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Results for “Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate”

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PubMedDate not supplied

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function among traffic police in Bangkok, Thailand.

The authors undertook a cross-sectional study of the potential adverse health effects of air pollution in Bangkok, Thailand. During 1998 and 1999, the authors administered lung function spirometry tests and a Thai version of the American Thoracic Society's Division of Lung Diseases (ATS-DLD) respiratory questionnaire to 78 male traffic police and 60 male nontraffic police in Bangkok, as well as to 68 male general police in Ayutthaya province, a rural area in Thailand. No consistent trend of decreased pulmonary function was observed in traffic police. The authors controlled for age, height, and smoking index, after which mean levels of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and maximal expiratory flow rate in 25% of vital capacity (V25) were significantly lower in Bangkok police than in Ayutthaya police. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among Bangkok police was slightly higher than among Ayutthaya police. Multiple regression analysis identified age and workplace as statistically significant factors that contributed to the values of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and V25. This study provided some evidence of an increase in prevalence of obstructive changes in the peripheral airways among traffic police in Bangkok.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pulmonary and neurobehavioral effects of formaldehyde exposure.

Two groups of male workers who were exposed to formaldehyde, the first group in phenol-formaldehyde-plastic foam matrix embedding of fiberglass (batt making), and the second in the fixation of tissues for histology, were studied for work-related neuro-behavioral, respiratory, and dermatological symptoms; and for pulmonary functional impairment. Forty-five male fiberglass batt makers who were studied across the initial work-shift after a holiday had average frequencies of combined neurobehavioral, respiratory, and dermatological symptoms of 17.3 for the hot areas and 14.7 for the cold areas of the process. Their symptom counts were significantly greater than those for 18 male histology technicians who averaged 7.3, and for 26 unexposed male hospital workers who averaged 4.8. During their first workshift after holidays, 58% of the batt makers had a decrease in one or more tests of pulmonary function. Nine nonsmokers had decreases more frequently than did 35 smokers; forced expiratory volume in one second FEV1.0 decreased in 16%, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (sb) decreased in 30%, forced expiratory flow 25-75 decreased in 16%, and forced expiratory flow) 75-85 decreased in 36%. Thirty-five percent of all 44 men had drops in FEV1.0, forced vital capacity, or in diffusing capacity (sb).

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Airway disease in non-smoking asbestos workers.

Ninety-seven non-cigarette-smoking white male insulators from the midwestern United States had significantly reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1.0) (P less than .0017) and forced expiratory flow from 75 to 85% of expired volume (FEF75-85) (P less than .042) when compared to a reference population of Michigan male nonsmokers. There were parenchymal opacities with a profusion of 1/0 or greater in 7 and pleural changes in 13 of these 97 nonsmokers. Asbestos, in the absence of cigarette smoke effects and other diseases, appears to decrease airflow, probably by the distortion of small airways (less than 2mm) by peribronchiolar fibrosis. This stiffening of the lung parenchyma protects midflow (FEF25-75) as the fibrosis increases the lung's radial traction on airways larger than 2 mm. This observation contributes to the natural history of physiological impairment due to asbestos disease.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Exposure to naphthalene-diisocyanate in a rubber plant: symptoms and lung function.

Twenty-three subjects exposed to naphthalene-diisocyanate (NDI, [mean air concentration 0.002-0.007 mg/m3]) were examined with regard to symptoms and pulmonary function. Irritation of the eyes, cough, and exertion dyspnea were more common in exposed subjects than in unexposed controls. Closing volume, as a percentage of vital capacity (CV%), was 6% higher than the reference value (P = .01) on Monday morning after 2 days with no exposure to NDI. The other lung function variables were normal. Two days of industrial exposure caused no further change in any lung function variable. The difference between measured and expected CV% increased with age in the exposed subjects. Five employees who had complained of severe symptoms during NDI exposure and who, therefore, had been transferred to other tasks with no exposure to NDI, displayed marked increases in CV% and a reduction in the forced vital capacity by an average of 0.6 L. Smokers and nonsmokers displayed similar lung function changes.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in lung function of children after an air pollution decrease.

Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1.0), forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75), and maximal expiratory flow at 50% of FVC (MEF50) were measured in 1,880 school children who lived in urban areas before and after a decrease of air pollution. A group of 162 children from a suburban area served as controls. In the first survey, FEV1.0, FEF25-75, and MEF50 of children from urban areas were significantly lower, while in the second survey they were not significantly different from those of controls. The slopes over time of FEV1.0, FEF25-75, and MEF50, adjusted for sex and anthropometric variables, were closely related to the decrease of pollutants concentration. Our results suggest that a decrease of air pollution may produce an improvement of lung function.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

The relation of respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function to moderate occupational exposure in a general population. Results from the French PAARC study of 16,000 adults.

Data from the French PAARC (Pollution Atmosphérique et Affections Respiratoires Chroniques) study were used to assess the effect of a priori moderate occupational exposure to dust, gases or chemical fumes on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function. In this community-based population, without households 'headed' by manual workers, 34% of the 8692 men and 23% of the 7772 women, 25-59 years of age, ever occupationally active, reported some exposure. The studied relationships were adjusted for age, height, smoking habits, socio-occupational class, education and air pollution by logistic or linear regression methods. For men and women, some 50% increase (p less than 0.01) in chronic cough, chronic bronchitis, dyspnoea grade 2 and wheezing prevalence was observed in the exposed group compared to the never exposed, with the strongest association for wheezing. FEV1 and FEF25-75% were not associated with occupational exposure. Among men, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75%/FVC were significantly lower (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.05) among the exposed compared to never exposed, but FVC was significantly greater (p less than 0.05). Among women, occupational exposure was significantly related to a lower FEV1/FVC in the subgroup with a history of asthma or wheezing. Results suggest that occupational exposures of relatively low intensity, encountered in the non-industrial work places may constitute a non-negligible risk for respiratory health.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Short term abstinence from smoking: its place in preoperative preparation.

Newer pulmonary function instruments make measurement of small airway function possible as a routine, inexpensive part of preoperative preparation of patients with obstructive lung disease. Patients with early stages of chronic obstructive lung disease have maldistribution of ventilation and perfusion producing an increased A-a oxygen gradient. If the disease is at a reversible stage, early diagnosis and treatment should be helpful in preventing postoperative complications. Five volunteer heavy smokers stopped smoking for one week without any improvement in small airway function. A longer period of abstinence and other therapeutic modalities for these patients is needed prior to surgery to reduce the postoperative impact of this pathology.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Obstructive pulmonary function defects among Taiwanese firebrick workers in a 2-year follow-up study.

The purpose of the study was to follow up an earlier observation of pulmonary function among workers employed in firebrick-manufacturing factories. A 2-year follow-up study of pulmonary function among 442 workers in 30 firebrick-manufacturing factories was designed. Excluding 79 workers with a history of other occupational dust exposure, changes in pulmonary function of 291 firebrick workers were compared with pulmonary function in 72 control subjects over a period of 2 years. Baseline pulmonary function values (i.e., forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]/forced vital capacity [FVC] and forced expiratory flow after 50% of vital capacity has been expelled [FEF50%] in smoking firebrick workers, and FEV1/FVC and FEF75% in nonsmoking firebrick workers) were significantly lower than those in the comparison group. The statistical method for repeated measurements was used for comparison of the difference between follow-up and baseline lung function. There was no significant difference in FVC and FEV1 changes between firebrick workers and those in the comparison group during the 2-year follow-up period. The decreases in FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow rate, maximal midexpiratory flow, and FEF50% in the firebrick workers were significantly greater than in the comparison group, after adjustment for smoking status. The FEV1, maximal midexpiratory flow, FEF50%, and FEF75% also showed a dose-response relationship with job titles. The decrement of pulmonary function in the 2-year follow-up period was the worst in burning work, followed by crushing and molding. The results show that workers in firebrick-manufacturing factories with exposure to silica-containing dusts may contract obstructive pulmonary function defects.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Handgrip strength, pulmonary function tests, and pulmonary muscle strength in fibromyalgia syndrome: is there any relationship?

