Evaluation of inspiratory muscle function in a healthy austrian population--practical aspects.

Background: There is no clear evidence whether inspiratory muscle strength (Pi(max)) is closely linked to inspiratory muscle endurance (T(lim)). Moreover, normal values of T(lim), measured by flow-resistive loads, have not been established.

Objectives: We tried to find answers to the following questions: Is it possible to establish normative values of T(lim) when using flow-dependent, resistive loads? Are Pi(max) and Borg scale values predictors of T(lim)? Are anthropometric and spirometric data closely related to T(lim)? Is it really necessary to measure T(lim) in addition to Pi(max) when evaluating inspiratory muscle function?

Methods: Sixty-eight healthy Austrian volunteers between 17 and 75 years of age and with a sedentary lifestyle participated in our study.

Recruitment maneuvers after a positive end-expiratory pressure trial do not induce sustained effects in early adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Recruitment maneuvers performed in early adult respiratory distress syndrome remain a matter of dispute in patients ventilated with low tidal volumes and high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). In this prospective, randomized controlled study the authors evaluated the impact of recruitment maneuvers after a PEEP trial on oxygenation and venous admixture (Qs/Qt) in patients with early extrapulmonary adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Methods: After a PEEP trial 30 consecutive patients ventilated with low tidal volumes and high levels of PEEP were randomly assigned to either undergo a recruitment maneuver or not.

Vital capacity manoeuvre in general anaesthesia: useful or useless?

As atelectasis occurs in most patients during general anaesthesia and may be one of the major causes for the development of hypoxaemia and nosocomial pneumonia, its prevention may be considered as an important objective in perioperative management. The major causative mechanisms are the loss of respiratory muscle tone, compression and gas absorption. Vital capacity manoeuvres have been proposed as a means to eliminate atelectasis in the vast majority of patients and restore normal pulmonary gas exchange during general anaesthesia.

Prospective multicentre trial comparing the efficacy of, and compliance with, glimepiride or acarbose treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes not controlled with diet alone.

Aim: To determine the efficacy of, and compliance with, glimepiride or acarbose in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Two hundred and nineteen patients with Type 2 diabetes uncontrolled by diet alone were randomized to receive either glimepiride (1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 mg once daily, n = 111) or acarbose (50, 100, 150 or 200 mg 3 times daily, n = 108). Both drugs were titrated in a 6-week dose-finding phase to achieve a fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentration < or = 7.

Smoking habits of office-based general practitioners and internists in Austria and their smoking cessation efforts.

Tobacco smoking is the major cause of lung disease. This study aimed to determine: 1) the prevalence of tobacco smoking among office-based physicians; 2) their readiness to inquire about their patients' smoking habits and, if need be, to motivate them to stop smoking; 3) whether non-smoking doctors advise their patients more frequently to stop smoking than their smoker colleagues do. A self-designed questionnaire on a post card was sent to 7674 office-based general practitioners (GPs) and internists.

Automatic tube compensation in patients after cardiac surgery: effects on oxygen consumption and breathing pattern.

Objective: To evaluate patients without prior pulmonary disease after cardiac surgery and to determine whether resistive unloading by automatic tube compensation, pressure support ventilation, and continuous positive airway pressure has different effects on oxygen consumption, breathing pattern, gas exchange, and hemodynamics.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Tertiary care, postoperative intensive care unit.

2 Years' experience with inspiratory muscle training in patients with neuromuscular disorders.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to assess the long-term effects of specific inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) who have various degrees of respiratory impairment.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven patients with NMDs (Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, 18 patients; spinal muscular atrophy, 9 patients) underwent 24 months of IMT. Patients were divided into three groups according to their vital capacity (VC) values.

Feedback-controlled negative pressure ventilation in patients with stable severe hypercapnic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: In recent studies, the efficacy of intermittent rest of the inspiratory muscles as an option of treating patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become questionable.

Objective: The aim of our study was to analyze the effects of feedback-controlled intermittent negative pressure ventilation (INPV) on stable, but severely hypercapnic COPD patients.

Methods: 21 clinically stable, hypercapnic patients with severe COPD underwent INPV with chest shells for 3 weeks, 6 h a day.

Dose-dependent effects of inspiratory muscle training in neuromuscular disorders.

The goal of this study was to show whether a correlation exists between the intensity of specific respiratory muscle training and the improvement of strength and endurance in inspiratory musculature in patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD). Sixteen patients with NMD (13 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and 3 with spinal muscular atrophy) performed inspiratory muscle training (IMT) at home with a special training apparatus for 9 months. Maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (PI(MAX)) and 12s-maximum voluntary ventilation (12s-MVV) test served as parameters for inspiratory muscle strength and endurance, respectively.

Hemodynamic and catecholamine stress responses to insertion of the Combitube, laryngeal mask airway or tracheal intubation.

Unlabelled: In a prospective, randomized, and controlled trial, we compared the stress responses after insertion of the Combitube (CT; Kendall-Sheridan Catheter Corp., Argyle, NY), the laryngeal mask airway (LMA), or endotracheal intubation (ET). Seventy-five patients scheduled for routine urological or gynecological surgery were randomly allocated to one of three groups and were ventilated via either an ET, a LMA, or a CT.

Kawan bronchial brush/cell block technique. Facilitation of the routine diagnosis of bronchial neoplasms.

Objective: To evaluate cell block preparations as a tool for the diagnosis of pulmonary malignancy and to correlate the findings with those from brush cytology and histology from forceps biopsy.

Study Design: One hundred twenty consecutive samples from patients with primary or metastatic lung cancer were routinely processed and stained for cytologic and histologic examination. In addition to smears, a cell block was prepared from each brushing sample.

Eicosanoid precursors: potential factors for atherogenesis in diabetic CAPD patients?

Prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and other eicosanoids represent a widespread lipid-mediator system for intercellular signalling, and, hence, have multiple cellular actions. Thus it is not surprising that numerous events in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis are associated with an altered formation of eicosanoids. To reconsider the availability of eiconsanoid precursors as one possible cause of atherogenesis, the dietary intake and the serum concentrations of arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were determined in patients with high risk for atherosclerosis on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) with and without diabetes in comparison to healthy controls and diabetic patients without late complications.

Risk factors for sensitization to furred pets.

The risk factors for sensitization to pets was investigated in 169 male pupils. A recent or former contact with cats, dogs, and guinea pigs in own home was reported in 52 (30.8%), 42 (24.