Since pulmonary function testing was first described by Hutchinson in 1846, this technic has been developed by many physiologists and applied to clinical fields for eviluation of cardiopulmonary status in order to improve diagnosis and treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases. The normal values of the lung volumes and capacities, maximal midexpiratory flow, maximal breathing capacity and forced expiratory volume and time in 120 (male-60, female-60) normal Korean adults by using a Gaensler-Collins bronchospirometer are presented. The results were as follows: 1. The vital capacity of the normal Korean adult was 4191+/-451ml. for males and 2685+/-375 ml. for females. 2. The ratio of inspiratory capacity to vital capacity for males was 66+/- 9% and for females 70+/- 7%, but that of expiratory reserve volume to vital capacity for males was 34+/-9% and for females was 30+/-7%. The ratio of inspiratory capacity to vital capacity of normal Korean adults is slightly lower than that of whites, while that of expiratory reserve volume to vital capacity of normal Korean adults is slightly higher than that of whites. 3. The maximal breathing capacity of males was 95+/- 171/min. and that of females 61+/-141/min. 4. The maxima mid-expiratory flow for males was 266+/- 711/min. and for females 176+/- 421 /min. The maximal mid-expiratory time of males was 0. 497+/- 0.145 second and that of females 0. 479+/- 0. 128 second.
Adult* ; Diagnosis ; Expiratory Reserve Volume ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Inspiratory Capacity ; Lung ; Male ; Maximal Voluntary Ventilation ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Vital Capacity

Small and large airways functions were studied in patients with hypertensive heart disease in slightly ro moderately compromised state functionally. In this study, the forced vital capacity and various flow paramaeters reflecting expiratory flow rate were determined from simultaneously recorded forced expiratory volume and maximal expiretory flow volume curves in 86 cases. The closing volume was measured by a single breath nitrogen mrthod in 57 cases and airway resistance with its related parameters by a body plethysmograph in 11 cases. These results were compared with those obtained from the same numbers of healthy controls matched for sex, age and height. In the patient group, the forced vital capadity and all the observed values of flow parameters, execpt for the ratio of the first second vital capacity to the forced vital capacity, were significantly reduced than those in the controls. When the remainder of flow parameters was volume-adjusted to the forced vital capacity, however, the mean of the peak expiratory flow rate and the maximal expiratory flow rate at the 75 percent of the vital capacity were not significantly different from that of controls. In contrast, the volume-adjusted values of maximal expiratory flow were remained significantly smaller than those in the controls. The closing volume and its ratio to the vital capacity were significantly larger in the patient group. Airway resistance and its related parameters revealed no significant differences between two groups. These findings suggest that the patients with hypertensive heart disease in a mild to moderate failure are associated with restrictive ventilatory impairment and a small airways obstruction, but with little or no large airway dysfunction.
Airway Resistance ; Closing Volume ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate ; Nitrogen ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Vital Capacity

Tuberculous spine has high incidence in children. Many cases of the tuberculous spine are complicated by deformities of the spine and disability such as paraplegia, cardio-plumonary dysfunction, and also early death. There are now several reports on the pulmonary dysfunction due to spinal deformities such as scoliosis and kyphoscoliosis, but there are few papers on the pulmonary function of patients with the tuberculous spine and kyphosis in children. This article is a report on the study of chest excursion in 70 kyphotic children and of the pulmonary function in 10 cases of severe kyphotic patients with collapsing tuberculous spine. The following results are obtained through the study: 1) Chest excursion was evidently diminished in the cases of moderate and severe thoracic, and severe lumbar involvement. The remainders were nearly within normal limits. 2) The study revealed that the chest excursion and the radiological kyphosis has a very gradually sloped negative correlation in thoracic involvement. 3) Pulmonary function in the severe kyphotics who had the curve over 50 degree were revealed as follows; a) Over 50 percent of the cases had diminished vital capacity. That is, over-all average was 67.7 percent of normal capacity. Especially inspiratory reserve volume was diminished, it was 63.7 percent of normal. Maximum breathing capacity was 68.8 percent of normal. b) Tidal volume, timed vital capacity, minute ventilation rate and O2 consumption were within normal limits or nearly normal.
Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inspiratory Reserve Volume ; Kyphosis ; Paraplegia ; Respiration ; Scoliosis ; Spine ; Thorax ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of vitamin D3 upregulated protein-1 (VDUP1) in peripheral eosinophils at different stages of asthma and its correlation with clinical manifestations of asthma.

