Unidirectional Expiratory Valve Method to Assess Maximal Inspiratory Pressure in Individuals without Artificial Airway.

Introduction: Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) is considered an effective method to estimate strength of inspiratory muscles, but still leads to false positive diagnosis. Although MIP assessment with unidirectional expiratory valve method has been used in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, no previous studies investigated the application of this method in subjects without artificial airway.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the MIP values assessed by standard method (MIPsta) and by unidirectional expiratory valve method (MIPuni) in subjects with spontaneous breathing without artificial airway.

Effects of biomass burning on nasal mucociliary clearance and mucus properties after sugarcane harvesting.

Objective: Biofuel from sugarcane is widely produced in developing countries and is a clean and renewable alternative source of energy. However, sugarcane harvesting is mostly performed after biomass burning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of harvesting after biomass burning on nasal mucociliary clearance and the nasal mucus properties of farm workers.