Exposure to metalworking fluids has been linked to modest cross-shift reductions in FEV1 and occupational asthma. To identify responsible agents, we measured personal exposures to thoracic particulate (TP), viable plus nonviable thoracic bacteria (BAC), and vapor phase nicotine (VPN) (as a surrogate for tobacco particulate) among 83 machinists exposed to soluble oils and 46 dry assemblers worki...

Increases in body mass index (BMI) are reported to influence asthma response to treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between BMI and response to treatment in a group of patients that were referred for asthma control. Effectiveness measurements in this analysis included percentage of changes in forced volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced volume capacity (FVC), FEV1/F...

AIM Asthma and obesity represent one of the most crucial public and health problems of modern society that frequently begin in childhood and have some mutual elements of risk. Abdominal distribution of connective tissue is important determinant which brings to decrease of lungs function. Multiple influence of overweight on function of the lungs would clearly manifest over reduction of forced ex...

BACKGROUND To correctly interpret spirometric results, reference values should come from the same population. Current spirometric reference equations have been under scrutiny due to deficiencies to fit adequately for Chilean population, specially, for those aged over 65 years old. AIM To develop new spirometric reference values for Chilean adults, based on national studies in which spirometri...

To assess the potential respiratory effects of exposure to paint products, the pulmonary function of 118 construction painters was compared to construction workers unexposed to paints (314 sheet metal workers). When compared to sheet metal workers, painters reported significant excess symptoms of cough (p less than 0.05), wheezing (p less than 0.001), and dyspnea (p less than 0.0001). Nonsmokin...

Background Spirometry-based parameters of pulmonary function such as forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) have prognostic value beyond respiratory morbidity and mortality. Limited data are available on its prognostic value for adverse health outcomes in the growing group of very old adults (=80 years old). We investigate the prognostic value of FEV1 for adverse health outcomes in very ol...

BACKGROUND AND METHODS To evaluate the efficacy of postthoracotomy analgesia with intermittent epidural fentanyl. 50 patients were allocated randomly into 2 groups. The first group received intermittent epidural fentanyl and the second group received intermittent intravenous analgesia using pethidine. The variables studied were: pain score; total amount of additional intravenous opioid analgesi...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate pulmonary function in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy and analyze the influence of parity and smoking on spirometry parameters. METHODS This longitudinal prospective study included a cohort of 120 pregnant women. The inclusion criteria were as follows: singleton pregnancy, gestational age less than 13.86 weeks, and no preexisting maternal diseases. The exclu...

background fumes released form welding activities are capable of initiating several acute and chronic respiratory effects. objectives the aim of the present study was to evaluate respiratory symptoms and spirometry parameters in welders of a steel industry. methods this cross-sectional study was conducted in a steel industry and involved 60 welders and 40 non-welders. a questionnaire was used t...