Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Diseases (GOLD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world. In an effort to increase awareness of COPD and to develop consensus on scientific evidence for management and prevention of this disease, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) program was formed. A summary of the GOLD program is presented along with information about GOLD documents.     

Low dose omeprazole effects on gastric acid secretion in normal man

The pharmacological effects of low dose of omeprazole (Om) are not well known. This prompted us to investigate the effects of a 7-day treatment with a low dose of Om, 10 mg/d (Om10), on gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin levels and to compare the results with those obtained with an effective antisecretory dose of 20 mg/d (Om20). Twelve healthy volunteers received randomly and double-blind for three periods of 7 days, separated by at least 7 days, one capsule of placebo (P), Om10, Om20, given daily in the morning, in fasting condition. The last day of each period, 24 h pH was recorded using a glass electrode connected to a Digitrapper (Synectics). At the end of each pH-metry, acid secretion was measured in basal conditions (BAO), after sham-feeding (SAO) and after i.m. injection of 6 micrograms X kg-1 of pentagastrin (PAO). Whatever the threshold pH chosen, there was a statistically significant difference between P and Om10, P and Om20, and Om10 and Om20. Inhibition of acid concentrations was dose-dependent and prolonged, including nocturnal time. However, when considered on an individual basis, five subjects did not respond to Om10. More than 24 h after the last dose of Om has been administered, BAO, SAO and PAO were significantly reduced by either Om10 (respectively -52, -35 and -28 p. cent) and Om20 (respectively -60, -58 and -50 p. cent). Fasting serum gastrin concentration was significantly increased after Om20 treatment but not after Om10. We conclude that treatment with Om10 has a consistent and long lasting inhibitory action on gastric acidity without statistically significant effect on serum gastrin levels. These results suggest that 10 mg Om daily should be sufficient in some duodenal ulcer patients to effectively inhibit gastric acidity specially when long-term treatment seems to be indicated.     

Isosorbide mononitrate and propranolol compared with propranolol alone for the prevention of variceal rebleeding

The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IM) as an adjunct to propranolol (PR) in the prevention of variceal rebleeding. Ninety-five cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding were randomly assigned to treatment with PR + IM (46 patients) or PR alone (49 patients). Eighteen patients in the PR + IM group and 28 in the PR group had rebleeding during the 2 years after randomization. The actuarial probability of rebleeding 2 years after randomization was lower in the PR + IM group (40.4% vs. 57.4%) but the difference was not significant (P =. 09). However, the decrease in the risk of rebleeding reached statistical significance after stratification according to age, i.e. less than 50 versus >/=50 years old, (P =.03) or by adding an additional year of follow-up (P =.05). No significant difference was found in rebleeding index and survival. The multivariate Cox analysis indicated first, that both treatment (P =.03) and age (P =. 001) were factors predictive of rebleeding and second, that PR + MI reduced the risk of rebleeding by half (relative risk: 0.51, 95% confidence interval: 0.28-0.95). Seven patients in the PR + MI group and 1 patient in the PR group had to discontinue one of the drugs because of adverse events (P =.03). These results suggest that the addition of IM improves the efficacy of PR alone in the prevention of variceal rebleeding in cirrhotic patients. However no beneficial effects were observed on other parameters reflecting the efficacy of treatment.