Introduktion  Genom dynamisk spirometri går det att beräkna kvoten mellan forcerad exspiratorisk volym under en sekund och forcerad vitalkapacitet (FEV1/FVC) där ett värde på ≤0,7 tyder på obstruktiv lungsjukdom. Mobil spirometriutrustning skulle kunna möjliggöra tidigare diagnostisering av obstruktiva lungsjukdomar men även fungera som ett kostnadseffektivt alternativ vid enklare undersökningar. Syftet med studien var att jämföra resultat erhållna vid dynamisk spirometri utförd på en stationär respektive en mobil spirometriutrustning. Material och metod  I studien deltog totalt 36 försökspersoner. Data samlades in mellan februari-mars 2023 och bestod av FVC och FEV1 erhållna från dynamisk spirometri på Vyntus™ One (stationär spirometriutrustning) och Aiocare™ Vyaire (mobil spirometriutrustning). Ett parat t-test (signifikansnivå 0,05) utfördes för att avgöra om det förelåg någon signifikant systematisk skillnad för data mellan de båda utrustningarna och förekomsten av slumpfel illustrerades med Bland-Altman-diagram. Intraklasskorrelationskoefficient (ICC) beräknades för samtliga variabler. Resultat och slutsats  En mycket god korrelation mellan utrustningarna förelåg med ett ICC>0.9 för samtliga variabler. Ingen systematisk skillnad kunde påvisas för uppmätt FVC, FEV1 eller kvoten FEV1/FVC mellan Vyntus™ One och Aiocare™ Vyaire (p >0,05) och slumpfelet bedömdes acceptabelt. / Introduction  Dynamic spirometry enables calculating the ratio of forced expiratory volume under one second and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) where ≤0,7 suggests obstructive lung disease. Mobile spirometer equipment could assist in earlier detection of obstructive lung diseases, but also function as a cost-efficient alternative. The purpose of the study is to compare results obtained with dynamic spirometry performed on a stationary and a mobile spirometry equipment. Material and method  A total of 36 subjects participated in the study. Data collected between February-March 2023 consisted of FVC and FEV1 obtained from dynamic spirometry on Vyntus™ One (stationary spirometry equipment) and Aiocare™ Vyaire (mobile spirometry equipment). A paired t-test (0,05 level of significance) determined if there was any significant systematic difference between data from the two types of equipment and the magnitude of sampling error was visualized by Bland-Altman plots. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for all variables. Result and conclusion  Excellent correlation with ICC>0,9 for all variables. There was no significant difference for measured FVC, FEV1 or FEV1/FVC between Vyntus™ One and Aiocare™ Vyaire (p >0,05) and the sampling error was considered acceptable.

Background: This work presents a generalized technique to estimate pulmonary ventilation-to-volume (v/V) distributions using the multiple-breath nitrogen washout, in which both tidal volume (VT) and the end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) are allowed to vary during the maneuver. In addition, the volume of the series dead space (vd), unlike the classical model, is considered a common series unit connected to a set of parallel alveolar units. Methods: The numerical solution for simulated data, either error-free or with the N2 measurement contaminated with the addition of Gaussian random noise of 3 or 5 % standard deviation was tested under several conditions in a computational model constituted by 50 alveolar units with unimodal and bimodal distributions of v/V. Non-negative least squares regression with Tikhonov regularization was employed for parameter retrieval. The solution was obtained with either unconstrained or constrained (VT, EELV and vd) conditions. The Tikhonov gain was fixed or estimated and a weighting matrix (WM) was considered. The quality of estimation was evaluated by the sum of the squared errors (SSE) (between reference and recovered distributions) and by the deviations of the first three moments calculated for both distributions. Additionally, a shape classification method was tested to identify the solution as unimodal or bimodal, by counting the number of shape agreements after 1000 repetitions. Results: The accuracy of the results showed a high dependence on the noise amplitude. The best algorithm for SSE and moments included the constrained and the WM solvers, whereas shape agreement improved without WM, resulting in 97.2 % for unimodal and 90.0 % for bimodal distributions in the highest noise condition. Conclusions: In conclusion this generalized method was able to identify v/V distributions from a lung model with a common series dead space even with variable VT. Although limitations remain in presence of experimental noise, appropriate combination of processing steps were also found to reduce estimation errors.

