ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Prediction equations for spirometric lung volumes have been developed mainly in Europe and North America and may not be relevant to Pacific Islanders. This study was undertaken to determine whether currently available prediction equations adequately describe spirometric lung volumes in the asymptomatic adult Pacific Islander population. METHODOLOGY: Healthy asymptomatic Pacific Island adults aged 15-70 years were recruited. Pulmonary function was measured in the laboratory at Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, in accordance with American Thoracic Society standards. Measured results were compared with predicted values derived from four sets of prediction equations relevant to, or currently used in, New Zealand. RESULTS: A total of 101 volunteers took part in the study; mean age 28 years (range 18-66 years), 39% male, body mass index = 32 (range 22-54). For forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), when measured values were compared with reference values, the slopes of the regression lines were not significantly different from 1 and the intercepts were not significantly different from zero. Prediction equations derived for African-Americans did not provide a better fit than the prediction equations for Caucasians. Predictions were improved when ideal rather than actual bodyweight was used. CONCLUSION: Respiratory parameters (FEV1 and FVC) in healthy asymptomatic adult Pacific Islanders in New Zealand are adequately described by currently available prediction equations and no adjustment for ethnicity is required.
Subject(s)
Forced Expiratory Volume , Vital Capacity , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , New Zealand/epidemiology , Pacific Islands/ethnology , Reference Values , Regression Analysis , SpirometryABSTRACT
The knees of forty-three patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined using pre- and post-contrast MRI in an attempt to assess the extent and frequency of all abnormalities in the RA knee. Features evaluated by MRI were: synovial thickening, joint effusion, bone destruction, popliteal cysts, periarticular soft tissue swelling, abnormal tendons and bone marrow changes. A scoring system (0-2) was used to determine the relationship between the various signs of RA in order to identify those that may be relevant for the assessment of therapeutic response. It seems that the assessment of inflamed synovium is the major criterion for the determination of disease activity in RA.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis , Knee Joint , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Bone Cysts/pathology , Bone Marrow Diseases/pathology , Bone Resorption/pathology , Edema/pathology , Female , Humans , Joints/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Popliteal Cyst/pathology , Synovial Membrane/pathology , Tendons/pathologyABSTRACT
Bony changes in forty-four knees of patients with clinically established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and plain film radiography. In all cases MRI was clearly superior to radiographs, demonstrating 25 marginal erosions and 42 subchondral cysts, while the number seen on radiographs was 3 and 8, respectively. These results emphasize the problems in visualizing bone erosions in large joints using plain films. MRI is the method of choice for detecting early changes in RA, not only because of its high sensitivity, but also because of the ability of contrast-enhanced MRI to provide physiological characterization of these lesions.
