BACKGROUND: In the measurement of bronchodilator reversibility, the forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV(1)) and the forced vital capacity(FVC) are commonly used parameters and recommended criteria for the reversibility requiring an increase of more than 200ml and 12% above the baseline, respectively. However, aged patients do not often meet the criteria of an increase in volume(>200ml) even though the medical history of that patient is adequate for asthma. This study investigated the role of the forced expiratory volume in six seconds(FEV(6)) in the bronchodilator reversibility test in elderly patients. METHODS: A total of 236 patients more than 65 years of age with a FEV(1)/FVC ratio<80% were enrolled in this study. The bronchodilator revesibility tests were examined. With the setting FEV(1) as the baseline, the patients were divided into three groups; Group I: FEV(1)> or = 80% of the predicted value, Group II: 60% Aged ; Asthma ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important mediator of angiogenesis. However, little is known about the potential use of serum levels of VEGF as a biomarker for asthma. We investigated the differences in VEGF levels among normal controls, stable asthma patients, and those with exacerbation of acute asthma. All subjects were young males. METHODS: We measured VEGF levels in each patient group, and examined any serial changes in those with acute exacerbation. RESULTS: VEGF levels were significantly higher in stable asthmatic patients and even more so in acute asthmatic patients, compared to healthy controls. However, there was no correlation between VEGF levels and forced expiratory volume in 1 second in patients with stable asthma. In addition, there were no correlations between VEGF levels and asthma control test scores. In patients with acute exacerbation, VEGF levels significantly increased during the acute period; their levels decreased gradually at 7 and 14 days after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to normal control patients, the serum levels of VEGF were elevated in stable asthma patients and even more elevated in patients with acute exacerbation. However, the role of VEGF as a biomarker in stable asthma is limited. In patients with acute exacerbation, VEGF levels were associated with clinical improvements.
Asthma* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Theoretically one might suggest the abdominoplasty can cause respiratory decompensation resulting from musculofascial plication, which reduces the respiratory reserve by decreasing intra-abdominal volume and diaphragmatic excursion. This prospective study was perfomed to evaluate the effect of abdominoplasty and the change of intraoperative Paw on the pulmonary function of 20 consecutive otherwise healthy subjects. The pulmonary function test was performed preoperatively, and repeated 2 months after the operation. Additionally, we monitored intraoperative Paw. Comparison of the pulmonary function test showed a significant decrease(p<0.001) in the mean forced vital capacity(FVC) and the mean forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1) throughout the study period. Postoperatively, the mean FVC decreased by 11.65% and the mean FEV1 decreased by 16.15%. The mean Paw increased by 6.6cmH2O(3-12cmH2O) by musculofascial plication. And we found that the decrease in FVC and FEV1 was significantly correlated with intraoperative changing of Paw in abdominoplasty(p<0.001). FVC and FEV1 could be decreased by abdominoplasty due to decreasing intra-abdominal volume and diaphragmatic excursion, but there was no respiratory symptom clinically in all patients 2 months after the operation. In conclusion, We found that the decrease in FVC and FEV1 after 2 months of abdominoplasty was significantly correlated with intraoperative Paw change during operation. The intraoperative Paw was increased to 12 cmH2O without any respiratory symptom in this study. We suggested that the increase in intraoperative Paw less than about 10cmH2O can not affect on respiratory function clinically.
Abdominoplasty* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Function Tests

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a chair backrest on respiratory function after prolonged sitting. METHODS: Twenty-four young healthy subjects (12 males and 12 females) volunteered to participate in this study, and were equally allocated to a backrest (n=12) or a without backrest group (n=12). A spirometer was used to measure the respiratory functions of all subjects. RESULTS: The chair with backrest group were significant difference in forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) after sitting for 1 hour, compared with chair without backrest group (p < 0.05). The chair with backrest group showed a significantly decreased in FVC, FEV1, and PEF. CONCLUSION: Using a chair without a backrest may help to reduce lung function deterioration as compared with a chair with a backrest.
Forced Expiratory Volume ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Vital Capacity

A kind of portable device for detecting common lung function parameters is mentioned in this paper. Using the singlechip microcomputer as the master control block to collect and process the data from high-accuracy gas pressure sensor, through the way of parametric calibration and linear interpolation to test and calculate the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC. Meanwhile, the detected parameters can be uploaded to the intelligent mobile terminal through the wireless transmission module. The device is able to show expiratory volume-time curve and the final parameters clearly, the error of measurement is less than 5%. In addition, that device is small and convenient, not only is good for clinical application, but also can be used for family in a house.
Forced Expiratory Volume ; Internet ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Spirometry ; Vital Capacity

BACKGROUND: An assessment of the presence and the degree of reversibility of airflow obstruction is clinically important in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the time responses of spirometric parameters in response to bronchodilator have not been well investigated. METHODS: We studied 15 patients with asthma. Spirometric and mini-Wright peak expiratory flow measurements were performed at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after using single dose(200 micro gram) of inhaled bronchodilator, salbutamol. RESULTS: The mean values of forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1) and forced vital capicaty(FVC) were significantly increased at 60 minutes after using bronchodilator in comparison to 15 minutes. And peak expiratory flow rate measured by either mass flow sensor or mini-Wright peak flow meter were significantly increased at 45 minutes after using bronchodilator in comparison to 15 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: To appropriate evaluation of the bronchodilator response in patients with reversible airflow limitation, it would be useful measuring either FEV1 or PEF at the later time point 60 or 45 minutes in comparison to 15 minutes after using bronchodilator.
Albuterol* ; Asthma ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

