Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2003
Clinical TrialCough reflex testing with inhaled capsaicin in the study of chronic cough.
To assess the utility of capsaicin test in the differential diagnosis of non-productive causes of chronic cough and to examine the effects of treatment on this reflex. ⋯ Cough sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin is a safe and reproducible tool in the study of chronic cough. However, its usefulness for the management and differential diagnosis is limited.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2003
ReviewTwenty-first century tobacco use: it is not just a risk factor anymore.
Despite availability of effective treatments for nicotine addiction, smoking remains prevalent with serious health consequences. Most smokers recognize the ill effects of smoking but are unable to quit. ⋯ There has been recent focus on uncovering the genetic basis of nicotine addiction. In this article, we have attempted to briefly review the current evidence for the role of genetics in smoking as well as comment on available pharmacotherapeutic options for treating nicotine dependence.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2003
Reliability, repeatability and sensitivity to change of externally and self-paced walking tests in COPD patients.
In COPD, several walking tests have been proposed to measure exercise tolerance but their relative merits are uncertain. We studied 57 moderate-to-severe, stable COPD patients (mean FEV1 35 +/- 12% predicted). Within a 2-month period, we compared reliability (inter-subject variability) and repeatability (intra-subject variability) of the most widely used 6-min walks (6MWD), with self-paced 2-min walks (2MWD) and externally paced, incremental shuttles (Shuttle). ⋯ SI was similar for all walks (6MWD 0.84, 2MWD 0.75 and Shuttle 0.76). In moderate-to-severe COPD, 2MWDs are as informative as 6MWDs without their disadvantages. Self-paced walks are as useful as externally paced Shuttles.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2003
Breathing frequency and use of expiratory muscles do influence the dynamic positive end-expiratory pressure.
End-expiratory air trapping due to obstructive airway disease can be estimated through the measurement of intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure PEEPi. The influence of breathing-frequency and use of expiratory muscles on PEEPi were measured in 10 normal and 10 chronic bronchitic patients (COPD). Insignificant control values of PEEPi increased to measurable values at high breathing rate in normal subjects. ⋯ When corrected for the use of expiratory muscles according to simultaneous gastric pressure drop, PEEPi decreased in COPD, but still increased at high rate. We conclude that modifying the respiratory rate can increase PEEPi values independently of the severity of airway obstruction and the use of expiratory muscles. Before estimating the pathological value of a PEEPi measurement or evaluating the effects of a treatment, we always need to know the simultaneous breathing frequency.