Thorax
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of inhaled morphine on the development of breathlessness during exercise in patients with chronic lung disease.
Inhaled morphine has previously been shown to increase exercise endurance in patients with chronic lung disease. A similar study was performed to determine whether inhaled morphine reduces the sensation of breathlessness in this group of patients. ⋯ In patients with severe chronic lung disease inhaled morphine in the doses used in this study does not relieve exercise induced breathlessness nor does it increase maximum power output achieved during progressive exercise.
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Bronchial challenge with allergen causes a specific form of airways inflammation consisting of an influx of neutrophils, eosinophils, and T cells. Because the relevance of the challenge model to clinical asthma is uncertain, the cellular changes that occur in the lungs of asthmatic subjects during natural seasonal allergen exposure were investigated. ⋯ The data suggest that natural allergen exposure, leading to a clinical exacerbation of asthma, may induce an inflammatory response involving T cells, mast cells and eosinophils. The relationship between allergen exposure, cellular infiltration and activation, and clinical symptoms appears to be complex, with factors other than allergen also contributing to asthmatic activity.
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Smoking may cause inflammation of the airways and impairment of lung function. To determine the relationship between the type and degree of airways inflammation and the decline in lung function, leucocytes in the sputum of smokers and ex-smokers were examined. ⋯ Airways obstruction and chronic expectoration, as well as accelerated decline in lung function, are associated with increased numbers of neutrophils in the sputum of smokers and ex-smokers which suggests that neutrophilic inflammation of the airways may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Reference values and definitions of "normal" are prerequisites for population screening and classification of lung diseases. The aim of this study was to calculate reference values for never smoking Caucasian adults. ⋯ The reference equations for mean values of spirometric indices and their lower fifth percentiles gave an improved and unbiased lower limit of normal. The higher mean values may in part be due to the strictly selected population, quality control procedures, cohort effects, and altitude, and are not explained by the statistical model used.