Background: In allergic rhinitis, a relevant outcome providing information on the effectiveness of interventions is needed. In MASK-air (Mobile Airways Sentinel Network), a visual analogue scale (VAS) for work is used as a relevant outcome. This study aimed to assess the performance of the work VAS work by comparing VAS work with other VAS measurements and symptom-medication scores obtained concurrently. Methods: All consecutive MASK-air users in 23 countries from 1 June 2016 to 31 October 2018 were included (14 189 users; 205 904 days). Geolocalized users selfassessed daily symptom control using the touchscreen functionality on their smart phone to click on VAS scores (ranging from 0 to 100) for overall symptoms (global), nose, eyes, asthma and work. Two symptom-medication scores were used: the modified EAACI CSMS score and the MASK control score for rhinitis. To assess data quality, the intra-individual response variability (IRV) index was calculated. Results: A strong correlation was observed between VAS work and other VAS. The highest levels for correlation with VAS work and variance explained in VAS work were found with VAS global, followed by VAS nose, eye and asthma. In comparison with VAS global, the mCSMS and MASK control score showed a lower correlation with VAS work. Results are unlikely to be explained by a low quality of data arising from repeated VAS measures. Conclusions: VAS work correlates with other outcomes (VAS global, nose, eye and asthma) but less well with a symptom-medication score. VAS work should be considered as a potentially useful AR outcome in intervention studies.

BACKGROUND:In the past, the role of long-acting beta 2 -agonists in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) relative to other agents has been unclear. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of adding salmeterol (50 µg bid) or placebo to concurrent anticholinergic therapy on symptom scores, quality of life, prebronchodilator lung function and exacerbations in patients with moderately severe COPD. METHODS:This was a double-blind, randomized, parallelgroup study in patients aged 40 years or older receiving anticholinergic medication. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with placebo (n=207) or salmeterol (n=201) via a Diskus/Accuhaler inhaler for 24 weeks. RESULTS: The morning trough (prestudy drug) forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) increased significantly above baseline

SummaryThis study was aimed at development of cystic fibrosis (CF) patient register for those living at Moscow and Moscow region. The CF patients living in Moscow region were found to have some clinical, genetic and bacteriological differences from CF patients living at the Western Europe. The median survival in 2003-2012 was 39.5 years. Aging of CF patients was associated to reduction in respiratory function, occurrence of more aggres sive respiratory pathogens, increase in respiratory and gastrointestinal complication rate. Key words: cystic fibrosis, register, age related features. РезюмеЦелью исследования явилось создание регистра больных муковисцидозом (МВ), проживающих в Москве и Московской области. Пока зано, что больные МВ московского региона имеют ряд клинико генетических и микробиологических особенностей по сравнению с пациентами ряда западных стран. Медиана выживаемости за период 2003-2012 гг. составила 39,5 лет. Продемонстрировано, что взрос ление больного МВ сопровождается снижением респираторной функции, сменой микрофлоры дыхательных путей на более агрессив ную, нарастанием частоты осложнений со стороны органов дыхания и пищеварения. Ключевые слова: муковисцидоз, регистр, возрастные особенности.

Background and Objectives: To investigate the therapeutic equivalence of the two formulations of the glucocorticosteroid budesonide delivered either by the budesonide Novolizer^®, i.e. a multidose dry powder inhaler, or by the Pulmicort^® Turbuhaler^® in asthmatic patients in terms of efficacy, safety and tolerability during a 12-week treatment. Methods: A total of 315 patients were randomised in this open, multicentre study. Inclusion criteria comprised previously diagnosed bronchial asthma of mild to moderate persistent intensity (ranging from 60% to a maximum of 90% predicted FEV₁), need for anti-inflammatory therapy, inhalation of β₂-sympathomimetics on an as needed to regular basis, reversibility of airway obstruction of >12% after inhalation of 2 actuations of 100 µg salbutamol. Primary variable was FEV₁, secondary were other pulmonary function test variables, PC₂₀FEV₁ for histamine challenge, morning and evening PEFR, salbutamol usage, asthma symptoms, reactions after inhalation, standard safety variables. Results: The comparison of the FEV₁ at study endpoint indicated that the Novolizer^® was at least as efficacious as the Turbuhaler^® (p < 0.001). All other variables of the pulmonary function tests as well as the asthma symptoms, nocturnal awakenings, PEFR measurements, or salbutamol usage indicated no relevant difference. Only 1 patient (Turbuhaler^®) discontinued prematurely due to lack of efficacy. None of the other safety variables (adverse events, laboratory variables, vital signs, etc.) indicated any difference between the groups. Conclusions: The budesonide Novolizer^® is therapeutically equivalent to the Pulmicort^® Turbuhaler^® for the long-term treatment of patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma.

Methods Patients with chronic respiratory disease undertook a HCT by the ROBD and Ventimask methods. The FiO 2 was 15.1% to simulate 8,000 ft which is equivalent to the maximum cabin altitude patients are likely to encounter during commercial air travel. Results 60 patients, (45 males) with stable chronic obstructive or restrictive respiratory disease participated in the study; age mean (SD) 57 (15) years, FEV 1 66 (27)%, FVC 66 (27)%, FEV 1 /FVC ratio 60 (18). There was no significant difference between PaO 2 pre-ROBD HCT 9.74 (1.19) and pre-Ventimask HCT 9.72 (1.05) paired t-test p>0.05. PaO 2 measured post-ROBD HCT (7.36 (0.93)) was significantly lower compared to PaO 2 post-Ventimask HCT (7.96 (0.97)) (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in the mean decrease in SpO 2 in-flight mean (SD) 6 (3) compared to the mean decrease in SpO 2 post-ROBD HCT 5 (3) (p 0.334). In contrast, there was a significant difference in the mean decrease in SpO 2 postVentimask HCT 3 (2) compared to the mean decrease in SpO 2 inflight and post-ROBD HCT (p<0.01) Conclusion The ROBD HCT results in a lower PaO 2 compared to a Ventimask HCT at a FiO 2 of 15.1%. The ROBD assessment more accurately reflected actual changes in SpO 2 in-flight and may be a better method of assessment for in-flight oxygen.