Resp Care
-
Oxidative stress has been known for having a key role in pathogenesis of many diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidative stress and also the relationship between antioxidant system statuses and lung function in patients with COPD and smokers and non-smokers subjects. ⋯ Decreased total antioxidant capacity in plasma of subjects with COPD and smokers suggests an increased oxidative stress in this group. However, no relationship was found between lung function and antioxidant systems status in COPD subjects.
-
Blow-by, a common form of nebulizer therapy, in which the device is held away from a child's face, has been dismissed as ineffective because studies have demonstrated incremental aerosol drop-off with increasing distances from the face. Many of these studies do not take into account differences among nebulizer systems. Using common, commercially available nebulizer systems, we defined the interaction of system components (nebulizer type, face mask configuration, and compressor characteristics) on aerosol delivery with and without blow-by. ⋯ At 4 cm, the Pari system delivered more drug than Respironics at 0 cm, suggesting adequate therapy during blow-by for some systems. Our results indicate that pediatric aerosol delivery is a strong function of the nebulizer system as a whole, and not simply a function of blow-by distance from the face or nebulizer efficiency. In uncooperative children, blow-by can be an effective means of drug delivery with the appropriate nebulizer system.