Spirometry is a basic test for assessing pulmonary function. This test is largely used nowadays, because of its low cost and acceptable reproducibility. Its feasibility has been shown even in 2 to 6 year old children. Considering the importance of applying standardized techniques in spirometry, a committee of specialists on pulmonary function from Chilean Respiratory Society, published in 2006 a procedures manual on spirometry. By 2014 new spirometric reference equations for healthy Chilean adults were published and more recently in 2017, the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society have published recommendations for a standardized pulmonary function report. The aim of this manual is to report international norms performing spirometry, in order to promote their application in clinical and laboratory practice. In addition, this reviewed manual encloses newest concepts on spirometry in preschool children, reference values, and a general assent way for interpreting and reporting spirometric values at clinical and at laboratory work is proposed.

A brief guideline for carrying out pulse oximetry in the clinical practice is presented. This guideline was written by the Pulmonary Function Commission of the Chilean Respiratory Disease Society. Basic aspects for applying this non-invasive measurement to adults and infants as well as carefulness in interpreting its results are briefly described.

A randomized, prospective, double blind and placebo controlled study was designed to evaluate in 20 non smoker healthy adult volunteers the reproducibility and modification of cough threshold (CT) induced by capsaicin after placebo and Levodropropizine (a new synthetic drug). Adult volonteers of both sexes, mean age 34.9 years old (range: 18-57 years), inhaled increasing concentrations of capsaicin to determine the basal CT: log concentration of capsaicin that induced at least two consecutive coughs. The basal CT was 2.240 µM (± 0.060 SE), without differences by sex or age (p: ns), In 11 out of 18 subjects the CT increased from 2.358 (± 0,044 SE) on placebo to 2.469 µM (± 0.057) after Levodropropizine (p = 0.01). Two subjects were excluded due to intercurrent disease, not related to the study. No significant adverse reactions were reported during the study. Conclusion: Capsaicin induced reproducible controlled cough in 20 healthy volunteers and Levodropropizine given orally increased the cough threshold.

Introduction: The level of daily physical activity is reduced in COPD and has a negative effect

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