Inhalant Research Articles

Coughing during or after use of Viatris inhaler

Coughing during or after use of Viatris inhaler

Analytical methods for detecting butane, propane, and their metabolites in biological samples: Implications for inhalant abuse detection

Worldwide, various inhalants are widely abused for recreational purposes, with butane and propane emerging as among the most commonly misused volatile substances, posing a significant risk of sudden death. The rapid elimination and oxidation of these highly volatile compounds upon inhalation necessitate the identification of butane and propane along with their metabolites in biological samples. Hence, the primary objective of this study is twofold: firstly, to establish a method for analyzing butane, propane, and metabolites, and secondly, to demonstrate the detection window and exposure indicators associated with the inhalation of butane and propane. In pursuit of this objective, we developed analytical methods for the determination of isobutane, n-butane, propane, and their nine metabolites in both blood and urine. Headspace-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and solid-phase microextraction-GC–MS were employed for the analyses, demonstrating acceptable precision and accuracy. An animal study revealed that isobutane and n-butane were only detectable below the limit of quantification (LOQ) in rat blood 5 min after exposure. Meanwhile, the three major metabolites—2-methyl-2-propanol, 2-butanol, and 2-butanone—were observed 5 min after exposure but persisted in rat urine even 5 h post-exposure. Additionally, human urine samples identified other metabolites, including acetone, acetoin, and 2,3-butanediol isomers. The presence of specific metabolites corresponding to each inhalant confirmed the abuse of butane and propane. This comprehensive approach provides valuable insights into the detection and assessment of inhalation to these volatile substances.

Hypertonic saline inhalation therapy among patients with moderate asthma and functional dyspepsia commorbidity

Aim: Dry powder hypertonic saline inhalation use possibilities evaluation in moderate asthma and functional dyspepsia patients. Materials and Methods: 68 moderate asthma and functional dyspepsia patients were examined and treated according to the standard protocols, serum and erythrocytes membrane fatty acid levels were evaluated. The groups of patients with (n=35) and without (n=33) additional dry powder hypertonic saline inhalation use were compared after 1 month. Results: After additional use of dry powder hypertonic saline inhalations vs only standard treatment the rate of well controlled asthma was 3 fold higher with significantly higher FEV1. We also observed positive dynamics of serum arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids levels indicating resolution of inflammatory reaction with erythrocytes membranes linoleic acid level normalization (source of antiinflammatory cytokines synthesis) among patients with dry powder hypertonic saline inhalation use vs without it. Among patients who used only standard therapy compared to the control group, the erythrocytes membrane linoleic acid level remained decreased with high serum arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids levels. Follow-up results (after 1 year) showed a significant decrease in exacerbations frequency among patients who underwent dry powder hypertonic saline inhalation vs only the standard treatment. Conclusions: Among moderate asthma patients with functional dyspepsia use of dry powder hypertonic saline inhalation therapy additionally to the standard treatment allows to improve not only clinical and functional parameters but serum and erythrocytes membranes fatty acids spectrum as well leading to the systemic inflammatory reaction reduction and exacerbations prevention in remote period.

Adherence to application technique of inhaled corticosteroid in patients with asthma and COVID-19 improves outcomes

BackgroundInhaled corticosteroids have been widely reported as a preventive measure against the development of severe forms of COVID-19 not only in patients with asthma.MethodsIn 654 Czech and Slovak patients with...

Prevalence of Critical Errors and Insufficient Peak Inspiratory Flow in Patients Hospitalized with COPD in a Department of General Internal Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The suboptimal use of inhalers in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is probably a major but poorly documented problem in hospitalized patients. We aimed to describe the prevalence of misused inhalers among patients hospitalized with COPD in a department of general internal medicine. We conducted a monocentric cross-sectional study in consecutive patients with a diagnosis of COPD and hospitalized between August 2022 and April 2023 in the internal medicine division of Fribourg Hospital, Switzerland. Patients underwent an assessment of their inhaler technique and peak inspiratory flow (PIF) using the In-Check Dial G16®. The primary outcome was the prevalence of misused inhalers, defined as an inhaler used with a critical error and/or insufficient PIF. Secondary outcomes included the prevalence of inhalers unsuitable to patients' characteristics and of patients using at least one misused inhaler. The study included 96 patients and 160 inhalers were assessed at admission. Among these inhalers, 111 (69.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 61.6-76.4) were misused; 105 (65.6%; 95% CI 57.7-72.9) due to the presence of a critical error in the inhalation technique and 22 (13.8%; 95% CI 8.8-20.1) due to insufficient PIF. Concerning the secondary outcome, 27 inhalers (16.9%) were unsuitable, and 79 patients (82.3%) used at least one misused inhaler. Among patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of COPD, two-thirds of inhalers were misused. Suboptimal use was mainly due to the presence of critical errors, but also to the presence of an insufficient PIF and unsuitable inhalers.

