1 The final equations provided age-, height-, sex-, and ethnic-specific predicted values and lower limits of normal for spirometry. The predicted equations for Caucasians were derived from 55 428 individuals and represent the largest 'all-age' spirometry reference values published to date. The methodological approach used by the Task Force is identical to that previously used to develop the Stanojevic et al. 'all-age' spirometry reference equations for Caucasians, 2 which we have recently shown to be appropriate for contemporary Australasian subjects. 3 The aim of this analysis was to ascertain how well the new European Respiratory Society GLI 2012 reference ranges fit contemporary Australasian spirometric data. Spirometry outcomes from 2066 Caucasian subjects aged 4-80 years (55% male) collected from 14 centres across Australia and New Zealand were included.3 Height-, age-and gender-specific Z-scores for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flows between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75) and FEV1/FVC were calculated for GLI 2012 equations using custom-made software. 4 We defined the minimum physiologically relevant difference to be 0.5 Z-scores, equating to a difference of~6% predicted.Mean (SD) Z-scores for the contemporary Australasian data were 0.23 (1.00) for FEV1, 0.23 (1.00) for FVC, -0.03 (0.87) for FEV1/FVC and 0.07 (0.95) for FEF25-75, all of which were well within range considered to be physiologically irrelevant. The mean Z-score differences equated to absolute and percent predicted differences of 89 mL and 3%, respectively, for FEV1, 117 mL and 3.2% for FVC, 127 mL/s, and 5.9% for FEF25-75 and a difference in FEV1/FVC of -0.49%. Although there were some weak, albeit statistically significant, associations between the spirometry Z-scores and age, height and sex or a combination of

The LCI is elevated early in CF, especially in the presence of Pseudomonas and airway inflammation. The LCI is a feasible, repeatable, and sensitive noninvasive marker of lung disease in young children with CF.

Spirometry from contemporary Australasian healthy subjects fits the all-age reference ranges well. While the current study supports the use of the all-age reference ranges, the between-centre differences highlight the need for spirometry to be used in conjunction with other clinical findings.

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Abstract-The feasibility of using multimode fiber as an inexpensive cell feed in broad-band indoor picocellular systems is investigated in this paper. The performance of coded orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) for a variety of multimode fiber profiles, including stepped index and -profile graded index fibers, is assessed. In addition to its ability to perform well in a frequency-selective multipath environment, OFDM is shown to offer good protection against the frequency selectivity of a dispersive multimode fiber. Data rates in excess of 100 Mb/s (without equalization) over a multimode fiber channel are possible, whereas they may be limited to some 20-30 Mb/s using conventional ASK modulation.Index Terms-Broad-band indoor picocellular systems, fiberradio systems, OFDM modulation, optical fiber dispersion.

Rats were killed at various time-intervals up to 48 hr after a single large dose of paracetamol (3 g per kg) and their livers examined by light and electron microscopy. In general, this revealed glycogen depletion, loss of ribosomes, and cytoplasmic matrix swelling commencing 3-6 hr after administration which in centrilobular hepatocytes progressed to frank coagulative necrosis at 12-24 hr. Midzonal cells showed more prominent aqueous swelling with besiculation of the endoplasmic reticulum, and in some cells, gross hydropic vacuolation.

No abstract

A lower EBC pH may reflect inflammatory events either in the lung or systemically. 8-Isoprostane, FENO, and mucin were detected for the first time in the EBC of children with IBD. Further studies are required to assess the value of these assessments.