1,721,068 research outputs found
Spiromax, a New Dry Powder Inhaler: Dose Consistency under Simulated Real-World Conditions
No full textBackground: Spiromax® is a novel dry powder inhaler for patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The studies presented here provide further data on attributes (in vitro dosing consistency with budesonide-formoterol (DuoResp) Spiromax; flow rates through empty versions of the Spiromax and Turbuhaler inhaler) of importance to patients with asthma or COPD. Methods: Dose-delivery studies were performed using low-, middle-, and high-strength DuoResp Spiromax. Dose consistency was assessed over inhaler life. Total emitted doses (TEDs) were measured at various flow rates, after exposure to high and low temperature or humidity, at different inhaler orientations, and after dropping the inhaler. The criterion for evaluating dose uniformity was whether mean TEDs were within the product specification limits. In separate studies, flow rates were measured after training, using the patient information leaflets, and again after enhanced training as part of a randomized, open-label, cross-over study. Results: Mean values for both budesonide and formoterol were within 85%-115% of the label claim for each strength of DuoResp Spiromax for initial dose uniformity and for the other investigated conditions (temperature, humidity, orientation, dropping, knocking), with the exception of approximately an 80% increase in first dose after dropping the inhaler (subsequent doses not affected). In the flow rate patient study, two patients' inhalations with Spiromax and six with Turbuhaler were <30 L/min. The majority of asthma patients [91% (Spiromax) versus 82% (Turbuhaler)] achieved the preferred flow rate of >60 L/min. Conclusions: DuoResp Spiromax consistently meets dose uniformity criteria, under controlled laboratory conditions and with variations intended to mimic real-world use. Following enhanced training, all patients in the flow study were able to achieve the minimal inspiratory flow rate of >30 L/min, which is required for effective treatment
NEXThaler, an innovative dry powder inhaler delivering an extrafine fixed combination of beclometasone and formoterol to treat large and small airways in asthma.
Get PDFpeer reviewedINTRODUCTION: Airway inflammation and remodelling in asthma occur in the large airways and also in the small airways. The small airways are those < 2 mm in diameter and are significant sites of chronic asthmatic inflammation. It is important, therefore, to target the small as well as the large airways in any strategy for effective treatment of this disease. AREAS COVERED: The present review deals with the recently developed fixed dose drug combination of beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate that emits extrafine particles when delivered from an innovative dry powder inhaler (DPI), NEXThaler(R). The aim is to present the technical and clinical aspects of aerosolized drug delivery to the lungs. EXPERT OPINION: The data show that the NEXThaler DPI is an efficient device for the management of persistent asthma. The evaluation of the inhalation profiles through the NEXThaler DPI demonstrates that device activation and consistent dose delivery occurs at patient achievable inhalation flow rates, and supports the broad utility of the NEXThaler DPI in patients with asthma. Overall, all the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction outcomes demonstrate the NEXThaler DPI is easy to use
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
In-vitro inhalation performance for formoterol dry powder and metred dose inhalers. In-vitro characteristics of the emitted dose from the formoterol dry powder and metred dose inhalers to identify the influence of inhalation flow, inhalation volume and the number of inhalation per dose.
No full textThe present work aimed at assessing the dose emission and aerodynamic particle size characteristics
of formoterol fumarate from Atimos Modullite, a metered dose inhaler (MDI) and Foradil Aeroliser,
Easyhaler, and Oxis Turbuhaler dry powder inhalers (DPI) at different inhalation flow rates and
volumes using in vitro methodology. Recognised methods have been adopted and validated to
generate the results.
