Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Inhaled mannitol increases mucus clearance in patients with bronchiectasis by an unclear mechanism. The effect of mannitol on lung function, health status and sputum properties was investigated. ⋯ Mannitol significantly improved the health status over 12 days and this improvement was maintained for 6-10 days after cessation of treatment. In addition, mannitol reduced the tenacity, increased the hydration of mucus acutely and improved cough clearability in patients with bronchiectasis.
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This study investigated the ability of patients to assess when a metered dose inhaler (MDI) is empty. ⋯ These findings confirm that patients are unable to determine when an MDI should be discarded, resulting in insufficient drug delivery at the end of the life of an MDI for the majority of patients, and wastage of the drug for others.
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Before the advent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), use of the powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) in the setting of pulmonary tuberculosis has been controversial. Data regarding health care worker (HCW) perceptions and problems encountered with the use of the PAPRs were lacking. ⋯ With the advent of highly contagious diseases that pose a major occupational hazard to HCWs, the use of the PAPR has become more acceptable in clinical practice.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Adverse effects associated with influenza vaccination in patients with COPD: a randomized controlled study.
The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and type of adverse reactions following influenza vaccination and its effects on lung function, dyspnoeic symptoms, exercise capacity, and clinical acute respiratory illness (ARI) in patients with COPD, and the relationship of these adverse effects to the degree of airflow obstruction. ⋯ Influenza vaccination is associated with minimal local adverse reactions in patients with COPD. Vaccination does not cause systemic adverse reactions, induce clinical exacerbations or adversely affect lung function, dyspnoeic symptoms and exercise capacity in patients with COPD, regardless of the severity of airflow obstruction.
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Pulmonary function test (PFT) variables are dependent on height, age and gender. In addition, there is evidence of PFT variation in different ethnic groups. Prediction equations for PFT from a healthy, non-smoking, urban young population in the city of Mashhad (north-east Iran) have been derived. ⋯ A set of PFT reference values and prediction equations for both genders has been derived using a relatively large, healthy, non-smoking Iranian young population, and has generated results that differ from several other prediction equations.