Bronchial allergen challenge using the Medicaid dosimeter.

Background: Bronchial allergen provocations are well established in asthma research. We evaluated the reproducibility of single-concentration, single-step allergen challenges in volunteers with grass pollen allergy.

Methods: Forty-seven subjects underwent bronchial challenges using the aerosol provocation system nebulizer (Medicaid Sidestream) with incremental doses of grass pollen to define the individual allergen dose that causes a 20% drop in FEV(1) (PD(20)FEV(1)).

Methacholine challenge--comparison of an ATS protocol to a new rapid single concentration technique.

Bronchial methacholine challenge is well established in asthma diagnostics and research. ATS guidelines propose a five step standard dosimeter (SDM) protocol with incremental concentrations of methacholine to calculate the concentration causing a 20% drop in FEV(1) in an individual (PC(20)FEV(1)). In contrast, the aerosol provocation system (APS) by Viasys automatically determines the administered dose of methacholine by measuring the effective nebulisation time and referring it to drug concentration and nebuliser power.

[Direct posterior approach for the treatment of posteromedial tibial head fractures].

Objective: Direct posterior approach requiring minimal soft-tissue dissection for the treatment of posteromedial tibial head fractures.

Indications: Posteromedial fractures of the proximal tibia. Bicondylar tibial plateau fractures involving the posteromedial aspect of the tibial plateau.