Targets for Intervention

Factors that predispose a patient to aspiration include host factors such as impaired consciousness or recent thoracoabdominal surgery and external factors such as respiratory or gastrointestinal tract instrumentation and mechanical ventilation (27,29-31,38-40). Host factors, medications, devices, and breeches in infection control all have an impact on bacterial colonization of the pharynx and trachea. In some mechanically ventilated patients, the stomach and gastrointestinal tract may affect oropharyngeal and tracheal colonization with gram-negative bacilli (24,31,39,41-48). 

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Most identified risk factors for bacterial NP affect colonization, aspiration, or both. The likelihood that NP will develop depends on the presence of predisposing risk factors and the individual s pulmonary host defenses (e.g., mechanical removal, humoral factors, cytokines, and cellular defenses) (49-53). 

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The potential use of gene therapy has since expanded as conditions such as cancer, atherosclerosis, transplant operations, and infectious disease are now viewed as suitable targets for intervention. For example, HTV and parasitic infection (2-5). Furthermore, the ability to transfer genes into cell in vitro is also an important tool in the research of gene expression. 

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) exert several ant/atherogenic effects. They participate in retrieval of cholesterol from the artery wall and inhibit the oxidation of atherogenic lipoproteins. Low levels of HDL (hypoalphalipoproteinemia) are an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic disease and thus are a target for intervention. 

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disease that has claimed the lives of tens of millions of people since the 1980s. Because of the vast impact of AIDS on global health, HIV and its molecular biology have been intensely studied to determine potential drug targets for intervention. 

A totally different approach to the design of antiviral therapeutics is the use of antisense oligonucleotides. Here, the mechanistic target for intervention is... 

High cost High-cost medications and procedures are often targeted for intervention, because wasted resources divert funds from more beneficial patient care and have a negative financial impact on the organization. 

Abstract Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) has emerged as a prominent therapeutic target for intervention in several diseases including non-insulin-dependent diabetes mel-litus, Alzheimer s disease, stroke, bipolar disorder and affective disorders. In the present review we briefly summarise the properties of GSK-3, focusing primarily on the role of GSK-3 in Alzheimer s disease. Furthermore, we discuss the potential for therapeutic benefit of GSK-3 inhibitors. 

Later targets for intervention in the pathophysiologic process involved after cerebral ischemia include the influx of activated inflammatory cells, starting from 2 hours after the onset of ischemia and lasting for several days. Also, the initiation of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is thought to occur many hours after the acute insult and may interfere with recovery and repair of brain tissue. ... 

A causal relationship of elevated Lp(a) levels with increased CHD has not yet been established. Niacin remains the most effective drug to date to decrease Lp(a) levels (67) statins are ineffective. The ATP III Guidelines did not specify Lp(a) as a target for intervention, but some advocates propose counting an elevated Lp(a) as an additional risk factor to help establish the target for LDL cholesterol levels. 

Edwards TA, Wilson AJ (2011) Helix-mediated protein-protein interactions as targets for intervention using foldamers. Amino Acids 41 743-754... 

The arachidonic acid pathway leading to the production of inflammatory mediators provides several targets for intervention on inflammation. The most widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in practice... 

Table 12.1 lists proteins that might be potential targets for intervention, since they are components in all of the major pathways thought to be involved in the response of cells to radiation (Schmidt-Ullrich et al. 2000 Tsoutsou et al. 2006). 

The following section is a summary of the current efforts underway to modify glycosylation processes in these hosts as well as identification of specific targets for intervention that will be required in order to give proteins with glycans compatible... 

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