Understanding Knowledge, Practices, and Barriers in Metered Dose Inhaler Use Among Sri Lankan Patients with Bronchial Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background and Aims: Despite declining mortality rates, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continue to pose significant public health challenges with persistently high morbidity rates. One prominent con¬tributing factor is the inadequate use of prescription metered dose inhalers (MDIs) by patients, leading to insufficient dosing and suboptimal disease control. Thus, it is crucial to assess patients’ knowledge, practices, and barriers concerning MDI usage. Methods: This descriptive convenience sampling, conducted at Polonnaruwa District General Hospital in Sri Lanka, enrolled 250 participants to investigate MDI-related behaviors. Questionnaire was used as data collection tool and sampling technique is conveniet sampling. Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and SPSS version 20 (IBM Corporation, New York, USA) software were used for statistical analysis. Results: The majority of participants were aged over 40, with a higher proportion of females (59%) than males (39%). Over half of them had been managing bronchial asthma and COPD for more than five years. Notably, all participants were MDI users, but 59% reported disease exacerbations occurring more than four weeks ago, with dust being the primary trigger (45%). Healthcare professionals, especially nurses and doctors, were common sources of MDI education. However, none of the participants demonstrated correct inhalation technique both before and after receiving education, raising significant concerns. Conclusions: This study highlights the inadequacies in MDI utilization among participants, emphasizing the urgent need for improved patient education by healthcare professionals. Addressing these knowledge and skills gaps related to MDI usage is essential for enhancing asthma and COPD management, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and a reduced disease burden.

Quality improvement project to improve inhaler delivery in the intensive care unit

Background Late 2022, an ICU nurse discovered that Seretide™ (salmeterol/Fluticasone) Evohaler, a commonly used inhaler, did not change its dose counter when used with the inhaler connector 22M-22F. This was identified as a medication safety issue. Knowledge gaps of inhaler use in mechanically ventilated patients were identified as well. Aims To effectively administer metered dose inhalers to ventilated patients and increase its accuracy and safety. Methods We instituted education programs for healthcare professional in the ICU and introduced a new inhaler connector RTC 24-V. This was compared with the existing 22M-22F connector in a comparative study. Results The dose counter of Seretide™ recorded prior to initiation and extubation showed an obvious drop in doses ranging from 15 to 63 in patients randomized to use RTC 24-V, compared to 0 to 2 drop in doses for patients using 22M-22F. A total of 51 pre study and 33 post study questionnaires were completed. Confidence that the accurate dose of medications was administered rose from 58.8% to 84.8% after using the RTC 24-V. Responses that there was no issue compromising patient safety rose from 0% to 51.5% and fewer staff expressed concern about disconnections causing infections, dropping from 51% to 9.1%. 93.9% of respondents chose the new RTC 24-V as the preferred inhaler connector. Conclusion The new inhaler connector RTC 24-V was assessed to have less medication errors. ICU healthcare professionals expressed greater confidence in its safety and accuracy. We will implement the use of this connector with continued medical education.

Prediction of underage alcohol, marijuana, and inhalant use as predictors

Prediction of underage alcohol, marijuana, and inhalant use as predictors

Real-World Use of Inhaled COPD Medications: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rely primarily on inhaled medications to control and treat symptoms. Although the medications delivered by inhaler devices are often quite efficacious when delivered to the lung, the real-world effectiveness of these inhaler devices often falls short. Barriers to effective inhaler use include inhaler misuse and cost-related nonadherence. Inhaler misuse can be reduced with appropriate education which leads to improved outcomes. Education can be provided in multiple settings by a wide array of clinicians and clinical team members including pharmacists, respiratory therapists, nurses, physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, and community health workers, among others. However, despite decades of research and existing effective strategies across settings and types of educators, overall not much progress has been made with respect to effective inhaler technique among populations of patients with COPD in nearly half a century. Similarly, cost-related nonadherence is a long-standing and critical barrier to effective control of COPD, with limited improvements, especially until very recently. This perspective reviews the current promising directions for inhaler-based therapies, ongoing challenges, and critical issues requiring urgent attention.

