background: pulmonary function tests (pfts) are used in assessing physiological to clinical status of the respiratory system, which is expressed as a percentage of predicted values. predicted pfts values are varies in different ethnics. predicted pfts values were studied in a sample of iranian children. materials and methods: prediction equations for pfts were derived from urban children in the...

In severe chronic asthma, long-term oral steroids may be necessary to control symptoms. In patients in whom such treatment was under consideration, the efficacy and safety of salmeterol xinafoate 100 micrograms b.i.d. was investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group, multicentre study. One hundred and nineteen chronic symptomatic asthmatics were randomized to re...

in the management and evaluation of asthma, simple instruments for measurements of peak expiratory flow rate (pefr) are necessary. the aim of this study was to determine normal pefr of the healthy children in babol, iran. this study was randomly done on 1050 students (primary and secondary schools) in babol. mini-wright peak flow meter was used for measurement of pefr. the range of age, weight ...

It has recently been shown (O. F. Pedersen T. R. Rasmussen, O. Omland, T. Sigsgaard, P. H. Quanjer. and M. R. Miller. Eur. Respir. J. 9: 828-833, 1996) that the added resistance of a mini-Wright peak flowmeter decreases peak expiratory flow (PEF) by approximately 8% compared with PEF measured by a pneumotachograph. To explore the reason for this, 10 healthy men (mean age 43 yr, range 33-58 yr) ...

BACKGROUND Written asthma action plans based on personal best peak expiratory flow (PEF) consistently improve health outcomes, whereas those based on predicted PEF do not. Guidelines state that personal best PEF should be assessed over 2-3 weeks during good asthma control, but it is unclear how long to wait after commencing or changing treatment. METHODS Electronically recorded spirometric da...

BACKGROUND One of the measures of the pulmonary function is the peak expiratory flow (PEF) that can be defined as the major flow obtained in an expiratory pressure after a complete inspiration to the level of the total lung capacity. This measure depends on the effort and strength of expiratory muscles, the airway diameter and the lung volume. OBJECTIVE To compare the results of the peak expi...

Efficient use of dry powder inhalers, such as Turbuhaler, is dependent on the generation of adequate inspiratory flow. It is not clear whether patients with acute asthma are able to generate adequate flow. Peak inspiratory flow (PIF) was measured through an empty Turbuhaler, and without this device, in 99 adults presenting to hospital with acute exacerbations of asthma. Where possible, patients...

Airway inflammation is now regarded as fundamental in the pathogenesis of asthma and treatment with inhaled corticosteroids has proved effective. There is a need for drugs in this category with higher topical potency but fewer side-effects than those presently available. A double-blind, parallel group study was conducted in 671 patients with severe asthma (already taking between 0.8-2.0 mg of i...

BACKGROUND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by both an accelerated decline in lung function and periods of acute deterioration in symptoms termed exacerbations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these are related. METHODS Over 4 years, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and symptoms were measured at home daily by 109 patients with COPD (81 men; median (IQR)...