Biomedical subjects

R Rubio del Barrio

Publications and source records attributed to R Rubio del Barrio.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacologic therapy for urticaria.

Treatment of chronic urticaria presents a challenge to both practitioner and patient. Traditional H1 antagonists with good efficacy but substantial side effects are being supplanted in many cases by nonsedating H1. Combinations of H1 and H2 antagonists offer improved results for selected patients. Second-line therapies include a wide range of drugs such as doxepin, dapsone, attenuated androgens, calcium antagonists, antimalarials, gold and methotrexate. The most effective and regularly used second-line agents are corticosteroids. These are best limited to short term crisis management, except in severe recalcitrant cases, and in patients with pressure urticaria or urticarial vasculitis. Further development and investigation of mast cell stabilisers and inhibitors of urticaria mediators other than histamine hold promise. A better understanding of the underlying pathogenesis remains the greatest hope of formulating rational and effective therapy.

Chronic Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Platelet-activating factor antagonists.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), identified as 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine, exhibits potent proinflammatory properties. PAF is produced by numerous cell types, including endothelial cells, neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, basophils, eosinophils and mastocytes. Since the discovery and identification of the chemical structure of PAF, a large variety of specific PAF-receptor antagonists, both natural and synthetic compounds, have been described. Intensive research has been conducted and development programs set up by more 25 pharmaceutical companies world-wide, studying the therapeutic interest of more than 50 PAF-receptors antagonists in various pathophysiological conditions. Medline (1966-1996), Embase (Excerpta Medica; 1974-1996), and other biomedical and drug directory databases were searched to identify English-language articles (basic science, clinical trial research, and review articles) and abstracts of conference proceedings on PAF receptor antagonists and related terms. The most important PAF receptor antagonists are reviewed with their effectiveness in various experimental tests. Fundamentally, PAF antagonists may be divided in two groups: natural and synthetic compounds. Natural (Ginkgolides, Kadsurenone, Chantancin, Phomactin, Swietemohonin A, Prehispalone, THC-7-oic acid, Aglafoline, FR 900452, PCA 4248 and SCH 37370), and synthetic antagonists (CV-3988, CV-6209, SRI 63-072, SRI 63-441, UR-10324, UR-11353, E-5880, CL 184005, 6-Mono and Bis-aryl phosphate antagonists, TCV-309, Ro-74719, WEB 2086, Y 24180, BN 50726, BN 50727, BN 50730, BN 50739, Ro 24-4736, Ro 24-0238, RP 55778, RP 59227, RP 66681, YM 264, YM 461, SM 10661, SR 27417, UK 74505, BB 182, BB 823, BB 654, SDZ 64-412, SDZ 65-123, L 652731, L 659898, L 668750, L 671284, L680573, L 680574, CIS 19, ABT-299 and Pinusolide) have a great variability in their chemical structure that might have importance in their different pharmacological profile. The great majority of these drugs are under development, and only a few have undergone clinical trials.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The role of rhinovirus in allergic airway inflammation.

Epidemiological data demonstrate that viral infections are the most important trigger for acute asthma symptoms in children, and this association persists in many adults with asthma. Studies on volunteers experimentally infected with rhinoviruses (RV) suggest that atopy alone does not predispose to unusually severe symptoms. In contrast, experimental models combining viral infection and allergen exposure have identified potential links between virus-induced and allergen-induced inflammation. While in vitro studies suggest that cytokines may be an important part of this association, their role must be verified by sampling lower airway fluids and tissues in vivo after experimental and/or natural rhinovirus infections. Although it has long been recognized that the common cold is a potent trigger for symptoms of asthma, the mechanisms underlying the association between upper respiratory infection and increased lower airway obstruction remain obscure. The use of experimental infection of volunteers with or without respiratory allergies has enabled direct comparisons of common cold symptoms in these two groups. Furthermore, techniques such as bronchoalveolar lavage and segmental antigen challenge have been used to directly sample lower airway fluids and tissues during acute viral infection.

Bronchitis↗