PIKO-6® vs. forced spirometry in asthmatic children.

Background: The PIKO-6® is an electronic device that measures forced expiratory volume at seconds 1 (FEV1) and 6 (FEV6) of a forced vital capacity (FVC) maneuver. This device could aid in diagnosing obstructive respiratory diseases.

Objectives: To determine the concordance of FEV1, FEV6, and the FEV1/FEV6 quotient achieved with PIKO-6® versus spirometric values from asthmatic patients, and compare results with measures from healthy children.

Glycogenolytic and haemodynamic responses to heat-aggregated immunoglobulin G and prostaglandin E2 in the perfused rat liver.

Infusion of heat-aggregated immunoglobulin G (HAG) into perfused livers from fed rats caused transient increases in hepatic glycogenolysis and portal-vein pressure, accompanied by a transient increase in hepatic glycogen phosphorylase alpha content. The hepatic responses to HAG were inhibited by indomethacin (2 microM). In contrast, HAG was without effect on phosphorylase alpha content and glucose output in isolated hepatocytes.