Introduction: L’asthme relié au travail (ART) est induit ou aggravé par le milieu du travail. L’asthme professionnel (AP) et l’asthme exacerbé au travail (AET) sont difficiles à distinguer en pratique clinique puisque dans les deux conditions les travailleurs se plaignent d’une détérioration de leur asthme au travail. De plus, les médecins sont souvent confrontés à des patients ayant des symptômes respiratoires reliés au travail (SRT) sans être asthmatiques. Ces patients sont souvent exclus des études qui visent à mieux caractériser l’ART. Objectifs : 1. Comparer la variabilité quotidienne des débits expiratoires de pointe (DEP) durant les périodes au et hors travail chez des sujets atteints d’AP et d’AET. 2. Évaluer la prévalence des patients ayant des SRT parmi les sujets référés pour possibilité d’ART, et comparer leurs caractéristiques et leur environnement professionnel avec ceux ayant l’ART. Résultats : L’exposition professionnelle induit une variabilité accrue des DEP chez les sujets avec AP et AET mais celle-ci est plus prononcée dans l’AP. Les sujets ayant des SRT sans être asthmatiques représentent une grande proportion des sujets référés pour possibilité d’ART. Conclusions : L’ART devrait être considéré chez tous les individus qui présentent un asthme de novo, ou une aggravation de leur asthme. La similitude des symptômes entre les sujets ayant des SRT et l’ART rend nécessaire d’effectuer une évaluation extensive. Cette évaluation devrait se faire selon une approche par étapes dans laquelle des tests objectifs améliorent la certitude du diagnostic et aident à différencier entre l’AP et l’AET. / Background: Work related asthma (WRA) refers to asthma that is induced or exacerbated by the workplace. Occupational asthma (OA) and work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) are difficult to distinguish in clinical practice since in both conditions workers complain of deterioration of their asthma while at work. In addition, physicians are often faced with subjects with work related respiratory symptoms (WRS) without being asthmatics. These subjects are often excluded from studies whose aim is to better characterize WRA. Objectives: 1. To compare the diurnal variability of peak expiratory flow (PEF) during periods at and away from work between subjects with OA and WEA. 2. To assess the prevalence of subjects with work related respiratory symptoms but without asthma among subjects referred for possible WRA, and to compare their characteristics and work environment to subjects with WRA. Results: Work exposures induce a significant PEF variability in both OA and WEA. However, the magnitude of variability is higher in OA than in WEA during work exposures. Subjects with WRS without asthma represent a large proportion of the subjects referred for possible WRA. Conclusions: WRA should be considered in all individuals who present with new-onset or worsening asthma. The similarity of the symptoms between subjects with WRA and WRS emphasizes the need to perform an extensive investigation. This investigation should be based on a stepwise approach in which multiple objective testing improves the certainty of diagnosis and help to differentiate between OA and WEA.

