Title: Tibetan curing system of Kum Nye and the possibilities of its application Objectives: The aim of this work is to present a comprehensive view of the Tibetan healing system called Kum Nye. The first part introduces Buddhism as the general basis of Kum Nye, some other basic spiritual principles, the historical background of Kum Nye, and the relationships between these three bases of Kum Nye. The aim of the second part is to explain the therapeutic effect of the system and to present ways of its practice, which are specially modified for the mentality and the way of life of Western society by the Tibetan lama Targhang Tulku. This part is enriched by the author's personal experience from a course of Kum Nye. The concluding part of the work sums up the salient aspects of Kum Nye, presents possibilities for its use, critically evaluates the therapeutic effects and limitations of the system, and makes suggestions for further research. Keywords: Buddhism, breathing exercises, emotions, Kum Nye, stress

Title: Influence of the breathing muscles using POWERbreathe. Objective: The main object of this thesis is to determine, if it is possible to use 3D kinematic analysis to measure changes of trunk shapes during quiet breathing and breathing when using POWERbreathe and if it is possible to identify the changes. The thesis is divided to two parts. The first part contains theoretical part, focused on issue of kinesiology and biomechanics of breathing. The special part is concentrated on research, where I find changes of trunk kinematics during application of POWERbreathe. Method: Measurements were made on 6 probands in the same age category (women), when each measurement was performed during quiet breathing, maximum inhale/exhale, resistive breathing when using POWERbreathe and then another quiet breathing and maximum inhale/exhale. Quiet breathing was chosen as benchmark. The experimental measurements was done during one day. The research was used 3D kinematic motion analysis using system Qualysis. Were observed changes in the shape of the trunk and possibly caused breath changes during using POWERbreathe. Results: Measurements has confirmed, that the system Qualysis is able to detect mobility and the trunk shape changes. At a certain threshold load device POWERbreathe prevailed movements cranial...

Le travail réalisé dans le cadre de cette thèse vise à l'approfondissement des connaissances sur l'impact de l'environnement gestationnel sur le développement de la commande respiratoire chez le nouveau-né. La respiration est une activité rythmique et autonome. La maturation des réseaux neuronaux impliqués dans son contrôle commence au cours de la gestation et persiste pendant la période postnatale. Le contrôle respiratoire est donc particulièrement susceptible à des variations de l'environnement intra-utérin. Nous avons étudié l'effet de deux stress gestationnels chroniques distincts : l'exposition à des cannabinoïdes et l'exposition à une hypoxie prénatale. A l'aide de techniques intégrées telles que la pléthysmographie à corps entier, éléctrophysiologiques comme la préparation de tronc cérébrale isolé ou les tranches de bulbes et immunohisto- et neurochimiques, nous avons pu caractériser l'impact des stress prénataux étudiés sur la plasticité respiratoire développementale. Nous avons pu établir un rôle central de l'anandamide dans la modulation de la commande respiratoire, probablement via des mécanismes noradrénergiques. L'exposition prénatale au WIN 55,212-2 induit une hyperventilation basale chez la souris nouveau-née qui semble relever d'altérations périphériques. Elle induit également une accentuation de la réponse centrale à l'hypoxie aigue et affecte l'apparition d'irrégularités respiratoires telles que les apnées. Quant à l'hypoxie prénatale, elle induit une hyperventilation basale d'origine centrale ainsi qu'une augmentation de l'activité catécholaminergique du tronc cérébrale. / Breathing is an autonomic rhythmic activity. The maturation of the neuronal networks responsible for breathing control begins in early gestation and persists throughout the neonatal period. This renders breathing control particularly susceptible to early insults arising from the intra uterine environment. We have studied the effects of two such gestational stress factors, namely prenatal exposure to cannabinoids and to gestational hypoxia. We use a wide array of in vivo and in vitro techniques in order to characterise the effect of the adverse intra uterine environment on the development of respiratory control. These include integrated techniques such as whole body plethysmography, electrophysiological preparations (en bloc and brainstem slice recordings) as well as immunohisto- and neurochemical approaches. We show that the prenatal stress factors induce developmental respiratory plasticity. This translates as heightened basal ventilation, observed following prenatal exposure to both cannabinoids and hypoxia. Comparisons between in vivo and in vitro techniques reveal a peripheral origin for the alterations observed following prenatal exposure to cannabinoids, suggesting a perturbation of the initiation and/or integration of information from the peripheral carotid bodies. Following prenatal hypoxia, respiratory perturbations have a central origin and can thus be observed in reduced preparations such as brainstem slice recordings. Neurochemical and immunohistochemical assays also reveal alterations in the bioaminergic modulation of the respiratory rhythm generator, perhaps underpinning the observed effects on respiratory control.

