BACKGROUND Accurate interpretation of lung function testing requires appropriate reference values. Unfortunately, few African countries have produced spirometric reference values for their populations. OBJECTIVES The present study was carried out in order to establish normal lung function values for subjects living in Rwanda, East Africa. METHODS The study was conducted in Kigali, capital o...

Partial forced expiratory flow-volume curves obtained by the rapid chest compression technique are being widely used to assess pulmonary function in infants and young children. The aim of this study is to assess whether in this age group flow limitation is achieved with the partial forced expiratory flow-volume curve with rapid chest compression. In eight infants and young children sedated with...

The mechanism by which deep inspirations protect against increased airway responsiveness in nonasthmatic subjects is not known. The aim was to investigate the role of airway closure and airway narrowing in deep inspiration bronchoprotection. Twelve nonasthmatic and nine asthmatic subjects avoided deep inspirations (DI) for 20 min, then took five DI expired to functional residual capaciy (DI-FRC...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of aquatic exercise on pulmonary function of patients with spinal cord injury. [Subjects] The subjects were randomly allocated to an aqua group (n=10) and a land group (n=10). [Methods] Both groups trained for 60 minutes, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Pulmonary function was assessed by measuring the forced vital capacity (FVC), forc...

[Purpose] This study was aimed at assessing the effect of lumbar stabilization exercise on the pulmonary function of stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were randomly allocated into lumbar stabilization exercise group and a general physical therapy group. The program consisted of 30-min sessions conducted 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Pulmonary function was assessed based on lung ...

The effects of an upper respiratory infection on some commonly measured spirometric indices have been determined in this study. The forcod vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, forced expiratory flow in the middle half of the vital capacity and the peak expiratory flow were significantly lower during the infection. This stresses the need in cross sectional and longitudinal pul...

background: pulmonary function tests (pfts) are used in assessing physiological to clinical status of the respiratory system, which is expressed as a percentage of predicted values. predicted pfts values are varies in different ethnics. predicted pfts values were studied in a sample of iranian children. materials and methods: prediction equations for pfts were derived from urban children in the...

forty-five patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were studied to compare the acute effects of ipratropium bromide (60 µg), salbutamol (300 µg) and placebo (3 puffs) on the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (fev 1) and forced vital capacity (pvc). ipratropium bromide produced a significantly greater improvement than salbutamol in both fev1 and fvc at 15,60 and 180 minutes after dru...

Dietary antioxidants may protect lung tissue against reactive oxygen species-induced injury, adverse respiratory effects and reduced pulmonary function. Genetic variability in antioxidant enzymes also determines response to oxidative stress in the lung. The current authors evaluated whether lung function levels are associated with dietary intake of antioxidants and the glutathione S-transferase...