Dissolution testing of powders for inhalation: influence of particle deposition and modeling of dissolution profiles.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate influencing factors on the dissolution test for powders for pulmonary delivery with USP apparatus 2 (paddle apparatus).

Methods: We investigated the influence of dose collection method, membrane holder type and the presence of surfactants on the dissolution process. Furthermore, we modeled the in vitro dissolution process to identify influencing factors on the dissolution process of inhaled formulations based on the Nernst-Brunner equation.

Dissolution techniques for in vitro testing of dry powders for inhalation.

Purpose: To evaluate different dissolution testing methods and subsequently develop a simple to perform but reproducible and discriminating dissolution technique for inhalative powders.

Methods: From a dry powder a fraction of aerosolized particles with an aerodynamic particle size below 5 μm was collected on regenerated cellulose membranes using an abbreviated Andersen cascade impactor. The membrane was then transferred to the respective dissolution set up either paddle apparatus with membrane holder, flow through cell or Franz diffusion cell.

Patients' experiences of everyday life after lung transplantation.

Aim: To investigate the experiences of everyday life after lung transplantation of patients with previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Background: Compared with patients being transplanted due to other indications, those with COPD prior to lung transplantation report more problems in the form of shortness of breath, fatigue, sexual problems, insomnia and increased appetite. In addition, they are often faced with problems returning to normal working life.

Cognitive outcomes in elderly high-risk patients 1 year after off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. A randomized trial.

Objective: Age is considered to be the strongest predictive factor of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after cardiac surgery. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass is considered to be less harmful to the patient, especially in terms of neurological complications.

Methods: The study was a sub-study of the randomized best bypass surgery trial that compares off-pump to on-pump treatment, with respect to peri- and postoperative morbidity in patients with a moderate to high-predicted preoperative risk.

The Best Bypass Surgery Trial: rationale and design of a randomized clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment of conventional versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Recent trials suggest that off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) reduces the risk of mortality and morbidity compared with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CCAB) using cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients with a moderate- to high-risk of complications after CCAB may have additional benefit from OPCAB.

Methods: The Best Bypass Surgery Trial is a randomized, single center trial comparing the effects of OPCAB versus CCAB.

[Cognitive functions in elderly high-risk patients after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting versus conventional bypass grafting - a randomised study - Secondary publication].

It has been suggested that the risk of cerebral dysfunction is less with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) than with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CCAB). The study is a part of the Best Bypass Surgery Trial. A total of 120 elderly patients underwent psychometric testing with a neuropsychological test battery before as well as 3 months after surgery.

Health-related quality of life following off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in elderly moderate to high-risk patients: a randomized trial.

Objective: Previous trials comparing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with or without extracorporeal circulation have mainly enrolled selected patients at younger age and low risk. Patient-reported health-related quality of life has not been significantly different. We compared health-related quality of life in elderly moderate to high-risk patients randomized to either off-pump or on-pump surgery.

Cognitive outcomes in elderly high-risk patients after off-pump versus conventional coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized trial.

Background: It has been suggested that the risk of cerebral dysfunction is less with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) than with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CCAB). However, evidence for this statement is preliminary, and additional insight is needed.

Methods And Results: The study was a substudy of the randomized Best Bypass Surgery trial that compared OPCAB with CCAB treatment with respect to intraoperative and postoperative mortality and morbidity in patients with a moderate to high level of predicted preoperative risk.

Assessment of left ventricular systolic function by the chest x-ray: comparison with radionuclide ventriculography.

Background: The value of the plain chest roentgenogram in predicting cardiac status remains controversial.

Methods And Results: A total of 111 randomly selected survivors of acute myocardial infarction (age 38 to 83 years) were studied prospectively. X-ray and radionuclide examinations were performed on a morning in the second week after myocardial infarction.

Acute effects of smoking on left ventricular function and neuro-humoral responses in patients with known or suspected ischaemic heart disease.

Systolic left ventricular function was examined by radionuclide ventriculography in 12 habitual smokers with known or suspected ischaemic heart disease, aged 33-69 years, before, during, and after smoking of two cigarettes in a row and was repeated on a non-smoking control day. Plasma concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, renin, and angiotensin II were determined on the smoking day, before and immediately after smoking. During smoking, there were significant increases in heart rate (+27%), rate-pressure product (+23%), and cardiac output (+14%) in the face of a significant increase in left ventricular end-systolic volume (+5%) and significant decreases in ejection fraction (-6%) and stroke volume (-8%).

The illness experiences of patients after a first time myocardial infarction.

The purpose of this study was to investigate illness experiences of patients after a first myocardial infarction (MI), focusing on life situation and the recovery process over time. Thirty patients were interviewed within the first 3 days of hospitalisation, and again 17 weeks after discharge. The interviews were tape-recorded verbatim and the transcriptions were analysed and categorised using qualitative content analysis.