Au cours des années 1980, il y a été prouvé que l’étude de la variabilité de la fréquence cardiaque (VFC) permet d’estimer de façon non invasive l’activité du système nerveux autonome. Plus spécifiquement, de nombreux travaux démontrent que des enregistrements réguliers de la VFC peuvent rendre compte de la capacité d’adaptation d’un athlète à l’entraînement mais également de son état de fatigue. Bien que plusieurs auteurs suggèrent d’utiliser cet outil directement sur le terrain, il semblerait que l’absence de méthodologie commune et unifiée rende parfois difficile l’interprétation des résultats. Par conséquent, les travaux de recherche présentés au sein de ce manuscrit suivent avant tout une orientation méthodologique avec, néanmoins, une finalité pratique. Une première étude s’intéresse au ratio Basses fréquences/hautes fréquences (LF/HF) qui est communément utilisé comme marqueur de la fatigue. Nos résultats démontrent que chez les athlètes, ce ratio est avant tout modulé par la fréquence de respiration du sujet et que, contrairement à ce qui est couramment admis, une valeur supérieure à quatre ne traduit pas forcément un état de surentraînement. La seconde étude compare l’évolution quotidienne des différents marqueurs de VFC pendant 21 jours de suivi d’athlètes dans deux situations différentes : un enregistrement réalisé en respiration libre et un autre en respiration contrôlée. Nous avons constaté que les marqueurs RMSSD et SD1 suivent exactement les mêmes tendances quel que soit la méthode de respiration. A l’inverse, nos résultats démontrent une nouvelle fois que les indices fréquentiels sont avant tout modulés par la fréquence de respiration de l’individu. La troisième étude s’intéresse à une nouvelle méthode d’évaluation de la charge d’entraînement à l’aide de la VFC. Basée sur trois enregistrements qui intègrent à la fois les perturbations homéostatiques générées par la séance et la vitesse de réactivation parasympathique, la formule proposée permet de quantifier objectivement la charge d’entraînement dans des conditions de terrain. Les fortes interactions qui existent entre la VFC et l’entraînement nous encouragent à poursuivre notre démarche d’investigation pour utiliser cet outil dans le but d’individualiser et d’optimiser la planification d’entraînement des athlètes / During the 1980s, it was demonstrated that studying heart rate variability (HRV) makes it possible to estimate the activity of the autonomic nervous system noninvasively. More specifically, many works showed that regular recording of HRV can be used to monitor an athlete’s capacity to adapt to training and their fatigue. Although several authors have suggested using this tool directly in the field, it appears that the lack of a common and uniform methodology sometimes makes it difficult to interpret results. Therefore the research presented in this manuscript follows a methodological tendency with, nonetheless, a practical objective. The first study focuses on the Low Frequency/High Frequency (LF/HF) ratio commonly used as a fatigue indicator. Our results show that in athletes, this ratio is above all modulated by the subject’s respiratory rate and that, contrary to what is currently accepted, a value higher than four does not necessarily express a state of overtraining. The second study compares the daily evolution of different HRV markers over 21 days monitoring of athletes in two different situations: recording of spontaneous breathing and of controlled respiration. We observed that RMSSD and SD1 markers follow precisely the same trends whatever the breathing method. Conversely, our results show once again that rate indexes are above all modulated by an individual’s breathing frequency. The third study focuses on a new HRV-based method for evaluating training load. Based on three recordings that include both the homeostatic disturbances generated by the session and the speed of parasympathetic reactivation, the method proposed permits objectively quantifying training load under field conditions. The strong interactions existing between HRV and training encourage us to continue our investigative approach and use this tool to individualize and optimize athletes’ training programs

