Multiple dimensions of cardiopulmonary dyspnea.

Background: The current theory of dyspnea perception presumes a multidimensional conception of dyspnea. However, its validity in patients with cardiopulmonary dyspnea has not been investigated.

Methods: A respiratory symptom checklist incorporating spontaneously reported descriptors of sensory experiences of breathing discomfort, affective aspects, and behavioral items was administered to 396 patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diffuse parenchymal lung disease, pulmonary vascular disease, chronic heart failure, and medically unexplained dyspnea.

Spinal factors affecting pulmonary function in patients with scoliosis.

Objective: To investigate pulmonary function impairment and the spinal factors that may determine pulmonary function in patients with scoliosis.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients with idiopathic scoliosis or congenital scoliosis and 78 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. The radiographic parameters of spinal deformity were obtained from patients with scoliosis.

Validation of the Chinese version of the Functional Performance Inventory Short Form in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Aims And Objective: To determine the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Functional Performance Inventory Short Form (FPI-SF-C) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Beijing, China.

Background: The Functional Performance Inventory Short Form (FPI-SF) is a 32-item instrument designed to measure self-reported functional performance of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This instrument had not been translated into Mandarin Chinese and tested for use in mainland China.

Scoliosis on pulmonary function.

Scoliosis is a common disease in children that causes deformity of spine and thoracic cage. The deformity not only affects the appearance, but also leads to irreversible impairment of lung function and respiratory failure in severe cases. This systematic review on publications over past 50 years demonstrates that scoliosis impairs growth and development of lungs, limits chest wall movement, and results in restrictive ventilation defect and gas exchange dysfunction.

[Reliability and validity of modified pulmonary functional status and dyspnea questionnaire in Chinese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To determine the reliability and validity of the modified pulmonary functional status and dyspnea questionnaire (PFSDQ-M) Chinese version in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at 2 hospitals in Beijing, China.

Methods: PFSDQ-M has three domains, i.e.

[Diagnostic specificity of dynamic assessment and monitoring of spirometry in asthma].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic specificity of dynamic assessment and monitoring using a portable spirometer in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of asthma.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the results of dynamic monitoring of spirometry in 145 symptomatic patients with physician-diagnosed asthma. Flow-volume curve and simultaneous symptoms and mood were measured in a fixed-time thrice-daily assessment schedule for 2 weeks.

Fearful imagery induces hyperventilation and dyspnea in medically unexplained dyspnea.

Background: Medically unexplained dyspnea refers to a condition characterized by a sensation of dyspnea and is typically applied to patients presenting with anxiety and hyperventilation without underlying cardiopulmonary pathology. We were interested to know how anxiety triggers hyperventilation and elicits subjective symptoms in those patients. Using an imagery paradigm, we investigated the role of fearful imagery in provoking hyperventilation and in eliciting symptoms, specifically dyspnea.

[Clinical application of portable spirometry in asthma].

Objective: To investigate the clinical applications of portable spirometry in asthma.

Methods: Twenty patients with asthma were recruited from Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Flow-volume loop, simultaneous asthma symptoms, and mood were monitored three times a day for consecutive 14 days.

[Medically unexplained dyspnea in children: a review of 34 cases].

Objective: Medically unexplained dyspnea is common in adult and accounts for 14% patients complaining of dyspnea. Its occurrence in children is seldom recognized. In the present paper, 34 children with medically unexplained dyspnea (age 10 to 18 years) seen in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1996 to 2002 are reported.

[Diagnosis and treatment of medically unexplained dyspnea].

Medically unexplained dyspnea refers to a group of patients presenting marked dyspnea without structural alterations of organs/systems after thorough examinations. This clinically neglected group of patients accounts for about 14% of patients with dyspnea in secondary health care. They appear very difficult to manage clinically.

Medically unexplained dyspnea: psychophysiological characteristics and role of breathing therapy.

Background: Medically unexplained dyspnea occurs commonly in medical settings and remains poorly understood. This study was conducted to investigate the psychophysiological characteristics of medically unexplained dyspnea and the efficacy of breathing retraining for these patients.

Methods: A group of patients with medically unexplained dyspnea were compared to patients with a variety of organic lung diseases and healthy subjects.

[Assessment of pulmonary function in SARS patients during the convalescent period].

Objective: To investigate the pulmonary function in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients during the convalescent period.

Methods: Followup 89 outpatients of SARS. The follow-up study included interview, physical examination, and pulmonary function test.

[Role of single-breath carbon monoxide-diffusing capacity in monitoring the bleomycin-induced lung toxicity in human].

Objective: To investigate if the carbon monoxide-diffusing capacity (D(LCO)) could be the early indictor monitoring the bleomycin-induced lung toxicity (BILT) with retrospection of the influence of bleomycin cumulative dose on the pulmonary functions.

Methods: During June 1985 to October 2000, 42 patients with malignant tumor of ovarian germ cells received chemotherapy containing bleomycin in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Twenty three patients (54.