The European respiratory journal : official journal of the European Society for Clinical Respiratory Physiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of a nicotine-free inhalator as part of a smoking-cessation programme.
Smoking-cessation drugs are inadequate at addressing the behavioural component of tobacco dependence. Nicotine-free inhalators are plastic devices that may provide a coping mechanism for conditioned smoking by replacing some of the rituals associated with smoking gestures. This study assessed the effect of using a nicotine-free inhalator to improve success in a cessation programme. ⋯ However, the quit rate in the PAIPO group (66.7%) was more than three-fold higher than the reference group (19.2%) for those individuals with high Glover-Nilsson Smoking Behavioural Questionnaire (GN-SBQ) scores at baseline. The results of the logistic model analysis indicate that a high GN-SBQ score is a strong independent predictor for successful quitting at 24 weeks (OR 8.88; 95% CI 2.08-37.94) in the PAIPO group. Nicotine-free inhalators may be beneficial when used in the context of smoking-cessation interventions, particularly for those smokers for whom handling and manipulation of their cigarettes plays an important part in the ritual of smoking.
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A decreased transfer coefficient of the lung for carbon monoxide (K(CO)) is associated with emphysema. We evaluated whether in heavy smokers, baseline K(CO) was associated with the progression of computed tomography (CT)-detected emphysema, and the progression of airflow limitation. Heavy smokers, mean ± sd 41.3 ± 18.7 pack-yrs, participating in a lung cancer screening trial underwent diffusion testing and CT scanning of the lungs. ⋯ Mean ± sd 15th percentile was -938 ± 19, absolute FEV₁/FVC was 71.6 ± 9% and K(CO) was 1.23 ± 0.25, which is 81.8 ± 16.5% of predicted. By interpolation, a one sd (0.25) lower K(CO) value at baseline predicted a 1.6 HU lower 15th percentile and a 0.78% lower FEV₁/FVC after follow-up (p < 0.001). A lower baseline K(CO) value is independently associated with a more rapid progression of emphysema and airflow limitation in heavy smokers.
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Review
Bronchoalveolar lavage for the evaluation of interstitial lung disease: is it clinically useful?
Although the application of thoracic high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) to clinical pulmonology has revolutionised the diagnostic approach to patients with suspected interstitial lung disease (ILD), additional testing is often needed to make a confident ILD diagnosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) can play a significant role in making an accurate and confident diagnosis of specific forms of ILD. ⋯ However, BAL technique, and protocols for processing and analysing BAL fluid are critically important for providing useful information. This perspective reviews the current status of using BAL as a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of ILD.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Blinded 12-week comparison of once-daily indacaterol and tiotropium in COPD.
Two, once daily (q.d.) inhaled bronchodilators are available for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): the β(2)-agonist indacaterol and the anticholinergic tiotropium. This blinded study compared the efficacy of these two agents and assessed their safety and tolerability. Patients with moderate-to-severe COPD were randomised to treatment with indacaterol 150 μg q.d. (n=797) or tiotropium 18 μg q.d. (n=801) for 12 weeks. ⋯ Both bronchodilators demonstrated spirometric efficacy. The two treatments were well tolerated with similar adverse event profiles. Compared with tiotropium, indacaterol provided significantly greater improvements in clinical outcomes.