Применение тройного комбинированного препарата будесонид/гликопиррония бромид/формотерол у больных хронической обструктивной болезнью легких в реальной клинической практике (первый отечественный опыт)

Background: the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) recommends triple therapy as an initial treatment for patients of "group E" (eosinophil count ≥ cells/μL) or as maintenance therapy for patients with frequent exacerbations. Triple therapy combines three types of inhaled medications that help improve lung function, manage symptoms and prevent exacerbations. The use of a single inhaler helps to increase patients' adherence to therapy. Aim: to evaluate the efficacy of the triple combination drug — budesonide/glycopyrronium bromide/formoterol (BUD/GLI/FOR) – and the patients' adherence to the ongoing inhalation therapy of COPD in real clinical practice. Materials and Methods: 30 patients with severe COPD (mean age 65.55±5.98 years) receiving basic therapy in accordance with clinical recommendations during remission were examined. After the initial examination, patients were recommended therapy with a combination of BUD/GLI/FOR 160/7.2/5 μg 2 inhalations twice a day. Patients received the prescribed therapy for 3 months, after which the assessments of therapy adherence and satisfaction with it, the changes concerning the severity of dyspnea (mMRC scale), COPD symptoms (CAT-test), spirometry exams were conducted. Results: after 3 months of therapy with BUD/GLI/FOR, none of the patients had an exacerbation of COPD. During treatment, there was a tendency to decrease the disease severity. No significant changes in spirometry have been established. In 83,3% of cases, patients performed inhalation without errors while reproducing the correct technique. All patients were satisfied with the therapy and were ready to continue treatment. Conclusion: the results obtained serve as the basis for further treatment of patients with COPD with the drug used in real clinical practice and are encouraging in achieving the clinical and functional efficacy announced in randomized clinical trials. KEYWORDS: COPD, triple combination, phospholipids, aerosphere, adherence, inhaled glucocorticosteroid, dual bronchodilator therapy. FOR CITATION: Titova O.N., Kuzubova O.A., Sklyarova D.B. Triple combination drug — budesonide/glycopyrronium bromide/formoterol in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in real clinical practice (the first domestic experience). Russian Medical Inquiry. 2024;8(8):459–463 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2024-8-8-3.

Клініко-фармакоекономічні аспекти лікування хворих на COVID-19 нетяжкого перебігу та наявністю факторів ризику прогресування захворювання

