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Background: Normal spirometry is required for medical clearance of professional divers in many countries. Divers frequently have unusually large lung volumes associated with a low ratio of FEV(1) to FVC (FEV(1)%), suggestive of obstructive airways disease. We retrospectively analyzed the records of divers in the Israeli Navy with a low FEV(1)% who fulfilled the criteria for large lungs, to determine whether this might be the effect of training or natural selection. We also investigated changes in pulmonary function in relation to diving experience., Methods: A total of 171 divers with FEV(1)% < 80% on simple spirometry were evaluated. We conducted a retrospective analysis of lung function data for those subjects who met the criteria for large lungs., Results: One hundred nine of 171 divers with low FEV(1)% met the criteria for large lungs and were included in the study. Their average age was 25 years (range, 18 to 44 years), and their mean diving experience was 7 years (range, 0 to 26 years). No difference was found in FVC values between experienced and inexperienced divers. The mean forced expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity was significantly reduced in the most experienced group compared with the novice or less experienced divers. No difference was found in the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide between experienced and inexperienced divers., Conclusions: We suggest that large lungs may represent part of the natural selection for diving, rather than a training effect. Prolonged diving experience may result in the development of small airways disease.

Background: Acute pulmonary edema has been noted in swimmers and divers, and has been termed swimming-induced pulmonary edema (SIPE). The mechanisms and consequences of SIPE are unknown, and there are currently no series of carefully evaluated patients with this condition. Herein we report the clinical presentation, incidence of recurrence, findings on physical examination, chest radiography, and oxygen saturation in 70 trainees with a diagnosis of SIPE. We also report the results of forced spirometry in a subgroup of 37 swimmers., Methods: SIPE was diagnosed when severe shortness of breath and cough were reported during or after swimming, and were associated with evidence of pulmonary edema. During the years from 1998 to 2001, 70 cases of SIPE were documented in young healthy male subjects participating in a fitness-training program. Physical examination and pulse oximetry were performed immediately. Chest radiographs were obtained in all cases 12 to 18 h following onset of symptoms. In 37 swimmers, spirometry was performed at the time of chest radiography and again after 7 days., Results: All subjects complained of severe shortness of breath. Sixty-seven of the 70 subjects (95.7%) had a prominent cough; in 63 subjects (90%), there was significant sputum production. Hemoptysis was observed in 39 subjects (55.7%). Mean arterial oxygen saturation after swimming was 88.4 +/- 6.6% breathing air, compared with 98 +/- 1.7% breathing air at rest before the start of the swimming trial (mean +/- SD) [p < 0.001]. Chest radiographs obtained 12 to 18 h after swimming were normal in all cases. Sixteen trainees (22.9%) had a recurrence of SIPE. Spirometry demonstrated restrictive lung function, which persisted for a week., Conclusions: In our trainee population, SIPE is a not uncommon, often recurrent phenomenon that significantly influences performance. It is not clear what predisposes to its occurrence or recurrence and what, if any, are its long-term effects.

Objective: To analyse the use of compulsory detention in the context of a new national tuberculosis (TB) control programme launched in 1997., Methods: A retrospective review was made of the use of compulsory detention in the management of infectious TB before and after the initiation of a new TB control programme, using data from the central TB registry in the Ministry of Health and the charts of each patient., Results: Between 1994 and 2001, 13 recalcitrant patients out of 3056 (0.43%) cases of pulmonary TB were brought to trial. Eleven patients were detained. All were either hospitalized under a court order and, when failing to comply with the order, hospitalized in prison, or referred directly to a prison hospital. Twelve of 13 (92%) patients were new immigrants. After the new programme was launched, proportionately fewer patients were brought to trial [6/943 (0.64%) in 1994-1996 compared with 7/2113 (0.33%) in 1997-2001]., Conclusion: The reduction in the number of individuals detained could be viewed as an improvement in TB control due to the new TB control programme. It remains to be shown whether these individuals, most of whom had drug-resistant strains of TB, posed a sufficient threat to public health to justify detention.

Ten men with stable angina not completely relieved by full doses of propranolol (mean, 218 mg daily) were given double-blind, on alternate mornings, a placebo or an oral dose (5 to 30 mg) of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) previously titrated to lower sitting systolic blood pressure by 20 mm Hg. Patients had been trained in a protocol which precipitated angina after three to six minutes of bicycle exercise. On test days, with propranolol continued, bicycle exercise was performed until the appearance of angina before ISDN or placebo administration, and hourly thereafter for eight hours. Mean exercise duration was greater one hour after ISDN than after placebo by 182 sec (423 +/- 39 vs 241 +/- 13, p less than 0.001), and a difference of 63 sec was still present at six hours (p less than 0.002). At one hour, ISDN lowered resting systolic blood pressure by 26 mm Hg (from 114 +/- 5 mm Hg to 88 +/- 4 mm Hg; p less than .001) without appreciably changing heart rate. We conclude that ISDN is a very effective and reasonably long-acting antianginal supplement to propranolol.