The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ageing on variability of airflow obstruction and on the specific pattern of nocturnal exacerbations ("morning dipping" of peak expiratory flow (PEF)) in asthma. Two groups of stable asthmatics (Group A: 23 patients, aged 14-47 yrs; Group B: 20 patients, aged 53-74 yrs), that were similar for duration of disease, degree of obstruction and respons...

BACKGROUND Quality of life (QOL) is commonly measured in asthma clinical trials by a questionnaire given before and after treatment. A structured asthma QOL daily diary provides more restricted information but on a daily basis. The validity and use of such a QOL diary was examined in a clinical trial in which two asthma treatments were compared. METHODS The effects of low dose inhaled steroid...

BACKGROUND Serial peak expiratory flow (PEF) records have been recommended as a first-line investigation in workers suspected as having occupational asthma (OA). AIMS To determine which PEF variability index best differentiates workers with OA from non-occupational asthmatics and unaffected irritant-exposed workers. METHODS PEF was measured at least four times daily for at least 3 weeks in ...

BACKGROUND Although self-inflating bags are widely used for manual hyperinflation, they do not allow ventilation parameters, such as pressure or volume, to be set. We studied the ventilation performance of neonatal and pediatric self-inflating bags. METHODS We asked 22 physiotherapists to manually hyperinflate 2 lung models (neonatal and pediatric), using self-inflating bags from 3 manufactur...

OBJECTIVES To study individual effects on pulmonary function of exposure to hard metal including cobalt. METHODS All of the workers in a hard metal company (583 men and 120 women) were examined for smoking, respiratory symptoms, ventilatory function, occupational history of exposure to hard metal, and present exposure to airborne cobalt. The ventilatory function indices (forced vital capacity...

BACKGROUND The CoughAssist is a mechanical insufflator-exsufflator designed to assist airway secretion clearance in patients with ineffective cough. The device may benefit intubated and tracheotomized patients. We assessed the impact of various artificial airways on peak expiratory flow (PEF) with the CoughAssist. METHODS We measured PEF and pressure at the airway opening in a lung model duri...

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of physiologic and mechanical aging on peak flowmeters. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eight each of MiniWright (MW; Clement Clark; Harlow, UK), Personal-Best (PB; HealthScan Products; Cedar Grove, NJ), Vitalograph (V; Vitalograph Ltd; Buckingham, UK), and Breath-Taker (BT; Medical Development Australia; Melbourne, Australia) peak flowmeters were assessed for accurac...

BACKGROUND Current guidelines for the correct peak expiratory flow (PEF) maneuver include standing. In the hospital setting, PEF values are often ordered to assess response to asthma therapy for exacerbations. We have observed that the PEF is sometimes performed with the patient in bed. METHODS Healthy adults performed the PEF maneuver in random order, standing, lying back at an ~45° angle on...

In upper airway obstruction (UAO) the relationship between the degree of obstruction, exercise limitation and lung function indices is not well established. Therefore, we investigated in nine healthy subjects (age 36+/-9 yrs) the effects of two added resistances at the mouth (R1 = added resistance with 7.8 mm diameter; R2 = 5.7 mm) on forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expirato...

BACKGROUND Total lung capacity (TLC), forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% (FEF25-75%), peak expiratory flow (PEF), or post-bronchodilator volume response is recommended to detect obstructive abnormalities in the lung. The present study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of these pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters to diagnose obstructive lung disease in subjects with a restrict...