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Biomedical subjects

Ganesh Krishna

Publications and source records attributed to Ganesh Krishna.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Advances in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the fourth leading cause of death, seems to be increasing in worldwide prevalence, and carries with it a significant health and economic burden. Smoking cessation is the only available intervention proven to halt disease progression. The authors discuss the role of the newly approved agent, varenicline, in promotion of smoking cessation. The remainder of presently available therapies treat the symptoms of COPD, but do not impact progression of disease. As the understanding of the pathogenesis of COPD improves, new targets for therapies are emerging. Given the large number of potential targets and the results of recent studies, it seems unlikely that a single new agent will result in a cure. Rather, management of COPD should involve a multi-pronged approach including smoking cessation, bronchodilators, treatment of infection, and eventual targeting of inflammatory pathways and genetic predispositions. In this article, the authors discuss presently available therapies as well as agents under development.

Disease Management↗
PubMed2006

Parasitic pulmonary eosinophilia.

Parasitic infections, although common in tropical and subtropical regions, are prevalent worldwide because of changing immigration patterns and in international travel. The burden of worm infection is enormous and the intensity of infection is usually high among the poor and in immunocompromised individuals. Pulmonary eosinophilia occurs in almost all metazoan infections. In the Western world, the most common infections are caused by Strongyloides, Ascaris, Toxocara, and Ancylostoma species. Most of the nematodes multiply within the human host and cause pulmonary eosinophilia during larval migration through the lungs. Despite larval migration through the lungs, there is usually no permanent lung damage. The result is an increased number of eosinophils in the airways or lung parenchyma with or without peripheral eosinophilia. Löffler's syndrome, visceral larva migrans, and tropical pulmonary eosinophilia are the most common infections that cause pulmonary eosinophilia. The most serious parasitic eosinophilic lung disease is tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, a disorder caused by the filarial worms Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi, in which cases have typically been reported to masquerade acute or refractory bronchial asthma. Increasing awareness, newer diagnostic techniques, preventative measures, and antiparasitic drugs are important in reducing the worldwide morbidity and mortality from parasitic helminths and protozoa. This review focuses on common and some uncommon causes of pulmonary parasitic eosinophilia and their manifestations, diagnosis, and management.

Anthelmintics↗
PubMed2004

New therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common lung disease, carrying a significant mortality and morbidity. None of the therapeutic interventions currently available alter the progression of the disease. As our understanding of the basic mechanisms of alveolar destruction and airflow limitation improves, new targets are identified that may eventually result in treatment options which will affect the progression of this disease. In this review, we discuss some of the novel therapeutic options recently developed that may have an impact on the management of COPD. Future directions in research and development of pharmacological agents based on improved understanding of COPD are also discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Osseous Kaposi sarcoma.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2003

Pneumonic plague.

Pneumonic plague, a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is a rare disease in the United States and carries a high mortality. Health care professionals in the United States are not familiar with the clinical presentation and diagnosis of plague pneumonia. The wide prevalence of the bacterium in different parts of the world, its high virulence, and its ability to spread by aerosolization makes it a potential agent of biological warfare in the hands of terrorists. This review focuses on the prevalence, pathogenesis immunity, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of plague pneumonia, with particular emphasis on the plague bacillus as an agent of biological warfare. Based on available information, we discuss measures that need to be undertaken by health care personnel, public health personnel, and epidemiologists in the event of such an attack.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2002

Attitudes of British Isles nephrologists towards dialysis modality selection: a questionnaire study.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis demographics are changing around the world. Within the UK a striking decrease in the overall use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been noted. We set out to determine the opinions and attitudes of British Isles nephrologists about dialysis modality decisions and optimal dialysis system design. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was mailed to a random selection of members of the Renal Association of Great Britain and Ireland. RESULTS: A 63% response rate was achieved. Decisions about dialysis modality were based mostly on patient preference (mean score 4.4 on a scale of 1-5), quality of life data (mean score 3.8), and morbidity and mortality data (mean scores for both 3.6). The least important factors when choosing the modality of dialysis care were the treatment costs to either the patient or the health care system. Respondents felt that both PD and hospital-based haemodialysis (HD) were over-utilized in today's practice. They suggested that an 'ideal dialysis system' (based on patient survival, wellness, and quality of life) should have 27% of patients dialysed using hospital-based HD, 24% in a satellite unit, 11% dialysed using home HD, and 38% on some form of PD (19, 16, and 3% for CAPD, automated PD and intermittent PD, respectively). Few differences were identified between an ideal system which optimized patient survival, wellness, and quality of life, compared with one which optimized cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSION: This survey suggests that most nephrologists in the British Isles feel that hospital-based HD and CAPD are being currently overused, and that future dialysis planning should include a higher proportion of patients on satellite dialysis, home HD, and automated PD to optimize both dialysis cost-effectiveness and patient outcomes.

Attitude↗