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Amal Bhattacharya,1 Salil Bhargava,2 Virendra Singh,3 Deepak Talwar,4 Jagdeep Whig,5 Juliet Rebello,6 Shrinivas Purandare,6 Jaideep Gogtay6 1Department of Medicine, MP Shah Medical College, Jamnager, Gujarat, 2Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases, MGM Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 3Pulmonary Division, SMS Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 4Respiratory Diseases, Metro Hospital and Heart Institute, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 5Department of Medicine, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, 6Clinical Research Department, Cipla Ltd, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Background: The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) has contributed to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer resulting in serious health concerns. Ipratropium bromide/salbutamol sulphate CFC-pressurized metered-dose inhalers (IB/SAL-CFC pMDI) have been in widespread use for many years without any apparent ill consequences. This combination has now been reformulated using the hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant. This study sought to establish the clinical noninferiority of a new HFA-containing IB/SAL pMDI to the conventional IB/SAL-CFC pMDI in subjects with mild/moderate COPD.Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter study in two consecutive periods: a 14-day run-in period followed by a 85-day treatment period. Eligible mild-to-moderate stable COPD subjects aged 40-75 years were enrolled into the study and entered the run-in period during which subjects withdrew all the bronchodilators, except for salbutamol as rescue medication. Subjects were randomized to 85 days treatment with either IB/SAL-HFA or IB/SAL-CFC, 20 µg qid.Results: Of the 290 randomized patients, 249 completed the study. The primary efficacy variable was the change in forced expiratory volume in one second from predose to 60 minutes after dosing on day 85. At the end of the treatment period, the adjusted mean change in forced expiratory volume in one second at 60 minutes was 123 mL in the IB/SAL-HFA pMDI group and 115 mL in the IB/SAL-CFC pMDI group. Because the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval for the between-group difference (-62 mL) was well within the noninferiority margin (-100 mL), the HFA formulation was deemed clinically noninferior to the CFC formulation. This finding was supported by secondary efficacy assessments. Both formulations of IB/SAL were well tolerated during the prolonged multiple dosing.Conclusion: It is concluded that IB/SAL-HFA pMDI provides effective bronchodilation of similar degree to that achieved with IB/SAL-CFC pMDI. Therefore, IB/SAL-HFA pMDI is a valuable alternative to IB/SAL-CFC pMDI. Keywords: ipratropium/salbutamol, pressurized metered-dose inhaler, noninferiority, FEV1, hydrofluoroalkane, COPD

Aims: An isolated bowel segment (IBS), a viable loop of bowel completely free of its mesenteric attachments, has potential clinical use in bowel lengthening and other techniques. The end point of successful creation of an IBS is the development of adequate collateral circulation. In this experimental study, we report the use of fluorescein test to demonstrate collateral vascularity of the IBS in rats. A simple technique for the visualization and photography of fluorescein in the tissues is also described. Materials and Methods: In nine Wistar rats, 5 cm of distal ileum was anastomosed side-to-side to 5 cm of proximal colon using 6/0 PDS. In one rat (control), the colon patch was isolated from the rest of the large bowel immediately and fluorescein test was performed. The remaining eight (study group) rats were operated after 8 weeks and the procedure followed as in the control rat. In the last rat, the mesentery of the colon patch was severed; and 2 weeks later, the fluorescein test was performed. Results: The colon patch in the control rat showed complete lack of fluorescence; in the seven rats tested after 8 weeks, patchy fluorescence was demonstrated in the colon patch; and in the last rat, bright fluorescence of the whole patch could be demonstrated within a few seconds following fluorescein injection. Conclusion: This study describes a simple technique for the fluorescein test. The observation that the vascular collaterals were more abundant after mesocolic division was obviously due to the opening up of collaterals over a period of time. The fluorescein test is a rapid and easy test and can be easily reproduced.

In the framework of a rigid-ion model we report the results of a comprehensive Green’s function analyses of the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption and Raman scattering data on localized vibrational modes (LVMs) to investigate the microscopic lattice structures related with the nitrogen incorporation in (AlGaIn)NAs alloys. Contrary to the outcome of a recent FTIR report of LVMs on GaInNAs multiple-quantum well structures, our group-theoretical analyses of impurity vibrations support the earlier IR and Raman scattering experiments providing corroboration to the fact that upon annealing and/or by increasing In(Al) composition in GaIn(Al)NAs there occur structural changes causing N environment to transform from NAsGa4 to NAsIn(Al)Ga3 and/or NAsIn2(Al2)Ga2 microstructures. From the force variation correlation with bond covalency for the closest mass acceptor CAs(a-) and isoelectronic NAs(i) defects in GaAs we have obtained the corrected value of u for Al–N bond predicting NAs local mode in AlAs (∼510 cm-1) at a higher frequency than that of GaAs:N (471 cm-1). Theoretical results of impurity modes for Al–N complexes in GaAlNAs are compared and discussed with the existing Raman data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that examined the infrared absorption measurements of localized vibrational modes of aluminum-doped zinc selenide. Methodology; Analysis of the absorption spectra of aluminum-doped zinc selenide; Identification of aluminum-related defects in zinc selenide.

Provides information on a study that reported the effect of isochronal annealing on the hydrogen-related local vibrational modes created by proton and deuteron implantation of indium phosphorus. Details on the experiment; Results and discussion on the study; Conclusions.