OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of traditional Chinese Five-body balance exercise on patients with preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm). METHODS: Fifteen patients with PRISm and 15 patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were recruited from the Outpatient Department of Guang'anmen Hospital and Beijing Niujie Health Service Center from April to December, 2023. Participants in both groups attended supervised Five-body balance exercise training twice a week for 12 weeks. Patients with COPD continued their regular medication regimen during the intervention period. The endpoints were mean changes in the 6-min walk test (6MWT), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), pulmonary function, and scores of COPD assessment test (CAT), modified British Medical Research Council, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and Self-Rating Depression Scale from baseline to 12 weeks. Adverse events were monitored throughout the study. RESULTS: The PRISm group showed a significant improvement from baseline to week 12 in 6MWT, SGRQ symptom score, and forced vital capacity (FVC) compared to the COPD group (P<0.05). No significant between-group changes were observed in other outcome measurements (P>0.05). In addition, compared with baseline, both groups exhibited improvements in 6MWT, SGRQ score, and CPET at week 12 (P<0.05). The PRISm group also showed a significant increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 s and FVC, as well as a significant decrease in CAT score at week 12 (P<0.05). No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION Patients with PRISm may benefit from Five-body balance exercise training, which can improve the exercise capacity, health-related quality of life, and lung function. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200059290).
Humans ; Spirometry ; Male ; Female ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/therapy* ; Lung/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Exercise Tolerance/physiology* ; Exercise Therapy ; Aged ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Respiratory Function Tests ; East Asian People

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common public health problem worldwide. Recent studies have reported that socioeconomic status (SES) is related to the incidence of COPD. This study aimed to investigate the association between SES and COPD among adults in Jiangsu province, China, and to determine the possible direct and indirect effects of SES on the morbidity of COPD. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 40 years and above between May and December of 2015 in Jiangsu province, China. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling approach. COPD, the outcome variable, was diagnosed by physicians based on spirometry, respiratory symptoms, and risk factors. Education, occupation, and monthly family average income (FAI) were used to separately indicate SES as the explanatory variable. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were introduced to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for examining the SES-COPD relationship. A pathway analysis was conducted to further explore the pulmonary function impairment of patients with different SES. RESULTS: The mean age of the 2421 participants was 56.63 ± 9.62 years. The prevalence of COPD was 11.8% (95% CI: 10.5%-13.1%) among the overall sample population. After adjustment for age, gender, residence, outdoor and indoor air pollution, body weight status, cigarette smoking, and potential study area-level clustering effects, educational attainment was negatively associated with COPD prevalence in men; white collars were at lower risk (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43-0.83) of experiencing COPD than blue collars; compared with those within the lower FAI subgroup, participants in the upper (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.49-0.97) tertiles were less likely to experience COPD. Such negative associations between all these three SES indicators and COPD were significant among men only. Education, FAI, and occupation had direct or indirect effects on pulmonary function including post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), FEV1, FVC, and FEV1 percentage of predicted. Education, FAI, and occupation had indirect effects on pulmonary function indices of all participants mainly through smoking status, indoor air pollution, and outdoor air pollution. We also found that occupation could affect post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC through body mass index. CONCLUSIONS Education, occupation, and FAI had an adverse relationship with COPD prevalence in Jiangsu province, China. SES has both direct and indirect associations with pulmonary function impairment. SES is of great significance for COPD morbidity. It is important that population-based COPD prevention strategies should be tailored for people with different SES.
Adult ; Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Social Class ; Spirometry ; Vital Capacity

