Consultas a urgencia y valores espirométricos tras el reemplazo de salmeterol/fluticasona por budesonida/formoterol en pacientes con asma moderada a grave / Emergency consultations and spirometric values after replacement of salmeterol/fluticasone with budesonide/formoterol in patients with moderate to severe asthma

El asma se caracteriza por su impacto deletéreo que incluye gran coste económico para el sistema de salud. En pacientes con asma mal controlada a pesar del tratamiento, se propone un régimen de mantenimiento con corticoides inhalados y formoterol. El objetivo del presente estudio observacional retrospectivo fue evaluar las modificaciones espirométricas tras el cambio del medicamento controlador en pacientes con asma moderada a severa asistidos en el Hospital Clínico de Magallanes de Punta Arenas, así como también cuantificar la modificación en el número de exacerbaciones graves (consulta a un servicio de urgencia y/u hospitalización por asma). Participaron 61 adultos con asma moderada a severa (mediana de edad: 60 años [rango: 21-87], mujeres: 69,4%; comorbilidad atópica/alérgica: 79%; otras comorbilidades: 46,8%) en los que se cambió el tratamiento con fluticasona/salmeterol 250/25 μg por budesónida/formoterol 160/4,5 μg. No se observaron cambios significativos en los índices espirométricos tras el cambio. Con el tratamiento inicial, el 46,9% presentó ≥ 1 visita a urgencias (total: 50 consultas). Tras el cambio por budesonida/formoterol, el 21% requirió al menos una visita a urgencias (total: 14 consultas; p < 0,01). La proporción de pacientes con ≥ 2 consultas a urgencias fue de 19,7% con el tratamiento basal y de 1,6% tras el cambio a budesonida/formoterol (p < 0,01). No se observaron diferencias significativas en la cantidad de hospitalizaciones. En este estudio del mundo real de pacientes con asma moderada a grave, el cambio del tratamiento a budesonida/formoterol se asoció con reducción significativa de las consultas a urgencias, a pesar de no detectarse cambios de significación estadística en los índices espirométricos habituales.

Asthma is characterized by its deleterious impact, including a high cost to the healthcare system. In patients with poorly controlled asthma despite treatment, a maintenance regimen of inhaled corticosteroids and formoterol is proposed. The aim of this retrospective, observational study was to evaluate the spirometric changes after switching the controller medication in patients with moderate to severe asthma attended in our institution ("Hospital Clínico de Magallanes"), as well as the variation in the number of severe exacerbations (consultation to an emergency department and/or hospitalization for asthma). Sixty-one adults with moderate to severe asthma (median age: 60 years-old [range: 21-87], women: 69.4%; atopic/allergic comorbidity: 79%; other comorbidities: 46.8%) in whom treatment with fluticasone/salmeterol 250/25 μg was switched to budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5 μg participated in our study. No significant changes in spirometric parameters were observed after the replacement treatment. With the initial treatment, 46.9% patients presented ≥ 1 visit to the emergency department (total: 50 visits). After the switch to budesonide/formoterol, 21% required at least one emergency department visit (total: 14 consultations; p < 0.01). The proportion of patients with ≥ 2 emergency department visits was 19.7% with baseline treatment and 1.6% after switching to budesonide/formoterol (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in the number of hospitalizations. In this real-world study of moderate to severe asthma patients, switching to budesonide/formoterol was associated with a significant reduction in emergency department visits, despite no statistically significant changes in the usual spirometric parameters.

Eficácia e segurança de tripla terapia broncodilatadora comparada à dupla terapia em DPOC grave: revisão rápida de evidências / Effectiveness and safety of triple bronchodilator therapy compared to dual therapy in severe COPD: rapid response review of evidence

