Search results for "lung function"
showing 10 items of 106 documents
Serum lipoproteins are not associated with the severity of asthma
2018
Abstract Background Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the bronchi with a complicated and largely unknown pathogenesis . In this context, an emerging role is attributed to the apolipoproteins which serve as structural components of plasma lipoproteins . Low density lipoproteins (LDL) may be involved in the inflammatory pathways of the asthmatic airways; in particular, small dense LDL (sdLDL) particles were associated with increased oxidative susceptibility compared to medium and large sized LDL. In our previous study, we found a positive correlation between forced expiratory volume 1 s (FEV 1) % predicted and larger LDL particles (LDL-1), and an inverse correlation between FEV1% p…
Physical capacity in performing daily activities is reduced in scleroderma patients with early lung involvement
2014
BACKGROUND: Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) often complain reduced capacity at submaximal exercise; conversely physical capacity in performing daily duties has never been measured in SSc. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate this performance and its correlates, in patients with SSc compared to healthy controls, in a free-living setting. METHODS: Twenty-seven outpatients with stable SSc and 11 controls were recruited. Physical activity was assessed by portable multiple sensor device (SenseWear Armband) worn for at least six days. Physical activity duration (PAD; in minutes) for non-sedentary activities and physical activity level (PAL= total daily energy/resting energy expenditure) per day were ca…
Reduced airway responsiveness in non elite runners
2005
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005 Dec;37(12):2019-25. Reduced airway responsiveness in nonelite runners. Scichilone N, Morici G, Marchese R, Bonanno A, Profita M, Togias A, Bonsignore MR. SourceInstitute of Medicine and Pneumology, Respiratory Unit; University of Palermo, Italy. n.scichilone@libero.it Abstract PURPOSE: The effects of endurance training on airway responsiveness in nonasthmatic subjects are poorly defined. We hypothesized that airway responsiveness may differ between none-lite endurance athletes and sedentary subjects, and studied healthy, nonelite runners and sedentary controls by single-dose methacholine challenges carried out in the absence of deep inspirations, in that deep insp…
Diagnosis and management of asthma in the elderly.
2013
Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, and by definition not expected to recover with aging. However, the concept that asthma can affect older individuals has been largely denied in the past. In clinical practice, asthma that occurs in the most advanced ages is often diagnosed as COPD, thus leading to undertreatment or improper treatment. The heterogeneity of clinical and functional presentation of geriatric asthma, including the partial loss of reversibility and of the allergic component, contributes to this misconception. A large body of evidence has accumulated demonstrating that the prevalence of asthma in the most advanced ages is similar to that in youn…
Influence of Walking as Physiological Training to Improve Respiratory Parameters in the Elderly Population.
2022
Walking as physiological training is reported to be an effective activity in order to beneficially influence and slow the onset of aging in healthy elderly people. However, insufficient evidence exists on how walking influences lung function in seniors. In our study, we aim to evaluate the effect of different types of walking on lung function in healthy seniors. The PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCO Essentials databases were searched, while the methodological quality was assessed by the RoB2 tool. A total of seven studies (RCTs) published between 2002–2022 that met the eligibility criteria were analysed in this review. All participants were older adults without any specific associate…
Minimal clinically important difference for asthma endpoints: an expert consensus report
2020
Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) can be defined as the smallest change or difference in an outcome measure that is perceived as beneficial and would lead to a change in the patient's medical management.The aim of the current expert consensus report is to provide a “state-of-the-art” review of the currently available literature evidence about MCID for end-points to monitor asthma control, in order to facilitate optimal disease management and identify unmet needs in the field to guide future research.A series of MCID cut-offs are currently available in literature and validated among populations of asthmatic patients, with most of the evidence focusing on outcomes as patient repo…
Once-daily QVA149 improves dyspnoea and health status compared with tiotropium plus formoterol in patients without ICS use: A post-hoc analysis of th…
2015
Rationale: The QUANTIFY study compared the approved dual bronchodilator QVA149 with the free-dose combination of tiotropium plus formoterol (TIO+FOR) regarding lung function, dyspnoea and health status in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. This post-hoc analysis reported on the subgroup of pts without ICS background therapy. Methods: This blinded, triple-dummy 26-week study randomised patients to QVA149 110/50 µg OD or TIO 18 µg OD plus FOR 12 µg b.i.d. (1:1). ICS was allowed as background therapy. Endpoints included lung function (trough FEV1), dyspnoea (TDI) and health status (COPD Assessment Test, CAT). Results: Of the 934 pts randomised (QVA149 [N=476] or TIO+FOR [N=458]); 87.9% com…
Assessment of a single-acquisition imaging sequence for oxygen-sensitive (3)He-MRI.
2001
MRI of the lungs using hyperpolarized helium-3 (3He) allows the determination of intrapulmonary oxygen partial pressures (pO2). The need to separate competing processes of signal loss has hitherto required two different imaging series during two different breathing maneuvers. In this work, a new imaging strategy to measure pO2 by a single series of consecutive scans is presented. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated in three healthy human volunteers. Maps and histograms of intrapulmonary pO2 are calculated. Changes in the oxygen concentration of the inhaled gas mixture are well reproduced in the histograms. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of the temporal evolution of 3He hyperpolariza…
Use of ICS/LABA (extra-fine and non-extra-fine) in elderly asthmatics.
2016
Age represents an exclusion criterion in randomized clinical trials designed to test the efficacy and safety of inhaled drugs in asthma. As a consequence, data on efficacy and safety of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting β2 agonist (LABA) combinations in elderly asthmatics are scanty. Older age is associated with an increased proportion of comorbid conditions; in addition, all organ functions undergo a process of senescence, thus reducing their ability to metabolize the agents. Overall, these age-associated conditions may variably, and often unpredictably, affect the metabolism and excretion of respiratory drugs. However, pharmacological treatment of asthma does not follow specifi…
Asthma Control: The Right Inhaler for the Right Patient
2015
Inhaled therapy is the cornerstone of asthma management in that it optimizes the delivery of the medication to the site of action. The effectiveness of inhaled therapy is affected by the correct choice of the device and proper inhalation technique. In fact, this influences the drug delivery and distribution along the bronchial tree, including the most peripheral airways. In this context, accumulating evidence supports the contribution of small airways in asthma, and these have become an important target of treatment. In reality, the “ideal inhaler” does not exist, and not all inhalers are the same. Advances in technology has highlighted these differences, and have led to the design of new d…