The 'clinically significant' bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR) in children: a comparative study between six definitions of scholarly societies and a mini-review.

: To compare the percentages of children with and without airway obstruction (obstructive and non-obstructive groups, respectively) presenting a 'clinically significant' BDR according to the following definitions: : FEV increase >12% predicted (∆), : FEV increase ≥12% initial (∆) and ∆FEV absolute (∆) ≥200 ml and/or ∆FVC ≥12% and ∆FVC ≥200 ml, British thoracic society (: ∆FEV ≥12%, National asthma education and prevention program (): ∆FEV ≥12% and ∆FEV > 200 ml, Group of research on advances in pediatric pneumology: ∆FEV ≥12% or ∆PEF ≥20%, and South African thoracic society (): ∆FEV ≥12% or ∆FEV >200 ml and/or ∆FVC ≥12% or ∆FVC >200 ml. This was a multicenter comparative study involving 278 children aged 6 to16 years: obstructive group (FEV/FVC < lower-limit-of-normal, n = 116) and non-obstructive group (FEV/FVC ≥ lower-limit-of-normal, n = 162). Spirometry was performed before/after a bronchodilator test.

Plethysmographic data and profile of North-African patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea treated with continuous positive airway pressure.

Objectives: In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, the frequencies of the different ventilatory defects are unknown and the studies examining their plethysmographic profiles and/or pulmonary function test data have contradictory results. The main aim of this prospective study was to establish the plethysmographic profile of severe OSA patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Methods: 100 (33 females) clinically consecutive stable patients with severe OSA treated with CPAP were included.

[Association between HLA-class II genes and asthma susceptibility in a selected Constantine population].

Introduction: asthma is a complex disease caused by the interaction of several genes. Some of them have a protective effect and some others contribute to disease onset. This study focuses on a region of the short arm of chromosome 6, where the genes encoding the major histocompatibility complex called HLA are located.

The multi-ethnic global lung initiative 2012 (GLI-2012) norms reflect contemporary adult's Algerian spirometry.

Background: The validation of the multi-ethnic GLI-2012 spirometric norms has been debated in several countries. However, its applicability in Algeria has not been verified.

Aim: To ascertain how well the GLI-2012 norms fit contemporary adult Algerian spirometric data.

Spirometric reference values for children living in Constantine (Eastern region of Algeria).

Background: Spirometry play an important role in diagnosing obstructive lung disease, assessing the severity of lung disease, monitoring treatment of patients with respiratory disorders, and allocating patients to treatment groups in drug intervention studies. Since spirometric lung function depends on body size, age, gender and ethnic group, reference equations derived from healthy individuals are imperative for interpreting results.

Aim: To assess the need for spirometric norms for children 5 to 16 years old and living in Constantine (Eastern region of Algeria).