Cerebral language lateralization can be assessed in several ways. In healthy subjects, functional MRI (fMRI) during performance of a language task has evolved to be the most frequently applied method. Functional transcranial Doppler (fTCD) may provide a valid alternative, but has been used rarely. Both techniques have their own strengths and weaknesses and as a result may be applied in differen...

BACKGROUND Thoracic surgery may cause reduced respiratory function and pulmonary complications, with associated increased risk of mortality. Postoperative physiotherapy aims to reverse atelectasis and secretion retention, and may include incentive spirometry. OBJECTIVES To review the evidence for incentive spirometry, examining the physiological basis, equipment and its use following thoracic...

OBJECTIVE Clinical asthma guidelines recommend spirometry for asthma diagnosis, but there is inconsistent evidence about benefits to patients in using it for ongoing management. Our aim was to determine whether training in the use of spirometry for management of asthma provided better health outcomes and improved the quality of care in the primary care setting. DESIGN Pragmatic, cluster rando...

BACKGROUND Several studies have shown that the use of pulmonary medication is widespread and often initiated without initial spirometry. Early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by spirometry in General Practice is essential for an early and correct implementation of medical treatment. AIM The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of regular therapy following...

BACKGROUND Guidelines advise chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be diagnosed and managed by using spirometry to demonstrate irreversible airflow limitation and monitor change in smokers and ex-smokers aged over 35 years. METHODS A cross-sectional study of patients and their general practitioners investigating use of spirometry in COPD in two practices by lung function assessm...

OBJECTIVES Respiratory symptoms are associated with spirometry results but more strongly with smoking history, suggesting that alterations in the lung other than those revealed by spirometry contribute to cause symptoms. Smoking may cause obstruction of peripheral airways that is poorly detected by spirometry. The slope of phase III of the single-breath nitrogen (N(2)) test detects smoking-indu...

BACKGROUND Occupational asthma (OA) is the most common occupational lung disease in developed countries. One of the causative agents is metal fume that may be encountered in steel industries. Screening for the OA is mainly performed by questionnaire but in our country spirometry is used more commonly. OBJECTIVE To compare the diagnostic value of the Venables standardized respiratory questionn...

BACKGROUND Some technologists worry that patients with very severe lung disease are unable to complete several spirometry maneuvers, which require considerable effort. METHODS We retrospectively selected all spirometry tests with an FEV1 < 35% predicted done by adult subjects sent to our pulmonary function laboratory during a 3-y period. We determined the rates and correlates of poor quality ...