Comparison of the ATS versus EU Mini Wright peak flow meter in normal volunteers.

Objectives: The American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Union (EU) have precise and accurate Mini Wright peak flow meters. The purpose of this investigation was to compare both 1) for accuracy using a pneumotachometer, 2) in volunteers to determine whether they are interchangeable, and 3) to spirometrically predicted peak flows.

Methods: Lab testing: A pneumotachometer was connected in series with each peak flow meter and varying flows pushed through both meters for comparison.

The normal difference in bilateral indirect blood pressure recordings in hypertensive individuals.

Objective: If there is a significant dichotomy between bilateral systolic blood pressure determinations in both arms in hypertensive individuals, it is often taken as a sign of underlying pathology. The primary objective was to determine what the normal variation might be for a significant difference between blood pressures in both arms. A clinically significant difference was chosen as a systolic blood pressure value greater than 10 mm Hg between the upper extremities, as is commonly quoted at the bedside and in the literature.