Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Feb 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyAdditive effects of transdermal tulobuterol to inhaled tiotropium in patients with COPD.
The current mainstream treatment for COPD is bronchodilators alone or in combination. The effects of a beta(2)-agonist, tulobuterol, administered transdermally, have been reported to last for 24h. However, there are no reports on the efficacy of tulobuterol combined with an anticholinergic. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of transdermal tulobuterol combined with inhaled tiotropium in COPD. ⋯ In COPD patients, additional administration of transdermal tulobuterol to inhaled tiotropium produced significant benefits in dyspnea and SGRQ score as well as pulmonary function. These benefits may be due to a reduction in pulmonary hyperinflation resulting from improvement of peripheral airflow obstruction through tulobuterol via the systemic circulation.
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Respiratory medicine · Jan 2010
Multicenter StudyPlasma leptin and adiponectin in COPD exacerbations: associations with inflammatory biomarkers.
Various systemic inflammatory markers have been evaluated for their value in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Leptin and adiponectin have been linked to acute exacerbations and stable COPD. ⋯ Our data suggest that both leptin and adiponectin are associated with the systemic inflammatory process during exacerbations of COPD. The most significant associations seem to be those with IL-6 and TNF-alpha.
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Respiratory medicine · Dec 2009
Multicenter StudyImportance of ventilator mode in long-term noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.
Long-term noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is associated with an excellent survival rate, especially in post-tuberculosis patients. Nothing is currently known on which method of ventilatory support is associated with a better continuation of long-term NPPV, which itself might lead to longer survival. ⋯ Patients treated with pure controlled ventilation had significantly better continuation rates and survival rates than those treated with assisted ventilation. Prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to verify the effectiveness of a pure controlled mode in patients with not only restrictive thoracic disease but also other diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Respiratory medicine · Dec 2009
Multicenter StudyNitric oxide diffusing capacity versus spirometry in the early diagnosis of emphysema in smokers.
The diffusion capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) is independent of pulmonary capillary blood volume and equals the membrane diffusing capacity. Therefore the DLNO could be more sensitive in detecting alveolar destruction than the DLCO. We measured flow-volumes curves, DLNO, DLCO, the transfer coefficients KNO (DLNO/VA) and KCO (DLCO/VA) and performed computed tomography (CT) scans in 263 randomly selected heavy smokers. ⋯ The area under the ROC curve for detection CT-based emphysema was 0.894 for the KNO, 0.822 for the KCO and 0.795 for FEV1/FVC, meaning that the KNO has a slightly higher sensitivity to detect emphysema than the KCO and FEV1/FVC. The positive predictive value of KNO however was low (34.7%), while the negative predictive value of KNO was very high (98.2%), indicating an emphysema exclusion test. The DLNO/DLCO ratio is significantly higher in the study group compared to normal subjects.
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Respiratory medicine · Nov 2009
Multicenter Study"Real-life" effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with severe persistent allergic asthma: The PERSIST study.
To evaluate the 16- and 52-week effectiveness of add-on omalizumab treatment under real-life heterogeneity in patients, settings, and physicians in an open-label, multicenter, pharmaco-epidemiologic study of patients with severe persistent allergic asthma in Belgium. ⋯ The PERSIST study shows better physician-rated effectiveness, greater improvements in quality of life, greater reductions in exacerbation rates, and greater reductions in healthcare utilization than previously reported in efficacy studies. Under real-life conditions, omalizumab is effective as add-on therapy in the treatment of patients with persistent severe allergic asthma.