INTRODUÇÃO: O uso de níveis elevados da pressão expiratória final positiva (PEEP) na Síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo (SDRA), visando reduzir a quantidade de pulmão colapsado, tornando a ventilação mais homogênea, tem sido apontado por estudos clínicos randomizados e metaanálises como uma estratégia eficaz na melhora de alguns desfechos clínicos. Atualmente, não existe um método ideal para ajuste da PEEP na SDRA. Dois métodos distinguem-se pela racionalidade fisiológica e possibilidade de serem usados na prática clínica usual: ajuste da PEEP guiado por Pressão Esofágica (Pes) e ajuste da PEEP guiado por Tomografia de Impedância Elétrica (TIE). Os objetivos do estudo foram: (1) Avaliar, através de tomografia computadorizada de tórax (raios X), qual estratégia induz uma melhor aeração pulmonar: maior recrutamento pulmonar e menor hiperdistensão; (2) Avaliar as alterações da distribuição regional da ventilação, do volume pulmonar e da complacência regional medidos pela tomografia de impedância elétrica; (3) Avaliar as alterações na mecânica pulmonar e nas trocas gasosas produzidas por ambas as estratégias de titulação da PEEP. MÉTODOS: Dez porcos foram submetidos a um modelo de SDRA grave: depleção de surfactante mais lesão pulmonar induzida pelo ventilador. Após uma manobra de recrutamento (MR), duas estratégias de titulação da PEEP foram testadas em uma sequência aleatória: 1) Utilizando a tomografia por impedância elétrica para calcular a menor PEEP que mantem um colapso pulmonar menor de 1%; 2) Utilizando a pressão esofágica para calcular a PEEP necessária para atingir uma pressão transpulmonar final expiratória (PLexp) entre 5-6 cmH2O. Em seguida, os animais foram ventilados durante 1 hora com a PEEP ótima estimada por cada método. Foram registrados parâmetros fisiológicos e de tomografia computadorizada (TC) antes da MR (tempo basal) e após ventilação com a PEEP ótima (15 min e 60 min). RESULTADOS: Aos 60 min, ambas as estratégias reduziram o colapso pulmonar, mas com efeitos significativamente maiores (P < 0,05) no grupo TIE: tecido não-aerado (20,3 ± 11,8% vs. 38,6 ± 13,1%, TIE vs. Pes respectivamente), recrutamento cíclico (4,8 ± 3,7% vs. 8,7 ± 2,7%), PaO2/FIO2 (289 ± 78 vs. 209 ± 92 mmHg), pressão de distensão (14,5 ± 2,3 vs. 16,1 ± 2,3 cmH2O), e pressão de distensão transpulmonar (11,9 ± 1,7 vs. 13,6 ± 1,8 cmH2O). Apesar da escolha de uma maior PEEP ótima no grupo TIE, a pressão platô (33,2 ± 3,7 vs. 31,5 ± 3,1 cmH2O), a pressão transpulmonar inspiratória final (20,0 ± 2,8 vs. 19,2 ± 1,7 cm H2O) e a complacência das áreas não dependentes do pulmão medidas pela TIE (0,07 ± 0,04 vs 0,06 ± 0,05 unidades arbitrárias/cmH2O) ou TC (1,52 ± 0,90 vs. 1,41 ± 0,98 mL/cmH2O) variaram de forma semelhante nos dois grupos (P > 0,05). O tecido hiperaerado e a hipedistensão cíclica foram baixos em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Neste modelo animal de SDRA grave o ajuste da PEEP guiado por TIE produz um maior recrutamento pulmonar e sinais fisiológicas de melhor proteção pulmonar quando comparado com o ajuste da PEEP guiado por Pes / INTRODUCTION: The use of higher levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), aimed at reducing the amount of lung collapse, making the ventilation more homogeneous, has been pointed out by randomized clinical trials and meta-analysis as an effective strategy to improve some clinical outcomes. Currently, there is no ideal method for adjustment PEEP in ARDS. Two methods are distinguished by their physiological rationality and the possibility of being used in the clinical practice: PEEP titration guided by Esophageal Pressure (Pes) and PEEP titration guided by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). The objectives of the study were: 1) To evaluate through computed tomography of thorax (X-ray), which strategy induces better pulmonary aeration: greater lung recruitment and less