French national protocol for the management of congenital ichthyosis.

Congenital ichthyoses (CI) comprise a heterogeneous group of monogenic genetic skin diseases characterized by diffuse scaling, often associated with skin inflammation. Diagnosis of the individual form of ichthyosis is complex and is guided by clinical expertise. CI usually has a major impact on quality of life (QOL) and thus requires lifelong treatment. To date, there are no curative therapies, although various symptomatic treatment options exist. The present protocol for the management of CI has been drawn up in accordance with the recommendations published in 2012 by the French National Authority for Health, based on a literature review, with the help and validation of members of the French network for rare skin diseases (FIMARAD). It provides a summary of evidence and expert-based recommendations and is intended to help clinicians with the management of these rare and often complex diseases.

Systemic inflammation, neuroinflammation and perioperative neurocognitive disorders.

Perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is a common disorder following anesthesia and surgery, especially in the elderly. The complex cellular and molecular processes are involved in PND, but the underlying pathogenesis of which remains inconclusive due to conflicting data. A growing body of evidence has been shown that perioperative systemic inflammation plays important roles in the development of PND. We reviewed the relevant literature retrieved by a search in the PubMed database (on July 20, 2023). The search terms used were "delirium", "post operative cognitive dysfunction", "perioperative neurocognitive disorder", "inflammation" and "systemic", alone and in combination. All articles identified were English-language, full-text papers. The ones cited in the review are those that make a substantial contribution to the knowledge about systemic inflammation and PNDs. The aim of this review is to bring together the latest evidence for the understanding of how perioperative systemic inflammation mediates neuroinflammation and brain injury, how the inflammation is regulated and how we can translate these findings into prevention and/or treatment for PND.

Electroacupuncture ameliorates surgery-induced spatial memory deficits by promoting mitophagy in rats.

Background: This study sought to explore the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on spatial memory deficits caused by surgery. Methods: Hepatic apex resection was performed under propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to EA treatment or EA + mitochondrial division inhibitor-1 (mdivi-1) treatment once a day for three consecutive days after surgery. The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the spatial memory of the rats after surgery. Tissue from the hippocampus of each rat was frozen and used for transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to identify potential targets for EA treatment. Western blotting was used to confirm the protein expression levels. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were detected using commercial kits. The rat mitochondria were then isolated, and the activity of mitochondrial complex V was assessed. Results: EA attenuated surgery-induced spatial memory deficits on postoperative day 3, while these effects were reversed by treatment with the mdivi-1 (P<0.05). Ribonucleic acid (RNA)-sequencing revealed that EA upregulated multiple metabolic pathways and the phosphatidylinositol 3­kinas/protein kinase B signaling pathway. The proteomic and western blotting results suggested that the EA treatment substantially downregulated coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix domain containing 3 (ChChd3) expression in the hippocampus. The EA treatment significantly increased the autophagy-related protein levels, including phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced kinase 1, Parkin, MAP1LC3 (LC3), and Beclin1, and inhibited the production of ROS and inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1ß in the hippocampus (P<0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that EA ameliorates postoperative spatial memory deficits and protects hippocampus from oxidative stress and inflammation through enhanced autophagy in an animal model of perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs).

Dietary Choline Protects Against Cognitive Decline After Surgery in Mice.

Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs) are a common complication following procedures such as orthopedic surgery. Using a mouse model of tibial fracture and repair surgery, we have previously shown an increase in neuroinflammation and hippocampal-dependent cognitive deficits. These changes were ameliorated with the addition of a cholinergic agonist. Here, we sought to examine the effects of a high-choline diet for 3 weeks prior to tibial fracture surgery. We evaluated memory using novel object recognition (NOR) as well as young neurons and glial cell morphology at 1 day and 2 weeks post-surgery. At both time points, tibial fracture impaired NOR performance, and dietary choline rescued these impairments. Astrocytic density and hilar granule cells increased 1 day after tibial fracture, and these increases were partially blunted by dietary choline. An increase in young neurons in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus was found 2 weeks after tibial fracture. This increase was partially blunted by choline supplementation. This suggests that shortly after tibial fracture, hippocampal reorganization is a possible mechanism for acute impaired memory. These findings together suggest that non-pharmaceutical approaches, such as pre-surgical dietary intervention with choline, may be able to prevent PNDs.

