Small airway inflammation and extrafine inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting beta2-agonists formulations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the evidence of small airways involvement in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathophysiology, and to evaluate the efficacy of extrafine formulations of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in combination with long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs) in the treatment of COPD. DATA SOURCE: A search of the PubMed database was conducted using the keywords "COPD", "small airways", "inflammation" and "extrafine formulation." The search was limited to entries published in English before August 2016. Only studies conducted in humans were considered. STUDY SELECTION: Publications were included on the basis of relevance. RESULTS: COPD is a common preventable and treatable disease, characterized by persistent and progressive airflow limitation. With improved understanding of COPD pathophysiology, small airways (internal diameter <2 mm), a well-known major site of COPD-associated inflammation and remodeling, have emerged as a potential target for COPD pharmacologic therapies. The ability of extrafine formulations of ICS in combination with LABAs to achieve central and peripheral lung deposition, and the implications of the enhanced efficacy that this may bring, are discussed by examining findings from the development trials plan of the extrafine formulation of beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate (Foster®, Chiesi Farmaceutici, Italy) in patients with COPD. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need for improved and reliable techniques for small airways assessment in order to detect early damage, disease progression and response to treatment. Evidence from randomized clinical trials supports the benefits of extrafine ICS/LABA formulations in COPD, real world studies are necessary to confirm this.

Death From Butane Inhalation Abuse in Teenagers: Two New Case Studies and Review of the Literature.

The ready availability of butane makes butane abuse frequent. Fatalities are rare. This study presents two cases of death by butane overdose. The postmortem analyses were carried out using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It revealed femoral blood butane concentrations of 18 and 22 mg/L, respectively, as well as specific combinations of adjuvants in each victim. In one of the victims, brain and fatty tissue also contained butane, pointing to chronic consumption. The originality of this study is to show that the identification of specific combinations of adjuvants can be helpful for identifying the brand of deodorant used. Also, sampling the skin and mucosa can help identify the method of drug delivery. The histological examination documented both the direct toxic effect of the gas on the respiratory mucosa and signs of chronic abuse. Volatile substance intoxications should be systematically considered in case of sudden death in a teenager.

Effect of 0.12% chlorhexidine in reducing microorganisms found in aerosol used for dental prophylaxis of patients submitted to fixed orthodontic treatment.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at assessing, in vivo, whether the prior use of 0.12% chlorhexidine as mouthwash would decrease air contamination caused by aerosolized sodium bicarbonate during dental prophylaxis. The study was conducted with 23 patients aged between 10 and 40 years old who were randomly selected and undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. METHODS: The study was divided into two phases (T1 and T2) with a 30-day interval in between. In both phases, dental prophylaxis was performed with aerosolized sodium bicarbonate jetted to the upper and lower arches for 4 minutes. In T1, 10 minutes before the prophylaxis procedure, the participants used distilled water as mouthwash for one minute; whereas in T2, mouthwash was performed with 0.12% chlorhexidine. Microbial samples were collected in BHI agar plates for microbiological analysis. Two dishes were positioned on the clinician (10 cm from the mouth) and a third one at 15 cm from the patient's mouth. The samples were incubated for 48 hours at 37°C. Results were expressed in colony-forming units (CFU). RESULTS: Statistical analysis carried out by means of Student's t test, as well as Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed that the prior use of 0.12% chlorhexidine as mouthwash significantly reduced CFU in the three positions studied (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The prior use of 0.12% chlorhexidine as mouthwash significantly reduced contamination caused by aerosolized sodium bicarbonate during dental prophylaxis in the orthodontic clinic.

Effect of 0.12% chlorhexidine in reducing microorganisms found in aerosol used for dental prophylaxis of patients submitted to fixed orthodontic treatment

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at assessing, in vivo, whether the prior use of 0.12% chlorhexidine as mouthwash would decrease air contamination caused by aerosolized sodium bicarbonate during dental prophylaxis. The study was conducted with 23 patients aged between 10 and 40 years old who were randomly selected and undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. METHODS: The study was divided into two phases (T1 and T2) with a 30-day interval in between. In both phases, dental prophylaxis was performed with aerosolized sodium bicarbonate jetted to the upper and lower arches for 4 minutes. In T1, 10 minutes before the prophylaxis procedure, the participants used distilled water as mouthwash for one minute; whereas in T2, mouthwash was performed with 0.12% chlorhexidine. Microbial samples were collected in BHI agar plates for microbiological analysis. Two dishes were positioned on the clinician (10 cm from the mouth) and a third one at 15 cm from the patient's mouth. The samples were incubated for 48 hours at 37°C. Results were expressed in colony-forming units (CFU). RESULTS: Statistical analysis carried out by means of Student's t test, as well as Wilconxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed that the prior use of 0.12% chlorhexidine as mouthwash significantly reduced CFU in the three positions studied (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The prior use of 0.12% chlorhexidine as mouthwash significantly reduced contamination caused by aerosolized sodium bicarbonate during dental prophylaxis in the orthodontic clinic. .

OBJETIVO: avaliar, in vivo, se a utilização prévia do bochecho com clorexidina a 0,12% diminui a contaminação do ar gerada pelo jato de bicarbonato de sódio durante a profilaxia dentária. O estudo foi realizado com 23 pacientes, na faixa etária entre 10 e 40 anos, escolhidos aleatoriamente, que faziam uso de aparelho ortodôntico fixo. MÉTODOS: o estudo foi dividido em duas fases (T1 e T2), com intervalo de 30 dias entre elas. Em ambas, foi realizada profilaxia dentária com jato de bicarbonato de sódio na arcada superior e inferior, durante quatro minutos. Em T1, 10 minutos antes do procedimento, os participantes realizaram bochecho com água destilada durante um minuto, e, em T2, o bochecho foi realizado com clorexidina a 0,12%. Amostras dos microrganismos foram coletadas em placas de ágar BHI para análise microbiológica, sendo duas placas posicionadas no profissional (a 10cm da boca) e uma terceira a 15cm da boca do paciente. Após a coleta, as placas foram incubadas por 48 horas a 37°C. O resultado foi expresso em número de unidades formadoras de colônias (UFC). RESULTADOS: após análise estatística utilizando teste t de Student, teste de Wilconxon e teste de Kruskal-Wallis, observou-se que o bochecho prévio com clorexidina a 0,12% reduziu significativamente a média de UFC nas três posições estudadas (p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: os resultados permitem concluir que o bochecho prévio com clorexidina a 0,12% proporcionou uma redução estatisticamente significativa na contaminação gerada por meio do jato de bicarbonato de sódio durante a profilaxia dentária na clínica ortodôntica. .