Use of ipratropium bromide in asthma: Results of a multi-clinic study

A multi-center, double-blind, 90-day study compared an ipratropium bromide metered-dose inhaler (40 [mu]g four times a day) with a metaproterenol metered-dose inhaler (1,500 [mu]g four times a day) in 164 patients with asthma; of the 144 patients who completed the study, 71 received ipratropium and 73 received metaproterenol. Our results suggest that both drugs were equally effective bronchodilators. Although the shape of the pulmonary function response curves suggested that ipratropium has different bronchodilator kinetics than metaproterenol (in that it has a slower onset of action and a more prolonged duration), comparison of the areas under the curves for the two drugs showed that there was no statistical difference between ipratropium or metaproterenol. The only significant side effects noted with ipratropium were cough and exacerbation of symptoms; no anticholinergic side effects were noted.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25980/1/0000046.pd

The First Post-Kepler Brightness Dips of KIC 8462852

We present a photometric detection of the first brightness dips of the unique variable star KIC 8462852 since the end of the Kepler space mission in 2013 May. Our regular photometric surveillance started in October 2015, and a sequence of dipping began in 2017 May continuing on through the end of 2017, when the star was no longer visible from Earth. We distinguish four main 1-2.5% dips, named "Elsie," "Celeste," "Skara Brae," and "Angkor", which persist on timescales from several days to weeks. Our main results so far are: (i) there are no apparent changes of the stellar spectrum or polarization during the dips; (ii) the multiband photometry of the dips shows differential reddening favoring non-grey extinction. Therefore, our data are inconsistent with dip models that invoke optically thick material, but rather they are in-line with predictions for an occulter consisting primarily of ordinary dust, where much of the material must be optically thin with a size scale <<1um, and may also be consistent with models invoking variations intrinsic to the stellar photosphere. Notably, our data do not place constraints on the color of the longer-term "secular" dimming, which may be caused by independent processes, or probe different regimes of a single process