Figure 4

Rheological levels in several bronchial conditions. Top: probability plots of the values of \(G'_{5\%}\), \(\tan \delta _{5\%}\) and \(\sigma _c\) measured from subjects with the four conditions (healthy, \(\bullet\); asthma, \(\blacktriangle\); COPD, \(\blacklozenge\); CF, \(\blacktriangledown\)). Each symbol corresponds to the per-patient average value after HSS nebulisation; solid line is a fit with Eq. (1). Bottom: expected values and standard deviations (\(X_0 \pm \Sigma\)) of these rheological parameters, compared by condition, as a function of the corresponding relative FEV\(_1\) (mean ± standard deviation). Filled and open symbols depict HSS-induced and spontaneous sputa, respectively. **\(p < 0.01\); ***\(p < 0.001\).