Protic ionic liquids (PILs) are promising candidates as electrolytes for proton exchange polymer membrane fuel cells. In order to optimize their properties, a detailed understanding of the molecular interactions within the bulk and at the electrode-electrolyte interface is needed, which can be obtained by infrared spectra. A prerequisite for extracting information on the molecular structure and inter- or intramolecular interactions from an experimental spectrum is a reasonable interpretation of the observed spectral features.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFERJ Open Res
September 2024
Chronic cough is a prevalent and challenging condition, with limited treatment options available. The interpretation of clinical trial results for antitussive drugs is complicated by the presence of the placebo response, which can confound outcomes and impede regulatory approval. This review aims to explore the impact of the placebo response on clinical trials for cough medications and elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Opin Pharmacother
November 2024
Introduction: Chronic cough has increasingly been recognized as a distinct clinical entity that affects a significant portion of the global population. Despite advancements in understanding its pathophysiology, treatment options remain limited. Opioid analgesics have long been used for cough, and some have proven clear antitussive potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNon-stabilized fractures can be made at mandibular sites in mice, thus making it possible to analyze bone repair using an endochondral ossification mode. To most accurately reflect this process in vivo, it is necessary to have a standardized protocol to avoid excessive bone loss and soft tissue damage, particularly at the mandibular site, an anatomical site characterized by minimal access. To our knowledge, we describe for the first time a less-invasive protocol of non-stabilized mandibular fracture in mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Azithromycin is an effective treatment for various respiratory conditions but its effect on cough is poorly understood. We synthesised data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and noncomparative studies (NCT) examining its effect on objective and subjective cough.
Methods: After prospective registration on PROSPERO, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL for both RCTs and NCT trials examining the effect azithromycin on cough in respiratory disease.
Aims: We report on investigations exploring the P2X3-receptor antagonist filapixant's effect on taste perception and cough-reflex sensitivity and describe its pharmacokinetics, including its CYP3A4-interaction potential.
Methods: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 3 × 12 healthy men (18-45 years) were assigned (3:1) to filapixant (20, 80 or 250 mg by mouth) or placebo twice daily over 2 weeks. A single dose of midazolam (1 mg), a CYP3A4 substrate, was administered with and without filapixant.
Importance: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Observational studies report that β-blocker use may be associated with reduced risk of COPD exacerbations. However, a recent trial reported that metoprolol did not reduce COPD exacerbations and increased COPD exacerbations requiring hospital admission.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFShort-acting beta-agonist (SABA) over-use in asthma is harmful for patients and the environment. The Investment and Impact Fund (IIF) 2022/2023 financially rewarded English primary care networks that achieved specific targets, including reducing SABA over-use (RESP-02) and lowering the mean carbon footprint per salbutamol inhaler prescribed (ES-02). SENTINEL Plus is a co-designed quality improvement package that aims to improve asthma outcomes and reduce asthma's environmental impact by addressing SABA over-use.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGuyana remains one of four countries in the Americas endemic for lymphatic filariasis (LF). Elimination of LF requires repeated annual mass drug administration (MDA) with sufficient levels of coverage for success. This study assesses the acceptability and never treatment of LF MDA using data from a routine assessment survey in 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Current guidelines on the management of chronic cough do not provide recommendations for the operation of specialist cough clinics. The objective of the present study was to develop expert consensus on goals and standard procedures for specialist cough clinics.
Methods: We undertook a modified Delphi process, whereby initial statements proposed by experts were categorised and presented back to panellists over two ranking rounds using an 11-point Likert scale to identify consensus.
Allergy Asthma Immunol Res
November 2023
Purpose: Only limited studies have depicted the unique features and management of refractory chronic cough (RCC) and unexplained chronic cough (UCC). These led to the initiation of this study, which reported the demographic characteristics, manifestations, and long-term outcomes on a large series of consecutive RCC/UCC patients, providing a guideline-led real-world clinical experience.
Methods: Retrospective baseline information was obtained from Clinical Research Database (January 2016 to May 2021).
Background: Over-the-counter therapies, such as Vicks VapoRub, are frequently used in the management of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms. Of these, acute cough is the most bothersome; however, the mechanisms involved have not been fully elucidated. The temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, including TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPM8 and TRPV4, are potential candidates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the decision-making processes, enablers, challenges and lessons learned in Costa Rica for implementing a sustained and multi-pronged approach in health workers vaccination (HW).
Methods: A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted by searching published and grey literature, including scientific publications, legislation, decrees, policies, manuals, technical reports, and platforms used for data register and coverage monitoring. Key informants from the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) were interviewed representing national, subnational and local levels; as well as members of the National Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) and the private sector.
Chronic cough (CC) is a common but poorly understood disease that has a negative impact on quality of life. For years, clinicians have been trying to find the underlying diagnosis and using existing disease models to describe the patients' illness. This presents a confusing picture of CC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhilos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
October 2023
Current WHO guidelines set prevalence thresholds below which a neglected tropical disease can be considered to have been eliminated as a public health problem, and specify how surveys to assess whether elimination has been achieved should be designed and analysed, based on classical survey sampling methods. In this paper, we describe an alternative approach based on geospatial statistical modelling. We first show the gains in efficiency that can be obtained by exploiting any spatial correlation in the underlying prevalence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Refractory chronic cough (RCC) has a significant impact on patient's health-related quality of life and represents a challenge in clinical management. However, the optimal treatment for RCC remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate and compare the efficacy and safety of the current pharmacological therapeutic options for RCC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Transl Med
August 2023
Background: Chronic cough is a burdensome condition characterized by persistent cough lasting longer than 8 weeks. Chronic cough can significantly affect quality of life, physical function and productivity, with many people troubled with a cough that lasts for months or even years. People with chronic cough commonly report a persistent urge to cough with frequent bouts of coughing triggered by innocuous stimuli, which has led to the concept of cough hypersensitivity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Chronic cough, defined as daily cough for at least 8 weeks, negatively affects quality of life and work productivity and increases healthcare resource utilisation. We aimed to determine the prevalence and burden of chronic cough in the UK.
Methods: Study participants were general population respondents to the 2018 UK National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS).