DeCure's autonomous Respiratory AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for Airway obstruction — screening already-approved drugs against its 26-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleAirway obstruction maps to a 26-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
approvedEpinephrineApproved drug
Structures already discussed alongside airway obstruction in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
Structure of human I113T SOD1 — Epinephrine has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 4A7U, 0.98 Å). This is the drug's own deposited structure, not a prediction, and confirms it is a structurally characterised molecule rather than an untested guess.
Loading structure…
helix sheet aledrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 4A7U · 0.98 Å · ligand Epinephrine (ALE). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2005 review of interventional pulmonology for malignant large airway obstruction describes laser bronchoscopy, electrocautery, and airway stenting. Electrocautery is noted as likely to replace laser for coagulation of intrinsic tumours because it is cheaper and more widely available. Several large series attest to excellent results with stents for extrinsic obstruction. The review states that more evidence-based studies are needed to determine the best technique for a given obstruction type.
A 2019 case report describes a 66-year-old woman with acute airway obstruction from a retropharyngeal abscess. The patient recovered after antibiotic therapy and surgical incision and drainage. The authors conclude that surgical incision and drainage is an effective treatment for retropharyngeal abscess.
A 2016 letter on upper airway oedema before extubation notes that clinically significant post-extubation laryngeal oedema occurs in up to 30% of patients, with 4% needing reintubation. The authors describe techniques for delivering nebulised epinephrine to the upper airway before extubation, using a laryngeal mask airway or an endotracheal tube positioned above the glottis. They state that 1 mg epinephrine in 5 ml normal saline has proved successful for upper airway obstruction in adults.
A 1976 note mentions that anticholinergic drugs such as atropine and ipratropium bromide have been used for reversible airway obstruction but provides no clinical data on efficacy or sample sizes.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine · 2005 · 42 citations
Interventional pulmonology techniques for treating malignant large airway obstruction: an update
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper reviews the recent literature on the management of malignant large airway obstruction using interventional pulmonology techniques. RECENT FINDINGS: A number of interventional techniques have been developed during the last 25 years. Recent papers expand on this work, reaffirming the utility of laser bronchoscopy; introducing newer, less expensive technologies with similar outcomes; and attesting to the benefit of airway stenting. Electrocautery is likely to replace laser as the preferred tool for coagulation of intrinsic airway tumors because it is readily available in most hospitals and is much less expensive to set up. Several large series have attested to the excellent results achieved with airway stents placed to relieve extrinsic large airway obstruction. Investigators are using new technologies in an attempt to predict the proper location of stent placement to achieve maximum palliation of symptoms. Published guidelines are available describing the application of interventional techniques. SUMMARY: A number of interventional pulmonology techniques are available to treat large airway obstruction from malignant tumor. Clinical studies and personal experience attest to their utility. More evidenced-based studies are needed to help determine the best technique for a particular type of obstruction.
World Journal of Clinical Cases · 2019 · 9 citations · open access
Retropharyngeal abscess presenting as acute airway obstruction in a 66-year-old woman: A case report
AbstractBACKGROUND: Adult retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is extremely rare, and most cases reported in the literature were related to tuberculous infection. We present a case of RPA with acute airway obstruction as the main manifestation in a 66-year-old woman that was considered to be non-tubercular suppurative inflammation in the retropharyngeal space. CASE SUMMARY: was isolated from blood samples taken from both hands. The patient recovered and was subsequently discharged after receiving antibiotic therapy together with surgical incision and drainage of the abscess. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of RPA in patients with acute airway obstruction. Surgical incision and drainage is an effective treatment for RPA.
Indian Journal of Anaesthesia · 2016 · 7 citations · open access
Treatment of upper airway oedema prior to extubation
AbstractSir, Laryngeal or upper airway mucosal oedema is a common cause of airway obstruction after extubation and is thought to arise from direct mechanical trauma to the larynx by the endotracheal tube (ETT) or due to prolonged surgery.[12] Upper airway oedema predisposes the patient to post-operative airway obstruction. It presents mostly as post-extubation stridor and at times warrants post-operative elective ventilation. The treatment involves parenteral administration of corticosteroids, epinephrine nebulisation and inhalation of a helium and oxygen mixture. Nebulised epinephrine acts on α-adrenergic receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells, causing vasoconstriction and decreased blood flow, which diminishes oedema.[3] The presence of an ETT in the larynx limits laryngeal exposure to nebulised epinephrine. The limitation of nebulising through the ETT is that the mist is delivered only to the lower airways and upper airway is spared. Common practice is to attach a small volume Hudson nebuliser to the venturi mask after extubation with the patient propped up. However, Hudson nebuliser needs to be placed vertically for effective nebulisation and this is feasible only when the patient is in upright sitting posture which is not always possible in the immediate post-operative period. This limits effective nebulisation of the upper airway, and patients develop stridor on extubation even requiring intubation. A better option would be to reduce upper airway oedema before extubation. In patients without difficult airway except for risk of laryngeal oedema during extubation such as foreign body bronchus or microlaryngeal surgery, the tube can be replaced with laryngeal mask airway (LMA) while the patient is still anaesthetised (Bailey's Manoeuvre) and a T-piece connector is attached to the LMA for connecting a low volume gas driven nebuliser. LMA will ensure that nebulised epinephrine is directed and deposited in and around the laryngeal structures [Figure 1a].Figure 1: (a) Nebulisation through ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (b) nebulisation through an endotracheal tube in the oropharynxIn patients with difficult airway where extubation has to be done once patient is fully awake and obeying commands, epinephrine can still be nebulised to the upper airway by passing an ETT of 8 mm internal diameter (ID) in the oral cavity, with the tube's bevel positioned just above the glottis using video or direct laryngoscope. This ETT is secured by the side of the ETT already in place [Figure 1b]. A larger diameter ETT (8 mm ID) with shortened length at an oxygen flow rate of 8–10 L/minute is required to ensure successful delivery of the nebulised drug. Upper airway oedema involves structures such as arytenoids, epiglottis and vocal folds, the nebulised drug easily reaches them as they are in proximity to the bevel of ETT. One milligram epinephrine in 5 ml normal saline has proved successful for upper airway obstruction in adults.[4] Minor drawbacks include delay in extubation time by 10–15 minutes and accommodating another tube inside the pharynx. Though laryngeal oedema is mostly transient and self-limiting, clinically significant post-extubation laryngeal oedema occurs in up to 30% patients, with 4% needing reintubation.[3] We conclude that it is better to treat upper airway oedema before extubation with these techniques and reduce the risk of stridor and need for reintubation. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin · 1976 · 0 citations
Anticholinergic drugs for reversible airway narrowing
AbstractAnticholinergic (atropine-like) drugs have been used for the relief of airway obstruction since ancient times, but for many years they have been less popular than sympathomimetics. Several inhalant preparations of such drugs are available (see list on p. 87), and another, containing ipratropium bromide, a new analogue of atropine, will be marketed shortly.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
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