Starting home nebulizer therapy: patients' expectations and subsequent outcome at 2 months.

Twenty-six patients with severe COPD or asthma completed standard questionnaires before, and 2 months after, starting home nebulized bronchodilator therapy. Patients' perceived illness severity and their expectations of treatment with regard to symptoms were examined in the first questionnaire, and outcome was assessed in the second. Before treatment started patients expected a definite improvement in all symptoms studied.

The effect of pulmonary function of local and loco-regional irradiation for breast cancer.

Eighty-five patients treated with loco-regional radiotherapy to the breast/chest wall and cervico-axillary nodes, and 16 patients treated with local radiotherapy to the breast/chest wall alone for breast cancer were enrolled in a prospective study to measure the effects of treatment on pulmonary function during the acute phase (10 weeks after completing irradiation) and during the late phase (12 months after completing irradiation). Baseline pulmonary function values were obtained from all patients immediately prior to commencing radiotherapy. Twenty-two patients (25.

Breathing retraining: effect on anxiety and depression scores in behavioural breathlessness.

Thirty-six patients underwent assessment of behavioural breathlessness which included monitoring of breathing patterns and end tidal CO2 concentration and completion of questionnaires relating to hyperventilation (HV), anxiety and depression. Twenty-two patients had a positive assessment and underwent breathing retraining. Assessments were repeated immediately after re-training and 2 months later.

Pulmonary function in childhood leukaemia survivors.

Little is known of pulmonary function in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (A.L.L.

A standardised comment scheme for routine pulmonary function test results.

Observed values of ventilatory capacity, gas transfer and lung volumes in 840 patients were used to formulate a standardised scheme of descriptive comments. Response to bronchodilators was also defined. Absolute differences between measured and predicted values are used to identify normal and abnormal patterns of results, together with an overall pattern.

Short term variability in FEV1 and bronchodilator responsiveness in patients with obstructive ventilatory defects.

Short term variability in FEV1 and responsiveness to inhaled bronchodilator were measured in 150 patients with obstructive ventilatory defects. The range of initial FEV1 was 0.5-4.

Does regular treatment with ketotifen inhibit bronchoconstriction induced by isocapnic hyperventilation?

Eight asthmatic patients completed a 12-week, double-blind, placebo controlled study to assess the efficacy of ketotifen, 1 mg twice daily, in the inhibition of bronchoconstriction induced by isocapnic hyperventilation (IH). There was no significant difference in the degree of bronchoconstriction produced by IH after treatment with ketotifen or placebo.

Evaluation of Biox IIA ear oximeter.

Arterial blood gas tensions, pH, and carboxyhaemoglobin were measured on 322 occasions in 165 patients and the actual oxygen saturation of the haemoglobin (Sao2) was compared with the ear oxygen saturation (SEO2) recorded during the arterial sampling with a Biox IIA ear oximeter. The overall agreement between SEO2 and Sao2 was good, with a mean difference in saturation (SEO2-Sao2) of + 1.5% (SD 3.

Effects of verapamil and sodium cromoglycate on bronchoconstriction induced by isocapnic hyperventilation.

Twenty-four patients who were known to develop bronchoconstriction in response to isocapnic hyperventilation (IH) took part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the effects of verapamil (5 mg) and sodium cromoglycate (SCG) 20 mg in the prevention of IH-induced bronchoconstriction. Both drug and placebo were inhaled in dry powder form and responses were assessed by serial measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1). Sodium cromoglycate was shown to offer significant protection whereas verapamil powder provoked bronchoconstriction in over 40% of patients and these patients appeared to be those with more marked degrees of bronchial reactivity.

Short term variability in FEV1: relation to pretest activity, level of FEV1, and smoking habits.

The natural variability in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) over 20 minutes was determined in 54 fit hospital employees and 13 patients with restrictive lung disorders. Initial FEV1 ranged from 1.1 to 6.

Quality control in pulmonary function testing. A help or a hindrance?

The results of 120 sets of ventilatory capacity, lung volume (LV) and carbon monoxide transfer factor (TCOSB) measurements, 40 sets from each of three pulmonary function laboratories in one city, were examined retrospectively. Vital capacity (VC) was estimated by a forced expiratory manoeuvre (FVC), a relaxed expiratory manoeuvre (VCR) and an inspiratory manoeuvre (VCI) in the three different tests. Differences between VCR and FVC ranged from--88 ml to + 1 400 ml with a mean of + 47 ml.

Hyperventilation or exercise to induce asthma?

Bronchoconstriction was induced in asthmatic patients by means of isocapnic hyperventilation with dry air. Responses both within a day and between days did not differ significantly and corresponded closely with those observed after exercise. The mean fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) observed with both techniques was equivalent to 36%.

Oxygen affinity in vivo and in vitro in chronic ventilatory failure.

1. The oxygen affinity in vitro, haematological indices, erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and plasma inorganic phosphate were determined in 20 patients with chronic ventilatory failure and in 20 healthy non-smokers of similar age. 2.

Arterial blood gas tensions, hydrogen ion, and electroencephalogram during sleep in patients with chronic ventilatory failure.

We have studied arterial PO2, PCO2, and hydrogen ion and electroencephalogram during sleep in 10 patients with stable severe chronic respiratory failure. As a group the patients slept badly. Sleep was associated with a worsening of hypoxia and no significant change in PCO2 and H+.

Effect of age on oxygen-binding in normal human subjects.

1. Oxygen-binding, plasma and intra-erythrocytic pH, and haemoglobin, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and inorganic phosphate concentrations were measured in sixty-two healthy non-smokers aged between 18 and 89 years. 2.

The effects of maternal hypercapnia on foetal oxygenation and uterine blood flow in the pig.

1. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of maternal hyperoxaemia and hypercapnia on the uterine vascular bed and foetal oxygenation in the large white sow at 80-90 days gestation. 2.