PURPOSE: Immunological mechanisms underlying asthma exacerbation have not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of various asthma exacerbation traits with selected serum microRNA (miRNA) expression and T-cell subpopulations. METHODS: Twenty-one asthmatics were studied during asthma exacerbation (exacerbation visit [EV] and the follow-up visit [FV] at 6 weeks). At both visits, spirometry was performed, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) was measured, and nasopharyngeal and blood samples were collected. In nasopharyngeal samples, respiratory viruses were assayed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and bacterial cultures were performed. Serum miRNAs were assayed with real-time PCR. T-cell surface markers, eosinophil progenitors and intracellular cytokines were assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Two-thirds of patients had moderate or severe exacerbation and the FV, overall improvement in asthma control was observed. The mean expression of serum miRNA-126a, miRNA-16 and miRNA-21 was significantly lower at the EV than at the FV. At EV, miRNA-29b correlated with FeNO (r = 0.44, P < 0.05), and 5 of 7 miRNA tested correlated with pulmonary function tests. The number of cluster of differentiation (CD)45+CD4+interleukin (IL)4+ cells was significantly higher at the EV than at the FV, and positive correlations of T-regulatory cells and eosinophil progenitors with asthma control was found. At the EV, serum miRNAs negatively correlated with the number of T cells expressing IL-4, IL-17, IL-22 and interferon gamma, while at the FV both positive and negative correlations with T-cell subsets were observed. No association of detected pathogen (viruses and bacteria) in nasopharyngeal fluid with clinical, functional and immunological parameters was found. CONCLUSIONS: Epigenetic dysregulation during asthma exacerbation could be related to respiratory function, airway inflammation and T-cell cytokine expression.
Asthma ; Cytokines ; Disease Progression ; Eosinophils ; Epigenomics ; Flow Cytometry ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interferons ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-4 ; MicroRNAs ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Nitric Oxide ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Spirometry ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; T-Lymphocytes

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary function in patients with mandibular fractures and to determine the pattern of pulmonary functions in these patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of pulmonary functions in Nigerian non-smoking patients with isolated mandibular fractures managed at our health institution from December 2015 to June 2017. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and ratio of FEV₁ to FVC (FEV₁/FVC) were measured for all participants using a portable spirometer just before treatment. The pulmonary indices were compared with the predicted reference values for Nigerians to determine the respiratory pattern.RESULTS: Forty participants consisting of six females (15.0%) and thirty-four males (85.0%) with a female to male ratio of 1:5.7 were included in this study. The mean patient age was 34.5±13.1 years (range, 17–63 years). The mean FVC, FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC, and PEFR were 3.8±1.2 L, 3.0±1.0 L, 74.3%±13.8%, and 5.2±2.2 L/s, respectively. Comparison of data with predicted values revealed that 17 subjects (42.5%) had normal pulmonary function pattern while 23 subjects (57.5%) had features suggestive of obstructive and restrictive pulmonary function patterns.CONCLUSION: Isolated mandibular fractures presented with abnormal pulmonary function pattern.
Airway Obstruction ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Mandibular Fractures ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Reference Values ; Spirometry ; Vital Capacity

BACKGROUND: The incidence of asthma exacerbation (AE) and the predictive value of spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in school children have not been evaluated.OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of spirometry measurement and FeNO monitoring for predicting AE in school children in the Cheongju area in Korea.METHODS: With parental agreement, we studied 170 students aged 7–12 years. Children were evaluated by an asthma specialist using baseline spirometry, skin prick test, seasonal FeNO measurement, and asthma control test. The study participants underwent a physical examination and their medical history was also evaluated by the specialist. They were assessed for asthma control status during regular doctor visits for 1 year.RESULTS: In total, 160 children (94.1%) completed follow-up and FeNO monitoring. Of which, 26 children (16.3%) had AE. AE was associated with male children and children with allergic rhinitis (p < 0.05). While, children with AE tended to have higher FeNO than those without AE, no significant difference was found. The maximum value of FeNO ≥35 ppb was associated with AE (p < 0.05). Children with AE had a significantly decreased baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV₁/FVC), %predicted, forced expiratory flow at 25%–75% of FVC (FEF(25%–75%)). FEV₁/FVC < 80% was associated with AE in children regardless of inhalant allergen sensitization (all p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Baseline spirometry had a predictive value of AE in school children. Sensitive spirometric parameters such as FEV₁/FVC and FEF(25%–75%) can be used as prognostic factors to predict future childhood AE. FeNO value ≥ 35 ppb during monitoring was associated with AE in school children.
Asthma ; Child ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; Parents ; Physical Examination ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Seasons ; Skin ; Specialization ; Spirometry ; Vital Capacity