Abstract. COVID-19 treatment issues are still a difficult problem worldwide because of huge economic losses of society as a result of the widespread disease, the peculiarity of its course and the development of complications. The aim of the work is to study the clinical efficiency, safety and economic feasibility of the use of aminocaproic acid (AСA) in the treatment of patients with mild COVID-19 and the presence of modifying risk factors compared to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and symptomatic therapy. Materials and research methods. 96 patients with mild COVID-19 and the presence of factors of increased risk of progression of the disease to a severe form (old age; overweight; pregnancy; chronic kidney disease; diabetes; primary or secondary immunodeficiency; cardiovascular diseases; chronic lung diseases, etc.). Depending on the treatment regimen, all patients were divided into three groups. Patients of group 1 (n = 33) received ACA inhalation through a compressor inhaler (nebulizer), patients of the 2nd (n = 31) — antiviral therapy with combined drug nirmatrelvir /ritonavir, and patients of the 3rd (n = 32) — symptomatic inhalation Ektobris. The study analyzed the clinical condition, manifestations of certain symptoms of the disease, undesirable phenomena and quality of life of patients, as well as indicators of the cost of drug treatment. The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated by the clinical condition of the patient on the 1st, 3rd, 8th and 14th day of observation. The safety of therapy was evaluated by the frequency of unwanted phenomena, their severity and the emergence of clinically significant changes in laboratory testing. Results. Based on the analysis of the dynamics of individual symptoms, it was found that on the 8th day of treatment in the 1st and 2nd groups of patients was observed faster and reliably (p < 0.05) reduction of the main clinical manifestations of the disease in comparison with patients of 3rd group. But at the end of treatment, the effectiveness of treatment in all groups was almost the same (p > 0.05) recovery was reached in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd groups in 84.6 %, 83.8 % and 75.0 %. In the rest of the patients, a positive dynamic of symptoms was observed. When assessing the safety of the proposed treatment regimens in patients of the 1st and 3rd study groups no treatment side effects were observed in all cases. At the same time, 19.4 % of patients of group 2 for the 2nd day of treatment were registered with undesirable mild side effects from the gastrointestinal tract, but their intensity and duration did not require termination or correction of further therapy. Given the same clinical efficiency and safety of the proposed treatment schemes of patients with Covid-19, the method of "minimizing value" was applied to carry out pharmacoeconomic research. According to the results of this analysis, it was found that the most optimal in these indicators was the treatment of the 1st group of patients, which was significantly the smallest of all comparison groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The results of the study of clinical efficacy, safety and pharmacoeconomic aspects of the treatment of patients with a mild course of Covid-19 and the presence of risk factors for the progression of the disease indicate the unconditional advantages of the use of ACA inhalation in the treatment of this category of patients in comparison with the use of nirmatrelvir. The use of this therapeutic tactics allows you to achieve significantly faster clinical improvement, prevent the development of unwanted phenomena and the progression of the disease, as well as reduce the cost of treatment of this category of patients.

Smoking cessation encouragement by community pharmacists.

Background: Pharmaceutical care interventions have shown to improve health outcomes in specific patient populations. However, which smokers could be reached by community pharmacists in Belgium is unknown. Moreover, the impact of behavioural interventions for smoking cessation (such as brief motivational interviewing) on short term health outcomes remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to describe the population reached and potential impact on health outcomes among persons who received a brief motivational interview by their community pharmacist.
 Methods: Demographics of approached smokers in Flemish community pharmacies during the months May-June 2021, and objectifiable outcomes of a brief motivational interview were retrieved from the pharmacy database. Smoking cessation aids use as well as the impact on cough, inhaler or exacerbation medication use was evaluated 90 and 180 days after the encouragement. Data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test, ꭕ² test and binary logistic regression analysis.
 Results: Community pharmacists provided a brief motivational interview to a broad population of smokers of both sexes, including young persons and persons without chronic medication use. Two out of three smokers were motivated to quit (67.7%) and a third of the included population (33.0%) purchased a smoking cessation aid on the index date (36.7% after 90 and 39.3% after 180 days). Smokers motivated to quit who purchased a smoking cessation aid on the index date had a significantly lower use of cough (OR = 0.37; p = 0.032) and inhaler medication (OR = 0.37; p = 0.009) after 90 days than those not motivated to quit. Effects were less pronounced after 180 days but still statistically significant for lower inhaler use (OR = 0.46; p = 0.031).
 Conclusions: By implementing a brief pharmaceutical counselling in Belgian community pharmacies, a broad range of smokers can be reached and triggered to start smoking cessation aids with suggestive short-term health benefits.
 Acknowledgements
 The authors want to thank the Flemish Pharmacists Network (VAN) for training the pharmacists and Farmaflux and the Association of Pharmacists Belgium (APB) for providing the data with special acknowledgements to Karel Verlinde, An Vanthienen, Corine De Winter and Marc Buckens.

