Comparison of Peak Cough Flows Measured by Pneumotachograph and a Portable Peak Flow Meter

To compare peak cough flows (PCF) obtained with a pneumotachograph (PCFp) with those measured using a portable peak flow meter (PCFm) in a population of healthy subjects and patients with neuromuscular disease.A total of 30 healthy subjects and 32 medically stable patients with neuromuscular diseases were studied. Using an oronasal mask connected, in a randomized order, to a pneumotachograph and to a portable peak flow meter, PCFp and PCFm were measured as every subject performed maximal cough efforts from total lung capacity.PCFp measurements were 377.70 +/-179.28 liters/min and PCFm measurements were 377.50 +/- 172.98 liters/min (not significant). The two measurements were correlated (r =…

Punciones arteriales: ¿siempre la radial y siempre con anestesia?

Effects of a controlled program of moderate physical exercise on insulin sensitivity in nonobese, nondiabetic subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of a moderate, aerobic physical exercise program on insulin resistance and its accompanying metabolic changes in a group of healthy, middle-age, nonobese subjects, without modifying oxygen consumption and body weight. DESIGN: The inclusion of subjects was carried out among volunteers from the health personnel of our center, who complied with the inclusion criteria. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve subjects (age 30-60 years, 5 females), nonsmokers, body mass index (BMI) <27 kg/m2 and fasting plasma glucose <6.1 mmol/L. INTERVENTIONS: Insulin resistance was assessed using the Bergmann minimal model modified with insulin, and basal and maximum metabolic rate were measured wi…

Predictors of Ineffective Cough during a Chest Infection in Patients with Stable Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

In patients with neuromuscular diseases, a chest infection is associated with a reduction in respiratory muscle function that may result in decreased cough effectiveness.To determine if a clinical or functional parameter in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a stable condition could predict spontaneous cough ineffectiveness during a respiratory tract infection.Forty consecutive patients with ALS referred to our Respiratory Care Unit were studied during a one-year follow-up.FEV(1), FVC, FEV(1)/FVC, peak cough flow (PCF), peak velocity time (PVT), maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures, and bulbar dysfunction evaluation using the Norris scale bulbar subscore (NBS). A t…

A simple noninvasive pressure–time index at the mouth to measure respiratory load during acute exacerbation of COPD A comparison with normal volunteers

We assessed the validity of the pressure-time index (PTI) measured at the mouth as a noninvasive and simplified alternative to conventional tension-time index for assessing respiratory load and inspiratory muscle force reserve. PTI was measured within 48 h of hospital admission and at 24 h before discharge in 37 consecutive patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the equation PTI = (P(awo)/MIP)(T(I)/T(T)) 100, where P(awo) is the mean airway pressure measured at the mouth, MIP the maximal inspiratory pressure, and T(I)/T(T) the inspiratory time (T(I)) to total cycle length (T(T)) ratio. Controls were 30 normal volunteers with similar anthropome…

Cambios de usos del suelo durante la segunda mitad del s. XX en la comarca del Camp del Turia

Kyphoscoliotic Ventilatory Insufficiency

Objectives: To determine the effects of long-term nocturnal intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) on symptoms, pulmonary function test results, sleep, and respiratory muscle performance in patients with ventilatory insufficiency due to severe kyphoscoliosis. Design: A prospective study in which 16 severe kyphoscoliotic patients were treated with NIPPV delivered by volume-cycled and pressure-cycled ventilators, over a period of 36 months. Interventions and measurements: At baseline, pulmonary function tests, blood gas measurements, polysomnography, and respiratory muscle strength (measured by noninvasive indexes) were obtained. Symptoms and the number of hospitalizations in the …

Urban growth (1956-1998) in the metropolitan area of Alacant-Elx (Comunitat Valenciana)

18 páginas, 5 figuras, 4 tablas. An abbreviated English version of the paper in the same journal is also attached (Boletín de la AGE 43: 369-374).

Urban growth (1956-2006) and soil degradation by soil sealing in the municipality of Valencia

15 páginas, 6 figuras, 2 tablas.

Urban growth (1956-2012) and soil sealing in the metropolitan area of Valencia (Eastern Spain)

[EN] The aim of this study is to understand the urban growth dynamics from the mid-1950s to 2012 in the Metropolitan Area of Valencia, eastern Spain, and its impact on soils. The study area is a very interesting example of the many changes in land use and land cover in the landscape of Mediterranean alluvial plains. The analysis of urban growth was based on photo interpretation of aerial photographs and GIS based methodology. At a detailed scale (1:10,000), results show that there has been a highly dynamic process produced by the extent of land developed as urban area. In 1956 only 3,441 hectares (9.3% of the overall study area) were occupied by urban use. In 2012 the total sealed surface w…

Efficacy of Mechanical Insufflation-Exsufflation in Medically Stable Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Objective: To determine under what circumstances the use of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) can generate clinically effective expiratory flows for airway clearance (> 2.7 L/s) for clinically stable patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Materials and method: Twenty-six consecutive patients with ALS were studied, 15 with severe bulbar dysfunction. Using a pneumotachograph and with the aid of an oronasal mask, we measured FVC, FEV1, peak cough flow (PCF), maximum insufflation capacity (MIC), PCF generated from a maximum insufflation MIC (PCFMIC), and PCF generated by MI-E (PCFMI-E). MI-E was delivered at 40 cm H2O. Maximum inspiratory pressure (PImax) and maximum expir…

Evaluación del potencial edáfico en el País Valenciano

14 páginas, 1 figura, 17 tablas.

Noninvasive Ventilatory Assistance During Exercise for Patients with Kyphoscoliosis

The goal was to determine whether noninvasive ventilatory assistance (NIV) could facilitate exercise performance and benefit physiologic parameters for eight hypercapnic kyphoscoliosis patients using a cycloergometer for 6-min periods at a constant power (20 W). The exercise protocols were performed in random order while breathing unaided (spontaneous breathing test or SBT) and also while receiving NIV (NIV test or NIVT). The NIV was pressure support (15 cm H2O) plus positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) (4 cm H2O) via a nasal mask. Of the compared parameters, heart rate was not significantly different, but acidosis (pH = 7.32 +/- 0.04 vs. 7.36 +/- 0.04), hypoxia (PaO2 = 61.5 +/- 15.9 vs.…