Spirometric and plethysmographic measurements combined with investigations of lung PV-characteristics by means of oesophageal catheters were carried out in both 20 young healthy smokers and 20 non-smokers. The mean age of all probands was 29 years. The following results were obtained: (1) Spirometric data andairway resistance were normal in all subjects. Viscous work of breathing, however, was significantly elevated in cigarette smokers. (2) The static elastic recoil pressures of all subjects fell within the normal limits given by Turner in 1968. (3) Significance of long-termed cigarette smoking was demonstrated by a rise of static compliance and a pronounced frequency dependence of dynamic compliance. Respiratory findings present in cigarette smokers are related to peripheral airway changes. In addition, smoke-specific lesions may be due to disturbances of alveolar surfactant.
An enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to determine serum content of IgG and IgM antibodies against eight capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae in 19 patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases 3 years after inoculation with a polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine (Moniatrix); 21 unvaccinated patients with comparable diseases served as the control group. The vaccinated group showed slightly more pronounced IgG antibody reactions than the unvaccinated group, but the differences were not statistically significant. These results show that pneumococcal vaccination does not provide long-term protection at least for patients with chronic obstructive lung disease.
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