International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2011
Multicenter StudyValue of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and neopterin in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The identification of biological markers in order to assess different aspects of COPD is an area of growing interest. The objective of this study was to investigate whether levels of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neopterin in COPD patients could be useful in identifying the etiological origin of the exacerbation and assessing its prognosis. ⋯ According to our results, biomarker levels vary depending on the clinical status. However, the identification of the etiology of infectious exacerbation by means of circulating biomarkers is encouraging, but its main disadvantage is the absence of a microbiological gold standard, to definitively demonstrate their value. High biomarker levels during an exacerbation episode correlate with the short-term prognosis, and therefore their measurement can be useful for COPD management.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2011
Meta AnalysisSafety of indacaterol in the treatment of patients with COPD.
Pooled data were analyzed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of indacaterol, a once-daily inhaled long-acting β(2)-agonist for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Indacaterol has a good profile of safety and tolerability that is appropriate for the maintenance treatment of patients with COPD.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2011
Disability related to COPD tool (DIRECT): towards an assessment of COPD-related disability in routine practice.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a worldwide public health concern. It is also a major source of disability that is often overlooked, depriving patients of effective treatments. This study describes the development and validation of a questionnaire specifically assessing COPD-related disability. ⋯ DIRECT is a promising tool that could help enhance the management of COPD patients by integrating an evaluation of the COPD-related disability into daily practice.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2011
Meta AnalysisBronchodilator efficacy and safety of indacaterol 150 μg once daily in patients with COPD: an analysis of pooled data.
Indacaterol is an inhaled, once-daily long-acting β(2)-agonist bronchodilator for regular use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As indacaterol is the first once-daily β(2)-agonist to be developed, it is relevant to evaluate its bronchodilator efficacy, safety, and tolerability. ⋯ Indacaterol was an effective bronchodilator and was well tolerated, with a good safety profile over 12 weeks of treatment. It should prove a useful treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe COPD.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA novel study design for antibiotic trials in acute exacerbations of COPD: MAESTRAL methodology.
Antibiotics, along with oral corticosteroids, are standard treatments for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The ultimate aims of treatment are to minimize the impact of the current exacerbation, and by ensuring complete resolution, reduce the risk of relapse. In the absence of superiority studies of antibiotics in AECOPD, evidence of the relative efficacy of different drugs is lacking, and so it is difficult for physicians to select the most effective antibiotic. ⋯ Patients enrolled are those at high-risk of treatment failure, and all are experiencing an Anthonisen type I exacerbation. Patients are stratified according to oral corticosteroid use to control their effect across antibiotic treatment arms. Secondary endpoints include quality of life, symptom assessments and health care resource use.