Metabolic reprogramming mediates hippocampal microglial M1 polarization in response to surgical trauma causing perioperative neurocognitive disorders.

BACKGROUND: Microglial polarization toward pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype are major contributors to the development of perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs). Metabolic reprogramming plays an important role in regulating microglial polarization. We therefore hypothesized that surgical trauma can activate microglial M1 polarization by metabolic reprogramming to induce hippocampal neuroinflammation and subsequent postoperative cognitive impairment. METHODS: We used aged mice to establish a model of PNDs, and investigated whether surgical trauma induced metabolic reprograming in hippocampus using PET/CT and GC/TOF-MS based metabolomic analysis. We then determined the effect of the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) on hippocampal microglial M1 polarization, neuroinflammation, and cognitive function at 3 d after surgery. RESULTS: We found that surgery group had less context-related freezing time than either control or anesthesia group (P < 0.05) without significant difference in tone-related freezing time (P > 0.05). The level of Iba-1 fluorescence intensity in hippocampus were significantly increased in surgery group than that in control group (P < 0.05) accompanied by activated morphological changes of microglia and increased expression of iNOS/CD86 (M1 marker) in enriched microglia from hippocampus (P < 0.05). PET/CT and metabolomics analysis indicated that surgical trauma provoked the metabolic reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis in hippocampus. Inhibition of glycolysis by 2-DG significantly alleviated the surgical trauma induced increase of M1 (CD86+CD206-) phenotype in enriched microglia from hippocampus and up-regulation of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-1ß and IL-6) expression in hippocampus. Furthermore, glycolytic inhibition by 2-DG ameliorated the hippocampus dependent cognitive deficit caused by surgical trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic reprogramming is crucial for regulating hippocampal microglial M1 polarization and neuroinflammation in PNDs. Manipulating microglial metabolism might provide a valuable therapeutic strategy for treating PNDs.

Acetate attenuates perioperative neurocognitive disorders in aged mice.

Perioperative neurocognitive disorders are common in elderly patients who have undergone surgical procedures. Neuroinflammation induced by microglial activation is a hallmark of these neurological disorders. Acetate can suppress inflammation in the context of inflammatory diseases. We employed an exploratory laparotomy model with isoflurane anesthesia to study the effects of acetate on perioperative neurocognitive disorders in aged mice. Neurocognitive function was assessed with open-field tests and Morris water maze tests 3 or 7 days post-surgery. Acetate ameliorated the surgery-induced cognitive deficits of aged mice and inhibited the activation of IBA-1, a marker of microglial activity. Acetate also reduced expression of inflammatory proteins (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß and interleukin-6), oxidative stress factors (NADPH oxidase 2, inducible nitric oxide synthase and reactive oxygen species), and signaling molecules (nuclear factor kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase) in the hippocampus. BV2 microglial cells were used to verify the anti-inflammatory effects of acetate in vitro. Acetate suppressed inflammation in lipopolysaccharide-treated BV2 microglial cells, but not when GPR43 was silenced. These results suggest that acetate may bind to GPR43, thereby inhibiting microglial activity, suppressing neuroinflammation, and preventing memory deficits. This makes acetate is a promising therapeutic for surgery-induced neurocognitive disorders and neuroinflammation.

Demanda por contracepção no Brasil em 2006: contribuição para a implementação das preferências de fecundidade / Demand for contraception in Brazil in 2006: contribution to the implementation of fertility preferences

Resumo Este estudo buscou estimar a demanda por contracepção no Brasil a partir dos últimos dados disponíveis e identificar possíveis associações entre características sociodemográficas e econômicas das mulheres com a ocorrência desse fenômeno. Para isso, utilizaram-se dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde da Mulher e da Criança (PNDS) de 2006 e o método de estimação revisado por Bradley et al. (2012). Apesar do elevado percentual de uso de contracepção no Brasil, estimou-se uma necessidade não atendida por planejamento da fecundidade de 8,3% entre mulheres casadas/unidas de 15 a 49 anos. Isto é, existe um grupo específico de mulheres (no início e no final da vida reprodutiva, de estratos econômicos inferiores, evangélicas e sem religião) que não gostariam de ter mais filhos ou tê-los mais tardiamente e não conseguem fazê-lo devido à falta de acesso aos meios de regulação da fecundidade. Conclui-se que houve uma irrisória redução da demanda em relação à 1996 e com isso, tem-se reforçada a necessidade de investimentos públicos focalizados para que se consiga reduzir os níveis e diferenciais da demanda não atendida por contracepção no país e se tenha garantido os direitos de implementação das preferências reprodutivas.

