Tests of pulmonary function were performed on children with severe adenoid hypertrophy, before and one month after adenoidectomy. Five types of subjects were selected: (1) normal; (2) cases with isolated increase of residual volume (RV); (3) supernormal type with increased RV; (4) obstructive type of ventilatory defect, and (5) restrictive type of ventilatory defect. Following adenoidectomy there is an objective evidence of improved pulmonary function. The data suggest that 65.7% of clinically normal children with adenoid hypertrophy show pulmonary function abnormalities.

Adenoidectomy↗

PubMed1980

Reference values for flow-volume curves during forced vital capacity breathing in male children and young adults.

127 non-smoking males aged 8-25 years were studied to obtain normal reference values for flow-volume (FV) curves. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences for all indices (PEF; MEF 25%, 50%, 75%; PIF; MIF 25%, 50%, 75%) in the first three age-groups (8-10, 11-13 and 14-16 years); the three last groups (17-19, 20-22 and 23-25 years) did not show any significant variation of FV curve data. Male subjects older than 16 years showed a negative correlation between maximal expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity and standing height. Multiple regression equations relating FV curve indices to age and anthropometric data are calculated.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1980

Circadian rhythms of respiratory functions in asthmatics.

35 subjects underwent pulmonary function tests, plasma cortisol and urinary catecholamine measurements at 4-hour intervals, during a period of 24 h. In healthy subjects a circadian variation was not demonstrated. In asthmatic subjects circadian variation of a large number of ventilatory variables and a normal circadian pattern for plasma cortisol were demonstrated. Asthmatic patients were divided into two groups: patients with intrinsic asthma and patients with extrinsic asthma. The former showed the most impressive circadian pattern; the most severe bronchospasm occurred between 12.00 and 00.00 h; patients with extrinsic asthma, older than 20 years became worse around 03.00 h. During this period their urinary catecholamines reached the lowest values. The younger patients with extrinsic asthma presented the highest TGV values at 12.50 h. From the clinical viewpoint, it is emphasized that chronobiologic criteria could be utilized for the chronotherapeutic management of asthmatics.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1977