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Biomedical subjects

S Groth

Publications and source records attributed to S Groth.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Various types of tobacco smoking and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Results from the Osterbro study].

On the basis of the Osterbro investigation (Copenhagen City Heart Study) which includes several thousand smokers and non-smokers, the authors have analysed the risk of developing chronic mucus hypersecretion and decrease in forced expiration volume in the first second of expiration (FEV1) in the course of a five-year period in the following groups: non-smokers, smokers of cigarettes without filters, smokers of filter cigarettes, smokers of cigarillos/cigars and pipe smokers. All of the types of tobacco investigated led to increased loss of pulmonary function and to increased risk of development of mucus hypersecretion as compared with non-smokers. The differences between the injurious effects of the types of tobacco were limited and were probably due to different inhalation habits in the various groups of smokers. It is concluded that there is no evidence that change from one type of tobacco (eg cigarettes) to another type (eg pipe or cigar tobacco) will reduce the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease unless the change is accompanied by considerable reduction of the tobacco consumption.

Adult

Spontaneous changes in bronchial responsiveness in children and adolescents: an 18-month follow-up.

The purpose of this study was to investigate spontaneous changes in bronchial responsiveness to inhaled histamine over a period of 18 months. The first measurements in 495 subjects, 7 to 16 years of age, were made in 1986. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), i.e., PC-20 FEV1 less than or equal to 8.0 mg/mL, was found in 79 (16%) individuals, of whom 28 (35%) had symptoms of asthma. Twenty asthmatic and 42 non-asthmatic subjects who had BHR (78%) were re-examined 18 months later. The asthmatics had a modest change in BHR, while in the non-asthmatics bronchial response to inhaled histamine and exercise was significantly decreased. In twenty-two subjects (36%) bronchial response was within the normal range; of these 18 were non-asthmatic. Six asthmatics (30%) and two non-asthmatics (5%) had an increased BHR at follow-up. Two subjects (5%) developed symptoms of asthma by the time of follow-up, with an unchanged degree of BHR. Sex, age, atopic symptoms, and viral respiratory infections at the first examination were unrelated to changes in bronchial responsiveness. However, changes of BHR in the non-asthmatic subjects were significantly correlated to changes in bronchial response to exercise. Although spontaneous changes in bronchial responsiveness occur in asthmatic, as well as non-asthmatic subjects, asthmatics persistently have hyperresponsive airways. Development of asthma was found to occur among subjects with persistent BHR.

Adolescent

Blood volume distribution during head-up tilt induced central hypovolaemia in man.

We evaluated regional electrical impedance (Z degree) at 2.5 and 100 kHz to separate intra- and extracellular fluid changes and correlated Z degree over the thorax (TI) to relative changes in the central blood volume (CBV) induced by head-up tilt. In nine experiments head-up tilt resulted in normotensive central hypovolaemia associated with a 3.7 +/- 0.4 Ohm (mean +/- SE) increase in TI100 kHz after 60 min. In 24 experiments pre-syncopal symptoms were induced after 43 +/- 2 min, when TI100 kHz had increased 4.2 +/- 0.2 Ohm. Head-up tilt instantly decreased the activity of technetium labelled erythrocytes (99Tcm) over the thorax by 24 +/- 2%, and increased 99Tcm over the thigh by 68 +/- 10% (P less than 0.01, n = 8) with no further changes during the sustained tilt. Haematocrite increased during head-up tilt from 43.1 +/- 0.3 to 47.9 +/- 0.6% (P less than 0.01, n = 8). Accordingly, the increase in TI (6.3 +/- 0.6 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.4 Ohm, n = 6) and the decrease in Z degree through one leg (7.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.5 Ohm, n = 6) at 2.5 kHz was more pronounced than at 100 kHz. Also the changes in TI were correlated to CBV as calculated from 99Tcm and haematocrite (r = 0.90, P less than 0.01). The results suggest that: (1) Hypovolaemic shock is associated with a faster increase of TI than normotensive head-up tilt. (2) Head-up tilt is characterized by an initial decrease in CBV followed by a further decrease in plasma volume, which eventually leads to hypovolaemic shock. (3) Blood volume changes during head-up tilt are reflected in regional Z degree.

Adult

The effect of forced expirations on mucociliary clearance in patients with chronic bronchitis and in healthy subjects.

