Bibliography

Regular use of beta2-agonists might result in increased bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) and decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1). It has been suggested that these possible detrimental effects are not a real deterioration of the disease, but that it might be only a transient (rebound) effect shortly after discontinuing this regular use. Moreover, these effects are thought to occur especially during short-acting and not during long-acting beta2-agonists use. The aim of this study was to invest gate whether a rebound effect (a pharmacological deterioration effect diminishing after several hours) in FEV1 and PC20 (concentration of histamine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 with regard to baseline) occurred after cessation of regular use of beta2-agonists, and whether this occurred both after short-acting and long-acting beta2-agonists. Allergic asthmatic patients (n = 134) were randomly allocated to the use of a short-acting (salbutamol), a long-acting beta2-agonist (formoterol) or placebo for 12 weeks (double-blind, double-dummy). No other asthma medication was allowed, including inhaled corticosteroids. At the start and every 4 weeks later FEV and PC20 were measured, each time at least 12 h after the last doses of study medication, which is in the possible rebound period. To investigate whether a (transient) rebound effect occurred, parameters were additionally measured at least 72 h later after discontinuation of the study medication. After 12 weeks of short-acting beta2-agonist use, a drop was seen in FEV1 from 85.6 (+/- 2.21)% predicted to 78.8 (+/- 2.9)% predicted, measured 15 h (median) after the last doses of medication. This was significantly different compared to placebo. When measured 168 h (median) later FEV1 recovered to 85.5 (+/- 2.4)% predicted, comparable to baseline. PC20 decreased with -1.17 (+/- 0.44) doubling dose after 12 weeks of short-acting beta2-agonist use, measured 15 h after the last doses of medication, which was significantly different compared to placebo. However, 168 h later PC20 recovered slightly with +0.55 (+/- 0.34) doubling dose, but this value was still lower compared to placebo. In contrast, during long-acting beta2-agonist and placebo use no significant changes were seen. In conclusion, the use of short-acting beta2-agonists resulted in a transient (rebound) effect in FEV while the effects on PC20 may point to a real deterioration of the disease. Long-acting beta2-agonist and placebo use showed no changes.We conclude that a mono-therapy of short-acting and not of long-acting beta2-agonists might have deleterious effects in asthma

Animation in relational information visualization

In order to be able to navigate in the world without memorizing each detail, the human brain builds a mental map of its environment. The mental map is a distorted and abstracted representation of the real environment. Unimportant areas tend to be collapsed to a single entity while important landmarks are overemphasized. When working with visualizations of data we build a mental map of the data which is closely linked to the particular visualization. If the visualization changes significantly due to changes in the data or the way it is presented we loose the mental map and have to rebuild it from scratch. The purpose of the research underlying this thesis was to investigate and devise methods to create smooth transformations between visualizations of relational data which help users in maintaining or quickly updating their mental map

Interaction between bronchodilatation and allergen exposure in allergic asthma

Item does not contain fulltextKatholieke Universiteit Nijmegen, 29 september 2000Promotores : Schayck, C.P. van, Folgering, H.T.M., Herwaarden, C.L.A. van Co-promotores : Zielhuis, G.A., Postma, D.S., Sterk, P.J., Wouters, E.F.M., Knottnerus, J.A.183 p

Dyspnoea during an incremental ergometer test and respiratory muscle load

Contains fulltext : 25695___.PDF (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Dyspnoes during an incremental ergometer test and respiratory muscle load

Contains fulltext : 23751___.PDF (publisher's version ) (Open Access

House dust mite control measures: effectiveness depends on the severity of asthma?

Item does not contain fulltext2 p

A phase cell approach to Yang-Mills theory V. Analysis of a chunk

In the present formalism the Yang-Mills field is constructed as a “non-linear sum” of excitations, small field excitations, the modes, and large field excitations, the chunks. The chunk excitations, herein studied, are each described by a finite number of group element variables. The continuum field associated to the excitation in general has point gauge singularities (arising from the non-trivial π 3 (G)). We find estimates for plaquette assignments, edge assignments, and the smoothness of edge assignments, at all scales. The central conceptual motor in our constructions and estimates is a split up of the field at each length scale, locally, into a pure gauge field, and a deviation field. An example is presented establishing the general inevitability of gauge singularities, as a consequence of fall off requirements on the continuum field of an excitation

The problem of measuring perception of dyspnoea

Contains fulltext : 25071___.PDF (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Invloed van dagdosering en inhalatiesysteem op therapieontrouw bij astmapatiënten

Contains fulltext : 26124___.PDF (publisher's version ) (Open Access