Abstract This study aimed to estimate the demand for contraception in Brazil from the latest available data and identify possible associations between the sociodemographic and economic characteristics of women and the occurrence of this phenomenon. For this, we used data from the National Demographic and Health of Women and Children (PNDS) 2006 database and the estimation method reviewed by Bradley et al. (2012). Despite the high percentage of contraceptive use in Brazil, there was an estimated unmet fertility planning need in 8.3% of married/partnered women aged 15-49 years. That is, there was a specific group of women (at the beginning and end of their reproductive life, in the lower economic strata, evangelical and without religion) who wanted to have more children or have them later and failed to do so due to a lack of access to fertility regulation means. It was concluded that there was a negligible reduction in demand compared to 1996, which has reinforced the need to focus public investments to achieve lower unmet contraception demand differentials in the country and has guaranteed the implementation of the rights of reproductive preferences.

[Hereditary epidermolysis bullosa: French national guidelines (PNDS) for diagnosis and treatment]. / Épidermolyses bulleuses héréditaires : protocole national de diagnostic et de soins (PNDS).

Hereditary epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a heterogeneous group of rare genetic diseases characterized by fragile skin and/or mucous membrane, and it may be either local or generalized. It is caused by mutations in genes encoding different proteins involved mainly in the structure and function of the dermal-epidermal junction. Nineteen genes have so far been identified. They are classified by level of skin cleavage (from top to bottom) into four groups: EB simplex, junctional EB, dystrophic EB and Kindler syndrome. Clinically suspected diagnosis is confirmed by immunohistochemical examination of a skin biopsy at specialized centres in order to determine the level of cleavage and the deficient protein. This first step may be followed by genetic analysis. The severity of the disease is highly variable, ranging from localized forms with little effect on quality of life to rapidly lethal forms. In generalized severe forms, the extent and chronicity of lesions, as well as mucosal involvement, can lead to systemic complications: malnutrition, pain, joint contractures, chronic inflammation, amyloidosis, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Some specific forms are associated with other cutaneous signs (nail involvement, alopecia, hyperpigmentation, palmoplantar keratoderma) or extracutaneous involvement (muscular dystrophy or pyloric atresia). No curative treatment of EB is available today. EB requires multidisciplinary medical care, nursing, psychological and social management. This is best provided by a specialized network, involving reference centres, centres of expertise and daily caregivers. The goal of treatment is the prevention and treatment of lesions with specific non-adherent dressings and the prevention, detection and treatment of complications. It is essential not to traumatize the skin (bandaging, friction, etc.). Protein, gene or cell replacement therapy, and allogeneic bone marrow, cord blood or pluripotent stem-cell transplantation are currently being assessed. The aim of these French recommendations (national diagnostic and treatment protocol [PNDS]) is to provide healthcare professionals with guidance on the course of EB and on optimal patient management.

Atenção em saúde reprodutiva no Brasil: eventuais diferenciais étnico-raciais / Reproductive health care in Brazil: searching for ethnic differentials