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) have lower maximal respiratory pressures than healthy subjects, indicating reduced pulmonary muscle strength. It has also been reported that patients with FMS have reduced grip strength. In this study, we aimed to examine the possible relationship between handgrip strength as a determinant of peripheral muscle strength and pulmonary muscle strength in patients with FMS by comparing them with healthy controls. METHODS: Forty-one consecutive women with FMS (diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria) were compared with 40 age- and body mass index-matched healthy female controls. Pulmonary function tests were assessed by spirometry. Maximal pulmonary pressures were evaluated using an oral pressure meter. A dyspnea score was obtained. Pain was scored according to visual analogue scale and chest pain was classified (0-9) in fibromyalgia patients. Chest expansion was also measured in the two groups. Tender points were also evaluated in FMS patients. Grip strength (Jamar handheld dynamometer) was also measured in the two groups. RESULTS: The difference in pulmonary function tests was not statistically significant between groups. Maximal respiratory pressures (maximum inspiratory pressure and maximum expiratory pressure) and endurance (maximum ventilatory volume) were significantly lower in patients with FMS than in controls. There was also a statistically significant difference between groups regarding grip strength. There was also significant correlation between maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure values and handgrip strength in patients with FMS. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that handgrip strength may be a determinant of pulmonary muscle strength in fibromyalgia patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Pectus excavatum; a clinical study with long term postoperavtive follow-up.

There are divergent views about the harm that pectus excavatum and related chest deformities does to the respiratory and heart function. The indications for surgery and the optimal age for surgical intervention are debatable. In this study 37 operated and 38 nonoperated cases of about the same severity have been followed for more than ten years and examined after the age of 18 years. The examination included socio-economic, cosmetic and cardio-pulmonary function aspects. It could be shown that from the psychological aspect there were no significant differences between the operated and the non-operated cases. The tendency to contract bronchopneumonia is not influenced by operation. The physical working capacity was the same in the two groups. The operated cases have slightly lower pulmonary function values that the non-operated in spite of the fact that the non-operated group at the time of follow-up included the more seveee cases. Age at operation did not seem to be of any importance for the long-term results. The lower pulmonary function capacity in the operated cases is thought to be attributed to a restriction secondary to the operation. There are also indications that pectus excavatum tends to become less pronounced with increasing age. The study supports a restrictive attitude towards surgery.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1979

Amantadine aerosols in normal volunteers: pharmacology and safety testing.

The acceptability and pharmacology of intermittent aerosol administration of amantadine was assessed in healthy volunteers. Amantadine solutions of 2.5, 1.5, or 1.0 g/100 ml were used for 12 30-min, twice-daily aerosol treatments in 15 subjects. Overall, the aerosol treatments were well tolerated. During and up to 1 h after aerosol exposures, nasal irritation, rhinorrhea, dysgeusia, or a combination of symptoms was experienced by some of the subjects receiving either of the two higher amantadine concentrations. Aerosol treatments were associated with small but statistically significant decreases in maximal expiratory flow rates. One hour after aerosol treatments with the 1.0-g/100 ml solution, amantadine levels in nasal wash samples (mean, 30.3 micrograms/ml; range, 1.7 to 108 micrograms/ml) greatly exceeded blood and nasal wash levels reported after oral administration. Amantadine can be administered safely by small-particle aerosol to humans in doses that could be expected to exert an antiviral effect in influenza A virus infections.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

Effects of atropine on potentiation of exercise-induced bronchospasm by cold air.

