Combination bronchodilator therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is available widely throughout the world except in North America. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the advantages of combining anticholinergic therapy with sympathomimetic therapy in COPD. We report the results of a 12-week prospective, double-blind, parallel-group evaluation of the us...

Guite and colleagues recently attempted to identify risk factors for certain causes of death among patients admitted to hospital with asthma. The data were originally collected for a diVerent purpose, however, and problems of data quality and completeness limit the conclusions that can be drawn from this analysis. The current study is based on follow up of 2242 (68%) of the original cohort of 3...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Asthma is now regarded as an inflammatory disease and bronchial inflammation may disrupt mucociliary function. Inhaled drugs may act by improving mucociliary function. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of salbutamol, ipratropium bromide and beclomethasone on mucociliary clearance in patients with chronic stable asthma and to compare the efficacy of these...

Guite and colleagues recently attempted to identify risk factors for certain causes of death among patients admitted to hospital with asthma. The data were originally collected for a diVerent purpose, however, and problems of data quality and completeness limit the conclusions that can be drawn from this analysis. The current study is based on follow up of 2242 (68%) of the original cohort of 3...

Guite and colleagues recently attempted to identify risk factors for certain causes of death among patients admitted to hospital with asthma. The data were originally collected for a diVerent purpose, however, and problems of data quality and completeness limit the conclusions that can be drawn from this analysis. The current study is based on follow up of 2242 (68%) of the original cohort of 3...

BACKGROUND The long acting beta2-agonists, salmeterol and formoterol, have been recommended, by some, as first line treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We reviewed evidence of efficacy and safety when compared with placebo or anticholinergic agents in patients with poorly reversible COPD. METHODS After searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, HealthSTAR, BIOSIS Previews, PASCA...