The autonomic nervous system maintains homeostasis, which is the state of balance in the body. That balance can be determined simply and noninvasively by evaluating heart rate variability (HRV). However, independently of autonomic control of the heart, HRV can be influenced by other factors, such as respiratory parameters. Little is known about the relationship between HRV and spirometric indic...

BACKGROUND The pattern of change in FEF50%, FEF25%-75% and FEF50%/FEF25%-75% ratio depends on mechanics of forceful expiration, provided that non-homogenous lung emptying is faithfully recorded in the expiratory flow-volume loops. OBJECTIVE To assess the potential clinical value of FEF50%, FEF25%-75% and FEF50%/FEF25%-75% ratio as an indicator of bronchial asthma (BA) control. METHODOLOGY T...

BACKGROUND Several recent studies have suggested that 1 minus-forced expiratory volume expired in 3 seconds / forced vital capacity (1-FEV3/FVC) may be an indicator of distal airway obstruction and a promising measure to evaluate small airways dysfunction. AIMS To investigate the associations of 1-FEV3/FVC with the spirometric measures and lung volumes that assess small airways dysfunction an...

BACKGROUND We previously showed that impulse oscillometry (IOS) indices of peripheral airway function are associated with asthma control in children. However, little data exist on whether dysfunction in the peripheral airways can predict loss of asthma control. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the utility of peripheral airway impairment, as measured by IOS, in predicting loss of asthma contro...

In population studies, the provocative dose (PD) of bronchoconstrictor causing a significant decrement in lung function cannot be calculated for most subjects. Dose-response curves for carbachol were examined to determine whether this relationship can be summarized by means of a continuous index likely to be calculable for all subjects, namely the two-point dose response slope (DRS) of mean res...

A total of 27 patients with recurrent obstructive bronchitis (at least 3 episodes of obstructive bronchitis per year) of 5-15 years of age were studied. Serum IgE level (by ELISA method) and pulmonary function indices were determined together with the full clinical examination. The systemic enzyme preparation Wobenzym was administered with a dosage of 1 tablet for 6 kg weight. Wobenzym was admi...