Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The effects of nebulised isotonic saline and terbutaline on breathlessness in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
There is anecdotal evidence that nebulised saline relieves breathlessness at rest in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is unclear whether nebulised beta agonists are any more effective than nebulised saline in relieving breathlessness at rest in these individuals. ⋯ A saline aerosol has no effect on lung function but reduces breathlessness at rest in subjects with severe COPD. Nebulised saline may be considered as an adjunct to the use of nebulised bronchodilators for the treatment of breathlessness in patients with COPD.
-
Editorial Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Interferon beta in the management of multiple sclerosis.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Gastrointestinal blood loss from a new buffered aspirin (Ostoprin): measurement by radiochromium and Hemoquant techniques.
Occult gastrointestinal blood loss induced by a new buffered aspirin preparation (Ostoprin, 4.0 g per day) was compared with that from an enteric-coated aspirin (Ecotrin, 3.9 g per day) in 40 patients with osteoarthritis. Blood loss was measured by the radiochromium method and compared with the HemoQuant assay of fecal heme and heme-derived porphyrins. By radiochromium, mean daily blood loss during the first week of treatment with Ostoprin increased 1.6 ml above basal compared to 0.8 ml above basal with Ecotrin (p = 0.06). ⋯ Serum salicylate levels achieved with both preparations were almost identical and encompassed the therapeutic range. HemoQuant is sufficiently sensitive to detect low-level aspirin-induced bleeding. Ostoprin appears to be a safe alternative to Ecotrin and has similar bioavailability.