A previous questionnaire interview had revealed that betelnut chewing may aggravate asthma in 61% of asthma patients attending an outpatient clinic at Port Moresby General Hospital; the rest said it had no effect. The aim of the present study was to verify patients' subjective feelings through objective measurements. 7 asthma patients (Group C) who said betelnut aggravated their asthma, 8 asthma patients (Group B) who denied any effect and 8 nonasthmatic, healthy subjects (Group A) were given betelnut with accompanying ingredients and asked to chew as they would usually chew it. Their spirometric forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) readings, heart rate and blood pressure were monitored before and after this challenge. Group A nonasthmatic subjects experienced only minor rises and falls in their FEV1 in response to betelnut chewing. 3 patients in Group B experienced overall rises (mean maximal % rise 25 +/- 19) while 5 patients had overall falls (mean maximal % fall 11 +/- 6). In Group C 1 patient had an overall rise in her FEV1 (maximal rise 10%) while 6 patients had falls (mean maximal % fall 22 +/- 7). In all groups the heart rate increased in response to betelnut. Betelnut chewing caused bronchoconstriction as demonstrated by decreases in FEV1 in a majority of the asthmatic patients studied; hence betelnut may act as a trigger factor for their asthma. In a few others increases in FEV1 were noted, while the rest experienced only minor changes.
Adult ; aged ; Areca - physiology ; Asthma - physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume - drug effects

In China there are 1,923,842 Korean Chinese, who live mostly (92.27%) in the country's three northeast provinces. In spite of this sizeable number, no spirometric data are available at present on them. The present study investigated normal spirometric reference values for the Korean Chinese children and adolescents. Spirometry was performed in 443 healthy Korean Chinese children and adolescents aged 8-18 yr with measurements of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF). Reference equations for FEV1, FVC, PEF and MMEF were derived by using multiple regression analysis. All of the measured spirometric parameters correlated positively with height and age significantly (P < 0.001). The predicted values of FVC and FEV1 were higher than values obtained by using Caucasian and other Asian equations (P < 0.001). A set of spirometric reference equations has been derived using a relatively large, healthy, non-smoking young Korean Chinese population with a wide range of ages and heights, the results of which differ from those gained from several other reference equations. These reference equations should be used for evaluation of lung function in this population.
Adolescent ; Child ; China ; Female ; *Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung/*physiology ; Male ; Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Reference Values ; Republic of Korea/ethnology ; Spirometry/*standards ; *Vital Capacity

BACKGROUNDPulmonary problems often occur in patients with early-onset scoliosis (EOS). However, lung function in patients with EOS after growing rod surgery has not been documented. The aim of this study was to investigate lung function after the treatment for EOS with growing rod and its possible correlative factors.

METHODSEight patients with EOS were treated with growing rod surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2002 to September 2009. Four patients had finished the final fusion surgery (group 1), and the other 4 (group 2) were in the process of periodic lengthening. Preoperative forced vital capacity (FVC), ratio of FVC to predicted FVC, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), ratio of FEV1 to predicted FEV1, and radiographic measurements of Cobb's angle and C7-S1 distance were recorded. Lung function changes and correlations between lung function changes and radiographic changes (Cobb's angle and C7-S1 distance) were analyzed.

RESULTSIn group 1, FVC and FEV1 both increased. FVC showed a significant difference (P = 0.01), but FEV1 did not (P = 0.05). In group 2, FVC and FEV1 also increased, and both showed a significant difference (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02, respectively). Ratio of FVC to predicted FVC and ratio of FEV1 to predicted FEV1 changed similarly and did not show statistical differences in the 2 groups. There were no significant correlations between lung function changes and radiographic changes (Cobb's angle and C7-S1 distance) (P = 0.10 and P = 0.41, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSLung function increases after growing rod surgery in patients with EOS. Lung function changes do not correlate with Cobb's angle changes or C7-S1 distance changes.

Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Orthopedic Procedures ; adverse effects ; Scoliosis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Vital Capacity ; physiology

Background: Neural respiratory drive (NRD) using diaphragm electromyography through an invasive transesophageal multi-electrode catheter can be used as a feasible clinical physiological parameter in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to provide useful information on the treatment response. However, it remains unknown whether the surface diaphragm electromyogram (EMGdi) could be used to identify the deterioration of clinical symptoms and to predict the necessity of hospitalization in acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) patients. Methods: COPD patients visiting the outpatient department due to acute exacerbation were enrolled in this study. All patients who were subjected to EMGdi and classical parameters such as spirometry parameters, arterial blood gas analysis, COPD assessment test (CAT) score, and the modified early warning score (MEWS) in outpatient department, would be treated effectively in the outpatient or inpatient settings according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guideline. When the acute exacerbation of the patients was managed, all the examination above would be repeated. Results: We compared the relationships of admission-to-discharge changes (Δ) in the normalized value of the EMGdi, including the change of the percentage of maximal EMGdi (ΔEMGdi%max) and the change of the ratio of minute ventilation to the percentage of maximal EMGdi (ΔVE/EMGdi%max) with the changes of classical parameters. There was a significant positive association between ΔEMGdi%max and ΔCAT, ΔPaCO, and ΔpH. The change (Δ) of EMGdi%max was negatively correlated with ΔPaO/FiOin the course of the treatment of AECOPD. Compared with the classical parameters including forced expiratory volume in 1 s, MEWS, PaO/FiO, the EMGdi%max (odds ratio 1.143, 95% confidence interval 1.004-1.300) has a higher sensitivity when detecting the early exacerbation and enables to predict the admission of hospital in the whole cohort. Conclusions The changes of surface EMGdi parameters had a direct correlation with classical measures in the whole cohort of AECOPD. The measurement of NRD by surface EMGdi represents a practical physiological biomarker, which may be helpful in detecting patients who should be hospitalized timely.
Diaphragm ; physiopathology ; Electromyography ; methods ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; physiology ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Spirometry ; Vital Capacity ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and the maximum peak expiratory flow (PEF) with small airway function in asthmatic children of different ages and genders.

METHODSThis cross-sectional study was conducted among 619 asthmatic children with disease remission aged 3 to 13 years. The children were divided into 3 age groups, namely 3 to 5 years group (314 cases), 6 to 9 years group (207 cases) and 10 to 13 years group (98 cases), and their respiratory physiological parameters such as FEV1 and PEF were measured.

RESULTSOf the airway function parameters, PEF showed the highest abnormality rate (>85%) in these asthmatic children. In male and female asthmatic children aged 6 to 9 years, abnormalities in forced expiratory flow rate 25% (MEF25) showed the highest frequency (56% and 63%, respectively). In 3-5 years and 10-13 years groups, MEF25 abnormalities were the most frequent in male children (43% and 71%, respectively), whereas abnormalities in MEF50 were the most common in female children (33% and 69%, respectively). FEV1 and PEF were positively correlated to all the parameters of small airway functions in these asthmatic children (r>0.5, P<0.01) except for MEF25 in female asthmatic children aged 3 to 5 years (r=0.19, P=0.168; r=0.086, P=0.535).

CONCLUSIONIn asthmatic children, FEV1 and PEF are positively correlated to the parameters of small airway function with only the exception of MEF25 in female children aged 3 to 5 years, suggesting the value of FEV1 in the diagnosis of asthma in children.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Bronchi ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate ; physiology ; Respiratory Function Tests

Adult ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; physiology ; Malaysia ; Male ; Occupations ; Respiration ; Singapore ; United Kingdom ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the levels of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and peripheral blood eosinophils (EOS) as well as the correlation between the two markers in children with bronchial asthma (AS),AS complicated by allergic rhinitis (AS/AR) and chronic cough variant asthma (CVA), in order to explore the value of eNOS detection in children with AS.

METHODSThe eNO level was measured using light-emitting electrochemical photometry in 12 children with AS, 29 children with AS/AR and 10 children with CVA. Peripheral blood EOS was counted by blood cell counter (Coulter JT). Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was assessed by lung function measurement. Thirty children without atopic disease and acute respiratory infection as well as without a family history of atopic diseasea served as the control group.

RESULTSThe levels of eNO and blood EOS in the AS, the AS/AR and the CVA groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.01). The AS/AR group showed increased levels of eNO (50.3 + or - 6.7 ppb) and EOS (5.9 + or -4.2 x 109 ) compared with the AS (30.5 + or - 8.8 ppb and 4.2 + or - 3.2 x 109 respectively) and the CVA groups (26.0 + or - 3.2 ppb and 3.7 + or - 6.9 x 109 respectively) (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in eNO and EOS levels between the AS and the CVA groups. The eNO level was positively correlated with the EOS level (r=0.51, p<0.05), but not with FEV1 (r=0.144, p>0.05) in the AS group.

