Costs and effectiveness of spacer versus nebulizer in young children with moderate and severe acute asthma

OBJECTIVE: To compare the costs and effectiveness of albuterol by metered dose inhaler (MDI) and spacer versus nebulizer in young children with moderate and severe acute asthma. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in an emergency department at a children's hospital. The participants were children 1 to 4 years of age with moderate to severe acute asthma. Patients assigned to the spacer group received albuterol (600 microg) by MDI by spacer (AeroChamber) followed by placebo by nebulizer (n = 30). The nebulizer group received placebo MDI by spacer followed by 2.5 mg albuterol by nebulizer (n = 30). Treatments were repeated at 20-minute intervals until the patient was judged to need no further doses of bronchodilator, or a total of 6 treatments. RESULTS: Clinical score, heart rate, respiratory rate, auscultatory findings, and oxygen saturation were recorded at baseline, after each treatment, and 60 minutes after the last treatment. Baseline characteristics and asthma severity were similar for the treatment groups. The spacer was as effective as the nebulizer for clinical score, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation but produced a greater reduction in wheezing (P =.03). Heart rate increased to a greater degree in the nebulizer group (11.0/min vs 0.17/min for spacer, P <.01). Fewer children in the spacer group required admission (33% vs 60% in the nebulizer group, P =.04, adjusted for sex). No differences were seen in rates of tremor or hyperactivity. The mean cost of each emergency department presentation was NZ$825 for the spacer group and NZ$1282 for the nebulizer group (P =.03); 86% of children and 85% of parents preferred the spacer. CONCLUSION: The MDI and spacer combination was a cost-effective alternative to a nebulizer in the delivery of albuterol to young children with moderate and severe acute asthma.     

内毒素诱导新生大鼠肝损伤及地塞米松的保护作用

目的 动态观测大肠杆菌内毒素(LPS)诱导新生大鼠肝损伤时NO，SOD，MDA的变化及地塞米松(Dex)对肝脏的保护作用。方法 取7日龄新生Wistar大鼠120只，分为正常对照组(A)、内毒素组(B)和地塞米松组(C)。B组为腹腔注射LPS 5 mg/kg制成内毒素血症模型，C组为LPS 5 mg/kg+Dex 5 mg/kg共同腹腔注射，A组用等体积生理盐水腹腔注射。观测3组新生鼠2 h，4 h，6 h，24 h时肝组织匀浆NO，SOD，MDA改变，同时对肝脏结构行光镜和电镜检查。结果 ①与A组相比，B组LPS作用后随时间延长引起SOD下降，其中24 h降至最低值［(118.96±12.81) NU/mg.pro］(P<0.01)；而NO，MDA升高，6 h NO达最高值［(2.58±0.31) μmol/g.pro］(P<0.01)，4 h MDA达最高值［(2.61±0.50) nmol/mg.pro］(P<0.05)。C组应用Dex处理后4 h和6 h SOD明显上升，而NO与MDA明显下降，与B组比较，差异有显著性(P<0.05或0.01)。②B组光镜下可见肝组织大量炎性细胞浸润，肝细胞点状坏死及出血；电镜下可见线粒体嵴明显减少，内质网扩张，出现凋亡小体及核固缩。C组上述病理变化明显减轻。结论 LPS诱导新生大鼠肝损伤，肝组织匀浆NO和MDA含量明显上升，SOD活性明显下降；Dex对急性肝损伤有保护作用，可能与抑制NO的过量产生及清除氧自由基有关。     

Metered-dose inhaler with spacer vs nebulization for severe and potentially severe acute asthma treatment in the pediatric emergency department]

OBJECTIVE: To compare treatment with beta 2 agonist delivered either by a spacer device or a nebulizer in children with severe or potentially severe acute asthma. METHODS: In this randomized trial, children 4 to 15 years, cared for in the emergency department for severe or potentially severe acute asthma, received 6 times either nebulizations of salbutamol (0.15mg/kg) or puffs of a beta 2 agonist (salbutamol 50 microg/kg or terbutaline 125 microg/kg). The primary outcome was the hospitalization rate. Secondary outcomes included percentage improvement in Bishop score, in PEF, SaO(2), respiratory and heart rates, side effects, length of stay and relapses 10 and 30 days later. RESULTS: Groups did not differ for baseline data. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups (nebulizer N=40, spacer N=39) for baseline characteristics before emergency department consultation except for length of acute asthma in the spacer group. Clinical evolution after treatment, hospitalization rate, relapse were similar including the more severe subgroup. In the spacer group, tachycardia was less frequent (P<0.02). The overall length of stay in the emergency department was significantly shorter (148+/-20 vs 108+/-13 min, P<10(-9)). CONCLUSIONS: The administration of beta 2 agonist using a metered-dose inhaler with spacer is an effective alternative to nebulizers for the treatment of children with severe or potentially severe acute asthma in the emergency department. Time gained can be used for asthma education.     

Comparison of albuterol delivered by a metered dose inhaler with spacer versus a nebulizer in children with mild acute asthma.

OBJECTIVE: In children with mild acute asthma, to compare treatment with a single dose of albuterol delivered by a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer in either a weight-adjusted high dose or a standard low-dose regimen with delivery by a nebulizer. STUDY DESIGN: In this randomized double-blind trial set in an emergency department, 90 children between 5 and 17 years of age with a baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ) between 50% and 79% of predicted value were treated with a single dose of albuterol, either 6 to 10 puffs (n = 30) or 2 puffs (n = 30) with an MDI with spacer or 0.15 mg/kg with a nebulizer (n = 30). RESULTS: No significant differences were seen between treatment groups in the degree of improvement in percent predicted FEV1 (P =.12), clinical score, respiratory rate, or O2 saturation. However, the nebulizer group had a significantly greater change in heart rate (P =.0001). Our study had 93% power to detect a mean difference in percent predicted FEV1 of 8 between the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: In children with mild acute asthma, treatment with 2 puffs of albuterol by an MDI with spacer is just as clinically beneficial as treatment with higher doses delivered by an MDI or by a nebulizer.     

Nebulizers vs metered-dose inhalers with spacers for bronchodilator therapy to treat wheezing in children aged 2 to 24 months in a pediatric emergency department

OBJECTIVE: To determine if administration of albuterol by a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer device is as efficacious as administration of albuterol by nebulizer to treat wheezing in children aged 2 years and younger. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Pediatric emergency department. PATIENTS: From a convenience sample of wheezing children aged 2 to 24 months, 85 patients were enrolled in the nebulizer group and 83 in the spacer group. INTERVENTIONS: The nebulizer group received a placebo metered-dose inhaler with a spacer followed by nebulized albuterol. The spacer group received albuterol by a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer followed by nebulized isotonic sodium chloride solution. Treatments were given every 20 minutes by a single investigator blinded to group assignment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was admission rate. Pulmonary Index score and oxygen saturation were measured initially and 10 minutes after each treatment. RESULTS: The nebulizer group had a significantly higher mean (SD) initial Pulmonary Index score compared with the spacer group (7.6 [2.5] vs 6.6 [2.0]; P =.002). With the initial Pulmonary Index score controlled, children in the spacer group were admitted less (5% vs 20%; P =.05). Analyses also revealed an interaction between group and initial Pulmonary Index score; lower admission rates in the spacer group were found primarily in children having a more severe asthma exacerbation. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that metered-dose inhalers with spacers may be as efficacious as nebulizers for the emergency department treatment of wheezing in children aged 2 years or younger.     

Role of steroids in treatment of croup

Unless there are clear contraindications, corticosteroids are the treatment of choice in mild, moderate and severe croup. Oral dexamethasone in a dose of 0.15 mg/kg to 0.6 mg/kg is recommended. Whenever a nebulizer is available budesonide in a dose of 2 mg should also be given, atleast to the more severe cases. Although nebulized budesonide (2 mg) has been shown to be as quick in action as nebulized Ladrenaline (4 mg) most workers would recommend additional adrenalin for immediate relief whenever required.     

Assessment of the current status of iodine prophylaxis in Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation

Assessment of the status of iodine prophylaxis was studied in 5,523 schoolchildren randomly selected in all cantons in Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation (BHF). According to the iodine content of household salt samples, all cantons of BHF were divided into two groups: Group A: 95.5% of the salt used is produced in the Tuzla plant, in which the salt is iodized at 5-15 mg KI/kg salt, and 4.5% of the salt used is produced in the Pag plant, in which the salt is iodized at 20-30 mg KI/kg of salt, and Group B: 19.9% of the salt used is produced in the Tuzla plant and 80.1% in the Pag plant. In Group A the amount of iodine in salt was significantly lower than in Group B (11.4 mg/kg vs 18.9 mg/kg, P < 0.001). In Group A the prevalence of goiter was significantly higher than in Group B (32.6% vs 19.7%, P < 0.001). The highest prevalence of goiter was in Bosnian Podrinje Canton (51.2%) and Central Bosnian Canton (42.6%) while the lowest was in West Herzegovina Canton (12.9%). Significantly higher concentrations of urinary iodine were found in Group B than in Group A (82.6 microg/l vs 75.2 microg/l, P < 0.001). In Group A the percentage of urine samples below 50 microg/l iodine was significantly higher than in Group B (35.6% vs 26.9%, P < 0.001), but there was no difference in the percentage of urine samples with iodine values less than 100 microg/l (70.7 microg/l vs 68.25 microg/l, P > 0.05). We conclude that FBH is an iodine deficient area and that the improvement of iodine prophylaxis is urgently required, primarily by increasing salt iodine content to 20-30 mg/kg, in order to eradicate endemic goiter.     

