ABSTRACT
The circadian rhythm of respiratory function was examined in normal males and asthmatic subjects. In both groups, maximal flow decreased in the early morning. The major factor contributing to the circadian change in V50 was lung elastic recoil pressure in normal males and upstream resistance in asthmatic subjects. In some asthmatic patients, beclomethasone inhaled in the afternoon and at night was more effective than in the morning in increasing both the circadian maximal and minimal peak expiratory flow rates. This indicates the importance of chronotherapy in asthma.
Subject(s)
Asthma/drug therapy , Circadian Rhythm , Respiration/physiology , Aged , Airway Resistance/physiology , Asthma/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pulmonary VentilationABSTRACT
A case of immotile cilia syndrome accompanied by retinitis pigmentosa is reported. This syndrome involves congenital ciliary ultrastructural abnormality. A 27-year-old male complained of repeated pneumonia, sinusitis, and middle otitis. In addition, he had sperm motor insufficiency and electron microscopic finding of cilia led to the diagnosis of the present syndrome. Both fundi presented remarkable degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium and choroid and marked arterial narrowing. Constriction of the visual field and extinguished ERG were also noted. Abnormality of cilia of the retinal pigment epithelium was suggested. It was proposed that retinitis pigmentosa may be caused by abnormal cilia of the retinal pigment epithelium.
Subject(s)
Ciliary Motility Disorders/complications , Retinitis Pigmentosa/complications , Adult , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
A young girl with ocular albinism and the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is described. Ocular albinism generally occurs in males. In this condition, the pigmentation of the skin and hair is nearly normal, and the melanin pigment abnormality is limited to the eyeballs. The chief complaints are visual disturbance, nystagmus, and photophobia. A 3-year-old girl was recently brought to our hospital with nystagmus, which she had exhibited since the age of 1 year. Funduscopy resulted in a diagnosis of ocular albinism. Further investigations, specifically, microscopy of her platelets, led us to conclude that she had Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome.
