Cough and cold symptoms (CCS) are common pediatric conditions often treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medications. However, the available knowledge regarding the safety and toxicity of these medications in children is inadequate. Therefore, understanding their clinical toxicology is crucial for safeguarding children’s well-being. This narrative review highlights the importance of clinical toxicology in evaluating the safety and toxicity profile of OTC medications for treating CCS in pediatric patients. The pharmacology, clinical features, and adverse effects of various drug classes commonly found in cough and cold medications are briefly discussed. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters are also examined to understand the interactions between these drugs and the body. OTC cough and cold medications often contain active ingredients such as antihistamines, decongestants, antitussives, expectorants, and analgesics-antipyretics. The combination of multiple ingredients in these products significantly increases the risk of adverse effects and unintentional overdoses. Several case studies have reported significant toxicity and even fatalities associated with the use of these medications in children. This review underscores the critical importance of clinical toxicology in evaluating the safety and toxicity profile of OTC medications employed for treating CCS in pediatric patients. The findings highlight the significance of informed clinical practice and public health policies to ensure the well-being of children using OTC cough and cold medications.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for 85% of all cases, with a poor 5-year survival rate of less than 20%. The majority of NSCLC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, contributing to the low survival rate. Platinum-based chemotherapy, including cisplatin and carboplatin, remains the cornerstone of treatment for advanced NSCLC. However, DNA repair mechanisms often hinder treatment efficacy, notably Base Excision Repair (BER), mediated by the X-ray Repair Cross Complementing 1 (XRCC1) protein. This review aims to investigate the role of XRCC1 polymorphisms in platinum resistance, focusing on their impact on DNA repair efficiency. XRCC1’s involvement in the BER pathway is critical for repairing DNA damage caused by platinum agents, and polymorphisms in XRCC1 have been linked to altered repair capacity, influencing clinical outcomes and resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients.

Purpose: Individual responses to platinum-based treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) are influenced by genetic polymorphisms, including Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). This study aimed to explore the role of ERCC2 in the Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) pathway for platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC. While ERCC2 is widely studied, data for Southeast Asian populations are lacking. Addressing this gap could improve personalized treatment strategies for NSCLC in this demographic. Patients and Methods: This study recruited 82 NSCLC patients with wildtype mutations of EGFR at Dr. H.A. Rotinsulu Lung Hospital, Bandung, and Dharmais Cancer Hospital, Jakarta. Data were collected prospectively from whole blood samples and medical records, while the effectiveness of chemotherapy was assessed by evaluating the response using RECIST 1.1 criteria on fourth cycle of chemotherapy. Results: The results of this study showed the presence of genotype variation among the subjects, with frequency distribution as follows: AA genotype (82.9%), AC genotype (15.9%), and CC genotype (1.2%). The analysis of the association between ERCC2 rs13181 CC + AC versus AA with RECIST 1.1 yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 1.042 (95% CI: 0.292– 3.715; p=0.950). A multivariate analysis that included cancer stage and chemotherapy regimen as additional variables produced an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.970 (95% CI: 0.263– 3.568; p=0.963). Conclusion: This study did not find statistically significant associations between ERCC2 rs13181 polymorphisms and chemotherapy responses. However, this research highlights the presence of genetic variation within the Indonesian population, with the AA genotype being the most prevalent, which may influence chemotherapy responses. The results provided preliminary data and lay the foundation for future comprehensive cohort observational investigations.