative efficacy between different anti-asthmatic treatment modalities in the urban city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on patients presenting to pulmonology or respiratory outpatient clinics with complaints of cough in the absence of any known history of chronic respiratory illness (e.g., asthma). Analysis was conducted via chi-squared and analysis of variance (ANOVA) testing. Results A total of 308 patients were eligible for inclusion, with 273 patients presenting for follow-up. Overall, patients with acute, subacute, and chronic coughs had similar clinical presentations, with no statistically significant differences noted. However, patients with pets were more likely to develop an acute cough (p = 0.04). Moreover, the follow-up outcomes of acute, subacute, and chronic cough were similar, with no significant statistical difference noted. Furthermore, patients receiving dual therapy using budesonide and montelukast, and patients receiving triple therapy using budesonide, montelukast, and tiotropium/ipratropium were most likely to gain complete relief of their symptoms, although triple therapy treatment was also associated with the highest rate of null improvement (p = 0.012). Additionally, chronic cough patients were more likely to be subject to higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in comparison to other cohorts (p = 0.26). Conclusion The comparative superiority of dual therapy using budesonide and montelukast, and triple therapy using budesonide, montelukast, and tiotropium/ipratropium were highlighted in this study. In the sparseness of specific treatment guidelines and evidence-based recommendations for cough, the use of anti-asthmatic therapy for cough patients has shown favorable results. Moreover, the lack of clinical differences between acute, subacute, and chronic cough may result in difficulties with the treatment of cough patients. To arrive at a valid conclusion, further comprehensive studies with larger and more diversified sample populations are encouraged.
PubMed: 38021559
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47377 -
RSC Advances Nov 2023Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO)-based approaches have become more popular in recent years as alternative methods for creating micro- or nanosized medicines....
Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO)-based approaches have become more popular in recent years as alternative methods for creating micro- or nanosized medicines. Particularly, high drug solubility is required in those techniques using SC-CO as a solvent. During the most recent pandemic years, favipiravir and montelukast were two of the most often prescribed medications for the treatment of COVID-19. In this study, ethanol at 1 and 3 mol% was utilized as a cosolvent to increase the solubility of both medicines in SC-CO by a static approach using a range of temperatures (308 to 338 K) and pressure (12 to 30 MPa) values. The experimentally determined solubilities of favipiravir and montelukast in SC-CO + 3 mol% ethanol showed solubility values up to 33.3 and 24.5 times higher than that obtained for these drugs with only SC-CO. The highest values were achieved in the pressure of 12 MPa and temperature of 338 K. Last but not least, six density-based semi-empirical models with various adjustable parameters were used to perform the modeling of the solubility of favipiravir and montelukast.
PubMed: 38020033
DOI: 10.1039/d3ra05484e -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Nov 2023Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is the main manifestation of sleep-disordered breathing in children. Untreated OSA can lead to a variety of complications and... (Review)
Review
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is the main manifestation of sleep-disordered breathing in children. Untreated OSA can lead to a variety of complications and adverse consequences mainly due to intermittent hypoxemia. The pathogenesis of OSA is multifactorial. In children aged 2 years or older, adenoid and/or tonsil hypertrophy are the most common causes of upper airway lumen reduction; obesity becomes a major risk factor in older children and adolescents since the presence of fat in the pharyngeal soft tissue reduces the caliber of the lumen. Treatment includes surgical and non-surgical options. This narrative review summarizes the evidence available on the first-line approach in children with OSA, including clinical indications for medical therapy, its effectiveness, and possible adverse effects. Literature analysis showed that AT is the first-line treatment in most patients with adenotonsillar hypertrophy associated with OSA but medical therapy in children over 2 years old with mild OSA is a valid option. In mild OSA, a 1- to 6-month trial with intranasal steroids (INS) alone or in combination with montelukast with an appropriate follow-up can be considered. Further studies are needed to develop an algorithm that permits the selection of children with OSA who would benefit from alternatives to surgery, to define the optimal bridge therapy before surgery, to evaluate the long-term effects of INS +/- montelukast, and to compare the impact of standardized approaches for weight loss.
PubMed: 38002704
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12227092 -
Cureus Oct 2023Allergic rhinitis is largely treated by using antihistamines and nasal sprays, either alone or in combination. However, these measures ease out the symptoms but do not...
BACKGROUND
Allergic rhinitis is largely treated by using antihistamines and nasal sprays, either alone or in combination. However, these measures ease out the symptoms but do not address causative factors, and have their share of side effects and limitations. An Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation, IMMBO, has been reported to be effective in treating allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation in comparison with a fixed-dose combination of levocetirizine and montelukast.
