Experimentation with inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids

Background: Inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids have been used for decades with different production systems. Materials and methods: The following jet-nebulizers: (a) Invacare, (b) Sunmist, (c) Maxineb and ultrasound nebulizers: (a) GIMA, (b) OMRON and (c) EASY NEB II were used as production systems. The jet-nebulizers were used with different residual cups and volume filling, while the ultrasound nebulizers with different volume fillings and face mask versus inlet. Results: Inhalation and ultrasound process detect significant differences between the factors and interactions considered, but each technique follows a specific pattern of magnitude effect. Thus the inhaled mechanism ranks the factor effects in decreasing order: residual cup > drug > nebulizer > loading (2, 3, 4 ml) and also drug > residual cup > nebulizer (loading 8 ml). The ultrasound mechanism orders as follows: nebulizer > drug > loading. In fact, varying micro environmental conditions created during the performance of the devices in both processes alternate the magnitude of factor significance allowing for unique capacities. Conclusions: PULMICORT, MAXINEB, design cup J and loading 6 ml are the best options for the inhaled process. Optimal combinations are provided by FLIXOTIDE and cup B and also by MAXINEB and cup J. The incorporation of large residual cups suggests one out of six drugs, the SUNMIST nebulizer and design D as the best choices. Ultrasound performance informs for other optimal conditions: ZYLOREN, MAXINEB, 4 ml load and MAXINEB x loading 4 ml. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.