Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0037090 (Respiratory symptoms)
 467 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Individuals with severe alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha1AT) deficiency (phenotype Pi ZZ) are abnormally liable to develop emphysema, but it is uncertain whether those with partial alpha1AT deficiency (phenotypes Pi MS and MZ) are similarly susceptible. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of the various Pi phenotypes in a working population in Northern Ireland and to compare the performance of simple pulmonary function tests and prevalence of respiratory symptoms and chest illness between different phenotypes. The population sample consisted of 1995 working men and women aged between 35 and 70 years. The MRC Questionnaire (1966) was used to assess respiratory symptoms, a forced expiratory spirogram was recorded, and a blood sample was analysed for alpha1AT phenotype by acid starch gel electrophoresis and antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis in every case. The percentage frequencies of the alpha1AT phenotypes were: Pi MM 86-5; MS 7-97; MZ 3-86; IM 0-6; FM 0-4; SZ 0-25; M 0-15; SS 0-1; Z 0-05; MP 0-05; FS 0-05. Respiratory symptoms and a history of previous chest illness occurred with similar frequency among the Pi M, MS, and MZ phenotypes, and a comparison of the regression coefficients for FEV1, FVC, and MMF on age for each phenotype group showed no significant differences between them overall, or when subdivided according to smoking habits or dust exposure. These findings provide no evidence that individuals of phenotype Pi MS or MZ are more than usually liable to develop chronic airways obstruction.
Thorax 1976 Apr
PMID:Relation of alpha-1-antitrypsin phenotype to the performance of pulmonary function tests and to the prevalence of respiratory illness in a working population. 78 98

Respiratory symptoms and function were examined in a random sample of 181 farmers (124 pig farmers and 57 dairy farmers) with a mean age of 43 years. Wheezing and shortness of breath during work in the animal house were significantly associated with pig farming (odds ratio 11.4), current smoking (odds ratio 2.2), bronchial hyperreactivity (odds ratio 3.8), and low FEV1 (odds ratio 3.4). Pig farmers had a slightly lower FEV1 than dairy farmers (101% versus 104% predicted, NS). Symptomatic farmers had significantly lower FEV1 than symptomless farmers (93% versus 106% predicted). A multiple linear regression analysis of the cross sectional values of FEV1 showed that there was a decline in FEV1 associated with pig farming (-12 ml/year of pig farming) and smoking (-23 ml/pack year) in addition to the age related decline of 32 ml/year. A multiple linear regression analysis of PC20 histamine showed that bronchial reactivity increased with age, number of pack years, and number of years in pig farming. Work in closed pig rearing units is a pulmonary health hazard and causes decline in lung function.
Thorax 1990 Dec
PMID:Relation between respiratory symptoms, type of farming, and lung function disorders in farmers. 228 23

Lung function and respiratory symptoms were studied in 40 children aged 8-18 years who had been ventilated for hyaline membrane disease after birth; 11 had had bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Also studied were 38 age matched children who had had hyaline membrane disease but had not required ventilation, 25 unmatched children who were born prematurely but did not develop hyaline membrane disease, and 39 randomly selected pupils of similar age. There was no difference in thoracic gas volume, total lung capacity, inspiratory vital capacity, residual volume, or transfer factor for carbon monoxide between the groups. Respiratory symptoms during the three years before the study and the frequency of clinically diagnosed asthma in patients and their family were similar in all the children with hyaline membrane disease irrespective of whether they had been ventilated or had had bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, however, had a lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) before bronchodilator (73% predicted) than the other groups (88-95% predicted). Children who had required ventilation had lower values for specific airways conductance (sGaw) and a greater increase in FEV1 (delta FEV1) after salbutamol (13%) than non-ventilated children (6%); delta FEV1 was associated with the peak pressure of intermittent positive pressure ventilation, a family history of asthma and a history of wheezing, recurrent respiratory illnesses, and a doctor's diagnosis of asthma during the three years before the study. These findings indicate that after eight years of age patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia have more reversible airways obstruction, compatible with increased bronchial smooth muscle tone.
Thorax 1990 Dec
PMID:Lung function 8-18 years after intermittent positive pressure ventilation for hyaline membrane disease. 185 94

The prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in adult populations is not known. To document its prevalence and distribution and to determine the factors associated with it, a random sample of the adult population of Busselton, Western Australia, was studied. Spirometric function, bronchial responsiveness to histamine, and atopic responses to skin prick tests were measured. Respiratory symptoms were determined by questionnaire. Data were obtained from 916 subjects. Of these, 876 underwent a histamine inhalation test and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to histamine (defined as a dose of histamine provoking a 20% fall in FEV1 equal to or less than 3.9 mumol) was found in 10.5%. Another 40 subjects with poor lung function were tested with a bronchodilator and 12 were found to have bronchial hyperresponsiveness (defined as a greater than 15% increase in FEV1), making the total prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness 11.4%. The prevalence of current asthma, defined as bronchial hyperresponsiveness plus symptoms consistent with asthma in the last 12 months, was 5.9%. The distribution of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the studied population was continuous. There was a significant association between it and respiratory symptoms, atopy, smoking, and abnormal lung function (p less than 0.001 for all associations). There was no association with age, sex, or recent respiratory tract infection.
Thorax 1987 May
PMID:Prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and asthma in a rural adult population. 366 Feb 90

Seventy nine cases of sporadic, community acquired legionnaires' disease have been reviewed. Annual and seasonal variation in incidence was noted. The mean age of the patients was 53 years and 50 (63%) were male. Pre-existing chronic diseases were present in only 23 (29%), including two patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment. Common symptoms included unproductive cough, dyspnoea, chest pain, headache, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Respiratory symptoms were absent, however, in 17 (22%). Localising chest signs were present in 74 (95%) cases. Frequent laboratory findings included lymphopenia, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hyponatraemia, raised urea and creatinine concentrations, abnormal liver function, hypophosphataemia, hypoalbuminaemia, proteinuria, and haematuria. Thirteen patients died (16%), including nine of 20 who received assisted ventilation. The mortality rate in patients treated with erythromycin (11%) was lower than in those who received other antibiotics (23%), but this difference was not statistically significant. Of the features noted on admission, only a high plasma urea concentration was significantly associated with death. Sporadic community acquired legionnaires' disease is a not uncommon disorder, which with appropriate treatment has a prognosis similar to that of other forms of community acquired pneumonia.
Thorax 1986 Aug
PMID:Legionnaires' disease: a review of 79 community acquired cases in Nottingham. 378 45

Eighty-six survivors of blunt chest injury were assessed for pre- and post-injury respiratory symptoms using a standardised questionnaire. A comparison was made between observed and expected symptom prevalence and lung function. Respiratory symptom prevalence after injury was greater than expected, 23 survivors (27%) claiming a persistent productive cough, 18 (21%) persistent wheezing, and 22 (26%) grade 2 dyspnoea. After injury persistent productive cough (p less than 0.05) and occasional wheezing (p less than 0.01) were more common among smokers and ex-smokers when compared with non-smokers. Mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were not statistically different from expected values. We concluded that respiratory sequelae of blunt chest injury are common and that smokers and ex-smokers are at particular risk.
Thorax 1981 Mar
PMID:Late respiratory sequelae of blunt chest injury: a preliminary report. 728 Oct 87