Pulmonary Function In Adults Research Articles

The relationship between longitudinal change in pulmonary function and nonspecific airway responsiveness in children and young adults.

The relationship between airway hyperresponsiveness and longitudinal change in lung function was assessed in a population-based sample of 184 children and young adults observed over a maximum span of 12 yr. Pulmonary function was assessed annually with spirometry, and health and household information was obtained with standardized questionnaires. Nonspecific airway responsiveness to eucapneic hyperventilation with subfreezing air was measured on at least two occasions between the sixth and twelfth annual surveys. At any given survey, a significant bronchoconstrictor response was defined as [( prechallenge FEV1-postchallenge FEV1]/pre-FEV1) greater than or equal to 0.13, a value that identified 10% of the population. Subjects were classified as "never", "always", or "inconsistent" responders according to the consistency of responsiveness determined in different surveys. Subjects were classified further as "labile" if their maximal survey-to-survey difference in delta FEV1/FEV1 was greater than or equal to 0.18, and as "nonlabile" otherwise. A Markov-type autoregressive model that adjusts for previous pulmonary function level, sex, growth variables, and smoking exposures was used to model growth of FEV1, FEF25-75, and FVC. Overall, 135 (73%) of subjects never responded to the cold air challenge, six (3%) always responded, and 43 (24%) responded on one but not all occasions. Levels and rates of increase in level of FEF25-75 were significantly lower in the inconsistent and always responders. In contrast, levels of FVC were greatest and increased most in the always responders. In labile subjects, both FEF25-75 and FEV1 growth rates were reduced. These effects persisted when asthmatics were excluded from the analyses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adaptive seating and pulmonary function in adults with muscular disease

Pulmonary infections, possibly due to poor pulmonary functions, are common in individuals with muscular dystrophy. In order to evaluate the relative effects of seating devices on pulmonary function the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and forced expiratory time (FET) in eight adults aged between 12 and 21 years with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy was measured while seated in an adaptive and a nonadaptive seating device. The results showed a 28.0% increase in FVC, a 14.5% increase in FEV1, and a 17.3% increase in FET in the adaptive seating system compared to the nonadaptive system. This result emphasizes the need for proper seating as an important way of maximising pulmonary function and minimizing pulmonary complications in this population.

The Selective and Comprehensive Testing of Adult Pulmonary Function.

The Selective and Comprehensive Testing of Adult Pulmonary Function.

E. Leslie Chusid, Editor, The Selective and Comprehensive Testing of Adult Pulmonary Function (1st edition), Futura Publishing Co. Inc., Bristol (1983).

E. Leslie Chusid, Editor, The Selective and Comprehensive Testing of Adult Pulmonary Function (1st edition), Futura Publishing Co. Inc., Bristol (1983).

The relationship of airways responsiveness to cold air, cigarette smoking, and atopy to respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in adults.

The response to eucapnic hyperventilation with subfreezing air was studied in a population based sample of 171 adults, all of whom also completed a respiratory questionnaire, spirometry, and skin testing. A positive response to the cold air challenge was defined as [initial FEV1-post-challenge FEV1)/initial FVC) X 100) greater than or equal to 9%. Cigarette smoking was with a positive cold air response: 12 of 128 current and ex-smokers (9.4%) versus 1 of 43 nonsmokers (2.3%) (p = 0.095). Among current and ex-smokers, a positive response to the cold air challenge was significantly associated with asthma (p = 0.046). Using a logistic regression model, both current smoking and response to cold air were significant predictors of the presence of "persistent wheeze" or asthma. A positive skin test to any of the 4 environmental antigens used (ragweed, housedust, trees, and grasses) was significantly associated with cigarette smoking (p = 0.018) and hay fever (p = 0.003 among current and ex-smokers) but not with wheezing or asthma. Though not statistically significant, cold air responders had a lower percentage of positive skin test reactivity than nonreactors. The findings of this cross-sectional analysis suggest that in adults, both airways responsiveness and cigarette smoking are important predictors of wheezing and asthma. Furthermore, the data suggest that airway hyperresponsiveness and atopy are independent traits. However, in adults, these traits are associated with cigarette smoking, a common environmental exposure.

The Selective and Comprehensive Testing of Adult Pulmonary Function

A question addressed by Chusid in the foreward is: Why another book on pulmonary function? As an abundance of knowledge on pulmonary function exists, the book is intended to correlate and summarize data in four areas: the performance of tests, their selection, what can be expected of them, and the equipment used in their performance. To meet this goal, Chusid has solicited contributions from 16 authors (all of whom are well known in the field). The book intentionally omits anatomy, physiology, and other basic information, which Chusid believes are already well covered in other texts. The text consists of 16 chapters arranged into ten sections. Six sections are devoted to the fundamental categories of pulmonary function testing: volumes, lung dynamics, lung and airway mechanics, gas exchange, exercise testing, and the regulation of ventilation. Three other sections discuss pulmonary function testing outside the laboratory, special applications (eg, preoperative evaluations), and computer

Pulmonary Function in Adults with Tuberculous Kyphosis of the Spine

Pulmonary Function in Adults with Tuberculous Kyphosis of the Spine

The Relationships between Dyspnea, Pulmonary Function and Intracardiac Pressures in Adults with Left Heart Valve Lesions

SUMMARY Sixty-nine patients with left heart valve lesions have been studied in order to define a sequence of events relating raised intracardiac pressure to abnormalities of pulmonary function and dyspnea. Mitral valve disease was present in 50, aortic valve disease in 12 and both valves were abnormal in seven patients. Evidence is presented that the raised left atrial pressure causes a generalized thickening of the alveolar capillary membrane which usually shows its effect by a decreased pulmonary elasticity (low compliance) and abnormal gas exchange (low fractional carbon monoxide uptake). In some patients the raised pulmonary artery pressure is transmitted, by anastomoses, to the bronchial capillaries and this results in exudation of fluid or edema of the mucous membrane of the smallest air passage causing an obstruction to air flow (high non-elastic resistance). These pulmonary abnormalities may result in difficulty in obtaining the oxygen required for exercise. In some patients the hyperventilation during exercise is an attempt to compensate for this abnormality of gas exchange. In other patients abnormal hyperventilation during exercise is related to nervous causes. Where there is not an abnormally high minute ventilation during exercise, this may be due to gas exchange being normal or due to ventilation being limited by the very high work of breathing. Dyspnea is best related to the amount of respiratory work related to the uptake of oxygen and appears to be associated with this increased respiratory work in the presence of difficulty in gas exchange.

Pulmonary Function in Adults with Intracardiac Septal Defect

Pulmonary Function in Adults with Intracardiac Septal Defect

PULMONARY FUNCTION IN ADULTS WITH INTRACARDIAC SEPTAL DEFECT.

Pulmonary function has been assessed in 45 patients with atrial or ventricular septal defect. Moderate and severe dyspnea occurred almost exclusively in patients with high pulmonary artery pressure irrespective of whether this was due to high pulmonary blood flow or high pulmonary vascular resistance. Evidence is presented suggesting that this raised pulmonary artery pressure causes lung damage shown by a low compliance and high nonelastic resistance. These findings suggest an abnormal alveolar-capillary membrane and an abnormality of ventilation-perfusion relationships, which in turn cause a relatively low pulmonary diffusing capacity requiring excessive hyperventilation on exercise to maintain oxygen requriments. In patients with moderate or severe dyspnea, the abnormally high minute volume of ventilation during mild exertion is associated with a high work of breathing, the dual abnormality separating them from patients with only slight dyspnea on exertion.