BACKGROUND The mid-portion of the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve is often described by values of the mean forced expired flow as lung volume decreases from 75% to 25% of vital capacity (ie, forced expiratory flow, midexpiratory phase [FEF(25-75)]). It is common practice to report also forced expired flow at 50% of vital capacity (FEF(50)). STUDY OBJECTIVE To investigate whether F...

The authors investigated the relation between children's pulmonary function and intake of fruits, vegetables, juices, and vitamins A, C, and E by examining cross-sectional data from 2,566 children in the Children's Health Study collected during 1997-1998. Low total vitamin C intake (< or =10th percentile) was associated with deficits in forced vital capacity for both boys and girls and with def...

PURPOSE Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (FEF(25-75)) are not included in routine monitoring of asthma control. We observed changes in FeNO level and FEF(25-75) after FeNO-based treatment with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in children with controlled asthma (CA). METHODS We recruited 148 children with asthma (age, 8 to 16 y...

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are closely associated. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) is a pathophysiological characteristic of asthma. Forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of vital capacity (FEF(25-75)) has been previously shown to be able to predict BHR in adult patients with allergic rhinitis. Therefore, the aim of this study was (i) to evaluate the presence of BHR in a large group of ch...

Background. In patients with bronchial asthma, spirometry could identify the airflow limitation of small airways by evaluating the concave shape of the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve. As the concave shape of the MEFV curve is not well documented, we reevaluated the importance of this curve in adult asthmatic patients. Methods. We evaluated spirometric parameters, the MEFV curve, an...

OBJECTIVES We administered aerosolized histamine to 32 subjects with tetraplegia to determine whether there were differences in spirometric and/or lung volume parameters between responders and nonresponders. RESULTS Baseline pulmonary function parameters revealed mild to moderate restrictive dysfunction. We found that 25 subjects (78%) were hyperreactive to histamine (mean provocative concent...

Introduction: The forced expiratory flow at 25 and 75% of the pulmonary volume/forced vital capacity ratio (FEF25-75/FVC) as a spirometry parameter has been successful in the early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the methacholine challenge test for assessing airway responsiveness.To determine the accuracy of FEF25-7...