Animal studies have shown that frequent coughing may damage the mucociliary apparatus in flow-limiting segments of the central airways. To determine whether mucociliary clearance in humans is affected by repeated dynamic compression associated with forced expirations, we measured pulmonary deposition and mucociliary clearance for 2 h of inhaled [99Tcm]albumin. The subjects inhaled [99Tcm]albumin on 2 study days (randomized) using (A) slow inspirations and forced expirations, while inhalation using (B) forced inspirations and slow expirations served as control. The study was conducted using 10 patients with chronic hypersecretory/obstructive bronchitis and six normal subjects. We found that inhalation of [99Tcm]albumin by the two manoeuvres (A and B) resulted in similar patterns of aerosol deposition. There was no significant difference in retention of radioactivity in the central lung region at 1 h in the patients with chronic bronchitis after inhalation with manoeuvre A (102%) and with manoeuvre B (91.5%), or in the healthy subjects after manoeuvre A (74%) and manoeuvre B (77%). There was also no difference in the retention at 2 h or in overall mucociliary clearance in any of the groups. We conclude that dynamic compression in the central airways associated with forced expiration does not affect bronchial clearance in the airways of healthy subjects or in patients with chronic bronchitis.

Adolescent

Effect of terbutaline on mucociliary clearance in asthmatic and healthy subjects after inhalation from a pressurised inhaler and a dry powder inhaler.

BACKGROUND: beta Agonists have been shown to increase mucociliary clearance in some studies but not all. Whether the formulation of beta agonists affects mucociliary clearance is not known but may be important as the use of dry powder inhalers increases. METHODS: The effect of different methods of administration of inhaled terbutaline on mucociliary clearance and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was assessed in 10 patients with asthma and 10 healthy subjects. Terbutaline (1 mg) was administered through a metered dose inhaler with a spacer (Nebuhaler) or a dry powder inhaler (Turbuhaler), or both treatments were given, in a four way double blind, double dummy trial. Mucociliary clearance was measured by bronchoscintigraphy. RESULTS: Clearance of radioactivity from the lobar bronchi increased in the asthmatic patients by a median of 32% after terbutaline was given by metered dose inhaler and 55% after a combined dose of 2 mg from both inhalers (1 mg from each) compared with placebo but by only 9% after 1 mg of terbutaline was given by a dry powder inhaler. In the healthy subjects mucociliary clearance increased by 51% when terbutaline was given by a dry powder inhaler, by 66% when given by a metered dose inhaler, and by 66% when given by both inhalers combined. The effect of terbutaline on FEV1 was the same with each of the inhalers. CONCLUSION: Despite similar changes in FEV1 with the two formulations terbutaline increased mucociliary clearance significantly in asthmatic and healthy subjects when inhaled from a metered dose inhaler whereas when it was inhaled from a dry powder inhaler its effect was significant only in healthy subjects. The reason for the difference in asthmatic subjects is unclear, but may be associated with differences in the deposition of terbutaline.

Administration, Inhalation

The effects of postural drainage and positive expiratory pressure physiotherapy on tracheobronchial clearance in cystic fibrosis.

We studied the effects of two chest physiotherapy regimens on whole lung and regional tracheobronchial clearance (TBC) in ten patients with cystic fibrosis. The regimens were given on two separate days and consisted of 20 min of (1) postural drainage and the forced expiration technique (PD + FET), and (2) positive expiratory pressure (PEP-mask) and FET (PEP + FET). A third day served as control. The study days were randomized. Each day, the clearance of lung radioactivity was measured for 3 h by gamma camera. The number of spontaneous coughs was recorded and the sputum expectorated was sampled. We found that both PD + FET and PEP + FET improved whole lung TBC at 30 minutes and 1 h four or fivefold (p less than 0.01) compared with control, whereas at 2 h and 3 h only the improvement following PEP + FET (approximately 1.4 times) was significant (p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in whole lung or regional TBC between the PD + FET and PEP + FET treatments. The correlations between TBC and the radioactivity content in sputum expectorated (rs2 = 0.76) and between TBC and numbers of coughs (rs2 = 0.65) were better than between TBC and the weight of sputum expectorated (Rs = 0.39). We conclude that PD or PEP when combined with FET have similar effects on short-term whole lung and regional TBC in patients with cystic fibrosis. Evaluation of TBC during chest physiotherapy when only based on the weight of sputum expectorated seems inadequate.

Adolescent

Sensitivity and specificity of the histamine challenge test for the diagnosis of asthma in an unselected sample of children and adolescents.