La commande de la ventilation chez l'humain est capable d'adaptation persistante qui repose sur des mécanismes de type LTP. Différentes techniques permettant l'induction de plasticité sont couramment utilisées mais leur application au contrôle ventilatoire n'a fait l'objet que de très peu de travaux.L'objectif de cette thèse est (1) examiner la possibilité d'induire des mécanismes de type LTP par la rTMS et la tsDCS en deux sites de la commande ventilatoire destinée au diaphragme, l'AMS et les métamères C3-C5 ; (2) évaluer les conséquences sur le profil ventilatoire en ventilation de repos et lorsque la ventilation est artificiellement contrainte. Nous avons examiné les effets d'un conditionnement inhibiteur appliqué par rTMS en regard de l'AMS sur l'excitabilité corticophrénique. Nous avons observé la présence d'une diminution persistante de cette excitabilité et en avons tiré la proposition qu'en ventilation de repos l'AMS augmente l'excitabilité de la commande ventilatoire à l'éveil. Nous avons alors considéré les conséquences de la rTMS sur la ventilation expérimentalement contrainte. Les modifications du profil ventilatoire induites par la rTMS sont en faveur d'une participation de l'AMS à la production ou au traitement de la copie d'efférence. Dans une 3ème étude, nous avons examiné les effets de la tsDCS au niveau C3-C5 sur l'excitabilité corticophrénique et sur le profil ventilatoire. L'augmentation de cette excitabilité et du volume courant nous a conduit à suggérer la possibilité d'induire une plasticité respiratoire au niveau spinal.L'ensemble de ces résultats nous permet d'envisager des perspectives thérapeutiques à l'utilisation de la rTMS et de la tsDCS. / A salient feature of the ventilatory control system is its ability to persistently adapt its behaviour. This stems from long-term plasticity mechanisms similar to those described for the neural control in general. Plasticity can be induced by various non-invasive stimulation techniques(e.g. rTMS, TDCS, tsDCS) that are commonly used but have not be systematically applied to ventilatory plasticity. The aim of this thesis is twofold: (1) to examine the possibility of inducing LTP by rTMS and tsDCS at two sites of the ventilatory control system, namely the SMA and the phrenic motoneurons: (2) to evaluate the impact of such plasticity on breathing pattern during spontaneous ventilation and inspiratory threshold loading. We examined the effects of an inhibitory rTMS paradigm applied to the SMA on corticophrenic excitability. We observed a persistent decrease in corticophrenic excitability and therefore proposed that the SMA participates in the increased resting state of the ventilatory motor system during wake. Then we considered the consequences of rTMS on breathing pattern during ITL. The corresponding modifications support a contribution of the SMA to the production or processing of an ventilatory efference copy. In a third study, we examined the effects of a tsDCS delivered to C3-C5 on the corticophrenic excitability and on the respiratory pattern. Increased corticophrenic excitability and tidal volume were observed. This suggests that respiratory plasticity takes place at the spinal level. Taken together, these results open the perspective of harnessing respiratory plasticity as a therapeutic tool in disorders altering the ventilatory command.

Syftet med föreliggande arbete är att undersökavad det är som får mig att bli stressad och spänd när jag spelar saxofon, samt hur jag erfar avslappning som metod för att motverka ett spänt saxofonspel. Arbetet genomsyras av följande forskningsfråga: Hur kan avslappning öka kroppslig och mental medvetenhet, samt lösa upp invanda spänningar under saxofonövning? Utifrån ett fenomenologiskt perspektiv har jag genom loggboksanteckningar undersökt både fysiska och mentala upplevelser som framträtt under och efter genomförd avslappning- och saxofonövning. I resultatkapitlet presenteras de fysiska och mentala förutsättningar vilka uppdagats genom avslappning och som direkt påverkat både avslappnings- och saxofonövning. I kapitlet presenteras även den kroppsliga och mentala medvetenhet som gjorts och som bidragit till minskad fysisk- och mental stress. Vidare presenteras hur avslappningen både kort- och långsiktigt förändrat mitt förhållningssätt till både saxofonövning och musicerande. I diskussionskapitlet kopplas resultatet till tidigare forskning samt övrig relevant litteratur. Avslutningsvis presenteras fortsatta forskningsmöjligheter inom föreliggande ämne. / The purpose of this study is to examine determinants of stress and tension in my own saxophone playing. I experience relaxation as a method to counteract practicing saxophone in a tense state. The study is based on the following research question: How can relaxation enhance physical and mental awareness, and solve habitual tension in playing the saxophone? From a phenomenological perspective, I have examined both physical and mental experiences that appeared during and after completed relaxation- and saxophone exercise, through a logbook. Physical and mental states were examined in relation to both my increased abilities of relaxation and my saxophone playing in general. Furthermore, the results section goes further into depth of how an increased awareness concerning bodily and mental experience decreased physical and mental stress. Moreover, the implications of the present study presents how my saxophone practice and musical performances changed in line with the relaxation intervention over time. The results are linked to previous research and other relevant literature in the discussion chapter. Finally, suggestions on further research is presented.