The role of vagal efferent activity in the cold air potentiation of exercise-induced asthma was assessed by exercising nine subjects who breathed air at ambient and subfreezing temperatures before and after cholinergic blockade. Lung volumes and maximal expiratory flow volume curves with air and with 80% helium-20% oxygen were obtained before and 5--10 min after each challenge. Isovolume comparisons of maximal expiratory flow rates with the two gases were used to assess relative contributions of large and small airways to flow limitation. Exercise under ambient conditions resulted in the expected airway obstruction and cold air exaggerated the response. Atropine pretreatment had no effect on the cold air potentiation. After atropine with ambient air exercise, there was an increase in the relative contribution of large airways to flow limitation, whereas exercise with cold air resulted in an increase in the contribution of small airways. We concluded that the potentiating effects of cold air are local and suggest that the immediate stimulus is related to cooling of intrathoracic airways.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Oxygen radicals in capsaicin-induced bronchoconstriction.

The role of oxygen radicals in capsaicin-induced bronchoconstriction was investigated using scavengers of the radicals. A total of 48 guinea pigs weighing 293 +/- 7 g were employed in this study, which consisted of two phases. In phase 1, 35 anesthetized paralyzed animals were divided into five groups: group 1A, control (n = 6); group 1B, chronic dimethylthiourea (DMTU, n = 12); group 1C, acute DMTU (n = 6); group 1D, superoxide dismutase (n = 4); and group 1E, catalase (n = 7). All animals were injected with capsaicin (16 micrograms/kg iv), and changes in respiratory compliance and maximal expiratory flow rate were used as indicators of bronchoconstriction. The capsaicin injection caused a marked airway spasm that was significantly ameliorated by chronic DMTU pretreatment, but no amelioration was noted with the other treatments. An additional study for group 1C was performed using a double dose of DMTU. Again no amelioration was found. In phase 2, 13 animals were divided into two groups: group 2A, substance P (SP, n = 7) and group 2B, chronic DMTU + SP (n = 6). There was no significant difference in SP-induced bronchoconstriction between animals in these two groups. These data suggest that capsaicin-induced airway constriction is modulated by oxygen radicals which may augment mainly on the biosynthesis and/or axonal transport of tachykinins.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Effects of aerosol methacholine and histamine on airways and lung parenchyma in healthy humans.

To investigate whether histamine (His) and methacholine (MCh) have different effects on airways and lung parenchyma, 11 healthy subjects were given aerosol MCh until a response plateau was obtained and then two doses of His. At the plateau, forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced expiratory flow at 40% of vital capacity from partial flow-volume curves were reduced by 19 +/- 3 (SE) and 80 +/- 4%, respectively. Aerosol His decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 s by an additional 12 +/- 1% but left partial forced expiratory flow unchanged. The bronchodilator effect of deep inhalation, as inferred from the ratio of forced expiratory flow from maximal to that from partial flow-volume curves, increased after MCh and plateaued but decreased after His. Quasi-static transpulmonary pressure-volume area determined in seven subjects was unchanged after MCh but was increased by 57 +/- 10% after His. We conclude that adding His after the response to MCh plateaued does not increase the maximal degree of bronchoconstriction but may increase parenchymal hysteresis, thus blunting the bronchodilator effect of deep inhalation. These results suggest that His and MCh have similar effects on airway smooth muscle but different effects on lung tissue properties.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Capsaicin pretreatment attenuates monocrotaline-induced ventilatory dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension.

In view of bronchoconstrictor and proliferative effects of tachykinins (TKs; mainly substance P and neurokinin A), as well as increased TK release during tissue injury, we hypothesized that monocrotaline (MCT)-induced ventilatory dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension may be mediated via TKs. In phase 1 of the study (n = 19 rats), we tested and found that elevated lung substance P level and suppressed neutral endopeptidase activity occurred 1-2 wk post-MCT (60 mg/kg sc). Both phase 2 (n = 32) and phase 3 (n = 32) young Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: control, sham, capsaicin, MCT, and capsaicin + MCT. Rats in the control group received no treatment. Each sham rat received the vehicles. Chronic capsaicin treatment was used to deplete neuropeptides. Each MCT rat received a single injection of MCT 1 wk (phase 2) or 3 wk (phase 3) before the functional study. Each capsaicin + MCT rat received the MCT administration 3 days after the completion of capsaicin pretreatment. In the MCT group, there were significant decreases in dynamic compliance, quasi-static compliance, and the maximal expiratory flow rate at 50% total lung capacity in phase 2, which was accompanied by significant increases in pulmonary arterial pressure, the weight ratio of right ventricle/(left ventricle + septum), and the arterial medial wall thickness in phase 3. In the capsaicin + MCT group, however, all the above MCT-induced changes were significantly attenuated or abolished. All values from the sham and capsaicin groups were not significantly different from those of the control group. These data demonstrate that MCT induces pneumotoxicity, accompanied by elevated levels of substance P in the lung.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Indications for pulmonary function testing.