早期营养支持策略对早产儿生长和代谢的影响

目的 探讨早期营养支持策略对早产儿生长和代谢的影响.方法 回顾性分析我院2005-2007年(A组82例)和2008-2010年(B组82例)出生体重≤1800 g、无先天畸形、住院2周以上、存活出院早产儿的临床资料,比较两组出生时一般情况、肠内外营养摄入、体格增长及血生化指标.结果 与A组相比,B组早产儿应用氨基酸、脂肪乳剂更早[氨基酸:(1.8±0.4)天比(2.1±0.9)天,脂肪乳:(2.2±0.6)天比(2.6±1.6)天],起始剂量更高[氨基酸:(1.4±0.5)g/(kg·d)比(0.8±0.3)g/(kg·d),脂肪乳:(0.9±0.2)g/(kg·d)比(0.6±0.3)g/(kg·d)],且开奶时间早(1天比2天),肠内热卡达到100 kcal/(kg·d)的日龄更早(20天比25天),第7天摄入奶量明显增多(45 ml/天比22 ml/天),母乳喂养及混合喂养率明显增加(56.1%比40.0%),肠外营养时间缩短(24天比27天),体重和身长增长速度更快[体重:(22.6±3.3)g/(kg·d)比(18.6±4.4)g/(kg·d),身长:(1.1±0.6)cm/周比(0.8±0.4)cm/周],出院时宫外生长迟缓发生率降低(58.5%比72.0%),住院时间缩短(30天比35天),血白蛋白、前白蛋白、尿素氮、血磷水平明显增高[白蛋白:(34.2±2.8) g/L比(31.8±2.9)g/L,前白蛋白:(112.0±25.0)mg/L比(89.0±19.0)mg/L,尿素氮:(4.1±2.1)mmol/L比(3.3±1.8)mmol/L,血磷:(2.0±0.5) mmol/L比(1.8±0.5)mmol/L],总胆汁酸和碱性磷酸酶明显降低[总胆汁酸:(25.1±19.7)μmol/L比(38.6±25.2)μmol/L,碱性磷酸酶:(315.4±120.0)U/L比(471.1±202.3)U/L],差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 早期更积极的营养支持策略能促进早产儿的生长,减少宫外生长迟缓的发生,缩短住院时间,改善营养状况.     

The outcome of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) post-allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is not improved by the addition of etoposide to the conditioning regimen

BACKGROUND: Relapse remains a concern for children with AML undergoing allogeneic SCT, so in an effort to reduce the risk of relapse in these patients, we intensified our pre-SCT preparation by adding etoposide to the standard busulfan and cyclophosphamide regimen. PROCEDURE: We retrospectively analyzed the collected data and compared the two groups; Group A (n = 18) included patients who received busulfan 16 mg/kg plus cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg (Bu/Cy), and Group B (n = 48) included patients who received busulfan 12 mg/kg, cyclophosphamide 90 mg/kg in addition to etoposide 60 mg/kg (Bu/Cy/VP). The patients' characteristics were similar in the two groups. RESULTS: No significant difference in the overall outcome was noted; the 5-year overall survival was 50% and 53.3% for Groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.9). Similarly, the 5-year probability of relapse was 64.1% and 46.1% for Groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.38). The use of etoposide was not associated with increased toxicity. CONCLUSION: The addition of etoposide to the Bu/Cy regimen was well tolerated, but did not appear to improve the outcome.     

Oral miltefosine treatment in children with mild to moderate Indian visceral leishmaniasis

BACKGROUND: Miltefosine is the first oral drug with demonstrable success in treating visceral leishmaniasis in adults. Because approximately one-half of the visceral leishmaniasis patients worldwide are children, we performed a Phase I/II dose ranging study in the pediatric population in India. METHODS: Thirty-nine (39) children (defined as < 12 years of age) with visceral leishmaniasis demonstrated by parasites in splenic aspirates, were treated with oral miltefosine daily for 28 days: 21 patients received 1.5 mg/kg/day (Group A); and 18 patients received 2.5 mg/kg/day (Group B). About one-half of these children had failed prior antileishmanial treatment. RESULTS: All patients were parasitologically negative and symptomatically improved by the end of therapy on Day 28 of therapy; the initial parasitologic cure rate was 100%. Two patients in each treatment group relapsed with fever, splenomegaly and parasite-positive splenic aspirates by the end of the 6-month follow-up. The per protocol final clinical cure rate was 19 of 21 = 90% in Group A and 15 of 17 = 88% in Group B. Miltefosine was well-tolerated. As per the adult experience, gastrointestinal adverse events were seen: 33 and 39% of children experienced vomiting and 5 and 17% experienced diarrhea in Groups A and B, respectively, but all episodes were mild to moderate in severity and commonly lasted <1 day without symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSION: Oral miltefosine was safe and approximately 90% effective in this initial clinical trial of childhood visceral leishmaniasis.