Comparison of an expiratory flow accelerator device versus positive expiratory pressure for tracheobronchial airway clearance after lung cancer lobectomy: a preliminary study.

Objective: A new type of device has recently been introduced in chest physiotherapy as an aid to tracheo-bronchial airway clearance: expiratory flow accelerator (EFA). It promotes mucus clearance without generating any pressure gradient, allowing patients to breathe at tidal volume against no resistance.

Design: Pilot randomized controlled study.

Airway Clearance with Expiratory Flow Accelerator Technology: Effectiveness of the "Free Aspire" Device in Patients with Severe COPD.

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a higher risk of pulmonary infections. This risk not only negatively affects patients' quality of life but also increases social and health costs. Hence, there is a need for an effective rehabilitative treatment including airway clearance.

Managed care, attitudes, and career choices of internal medicine residents.

The influence of managed care on internal medicine residents' attitudes and career choices has not yet been determined and could be substantial. In a survey of 1,390 third-year internal medicine residents, 21% believed that managed care was the best model of health care for the United States, and 31% stated they would be satisfied working in a managed care system. Those from high managed care communities (>30% penetration) were only slightly more accepting of managed care, but were more likely to choose general internal medicine as a career (54%, p = .

[Use of an animal model in the study of changes in erythrocyte deformability caused by breast cancer].

The paper reports the results of a study to assess the effects on erythrocytic deformability of the induction of hepatic metastases of breast cancer in an animal model. The results demonstrate a reduced level of erythrocytic deformability induced by tumor development.

[Optimization of the techniques for studying the upper abdomen with magnetic resonance. II. Changes in the intrinsic contrast].

Magnetic Resonance imaging of the upper abdomen was performed on more than 300 patients. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of spin-echo parameters on intrinsic image contrast. Different TR (ranging 260 to 2000 ms) and TE (ranging 20 to 120 ms) values were employed in two patients with a hepatic metastases and in a healthy volunteer with a hepatic cyst.