hyperdistension; (2) To evaluate changes in the regional distribution of ventilation, pulmonary volume and regional compliance, measured by electrical impedance tomography; (3) To assess changes in lung mechanics and gas exchange produced by both PEEP titration strategies. METHODS: Ten pigs were submitted to a two-hit model of severe ARDS: Surfactant depletion plus ventilator-induced lung injury. After a recruitment maneuver (RM), two strategies of PEEP titration were tested in a randomized sequence: 1) Using electric impedance tomography to calculate the lowest PEEP keeping recruitable-lungcollapse < 1%; 2) Using esophageal pressure to calculate the PEEP needed to achieve an end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure between 5-6 cmH2O. Then, animals were ventilated for 1 hour with the optimum-PEEP estimated by each method. Physiological and computed tomography (CT) parameters were recorded before RM (baseline) and after ventilation at optimum-PEEP (15 min and 60 min). RESULTS: At 60 min, both strategies reduced lung collapse but with significantly (P < 0.05) greater effects in EIT-group: nonaerated tissue (20.3 ± 11.8% vs 38.6 ± 13.1%, EIT vs. Pes, respectively), tidal recruitment (4.8 ± 3.7% vs 8.7 ± 2.7%), PaO2/FIO2 (289 ± 78 vs 209 ± 92 mmHg), driving-pressure (14.5 ± 2.3 vs 16.1 ± 2.3 cmH2O) and transpulmonary driving-pressure (11.9 ± 1.7 vs 13.6 ± 1.8 cmH2O). Despite the choice for a higher optimum-PEEP in the EIT-group; plateau pressure (33.2 ± 3.7 vs 31.5 ± 3.1 cmH2O), end-inspiratory transpulmonary pressure (20.0 ± 2.8 vs 19.2 ± 1.7 cmH2O) and compliance of non-dependent areas measured by EIT (0.07 ± 0.04 vs 0.06 ± 0.05 arbitrary units/cmH2O) or CT (1.52 ± 0.90 vs 1.41 ± 0.98 mL/cmH2O) varied similarly in both groups (P > 0.05). Hyperaerated tissue and tidal hyperinflation were very low in both groups. CONCLUSION: In this model, the choice of PEEP guided by EIT leads to higher lung recruitment and physiological signals of a better lung protection, when compared to the strategy guided by Pes

INTRODUÇÃO: A principal causa de mortalidade em pacientes com fibrose cística é o declínio da função pulmonar, relacionada à infecção respiratória de repetição. A rinossinusite crônica pode contribuir na deterioração da função pulmonar, porque o nariz e seios paranasais podem representar um reservatório de potenciais patógenos que causam as infecções pulmonares recorrentes ou crônicas. Métodos como o sequenciamento de nova geração, na identificação do microbioma, mostraram a natureza polimicrobiana das infecções respiratórias em fibrose cística, com a caracterização de agentes infecciosos não detectados nos métodos convencionais de cultura. Ainda muito pouco se sabe a respeito da composição e diversidade do microbioma desses pacientes. OBJETIVO: Descrever a composição do microbioma bacteriano do meato médio e do escarro de pacientes adultos com fibrose cística. Comparar riqueza, diversidade e dominância do microbioma dos pacientes com doença pulmonar discreta ou moderada com pacientes com doença pulmonar grave. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Foi avaliado o microbioma do meato médio e escarro de 31 adultos com fibrose cística, utilizado a análise do gene 16S rRNA por meio do sequenciamento de nova geração. RESULTADOS: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus e Corynebacterium foram os gêneros mais abundantes no meato médio e Pseudomonas, Haemophilus e Prevotella, no escarro. Nos pacientes com doença grave, observamos um aumento na prevalência de Pseudomonas nos dois sítios estudados isoladamente. Na análise pareada de escarro e meato médio, obtivemos concordância na composição do microbioma apenas em pacientes com doença discreta a moderada, o mesmo não foi observado no grupo com doença grave. CONCLUSÃO: O avanço nos conhecimentos da composição e diversidade do microbioma nas vias aéreas dos pacientes com fibrose cística