Elliott Bresnick

Pulmonary function studies in bronchial asthma: I. In the control state

Abstract Pulmonary function studies were performed in forty-two patients with chronic bronchial asthma at a time when they were symptomatic. The results may be summarized as follows: (1) The vital capacity ranged between 51 and 158 per cent of predicted normal value; the inspiratory capacity: vital capacity ratio averaged 68 per cent. (2) The maximum breathing capacity ranged between 11 and 130 per cent of predicted normal value. (3) The resting ventilation was generally increased, and ranged between 3.11 and 7.52 L. per minute per square meter body surface. (4) The index of intrapulmonary mixing ranged between 1.0 and 12.12 per cent nitrogen. (5) The total lung capacity averaged 125.8 per cent of predicted normal value. The residual volume: total lung capacity ratio ranged between 35 and 67 per cent and averaged 47.0 per cent. (6) The maximum expiratory velocity averaged 3.9 L. per second.

Experiences with Dicumarol in Acute Myocardial Infarction

NUMEROUS reports1 2 3 4 5 6 during the past few years have emphasized the value of Dicumarol therapy in reducing the mortality rate and the incidence of thromboembolic complications following acute...

Pulmonary function studies in bronchial asthma: II. After treatment

Abstract Pulmonary function studies were performed in forty-two patients with chronic bronchial asthma in the asymptomatic state after treatment which consisted of aminophyllin, 0.5 gm. intravenously, or neosuprel® bronchodilator, six inhalations by aerosol sprays. Pulmonary function studies performed after treatment gave the following results. (1) The average improvement in the vital capacity was 10.6 per cent after aminophyllin and 16.9 per cent after bronchodilator aerosols. (2) The average improvement in the maximum breathing capacity was 30.9 per cent after aminophyllin and 50.0 per cent after bronchodilator aerosols. (3) The average improvement in the index of intrapulmonary mixing was 32.7 per cent after aminophyllin and 28.8 per cent after bronchodilator aerosols. (4) The average residual volume decreased slightly. The average total lung capacity did not change appreciably after treatment. (5) The average improvement in the residual volume to total lung capacity ratio was 7.4 per cent after aminophyllin and 8.1 per cent after bronchodilator aerosols. Clinical and experimental data are discussed in relation to the possible mechanism involved in the pathologic physiology of bronchial asthma and the changes induced by treatment.

A comparative study of the action of various sympathomimetic amine aerosols in counteracting the dyspnea and bronchospasm induced by histamine and by acetyl-beta-methylcholine

Summary 1.The protecting capacity of aerosols of epinephrine (1:100), Neo-Syneph-rine (1:100), Vaponefrin, and Isuprel (1:200 and 1:100) against the bronchospastic effects of intravenous histamine and acetyl-beta-methylcholine has been described. 2.Isuprel 1:100 was the most effective agent tested for protection against the effects of both histamine and acetyl-beta-methylcholine but was too prone to produce disturbing side reactions for routine clinical use. 3.Isuprel 1:200 demonstrated more prolonged protection against the effects of acetyl-beta-methylcholine than either 1:100 epinephrine or Vaponefrin but less immediate and prolonged protection against the effects of histamine than either 1:100 epinephrine or Vaponefrin. 4.Vaponefrin demonstrated more intense immediate protection against the effects of histamine and acetyl-beta-methylcholine than aerosols of epinephrine epinephrine 1:100. 5.Neo-Synephrine 1:100 demonstrated minimal significant protection against the effects of histamine. No significant protection against the effects of mecholyl could be demonstrated. 6.The bronchospasmolytic properties of aerosols of epinephrine, Isuprel and Vaponefrin, demonstrated clinically, were confirmed in the laboratory and the relative values of these drugs as anticholinergic or antihistaminic agents were evaluated. More definitive usage of one or another of these aerosols should be predicated on the type of asthma presented by the individual patient.

Evaluation of therapeutic substances employed for the relief of bronchospasm: VII. Combinations of diphenhydramine with ephedrine and aminophylline

Abstract The antihistaminic and anticholinergic protective capacity in man of various combinations of diphenhydramine, ephedrine, and aminophylline is presented. Combinations of these agents retain the antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity of the most potent ingredient. Aminophylline appears to increase the antihistaminic effect of diphenhydramine, but nothing approaching arithmetic summation has been seen.