Development and Implementation of an Integrated Pharmaceutical Care Program for patients with COPD in a Rehabilitation Hospital.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease associated with airflow limitation and prolonged respiratory problems. The treatment requires an interdisciplinary approach with a holistic view of the patient. A cornerstone of the treatment consists of inhalation therapy. Inhalation errors are abundant and medication adherence towards inhalation therapy is low. We aimed (1) to develop a standardized pharmaceutical care protocol for hospitalized patients with COPD and (2) to evaluate the effect and feasibility of protocol implementation.
 Methods: This study took place at the rehabilitation hospital Koningin Elisabeth Instituut (RH-KEI) in Oostduinkerke, Belgium from January 2021 to April 2022. The protocol was based on the PHARMACOP protocol, tailored to the specific setting using in-depth interviews with all HCPs involved in the pharmaceutical care of patients with COPD (physicians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, physiotherapists and an occupational therapist). The finalized protocol consisted of six additional patient contacts (3 evaluation moments, 2 educational moments and 1 evaluation moment two weeks after discharge), mainly between the hospital pharmacist and the patients. Consequently, from January 2022 to April 2022, adult patients with COPD were included to follow the complete protocol. Patient outcomes were evaluated using standardized questionnaires (i.e. mMRC, BMQ, CAT, EQ-D and EQ-VAS). The feasibility was assessed during a focus group discussion with all involved HCPs and a patient survey after discharge.
 Results: Before the start of the study, the hospital pharmacist in RH-KEI had no patient contact and there were no (recurrent) training sessions about inhaler use. The in-depth interviews elucidated that most involved health care providers (HCPs) had insufficient knowledge of the correct use of inhalers. This is however needed as 37% of included patients made at least one critical inhalation error at hospitalization. The adapted PHARMACOP protocol was tested in 13 patients, after which a significant improvement was noted in mMRC (p = 0.047), BMQ concerns (p = 0.011) and CAT score (p = 0.002). A trend towards improvement was noted in the EQ-5D and EQ-VAS score (resp. p = 0.065, p = 0.590). Finally, mean inhalation technique scores had significantly improved (p = 0.003). Transferring information to primary care HCPs seemed difficult as only a third of patients had handed over their discharge letter to their community pharmacist. The in-hospital HCPs concluded that the protocol was feasible for implementation with some adjustments, such as a more prominent role of the (hospital) pharmacist, the possibility to tailor the program to the patient and a set timing for interdisciplinary (patient) discussions. 
 Conclusion: An interdisciplinary pharmaceutical care program can improve outcomes in patients with COPD. Additional attention should be given to the inclusion of primary care HCPs to guarantee continuity of care concerning inhalation therapy for COPD management.

Ammonia Inhalants: Use, Misuse, and Role in Sports Performance.

Ammonia inhalants, also known as smelling salts, are preparations of ammonia designed to treat fainting but more commonly used by athletes to boost awareness and arousal during competition. Despite their widespread use, the physiological and performance-enhancing effects of ammonia inhalants remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to review the current literature surrounding the benefits, risks, and physiological effects of ammonia inhalants. An extensive literature review of articles pertaining to ammonia inhalants was performed through MEDLINE and Google Scholar. The search terms "smelling salts," "ammonia inhalants," "strength," "performance," "head injury," and "concussion" were used. Clinical review. Level 4. The physiological response to acute ammonia inhalation includes cerebral vasodilation and heart rate elevation without change in blood pressure. The existing evidence demonstrates an ergogenic benefit to ammonia inhalant use only during repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise; in these subjects, ammonia inhalation was associated with increased power as measured by the Wingate anaerobic test. In contrast, there is no performance benefit to ammonia inhalants in a short burst of maximal effort despite elevated arousal and an associated perception of performance enhancement. Importantly, ammonia inhalants have no role in medical management of head injuries, as they have the potential to exacerbate an underlying brain injury due to the involuntary withdrawal reflex associated with ammonia inhalation. Furthermore, the signs and symptoms of a concussion or more threatening head injury may be masked by ammonia inhalation and lead to continued participation in competition, causing additional harm. Ammonia inhalants have no role in medical management of head injuries and have limited benefit with regards to sports performance. B.

Correction of insulin resistance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease under the influence of recovery treatment

