BACKGROUND Patient self-management plans for asthma use peak expiratory flow (PEF) meter readings for decisions on adjusting asthma treatment. PEF meters have been shown to be inaccurate and the effect of this inaccuracy on such treatment plans has been determined. METHODS PEF measurements were made by 127 severe asthmatic patients at least twice a day for at least two weeks using a mini-Wrig...

Seedling morphology of 210 species (173 trees and 37 lianas) was studied from a community perspective to identify major patterns of seedling functional types in a Mexican rain forest. Five types of seedlings were distinguished: cryptocotylar with reserve storage or absorption cotyledons (epigeal [CER] and hypogeal [CHR]), phanerocotylar epigeal, either with photosynthetic cotyledons (PEF) or wi...

Membrane permeabilization due to pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment of gram-positive Lactobacillus cells was investigated by using propidium iodide uptake and single-cell analysis with flow cytometry. Electric field strength, energy input, treatment time, and growth phase affected membrane permeabilization of Lactobacillus plantarum during PEF treatment. A correlation between PEF inactivatio...

AIMS To compare quality of life (QoL) in heart failure (HF) patients with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF) and HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) in a well-defined HF population. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients with HF-PEF [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥40%] were matched by age and gender to patients with HF-REF (LVEF <40%). In the current study, we only include...

Exposure to metalworking fluids (MWF) mist and cross-shift decrements in peak expiratory flow (PEF) were evaluated and their relationship was analyzed using several statistical methods. The objective of this study was to assess workers, exposure to MWF mineral mist and to find the MWF mist level for predicting cross-shift decrements in PEF. A total of 158 workers handling water-soluble MWF had ...

Asparagus officinalis root (AR) contains valuable bioactive compounds that have beneficial health properties. The aim of this study was to optimize the extraction polyphenols and flavonoids in green AR using two novel technologies; pulsed electric field (PEF) ionic liquids (IL). Further, antioxidant activity obtained extracts determined. total polyphenol content, flavonoid content (TFC), (2,2-d...

BACKGROUND Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) measures can capture the non-respiratory effects of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However the relationship with Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) is not well understood. AIM To determine the relationship of PEF and quality of life measurements in patients with COPD. SETTINGS AND DESIGN A cross section of consecutive patients in a uni...

Rhinovirus (RV) colds are associated with asthma exacerbations and experimental infections are commonly used to investigate the mechanisms involved. However, a temporal association between experimental RV infections and falls in peak expiratory flow (PEF) have not been demonstrated. PEF was measured in 22 volunteers (11 normal, five atopic, six atopic asthmatic) who developed RV serotype 16 col...

Seedling morphology of 210 species (173 trees and 37 lianas) was studied from a community perspective to identify major patterns of seedling functional types in a Mexican rain forest. Five types of seedlings were distinguished: cryptocotylar with reserve storage or absorption cotyledons (epigeal [CER] and hypogeal [CHR]), phanerocotylar epigeal, either with photosynthetic cotyledons (PEF) or wi...

Cross-shift measurements of peak expiratory flow (PEF) are commonly employed in the diagnosis of occupational asthma, although evidence for this approach is lacking. The current paper presents an evaluation of the technique. Mean changes in PEF across morning/day shifts were compared between workers with occupational asthma, confirmed using specific challenge testing, and non-working asthmatics...