Entest BioMedical Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ENTB) recently filed a third patent application related to the area of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

COPD affects more than five million people in the United States alone and results in 120,000 deaths on a yearly basis.

It is worth noting here that a recent article “Immunologic aspects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” by Cosio et al in the June 4th, 2009 issue of New England Medical Journal had suggested that COPD is more of an active immunological attack than just a disease of inflammation.

From News-Medical.Net:

“To date Entest has filed two previous patent applications covering use of fat stem cell components in COPD and methods of using photoceuticals to enhance stem cell therapy. The current patent application has a variety of derivative uses outside of COPD including treatment of transplantation rejection, and other disease in which the immune system has gone awry,” stated David Koos, Entest’s CEO.

The essence of the technology is the use of existing implantable devices to deliver chemical/protein signals that specifically stop inflammatory reactions in a manner that is more in tune with biological processes. Instead of us “telling the body” what it should do with a blunt-force approach, as is the standard of care, the current invention uses more natural and slow acting interventions.

Dr. Stephen Josephs, inventor of the technology, remarked that importance of the inflammatory process in COPD is exemplified by usage of broad-acting steroids known to minimize inflammation but they can bring adverse effects.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tags: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, stem cell therapy, steroids

Posted in Steroid Cycles, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, buy steroids, steroid nation | No Comments/Questions

According to a new study that was published in an issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients using inhaled corticosteroids are likely to have a considerably reduced mortality risk.

It was revealed by the researchers that patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids within a period of 30 days of hospital discharge had a 25 percent reduced all-cause mortality rate. It was also noted that patients using steroids paired with beta-agonists saw a fall in cardiovascular-related deaths by 38 percent.

From News-Medical.Net:

Researchers also found a 23 percent reduced risk of death when comparing the effects of inhaled steroids with bronchodilators in patients in the 65+ group. In all cases, the most significant results were found when inhaled corticosteroids were administered within the first 30 days following hospital discharge.

“Our results indicate that the effect of inhaled corticosteroids is relatively short-term and that those currently using it are relatively better protected, ” said Dr. Macie. “Inhaled corticosteroids should be prescribed as soon as clinically indicated. By treating COPD with inhaled corticosteroids, we have the potential to reduce the effect and prolong life.”

“The findings from this study are intriguing for clinicians and point to the need for further research to define the role and mechanisms of the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on both cardiovascular and respiratory mortality,” said W. Michael Alberts, MD, FCCP, President of the ACCP.

Author Christine Macie, MD, FCCP, Cambridge Hospital, Ontario, Canada, said that COPD is an underrated lung ailment that has associated lung disease.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tags: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroids

Posted in Steroid Cycles, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, bodybuilding, buy steroids, steroid nation | No Comments/Questions

After an evidence was found suggesting that some of the presently-used anti-inflammatory medications increase the risk of pneumonia by a full third, Lung disease experts at Johns Hopkins made a call for caution while recommendations are made by doctors while prescribing inhaled corticosteroids to people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

COPD is believed to affect more than 11 million Americans on a yearly basis and most of this affected population belongs to the category of present or former smokers.

From News-Medical.Net:

Despite the increased pneumonia risk, the team found no clear evidence that the drug therapy also pushes up rates for other steroid-related problems, such as bone fractures, nor was there an increase in deaths.

Senior study investigator and critical care specialist Eddy Fan, M.D., says the results of the analysis should not alarm patients or cause them to stop taking their medications but should spur physicians to screen and monitor their patients to find the lowest possible steroid dose that works, especially in the elderly, people with immune system problems, and people who have had multiple bouts of pneumonia and for whom repeat bacterial infection might be a life-threatening complication.

“Inhaled corticosteroids are not of equal benefit to all, and what we are seeing is that the treatment may be more harmful and pose a greater risk of harm to some,” says Fan, an instructor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Pulmonologist M. Brad Drummond, M.D., M.H.S., who led the study, remarked that findings of this study are expected to provide a reminder to patients with severe lung disease to plan and take steps for reducing the risk of pneumonia, which doubles their risk of dying.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tags: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroids, pneumonia

Posted in Celebrities and Steroids, Steroid Cycles, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, bodybuilding, buy steroids | No Comments/Questions

The use of a macrolide antibiotic may possibly reduce exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) by as much as 35 percent, as per a London-based study.

According to lead author of the paper, Terence A. R. Seemungal, Ph.D., and Jadwiga Wedzicha, M.D., principle investigator, low-dose macrolide therapy can provide considerable effect in terms of reductions in frequency of exacerbation and severity with moderate to severe COPD.

From News-Medical.Net:

The researchers found that not only did the patients randomized to receive erythromycin have fewer exacerbations, but among the patients studied, 60 percent of the exacerbations that occurred were within the placebo group. While the number of exacerbation-related hospitalizations was small, more than twice as many occurred among the placebo group—14 versus 6. The median duration of exacerbations from onset to resolution of symptoms was 9 days in the erythromycin group and 13 days in the placebo group.

