The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
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The American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Union (EU) have precise and accurate Mini Wright peak flow meters. The purpose of this investigation was to compare both 1) for accuracy using a pneumotachometer, 2) in volunteers to determine whether they are interchangeable, and 3) to spirometrically predicted peak flows. ⋯ The ATS peak flow meter reads 2.8% higher than the EU peak flow meter across a range of flows. Both meters have similar accuracy with a different bias compared with a pneumotachometer. Finally, both peak flow meters read slightly and significantly higher than spirometrically derived peak flows. Therefore, the peak flow meters are not interchangeable and both may obtain slightly higher values than those determined using current spirometrically derived prediction equations.
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Time trends in the number of publications of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in asthma research have never been evaluated. ⋯ Despite an increase in total publications of asthma research, time trends in the number of publications of RCTs in asthma research per year show an almost unchanged number in the period 1990-2009. Evidence-based medicine within the field of asthma still faces many challenges.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Multicenter study of chronic asthma severity among emergency department patients with acute asthma.
The initiation of controller therapy for asthma depends on chronic asthma severity. To facilitate initiation of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), the preferred controller therapy, in the emergency department (ED), the objective of the study was to describe chronic asthma severity, as defined by the national asthma guidelines, among children presenting to the ED with acute asthma. ⋯ The high prevalence of persistent asthma among ED patients exceeds the prevalence reported previously, and supports ED initiation of ICS, as recommended by national guidelines.
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There are few studies pertaining to asthma patients' views on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The driving question behind the study is why some asthma patients choose noncompliance to conventional western medicine and resort to other modalities, often deemed as being 'alternative,' 'complementary,' or 'integrated.' Does the patients' emancipation movement lead to greater awareness of the benefits of alternative medicine? Does the patients' identity as asthma sufferers play a role in their decision? ⋯ The author argues that asthma patients' noncompliance with (Western) medical regime and choice for alternative medical treatment of asthma is a matter of rational choice informed by evidence-based awareness. This evidence-based rationality particularly refers here to the patients' awareness of the rather controversial results of clinical trials of commonly used asthma medicines, particularly those containing elements of budesonide (Pulmicort), an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, and formoterol (Oxis, Foradil), a rapid-acting and long-lasting beta(2)-agonist (bronchodilator).
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Specific airway resistance (sRaw) is virtually independent of lung growth, height, and gender, thus facilitating longitudinal follow-up. ⋯ This retrospective study identifies a specific phenotype of asthmatic children that develops an impairment of lung function, confirming the results of a post hoc analysis of the Childhood Asthma Management Program study.