The Spirophone is a new, portable transtelephonic spirometer which records the slow and the forced expiratory vital capacity tests. Data can be transmitted via the telephone to a remote receiving centre, where a volume-time curve and the flow-volume curve are displayed on screen in real time. The aim of this study was to compare the newly developed transtelephonic spirometer, with a laboratory ...

INTRODUCTION Association between obesity and asthma has been reported widely, with disparity between males and females. Epidemiological data which indicate that obesity precedes development of asthma and increases the prevalence and incidence of asthma, raises the possibility of a causal association. AIM To find out the association, including gender differences, between Body Mass Index (BMI) ...

BACKGROUND Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the mainstay of asthma treatment, but conventional ICS may have limited effectiveness in inflammation and patency of small airways. Ciclesonide is delivered and deposited in the peripheral region of the lung as a small particle corticosteroid. The aim of the study is to compare the effects of ciclesonide with fluticasone propionate on small airway fu...

OBJECTIVE To examine changes in respiratory dynamics in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) sitting leaning forward with hands supported on the knees (tripod position), a posture frequently assumed by patients in respiratory distress. METHODS Spirometry, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP and MEP) generated at the mouth, and diaphragmatic excursion during...

To determine the value of simple spirometric measurements in the diagnostic assessment of breathless patients, doctors requesting such tests were asked to predict the likely ventilatory abnormality, expressing these pretest predictions as probabilities. Comparison of these pretest predictions with the test results allowed an analysis of the doctors' ability to identify lung function abnormaliti...

BACKGROUND Respiratory symptoms are usually underestimated in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Therefore, we set out to investigate the prevalence of patients chronic dyspnea and the relationship of the symptom to lung function indices. METHODS Twenty-five clinically stable hemodialysis patients were included. The mMRC dyspnea scale was applied before ...

Serial assessments of neurocognitive functioning in athletes with concussion are commonly used for return to play decisions. This study provides reliable change indices (RCIs) for computerized tests from 40 NCAA Division I collegiate athletes that suffered a sports-related concussion. The normative data that resulted from the RCIs and subsequent analyses of differences between improved and not ...