Nebulized formoterol effect on bronchodilation and satisfaction in COPD patients compared to QID ipratropium/albuterol MDI.

Objective: Bronchodilator maintenance treatment improves pulmonary function and health-related quality of life in COPD patients. Pulmonary function and patient preference/satisfaction were compared before and after treatment with a short-acting ipratropium/albuterol combination and long-acting nebulized formoterol.

Methods: A randomized, open-label, crossover trial was conducted at 16 centers in the US.

Repaglinide versus nateglinide monotherapy: a randomized, multicenter study.

Objective: A randomized, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter 16-week clinical trial compared efficacy and safety of repaglinide monotherapy and nateglinide monotherapy in type 2 diabetic patients previously treated with diet and exercise.

Research Design And Methods: Enrolled patients (n = 150) had received treatment with diet and exercise in the previous 3 months with HbA(1c) >7 and < or =12%. Patients were randomized to receive monotherapy with repaglinide (n = 76) (0.

One-Year Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Ipratropium Bromide HFA and CFC Inhalation Aerosols in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Introduction: Ipratropium bromide (IB) is an established and effective first-line maintenance treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A new IB metered-dose inhaler (MDI) using hydrofluoroalkane 134a propellant (IB HFA) has been developed as an alternative to the MDI containing chlorofluorocarbon (IB CFC).

Objective: To compare the long-term safety and efficacy of IB HFA and IB CFC in patients with COPD.

Efficacy response of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate in asthma is proportional to dose and is improved by formulation with a new propellant.

Background: This study tested the hypothesis that there would be improved asthma control with increasing doses of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) formulated in hydrofluoroalkane-134a (HFA-BDP) and the standard chlorofluorocarbon propellants (CFC-BDP). Because HFA-BDP has improved lung deposition compared with CFC-BDP, this study also tested the hypothesis that HFA-BDP would provide more effective control of asthma than CFC-BDP.

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, parallel-group blinded study, asthmatic subjects who had deterioration in asthma control after discontinuation of inhaled corticosteroids were randomized to receive one of 6 possible treatments: 100 microg/d, 400 microg/d, or 800 microg/d of HFA-BDP or 100 microg/d, 400 microg/d, or 800 microg/d of CFC-BDP for 6 weeks.

Thoracoscopic diagnosis of pleurolithiasis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

We describe a patient with right pleuritic chest pain and an enlarging exudative pleural effusion four months after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Several radiographic imaging procedures and thoracenteses were nondiagnostic. Thoracoscopy, however, revealed bilious concretions in the parietal pleura.