Combining triple therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with advanced COPD: a pilot study.

Background: The synergistic interactions between pharmacotherapy and pulmonary rehabilitation has been provided, but it remains to be established whether this may also apply to more severe patients.

Objectives: We have examined whether tiotropium enhances the effects of exercise training in patients with advanced COPD (FEV(1)
Methods: We enrolled 22 patients that were randomised to tiotropium 18mug or placebo inhalation capsules taken once daily.

Prulifloxacin in the treatment of acute exacerbations of COPD in cigarette smokers.

Smoking is associated with an increased risk of respiratory tract infection in adults likely because components in the smoke might alter properties of the epithelial cell surface. In studies with smokers suffering from acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD), the most common bacterial pathogens found were mainly Haemophilus influenzae, but also Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Therefore, antibiotics should be effective against such possible pathogens.

Use of functional independence measure in rehabilitation of inpatients with respiratory failure.

Most outcomes do not deeply express the degree of disability in patients with respiratory failure (RF) following inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (IPR). The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of an IPR in patients with confirmed COPD and RF using functional independence measure (FIM) that determines the degree of disability experienced by patients and the progress they make during rehabilitation. This scale includes several items: self care, mobility, locomotion, communication and social recognition.

Use of 6-min and 12-min walking test for assessing the efficacy of formoterol in COPD.

Exercise tolerance is an important outcome measure in patients with COPD, mostly because there is evidence that exercise testing is superior to other functional measurements obtained at rest in demonstrating the positive effect of a specific intervention. We assessed the effect of a 5-day treatment with formoterol 12 microg twice daily on lung function, exercise capacity and dyspnea in 22 stable COPD patients, and compared 6-MWT with 12-MWT in evaluating formoterol efficacy. All subjects entered a crossover design.