“Our results did not allow us to determine a mechanism for these findings. However based on in-vitro studies we suspect that the mechanism is likely to involve the anti-inflammatory properties of erythromycin,” noted Dr. Seemungal.

While their findings are encouraging, Dr. Seemungal points out that they must be put in context with future findings. Furthermore, the threat of growing antibiotic resistance resulting from widespread prophylactic use of erythromycin is not a trivial concern. “In this scenario, substantial, widespread emergence of macrolide bacterial resistance is virtually foreordained, with attendant reduction in the antimicrobial usefulness of this drug class,” wrote Ken M. Kunisaki, M.D. and Denise E. Niewoehner, M.D., of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, in the accompanying editorial. “Balancing benefit against harm could pose a dilemma for which there might be no clear answers.”

John Heffner, M.D., past president of the ATS, said present considerable health implications are highlighted by observations that intervention might possibly reduce the frequency and severity of acute exacerbations in COPD.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tags: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, erythromycin, exacerbation, macrolide antibiotic, macrolide therapy

Posted in Steroid Cycles, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, bodybuilding, buy steroids | No Comments/Questions

A call for greater caution for prescribing inhaled corticosteroids to people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) was made by Lung disease experts at Johns Hopkins. The call was made after evidence suggested that some of the most widely-used anti-inflammatory medications may increase the risk of pneumonia by a full third.

It is considered that more than eleven million Americans are suffering from COPD and many of them belong to the former or current smokers’ category.

From News-Medical.Net:

Despite the increased pneumonia risk, the team found no clear evidence that the drug therapy also pushes up rates for other steroid-related problems, such as bone fractures, nor was there an increase in deaths.

Senior study investigator and critical care specialist Eddy Fan, M.D., says the results of the analysis should not alarm patients or cause them to stop taking their medications but should spur physicians to screen and monitor their patients to find the lowest possible steroid dose that works, especially in the elderly, people with immune system problems, and people who have had multiple bouts of pneumonia and for whom repeat bacterial infection might be a life-threatening complication.

“Inhaled corticosteroids are not of equal benefit to all, and what we are seeing is that the treatment may be more harmful and pose a greater risk of harm to some,” says Fan, an instructor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Lead author of this study, pulmonologist M. Brad Drummond, M.D., M.H.S., said that the latest finding is a reminder to the medical fraternity and patients with severe lung disease to plan and take steps to reduce the risk of catching pneumonia, which doubles their risk of dying.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tags: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroids, pneumonia

Posted in Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, bodybuilding, buy steroids | No Comments/Questions

According to a study, a significantly reduced mortality risk may be seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and using inhaled corticosteroids.

It was shown by the research that patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids within 30 days of hospital discharge had a twenty-five percent minimized all-cause mortality rate while numbers of cardiovascular-pertaining death alone in patients using steroids paired with beta-agonist were reduced by thirty-eight percent.

From News-Medical.Net:

Dr. Macie and colleagues found that the mortality rates in patients 65+ who received inhaled corticosteroids were 11.7 percent, compared with 13.1 percent for those who did not. Patients in the younger group showed even greater results, with a mortality rate of 3.0 percent for patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids within 90 days, compared with 6.0 percent for those who did not, providing a mortality reduction rate of 53 percent. When patients who received steroids in the year prior were removed from the analysis, mortality was reduced by 34 percent. Researchers attribute this finding to multifactorial reasons, including reductions in exacerbations of the disease and suppression of inflammation.

Researchers also found a 23 percent reduced risk of death when comparing the effects of inhaled steroids with bronchodilators in patients in the 65+ group. In all cases, the most significant results were found when inhaled corticosteroids were administered within the first 30 days following hospital discharge.

Author Christine Macie, MD, FCCP, Cambridge Hospital, Ontario, Canada, remarked that this study analyzed the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on survival and the study results suggest that survival is longer in patients using inhaled corticosteroids.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tags: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, inhaled corticosteroids, steroids

Posted in Steroid Cycles, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, buy steroids, steroid nation | No Comments/Questions

Lung disease experts at Johns Hopkins have recommended a call for following greater caution while prescribing inhaled corticosteroids to people suffering from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

The call was made immediately after it was found that some of the most commonly used anti-inflammatory medications used to treat COPD can increase the risk of pneumonia by a full third.

From News-Medical.Net:

Despite the increased pneumonia risk, the team found no clear evidence that the drug therapy also pushes up rates for other steroid-related problems, such as bone fractures, nor was there an increase in deaths.

Senior study investigator and critical care specialist Eddy Fan, M.D., says the results of the analysis should not alarm patients or cause them to stop taking their medications but should spur physicians to screen and monitor their patients to find the lowest possible steroid dose that works, especially in the elderly, people with immune system problems, and people who have had multiple bouts of pneumonia and for whom repeat bacterial infection might be a life-threatening complication.