METHODSFourteen normal volunteers and 51 mild to moderate asthma patients, including 16 untreated patients with asthma attack and 35 with asthma remission by continuously corticosterone inhalation. The symptom severity and pulmonary function indices were evaluated and induced sputum eosinophil counts and blood eosinophil count measured. VDUP1 and beta-actin gene fragments were amplified simultaneously by RT-PCR from the total RNA of peripheral eosinophils, and 10 microl of the RT-PCR product underwent agarose gel electrophoresis and the VDUP1/beta-actin ratio was obtained by Gel-Pro software.

RESULTSVDUP1/beta-actin ratio significantly decreased in untreated patients with asthma attacks in comparison with normal volunteers (0.314+/-0.242 vs 0.532 +/-0.279) but not in patients with asthma remission (0.612+/-0.381). In the former patients, a positive correlation of VDUP1/beta-actin ratio was found with FEV1.0% (r=0.587, P=0.046) and %PEF (r=0.563, P=0.033), whereas an inverse one observed with sputum eosinophil count (r=-0.436, P=0.049).

CONCLUSIONVDUP1 expression in the eosinophils correlates to eosinophil activation and may influence the disease severity of asthma patients.

Actins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Asthma ; blood ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Eosinophils ; metabolism ; Humans ; Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curves ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thioredoxins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

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

PURPOSE: We usually measure the changes of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) or forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to check the bronchial response after inhalation of bronchodilator. Airway resistance determined by interrupter technique (Rint) is simple and easily applicable even to the infant. A comparison among PEFR, FEV1 and Rint was done to find out the feasibility of using Rint instead of PEFR or FEV1 in checking the bronchial response after inhalation of bronchodilator. METHODS: We checked PEFR, FEV1, Rint, and oxygen saturation with twenty eight asthmatic children, over 7 years old, visited emergency or out patient department with acute asthmatic attack. The same parameters were checked in 5, 10, 20 minutes after inhalation of bronchodilator. Comparison and relationship of measures as well as changes of measures after inhalation of bronchodilator among them were analyzed to confirm if Rint can replace PEFR or FEV1 in checking bronchial response after inhalation of bronchodilator. RESULTS: PEFR, FEV1 and O2 saturation increased as time goes on but airway resistance decreased. The relationship among the changes of parameters of PEFR, FEV1 and Rint checked in 5, 10 and 20 minutes after inhalation of bronchodilator showed close correlation with was statistically significant. But, the measures checked in 20 minutes after inhalation statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Rint can be used instead of PEFR and FEV1 in checking the bronchial response after inhalation of bronchodilator.
Airway Resistance* ; Child ; Emergencies ; Forced Expiratory Volume* ; Humans ; Infant ; Inhalation ; Oxygen ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate* ; Respiratory Function Tests

PURPOSE: To evaluate the HRCT findings of hypersensitive pneumonitis and to correlate the findings with the results of the pulmonary function test (PFT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients in whom hypersensitive pneumonitis was histologically confirmed (by transbronchial lung biopsy in two, thoracoscopic lung biopsy in one, open lung biopsy in two, and typical clinical and laboratory findings in two) were involved in this study. Their radiological patterns were assessed by HRCT and the extent of each finding was evaluated semi-quantitatively and correlated with the results of the pulmonary function test. RESULTS: The HRCT findings were as follows: lobular overinflation (n = 7), ground glass attenuation (n = 7), centrilobular nodule (n = 6), reticular opacity (n = 5), interlobular septal thickening (n = 3), consolidation (n = 2), and irregular subpleural line (n = 1). Five patients showed lower lung predominance and two, middle lung predominance. In all, a restrictive pattern and diminished diffusion capacity was noted. The grade score of reticular opacity showed significant correlation with forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume. There was, however, no significant correlation between other HRCT findings and PFT results. Two patientsin whom lobular overinflation associated with parenchymal fibrosis was noted showed a decreased maximal midexpiratory flow rate of 25 -75. CONCLUSION: Lobular overinflation, ground-glass attenuation and centrilobular nodules are commonly observed in hypersensitive pneumonitis. The only significant correlation between each HRCT finding and the pulmonary function test was that between reticular opacity and both forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity. In cases of chronic hypersensitive pneumonitis presenting as pulmonary fibrosis, associated lobular overinflation could be helpful for differential diagnosis.
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic* ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diffusion ; Fibrosis ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Glass ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Lung ; Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Respiratory Function Tests* ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVEImpulse oscillation system (IOS) as an approach to lung function determination is suitable for children, especially for preschool children in that it only requires the individual to be examined to breathing stably with tidal volume. However, until now there have been no uniformly agreed criteria for positive bronchial reversibility test in clinical practice. A screening method was applied to seek for answer when this question in the hope of providing objective evidence for clinical diagnosis of respiratory diseases, esp. asthma.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-six children patients during asthma attack were recruited randomly for this study from January to December, 2004. These patients included 103 boys and 53 girls aged from 5 to 18 years with mean age of 8.84 +/- 2.58 years, who visited the doctors in the Clinical and Educational Centre for Asthma, Capital Institute of Pediatrics and were diagnosed as asthma. Maximal expiratory flow volume and IOS lung function were determined followed by bronchodilator reversibility test in all patients. The sensitivity and specificity of IOS parameters, total respiratory impedance (Zrs), respiratory resistance at 5 Hz (R5) and reactance at 5 Hz (X5) for diagnosing asthma at different improvement levels after inhalation of bronchodilator were calculated respectively using forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV(1)) and maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) as gold standard. And the regression equation between parameters of lung function which were determined with the two different methods was analyzed.