é fundamental para o entendimento da fisiopatologia da doença, além de seu papel na criação novas perspectivas e possibilidades de tratamentos. Esse é o primeiro trabalho brasileiro a estudar o microbioma de vias aéreas em pacientes com fibrose cística. Nossos achados estão em concordância com a literatura internacional, ao apontar a Pseudomonas como importante elemento na fisiopatologia da doença, presente tanto no escarro como no meato médio dos pacientes com doença pulmonar grave / INTRODUCTION: The main cause of mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis is the decline in lung function, related to recurrent respiratory infection. Chronic rhinosinusitis leads to significant morbidity and contributes to the pathophysiology of lung disease. In cystic fibrosis, the nose and paranasal sinuses may represent a reservoir of potential respiratory pathogens and contribute to recurrent or chronic lung infections. Culture independent molecular detection methods of microbiome have shown the polymicrobial nature of respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis, with the characterization of undetectable pathogenic agents in conventional culture methods. Composition and diversity of the airway microbiome is still poor explored. METHODS: This study evaluated the airway microbiome of 31 adult cystic fibrosis patients, with the analysis of the 16S rRNA by the next generation sequencing. RESULTS: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus e Corynebacterium were the most abundant genera in middle meatus and Pseudomonas, Haemophilus e Prevotella, in sputum. In patients with advanced disease, we noticed an increase in Pseudomonas prevalence in both sample types studied separately. In paired analysis, sputum and middle meatus have shown a similarity in microbiome composition in patients with mild or moderate disease. This was not observed in patients with advanced disease. CONCLUSION: Advances in the knowledge of the composition and diversity of the airway microbiome of cystic fibrosis patients are essential for understanding the pathophysiology of the disease. It has an important role in creating new perspectives and possibilities of treatments. There is a lack in the literature of studies with evaluation of the airway microbiome of these patients in Brazil. This is the first Brazilian study to evaluate the airway microbiome of cystic fibrosis patients. Our finds agreed with international literature, when point at Pseudomonas role in disease pathophysiology, present in sputum and middle meatus of patients with advanced disease

INTRODUÇÃO: O uso de níveis elevados da pressão expiratória final positiva (PEEP) na Síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo (SDRA), visando reduzir a quantidade de pulmão colapsado, tornando a ventilação mais homogênea, tem sido apontado por estudos clínicos randomizados e metaanálises como uma estratégia eficaz na melhora de alguns desfechos clínicos. Atualmente, não existe um método ideal para ajuste da PEEP na SDRA. Dois métodos distinguem-se pela racionalidade fisiológica e possibilidade de serem usados na prática clínica usual: ajuste da PEEP guiado por Pressão Esofágica (Pes) e ajuste da PEEP guiado por Tomografia de Impedância Elétrica (TIE). Os objetivos do estudo foram: (1) Avaliar, através de tomografia computadorizada de tórax (raios X), qual estratégia induz uma melhor aeração pulmonar: maior recrutamento pulmonar e menor hiperdistensão; (2) Avaliar as alterações da distribuição regional da ventilação, do volume pulmonar e da complacência regional medidos pela tomografia de impedância elétrica; (3) Avaliar as alterações na mecânica pulmonar e nas trocas gasosas produzidas por ambas as estratégias de titulação da PEEP. MÉTODOS: Dez porcos foram submetidos a um modelo de SDRA grave: depleção de surfactante mais lesão pulmonar induzida pelo ventilador. Após uma manobra de recrutamento (MR), duas