“Inhaled corticosteroids are not of equal benefit to all, and what we are seeing is that the treatment may be more harmful and pose a greater risk of harm to some,” says Fan, an instructor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Pulmonologist M. Brad Drummond, M.D., M.H.S., who led the study, remarked that the findings of this study are believed to serve as an urgent reminder to all those patients with severe lung disease to take necessary steps for reducing the risk of catching pneumonia, which can double their risk of dying.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tags: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroids, pneumonia

Posted in Steroid Cycles, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, buy steroids, steroid nation | No Comments/Questions

Lung disease experts at Johns Hopkins have advocated for greater caution in prescribing inhaled corticosteroids for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) sufferers.

This call for caution came after evidence suggested that inhaled corticosteroids, one of the most widely used anti-inflammatory medications, increase the risk of pneumonia by a full third.

From News-Medical.Net:

“Physicians really need to strongly evaluate a patient’s individual characteristics before prescribing these steroid medications, and patients, in turn, should weigh the risks and benefits of taking the drugs, despite their proven record in providing symptomatic relief,” he says.

According to pulmonologist M. Brad Drummond, M.D., M.H.S., who led the study, “catching this bacterial infection can seriously disrupt quality of life, making it harder for COPD patients to breathe and possibly leading to hospitalization.”

Drummond says the new findings should serve as a reminder to people with the severe lung disease to take steps that reduce the chance of getting pneumonia, which doubles their risk of dying when compared to people with healthy lungs. He also advises COPD sufferers, in addition to weighing the benefits and harms of steroids, to get the pneumonia vaccination every five years and an annual flu vaccination because these shots reduce the chance of getting a lung infection.

Drummond suggested that people suffering from lung disease must take additional precautions such as frequent hand washing to ensure that they lead a normal and healthy life. It was also remarked that further research is a must for providing greater relief to COPD sufferers.

This study is expected to provide a great relief to existing 120,000 Americans suffering from COPD, which is expected to become the nation’s third leading cause of death in the United States by the year 2020.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tags: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, inhaled corticosteroids, pneumonia, steroid medications, steroids

Posted in Steroid Cycles, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, buy steroids, steroid nation | No Comments/Questions

Anew study reports that steroids are not only beneficial to patients with asthma, but it is also beneficial to patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Dr. E. R. Sutherland, from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, and colleagues, conducted their analysis of the data results in eight studies in order to determine if steroids improve the breathing of patients with COPD. Each trial went on for 2 years and an estimated 4,000 patients participated in the study.

Results showed that COPD patients indeed benefitted on inhaled steroids, particularly in large doses. Inhaled steroids were found to retard the effects of COPD in patients. COPD patients usually experience a decrease in their ability to take in large volumes of air and their ability to exhale air is restricted.

COPD includes diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis. These two most common COPD condition is closely linked to cigarette smoking. It is reported to be the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

Researchers concluded that a large dose of steroids is effective in slowing down the effects of COPD. However, further studies should be conducted to identify the ideal dose, time and other drugs that work best with steroids.

From Online News Pakistan:

ISLAMABAD : While inhaled steroids undoubtedly help patients with asthma, doctors have seesawed on whether these drugs are useful for a common lung problem called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tags: bronchitis, cigarette smoking, COPD, emphysema, Inhaled steroids

Posted in Steroid Cycles, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, buy steroids, steroid nation | No Comments/Questions

New research points that a combination of inhaled steroids and long acting beta agonist (LABA) does not reduce the incidence of severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations.

Further studies show that combined treatment increased the patient’s risk of developing pneumonia by 63 percent, viral respiratory infections by 22 percent and fungal infections in the mouth, such as oral thrush, by 59 percent.

However, the combination therapy significantly reduced the risk of moderate COPD flare-ups compared with single drug therapy.

Overall mortality rate was not reduced using the two-drug approach compared to the single drug therapy.

Dr. Gustavo J. Rodrigo from the Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas in Montevideo, Uruguay, and his associates, reviewed the efficacy of the combination therapy versus the single drug therapy.

After this extensive systematic review, Dr. Rodrigo and associates pointed out the flaw in the current guidelines in treating patients with COPD. The drug combination is still being used for severe and very and severe COPD patients.

According to the authors, the benefits did not reach the suggested clinically important minimal differences.

They concluded that patients with severe COPD should be better treated with LABA alone, until further research would identify which type or severity of COPD would most likely benefit from the combined therapy.

From Reuters Health:

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In people who suffer from COPD, a progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe, adding an inhaled steroid to a so-called “long-acting beta-2 agonist” may do more harm than good, new research hints.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tags: COPD, Inhaled steroids, long acting beta agonsists

Posted in Steroid Cycles, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, buy steroids, steroid nation | No Comments/Questions