Tecnologia: Tripla terapia broncodilatadora (vilanterol/ umeclidínio/ fluticasona, formoterol/ glicopirrônio/ beclometasona) e dupla terapia. Indicação: Tratamento de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC), formas grave e muito grave. Pergunta: Há diferenças de efeito nos principais desfechos de eficácia e segurança entre a tripla terapia broncodilatadora e as duplas terapias no tratamento de pacientes com DPOC, formas grave e muito grave? Métodos: Revisão rápida de evidências (overview) de revisões sistemáticas, com levantamento bibliográfico realizado na base de dados PUBMED, utilizando estratégia estruturada de busca. A qualidade metodológica das revisões sistemáticas foi avaliada com AMSTAR-2 (Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews). Resultados: Foram selecionadas e incluídas 2 revisões sistemáticas. Conclusão: A tripla terapia broncodilatadora era mais eficaz que a dupla terapia para reduzir a taxa anual de exacerbações moderadas a severas, mas não tinha superioridade para obter ganhos clínicos em outros desfechos (volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo, qualidade de vida, índice de dispneia, mortalidade geral, mortalidade respiratória), exceto que a tripla terapia era superior à dupla terapia com agonistas beta-2/ antagonistas antimuscarínicos e similar à dupla terapia com agonistas beta-2/ corticoesteróides inalatórios para reduzir mortalidade. A tripla terapia tinha perfil de segurança similar à dupla terapia, com mesmo risco para eventos adversos e eventos adversos graves. A tripla terapia tinha maior risco para pneumonias que a dupla terapia com agonistas beta-2/ antagonistas antimuscarínicos

Technology: Triple bronchodilator therapy (vilanterol/ umeclidinium/ fluticasone, formoterol/ glycopyrronium/ beclomethasone) and dual therapy. Indication: Treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe and very severe forms. Question: Are there differences in effects of efficacy and safety outcomes between triple bronchodilator therapy and dual therapies in treating patients with severe and very severe forms of COPD? Methods: Rapid review of evidence (overview) from systematic reviews, with a bibliographic search in the PUBMED database, using a structured strategy. The methodological quality of systematic reviews was assessed with AMSTAR-2 (Methodological Quality Assessment of Systematic Reviews). Results: Two systematic reviews were selected and included. Conclusion: Triple bronchodilator therapy was more effective than dual therapy in reducing the annual rate of moderate to severe exacerbations, but had no superiority for clinical gains in other outcomes (forced expiratory volume in first second, quality of life, dyspnea index, general mortality, respiratory mortality), except that, for reducing mortality, triple therapy was superior to dual therapy with beta-2 agonists/ antimuscarinic antimuscarinics and similar to dual therapy with beta 2 agonists/ inhaled corticosteroids. The triple therapy had a similar safety profile to dual therapy, with the same risk for adverse events and serious adverse events. The triple therapy had a higher risk for pneumonia than a dual therapy with beta-2 agonists/ antimuscarinic antagonists

Eficacia de la budesonida/formoterol comparado con la fluticasona/salmeterol en la mejoría de la capacidad pulmonar de personas mayores con Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica: revisión sistemática de literatura / Effectiveness of budesonide/formoterol compared to fluticasone / salmeterol in improving the lung capacity of older people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: systematic literature review / Eficiência da budesonida/formoterol comparado com fluticasona/salmeterol na melhora da capacidade pulmonar de idosos com Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica: revisão sistemática da literatura

Introducción. La Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica (EPOC) es una patología no transmisible, caracterizada por una limitación de flujo de aire en las vías respiratorias debido a una respuesta inmunológica anormal frente a partículas. Objetivo. Conocer la eficacia que tiene la budesonida/formoterol comparado con la fluticasona/salmeterol en la mejoría de la capacidad pulmonar en personas mayores de 40 años con Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de documentos producidos entre el año 2000 y 2018 en distintas bases de datos, donde se incluyeron ensayos clínicos. Se identificaron cuatro artículos para el análisis final. Resultados. Durante la evaluación comparativa de budesonida con formoterol, los artículos muestran un total de 709 personas evaluadas, con un promedio de edad de 53,5 años. El 65,4 % eran varones, el 21 % manifestaba no haber consumido tabaco, todos con diagnóstico de Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica moderada-severa, según la escala GOLD (Global Initiative For Chronic Obstrutive Lung Disease). Los estudios determinaron que al administrar budesonida/formoterol de 400/12 mcg y 320/9 mcg, los pacientes tuvieron una leve mejoría en el Volumen Espiratorio Forzado del primer segundo (VEF1). Solo dos pacientes presentaron efectos adversos. No obstante, para los resultados mencionados anteriormente no se encontró diferencias significativas. Conclusiones. El uso de budesonida/formoterol es eficaz al mejorar la capacidad ventilatoria pulmonar, disminuye el número de exacerbaciones anuales y genera un adecuado control de los síntomas, sin embargo, es igual de efectivo a la fluticasona/salmeterol.

