Furthermore, the study aimed at investigating whether administration of carbocysteine at short-term cycle, as an additional drug to the background inhalation therapy, in a more selected group of COPD patients with frequent exacerbation and mucus hypersecretion, may improve lung function and symptoms during an acute mild COPD exacerbation together with a modulation of miR-21, IL-8, sRAGE, and fAGEs. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.