Resumo Este estudo teve por objetivo comparar indicadores da atenção à saúde reprodutiva das mulheres negras e brancas. São utilizadas informações obtidas no âmbito da Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia, Saúde da Criança e da Mulher (PNDS 2006). Trata-se de uma pesquisa domiciliar por amostragem probabilística complexa com representatividade nacional. Permite inferência para cinco macrorregiões, incluindo o contexto urbano e rural. Foram estudadas 14.625 mulheres brancas e negras de 15 a 49 anos de idade, que representam, respectivamente, 40% e 54% da amostra total da pesquisa. Para análise da assistência à gestação, ao parto e ao puerpério avaliaram-se as gestações dos filhos nascidos vivos nos cinco anos anteriores à entrevista segundo seis variáveis: ter feito pelo menos uma consulta de pré-natal; ter realizado no mínimo seis consultas; o tipo de parto; ter tido a dor no parto normal aliviada; ter contado com presença de acompanhante no parto e ter feito consulta no puerpério. Além da cor, constituíram-se em variáveis independentes para cada um desses desfechos: idade da mulher na data da entrevista, macrorregião de moradia, residência urbana ou rural, estar ou não casada/unida, anos de estudo, religião atual, classificação econômica (critério Brasil) e posse ou não de convênio/plano de saúde. Na análise bivariada, mulheres negras, com menor escolaridade, pior classe econômica e não portadoras de plano de saúde apresentaram desfechos mais desfavoráveis. No entanto, após análise multivariada, as diferenças entre brancas e negras perderam significância estatística. Desigualdades sociais e econômicas mantêm-se determinantes das iniquidades na atenção em saúde reprodutiva.

Abstract This study intended to compare reproductive health care indicators between white and black women in Brazil. Data collected at the 2006 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) were analyzed. The sample allows inferences for the country's five great regions and rural/urban residence. Among 14.625 females aged 15 to 49, white and black women accounted respectively for 40% and 54% of the total sample. Health care during pregnancy and child bearing were assessed by six indicators: attendance to at least one antenatal care visit, having attended to at least six antenatal care visits, attendance to at least one health care visit after child bearing, type of delivery, having received pain relief during a vaginal birth and having someone (relative or friend) with her during delivery. Besides skin color, the following independent variables were considered: age, region of residence, urban/rural residence, religion, marital status, schooling, economic status and having or not private health insurance. At bivariate analysis, all outcomes were unfavorable for black women, for those with low both educational level and economic status, as well for those without health private insurance. However, after multivariate analysis results showed no statistical differences between black and white women. On the other hand, social and economic inequalities remained important determinants of inequities on reproductive health services access.

Consumo alimentar entre crianças brasileiras de dois a cinco anos de idade: Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde (PNDS), 2006 / Food intake among Brazilian children aged two to five years old: National Survey on Demography and Health (NSDH), 2006

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever características do consumo alimentar de crianças brasileiras e sua associação com fatores sociodemográficos. Foram analisados os dados de consumo alimentar da Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde da Criança e da Mulher realizada em 2006. A análise considerou a complexidade amostral e incluiu 3.083 crianças de dois a cinco anos de idade. O desfecho foi avaliado a partir de marcadores alimentares. As estimativas desses marcadores foram descritas segundo sexo e idade da criança, local de residência, idade e escolaridade materna. Nas análises estatísticas foram utilizados testes qui-quadrado de heterogeneidade e de tendência linear. Verificou-se que 50% e 25,9% das crianças avaliadas não haviam consumido verduras de folhas e legumes nos sete dias anteriores ao da entrevista, respectivamente. A prevalência de consumo de pelo menos um dia na última semana de frituras foi cerca de 60% e de refrigerantes e sucos artificiais foi de 82%. Crianças do sexo feminino, cujas mães possuíam maior idade e escolaridade, apresentaram as maiores prevalências de consumo de alimentos marcadores de alimentação saudável. Diante desses dados, a intensificação de campanhas de educação nutricional com abordagens inovadoras pode ajudar a melhorar a alimentação das crianças.

The scope of this study was to describe aspects of the food intake of Brazilian children and its association with social and demographic factors. The 2006 food intake data of the National Survey on Demography and Health for women and children were analyzed. The analysis considered the complexity of the sample and included 3,083 children aged two to five years old. The outcome was evaluated by considering food intake markers. The estimates of these markers was described taking into account the children's gender, age and neighborhood as well as their mothers' age and education. Chi-square heterogeneity and linear tendency tests were used in the statistical analyses. It was seen that during the seven days before the interview 50% and 25.9% of the children evaluated, respectively, had not eaten greens and vegetables. In at least one day during the previous week the prevalence of consumption of fried food was of approximately 60% and for soda and artificial juice was of 82%. Female children whose mothers were older and had more education presented the highest prevalence in consumption of healthy food. As a result of these data, it is possible to say that the intensification of campaigns of nutritional education with innovatory approaches might help improve the food intake of children.

