The Medical journal of Australia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Nebuhaler versus wet aerosol for domiciliary bronchodilator therapy. A multi-centre clinical comparison.
To compare the clinical effectiveness and patient acceptance of a large spacer device (Nebuhaler) for delivery of metered dose aerosol (MDI) terbutaline with nebulised wet aerosol terbutaline. ⋯ MDI terbutaline delivered via Nebuhaler provides clinical benefit similar to that of wet aerosol terbutaline in the long-term domiciliary management of patients with stable airflow obstruction.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Could preventive intranasal interferon lower the morbidity in children prone to respiratory illness?
Recent studies have demonstrated that rhinovirus infections can be prevented in the family setting through use of intranasal interferon sprays which are commenced when another family member develops a cold. One hundred and twenty-seven children aged 4-9 years who had been hospitalized during their first year of life for severe infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus were studied virologically and epidemiologically during a seven-month period which included the winter months. The hypothesis was that a significant part of their respiratory morbidity would be preventable by a contact prophylaxis approach using intranasal interferon. However, the findings suggest that a preventive approach of this kind would not substantially reduce the burden of respiratory illness in these children because: the target children themselves more often introduced illness into the family than did other household members; rhinovirus infections preventable by interferon were associated with little lower respiratory morbidity; and rhinoviruses were minor contributors to the total respiratory illness burden in these respiratory illness-prone children.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
An evaluation of the Breath-Taker peak flow meter.
This study was designed to evaluate the Breath-Taker peak flow meter, recently released by the Asthma Foundation of Victoria. The performance characteristics of five Breath-Taker units were compared with those of five Wright and five mini-Wright peak flow meters. The between-unit reproducibility of each type of peak flow meter was measured using an explosive decompression device with a peak flow reproducibility of better than 1%. ⋯ Each subject performed at least three reproducible PEFR manoeuvres on the pneumotachograph and on each type of meter, in randomized order. The results showed that in comparison with the pneumotachograph system the Breath-Taker meter underestimated PEFRs by a mean of 27 L/min and the mini-Wright meter overestimated PEFRs by a mean of 45 L/min, whereas the Wright meter was not significantly different. Since the differences between the Breath-Taker meter and the pneumotachograph were independent of flow rate, a scale offset would suffice to "correct" the Breath-Taker readings.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Bronchodilator effects of salbutamol powder administered via Rotahaler and of terbutaline aerosol administered via Misthaler. A comparison study in children with asthma.
A study to compare the bronchodilator effect of salbutamol powder (Ventolin, 200 micrograms) administered via a Rotahaler (SR), with that of terbutaline sulphate (Bricanyl, 500 micrograms) administered via a Misthaler (TM) was carried out in 25 children with stable moderate to severe asthma. The bronchodilator effects of salbutamol powder and terbutaline sulphate were measured by means of spirometry and clinical assessment in a double-blind, randomized fashion. The children were monitored for three hours after administration of the medication on three consecutive days. ⋯ There was a significant trend for SR to give greater bronchodilatation than TM at several time intervals. Over 70% (18 of 25) of the children in this study preferred the Ventolin Rotahaler to the Bricanyl Misthaler. Both SR and TM give effective bronchodilatation and, consequently, these devices should be particularly useful in younger children who have difficulty with managing standard, metered aerosols.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Enteric-coated pelletized aspirin. Gastrointestinal blood loss and bioavailability.
Eleven patients suffering from arthritis received, in a randomized cross-over study, anti-inflammatory doses of two aspirin formulations: Enpryn, capsules containing enteric-coated pellets; Rhusal, an enteric-coated tablet. No significant difference was found between the two formulations with respect to gastrointestinal microbleeding, plasma salicylate levels and urinary recovery of salicylate. Bioavailability studies carried out on 10 healthy male volunteers demonstrated that absorption from the enteric-coated pellet capsules was sustained and complete.