Introduction. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a not transmissible disease, characterized by a limitation of airflow in the respiratory tract, due to an abnormal immune response to particles. Objective. This article aims to show that the application of budesonide / formoterol improves lung capacity in people over 40 years with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Materials and methods. A systematic review was conducted in the period between 2000 and 2018 in different databases where clinical trials were included. Four articles were identified for the final analysis. Results. During the comparative evaluation of budesonide with formoterol, a total of 709 people were evaluated, with an average age of 53.5 years, 65.4% were male, 21% reported not having used tobacco, all with a diagnosis of moderate-severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease according to the GOLD scale (Global Initiative For Chronic Obstrutive Lung Disease). The studies determined that when budesonide / formoterol of 400/12 mcg and 320/9 mcg was administered, the patients had a slight improvement in the Forced Expiratory Volume of the first second (FEV1). Only two patients presented adverse effects. However, for the results mentioned above no significant differences were found. Conclusions. The use of budesonide / formoterol is effective in improving pulmonary ventilatory capacity, decreases the number of annual exacerbations and generates adequate control of symptoms, however, it is equally effective in fluticasone / salmeterol.

Introdução. A Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica (DPOC) é uma patologia não transmissível, caraterizada por uma limitação do fluxo de ar nas vias aéreas devido a uma resposta imune anormal contra partículas. Objetivo. Conhecer a eficiência que apresenta a budesonida/formoterol comparado com fluticasona/salmeterol na melhora da capacidade pulmonar em pessoas com mais de 40 anos com Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica. Materiais e métodos. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática dos documentos produzidos entre 2000 e 2018 em diferentes bancos de dados, onde foram incluídos ensaios clínicos. Quatro artigos foram identificados para a análise final. Resultados. Durante a avaliação comparativa de budesonida com formoterol, os artículos mostram um total de 709 pessoas avaliadas, com uma idade média de 53,5 anos. O 65,4 % eram do sexo masculino, o 21 % disseram que não usavam tabaco, todos diagnosticados com Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica moderada a grave, de acordo com a escala GOLD (Global Initiative For Chronic Obstrutive Lung Disease). Os estudos determinaram que administrar budesonida/formoterol de 400/12 mcg e 320/9 mcg, os pacientes apresentaram uma leve melhora no Volume Expiratório Forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1). Apenas dois pacientes tiveram efeitos adversos. No entanto, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas para os resultados mencionados acima. Conclusões. O uso de budesonida/formoterol é eficaz na melhora da capacidade ventilatória pulmonar, diminui o numero de exacerbações anuais e gera controle adequado dos sintomas, no entanto, é igualmente eficaz para a fluticasona/salmeterol.

Real-Life Clinical Use of Symbicort® Maintenance and Reliever Therapy for Asthmatic Patients in Korea

The aim of this study was to examine the daily practice patterns of Symbicort® Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART) in Korean asthmatic patients and to analyze clinical signs related to overuse. This study used an observational, multicenter, noninterventional, prospective, uncontrolled design for examining asthmatic patients prescribed SMART to assess the frequency and pattern of Symbicort® usage as a maintenance and reliever medication. The characteristics of patients showing signs of overuse (frequency of inhalation: 8 or more times per day) were also analyzed. Among the 1,518 patients analyzed, 1,292 (85.1%) completed the trial. The number of mean inhalations per day was 2.14±1.15; the number of patients who had at least 1 as needed usage (PRN) inhalation per day was 843 (55.5%); the mean frequency of PRN use was 0.25±0.67 inhalations per day. The number of patients who overused for at least 1 day was 260 (17.1%). In particular, young patients, patients with limited physical activity, and patients with nocturnal symptoms demonstrated high frequency of overuse. The frequency of overuse during SMART was not high in Korean asthmatic patients and the asthma status of follow-up outpatients improved overall. However, there is a need for careful education targeted toward younger patients, patients with limited physical activity, and patients with nocturnal symptoms owing to their tendency to frequently overuse.

TeleCondutas: asma / TeleGuides: asthma

Asma é uma doença respiratória crônica frequente no atendimento da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) com prevalência nacional de 4,4% em adultos e cerca de 20% em crianças e adolescentes. Conforme a gravidade da doença, apresenta diversos graus de incapacidade e piora na qualidade de vida. A doença tem características heterogêneas, usualmente com inflamação crônica das vias aéreas, sendo definida pela história de sintomas respiratórios (sibilância, dispneia, desconforto torácico e tosse), que variam no tempo e em intensidade, associados a limitação variável de fluxo aéreo expiratório. O diagnóstico é baseado nas características clínicas da doença e testes de função pulmonar que identificam limitação variável do fluxo aéreo. Esta guia apresenta informação que orienta a conduta para casos de asma no contexto da Atenção Primária à Saúde, incluindo: Avaliação clínica Teste de função pulmonar Controle dos sintomas Riscos para desfechos desfavoráveis Tratamento Farmacológico Medidas complementares Técnica inalatória Plano de ação Manejo da exacerbação Encaminhamento para serviço especializado.

