Biomedical subjects

J Virgulto

Publications and source records attributed to J Virgulto.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Lung function in fire fighters.

Lung function tests were performed on 49 fire fighters of the city of New Haven. Their mean age was 36.4 years, with a mean of 11.7 years as fire fighters. The lung function tests were compared to a control group with a mean age of 33.4 years. There was no significant difference between the mean normal pulmonary function tests of the fire fighters and the control group. The results showed that in this group of fire fighters long-term occupational exposure was not associated with pulmonary function abnormalities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Terbutaline and diaphragm function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

We conducted a double-blind, randomized crossover trial to evaluate whether oral terbutaline (2.5 mg orally three times daily for a week) increased the force of diaphragmatic contraction in normocapnic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ten patients with moderate to severe airway obstruction completed the trail. Compared with placebo, terbutaline produced a mean increase of 5.8 cmH2O in peak inspiratory mouth pressure and a mean increase of 5.0 cmH2O in transdiaphragmatic pressure during a maximal inspiratory manoeuvre. These small changes with terbutaline failed to achieve statistical significance. Also, terbutaline failed to alter flow rates (FEV1, Vmax50) or patients' dyspnoea ratings using two separate clinical scales (Pneumoconiosis Research Unit Score and the Modified Dyspnoea Index). Because all observed changes in respiratory muscle strength were small and because the trial had power to detect small changes in inspiratory mouth pressures, we suggest that oral terbutaline at the dose administered in this study has little noteworthy effect on respiratory muscle strength in normocapnic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Aged↗

PubMed1987

Diaphragmatic dysfunction in siblings with hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease).

Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) is characterized by chronic degeneration of peripheral nerves and roots, resulting in distal muscle atrophy, beginning in the feet and legs and later involving the hands. The association of this disease with diaphragmatic dysfunction has not been reported. We studied a patient with hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type 1 (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) and type 2 diabetes mellitus who had severe diaphragmatic impairment. Some of the clinical findings are similar to the sleep apnea syndrome, which could lead to incorrect diagnosis and delay in the administration of appropriate therapy. Transdiaphragmatic pressure studies on the subject's brother, who also has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, revealed subclinical impairment of diaphragmatic function. These findings suggest that phrenic nerve involvement may be part of the spectrum of polyneuropathy in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in association with diabetes mellitus.

Aged↗