RESULTSAfter inhalation of bronchodilator, the lung function of the children was improved significantly (P < 0.01), with the FEV(1), MMEF increase and Zrs, R5, and X5 decrease. There were significantly positive correlations (P < 0.01) between the improvement rate of parameters of lung functions determined with the two methods, and the highest correlation coefficients existed between X5 and FEV(1) and MMEF (respectively 0.676, 0.571), correlation coefficients between X5 and Zrs ranked second (0.519 and 0.505, respectively). When an increase of FEV(1) equal to or greater than 15%, or increase of MMEF equal to or greater than 30% was used as reference for positive bronchial reversibility, the sensitivity and specificity were relatively high for considering positive bronchial reversibility test with at least 20% decrease of Zrs, R5, and 30% decrease of X5 with IOS lung function. The sensitivity and specificity of Zrs, R5 and X5 calculated from FEV(1) were 0.62, 0.51; 0.49, 0.54; 0.70, and 0.54, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of Zrs, R5 and X5 calculated from MMEF were 0.63, 0.54; 0.53, 0.60; 0.60, and 0.58, respectively. The regression equation showed that the decrease of Zrs, R5 and X5 corresponding to 15% increase of FEV(1) and 30% increase of MMEF were 21.7%, 21.3%; 19.9%, 19.5%; 30.1%, and 29.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONWhen lung function is determined with IOS in children, only when decrease of Zrs and R5 is equal to or more than 20% and decrease of X5 is 30% or more after inhalation of bronchodilator, can the bronchial reversibility test be considered as positive.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; Bronchodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate ; Regression Analysis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of pulmonary function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the standardized treatment of bronchial asthma in children.

METHODSA total of 254 children who were newly diagnosed with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma were selected as asthma group, and they were divided into two subgroups: asthma with concurrent rhinitis and asthma without concurrent rhinitis. All patients received the standardized management and treatment for one year. The pulmonary function parameters included forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), and mid-expiratory flow at 25%, 50%, and 75% of vital capacity (MEF25, MEF50, and MEF75). The FeNO levels were measured before treatment and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment. Another 62 healthy children were selected as the control group, and the pulmonary function and FeNO levels were measured only once.

RESULTSDuring one year of standardized treatment, FEV1, PEF, MMEF, MEF25, MEF50, and MEF75 gradually increased, and FeNO levels gradually decreased (P<0.05). Indicators of large airway function, such as FEV1 and PEF, almost returned to normal after 6 months of treatment; indicators of small airway function, such as MMEF, MEF25, MEF50, and MEF75 almost returned to normal after 9 months of treatment; there were no significant differences in the above indices between the asthma group and the control group after one year of treatment (P>0.05). However, the asthma group had a significantly higher FeNO levels than the control group after one year of treatment (P<0.05). The asthmatic patients with concurrent rhinitis had significantly higher FeNO levels than those without concurrent rhinitis before treatment and 3 months after treatment (P<0.05). Before treatment, there was a significant negative correlation between FeNO levels and pulmonary function parameters (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWith the standardized treatment of bronchial asthma in children, pulmonary function parameters gradually increase and FeNO levels gradually decrease. The recovery of large airway function occurs earlier than the recovery of small airway function. Furthermore, the effect of rhinitis on airway responsiveness should be noted.

Asthma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Breath Tests ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Rhinitis ; physiopathology

The purpose of this study is to establish COPD animal model by intra-tracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM) once and exposure to cigarette smoke for continuous 27 d, and to observe the effects of the inhalation on the model. At the 29th day, blood samples were taken from cervical artery for blood-gas analysis and parameters of lung function were recorded. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected to measure intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) concentration. The results showed that atomization inhaled resveratrol could alleviate rat COPD lung injury accompanied by amelioration of pathological changes, increase the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 0.3 s (FEV0.3) and forced vital capacity (FVC), and decrease the ICAM-1 level in BALF. The ultimate reduction of inflammatory factors was involved, at least in part, in the mechanism of resveratrol effects.
Animals ; Bleomycin ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; drug effects ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Compliance ; drug effects ; Male ; Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoking ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology