Predictors of pulmonary function test values for Pakistani children, aged 5-14 years.

OBJECTIVE: To predict pulmonary function test values in children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Nishtar Medical College, Multan, Pakistan, from August 2014 to March 2015, and comprised school-going children aged 5-14 years. After noting their gender, age, height and weight, the pulmonary function test measures, force vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second and peak expiratory flow rate were taken. Simple and multiple regression models were used for the prediction of pulmonary function test values. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 3,275 participants, 1,809(55.2%) were boys and 1,466 (44.8%) were girls. The overall mean age was 10.27±2.41 years. The means height, weight, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, force vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate were 137.37±13.41cm, 30.44±8.56kg, 1.56±0.58, 1.72±0.50 and 3.66±1.10, respectively. Generally, no significant difference between the mean pulmonary function test values was noted for boys and girls (p>0.05), except that the boys of age 13 and 14 had higher mean values (p<0.05). All the three variables - age, height and weight - had significant linear relationship with the pulmonary function test values (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The pulmonary function test values tended to increase with increase in age, height and weight.

Clinical trial readiness in non-ambulatory boys and men with duchenne muscular dystrophy: MDA-DMD network follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Outcomes sensitive to change over time in non-ambulatory boys/men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are not well-established. METHODS: Subjects (n = 91; 16.8 ± 4.5 years old) were assessed at baseline and 6-month intervals for 2 years. We analyzed all subjects using an intent-to-treat model and a subset of stronger subjects with Brooke Scale score ≤4, using repeated measures. RESULTS: Eight patients (12-33 years old) died during the study. Sixty-six completed 12-month follow-up, and 51 completed 24-month follow-up. Those taking corticosteroids performed better at baseline, but rates of decline were similar. Forced vital capacity percent predicted (FVC% predicted) declined significantly only after 2 years. However, Brooke and Egen Klassifikation (EK) Scale scores, elbow flexion, and grip strength declined significantly over both 1 and 2 years. CONCLUSION: Brooke and EK Scale scores, elbow flexion, and grip strength were outcomes most responsive to change. FVC% predicted was responsive to change over 2 years. Corticosteroids benefited non-ambulatory DMD subjects but did not affect decline rates of measures tested here. Muscle Nerve 54: 681-689, 2016.

Cross-sectional study on the endotoxin exposure and lung function impairment in the workers of textile industry near Lahore, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of airborne endotoxin on lung function impairment in exposure-response relationships among the workers of textile industry. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan, from January to August 2014, and comprised textile mill workers. The participants were divided into exposed and control groups. A questionnaire was used to ask workers about the potential adverse health effects of their occupation. The pulmonary function test was carried out by spirometer. Endotoxin levels in the samples were determined using the key quality characteristics limulus amebocyte lysate. The data was analysed to determine the correlation between the endotoxin exposure duration and pulmonary function test parameters. RESULTS: There were 200 subjects subdivided into 100 each inexposed and control groups. Overall, 160(80%) were not aware of safety measures and the remaining 40(20%) were partially practising. Changes in pulmonary function due to endotoxin exposure showed decreased force vital capacity, flow rate and peak expiratory flow parameters significantly different (p<0.05, p<0.001). The endotoxin concentration was between 12EU/m3 and 300EU/m3. Airborne endotoxin concentrations in textile plants exceeded the Dutch health-based guidance limit of 90EU/m3 and was associated with respiratory health effects. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged exposure to airborne endotoxin caused constant lung impairment. Proper safety measures should be adopted to avoid the inhalation of cotton dust.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disease of the lung associated with progressive airflow limitation and punctuated by episodes of acute exacerbation. There is growing recognition that the inflammatory state associated with COPD is not confined to the lungs but also involves the systemic circulation and can impact nonpulmonary organs. Epidemiologic and mechanistic studies indicate that COPD is associated with a high frequency of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias, independent of shared risk factors. Possible pathways include complex interrelationships between chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and oxidative stress as well as shared risk factors such as age, cigarette smoking, and environmental pollutants. In this review, we provide an overview of the epidemiologic data linking COPD with cardiovascular disease, comment on the interrelationships among COPD, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease, and highlight diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.