METHOD
This was a randomized, comparative, clinical study carried out on 250 patients at a medical college in India. The patients were enrolled according to the eligibility criteria of the study and randomized into two groups, to receive either Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation, IMMBO, or a combination of levocetirizine and montelukast for 28 days. Total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and Immunoglobulin E (IgE) were calculated for evaluation of efficacy parameters. Result: At the end of therapy both IMMBO and levocetirizine and montelukast combination showed significant improvement in TNSS in both treated population and per protocol population. The IMMBO group had a statistically higher reduction in TNSSs compared to the levocetirizine + montelukast group (-5.70 vs. -3.31; p<0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in the reduction of IgE levels between the groups (-351.54 vs. -208.79; p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study establish prima facie evidence about the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic formulation. However, the said Ayurvedic formulation needs to be further developed scientifically.
PubMed: 37942368
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46663 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023Loratadine and montelukast are clinical first-line drugs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). However, there is no clear evidence of the efficacy of loratadine...
Loratadine and montelukast are clinical first-line drugs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). However, there is no clear evidence of the efficacy of loratadine combined with montelukast in the treatment of AR. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the loratadine-montelukast combination on AR. In this meta-analysis, searches were conducted on PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The search terms included loratadine, montelukast, allergic rhinitis, and clinical trials. Meta-analyses were conducted using Rev Man 5.3 and Stata 15 statistical software. A total of 23 studies with 4,902 participants were enrolled. For the primary outcome, pooled results showed that loratadine-montelukast can significantly reduce total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), when compared with loratadine (SMD, -1.00; 95% CI, -1.35 to -0.65, < 0.00001), montelukast (SMD, -0.46; 95% CI, -0.68 to -0.25, < 0.0001), or placebo (SMD, -0.93; 95% CI, -1.37 to -0.49, < 0.00001). For secondary outcomes, pooled results showed that compared with loratadine, loratadine-montelukast can significantly improve nasal congestion, nasal itching, nasal sneezing, nasal rhinorrhea, and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaires (RQLQ). Compared with montelukast, loratadine-montelukast can significantly improve nasal itching, and nasal sneezing. Compared with placebo, loratadine-montelukast can significantly improve nasal congestion, and RQLQ. Loratadine-montelukast combination is superior to loratadine monotherapy, montelukast monotherapy, or placebo in improving AR symptoms. Therefore, loratadine-montelukast combination can be an option for patients with moderate-severe AR or poorly response to monotherapy. Systematic review registration number: clinicaltrials.gov, identifier CRD42023397519.
PubMed: 37915414
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1287320 -
Survey of Ophthalmology 2024Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic, progressive, and potentially sight-threatening form of ocular inflammatory disease that primarily affects children and... (Review)
Review
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic, progressive, and potentially sight-threatening form of ocular inflammatory disease that primarily affects children and young adults. Prevalence varies by region, ranging from <2 per 10,000 in the United States to as high as 1,100 per 10,000 in parts of Africa. The rarity of VKC in developed countries can make differential diagnosis challenging, and treatment is often delayed until the disease is advanced, and symptoms are significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Although once viewed primarily as an immunoglobulin E-mediated condition, approximately 50% of patients with VKC do not exhibit allergic sensitization. It is now recognized that the immunopathology of VKC involves multiple inflammatory pathways that lead to the signs, symptoms, and conjunctival eosinophilic and fibroproliferative lesions that are a hallmark of the disease. We examine the evolution of our understanding of the immunopathology of VKC, the expanding VKC treatment armamentarium, the clinical implications of emerging treatment approaches, and future directions for VKC research and practice.
Topics: Child; Humans; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Cyclosporine; Quality of Life; Conjunctiva; Ophthalmic Solutions
PubMed: 37890678
DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.10.008 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Oct 2023Clopidogrel and ticagrelor are rarely reported to cause vasculitis via drug hypersensitivity reaction, largely mediated by T cells and immunoglobulin E (IgE). Despite... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Clopidogrel and ticagrelor are rarely reported to cause vasculitis via drug hypersensitivity reaction, largely mediated by T cells and immunoglobulin E (IgE). Despite therapeutic advances, the etiology of refractory vasculitides remains incompletely understood. Recently, (non)immunological mechanisms bypassing T cells and IgE have been proposed to explain resistance to standard immunosuppressants. Herein, we report a case of refractory drug-induced systemic small-vessel vasculitis with varied extracutaneous manifestations and incorporate multiple sources of data to provide detailed accounts of complex (non)immunological phenomena involved in this case. Study objectives are to provide an insight about rare presentations of commonly used drugs, upgrade the pathophysiological concepts of drug-induced vasculitis, raise need for further investigation to define causes and risk factors for refractory vasculitis, and discuss most of the current knowledge suggesting novel therapeutic approaches to treat this vasculitis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of the two flares of systemic small-vessel vasculitis in a single patient in response to clopidogrel and ticagrelor exposure, respectively. However, this report is limited by attribution/observer bias.