BACKGROUND: A reliable objective tool using as a predictor of asthma control status could assist asthma management.OBJECTIVE: To find the parameters of forced oscillation technique (FOT) as predictors for the future loss of asthma symptom control.METHODS: Children with well-controlled asthma symptom, aged 6–12 years, were recruited for a 12-week prospective study. FOT and spirometer measures and their bronchodilator response were evaluated at baseline. The level of asthma symptom control was evaluated according to Global Initiative for Asthma.RESULTS: Among 68 recruited children, 41 children (60.3%) maintain their asthma control between 2 visits (group C-C), and 27 children (39.7%) lost their asthma control on the follow-up visit (group C-LC). Baseline FOT parameters, including the values of respiratory resistance at 5 Hz (R5), respiratory resistance at 20 Hz (R20), respiratory reactance at 5 Hz, area of reactance, %predicted of R5 and percentage of bronchodilator response (%∆) of R5 and R20 were significantly different between C-C and C-LC groups. In contrast, only %∆ of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁), and FEF25%–75% (forced expiratory flow 25%–75%) were significantly different between groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that %predicted of R5, %∆R5, %predicted of FEV₁ and %∆FEV₁ were the predictive factors for predicting the future loss of asthma control. The following cutoff values demonstrated the best sensitivity and specificity for predicting loss of asthma control: %predicted of R5=91.28, %∆R5=21.2, %predicted of FEV₁=89.5, and %∆FEV₁=7.8. The combination of these parameters predicted the risk of loss of asthma control with area under the curve of 0.924, accuracy of 83.8%.CONCLUSION: Resistance FOT measures have an additive role to spirometric parameter in predicting future loss of asthma control.
Asthma ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spirometry ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the waist circumference of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), had an impact on lung function. METHODS: There were 180 patients with COPD recruited into this prospective cross-sectional study. The age, weight, body mass index and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Spirometry parameters including forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), were measured and FEV1/FVC calculated. RESULTS: The mean FEV1/FVC in both normal weight and overweight patients, did not statistically significantly correlate with WC. The COPD assessment test, positively correlated with WC ( p = 0.031). A positive correlation with body mass index ( p < 0.001), smoking ( p = 0.027), and global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease score ( p = 0.009), were observed to positively associate with WC. WC, age, C-reactive protein, duration of disease, and gender (male), were observed to be statistically significant risk factors for the severity of COPD. CONCLUSION: WC was not observed to impact upon lung function in this study but it was a predictive factor for COPD severity in patients.
Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Overweight ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spirometry ; Vital Capacity ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: Chronic cough in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients is common with multiple etiologies including cough variant asthma (CVA), non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB), gastroesophageal reflux-related cough (GERC), and upper airway cough syndrome (UACS). Practical indicators that distinguish these categories are lacking. We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and forced expiratory flow at 25% and 75% of pulmonary volume (FEF(25–75)) in specifically identifying CVA and NAEB in these patients. METHODS: Consecutive AR patients with chronic cough were screened and underwent induced sputum, FeNO, nasal nitric oxide, spirometry, and methacholine bronchial provocation testing. All patients also completed gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaires. RESULTS: Among 1,680 AR patients, 324 (19.3%) were identified with chronic cough, of whom 316 (97.5%) underwent etiology analyses. Overall, 87 (27.5%) patients had chronic cough caused by NAEB, 78 (24.7%) by CVA, 16 (5.1%) by GERC, and 81 (25.6%) by UACS. Patients with either NAEB or CVA (n = 165, in total) were further assigned to a common group designated as CVA/NAEB, because they both responded to corticosteroid therapy. Receiver operating characteristic curves of FeNO revealed obvious differences among CVA, NAEB, and CVA/NAEB (area under the curve = 0.855, 0.699, and 0.923, respectively). The cutoff values of FeNO at 43.5 and 32.5 ppb were shown to best differentiate CVA and CVA/NAEB, respectively. FEF(25–75) was significantly lower in patients with CVA than in those with other causes. A FEF(25–75) value of 74.6% showed good sensitivity and specificity for identifying patients with CVA. CONCLUSIONS: NAEB, CVA, and UACS are common causes of chronic cough in patients with AR. FeNO can first be used to discriminate patients with CVA/NAEB, then FEF(25–75) (or combined with FeNO) can further discriminate patients with CVA from those with CVA/NAEB.
Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Bronchitis ; Cough ; Eosinophils ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Methacholine Chloride ; Nitric Oxide ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spirometry ; Sputum

