Physiological effects of intravenous fructose 1.6-diphosphate on diaphragmatic function in malnourished patients with COPD.

Background: A low body mass index is one of the strongest predictors of mortality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients. Under-nutrition is often associated with skeletal muscle wasting and hypophosphatemia.

Aim And Methods: In a pilot, randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled study, we assessed the physiological effects of phosphorous administration in 17 stable undernourished COPD patients, on diaphragmatic function, breathing pattern, neuromuscular drive (P0.

Prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction by a new leukotriene antagonist (SK&F 104353). A double-blind study versus disodium cromoglycate and placebo.

The effects of 800 micrograms of inhaled SK&F 104353, a peptidoleukotriene receptor antagonist, and of 20 mg disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction were compared in 18 asthmatic patients. The study was conducted according to a double-blind, crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled design. Two baseline exercise tests were carried out, and pulmonary function tests were done before and at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 min after completion of the exercise.

Ibopamine as a substitute for digitalis in patients with congestive heart failure on chronic digoxin therapy. Smith Kline and French Ibopamine Group.

The substitution of digoxin with ibopamine, a new inotropic and vasodilating agent, was evaluated in a multicenter study in 58 patients with mild-to-moderate congestive heart failure, stabilized on diuretics, and digoxin therapy. The study was a parallel, double-blind, randomized trial of four weeks duration in which half of the group continued the pre-study medication (diuretics and digoxin) and half of the group was treated with diuretics and ibopamine (100 mg, three times a day). At baseline evaluation, the two groups were similar for age, sex, underlying cardiac disease, duration of congestive heart failure, symptom score, cardiothoracic ratio, echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function and exercise tolerance as measured by bicycle ergometry.

Ibopamine: long-term safety study in patients with congestive heart failure. The Italian Ibopamine Working Group.

Ibopamine is a new orally active dopamine analogue with positive inotropic and vasodilating activity. The tolerability of the drug administered at the dose of 100 mg thrice daily for 12 months was studied in 302 patients with congestive heart failure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II and III. Of the 302 patients, 198 completed the study (65%); 59 patients (19%) were withdrawn for clinical events; 27 of them died (9%); 35 patients (12%) did not complete the study for non-compliance and 10 (3%) for protocol violations.

Interaction study of fenoldopam--digoxin in congestive heart failure.

The potential interaction between fenoldopam, a DA1 selective agonist, and digoxin has been studied in 10 patients with heart failure (NYHA Class II or III) on chronic digoxin treatment. Plasma levels and urinary recovery of the glycoside were monitored for 24 h before and after 9 days of treatment with fenoldopam 100 mg tid. Fenoldopam caused a small, non-significant decrease in the mean steady state plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration curve of digoxin.