BACKGROUND In patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pursed-lips breathing (PLB) improves the pulmonary gas exchange and hyperinflation measured by electro-optic coupling. The response to PLB in inspiratory lung function tests is not known. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of PLB on inspiratory parameters. METHODS Thirty-five subject...

The purpose of this study, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), was to examine the relationship of dyspnoea, rated on a visual analogue scale (VAS), to 1) tidal ventilatory variables measured on exercise and 2) pre-exercise lung function. Twenty one patients (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) mean (SD) 1.19 (0.32) l) were studied. During a preliminary test,...

for better management of asthma it is essential that patients adjust their treatment according to the medical plan developed by the health care professionals. to achieve this goal, patients should assess the severity of their disease regularly. the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of regular measurement of peak expiratory flow and patient education on self management of asthma....

BACKGROUND The efficacy of dry powder inhalers depends on the patient's inspiratory flow. Drug delivery from the Turbohaler (Turbuhaler in some countries), a multidose powder inhaler, is optimal at flows of > 40 l/min. The aim of this study was to investigate the peak inspiratory flow that can be generated by asthmatic patients through the budesonide Turbohaler (PIFTBH) during maintenance treat...

Using posterior rhinomanometry, we measured nasal airflow resistance (Rn) and flow-resistive work of nasal breathing (WONB), with an external nasal dilator strip (ENDS) and without (control), in 15 healthy adults (6 men, 9 women) during exclusive nasal breathing and graded (50-230 W) exercise on a cycle ergometer. ENDS decreased resting inspiratory and/or expiratory Rn (at 0.4 l/s) by >0.5 cmH(...

A 56-year-old woman with poorly controlled hypertension presented to the emergency department with aphasia, right-sided weakness, and an arterial blood pressure of 250/130 mm Hg. A computed tomography scan revealed a large left-sided cerebral hemorrhage. The patient’s neurologic condition worsened and she was intubated and mechanically ventilated (7200 ventilator, Puritan-Bennett, Pleasanton, C...

PURPOSE To determine whether changes in lung function are associated with exercise-related transient abdominal pain (ETAP). METHODS Twenty-eight subjects susceptible to ETAP performed a flow-volume loop before (pre) and after (post) treadmill exercise. Fourteen of the subjects developed symptoms of ETAP during the exercise and completed the flow-volume loop while the pain was present. The rem...