Developing a short-term prediction model for asthma exacerbations from Swedish primary care patients' data using machine learning - Based on the ARCTIC study.

Objective: The ability to predict impending asthma exacerbations may allow better utilization of healthcare resources, prevention of hospitalization and improve patient outcomes. We aimed to develop models using machine learning to predict risk of exacerbations.

Methods: Data from 29,396 asthma patients was collected from electronic medical records and national registers covering clinical and epidemiological factors (e.

Predicting Hospitalization Due to COPD Exacerbations in Swedish Primary Care Patients Using Machine Learning - Based on the ARCTIC Study.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations can negatively impact disease severity, progression, mortality and lead to hospitalizations. We aimed to develop a model that predicts a patient's risk of hospitalization due to severe exacerbations (defined as COPD-related hospitalizations) of COPD, using Swedish patient level data.

Patients And Methods: Patient level data for 7823 Swedish patients with COPD was collected from electronic medical records (EMRs) and national registries covering healthcare contacts, diagnoses, prescriptions, lab tests, hospitalizations and socioeconomic factors between 2000 and 2013.

Fevipiprant, a prostaglandin D2 receptor 2 antagonist, in patients with persistent eosinophilic asthma: a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Eosinophilic airway inflammation is often present in asthma, and reduction of such inflammation results in improved clinical outcomes. We hypothesised that fevipiprant (QAW039), an antagonist of prostaglandin D2 receptor 2, might reduce eosinophilic airway inflammation in patients with moderate-to-severe eosinophilic asthma.

Methods: We performed a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial at Glenfield Hospital (Leicester, UK).

Inhaled vasoactive intestinal peptide exerts immunoregulatory effects in sarcoidosis.

Rationale: Previous studies suggest an important immunoregulatory role of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in experimental models of chronic noninfectious inflammation. Sarcoidosis is characterized by noncaseating epitheloid cell granulomas, where excessive tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by pulmonary macrophages plays a critical role in granuloma formation and disease progression, which may lead to fatal organ dysfunction.

Objectives: To test whether inhaled VIP has an immunoregulatory role.

Indibulin, a novel microtubule inhibitor, discriminates between mature neuronal and nonneuronal tubulin.

Microtubule inhibitors interfere with microtubule dynamics, causing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These effects are responsible for the chemotherapeutic activities of members of the taxane and Vinca alkaloid families in oncology. Unfortunately, a major side effect of the taxanes and Vinca alkaloids is the development of peripheral neuropathies.

Protein kinase G from pathogenic mycobacteria promotes survival within macrophages.

Pathogenic mycobacteria resist lysosomal delivery after uptake into macrophages, allowing them to survive intracellularly. We found that the eukaryotic-like serine/threonine protein kinase G from pathogenic mycobacteria was secreted within macrophage phagosomes, inhibiting phagosome-lysosome fusion and mediating intracellular survival of mycobacteria. Inactivation of protein kinase G by gene disruption or chemical inhibition resulted in lysosomal localization and mycobacterial cell death in infected macrophages.