The in vitro characteristics of formoterol were measured according to standard pharmacopeial
methodology with adaptation to simulate routine patient use. The dose emission from the Atimos
Modulite was determined using inhalation volumes of 4 and 2 L and inhalation flows of 10, 28.3, 60,
and 90 L/min. The %nominal dose emitted was consistent between the various flow rates and
inhalation volumes of 4 and 2L. The particle size distribution was measured using an Anderson
Cascade Impactor (ACI) combined with a mixing inlet valve to measure particle size distribution at
inhalation flow rates below 30 L/min. The particle size distribution of formoterol from Atimos
Modulite was measured using inhalation flows of 15, 28.3, 50, and 60 L/min with and without
different spacers, Aerochamber and Volumatic. The mean fine particle dose (%nominal dose)
through an Atimos without spacer were 53.52% (2.51), 54.1% (0.79), 53.37% (0.81), 50.43% (1.92)
compared to Aerochamber 63.62% (0.44), 63.86% (0.72), 64.72% (0.47), 59.96% (1.97) and
Volumatic 62.40% (0.28),63.41% (0.52), 64.71% (0.61), 58.43% (0.73), respectively. A small
decrease in the fine particle dose was observed as the inhalation flow increased, but this was not
significant. The respective mean mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) increased as the flow rate
was increased from 15 of 60 L/min. Results also suggests that the use of spacers provides better lung
deposition for patients with problems using MDI.
The dose emission from the Foradil Aeroliser was determined using inhalation volumes of 4 and 2 L,
at inhalation flows of 10, 15, 20, 28.3, 60, and 90 L/min plus two inhalations per single dose. The
%nominal dose emitted using 2 L inhalation volume was approximately half when compared to
results obtained using inhalation volume of 4 L. A significantly (p<0.001) higher amount of drug
was also emitted from Easyhaler® at inhalation volume of 4 L through flow rates of 10, 20, 28.3, 40,
and 60 L/min compared 2 L. Similar results were observed through Oxis Turbuhaler at inhalation
flow rates of 10, 20, 28.3, 40, and 60 L/min.
Comparative studies were also carried out to evaluate the particle size distribution of formoterol
through the DPIs. The nominal fine particle dose through Aeroliser using inhalation flows of 10, 20,
28.3, 60 and 90 L/min were 9.23%, 14.70 %, 21.37%, 28.93%, and 39.70% for the 4 L and 4.17%,
5.55%, 7.28%, 8.41%, and 11.08% for the 2 L, respectively. The respective MMAD significantly
(p<0.001) decreased with increasing flow rates. Aeroliser performance showed significant (p<0.001)
increase in the % nominal fine particle dose for two inhalations compared to one inhalation at both 4
and 2 L.
The Easyhaler was measured using inhalation flows of 10, 20, 28.3, 40, 60 L/min. The nominal fine
particle dose were 19.03%, 27.09%, 36.89%, 49.71% and 49.25% for the 4 L and 9.14%, 15.44%,
21.02%, 29.41%, 29.14% for the 2 L, respectively. The respective MMAD significantly (p<0.001)
decreased with increasing flow rates. Easyhaler performance at both 4 and 2 L showed no significant
differences between one and two inhalations at low flow rates (10, 20, 28.3), but this was significant
(p<0.05) at higher flow rates (40 and 60 L/min).
The Oxis Turbuhaler was also measured using inhalation flows of 10, 20, 28.3, 40, 60 L/min. The
nominal fine particle dose were 12.87%, 24.51%, 28.25%, 34.61%, 40.53% for the 4 L and 8.55%,
15.31%, 21.36%, 19.53%, 22.31% for the 2 L, respectively. Turbuhaler performance showed
significant (p<0.05) differences between one and two inhalations at varying flow rates 2 L inhalation
volumes, but not at 4 L.
The use of Foradil Aeroliser delivers small particles as the Oxis Turbuhaler using two inhalations
hence delivering formoterol deep into the lungs. Also, this thesis shows that high flow resistance of
Turbuhaler will indeed influence the ability of patients with severe asthma or children to use the
system. Beside, Easyhaler produced the highest drug delivery to the lungs, thus, making it a more
desirable system to use, especially for children and asthma sufferers
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Get PDFWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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