OBJECTIVES To determine the response of nebulized magnesium sulfate on the lung function of acetylcholine-induced asthma children. METHODS Three hundred and thirty children of asthma with positive bronchial provocation test were randomly divided into three groups: magnesium sulfate, albuterol, and a combination of magnesium sulfate and albuterol. Lung function was compared between the three g...

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function were examined among 89 rubberwood furniture factory workers. Acute and chronic irritant symptoms were assessed, lung function was measured both pre- and post-shift and personal inhalable dust exposure determined. The only symptoms with a significant increase among high dust level-exposed workers (>1 mg/m(3)) were those related to nasal irritation. Hig...

BACKGROUND Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) is inversely associated with mortality in Western populations, but few studies have assessed the associations of peak expiratory flow (PEF) with subsequent cause-specific mortality, or have used populations in developing countries, including China, for such assessments. METHODS A prospective cohort study followed ~ 170,000 Chinese men r...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pelvic tilt angles and lung function in participants performing pelvic tilts on a ball. [Subjects and Methods] Eighteen subjects participated in this study. While they performed pelvic tilt on sitting at a ball, the peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were measured at 10 degrees of ante...

OBJECTIVE To determine the correlates of the lability of peak expiratory flow (PEF) in the elderly. METHODS A community sample of 4,581 persons > or = 65 years old from the Cardiovascular Health Study completed an asthma questionnaire and underwent spirometry. During a follow-up examination of the cohort, 1,836 persons agreed to measure PEF at home twice daily for 2 weeks, and 90% successfull...

Abreviations: COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; PEP: Positive Expiratory Pressure; CF: Cystic Fibrosis; Log G*: Mucus Impedance; MCI: Mucociliary Clearance Index; CCI: Cough Clearance Index; PDPV: Postural Drainage, Percussion, and Vibration; IPV: Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation; ACBT: Active Cycle Breathing Technique; HFCWC: High Frequency Chest Wall Compression; ELTGOL: Slow ...

The aim of this randomized, double-blind, parallel group study was to determine the lowest effective dose of 6, 12 and 24 microg formoterol fumarate dihydrate Turbuhaler b.i.d. compared with placebo. The 4 week treatment was preceded by a 1 week run-in period. Morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) before intake of the study drug was the primary variable. Patients recorded PEF, prior to and 15 min ...

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects that inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and respiratory exercises have on muscle strength, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and severity variables in children with asthma. METHODS This was a randomized analytical study involving 50 children with asthma allocated to one of two groups: an IMT group, comprising 25 children submitted to ...

We investigated whether exacerbation frequency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was related to an exponent α which quantifies self-similarity in daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) and is calculated using detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). We examined data from COPD patients who recorded an increase in respiratory symptoms and post-bronchodilator PEF on daily diary cards. We also...

BACKGROUND Expiratory rib cage compression (ERCC) has been empirically used by physiotherapists with the rationale of improving expiratory flows and therefore the airway clearance in mechanically ventilated patients. This study evaluates the acute mechanical effects and sputum clearance of an ERCC protocol in ventilated patients with pulmonary infection. METHODS In a randomized crossover stud...