Search results for " Capacity"
showing 10 items of 902 documents
Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in ALS: predictors of tolerance and survival.
2006
Objective: To identify factors associated with tolerance and survival after noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and to investigate the influence of NIPPV on lung function in patients with ALS. Methods: NIPPV was offered to 71 patients with ALS in accordance with currently published guidelines. Effects of NIPPV on lung function and factors influencing tolerance and survival after NIPPV were studied. Results: Forty-four patients (61.9%; 95% CI: 50.6 to 73.2) tolerated NIPPV (NIPPV use >= 4 h/day) and 27 (38.1%; 95% CI: 26.8 to 49.4) were intolerant (NIPPV use = 4 h/day) and to the modifications of forced vital capacity decline after treatment initiation. The severity of bulbar i…
Computational fluid dynamics in the assessment of patients' postoperative status after glottis-widening surgery
2017
Background. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a rapidly developing instrument with a number of practical applications, allows calculation and visualization of the changing parameters of airflow in the upper respiratory tract. Objectives. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the advantages of CFD as an instrument for noninvasive tests of the larynx in patients who had undergone surgical treatment due to bilateral vocal fold paralysis. Material and Methods. Surface measurements of the glottic space were made during maximum adduction of the vocal folds. Additionally, the following spirometric parameters were determined: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first s…
Combined Effect of Sauna Bathing and Cardiorespiratory Fitness on the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Deaths in Caucasian Men: A Long-term Prospective Cohort …
2018
Both cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and frequency of sauna bathing (FSB) are each strongly and independently associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk. However, the combined effect of CRF and FSB on SCD risk has not been previously investigated. We evaluated the joint impact of CRF and FSB on the risk of SCD in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort study of 2291 men aged 42-61 years at recruitment. Objectively measured CRF and self-reported sauna bathing habits were assessed at baseline. CRF was categorized as low and high (median cutoffs) and FSB as low and high (defined as ≤2 and 3-7 sessions/week respectively). Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with confide…
Direct and indirect effects of Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) on lung function in children: A mediation analysis
2018
Background: Studies on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) children are lacking. The aims of this study were: (i) to investigate PFTs in GHD pre-pubertal children with respect to Controls, before starting Growth Hormone Therapy (GHT) (T0); (ii) to evaluate changes of PFTs in GHD vs Controls, after 1-year GHT (T1). Forboth aims the mediation analysis (MA) was applied to evaluate the extent to which the relationship between GHD and PFTs could be ascribed to a height-mediated (indirect) or a GH direct effect. Methods: 47 pre-pubertal GHD children (aged 5–14 years) underwent PFTs at T0 and T1. At T0, 47 healthy children matched for age and sex were enrolled as Contr…
Asthma control in elderly asthmatics. An Italian observational study
2014
SummaryBackgroundThe exponential increase of individuals aged >64 yrs is expected to impact the burden of asthma. We aimed to explore the level of asthma control in elderly subjects, and factors influencing it.MethodsA multicenter observational study was performed on consecutive patients >64 years old with a documented physician-diagnosis of asthma. Sixteen Italian centers were involved in this 6-month project.FindingsA total of 350 patients were enrolled in the study. More than one-third of elderly asthmatic patients, despite receiving GINA step 3–4 antiasthmatic therapy, had an Asthma Control Test score ≤19, with a quarter experiencing at least one severe asthma exacerbation in the previo…
High-resolution computed tomography quantitation of emphysema is correlated with selected lung function values in stable COPD
2012
<b><i>Background:</i></b> The literature shows conflicting results when high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scores of emphysema were correlated with different indices of airflow obstruction. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> We correlated HRCT scores of emphysema with different indices of airflow obstruction. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We performed HRCT of the chest in 59 patients, all smokers or ex-smokers, with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of different severity [GOLD stages I–IV; mean age ± SD 67.8 ± 7.3 years; pack/years 51.0 ± 34.6; percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV<sub>1</su…
Alterations of the beneficial effect of deep inspiration in scleroderma: relationships between lung function and imaging.
2007
<i>Background:</i> It has been postulated that the beneficial effects of deep inspiration are dependent on the magnitude of airway distension by virtue of airway to parenchyma interdependence. <i>Objective:</i> This study was designed to examine whether the changes that occur in pulmonary fibrosis affect the beneficial effect of deep inspiration. <i>Methods:</i> Thirty-one subjects with scleroderma underwent lung volume and diffusion capacity assessment as well as high-resolution computed tomography. To assess the effect of deep inspiration, each subject underwent methacholine provocations in the absence of deep breaths. When the targeted change in lung f…
Bronchodilatory Effect of Deep Inspiration Is Absent in Subjects With Mild COPD
2004
Study objectives To investigate whether the bronchodilatory effect of deep inspiration is impaired in subjects with COPD. Methods We measured deep inspiration-induced bronchodilation in 19 patients with COPD and 17 healthy subjects (mean age, 67.8 ± 7.1 years vs 62.5 ± 9.3 years, respectively [± SEM]). Each subject underwent a series of single-dose methacholine provocations to induce at least a 15% reduction in inspiratory vital capacity (IVC). When this was achieved, subjects were asked to perform four consecutive deep inspirations, after which the IVC measurement was repeated and the percentage of bronchodilation by deep inspiration was calculated. Results The percentage of reduction in I…
Spirometry Reference Values for Women and Men Aged 65–85 Living in Southern Europe: The Effect of Health Outcomes
2002
<i>Background:</i> Spirometry is more and more frequently used for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases in the elderly people. Unfortunately, reliable predictive values for the spirometric variables in the elderly are lacking. <i>Objectives:</i> Data obtained from 429 subjects participating in the multicenter Italian study SARA on respiratory health in the elderly were analyzed in order to derive reference values for spirometry in the age range of 65–85 years. The second aim of this study was to assess the influence of variables describing many dimensions of the health status on the prediction of spirometric variables in that age range. <i>Methods:</i> S…
Use of a portable device to record maximum inspiratory flow in relation to dyspnoea in patients with COPD
2011
SummaryForced inspiratory measures have been described to reflect the reduction in dyspnoea upon bronchodilation in severe COPD. Based on this we evaluated the applicability and usefulness of a portable device for the assessment of forced inspiration. In 37 patients with COPD (GOLD II/II/IV n = 16/15/6, mean ± SD FEV1 46.2 ± 15.4%pred) lung function was recorded prior to inhalation of 24 μg formoterol and 30 min later. Assessments comprised spirometry including forced inspiration, body plethysmography, maximum inspiratory flow (InCheck, Clement Clarke), and changes in dyspnoea via visual analogue scale (VAS). The sequence was repeated on a second day to assess reproducibility. Bronchodilati…