A expansão rápida da maxila é o procedimento ortodôntico/ortopédico mais utilizado para a correção da mordida cruzada posterior, maloclusão frequentemente encontrada em pacientes respiradores bucais. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da expansão rápida da maxila sobre o volume da naso e orofaringe de crianças portadoras de mordida cruzada posterior, por meio da tomografia computadorizada convencional. Foram selecionadas 32 crianças com respiração bucal e/ou mista, de ambos os gêneros, na faixa etária de sete a dez anos de idade, em fase de dentição mista, portadoras de mordida cruzada posterior, uni ou bilateral, sem qualquer tipo de tratamento otorrinolaringológico ou ortodôntico. Os exames de tomografia computarizada foram realizados 15 meses após a expansão. Os resultados mostraram que não houve aumento estatisticamente significativo, tanto no volume e na área da nasofaringe como no volume e na área da orofaringe após a expansão rápida da maxila. Pode-se concluir que a a expansão rápida da maxila não produz alterações sobre a área e o volume da naso e orofaringe de crianças respiradoras bucais, portadoras de mordida cruzada posterior. / Rapid maxillary expansion is the most commonly used orthodontic/orthopedic procedure for the correction of posterior crossbite, a malocclusion frequently found in mouth breathing patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of rapid maxillary expansion on the naso and oropharynx volume of children with posterior crossbite using conventional computed tomography. Thirty-two children with oral and/or mixed breathing were selected from both genders, at the age group from 07 to 10 years old, during the mixed dentition phase, with posterior or bilateral bite, without any otorhinolaryngological or orthodontic treatment. CT scans were performed 15 months after the expansion. The results showed that there was no statistically significant increase in both the volume and area of the nasopharynx and in the volume and area of the oropharynx after rapid maxillary expansion. It can be concluded that the rapid expansion of the maxilla does not produce changes in the area and volume of the naso and oropharynx of mouth breathing children with posterior crossbite.

É de grande importância à realização adequada das funções orais - as quais influenciam e sofrem influência dos aspectos morfológicos e miofuncionais orofaciais - para possibilitar o equilíbrio e desenvolvimento do complexo craniofacial. Assim, distúrbios miofuncionais orais podem interferir de forma negativa no desenvolvimento craniofacial, refletindo se também no desenvolvimento psicossocial da criança. O trabalho visou caracterizar os aspectos miofuncionais orofaciais e vocais crianças do município de Monte Negro/RO. Respeitando-se os aspectos éticos, dois grupos de escolares do município de Monte Negro/RO, de ambos os gêneros, foram formados de acordo com a faixa etária: grupo I (GI) composto por 47 crianças entre 6 e 8 anos e grupo II (GII) formado por 36 crianças entre 9 e 11 anos. A partir da avaliação miofuncional orofacial convencional, as crianças foram avaliadas quanto aos aspectos estruturas como: tipo facial e relação dentária, postura habitual dos lábios e da língua; estado de contração muscular dos lábios, língua, bochechas, masseteres e mentual; mobilidade e motricidade dos lábios, língua, mandíbula e véu palatino; além das funções de respiração, mastigação, deglutição, fala e voz. Foram utilizadas filmagens e gravação em MD para a coleta dos dados, e posterior análise, necessários à pesquisa. Os resultados demonstram para os dois grupos, alterações nas relações dentárias, bem como nos aspectos miofuncionais orofaciais no que se refere ao estado de contração muscular, mobilidade e motricidade, bem como para as funções respiratórias, especificamente quanto ao modo; a função mastigatória, principalmente, quanto a formação do bolo alimentar, conseqüentemente, alterações quanto a deglutição, e no que se refere a fala e a voz, as alterações apresentaram -se em menor porcentagem. Portanto a promoção de ações que viabilizem o trabalho de adequação das funções orofaciais e da voz, bem como o desenvolvimento de programas de prevenção na área de Motricidade Oral, tornam-se essenciais para o desenvolvimento das crianças do município de Monte Negro/RO. / The accomplishment of the orofacial functions is fundamental to promote craniofacial\'s balance and development, when accomplished correctly. Thus, myofunctional disturbs can intervene negative with the