RANDOMIZED, OPEN LABEL, ACTIVE CONTROLLED STUDY TO ASSESS AND COMPARE HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE WITH MOMETASONE & FORMOTEROL VERSUS FLUTICASONE & FORMOTEROL DRY POWDER INHALER IN MILD TO MODERATE PERSISTENT ASTHMA

ABSTRACTObjectives: The present study was under taken to assess and compare the improvement in HRQoL among mild to moderate persistent asthmabetween Mometasone & Formoterol versus Fluticasone & Formoterol using dry powder inhaler using Asthma HRQoL questionnaire which is diseasespecific32-item instrument including 4 domains: symptoms, emotions, exposure to environmental stimuli and activity limitations where impairmentsexperienced during the previous 14 days and respond on 7-point scale.Methods: The present study was conducted in Preventive Medicine Unit and Chest & TB diseases OPD, KIMS & RC, Bangalore during March 2011 toFebruary 2012. 60 patients were recruited in each group based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. PFT was done pre and post bronchodilator withSalbutamol nebulization with Spirometry. Study medications were randomized and were given for 12weeks. HRQoL questionnaire was administeredbefore and after the medications and outcome was compared between them. Statistical test used were descriptive statistics, t- test.Results: There was a significant improvement in HRQoL from baseline to the end of 12 weeks in all domains (symptoms, emotional, exposure toenvironmental stimuli and activity limitations) in both the groups. The overall improvement in the HRQoL was better in Mometasone & Formoterolgroup compared to Fluticasone & Formoterol group but this difference was not statistically significant, which revealed both combinations wereequally effective in improving HRQoL in mild to moderate persistent asthma.Conclusion: Both Mometasone & Formoterol and Fluticasone & Formoterol combinations are equally effective in improving HRQoL in mild tomoderate persistent asthma patients.Keywords: Health-related quality of life, Mild to moderate persistent asthma, Dry powder inhaler

Classification of pulmonary pathology from breath sounds using the wavelet packet transform and an extreme learning machine

Abstract Background: Auscultation is a medical procedure used for the initial diagnosis and assessment of lung and heart diseases. From this perspective, we propose assessing the performance of the extreme learning machine (ELM) classifiers for the diagnosis of pulmonary pathology using breath sounds. Methods: Energy and entropy features were extracted from the breath sound using the wavelet packet transform. The statistical significance of the extracted features was evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The extracted features were inputted into the ELM classifier. Results: The maximum classification accuracies obtained for the conventional validation (CV) of the energy and entropy features were 97.36% and 98.37%, respectively, whereas the accuracies obtained for the cross validation (CRV) of the energy and entropy features were 96.80% and 97.91%, respectively. In addition, maximum classification accuracies of 98.25% and 99.25% were obtained for the CV and CRV of the ensemble features, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate that the classification accuracy obtained with the ensemble features was higher than those obtained with the energy and entropy features. </jats:sec

Classification Of Pulmonary Pathology From Breath Sounds Using The Wavelet Packet Transform And An Extreme Learning Machine

Background:Auscultation is a medical procedure used for the initial diagnosis and assessment of lung and heart diseases.From this perspective,we propose assessing the performance of the extreme learning machine (ELM) classifiers for the diagnosis of pulmonary pathology using breath sounds.Methods:Energy and entropy features were extracted from the breath sound using the wavelet packet transform.The statistical significance of the extracted features was evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).The extracted features were inputted into the ELM classifier.Results:The maximum classification accuracies obtained for the conventional validation (CV) of the energy and entropy features were 97.36% and 98.37%,respectively,whereas the accuracies obtained for the cross validation (CRV) of the energy and entropy features were 96.80% and 97.91%,respectively.In addition,maximum classification accuracies of 98.25% and 99.25% were obtained for the CV and CRV of the ensemble features,respectively.Conclusion:The results indicate that the classification accuracy obtained with the ensemble features was higher than those obtained with the energy and entropy features

Randomized, Open Label, Active Controlled Comparative Study to Assess Safety, Efficacy of Mometasone & Formoterol Versus Fluticasone & Formoterol Dry Powder Inhaler in Treatment of Mild to Moderate Persistent Asthma

Background: This study conducted to assess and compare the safety and efficacy of Mometasone & Formoterol versus Fluticasone & Formoterol. in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma on symptom control and rescue medication usage. Method: The present study was conducted during March 2011 to February 2012. 120 patients were randomized in to two groups and were given Mometasone & Formoterol to group 1 and Fluticasone & Formoterol to group 2 for 12 weeks. Result: Out of 60 patients recruited in each group 7 were lost to follow up in Fluticasone group and 4 in Mometasone group. Out of 53 patients in Fluticasone group, 11 developed adverse reactions. Whereas in Mometasone group out of 56 patients- 7 developed adverse reactions. The overall improvement in Spi- rometry parameters was better in Mometasone group com- pared to Fluticasone which was not statistically significant suggesting both were equally efficacious. There was reduction in dosage of rescue medication used from baseline to the end of 12 weeks in Mometasone group compared to Fluticasone group. Conclusion: Both combinations were safe and equally effica- cious in treating mild to moderate persistent asthma patients

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its association with tobacco smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure among rural population

A field survey was conducted for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) epidemiology in the rural field practice area of Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, India, which covers a population of 44,387 to find out the prevalence of COPD in adult subjects of 35 years and above using cluster sampling technique and to determine the association of tobacco smoking, environmental tobacco smoking (ETS) exposure and type of cooking fuel used with COPD. The overall prevalence of COPD was 4.36%. The prevalence among males and females were 5.32% and 3.41% respectively. The prevalence was found to be increasing with an increase in age. The tobacco smoke and exposure to ETS was significantly associated with higher odds of COPD with adjusted odds ratio 2.97 and 2.67 respectively. Thus, there was a significant association between tobacco smoking and ETS exposure with COPD