Standardizing documentation for postoperative nausea and vomiting in the electronic health record.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains a common postoperative complication that causes patient discomfort and increases health care costs. Clinicians use the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) guideline to help prevent and treat PONV. However, the lack of standardized terminology in the electronic health record (EHR) and the lack of clinical decision support tools make it difficult for clinicians to document guideline implementation and to determine the effects of nursing care on PONV. To address this, we created a concept map of the Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS) that illustrates the relationship between elements of this standardized nursing terminology and the ASPAN guideline, using the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms multidisciplinary terminology to fill any gaps. This mapping results in a standardized dataset specific to PONV for use in an EHR, which links nursing care to nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes. The mapping and documentation in the EHR also allows standardized data collection for research, evaluation, and benchmarking, which makes perioperative nursing care of patients who are at risk for or experiencing PONV measureable and visible. Distributing this information to perioperative and perianesthesia nursing personnel, in addition to implementing risk assessment tools for PONV and clinical support alerts in electronic documentation systems, will help support implementation of the PONV clinical practice guideline in the EHR.

Evaluating perioperative nursing in Finland: an initial validation of perioperative nursing data set outcomes.

The current Finnish version of AORN's Perioperative Nursing Data Set consists of nursing diagnoses and interventions but not outcomes. During the early Finnish validation phase, researchers determined that almost half of the outcomes listed in the AORN version were impossible to measure in Finland. We conducted this study to determine the applicability of the nursing outcomes identified in the Perioperative Nursing Data Set, 2nd ed Rev, and to test the use of the outcomes by exploring the relevance of the outcome indicators for eight selected outcomes. We collected the data by using two surveys with structured questionnaires that were provided to an expert panel of nurses and physicians. Panel members found that most of the outcomes were acceptable for use in Finnish perioperative care; however, further validation of the outcome indicators is needed to develop tools to support nurses in their attempts to reach desirable nursing-sensitive outcomes for patients.

Consumo de refrigerantes e sucos artificiais por crianças menores de cinco anos: uma análise da Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde da Criança e da Mulher, 2006 / Soft drinks and artificial juices consumption by children under 5 years old: a National Research of Demography and Children and Women Health (NRDH), 2006

The aim of this study was to describe the consumption frequency of soft drinks and artificial juices by children under 5 years old and its associated factors. The food consumption data from the National Research of Demography and Health (NRDH) for children and women in 2006 was analyzed. The analysis considered the complexity of the sample and included 3789 children under 5 years old. The conclusion was assessed through questions that approached the frequency of soft drinks and artificial juices consumption seven days prior to the interview. The consumption frequency of soft drinks and artificial juices was described according to child's sex, age, nutritional status, area of residence and age, as well as to mother's education. More than 70% of the children consumed soft drinks and artificial juices at least once a week during the period surveyed. The prevalence of daily consumption of soft drinks and artificial juices was 22.1%. The only variables that were significantly associated (p<0,001) to the daily consumption of these beverages were child's age and area of residence. The daily consumption of soft drinks was larger among children who live in urban zones (25.3%), compared to those from the rural zone (9.1%). Child's age presented direct and meaningful association with the daily consumption of soft drinks and artificial juices. The prevalence of soft drinks and artificial juices by children under 5 years old assessed in the NRDH/2006 was high, and it was positively associated with the area of residence and age increase.

El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la frecuencia del consumo de bebidas gaseosas y jugos artificiales, y sus factores asociados, en niños menores de cinco años de edad. Fueron analizados los datos de consumo alimentar de la Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud del Niño y de la Mujer (PNDS) del año 2006. El análisis consideró la complejidad de la muestra e incluyó 3789 niños menores de cinco años. El resultado fue evaluado a través de preguntas que abordaban la frecuencia del consumo de bebidas gaseosas y jugos artificiales en los siete días anteriores a la entrevista. La frecuencia de consumo de bebidas gaseosas y jugos artificiales fue descrita según sexo, edad y estado nutricional del niño, zona de residencia, edad y escolaridad materna. Más de 70% de los niños consumieron bebidas gaseosas y jugos artificiales por lo menos una vez a la semana. La prevalencia de consumo diario de bebidas gaseosas y jugos artificiales fue de 22,1%. Las únicas variables que se mostraron significativamente asociadas al consumo de esas bebidas (p<0,001) fueron "edad del niño" y "zona de residencia". El consumo diario de bebidas gaseosas y jugos artificiales fue mayor entre los niños que vivían en la zona urbana (25,3%), comparado con aquellos de la zona rural (9,1%). La edad del niño presentó asociación directa y significativa con el consumo diario de bebidas gaseosas y jugos artificiales. La prevalencia de consumo de gaseosas y jugos artificiales en niños menores de cinco años evaluados en la PNDS 2006 fue elevada, y se mostró asociada positivamente con el aumento de la edad y la zona de residencia.