craniofacial development, also reflecting in the psychosocial development of the child. The objective of this work was to characterize the orofacial and vocal myofunctional aspects of the children of the city of Monte Negro/RO. Respecting the ethical aspects, 83 school children were evaluated and divided in groups in accordance with the age: GI (47 children between 6 and 8 years) and GII (36 children between 9 and 11 years). We verified in the orofacial myofunctional evaluation the following aspects: face type and dental habits; habitual position of lip and language; state of muscular contraction of masseter, cheek, lip, language and mentual; mobility/motricity of lips, tong, jaw and palatal veil; beyond breathing, chew, deglutition, speech and voice. We used movie recordings and recording in MD for the collection of the data. Mesofacial and dolichofacial types were observed; alteration in the dental relation, with bigger occurrence in the GI, characterized mainly for horizontal alteration; great occurrence of alteration in the lip and tong position, as well as in the state of muscular contraction, being diminished for cheek, lip and language and increased to masseter and mentual; difficulty in the lip and tong mobility, and little alteration in the mandible mobility; more than the half of the GI showed modified respiratory way and less of the half in the GII, with little alteration in the respiratory type in the two groups; little occurrence of alteration in the chew, except in the formation of the alimentary bolus, observed in more than the half of the sample; great occurrence of alteration in the deglutition, but a little bigger in the GI; phonetic alteration of speech was also present in more than the half of the GI and less in the GII, with little speech alteration in the articulator type; e, little occurrence of vocal alterations. Thus, in view of the occurrence of myofunctional alterations in the studied sample, the promotion of action for the adequacy of the modified functions becomes necessary for the good development of the children of the city of Monte Negro/RO.

O ATP mediando a sinalização purinérgica no bulbo ventrolateral rostral contribui para o controle do quimiorreflexo central e periférico regulando a pressão arterial e a respiração, mediante o envolvimento dos neurônios do núcleo retrotrapezóide (RTN). No entanto, as potenciais contribuições da sinalização purinérgica, no RTN, na função cardiorrespiratória em animais não anestesiados ainda não foram testadas. Mostramos que a injeção de ATP no RTN promoveu aumento cardiorrespiratório por um mecanismo dependente de receptores P2. Mostramos também que o bloqueio de receptor P2 não específico (PPADS), mas não de receptores específicos P2Y (MRS2179), reduziu a resposta ventilatória à hipercapnia (7% CO2) e hipóxia (8 % O2) em ratos não anestesiados. Além disso, a adenosina (ADO) no RTN atenuou o aumento da ventilação induzido por hipercapnia in vivo e o disparo dos neurônios in vitro. Estes resultados demonstram que a sinalização mediada por ATP contribui para o controle respiratório do quimiorreflexo central e periférico em ratos acordados e uma vez que o ATP se metaboliza rapidamente em ADO, esta teria ação no balanço da resposta quimiorreceptora no RTN. / ATP-mediated purinergic signaling at the level of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) contributes to both central and peripheral chemoreceptor control of breathing and blood pressure within the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN). However, potential contributions of purinergic signaling in the RTN to cardiorespiratory function in conscious animals has not been tested. We show that in the absence of functional C1 cells, ATP into the RTN increased cardiorespiratory output by a P2-recepor dependent mechanism. We also show that a non-specific P2 receptor blocker (PPADS) reduced the ventilatory response to hypercapnia (7% CO2) and hypoxia (8% O2) in unanesthetized awake rats. Conversely, a specific P2Y1-receptor blocker (MRS2179) into the RTN had no measurable effect on respiratory responses elicited by hypercapnia or hypoxia. Moreover, adenosine (ADO) into the RTN could attenuate the hypercapnia-induced increase in ventilation in vivo and firing rate in RTN neurons in vitro. These results demonstrate that ATP-mediated purinergic signaling contributes to central and peripheral chemoreflex control of breathing in awake rats and ADO could provide a balance between ATP stimulation and its inhibition in RTN during hipercapnia.

