0000000000039977

AUTHOR

Alvils Krams

GOLD 2017 on the way to a phenotypic approach? Analysis from the Phenotypes of COPD in Central and Eastern Europe (POPE) Cohort.

The distribution of patients based on exacerbations solely is the most profound consequence of the 2017 GOLD Report http://ow.ly/4UJa309fLbM

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Ikivėžinių skrandžio gleivinės pokyčių paplitimas Helicobacter pylori sukelto lėtinio gastrito metu tarp Rytų Europos (Lietuvos, Latvijos) ir Azijos (Taivano) ligonių

The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and severity of precancerous condition – gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (IM) between Eastern European (Lithuania and Latvia) and Asian (Taiwan) countries in population older than 55 years. Methods. Patients aged 55 years and older, referred for upper endoscopy due to dyspeptic symptoms, were included in the study. Gastric biopsies were histological investigated according modified Sydney classification. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was detected if any two of three methods (urease test, histology, and serology) were positive. Results. Overall 322 patients included: 52 from Taiwan (TW), 171 from Latvia (LV) and 99 from Lithuania …

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Phenotypes of COPD patients with a smoking history in Central and Eastern Europe: the POPE Study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major health problem in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries; however, there are no data regarding clinical phenotypes of these patients in this region.Participation in the Phenotypes of COPD in Central and Eastern Europe (POPE) study was offered to stable patients with COPD in a real-life setting. The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of phenotypes according to predefined criteria. Secondary aims included analysis of differences in symptom load, comorbidities and pharmacological treatment.3362 patients with COPD were recruited in 10 CEE countries. 63% of the population were nonexacerbators, 20.4% frequen…

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Protocol for the EARCO Registry

Rationale and objectives Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic condition that leads to an increased risk of emphysema and liver disease. Despite extensive investigation, there remain unanswered questions concerning the natural history, pathophysiology, genetics and the prognosis of the lung disease in association with AATD. The European Alpha-1 Clinical Research Collaboration (EARCO) is designed to bring together researchers from European countries and to create a standardised database for the follow-up of patients with AATD. Study design and population The EARCO Registry is a non-interventional, multicentre, pan-European, longitudinal observational cohort study enrolling patie…

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Genotype and allele frequencies of isoniazid-metabolizing enzymes NAT2 and GSTM1 in Latvian tuberculosis patients

Pharmacogenomic testing of tuberculosis drug-metabolizing enzyme genes was proposed as a strategy to identify patients at risk for suboptimal responses to medications. However, variations of the genotype frequencies among ethnic groups exist and new alleles are been identified. The aim of this study was to identify polymorphisms of genes encoding metabolic enzymes NAT2 and GSTM1 in tuberculosis patients in Latvia and to estimate the frequency of NAT2 slow acetylator and GSTM1 null genotypes. In total, 85 DNA samples were genotyped, all individuals were Caucasian. An ethnic heterogeneity reflecting the multiethnic population of the country was observed. 49 patients were Latvians, 30 were Rus…

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PAI-1 Level Differences in Malignant Plural Effusion, Parapneumonic Pleuritis, and Cardiac Hydrothorax

Background and Objectives: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a fibrinolytic system enzyme whose role in various fibrinolytic processes is currently unknown. In clinical manifestations of pleural liquids of diverse etiology, various levels of fibrinolytic activity can be observed&mdash

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Determinants of CAT (COPD Assessment Test) scores in a population of patients with COPD in central and Eastern Europe: The POPE study

Abstract Background The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) has been proposed to help guide therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is important to understand the distribution of scores in different COPD populations and their determinants. Methods The POPE study is an international, observational cross-sectional study of COPD subjects in 11 Central and Eastern European countries aimed at characterizing COPD phenotypes. Here we report the analysis of CAT scores with the objective of identifying their determinants, evaluating symptom load and investigating the distribution of scores among the participating countries. Additionally, we investigated the discrepancies between the CAT a…

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Pharmacotherapy of COPD in Central and Eastern Europe - The POPE study

Introduction: In Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is high. It remains unknown whether patients are treated in line with GOLD recommendations or according to their phenotypes. Our aim was to analyze the treatment patterns of COPD in CEE. Methods: In the frame of the POPE study (ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT02119494) data including pharmacotherapy were collected in patients with stable COPD across 11 CEE countries. Results: 3366 patients (66±9 yrs, 70% male, FEV 1 53±18%) participated in the study. In all GOLD categories, the most widely used medications were long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABA), followed by long-acting antimuscarinic agents…

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