Effect of theophylline on the rate of exacerbations among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In Canada, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects 4.3% of adults aged ≥35 years, making it the fourth most common cause of illness and death. Worldwide, COPD is also the fourth leading cause of death and the 12th leading cause of disability. Acute exacerbations are the most frequent cause of hospital admissions and death among [...]

Analysis of carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations in adult cigarette smokers

There are more than 4000 chemicals found in cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased incidence of both respiratory and cardiovascular disease, but the relationship of specific constituents with disease has not yet been established. Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the cigarette smoke constituents that has a very high affinity for haemoglobin [...]

Effects of a long-acting preparation of superoxide dismutase in man.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), like superoxide anion (O2.−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), play an important role in health and disease. They have been implicated in the pathophysiology of different disease states, including anthracyclin-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC), inflammatory bowel disease, ischaemia/reperfusion injury and neurodegenerative conditions. The hypothesis is that in these pathological conditions, relatively large amounts of [...]

Clinical efficacy of lorazepam in children with severe malaria and convulsions

Acute seizures are a frequent clinical feature of severe malaria (SM) and other infections in children. Over 80% of children presenting to hospital with cerebral malaria have a history of seizures and about 60% have clinical seizures after admission. Protracted and multiple convulsions are often refractory to treatment and are associated with an increased risk [...]

Human pharmacokinetics of recombinant activated factor VII

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven®; Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark) is established for the treatment of bleeding episodes and for the prevention of bleeding during surgery or invasive procedures in patients with congenital haemophilia A and B with inhibitors to coagulation factors VIII (FVIII) or IX (FIX) or in those expected to have a [...]