[Publications in respiratory nursing and physiotherapy].

The Respiratory Nursing and Physiotherapy Section of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery, established as a working group more than 19 years ago, has been characterized by a high degree of involvement and collaboration with all the research studies requiring nursing and physiotherapy techniques. However, publication of articles by this collective is scarce compared with that of the rest of the Society and the characteristics, attitudes and limitations of this section pose an obstacle to increasing the number of its publications. This article aims to explain some of the possible reasons that could have given rise to this situation.

[Contribution of exhaled nitric oxide measurements to abbreviated bronchial challenge test protocols].

Objective: The bronchial challenge test is commonly used to diagnose asthma but it is a tedious, time-consuming procedure. Although in recent years, several shortened methods have been proposed, it has been shown that they can give rise to exaggerated bronchoconstriction. The aims of the present study were a) to determine the frequency of exaggerated bronchoconstriction in patients with asthma following the application of a shortened bronchial challenge test, and b) to determine if the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) can be used to predict the onset of exaggerated bronchoconstriction.

Home mechanical ventilation for restrictive thoracic diseases: effects on patient quality-of-life and hospitalizations.

Forty-five patients with restrictive respiratory diseases, including thoracic wall diseases (TWD, n = 27) and neuromuscular diseases (NMD, n = 18), underwent 18 months of home mechanical ventilation (HMV) treatment. Treatment consisted of a two-level pressure system for 7h at night, with oxygen available if needed. Questionnaire-based assessments of health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) were evaluated before treatment and at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months of follow-up.

Analysis of the stability of stored adenosine 5'-monophosphate used for bronchoprovocation.

Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) bronchial challenge has been shown to be very useful tool in the diagnosis of asthma. Freshly test solutions are prepared just prior to each test in most of the studies. The objective of this study was to assess the stability of AMP solutions at different temperatures using a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography assay.

[Respiratory changes during ascension to 8,000 meters mountain].

Background: Our goal was to determine whether spirometric alterations occur during expeditions to 8,000-metre peaks, and whether these are modified by acclimatization or are related to acute mountain sickness, to arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) or to muscular deterioration due to chronic hypoxic exposure.

Subjects And Method: Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) maximal static pressures, grip strength in both hands, and SaO2 at rest and exercise were measured in eight subjects during an expedition to Gasherbrum II (8,035 m).

Results: Upon arrival at the base camp (5,200 m), both FVC and FEV1 decreased, with no changes in the FEV1/FVC ratio.