Evaluation of 3-5 months' add-on therapy with montelukast in patients with non-controlled asthma in Austria: the STAR open-label, real-world, observational study.

Objective: To assess the current state of asthma management in Austria and evaluate improvement of symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in asthma patients by adding the controller substance montelukast to existing therapy.

Research Design And Methods: Office-based pneumologists across Austria were invited to participate in an open-label, multicenter observational study. Male and female patients aged from 12-50 years with mild or moderate persistent asthma according to GINA guidelines and FEV(1) > 70% predicted were included if they were on concurrent asthma treatment, but still had persistent symptoms and reduced quality of life.

Spirometric reference values for white European children and adolescents: Polgar revisited.

We analyzed six spirometric data sets collected in the Netherlands, Austria, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy. The objectives were to establish whether (1) it was possible to describe spirometric indices from childhood to adulthood, taking into account the adolescent growth spurt, and (2) there are systematic differences in ventilatory function between children and adolescents in different parts of Western Europe. The study comprised 2,269 girls and 3,592 boys, aged 6-21 years.

[Pyogenic liver abscess. Successful percutaneous ultrasound-controlled drainage].

Successful percutaneous drainage of a solitary pyogenic liver abscess guided by ultrasound is the subject of a case report. The technique of catheter insertion and the follow-up are described in detail. The selection criteria for this procedure are discussed.

[Percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty of a stenosed and calcified aortic valve in the aged].

In a 76-years old female patient with calcific aortic stenosis percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty reduced the aortic gradient from 80 mm Hg to 40 mm Hg. The preexisting aortic regurgitation did not increase after the procedure. Balloon valvuloplasty was performed without any complications and the patient was discharged one week after.

[Antibacterial therapy of acute exacerbated chronic bronchitis].

An early therapy of the acute exacerbation is important for the long-term prognosis of chronic bronchitis. The aim of the therapy is to stop the progressive damage of the bronchial mucosa. The typical clinical symptoms and the knowledge of the usual pathogens (in at least 80% hemophilus influenzae and streptococcus pneumoniae) allow a "blind" chemotherapy with aminopenicillins, tetracyclines and the trimethoprim-sulphonamide combination as medication of choice.

[Bronchospasmolytic effectiveness of controlled drug combinations].

Two groups of 10 patients each with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the subjects of a comparative study of the effectiveness of 240 mg theophyllinethylendiamine (Euphyllin) and a combined medication consisting of 25 mg theophyllin, 85 mg etophyllin, 30 mg papaverine and 0.1 mg atropine methylnitrate (Perphyllon). Oscillatory resistance (measured with the Siregnost FD 5) and the circulatory parameters pulse and blood pressure were studied.

BTPS correction with dynamic spirometers.

In order to determine the requirements for a proper temperature correction of expired volumes, the temperature of the expired air in the bellows of a dynamic spirometer (Vitalograph) was measured in 10 and 5 subjects at 24 and 12.2 degrees C ambient temperature, respectively. During the short period of forced expiration there was a significant temperature decrease, which showed a linear relationship to the ambient temperature.

[First comprehensive spirometric studies of new reference values for unrestricted use].

In contrast to almost all other clinical data, there are as yet no uniform, generally accepted values for spirometric measurements. This is due to technical and organizational problems related to examination procedures. The numerous authors only evaluated data from certain groups of subjects.

Clinical experience with a bronchospasmolytic aerosol combination.

A comparative study with different bronchospasmolytic inhalers (fenoterol, ipratropium bromide, combination IK-6) was done with ten patients with obstructive airway disease. After a delayed initial effect (owing to the propellant gas) ipratropium bromide showed a bronchospasmolytic effect as good as fenoterol, but without circulatory side effects. The combination with low dosed fenoterol (Berodual) produced equally good subjective and objective results with less side effects than the high dosed fenoterol.

Two-dimensional echocardiography using a subcostal approach in patients with COPD.

The aim of this study was to examine whether two-dimensional echocardiography (2-DE) using a subcostal window can provide reliable parameters for the assessment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fifteen patients with steady state COPD (mean age 58.8 +/- 7.

Influence of drug therapy on bronchial hyperreactivity.

Bronchial hyperreactivity was confirmed in eleven nonselected patients with chronic respiratory disease during a period of quiescence by inhalative provocation with histamine. After one week's treatment with ketotifen a protective effect against the histamine-induced bronchospasm was observed in nine patients. The rapid appearance of this protective mechanism was demonstrated both in patients with exogenous and endogenous bronchial asthma and in the three patients with chronic bronchitis.

Bronchodilators increase airway instability in cystic fibrosis.

Supramaximal flow transients of partial expiratory flow-volume curves are caused by a rapidly emptying compartment. By superimposing a maximal and a series of partial expiratory flow-volume curves, the volume of the flow transient equivalent for the maximal curve was estimated (volume of airway contribution = VACMEFV). This flow transient equivalent is caused by an extra dead space, created in the large airways by a full inspiration.

Arterial micropuncture. An advance in blood-gas analysis.

Worldwide, uncountable arterial macropunctures and cannulations are performed for blood-gas analysis. The associated complications are accepted as inevitable. 8,000 arterial micropunctures performed under controlled conditions show that this sampling method is not only simpler but also less traumatic and less susceptible to errors of method.