estratégias de titulação da PEEP foram testadas em uma sequência aleatória: 1) Utilizando a tomografia por impedância elétrica para calcular a menor PEEP que mantem um colapso pulmonar menor de 1%; 2) Utilizando a pressão esofágica para calcular a PEEP necessária para atingir uma pressão transpulmonar final expiratória (PLexp) entre 5-6 cmH2O. Em seguida, os animais foram ventilados durante 1 hora com a PEEP ótima estimada por cada método. Foram registrados parâmetros fisiológicos e de tomografia computadorizada (TC) antes da MR (tempo basal) e após ventilação com a PEEP ótima (15 min e 60 min). RESULTADOS: Aos 60 min, ambas as estratégias reduziram o colapso pulmonar, mas com efeitos significativamente maiores (P < 0,05) no grupo TIE: tecido não-aerado (20,3 ± 11,8% vs. 38,6 ± 13,1%, TIE vs. Pes respectivamente), recrutamento cíclico (4,8 ± 3,7% vs. 8,7 ± 2,7%), PaO2/FIO2 (289 ± 78 vs. 209 ± 92 mmHg), pressão de distensão (14,5 ± 2,3 vs. 16,1 ± 2,3 cmH2O), e pressão de distensão transpulmonar (11,9 ± 1,7 vs. 13,6 ± 1,8 cmH2O). Apesar da escolha de uma maior PEEP ótima no grupo TIE, a pressão platô (33,2 ± 3,7 vs. 31,5 ± 3,1 cmH2O), a pressão transpulmonar inspiratória final (20,0 ± 2,8 vs. 19,2 ± 1,7 cm H2O) e a complacência das áreas não dependentes do pulmão medidas pela TIE (0,07 ± 0,04 vs 0,06 ± 0,05 unidades arbitrárias/cmH2O) ou TC (1,52 ± 0,90 vs. 1,41 ± 0,98 mL/cmH2O) variaram de forma semelhante nos dois grupos (P > 0,05). O tecido hiperaerado e a hipedistensão cíclica foram baixos em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Neste modelo animal de SDRA grave o ajuste da PEEP guiado por TIE produz um maior recrutamento pulmonar e sinais fisiológicas de melhor proteção pulmonar quando comparado com o ajuste da PEEP guiado por Pes / INTRODUCTION: The use of higher levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), aimed at reducing the amount of lung collapse, making the ventilation more homogeneous, has been pointed out by randomized clinical trials and meta-analysis as an effective strategy to improve some clinical outcomes. Currently, there is no ideal method for adjustment PEEP in ARDS. Two methods are distinguished by their physiological rationality and the possibility of being used in the clinical practice: PEEP titration guided by Esophageal Pressure (Pes) and PEEP titration guided by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). The objectives of the study were: 1) To evaluate through computed tomography of thorax (X-ray), which strategy induces better pulmonary aeration: greater lung recruitment and less hyperdistension; (2) To evaluate changes in the regional distribution of ventilation, pulmonary volume and regional compliance, measured by electrical impedance tomography; (3) To assess changes in lung mechanics and gas exchange produced by both PEEP titration strategies. METHODS: Ten pigs were submitted to a two-hit model of severe ARDS: Surfactant depletion plus ventilator-induced lung injury. After a recruitment maneuver (RM), two strategies of PEEP titration were tested in a randomized sequence: 1) Using electric impedance tomography to calculate the lowest PEEP keeping recruitable-lungcollapse < 1%; 2) Using esophageal pressure to calculate the PEEP needed to achieve an end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure between 5-6 cmH2O. Then, animals were ventilated for 1 hour with the optimum-PEEP estimated by each method. Physiological and computed tomography (CT) parameters were recorded before RM (baseline) and after ventilation at optimum-PEEP (15 min and 60 min). RESULTS: At 60 min, both strategies reduced lung collapse but with significantly (P < 0.05) greater effects in EIT-group: nonaerated tissue (20.3 ± 11.8% vs 38.6 ± 13.1%, EIT vs. Pes, respectively), tidal recruitment (4.8 ± 3.7% vs 8.7 ± 2.7%), PaO2/FIO2 (289 ± 78 vs 209 ± 92 mmHg), driving-pressure (14.5 ± 2.3 vs 16.1 ± 2.3 cmH2O) and