Pulmonary function testing is needed to determine the pathophysiology present in the patient with cardiopulmonary disease. Blood gases and pH should be obtained during emergency situations and during cranial, thoracic, and extensive cervical or abdominal surgery. Lung function tests can be divided in global such as spirometry and diffusing capacity which study the ventilation and transfer of gases and regional determinations of ventilation and perfusion. Both types of tests complement each other and should be used together. The spirometry should consist at least of determination of the vital capacity and is determined in the first second to ascertain if there is obstructive lung disease. Some tests such as flow-volume curves, alveolar-arterial gradients and closing volume are very useful to detect early pulmonary disease before any symptoms or findings are present. This is probably one of the most important medical indications for pulmonary function testing. Before certain types of surgery pulmonary function testing is indicated; if the spirometry and diffusing capacity tests are normal, there is no pulmonary contraindication for the planned surgery. In chest surgery if there is significant compromise of the spirometry and diffusing capacity regional lung function tests are indicated to study the pathophysiology at regional level, thus trying to circumscribe the lung resection to the diseased areas.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

PubMed1991

Impaired pulmonary function in schoolchildren exposed to passive smoking. Detection by questionnaire and urinary cotinine levels.

Pulmonary function was evaluated by FEV1, FVC, PEF, MEF50%FVC, MEF25%FVC and MMEF in relation with passive smoking exposure in 143 children aged 6-11 years (mean age = 8.5 +/- 1.6). Passive smoking exposure was evaluated by a questionnaire and by measurement of urinary cotinine levels. Children were divided into different groups: no exposure, low exposure and high exposure. The mean values of each pulmonary function test were compared between the groups and between the different evaluations by Student's test. The evaluation of passive smoking exposure by questionnaire and by urinary cotinine levels separated homogeneous groups of children. The urinary cotinine levels were significantly lower in the non-exposed children than in the other groups (p less than 0.001). Pulmonary function tests, especially MEF50%FVC, MEF25%FVC and MMEF were significantly reduced in exposed subjects (p less than 0.05). These alterations are an index of early involvement of the small airways also in passive smokers. The greater the exposure to passive smoking, the lower the values of the pulmonary function tests.

Child↗

PubMed1996

Experimental asthma developed by room air contamination with cockroach allergen.

To study the asthmatogenic effect of certain airborne elements of the home environment, we studied a group of guinea pigs exposed to aerosolized cockroach allergen (CRa) and side-stream cigarette (S-SC) smoke. Four groups of guinea pigs were exposed to aerosols, either saline or CRa, for 4 weeks, after a sham or S-SC smoke pretreatment. Anaphylactic antibodies were measured by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) assay and by skin test. Animals were challenged with aerosol CRa on day 35, and lung function and leukotrienes (LTB4 and LTC4/D4) were measured. Skin tests were positive on days 21 and 29. The antibodies were heat-stable, IgG1a-like antibodies (PCA titers 1:2-18). The CRa challenge caused an immediate reduction in both the maximal expiratory flow rate at 50% of the lung capacity and respiratory compliance. The decreased lung function continued for up to 6 h (p < 0.0001). LTB4 and LTC4/D4 were elevated (p < 0.0001) in the sensitized animals at the corresponding times of reduced lung function. S-SC smoke did not affect the CRa sensitization; instead, a protective effect on the CRa-induced bronchospasms was noted. Thus, the study indicates that a simple airborne CRa exposure without an adjuvant sensitizes guinea pigs, and that the animals respond to antigen challenge with CRa-specific airway obstructions.

Aerosols↗