Vigilância em Saúde da Criança: perspectiva de enfermeiros / Vigilancia en Salud Infantil: perspectiva de enfermeros / Child Health Surveillance: nurses perspective

RESUMOObjetivo:analisar concepções de enfermeiros sobre Vigilância em Saúde da Criança (VSC) em unidades de saúde da família.Métodos:estudo qualitativo, com análise temática dos dados, fundamentada no paradigma da Vigilância em Saúde. Foram realizadas entrevistas com 13 enfermeiros atuantes em município do interior paulista.Resultados:os enfermeiros conceberam VSC como acompanhamento ativo, integral, programado, identificando riscos/vulnerabilidades, por meio de ações multiprofissionais, intersetoriais e dependentes da participação materna. Constatou-se desenvolvimento parcial dessas premissas na prática, por dificuldades como falta de participação materna nas ações propostas, indisponibilidade de tempo para discussão e adoção de medidas nas unidades e desarticulação entre níveis e setores no município.Conclusão:é necessário maior investimento político e técnico para assegurar a adoção desse modelo nos diferentes setores e níveis de atenção do município.

RESUMENObjetivo:analizar las concepciones de los enfermeros en la vigilancia de la salud de los niños en las unidades de salud de la familia.Método:estudio cualitativo con el análisis temático de los datos, basado en el paradigma de la Vigilancia de la Salud. Se realizaron entrevistas con 13 enfermeras en la ciudad interior.Resultados:las enfermeras concibió la vigilancia de la salud del niño y la vigilancia activa, total, la identifi cación de riesgos/vulnerabilidades, a través de acciones multidisciplinario, intersectorial y dependiente de la participación materna. Encontramos lo desarrollo parcial de estos supuestos en la práctica, debido a las difi cultades, como la falta de participación de la madre en las acciones propuestas, la falta de tiempo para el debate y la adopción de medidas en las unidades y la falta de conexión entre los niveles y sectores en el condado.Conclusión:es necesaria una mayor inversión política y técnica para asegurar la adopción de este modelo en diferentes sectores y niveles de atención del municipio.

ABSTRACTObjective:to analyze conceptions of nurses on child health surveillance in family health units.Method:a qualitative study with thematic analysis of the data, based on the paradigm of Health Surveillance. Interviews were conducted with 13 nurses in a countryside city in the state of Sao Paulo.Results:nurses conceived child health surveillance as an active monitoring, which should be comprehensive, identifying risks/vulnerabilities, through multidisciplinary and intersectoral actions that are dependent on maternal involvement. We found partial development of these assumptions in practice, due to diffi culties such as lack of maternal involvement in the proposed actions, lack of time for discussion and adoption of measures in the units and disarticulation between levels and sectors of the city.Conclusion:a greater political and technical investment is needed to ensure the adoption of this model in different sectors and levels of care of the city.

Three-month Treatment Response and Exacerbation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between acute exacerbation and Forced Expiratory Volume 1 second (FEV1) improvement after treatment with combined long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 137 COPD patients were classified as responders or nonresponders according to FEV1 improvement after 3 months of LABA/ICS treatment in fourteen referral hospitals in Korea. Exacerbation occurrence in these two subgroups was compared over a period of 1 yr. Eighty of the 137 COPD patients (58.4%) were classified as responders and 57 (41.6%) as nonresponders. Acute exacerbations occurred in 25 patients (31.3%) in the responder group and in 26 patients (45.6%) in the nonresponder group (P=0.086). FEV1 improvement after LABA/ICS treatment was a significant prognostic factor for fewer acute exacerbations in a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for age, sex, FEV1, smoking history, 6 min walk distance, body mass index, exacerbation history in the previous year, and dyspnea scale.Three-month treatment response to LABA/ICS might be a prognostic factor for the occurrence of acute exacerbation in COPD patients.

