Background Expiratory flow limitation and lung hyperinflation promote cardiocirculatory perturbations that might impair O 2 delivery to locomotor muscles in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The hypothesis that decreases in lung hyperinflation after the inhalation of bronchodilators would improve skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise was tested. Methods Twelve non-or mildly hypoxaemic males (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 )¼38.5612.9% predicted; PaO 2 >60 mm Hg) underwent constant work rate cycle ergometer exercise tests (70e80% peak) to the limit of tolerance (Tlim)

Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00680056 [ClinicalTrials.gov].

No abstract

'Qualitative' and 'semi-quantitative' signal-morphology impedance cardiography(™) (PhysioFlow(™)) during incremental exercise provided clinically useful information to estimate disease severity and short-term prognosis in patients with PAH in whom acceptable impedance signals could be obtained.