METHODS	One hundred and thirty hospitalized patients with AECOPD were randomly divided into three groups : group 1 ( n = 44 ) received 30 mg/d of prednisone for 7 days and then placebo for another 7 days ; group 2 ( n = 43 ) received 30 mg/d of prednisone for 10 days , then tapered to 15 mg/d for 4 days ; group 3 ( n = 43 ) received placebo for 14 days .\