The purpose of this investigation was to study factors of importance for the degree of bronchial responsiveness and, furthermore, to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of a bronchial challenge test with histamine for the diagnosis of asthma in 495 randomly selected children and adolescents, aged 7-16 yrs, from Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet. Detailed history about allergic symptoms, physical examination and bronchial histamine challenge tests were performed at the out-patient clinic. Asthma, atopic disease and height were found to be of great importance for the degree of bronchial responsiveness, whereas the age, sex and smoking habits were of no significance. The percentage of asthmatics with bronchial hyperresponsiveness, i.e. sensitivity to the test, increased towards 100% on inhaling increasing concentrations of histamine, but this was accompanied by a decrease in specificity and predictive values of positive test in regard to the diagnosis of asthma. However, lower concentrations of histamine may be preferable in order to distinguish between asthma and non-asthma in population samples, as inhalation of 2.4 mg.ml-1 and provocative concentration producing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (PC20) provided an acceptable sensitivity (57%), specificity (98%), and predictive value of a positive test (60%). We conclude that as regards the diagnosis of asthma, a low predictive value confirms that the bronchial challenge test plays only a supplementary, but valuable, role in detecting the disease in population samples.

Adolescent

Small-airways dysfunction in never smoking asbestos exposed Danish plumbers.

Among 701 Copenhagen plumbers we examined the lung function of 23 never smokers, who had removed asbestos insulation and intermittently been exposed to high levels of asbestos for about 25 years without being exposed to welding fume. The plumbers had significantly lower TLC, MEF25, MEF50, closing volume and closing capacity in comparison to 23 never smoking electricians without asbestos exposure. There was no reduction in TLCO. Pulmonary clearance of aerosolized 99mTc-DTPA was normal indicating that the asbestos had not induced increases in pulmonary epithelial permeability. However, in 11 of the 23 plumbers the 99mTc-DTPA ventilation scintigrams had a slightly irregular and spotty appearance, which together with the results of the lung function tests are suggestive of small airways' dysfunction. None of the subjects had symptoms or clinical signs of lung disease.

Adult

Measurement of renal function with iohexol. A comparison of iohexol, 99mTc-DTPA, and 51Cr-EDTA clearance.

The nonionic iodinated contrast medium, iohexol, introduced for clinical urography, is eliminated from the human organism mainly by glomerular filtration. The aim of this study was to analyze the applicability of iohexol for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement by comparing the plasma clearance of iohexol to the plasma clearance of the traditionally employed substances, chromium-51-EDTA and technetium-99m-DTPA. Iohexol concentration was measured by x-ray fluorescence. To analyze for possible acute effect of iohexol on renal function, additional measurements of 99mTc-DTPA clearance were made prior to the injection of iohexol. In 15 patients having clearance values between 30 and 130 ml/min per 1.73 m2, there were close correlations (r = 0.95-0.98) among iohexol, 51Cr-EDTA, and 99mTc-DTPA clearance. No significant acute renal effect of iohexol was demonstrated. It is concluded that measurement of iohexol clearance provides information about GFR that is as valid as measurements of 51Cr-EDTA and 99mTc-DTPA clearance. Thus, it is possible to perform urography and a determination of GFR using a single injection of iohexol.

Adult

Phlegm production in plain cigarette smokers who changed to filter cigarettes or quit smoking.

Data from a prospective epidemiological study that included 2025 plain cigarette smokers were analysed to investigate the effect of phlegm production of changing to filter cigarettes or quitting smoking. During a 5-year follow-up, 189 subjects quitted smoking, 312 changed to filter cigarettes, while 1524 continued to smoke plain cigarettes. Multiple logistic regression was used to adjust for age, duration of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked, socio-economic status and alcohol consumption. Smokers with morning phlegm at enrollment, who changed to filter cigarettes during the follow-up, had a probability ratio of 1.9 of phlegm production ceasing, compared with smokers who continued to smoke plain cigarettes (P less than 0.05). However, the probability ratio of developing morning phlegm among smokers who changed to filter cigarettes compared to those who continued to smoke plain cigarettes was 1.6 (P less than 0.05). The overall prevalence of morning phlegm at the end of the follow-up was the same in smokers who changed to filter cigarettes as in persistent plain cigarette smokers. The trends for chronic phlegm were similar, although they did not reach statistical significance. The smokers who stopped smoking had a probability ratio of 0.4 of developing morning phlegm (P less than 0.01) and a ratio of 7.7 for ceasing to produce it (P less than 0.001) compared to the smokers who continued to smoke plain cigarettes. Our results suggest that changing from plain to filter cigarettes is associated with a higher frequency of cessation of phlegm production, but offers no protection against the development of phlegm.