Os problemas respiratórios representaram a segunda causa de morbidade na distribuição de doenças no país, no ano 2000 (MS, 2002), tendo como uma das principais causas a poluição atmosférica, dentre outros fatores. Os efeitos na saúde devido à poluição do ar têm sido tema intensamente estudado nos últimos anos, mostrando que a exposição a poluentes atmosféricos vem causando um aumento na morbi-mortalidade e nas internações hospitalares devido a problemas respiratórios (Brunekreef & Holgate, 2002). Em Ribeirão Preto, cidade do estado de São Paulo, considerada o maior pólo sucro-alcooleiro do mundo, a prática da queima da palha da cana-de-açúcar vem causando grande discussão pelo incômodo aos moradores e pelos danos à saúde. A colheita da cana-de-açúcar ocorre no inverno, entre os meses de maio e novembro. Esta pesquisa teve o objetivo de descrever o quadro de morbidade ligado às internações hospitalares por problemas respiratórios nesse município, no período de 1995 a 2001, baseando-se em indicadores ambientais, econômicos e sociais. A metodologia fundamenta-se na pesquisa epidemiológica não-experimental, descritivo-exploratória, caracterizando-se em um estudo retrospectivo. As variáveis independentes consideradas foram o Índice de Poluição Atmosférica em Ribeirão Preto, medido pela CETESB, os indicadores econômicos como PIB e renda per capita, fornecidos pela Prefeitura Municipal e Associação Comercial e Industrial de Ribeirão Preto e os indicadores sociais, IDH, IDH-M e ICV do município. As internações hospitalares na rede pública do município por problemas respiratórios constituíram a variável dependente. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram formados por toda a população residente no município de Ribeirão Preto no período do estudo, independente de sexo, cor, profissão, faixa etária e nível sócio-cultural, internada nos hospitais da rede pública em decorrência de distúrbios respiratórios. Dentre os resultados destaca-se que o grupo que mais necessitou de hospitalização na rede pública foi o constituído por crianças de até 4 anos, principalmente menores de um ano de idade, seguido por idosos acima de 50 anos, em especial do grupo feminino, embora os homens tenham utilizado mais a rede pública hospitalar para a internação hospitalar do que as mulheres. Os poluentes atmosféricos medidos no município, nesses anos estudados, foram o SO2 e a Fumaça, sendo que as concentrações de SO2 apresentaram-se abaixo dos limites preconizados para padrão primário pela OMS, USEPA e CETESB e as taxas de concentração de Fumaça, com exceção das referentes ao ano 2000, encontraram-se acima dos valores aceitos pelos mesmos órgãos no que refere a padrão secundário. Os indicadores econômicos e sociais demonstraram um alto nível de desenvolvimento, em escala crescente nos anos selecionados. Os dados mostraram que há uma estreita relação entre o nível de desenvolvimento econômico e social em Ribeirão Preto-SP, no período de 1995 e 2001 e o quadro epidemiológico retratado pelas internações hospitalares por problemas respiratórios. / The breathing problems represented the second reason of morbidity in the sickness distribution in the country, in 2000, having as principal cause the atmospheric pollution, among another factors. The effects of air pollution on health has been broadly studied the last years, showing an increment in the morbidity and mortality associated with breathing problems. In Ribeirao Preto, city of Sao Paulo State, considered the most important productor center of sugar cane, the burning practice is been discussing because of the troubles the generate to the population and the health damage. Sugar cane colletion is done in winter, from may to november. This research aim the describe the morbidity associated with the hospital admissions for respiratory causes in this city from 1995 to 2001, based on environmental, economics and social indicators. It was done an epidemiological research, non experimental, descriptive and explorative, characterized by a retrospective study. As independent parameters were used the Atmospheric Pollution Indicator (CETESB), economic indicators such as PIB and income per capita (from the Ribeirao Preto City Office and the Comercial and Industrial Association of Ribeirao Preto) and the social indicators were the HDI, HDI-M and VCI from the Ribeirao Preto City Office. As dependend parameter was sellected the hospital admissions for respiratory causes. Any person hospitalized in the municipal system with respiratory problems, living in Ribeirao Preto, was included in this research, were not considered sex, color, profession, age or social and cultural level. Among the results it can be observed that the group that needed hospital admissions more frequently was constituded by childrens up to 4 years old, especially during the first year of life. This group was followed by adults over 50 years old, especially the female, altough men had used also the municipal system for treatment. The atmospheric contaminants analyzed in Ribeirao Preto, were SO2 and smog. The levels of SO2 were bellow the primary standard level established by OMS, USEPA and CETESB. The smog levels, excepting the data from 2000, were over the established as secondary standards levels. The economic asn social indicators are showing a high level of development in Ribeirao Preto-SP, been incremented from 1995 to 2001. Data showed that exist an important relation between the economic and social indicators, in that time, and the breathing problems hospitalization rates.