A brain atlas of the northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) in stereotaxic coordinates.

The brain of a procellariiform bird, the Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), is presented in the form of a stereotaxic atlas. The Northern Fulmar is especially interesting because both field and laboratory evidence support olfaction as one of its major sensory systems. The nasal cavity and olfactory bulb of most procellariiforms are among the largest of all avian orders; the central olfactory pathways may be more extensive as well. A brain atlas of the Northern Fulmar, a relatively accessible procellariiform species on which several studies have already been done, can provide reference for research both on neural mechanisms underlying olfaction and on comparative neuroanatomical data within Aves and between avian and nonavian groups.

The UCLA population studies of chronic obstructive respiratory disease. VIII. Effects of smoking cessation on lung function: a prospective study of a free-living population.

We evaluated effects of smoking cessation on lung function and respiratory symptoms of residents 25 to 64 yr of age from 3 communities in the Los Angeles area who completed a detailed respiratory questionnaire and measurements of forced expired volumes and flow rates, closing volume, and closing capacity at 2 times (T1 and T2) 5 yr apart. Results were analyzed in 2,401 participants who fit into 4 smoking categories: never smokers (414 males, 737 females); former smokers (294 males; 172 females); quitters between T1 and T2 (106 males, 62 females); and continuing smokers (278 males, 338 females). Covariance analysis was used to determine differences in lung function across smoking categories at T1 and T2 (adjusted for T1 values) and differences in decline in lung function between T1 and T2. Chi-square analysis was used to compare continuing smokers and quitters with respect to changes in respiratory symptoms. In this population, smoking at T1 was associated with impairment in all indexes of lung function evaluated. Smoking cessation led to significant improvement in symptoms of cough, wheeze, and phlegm production, and to significantly less decline in indexes of small airway function during 5 yr compared with measurements in continuing smokers. However, at T2, lung function still was lower among quitters compared with former and never smokers. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was marginally improved in women who quit compared with those who continued to smoke.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The UCLA population studies of chronic obstructive respiratory disease. VII. Relationship between parental smoking and children's lung function.

Results of previous studies of the impact of parents' smoking on children's lung function have been conflicting. To evaluate further the effect of passive smoking on the lung function of children, we analyzed respiratory questionnaire and lung function results obtained during field testing of residents (aggregated according to household) of 4 census tracts in the Los Angeles area. We report here on 971 white, non-Hispanic, nonsmoking, nonasthmatic children residing in households in which the smoking status of both parents was known; households with ex-smoking parents were excluded from analysis. We divided these children into 3 categories related to parental smoking status: (1) at least mother smokes , (2) only father smokes , and (3) neither parent smokes . Prediction equations for several indexes of forced expired volume and flow were derived separately for boys and girls 7 to 17 yr of age. Analysis of variance was used to compare lung function residuals of children in the 3 different passive smoking categories. Analysis was performed separately on younger (7 to 11 yr of age) and older (12 to 17 yr of age) children of each sex. Among younger male children, residual values were significantly lower in the maternal smoking category than in the other 2 household categories for maximal flow and maximal flow after exhalation of 25% of forced vital capacity (FVC) (p less than or equal to 0.05); no differences were noted between the paternal-smoking only and nonsmoking household categories. A trend toward similar results was found in older male children, which approached significance (p less than 0.1). Among females, forced expiratory flow during the middle half of the FVC and maximal flow after exhalation of 75% of FVC were significantly lower in relation to maternal smoking in the older children only (p less than or equal to 0.05). ANOVA revealed no decrement in lung function in relation to passive smoking among children with asthma or bronchitis (n=138).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of lung function in young nonsmokers and smokers before and after initiation of the smoking habit. A prospective study.

It has been suggested that young persons who smoke have better lung function initially than those who remain nonsmokers. To examine this possibility prospectively, we analyzed respiratory questionnaire responses and lung function results in residents of Burbank and Lancaster, California, who had completed field screening studies of respiratory status at 2 times 5 yr apart. At Time 1 and Time 2, we calculated the age- and height-adjusted values for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV) of all white residents who at Time 1 were 13 to 23 yr of age and did not smoke tobacco. Dividing these into 2 groups, "starters" and "nonsmokers," we used analysis of covariance for males and females with height and age as covariates and compared lung function values at Times 1 and 2 and changes in lung function between these times. Among males at Time 1, FVC, FEV, peak expiratory flow, and maximal flow after exhalation of 25% of FVC were significantly larger for starters than for nonsmokers. At Time 2, values for these same indexes (except for FVC) were no longer significantly different between starters and nonsmokers. Our findings suggest that (1) relatively poor lung function may discourage young males (but not young females) from becoming regular tobacco smokers; (2) prediction equations based on so-called normal populations of nonsmokers might underestimate normal lung function, and (3) the adverse effect of smoking on lung function may be even greater than that estimated from cross-sectional studies.