BACKGROUND: Exacerbation of asthma has a negative impact on quality of life and increases the risk of fatal asthma. One of the known risk factors for patients with a history of near-fatal asthma is reduced sensitivity to dyspnea. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify patients with such risk before they experienced severe exacerbation of asthma. METHODS: We analyzed asthma symptoms and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) values of 53 patients recorded daily in a diary over a mean period of 274 days. Patients matched their symptoms to one of eight categories ranging in severity from 'absent' to 'severe attack'. We then analyzed the relationship between PEFR and asthma symptoms by dividing the PEFR value by the values of clinical parameters, including asthma symptom level.
Asthma ; Dyspnea ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of pulmonary functions in children with segmental Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP).

METHODSA total of 55 children with SMPP were recruited into this study. Pulmonary functions were measured at both acute and recovery phases, including FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75% and FEF25%-75%.

RESULTSFVC, FEV1, FEV1 /FVC, PEF, FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75%, and FEF25%-75% were reduced in all of the 55 cases at the acute phase. FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75% and FEF25%-75% decreased more significantly. The indexes above mentioned were improved significantly at the recovery phase compared with the acute phase (P<0.05). During the acute phase FVC and FEV1 decreased more significantly in the group with multiple area lesions than in the group with single area lesions (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth large and small airway functions are damaged in different degrees in children with SMPP during the acute phase. More cases show restrictive ventilatory disorders and the injury of small airway function is more severe. The pulmonary function is markedly improved at the recovery phase, suggesting that the pulmonary function impairments are reversible. The pulmonary function impairments are more severe in children with multiple area lesions.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Flow Rates ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND: For the diagnosis or evaluation of airway obstruction in bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive lung disorders, various parameters derived from the forced expiratory volume curve and maximal expiratory flow volume cutie have been used. Recently the peak expiratory flow(PEF) measured by the peak flow meter is widely used because of its simplicity and convenience. But there were still no data of the predicted normal values measured by the peak flow meter in Korea. This study was to obtain the predicted normal value of PEF and to know the accuracy of this value 18 predict FEV1. METHOD: The measurements of PEF by the MiniWright peak flow meter and several parameters derived from the forced expiratory volume and maximal expiratory flow volume curves by the Microspiro HI 501(Chest Co.) were done in 129 men and 125 women without previous history of the respiratory diseases. The predicted normal values of parameters according tc the age and the height were obtained, and the regression equation of FEV1 by PEF was calculated. RESULTS: The predicted normal values of PEF(L/min) were 2.45 Age(year)+1.36 Height(cm)+427 in men and -0.96 Age(year)+2.01 Height(cm)+129 in women. FEFmax derived from the maximal expiratory flow volume cutie was less than by 125 L/min in men art 118 L/min in women respectively compared to PEF. FEV,(ml) predicted by PEF was 5.98 PEF(L/min) 303 in men and 4.61 PEF(L/min) 291 in women respectively. CONCLUSION: The predicted normal value of PEF measured by the peak flow meter was calculated and it could be used as a standard value of PEF while taking care of patients with airway obstruction FEV1, the gold standard of ventilatory function could be predicted by PEF to a certain extent.
Airway Obstruction ; Asthma ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curves ; Reference Values

OBJECTIVETo assess the quality control for the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve in school-age children.

METHODSEight hundred and sixty-two children who had two or more MEFV manoeuvres were classified into ≥6-year-old (n=379), ≥8-year-old (n=210), ≥10-year-old (n=64), and 12-17-year-old groups (n=109). The parameters of quality control and concordance with quality control criteria for MEFV were compared between the two groups. In addition, patients who were diagnosed with asthma were classified into two groups, one with normal pulmonary function (n=155) and the other with abnormal pulmonary function (n=62), based on the results of spirometry. Differences in the parameters of quality control for spirometry were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSEight hundred and sixty-two children underwent 2 367 MEFV manoeuvres, 97.8% of which met the start of test criterion for backward extrapolated volume (VBE) of less than 0.15 L, with the highest concordance in the ≥6-year-old group and the lowest concordance in the 12-17-year-old group. Three hundred and eighty-one children (44.2%) met the end of test criterion for forced expiratory time (FET) and the concordance in children over 10 years of age was lower than that in children under 10 years of age (P<0.05). Differences in two best forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) manoeuvres were within 150 mL in 91.9% and 84.8%, respectively, of the children. The parameters of quality control for spirometry were better for asthmatic children with abnormal pulmonary function compared with asthmatic children with normal pulmonary function (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSConcordance with the start of test criteria and the manoeuvre repeatability criteria is high, whereas the concordance with the end of test criteria is low. It is suggested that the concordance with the FET criteria should be improved.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curves ; Quality Control