CASE PRESENTATION
We herein report a 24-year-old Caucasian male student with a medical history of mild seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, tension-type headaches, posttraumatic arterial stenosis, and previous exposure to ibuprofen, acetylsalicylic acid, and mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine who suffered largely from acute urticaria and dyspnea after 20 days of acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel introduction. A skin punch biopsy confirmed leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Serologic antibody testing, complement analysis, microbiologic testing, and cancer biomarkers revealed no abnormalities. Regarding the patient's medical history, both acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel were exchanged for ticagrelor. Furthermore, the addition of naproxen, cyclosporine, bilastine, prednisolone, and montelukast resulted in complete recovery. After 7 days, diarrhea and hematuria occurred. Urinalysis and computed tomography showed reversible proteinuria with gross hematuria and hypodense changes in kidney medulla, respectively, associated with discontinuation of ticagrelor and naproxen. In addition, the patient recovered completely without any immunosuppression up-titration.
CONCLUSIONS
This case highlights the role of clopidogrel and ticagrelor as possible triggering agents for systemic small-vessel vasculitis and offers an insight into novel therapeutic strategies for refractory vasculitides. Further research is needed to build on the findings of a current report.
Topics: Humans; Male; Young Adult; Aspirin; Clopidogrel; Hematuria; Immunoglobulin E; Naproxen; Ticagrelor; Vasculitis
PubMed: 37885023
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-023-04174-8 -
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Oct 2023The association between increased nasal resistance (NR) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine nasal...
The association between increased nasal resistance (NR) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine nasal ventilation function (NVF) in children with OSAS, with a focus on its pathogenetic role. Children were recruited and divided into the OSAS group ( = 109) and control group ( = 116). The participants underwent polysomnography (PSG), measurement of NR, and acoustic rhinometry (AR). A combination of intranasal corticosteroids (ICS) and oral montelukast (OM) was administered to 90 children with mild to moderate OSAS for 12 weeks. After excluding participants who dropped out or were lost to follow-up, there were 58 children who responded to the treatment, who were divided into 2 groups-A and B. We compared the size of the tonsil adenoids, the PSG, NR, and AR before and after treatment in the 2 groups. Children aged 6 to 12 years with OSAS had significantly higher NR than the control group ( < .05). The OSAS group had a smaller nasal minimal cross-sectional area (NMCA), nasal cavity volume (NCV) from 0 to 5 cm, and nasopharyngeal volume (NPV) from 6 to 8 cm than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( < .05 or < .01). A total of 58 (84.1%) children responded to the 12-week ICS+OM treatment and 11 (15.9%) children did not respond to the treatment. Effective treatment was achieved in 32 children, as evidenced by a significant reduction in tonsil adenoid size and variations in NR and AR values. There were significant improvements in NR, NMCA, and NCV in the remaining 26 children who were successfully treated, but there was no change in tonsil adenoids and NPV value. NVF may play an important pathogenetic role in children with OSAS.
PubMed: 37864363
DOI: 10.1177/01455613231205991 -
European Respiratory Review : An... Dec 2023We aim to assess the impact of montelukast on paediatric patients with asthma/allergic rhinitis, measured using patient-reported outcome measures, compared with other... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
We aim to assess the impact of montelukast on paediatric patients with asthma/allergic rhinitis, measured using patient-reported outcome measures, compared with other treatments or placebo.
METHODS
Protocol registration CRD42020216098 (www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO). MEDLINE and Embase databases were used to conduct the search. Two authors independently selected studies and extracted data, and a third reviewer resolved discrepancies. Meta-analyses were constructed to estimate the standardised mean difference (SMD) using a random-effects model.
RESULTS
Out of 3937 articles identified, 49 studies met the inclusion criteria, mostly randomised clinical trials (sample sizes: 21-689 patients). The SMD of change pooled estimators for the global, mental and physical domains of health-related quality of life were not statistically significant. For daytime and night-time symptoms scores, the SMD (95% CI) was in favour of inhaled corticosteroids (-0.12, -0.20- -0.05 and -0.23, -0.41- -0.06, respectively). The pooled estimator for global asthma symptoms was better for montelukast when compared with placebo (0.90, 0.44-1.36).
CONCLUSIONS
The synthesis of the available evidence suggests that, in children and adolescents, montelukast was effective in controlling asthma symptoms when compared with placebo, but inhaled corticosteroids were superior in controlling symptoms, especially at night-time. These findings of our systematic review concur with current guidelines for asthma treatment.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Child; Quality of Life; Asthma; Rhinitis, Allergic; Adrenal Cortex Hormones
PubMed: 37852659
DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0124-2023 -
Minerva Surgery Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Cyclopropanes; Sulfides; Quinolines; Acetates; Rhinitis, Allergic; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Leukotriene Antagonists; Female; Male; Adult; Capsules; Drug Therapy, Combination; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37851008
DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5691.23.10038-4