Adult

Pulmonary clearance of inhaled 99Tcm-DTPA: significance of site of aerosol deposition.

The aim of this study was to analyse how changes in the site of 99Tcm-DTPA aerosol deposition between central and peripheral parts of the lung influence routine measurement of pulmonary clearance of 99Tcm-DTPA (PCl). The study was performed in six 'never-smokers' and 10 smokers with bronchial hypersecretion. Changes in aerosol deposition was accomplished by changing the aerosol particle size and the velocity by which the subjects inhaled the particles. In the smokers with bronchial hypersecretion there was a significantly smaller PCl after central deposition (P less than 0.01), than after peripheral deposition, while in the never-smokers, significance was not reached. The smokers with bronchial hypersecretion had a significantly higher PCl than the never-smokers (P less than 0.01) when the 99Tcm-DTPA had been deposited in the peripheral parts of the lung, but at the examination of central deposition, the difference was no longer significant. It is concluded that in smokers with bronchial hypersecretion measurement of regional PCl is influenced by the site of 99Tcm-DTPA deposition in the lung.

Adult

Pulmonary absorption of instilled and inhaled DTPA in smokers.

Pulmonary absorption of DTPA (diamine-triethylene-penta-acetic acid) has been widely adopted as an index of pulmonary epithelial permeability. The aim of this study was to analyse: (1) if measurements of pulmonary absorption are influenced by the amount of fluid being administered to the lungs together with the DTPA; and (2) if all DTPA administered to the lungs is equally accessible for pulmonary absorption. To this end DTPA was instilled into a lung segment of six smokers in association with a bronchoscopy. In six other subjects (five smokers and one ex-smoker) the DTPA was inhaled as an aerosol. Pulmonary absorption of DTPA was calculated from the plasma DTPA content, as determined for 4-10 h after the administration of the DTPA. We found that the mean transit time for the absorption of instilled DTPA, t(L), across the pulmonary membranes was significantly (P less than 0.05) longer (median 1498 min, range 955-2636 min) than the t(L) of the absorption of the inhaled DTPA (median 131 min, range 44-512 min). Pulmonary clearance of the inhaled aerosolized DTPA tended to be faster when determined by external detection for 4 h, than when estimated from plasma samples, suggesting that not all pulmonary DTPA may be equally accessible for absorption from the pulmonary lining fluids. We conclude that pulmonary absorption of DTPA is influenced by the volume of fluid being administered to the lungs in association with the measurements. Not all pulmonary DTPA, however, is equally accessible for absorption, rendering external detection of pulmonary clearance of DTPA sensitive to a variety of factors other than pulmonary absorption.

Aerosols

Late effects on pulmonary function of mantle-field irradiation, chemotherapy or combined modality therapy for Hodgkin's disease.

The aim of the present study was to assess late pulmonary sequelae after treatment for Hodgkin's disease with various treatment modalities. Pulmonary function was studied in 142 patients per median 8 years after treatment for Hodgkin's disease with mantle-field irradiation (54 patients), chemotherapy (26 patients) or mantle-field irradiation followed by chemotherapy (62 patients). Mantle-field irradiation was associated with a primary obstructive and minor restrictive lung function impairment, whereas chemotherapy and combined modality therapy were associated with a restrictive lung function impairment. The number of patients with impaired lung function and the number of patients with complaints of dyspnea, however, were almost the same in the three treatment groups. 5% of the 142 patients had a pathologically low total lung capacity, i.e. values less than 2 standard deviations below predicted values. Pathologically low values of forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second were seen in 33% and 27% of the patients. 33% of the smokers (n = 80) had a pathologically low diffusion capacity in contrast to 8% of the non-smokers (n = 62). Dyspnea on exertion was present in 24% of the 142 patients and was more frequent among patients with pulmonary functional abnormalities. In conclusion, late pulmonary sequelae after treatment for Hodgkin's disease do not provide a basis for choice between otherwise equally effective treatment regimes.

Adult

Decline of the lung function related to the type of tobacco smoked and inhalation.

Data from a five year follow up study on 4372 smokers and 3753 non-smokers were analysed to investigate the influence of the type of tobacco smoked and whether the subjects said they inhaled or not on the decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). The study sample comprised 1492 smokers of plain cigarettes and 1936 smokers of filter cigarettes, 1711 smokers of cheroots or cigars, and 233 male pipe smokers. Over the five years, smokers, especially those who said that they inhaled, had a higher rate of decline of FEV1 than non-smokers, in whom the average decline in FEV1 was 25 ml/year for women and 30 ml/year for men. There was no significant difference in the decline in FEV1 between filter cigarette smokers and plain cigarette smokers. The decline in FEV1 in cigar or cheroot smokers was the highest for all the smoking groups, and associated with a very high tobacco consumption in this group. Among pipe smokers who inhaled, the decline in FEV1 was slightly higher than in the cigarette smokers, whereas non-inhaling pipe smokers had a decline in FEV1 that was similar to that of non-smokers. In general, the smokers who said that they did not inhale had a smaller decline in FEV1 than those who said that they did. The effect of inhalation varied in magnitude in different smoking groups, being most pronounced in pipe smokers.

Female

Diabetes mellitus and ventilatory capacity: a five year follow-up study.

During a five year observation period, declines of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were investigated in 200 subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM), 126 subjects who developed DM during that period and 9,051 nondiabetic subjects. After statistical adjustment for age, sex, height, and tobacco consumption we found that the subjects who developed DM during the observation period had the steepest declines of ventilatory function. Their annual declines of FVC (and FEV1) were on average 29 ml (and 25 ml) greater than the declines observed among the nondiabetic subjects. The subjects who had DM during the whole observation period experienced a decline of ventilatory function which was not significantly greater than the decline among the nondiabetic subjects. Our results suggest that DM, at its onset, is associated with a significantly accelerated decline of ventilatory function. If DM has been present for some years, its impact on the decline of ventilatory function is small.

Blood Glucose

Enhanced pulmonary toxicity in smokers with germ-cell cancer treated with cis-platinum, vinblastine and bleomycin: a long-term follow-up.

The long-term effects of bleomycin on pulmonary function were studied. Thirty-four patients with germ-cell cancer were followed for an average of 64 months (range 43-98 months). All had obtained complete remission during treatment and none had relapsed at the follow-up examination. Pulmonary function was tested by measurements of total lung capacity (TLC), vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and single breath diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (TLCO). TLC and VC were significantly reduced by the treatment (P less than 0.05), but normalized during the follow-up. TLCO was initially reduced to a predicted median of 83%. In the smokers the initial TLCO was at a predicted median of 79%, while in non-smokers a median of 88% was predicted. During the first 2 months of treatment, TLCO increased both in smokers and non-smokers to predicted medians of 90% and 91%. Subsequently, however, a significant decrease to 72% was noted in the smokers, while the non-smokers had only an insignificant decrease to 84%. The decrease in TLCO was irreversible but not progressive. We conclude that bleomycin treatment is associated with a long-term sustained reduction in TLCO. The changes were most pronounced in the smokers.

Adult

Determinants of chronic mucus hypersecretion in a general population with special reference to the type of tobacco smoked.

Data from a prospective study of 3884 smokers and 3676 non-smokers followed for five years were analysed to investigate the determinants of chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH). During the follow-up 414 (10.7%) smokers and 140 (3.8%) non-smokers developed CMH. The influence of the type of tobacco smoked (plain cigarettes, filter cigarettes, pipe and cheroots/cigars), lifetime tobacco consumption, age, alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status on the development of CMH was assessed in men and women separately using multiple logistic regression. In smokers of both sexes, the risk of developing CMH increased significantly with lifetime tobacco consumption and almost significantly with age. In male smokers, the risk of developing CMH increased with alcohol consumption but was not significantly related to the type of tobacco smoked. In female smokers, the risk of CMH increased significantly with short school education and was, after adjustment for the amount of tobacco smoked, approximately twice as high in cigarette smokers as in cheroot smokers. However, as female cheroot smokers on the average consumed much more tobacco than female cigarette smokers the incidence of CMH was almost the same in the two groups. Among current non-smokers, the risk of developing CMH increased with age and previous tobacco consumption. It is concluded that although a number of factors are associated with the development of CMH, tobacco smoking, regardless of the type of tobacco, is a major determinant of CMH.

Adult