transpulmonary driving-pressure (11.9 ± 1.7 vs 13.6 ± 1.8 cmH2O). Despite the choice for a higher optimum-PEEP in the EIT-group; plateau pressure (33.2 ± 3.7 vs 31.5 ± 3.1 cmH2O), end-inspiratory transpulmonary pressure (20.0 ± 2.8 vs 19.2 ± 1.7 cmH2O) and compliance of non-dependent areas measured by EIT (0.07 ± 0.04 vs 0.06 ± 0.05 arbitrary units/cmH2O) or CT (1.52 ± 0.90 vs 1.41 ± 0.98 mL/cmH2O) varied similarly in both groups (P > 0.05). Hyperaerated tissue and tidal hyperinflation were very low in both groups. CONCLUSION: In this model, the choice of PEEP guided by EIT leads to higher lung recruitment and physiological signals of a better lung protection, when compared to the strategy guided by Pes

Introduction: L’asthme relié au travail (ART) est induit ou aggravé par le milieu du travail. L’asthme professionnel (AP) et l’asthme exacerbé au travail (AET) sont difficiles à distinguer en pratique clinique puisque dans les deux conditions les travailleurs se plaignent d’une détérioration de leur asthme au travail. De plus, les médecins sont souvent confrontés à des patients ayant des symptômes respiratoires reliés au travail (SRT) sans être asthmatiques. Ces patients sont souvent exclus des études qui visent à mieux caractériser l’ART. Objectifs : 1. Comparer la variabilité quotidienne des débits expiratoires de pointe (DEP) durant les périodes au et hors travail chez des sujets atteints d’AP et d’AET. 2. Évaluer la prévalence des patients ayant des SRT parmi les sujets référés pour possibilité d’ART, et comparer leurs caractéristiques et leur environnement professionnel avec ceux ayant l’ART. Résultats : L’exposition professionnelle induit une variabilité accrue des DEP chez les sujets avec AP et AET mais celle-ci est plus prononcée dans l’AP. Les sujets ayant des SRT sans être asthmatiques représentent une grande proportion des sujets référés pour possibilité d’ART. Conclusions : L’ART devrait être considéré chez tous les individus qui présentent un asthme de novo, ou une aggravation de leur asthme. La similitude des symptômes entre les sujets ayant des SRT et l’ART rend nécessaire d’effectuer une évaluation extensive. Cette évaluation devrait se faire selon une approche par étapes dans laquelle des tests objectifs améliorent la certitude du diagnostic et aident à différencier entre l’AP et l’AET. / Background: Work related asthma (WRA) refers to asthma that is induced or exacerbated by the workplace. Occupational asthma (OA) and work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) are difficult to distinguish in clinical practice since in both conditions workers complain of deterioration of their asthma while at work. In addition, physicians are often faced with subjects with work related respiratory symptoms (WRS) without being asthmatics. These subjects are often excluded from studies whose aim is to better characterize WRA. Objectives: 1. To compare the diurnal variability of peak expiratory flow (PEF) during periods at and away from work between subjects with OA and WEA. 2. To assess the prevalence of subjects with work related respiratory symptoms but without asthma among subjects referred for possible WRA, and to compare their characteristics and work environment to subjects with WRA. Results: Work exposures induce a significant PEF variability in both OA and WEA. However, the magnitude of variability is higher in OA than in WEA during work exposures. Subjects with WRS without asthma represent a large proportion of the subjects referred for possible WRA. Conclusions: WRA should be considered in all individuals who present with new-onset or worsening asthma. The similarity of the symptoms between subjects with WRA and WRS emphasizes the need to perform an extensive investigation. This investigation should be based on a stepwise approach in which multiple objective testing improves the certainty of diagnosis and help to differentiate between OA and WEA.