PURPOSE: It is controversial whether indoor pet exposure is either a risk or protective factor developing sensitization to pet allergens or asthma. Therefore, we investigated whether indoor pet ownership entails a risk for the development of asthma and sensitization in childhood. METHODS: The Panel Study of Korean Children (PSKC) is a general-population-based birth cohort study that recruited 2,078 mother-baby dyads in Korea between April and July of 2008. Among 1,577 children who were followed up in 2015, 559 underwent skin prick tests, spirometry and bronchial provocation tests using Provocholine. Having a cat or a dog and the prevalence of asthma were evaluated by using self-reported questionnaires and physicians’ medical records. RESULTS: During infancy, the rate of dog ownership was 4.5% (71 of 1,574) and that of cat ownership was 0.5% (8 of 1,574). Of the subjects, 7.9% (n=109) currently had at least 1 dog and 2.5% (n=34) had at least 1 cat. Pet ownership during infancy was associated with sensitization to cats or dogs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29–13.98), wheezing within 12 months (aOR, 5.56; 95% CI, 1.65–18.75) and current asthma (wheezing episode in the last 12 months+diagnosed asthma by physicians) (aOR, 6.36; 95% CI, 1.54–26.28). In contrast, pet ownership during the last 12 months was not associated with sensitization to cats or dogs or current asthma. CONCLUSION: Indoor pet exposure during infancy can be critical for developing sensitization to cats or dogs and asthma in childhood. Avoidance of pet exposure in early life may reduce sensitization to cats or dogs and development of asthma.
Allergens ; Animals ; Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Cats ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Dogs ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Methacholine Chloride ; Odds Ratio ; Ownership ; Parturition ; Pets ; Prevalence ; Protective Factors ; Respiratory Sounds ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Spirometry

PURPOSE: Assessing asthma control is important for proper management, and various indices for objective assessment of asthma control, such as fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and asthma control test (ACT) score have been proposed. Recently, bronchodilator response (BDR) was reported as a marker of poor asthma control in adults. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of BDR as a biomarker for childhood asthma. METHODS: A total of 305 children diagnosed with asthma were included. Spirometry with bronchodilator test was done at the time of diagnosis and about 14 months after asthma treatment. All children were evaluated by childhood asthma control test (c-ACT) and FeNO after asthma treatment. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to BDR results: the positive and negative BDR groups. Various biomarkers for asthma control, such as c-ACT, FeNO and changes of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Of the 305 patients, 143 (46.9%) were positive and 162 (53.1%) were negative for BDR. The BDR-positive group showed lower FEV1. In the BDR positive group, FEV1 was significantly increased after asthma treatment, especially in children with airflow limitation which was defined as below 80% of FEV1 or atopy. In atopic children, BDR showed a significant negative correlation with c-ACT and a positive correlation with FeNO. CONCLUSION: In asthmatic children with airflow limitation at the time of diagnosis, BDR can be a useful index for predicting improvement in lung function by asthma maintenance treatment. BDR could be a reliable marker for the assessment of asthma control in atopic children.
Adult ; Asthma ; Biomarkers ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; Nitric Oxide ; Spirometry