51.   The other nine did no weight training and served as a comparison group.

52.   The second group got the injection on day one and a dummy injection a month later, while the comparison group got fake injections both times.

53.   They were unchanged in the comparison group.

54.   There was no such improvement in the nonexercising comparison group.

55.   There was no such improvement in a comparison group of eight patients given a spray containing only the fat.

56.   Though most experts said they thought the findings proved high-pressure treatment was useless, proponents said the improvement in the comparison group means even slightly pressurized air helps.

57.   They said some candidates feared they would be assigned to comparison groups taking normal treatment, which includes diet, exercise and drugs.

58.   Those in the comparison group averaged one-third more inhaled steroids a year than those who died.

59.   Without a comparison group, such studies are unlikely to prove beyond doubt that a particular treatment is better or worse than others.