摘要:

AbstractSixteen normal, non‐smoking first year medical students underwent four standard exercise tests, while cardiovascular (heart rate and blood pressure) and pulmonary (respiratory rate, tidal volume and oxygen consumption) adjustments were being monitored. Maximal exercise level for all tests were defined following the Jones scale. No variation was noted in respiratory rate among the four exercise tests. The cycle ergometry (CE), hand ergometry (HE), and treadmill (TM) exercise tests produced progressive increases of the various parameters as expected, although target maximal heart rates were not reached in most cases secondary to muscle fatigue. The step test (ST) approximated the physiological parameter changes noted in these three tests during the early stages of exercise, but levelled off after 3 minutes, probably due to lack of incremental load. The ST took the longest time to reach maximal level of exercise parameters, and recorded the lowest tidal volume increase. The same subjects underwent a modified step test (MST1) by adding 1 kg sandbags every 3 min to backpacks worn by the subjects, to provide incremental load. This modification provided a slight increase in the parameters measured, but still plateaued after 3 min. Another set of 18 normal, non‐smoking medical students underwent bicycle ergometry and two other modified exercise tests. The modified step test two (MST2) was similar to our initial MST1, except that the sandbags added every 3 min were not fixed at 1 kg but were also incremental (1, 2, 3 and 4 kg). The other test (Ramp test or RT) required the subjects to walk up and down a ramp, which entailed not only the addition of incremental weights of sandbags every 3 min, but also increasing the elevation of the ramp at each stage. Data analysis showed that these two tests showed almost similar changes in cardiovascular and respiratory adjustments in the subjects, compared to the standard bicycle ergometry. These pilot studies showed that low‐cost modified step tests may be utilized to approximate the expensive standard treadmill and bicycle exercise tests. More studies on larger populations have to be done to validate these re

ISSN:1323-7799    

DOI:10.1111/j.1440-1843.1996.tb00011.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractAirway inflammation may cause alteration of airway responses in chronic airway diseases, such as bronchial asthma. The objective of this study was to examine whether interleukin‐18 (IL‐18), one of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines, has a direct effect on airway functions. The effects of IL‐18 on carbachol, KC1 and isoproterenol (ISO) responses of isolated guinea‐pig tracheal strips were examined by measuring isometric tension in tissue bath. Responses of tracheal strips with or without epithelium to each agonist were compared before and after incubation with IL‐18 (25 ng or 250 ng/mL). Both 1 h and 5 h incubation of the strips with 250 ng/mL IL‐18 significantly decreased the sensitivity not only to KC1 (P<0.05; P<0.01, respectively), but also to ISO (both P<0.05) without affecting maximum contraction or relaxation. Response to carbachol was not affected by IL‐18. Epithelial denudation abolished the effects of IL‐18 on KC1 and ISO responses. Indomethacin (2 9mol/L) reversed the effects of IL‐18 both on KC1 and on ISO. These results suggest that IL‐1ß decreases the sensitivity of airway strips to KC1 and ISO, possibly by stimulating prostaglandin production from

ISSN:1323-7799    

DOI:10.1111/j.1440-1843.1996.tb00012.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTo determine the efficacy of doxycycline in producing pleuroedesis in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE), 31 documented cases of MPE, aged 19–82 years were prospectively studied. Pleural sclerosis was done with 500 mg of doxycycline. Response regarding respiratory symptoms and pleural fluid accumulation were evaluated monthly. At one month, 27 patients were evaluable (4 dropped out). All responded and required no therapeutic thoracentesis. At 3 months, 13 patients dropped out, only 14 patients were evaluable. It revealed that 13 out of 14 patients (92%) responded. Only one patient failed and required therapeutic thoracentesis. Five and two patients came for assessment at 6 and 12 months, respectively. They still benefited from doxycycline pleurodesis. Side effects including low grade fever in 30% of patients, moderate to severe pain in 60% and troublesome cough with hemoptysis in one patient (3%) were noted. Doxycycline is an effective agent in controlling MPE. It was successful in every patient at 1 month and in 92% at 3 months. At 6 and 12 months quite a few patients survived for evaluation. However, they still benefited from doxycycline pleurodesis. Side effects were tolerabl

ISSN:1323-7799    

DOI:10.1111/j.1440-1843.1996.tb00013.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, is widely recognized by the medical community and the general public as a major public health problem. Physicians and medical organizations share a public health duty to address this problem. Physicians and their professional organizations must contribute effectively to measures undertaken to deal with cigarette smoking. The issues involved are complex and affect medical practice in a number of ways. The following statement developed by six international organizations—the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society, the European Respiratory Society, the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology, the Canadian Thoracic Society, and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease—is intended to state the physician's responsibilities both to patients and to the community with regard to these general iss

ISSN:1323-7799    

DOI:10.1111/j.1440-1843.1996.tb00014.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY