Ten years of lung function and radiological findings in six non-smoking asbestos exposed subjects who had increased mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF 25-75%) as the only functional abnormality were prospectively analysed. A biphasic change in FEF25-75% was noted. It initially increased up to the fifth year, and then a decrease was seen. In the final three years of the study, FEF25-75% reduction cor...

Purpose: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is regarded as a risk factor for asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is frequently observed in patients with AR. The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of AR patients with BHR and identify factors that contribute to the incidence of BHR. Methods: The medical records of a total of 176 children with AR were analyzed retrospectively. ...

OBJECTIVE To study correlations among pulmonary function, chest radiology and clinical status in cystic fibrosis. METHODS A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate chest X-rays and clinical charts of patients treated at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Spirometry findings, Shwachman-Kulczycki (S-K) scores and Brasfield scores were analyzed. RESULTS The final s...

INTRODUCTION The obesity paradox in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereby patients with higher body mass index (BMI) fare better, is poorly understood. Higher BMIs are associated with lower lung volumes and greater lung elastic recoil, a key determinant of expiratory airflow. The forced expiratory flow (25-75) (FEF25-75)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio reflects effort-independ...

To document the normal values of pulmonary function tests in children and changes occurring in their values with various respiratory disorders, a study was carried over a period of one year in 95 healthy controls (39 females and 56 males) of 8-13 years of age and 51 cases with respiratory disorders (bronchial asthma-31, pneumonia-10, empyema-10) of matched age, sex and height distribution. The ...

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of torquetenovirus (TTV) infection in a group of children with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections and radiologic evidence of bronchiectasis. Correlations between TTV loads and severity of bronchiectasis and between TTV loads and lung function were evaluated. METHODS In 38 subjects, high-resolution computed tomography (HR...

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to discuss the spirometric characteristics of anthracofibrosis which is a from of bronchial anthracosis associated with deformity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty anthracofibrosis subjects who were diagnosed with bronchoscopy were enrolled in this prospective study. Static and dynamic spirometry plus lung volumes and diffusion capacity were measured in t...

Bilirubin is a strong antioxidant. Increased serum levels have been associated with lower respiratory disease and mortality risk. We studied the association of bilirubin with lung function in the Swiss study on Air Pollution and Lung Disease in adults (SAPALDIA) cohort. Associations between natural logarithmised bilirubin and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), ...

OBJECTIVE Spirometric evaluation in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory flow between 25-75% of vital capacity (FEF25-75%) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) of 21 patients with juvenile SLE (jSLE) were compared to controls. RESULTS Reduced FVC and FEF25-75% was found in 18 and ...

BACKGROUND Little is known about the sex-specific effects of cigarette smoking on the level and growth of lung function in adolescence, when 71 percent of people in the United States who smoke tried their first cigarette. METHODS We studied the effects of cigarette smoking on the level and rate of growth of pulmonary function in a cohort of 5158 boys and 4902 girls 10 to 18 years of age, exam...