Allergy and asthma proceedings :
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Allergy Asthma Proc · Mar 2007
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyForced oscillometry is applicable to epidemiological settings to detect asthmatic children.
Forced oscillometry (FOT) has been reported as a simple method to detect respiratory resistance (Rrs) changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate FOT capacity to detect children with clinical characteristics of asthma in a school setting. One thousand thirty children, 6-7 years old, were investigated by questionnaire. ⋯ Prick test positivity and significant bronchoconstriction after exercise tests were significantly more frequent in group 1 than in group 2 (77% and 64% versus 8% and 12%, respectively; p < 0.001). In a school setting FOT changes after bronchodilator are able to detect airway obstruction in children with wheezing symptoms. Children with significant FOT variability present more significantly atopy and BHR and therefore more probable asthma.
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Allergy Asthma Proc · Nov 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialPairwise comparison of levalbuterol versus racemic albuterol in the treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma.
The object of this study is a post hoc pairwise comparison of levalbuterol versus racemic albuterol for asthma in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The participants are patients > or =12 years of age (n = 362) with FEV1 45-70% of predicted. The patients received nebulized levalbuterol (0.63 or 1.25 mg), racemic albuterol (1.25 or 2.5 mg), or placebo t.i.d. for 4 weeks. ⋯ Active treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05), except for AUC FEV1 in the racemic albuterol 1.25-mg group at week 4. Levalbuterol in the absence of the (S)-isomer provided greater bronchodilation than the same quantity of (R)-albuterol delivered as the racemate. These data suggest that (S)-albuterol may compromise the efficacy of (R)-albuterol.
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Allergy Asthma Proc · Jan 2003
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyHypersensitivity to molds in New York City in adults who have asthma.
Molds have been linked epidemiologically to asthma as a key aeroallergen in several studies. Other allergens such as cockroach have been linked to asthma in New York City (NYC). To our knowledge, however, the pattern of mold hypersensitivity has never been examined systematically in the NYC area. ⋯ Mold hypersensitivity was strongly correlated with hypersensitivity to cat or dust mites in patients who did not have asthma but not in patients who did have asthma. In the NYC area, recent pollen and spore counts show that mold spores are measurable in at least 75% of the year. Thus it is conceivable that mold hypersensitivity plays a contributing and independent role in initiating or perpetuating the allergic response in patients with asthma in the New York area.
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Allergy Asthma Proc · May 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialSafety and efficacy of once-daily fexofenadine HCl in the treatment of autumn seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Fexofenadine HCl (Allegra, Telfast) is approved in the US for twice-daily dosing in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). A once-daily dose (already available in some countries outside the US) can improve patient compliance and health outcomes. This multicenter, placebo-controlled, 14-day US study was conducted to compare the safety and effectiveness of once-daily fexofenadine HCl with placebo in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe autumnal SAR symptoms. ⋯ There were no statistical differences in efficacy between the two fexofenadine doses, though the 180 mg dose showed a trend toward greater symptom relief. Incidence of adverse events was similar between fexofenadine and placebo groups (30.2% and 30.0%, respectively), with headache the most frequently reported adverse event (8.9% and 7.5%, respectively). In conclusion, once-daily fexofenadine HCl, 120 or 180 mg, is safe and effective in the treatment of autumnal SAR.