BACKGROUND The diagnostic use of lung function using spirometry depends on the validity of reference equations. A multitude of spirometric prediction values have been published, but in most of these studies older age groups are underrepresented. OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to establish new spirometric reference values for advanced age and to compare these to recent prediction ...

Guidelines on the use of inhaled steroids in asthma advocate that the daily dose should be chosen according to the severity of the disease. However, the question of the optimal starting dose remains to be properly addressed, as does the issue of the adjustment in dose required for a given patient. Whether a high initial dose of budesonide (800 microg b.i.d) was more efficacious than a standard ...

BACKGROUND The "Escort" spirometer is a lightweight, hand held spirometer employing a Fleisch pneumotachograph. Measurements of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) are obtained from a single FVC manoeuvre. Results are displayed on a small liquid crystal display, but there is no graphical display. The performance of the Escor...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the early postoperative pulmonary function and arterial blood gases in patients who have undergone open versus laparoscopic nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty patients were randomly assigned to undergo laparoscopic (LN, n=20) or open nephrectomy (ON, n=20). Pulmonary function tests including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forc...

BACKGROUND Little information is available on the possible association between hourly short-term air pollution and peak expiratory flow (PEF) in asthmatic children. METHODS PEF was measured twice daily, from October through December, 2000, in 17 children aged 8 to 15 years hospitalized with severe asthma. A total of 1198 PEF measurements were made at 7 a.m. and 1175 at 7 p.m. Measurements wer...

D uchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a degenerative neuromuscular disease leading to progressive muscle weakness and loss. This review discusses advances in understanding the natural history of DMD, as well as recent pharmacotherapies. Decline in expiratory and inspiratory pulmonary function results in ineffective airway clearance, sleep-disordered breathing and nocturnal and daytime respirato...

This study was conducted in Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with the objectives to generate prediction equations for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV6), FEV1/FEV6 ratio and peak expiratory flow (PEF) from a nonsymptomatic sample of the population, and to compare these equations to published reference values. The study included ...

We have studied the temperature of expired air during a maximal forced expiratory manoeuvre, because this has not previously been fully investigated and it will influence how flow and volume recording devices should be calibrated and used. Temperature was recorded with a fine thermocouple, the response time of which was determined at various gas velocities and for which a correction was made. R...

Rhinovirus (RV) colds are associated with asthma exacerbations and experimental infections are commonly used to investigate the mechanisms involved. However, a temporal association between experimental RV infections and falls in peak expiratory flow (PEF) have not been demonstrated. PEF was measured in 22 volunteers (11 normal, five atopic, six atopic asthmatic) who developed RV serotype 16 col...

Subcutaneous adrenaline and terbutaline have been compared in a double blind study of 20 patients with acute severe asthma presenting to an accident and emergency department. Ten patients received adrenaline 0.5 mg (0.5 ml) and 10 terbutaline 0.5 mg (0.5 ml) subcutaneously. Further treatment with nebulised salbutamol (5 mg), hydrocortisone (200 mg), and aminophylline (0.9 mg/kg/hour) was starte...