Sustained improvement in mild obstructive sleep apnea after a diet- and physical activity-based lifestyle intervention: postinterventional follow-up.

Background: Obesity is the most important risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Weight-reduction programs have been observed to represent effective treatment of overweight patients with OSA. However, it is not known whether beneficial changes remain after the end of the intervention.

Lifestyle intervention with weight reduction: first-line treatment in mild obstructive sleep apnea.

Rationale: Obesity is the most important risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, although included in clinical guidelines, no randomized controlled studies have been performed on the effects of weight reduction on mild OSA.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled parallel-group 1-year follow-up study was to determine whether a very low calorie diet (VLCD) with supervised lifestyle counseling could be an effective treatment for adults with mild OSA.

Effect of weight reduction on rhinometric measurements in overweight patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Elevated nasal resistance and obesity predispose to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Weight loss has been shown to result in an alleviation of OSA, but its effect on nasal airflow has not been studied.

Methods: This study was a prospective, randomized, controlled study with two parallel groups.

Thirty-year cumulative incidence of chronic bronchitis and COPD in relation to 30-year pulmonary function and 40-year mortality: a follow-up in middle-aged rural men.

Purpose: To describe the 30-year cumulative incidence of chronic bronchitis and COPD in relation to smoking habits. The effect of chronic bronchitis on pulmonary function and mortality was also examined.

Methods: Middle-aged men belonging to two rural Finnish cohorts of the Seven Countries Study (n = 1,711 in 1959) were followed up for up to 40 years until 2000.

Experimental PVC material challenge in subjects with occupational PVC exposure.

Background: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials have been linked to asthma in several epidemiologic studies, but the possible causal factors remain unknown.

Participants: We challenged 10 subjects experimentally to degraded PVC products under controlled conditions. All of the subjects had previously experienced respiratory symptoms suspected to be caused by this kind of exposure in their work place.

Short-term and seasonal variations of exhaled and nasal NO in healthy subjects.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important biological mediator with a variety of cellular and tissue functions. Fractional exhaled (FE(NO)) and nasal NO (FN(NO)) are known to be altered in several respiratory tract disease and disorders. However, there are rather few studies into the reproducibility of FE(NO) or FN(NO) measurements in healthy subjects.

Determinants of the bronchodilation response to salbutamol on histamine-induced bronchoconstriction.

Assessment of the bronchodilation response to short-acting beta2-adrenoreceptor agonists on pharmacologically induced bronchoconstriction has often been used to investigate airway smooth muscle beta2-adrenoreceptor function. However, little is known about factors affecting this response. In the present study, the bronchodilation response to 0.

Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentration as an indicator of adrenocortical suppression during inhaled steroid therapy in adult asthmatic patients.

Objective: Supraphysiological doses of exogenous glucocorticosteroids cause adrenocortical suppression. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is the most abundant adrenal androgen and estrogen precursor. We studied to what extent inhaled glucocorticosteroid therapy for asthma decreases serum DHEA-S concentrations.

Inhalation challenge with bovine dander allergens: who needs it?

Study Objectives: To identify which tests would be useful in selecting patients for a specific inhalation challenge with bovine dander allergens (bSIC).

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: A university hospital.

Delaying decline in pulmonary function with physical activity: a 25-year follow-up.

The importance of physical activity for health is well recognized, but little is known about the influence of physical activity on pulmonary function. We have examined whether physical activity could slow down the decline in pulmonary function among the southwestern rural Finnish cohort of the Seven Countries Study. Physical activity was estimated by kilometers walked, cycled, and skied daily.