According to modern concepts chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is accompanied by persistent respiratory symptoms, as well as extrapulmonary systemic manifestations. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome belong to the leading causes of comorbidity formation. The aim is to study the possibilities of insulin resistance correction in COPD patients, taking into account the previous COVID-19, under the influence of complex non-pharmacological treatment based on haloaero­soltherapy in connection with the applied treatment complex. Clinical and functional examinations and carbohydrate metabolism investigations were carried out in 115 patients with COPD (GOLD II-III) beyond the acute period before and after the course of recovery treatment. Among them 60 patients were convalescents after COVID-19. The average age of patients was 60,3±1,71 years and duration of COPD – 14,2±0,89 years. 12 practically healthy persons were also exa­mined as a control group. The presence of insulin resistance was diagnosed by evaluation of the glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR index and C-peptide levels. Treatment was carried out according to three treatment complexes. The main component of the treatment was the use of haloaerosoltherapy and its combination with singlet oxygen therapy or drinking and inhalation of mineral water. The duration of the course of treatment was 20-21 days. Before treatment the presence of insulin resistance was confirmed in both groups of patients with COPD (without COVID-19 and convalescents after COVID-19). Blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the latter group. After the course of recovery treatment a decrease in insulin resistance was noted, especially in patients who received complex treatment, although complete normalization of the studied indices was not achieved. Thus, insulin resistance is a characteristic, pathogenetically determined metabolic manifestation in COPD, which requires constant monitoring and development of long-term programs of complex clinical management of this contingent of patients, especially beyond the exacerbation period. The use of haloaerosoltherapy, which has a sanative and anti-inflammatory effect and promotes clinical stabilization of COPD, is accompanied by a decrease in the manifestations of insulin resistance. Expressiveness of these changes depend on the applied treatment complex. The most pronounced decrease in insulin resistance in COPD patients was noted under the influence of complex treatment based on haloaerosoltherapy with additional drinking and inhalation use of low-mineralized hydrocarbonate siliceous mineral water.

Analysis and Evaluation of Prospects for the Development of New Drugs Derived from Benzodiazepines

Introduction. The use of drugs derived from benzodiazepine for the treatment of various diseases continues to be relevant. Benzodiazepines are approved by most regulatory authorities around the world. Despite the large number of side effects and non-medical use, they are becoming more promising in emergency care for prolonged seizures and epileptic status.Aim. To analyze the existing medicines on the market of the Russian Federation based on benzodiazepine derivatives and assess the prospects for development in this direction.Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of regulatory legal acts in the field of healthcare and the circulation of medicines, publications of Russian and foreign authors, the results of scientific research using situational, comparative, structural-logical and content analysis methods. The information base of the study was the online database "State Register of Medicines" (grls.minzdrav.gov.ru), databases of peer-reviewed publications: PubMed and Scopus.Results and discussion. Data were obtained on the range of medicines derived from benzodiazepines according to the following indicators: international nonproprietary names, trade names, medicines, manufacturing countries and enterprises, dosage forms. The problem of "medicinal sovereignty" is discussed. Promising niches have been found for the development of innovative drugs derived from benzodiazepines.Conclusion. It has been established that mainly domestic benzodiazepine-type drugs are represented on the Russian pharmaceutical market, while there is a certain shortage of pharmaceutical substances. In Russia, such dosage forms as films, transdermal plasters and preparations for the inhalation use of benzodiazepine derivatives are not registered. It is important to create innovative dosage forms capable of providing a fast, non-invasive and socially acceptable method of use and a high rate of adherence to treatment by patients.

Reinke's Edema and Risk Factors, A Case-Control Study.

Reinke's edema (RE) is a benign pathological non-inflammatory disorder of the vocal folds with a wide range of clinical manifestations. We aim to investigate the relationship between Reinke's edema and some common inhalant abuse. In this case-control study, subjective consisted of 23 patients with RE (the cases), and 50 patients with sinusitis (control) who underwent surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology, between 2015 and 2020. Demographic characteristics, history of some related disease, methods, and the duration of cigarette, and opium consumption were collected through the patients' files. The chi-square (χ²) test was run to analyze the differences in the categorical and, and the Independent Sample T-test was used to compare two sample means from unrelated groups. A significant level (p-value) was considered less than 0.05. The mean age was 54 ± 12 years, and 42 ± 11 years, respectively for Reinke's edema and sinusitis. More women had been recorded in the RE group, compared to men. Allergy, unprincipled use of voice and talkativeness, history of laryngeal surgery, and type of disease were correlated to RE (p < 0.05). Also, cigarette smoking was significantly correlated with Reinke's edema. The average number of cigarettes per day, the duration of smoking, and opium consumption were more frequent in RE (P < 0.05). 90% of the RE and 4% of sinusitis patients were opium consumers. There was a statistically significant difference in the methods of substance use in the two groups of cases and control (p < 0.0001). Among the different methods, the poker and stone method was the most common (69.6%), and the opium smoking pipe was the second most common method. This study also confirmed the hazardous effects of smoking and inhaling opiates in the formation of lesions of the pharynx and larynx. In particular, longer use of these substances will be associated with more serious side effects. Therefore, it seems that people who are addicted to opiates should undergo periodic visits and counseling to reduce and stop their use.

Task-shifting in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management: A review of the obstructive lung disease program.

Task shifting, an approach to address physician shortage through redistribution of clinical tasks, may help address the high burden of chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD. We aimed to measure its utility and impact in the Obstructive Lung Disease program (OLD). A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at five integrated outpatient departments of Primary Care Program within Indus Hospital & Health Network, Pakistan, from January 2018 to March 2023. After a formative evaluation, registered nurses were trained as Lung Health Nurses (LHNs) to perform spirometry, collect Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) including Asthma Control Test (ACT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score and COPD Assessment Test (CAT), counsel on inhaler use and tobacco cessation, and refer to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Data was collected online contemporaneously on REDCap and later analyzed using Excel and STATA 14. Pre-implementation, a monthly average of 126 asthmatics and 33 COPD patients visited primary care centers. Medical records of 147 OLD patients showed 8% received inhaler education, 3% completed ACT and 2% had mMRC documented. Implementation included capacity building of nine LHNs. Of 7427 referrals to the program, 86% underwent nurse-led assessments. LHNs performed spirometry (92%), PROMs assessments [ACT (89%), CAT (91%), mMRC (85%)], inhaler education (97%), tobacco cessation advice (85%) and made PR referrals (94%). Trained nurses can play a role in providing holistic and timely care for patients with CRDs and strengthen existing healthcare systems. Future directions may include expanding nurse clinical counselling roles through telehealth monitoring and home management.

Effectiveness of a Maintenance and Reliever Digihaler System in Asthma: 24-Week Randomized Study (CONNECT2)

BACKGROUNDDigital health tools have been shown to help address challenges in asthma control, including inhaler technique, treatment adherence and short-acting beta2-agonist overuse. The maintenance and reliever Digihaler System (DS) comprises two Digihaler inhalers (fluticasone propionate/salmeterol and albuterol) with an associated patient App and web-based Dashboard. Clinicians can review patients’ inhaler use and Digihaler inhalation parameter data to support clinical decision-making. OBJECTIVECONNECT2 evaluated asthma control in participants using the DS versus standard-of-care (SoC) maintenance and reliever inhalers. METHODSParticipants (≥13 years) with uncontrolled asthma (Asthma Control Test [ACT] score <19) were randomized 4:3 (open-label) to the DS (n = 210) or SoC (n = 181) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving well-controlled asthma (i.e., an ACT score ≥20 or increase from baseline of ≥3 units at Week 24). RESULTSThere was an 88.7% probability that participants using the DS would have greater odds of achieving improvement in asthma control compared with SoC after 24 weeks. Mean odds ratio (95% credible interval) for DS versus SoC was 1.35 (0.846–2.038), indicating a 35% higher odds of improved asthma control with the DS. The DS group had more clinician-participant interactions versus SoC, mainly addressing poor inhaler technique. DS participants’ maintenance treatment adherence was good (Month 1: 79.2%; Month 6: 68.6%); reliever use decreased by 38.2% versus baseline. App and Dashboard usability were rated ‘good’. CONCLUSIONThe positive results in asthma control in this study after 24 weeks demonstrate the effectiveness of the DS in asthma management.

Cyclodextrin-based nanosponges as promising carriers for active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Effective drug distribution at the intended or particular location is a critical issue that researchers are now dealing. Nanosponges have significantly increased in importance in medication delivery using nanotechnology in recent years. An important step toward solving these problems has been the development of nanosponges. Recently created and proposed for use in drug delivery, nanosponge is a unique type of hyper-crosslinked polymer-based colloidal structures made up of solid nanoparticles with colloidal carriers. Nanosponges are solid porous particles that may hold pharmaceuticals and other actives in their nanocavities. They can be made into dosage forms for oral, parenteral, topical, or inhalation use. The targeted distribution of drugs in a regulated manner is greatly aided by nanosponge. The utilization of nanosponges, their benefits, their production processes, the polymers they are made of, and their characterization have all been covered in this review article.