Efficacy and safety of the single-capsule combination of fluticasone/formoterol in patients with persistent asthma: a non-inferiority trial / Eficácia e segurança da associação fluticasona/formoterol em cápsula única em pacientes com asma persistente: estudo de não inferioridade

OBJECTIVE: Fluticasone and formoterol are effective in the treatment of asthma. When a corticosteroid alone fails to control asthma, combination therapy is the treatment of choice. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of formulations containing budesonide/formoterol (BUD/FOR), fluticasone alone (FLU), and the single-capsule combination of fluticasone/formoterol (FLU/FOR) on lung function in patients with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma. METHODS: This was a randomized, multicenter, open phase III trial conducted in Brazil. The primary efficacy analysis was the assessment of non-inferiority between FLU/FOR and BUD/FOR combinations regarding FEV1 (in L) at the final visit. The secondary analyses were PEF, level of asthma control, serum cortisol levels, frequency of adverse events, adherence to treatment, and appropriate inhaler use. RESULTS: We randomized 243 patients to three groups: FLU/FOR (n = 79), BUD/FOR (n = 83), and FLU (n = 81). In terms of the mean FEV1 after 12 weeks of treatment, the difference between the FLU/FOR and BUD/FOR groups was 0.22 L (95% CI: −0.06 to 0.49), whereas the difference between the FLU/FOR and FLU groups was 0.26 L (95% CI: −0.002 to 0.52). Non-inferiority was demonstrated by the difference between the lower limits of the two 95% CIs (−0.06 vs. −0.002). The level of asthma control and PEF were significantly greater in the FLU/FOR and BUD/FOR groups than in the FLU group. There were no significant differences among the groups regarding patient adherence, patient inhaler use, or safety profile of the formulations. CONCLUSIONS: The single-capsule combination of FLU/FOR showed non-inferiority to the BUD/FOR and FLU formulations regarding efficacy and ...

OBJETIVO: A fluticasona e o formoterol são efetivos no tratamento da asma. A terapia combinada é o tratamento de escolha quando o corticosteroide isolado não controla a asma. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a eficácia e segurança de formulações contendo budesonida/formoterol (BUD/FOR), fluticasona (FLU) e fluticasona/formoterol (FLU/FOR) em cápsula única sobre a função pulmonar em pacientes com asma persistente leve e moderada. MÉTODOS: Estudo de fase III multicêntrico brasileiro, aleatorizado e aberto. A análise primária de eficácia foi a avaliação de não inferioridade da combinação FLU/FOR perante a combinação BUD/FOR em relação ao VEF1 (em L) na visita final. As análises secundárias foram PFE, nível de controle da asma, nível de cortisol sérico, frequência de eventos adversos, aderência ao tratamento e uso adequado do inalador. RESULTADOS: Foram randomizados 243 pacientes nos grupos FLU/FOR (n = 79), BUD/FOR (n = 83) e FLU (n = 81). Após 12 semanas de tratamento, a média da diferença do VEF1 foi de 0,22 L (IC95%: −0,06 a 0,49) entre os grupos FLU/FOR e BUD/FOR e de 0,26 L (IC95%: −0,002 a 0,52) entre os grupos FLU/FOR e FLU. A não inferioridade ficou demonstrada pela diferença de limite inferior do IC95% (−0,06 vs. −0,002). O nível de controle da asma e o PFE foram significativamente maiores nos grupos FLU/FOR e BUD/FOR em comparação com o grupo FLU. Não houve diferenças significativas em relação a adesão, uso do inalador e perfil de segurança entre os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: ...

Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy in Chinese patients with asthma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Many studies have shown the superior efficacy of budesonide (BUD)/formoterol (FORM) maintenance and reliever therapy, but still lack evidence of its efficacy in Chinese asthma patients in a relative large patient-group. We finished this research to compare BUD/FORM maintenance and reliever therapy and high-dose salmeterol (SALM)/fluticasone (FP) maintenance plus an as-needed short-acting β(2)-agonist in Chinese patients with persistent uncontrolled asthma. This was a post hoc analysis based on a 6-month, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study (NCT00242775).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 222 eligible asthma patients from nine centers in China were randomized to either BUD/FORM+as-needed BUD/FORM (160/4.5 µg/inhalation) (640/18 µg/d; n = 111), or SALM/FP+as-needed terbutaline (0.4 mg/inhalation) (100/1000 µg/d; n = 111). The primary endpoint was time to first severe exacerbation while secondary endpoints included various measures of pulmonary function, symptom control and quality-of-life.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Time to first severe exacerbation over six months was lower with the BUD/FORM than with the SALM/FP treatment (risk ratio = 0.52, 95%CI 0.22 - 1.22), but the difference did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.13). The cumulative number of severe exacerbations in the BUD/FORM group was lower than in the SALM/FP group (7.2% vs. 13.5%; risk ratio = 0.45, P = 0.028). BUD/FORM produced significantly better improvements in reliever use, cumulative mild exacerbations, symptom-free days (%), and morning/evening peak expiratory flow (PEF) than SALM/FP (P < 0.05 in all cases). The two groups achieved similar improvements in their time to first mild exacerbation, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), asthma control questionnaire and asthma symptom scores, and percentage of nights with awakening(s). Both treatments were well tolerated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In Chinese patients with persistent asthma, BUD/FORM decreased severe and mild exacerbations, decreased reliever use, increased symptom-free days, and improved morning/evening PEF compared with SALM/FP. There were no significant differences in time to first severe exacerbation or other assessments regarding daily asthma control between BUD/FORM and SALM/FP. BUD/FORM was more effective in this Chinese sub-group than in the total cohort involved in the original study.</p>

A New Treatment Strategy for Asthma: SMART (Symbicort(R) Maintenance And Reliever Therapy)

Asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways with variable airflow limitation resulting in recurrent wheezing, chest tightness, and cough. Long term management is essential to prevent symptom and asthma exacerbation with using daily controller medications. Asthma control was much improved by combining inhaled corticosteroids with long-acting beta2 agonists. Recent several studies demonstrated the effectiveness of a new asthma management strategy, a single inhaler containing budesonide and formoterol for both maintenance therapy and symptom relief (called SMART) which was approved in GINA guideline, 2006. This SMART strategy could reduce the frequency of severe exacerbations and the need for rescue medicine with systemic steroids as well as improved lung function and asthma controls at relatively lower doses of corticosteroid with lesser costs for treatment.

The Efficacy of Added Montelukast in Persistent Asthmatics Who Were Not Completely Controlled on Inhaled Corticosteroids and Inhaled Long-acting beta2-agonists / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUNDS: Although glucocorticoids are one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents, they have limited effect on cysteinyl leukotriene biosynthesis. In addition, the response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA) combination therapy in moderate to severe persistent asthmatics varies. Additional therapy with leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) in patients with moderate to severe asthma suboptimally controlled with ICS and LABA combination therapy would be complementary to asthma control. METHODS: One hundred and ninety eight asthmatics entered a 2 month, open-label descriptive study. Patients suffering from persistent asthma and suboptimally controlled on a combination therapy of fluticasone/salmeterol or budesonide/ formoterol were given montelukast 10 mg daily as an add-on therapy. The level of asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) including FEV(1) % predicted at the baseline and after a 2-month treatment with montelukast. A global evaluation of the treatment was also made by the patients and physicians. RESULTS: The mean ACQ score decreased significantly on montelukast (11.5+/-5.4 at baseline vs. 6.7+/-5.0), with a significant improvement in all individual symptom scores (p<0.01). The FEV(1) % predicted values did not show any significant change. 59.9% of patients and 59.4% of physicians reported global improvement in their asthma (kappa=0.85). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the addition of montelukast in patients with persistent asthma that is suboptimally contolled by combination therapy of ICS and LABA might confer complementary effects on asthma control.

Comparison of RR-formoterol with rac-formoterol in bronchodilating effect on human bronchus / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the bronchodilating effect of RR-formoterol (RR-FMT) with that of racemic formoterol (rac-FMT) on human bronchus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human bronchial spiral strips (2 - 4 mm internal diameter,15 mm length) were suspended in tissue baths under resting tension of 1.0 g. The changes of tension induced by RR-FMT and rac-FMT(10 pmol x L(-1) - 3.2 micromol x L(-1)) in a cumulative concentration manner were studied under resting tension conditions or precontraction with carbamylcholine (10 micromol x L(-1)) or histamine(100 micromol x L(-1)) in human bronchus.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The bronchodilating effect of RR-FMT was more potent than that of rac-FMT under resting condition(P<0.05). RR-FMT and rac-FMT reversed histamine or carbamylcholine-induced contraction, and the bronchodilating effect of RR-FMT was more potent than that of rac-FMT (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The bronchodilating effect of RR-FMT is more potent than that of rac-FMT in both the resting condition and carbamylcholine or histamine-induced contraction in human bronchus in vitro.</p>