key: cord-0908239-b6bfsafx
authors: Chung, Jin Hong
title: Advances in the science and treatment of respiratory diseases
date: 2020-09-02
journal: Yeungnam Univ J Med
DOI: 10.12701/yujm.2020.00661
sha: 02118ef5052d511b5d428ac545be9ccb034b8d29
doc_id: 908239
cord_uid: b6bfsafx

nan

corticosteroids, and improve the quality of life of the patients. Furthermore, assessment of the patient's phenotype and endotype is essential when using these biologics. Finally, the era of personalized treatment for severe asthma has arrived.

The true nature of IPF shows that pulmonary fibrosis is a particularly critical lung disease that requires effective management. Kim et al. [3] , in their continued review, evaluated the therapeutic potential of targeting kinase inhibition in patients with IPF. To develop therapeutic targets for pulmonary fibrosis, it is important to understand the key factors involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis and the underlying signaling pathway influencing the disease. Recently, anti-fibrotic agents, such as pirfenidone and nintedanib, have been developed and are being widely used in clinical practice for IPF management. Further intensive studies using selective kinase inhibitors should be conducted to develop therapeutic agents that delay the disease progression and improve the prognosis of IPF.

TB remains a major health hazard worldwide. MDR-TB, which shows resistance to both isoniazid and rifampicin, is one of the several barriers of TB treatment. Globally, approximately 3.4% of new TB patients and 20% of those with a previous history of TB treatment are diagnosed with MDR-TB. The treatments for MDR-TB are less effective because of highly toxic second-line drugs that require long-term use (up to 20-24 months). Jang and Chung [4] reviewed the challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of MDR-TB. The technological advance in rapid molecular drug sensitivity testing and the introduction of a new agent (bedaquiline and delamanid) and repurposed drugs (linezolid, clofazimine, and cycloserine) could improve the treatment outcomes of MDR-TB.

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is potentially the biggest global health issue since the influenza pandemic of 1918. Kim [5] reviewed the new epidemic of respiratory infections. Because of the development of transportation and increased global exchanges, the transmission rate of such novel respiratory infectious diseases has increased. Since respiratory infections are not specific to a region or country, they can threaten the entire world with global trends at any time. Therefore, all nations should come together to conduct research, make efforts to prevent the spread of these diseases, and develop appropriate treatments and vaccines. From the Spanish flu to the severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome, and COVID-19, the unmasking of the virus responsible for these epidemics stands as a testament that worldwide medical cooperation is needed to confront emerging diseases in the future.

Finally, I hope that these articles will provide clinicians and scientists a comprehensive update on the advances in the science and treatment of respiratory diseases. Moreover, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the editorial board of Yeungnam University Journal of Medicine for giving me the opportunity to summarize the progress of respiratory medicine. I deeply appreciate the efforts of all the authors of the articles included in this special review issue.

An update on the role of bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary disease

Biological treatments for severe asthma

Therapeutic potential of targeting kinase inhibition in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Diagnosis and treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

Novel respiratory infectious diseases in Korea. Yeungnam

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Jin Hong Chung, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1829-3051