CONCLUSIONSNO is highly expressed in children with symptoms of atopy and can reflect the levels of eosinophilic airway inflammation in children with AS.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; blood ; physiopathology ; Breath Tests ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To study the percentage of the measured values of the main pulmonary ventilation function parameters in their predicted values based on Zapletal equation among healthy children aged 5-14 years in Kunming, China, and to provide a basis for accurate judgment of pulmonary ventilation function in clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 702 healthy children aged 5-14 years (352 boys and 350 girls) from Kunming were enrolled. The Jaeger spirometer was used to measure the nine indices:forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), forced expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity (FEF25), forced expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity (FEF50), forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF75), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV). The values obtained from the Zapletal equation of predicted values provided by the spirometer were used as the predicted values of children, and the percentage of measured values in predicted values was calculated. RESULTS: In the 702 children, the percentages of the measured values of the main pulmonary ventilation function parameters PEF, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and MVV in their predicted values fluctuated from 102% to 114%, 94% to 108%, 98% to 113%, 98% to 107%, and 141% to 183% respectively. As for the main airway velocity parameters, the percentages of the measured values of FEF25, FEF50, FEF75, and MMEF in their predicted values fluctuated from 98% to 116%, 85% to 102%, 71% to 98%, and 83% to 100% respectively. The percentages of the measured values of PEF, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, MVV, FEF25, FEF50, FEF75, and MMEF in their predicted values had the lower limits of normal of 88.2%, 88.4%, 92.0%, 94.4%, 118.5%, 82.9%, 70.0%, 62.1%, and 70.1% respectively. CONCLUSIONS There are differences between pulmonary ventilation function parameter levels and normal values provided by Zapletal equation in healthy children aged 5-14 years in Kunming. As for the pulmonary ventilation function parameters of PEF, FVC, FEV, FEV1/FVC, MVV, FEF25, FEF50, FEF75, and MMEF in these children, the lower limits of normal of measured values in predicted values may be determined as 88.2%, 88.4%, 92.0%, 94.4%, 118.5%, 82.9%, 70.0%, 62.1%, and 70.1% respectively.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung/physiology* ; Male ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; Reference Values ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the lung function of the normal subjects living in Hebei province and its correlative factors such as living circumstance, age, height, and body weight.

METHODSThe lung volumes and breath capacities of 1,587 normal subjects were tested by portable spirometers (Scope Rotry) from August to October in 2002. The influences of living circumstance, age, gender, height, and body weight on lung functions were observed and analyzed.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found between urban and rural areas in all indexes (P > 0.05); however, significant difference existed between male and female subjects (P = 0.000). The change trends of lung function in male and female subjects were similar. Growth spurt appeared at the age of 12-16 years in male subjects and 12-14 years in female subjects. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) reached their peaks at the age of 26-34 years and then decreased with age. Peak expiratory flow (PEF), 25% forced expiratory flow (FEF50%), and 75% forced expiratory flow (FEF75%) appeared at the age of 18 and then went down with age. Both height and weight had a correlation with all the indexes of lung functions, although the influence of height is stronger than weight.

CONCLUSIONSAll the indexes of lung function have correlations with age, height, and weight. Lung function changes with aging, therefore different expected values shall be available for the adolescence, young adults, and middle-aged and old people. This study provides reference values of lung function for normal population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Flow Rates ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Rural Health ; Sampling Studies ; Urban Health ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVETo propose a new method for acquiring pulmonary function parameters based on measurement of volume changes of thoracic impedance.

METHODSWe studied the relationship between the volume changes of thoracic impedance and pulmonary function parameters during forced breathing based on bioimpedance measurement, and developed an instrument for measuring thoracic impedance. Using this instrument and a MRI spirolab III lung function test instrument, both based on flowmeter measurement, we measured such pulmonary function parameters including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second/FVC (FEV1/FVC), and peak expiratory flow in 10 healthy volunteers and compared the measurement results.

RESULTSThe differences in the parameters measured using the two instruments were all within two folds of the positive and negative standard deviations of the average values, demonstrating good consistency in the measurement between the two methods.

CONCLUSIONSThe measurement results of the bioimpedance-based instrument we developed show good consistency with those by the commercially available pulmonary function test instrument.

Adult ; Electric Impedance ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests ; methods ; Thorax ; physiology ; Vital Capacity ; Young Adult