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Volume 4 : Number 1 (January – April 2002)
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Abstracts |
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>>>>Editorials |
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Living
Donor Lung Transplantation [No
abstract available]
Remeshchandra Babu.K.M. Editor-in-Chief
The
Tuberculosis Conundrum [No
abstract available]
M.P.S.Menon, Former Professor of Medicine,
University of Delhi
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>>>>Unresolved
Issues |
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Brain
Death [No
abstract available]
Ajithkumar.A.K. Pulmonologist and Intensivist,
Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Calicut
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>>> Leading
Article |
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Mucolytics
: Current Perspectives [No
abstract available]
Mohankumar.T. Chief & Senior Consultant
Pulmonologist, Department of Pulmonology, Sri
Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore
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>>>>Original
Paper |
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Interpretation
of Health-Related Quality of Life in COPD Patients
Using Simple and Relative Difference Methods
Sabin Thomas* , Parthasarathi G*, Jayaraj B.S, Mahesh P.A, Depts. Of
Pulmonology and Pharmacy Practice*
JSS Medical College, Mysore.
Abstract:
Objective:
To illustrate how simple relative difference methods can be used
to interpret health related quality-of-life (HRQoL) benefits from
treatment with ipratropium and theophylline, using the proportion of
patients achieving a meaningful improvement in HRQoL.
Design:
The data used in this analysis were from a cross over trial that
compared chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – related
quality of life benefits of ipratropium, theophylline and their
combination.
Main
outcome measures : Simple and relative difference equations were
applied to the proportion of patients who experience a meaningful
improvement in COPD-related quality of life.
Results
: Simple difference showed that among 100 patients receiving
Theophylline an additional 16
(95% C1 9,26) patients would have a meaningful quality-of-life
improvement if treated with Ipratropium, while and additional 23 (95%
CI 7.30) patients would have a meaningful quality-of-life improvement
if treated with combination. Also, among 100 patients receiving
Ipratropium, an additional 6 (95% CI – 6,45) patients would have a
meaningful quality-of-life improvement if treated with combination.
Using the relative difference, for every 100 patients who fail to
respond to Theophylline, 25 (95% CI, 8,31) patients would achieve a
meaningful HRQoL improvement on combination therapy and among 100
patients that failed to improve on ipratropium, 11 (95% CI – 3,22)
patients would improve if given combination. Only the additional
benefit of Ipratropium over theophylline and combination over
theophylline is statistically significant.
Conclusion:
For monotherapy in COPD patients ipratropium may be preferred to
theophylline and it was observed that the addition of theophylline may
improve health related quality of life in a subset of COPD patients
who do not improve with impratropium monotherapy. Simple difference
and relative difference methods help the clinician to develop the
treatment algorithm based on very objective data.
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>>>>Special Articles |
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Phosphodiesterase-4
Inhibitors in COPD [No
abstract available]
Kesavan Nair V, Asst.Professor,
Dept.of Respiratory Medicine, Medical
College, Thiruvananthapuram.
Multi
Drug Resistant Tuberculosis- Strategies
for Control [No
abstract available]
Balakrishnan Menon, Menon MPS,Department of Respiratory
Medicine,V.P.Chest Institute, Delhi.
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>>>> Case
Report |
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Hypersensitivity
Pneumonitis in a 11-year old School Girl
Hashim
KP, Muhammed Musthafa, Suraj KP, Achuthan
V, Ramachandran PV*, Dept.of
TB & Chest Diseases & KHRWS Scan Centre*, Medical
College, Calicut.
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) refers
to a group of immunologically mediated inflammatory lung disorders
involving the interstitium and alveoli. These diseases are also
referred to as extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) and result from
intense or repeated exposure to a variety of finely dispersed
environmental antigens (organic dusts, occupational antigens, avian
antigens). Respiratory symptoms of HP may present in acute, subacute
or chronic stages. Acute HP presents several hours after antigen
exposure with abrupt onset of fever, chills, malaise, cough, chest
tightness and dyspnoea.
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>>>> From
the Book of Medical practice
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The
Elephant in Clinical Pulmonology
Remeshchandra
Babu K.M.
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