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a frequência de consumo de refrigerantes e sucos artificiais por crianças menores de cinco anos de idade e seus fatores associados. Foram analisados os dados de consumo alimentar da Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde da Criança e da Mulher (PNDS) do ano de 2006. A análise considerou a complexidade amostral e incluiu 3789 crianças menores de cinco anos. O desfecho foi avaliado por meio de questões que abordavam a frequência de consumo de refrigerantes e sucos artificiais nos sete dias anteriores ao da entrevista. A frequência de consumo de refrigerantes e sucos artificiais foi descrita segundo gênero, idade e estado nutricional da criança, zona de residência, idade e escolaridade materna. Mais de 70% das crianças consumiram refrigerantes e sucos artificiais pelo menos uma vez na semana. A prevalência de consumo diário de refrigerantes e sucos artificiais foi de 22,1%. As únicas variáveis que se mostraram associadas de forma significativa (p<0,001) ao consumo diário dessas bebidas foram idade da criança e zona de residência. O consumo diário de refrigerantes e sucos artificiais foi maior entre as crianças que residiam na zona urbana (25,3%), comparado ao consumo das crianças da zona rural (9,1%). A idade da criança apresentou associação direta e significativa com o consumo diário de refrigerantes e sucos artificiais. A prevalência de consumo de refrigerantes e sucos artificiais em crianças menores de cinco anos avaliadas na PNDS 2006 foi elevada e mostrou-se associada positivamente com o aumento da idade e a zona de residência.

Clinical Significance of Nasal Peak Inspiratory Flow Rate in Patients with Chronic Cough / 결핵

BACKGROUND: The upper respiratory tract is the primary target organ of various airborne pollutants and is easily accessible part of the respiratory tract, and also is the predominant structure where chronic cough originates. The nasal peak inspiratory flow(PIFn), which is the peak inspiratory flow via nose with nasal mask and spirometry, could be a reliable parameter of nasal obstruction. The validity of PIFn has been evaluated in several studies by assessing the correlation between PIFn measurements and other parameters of nasal air flow. This study was designed to show the reproducibility of PIFn, the difference of PIFn between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects, and the usefulness of PIFn in the evaluation of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic cough. METHODS: PIFn was measured by spirometry with nasal mask, twice a day for 3 consecutive days in 7 young normal subjects to evaluate validity of the test. In 32 patients with chronic cough and 25 age-matched normal subjects, PIFn and pulmonary function test(FEV1, FEV1%pred, FVC, and FVC%pred) were measured at first visiting. RESULTS: Values of PIFn, FEV1, and FVC were nearly constant in 7 young normal adults. Patients with chronic cough were 32 (14 males and 18 females) and the mean age was 41.4+/-15.9 years. Normal subjects were 32 (22 males and 10 females) and the mean age was 39.8+/-18.6 years. There was no significant difference of age and pulmonary function test between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects(p<0.05). The PIFn values in patients with chronic cough was significantly lower than those of normal subjects(2.25+/-0.68 L/sec vs. 2.75+/-1.00 L/sec; p=0.02). The postnasal drip syndrome(PNDS) comprised the majority of patients with chronic cough(27). The PIFn in patients with PNDS was significantly lower than that of normal subjects(meanD; 2.18+/-0.66 vs. 2.75+/-1.00 L/sec, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: There was a significant difference of PIFn between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects. Among the patients with chronic cough, patients with PNDS showed the most significant difference with normal subjects in PIFn. The PIFn could be a useful parameter of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic cough, especially in patients with PNDS.