Doctor Pharmaceuticae - DPharm / Underdiagnosis and undertreatment of asthma in children are barriers to optimal health care delivery and health, incurring substantial costs to both the families and health services. A tailored multifaceted educational outreach intervention ("academic detailing") was designed and implemented among private sector general practitioners (GPs) serving a poor working class urban community in Cape Town, South Africa. The intervention aimed to improve primary care childhood asthma by promoting the adoption of guideline-based key messages. The effectiveness of the intervention was tested in a randomised controlled trial, Chestiness and Asthma in Mitchell's Plain (CHAMP) (Zwarenstein 1999). This thesis describes the design, implementation and qualitative evaluation of the outreach intervention. Methods Qualitative interviews and quantitative sample surveys were conducted among GPs to identify and measure the prevalence of perceived barriers to optimal asthma care in children. A trained pharmacist visited GPs twice, promoting eight evidence-based primary care messages to overcome barriers to optimal care for asthma in children. The messages focused on key diagnostic indicators, a treatment algorithm based on severity, cost of drug therapies, inhaler and spacer use, and preventive treatment. These messages were formatted into attractive promotional material. The first visit promoted use of the messages, the second reinforced adoption in routine practice and assessed GPs' responses using unobtrusive qualitative data collection methods. The dialogue was tailored to each GP's needs. Results Thirty-two GPs received the intervention. All but one consented to both visits. At the first visit responses were varied. A few GPs were confused or suspicious; most were in agreement with the messages but seemed passive towards implementation; a few were keen to adopt the messages into their routine practice. Response at first visit was not predictive of use as assessed at the second. At the second visit, most GPs claimed that they personally agreed with and used the messages, with a large minority less enthusiastic. Conclusion The intervention appears to have been broadly accepted as evident from GPs' acceptance of the outreach pharmacist, but reports of complete adoption of the messages and use of the kit were less prevalent. This finding is consistent with and helps to explain the improved health outcomes of children with asthma in the CHAMP trial. The combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods was effective in identifying and assessing GPs' barriers. Further, the combination helped to confirm the determinants for the intervention. Unobtrusive qualitative methods provided valuable insight into GP behaviour in routine setting. Additional studies conducted in public sector pnmary care settings and for other diseases are needed to confirm the wider acceptability and effectiveness of multifaceted outreach interventions aimed at improving professional practice. Such an intervention in our study setting seemed successful for childhood asthma.

Background: This work presents a generalized technique to estimate pulmonary ventilation-to-volume (v/V) distributions using the multiple-breath nitrogen washout, in which both tidal volume (VT) and the end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) are allowed to vary during the maneuver. In addition, the volume of the series dead space (vd), unlike the classical model, is considered a common series unit connected to a set of parallel alveolar units. Methods: The numerical solution for simulated data, either error-free or with the N2 measurement contaminated with the addition of Gaussian random noise of 3 or 5 % standard deviation was tested under several conditions in a computational model constituted by 50 alveolar units with unimodal and bimodal distributions of v/V. Non-negative least squares regression with Tikhonov regularization was employed for parameter retrieval. The solution was obtained with either unconstrained or constrained (VT, EELV and vd) conditions. The Tikhonov gain was fixed or estimated and a weighting matrix (WM) was considered. The quality of estimation was evaluated by the sum of the squared errors (SSE) (between reference and recovered distributions) and by the deviations of the first three moments calculated for both distributions. Additionally, a shape classification method was tested to identify the solution as unimodal or bimodal, by counting the number of shape agreements after 1000 repetitions. Results: The accuracy of the results showed a high dependence on the noise amplitude. The best algorithm for SSE and moments included the constrained and the WM solvers, whereas shape agreement improved without WM, resulting in 97.2 % for unimodal and 90.0 % for bimodal distributions in the highest noise condition. Conclusions: In conclusion this generalized method was able to identify v/V distributions from a lung model with a common series dead space even with variable VT. Although limitations remain in presence of experimental noise, appropriate combination of processing steps were also found to reduce estimation errors.