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...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) can lead to airflow limitation, similar to that seen in smokers. However, the effects have not been conclusively proven. In the present study an attempt was made to characterize the effect of ETS exposure at home on airflow mechanics in asymptomatic healthy women. METHODS Fifty women volunteers with no apparent health relat...

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...

The potential of the application of pulsed electric fields (PEF) to induce accelerate autolysis of a commercial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for winemaking use was evaluated. The influence of PEF treatments of different intensity (5-25 kV/cm for 30-240 μs) on cell viability, cytoplasmic membrane permeabilization and release of mannoproteins and compounds absorbing at 260 and 280 nm has be...

BACKGROUND Most studies that describe circadian variations in asthma have used maximum rate of peak expiratory flow (PEF) rather than forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to assess airway calibre. This study was designed to assess circadian variations in PEF and FEV1 measured simultaneously and to compare variations in these measurements in normal and asthmatic subjects in a stable cli...

BACKGROUND The duration of postinspiratory pause prior to forced expiration may significantly influence the peak expiratory flow (PEF) measured during maximal forceful expirations. In comparison with maneuvers without a postinspiratory pause, maneuvers with 4 to 6-s pause at total lung capacity (TLC) result in decreased PEF values. The extent to which brief pauses (< 2 s) similarly affect PEF v...

Method: It was performed a cross-sectional study of 120 healthy pregnant women at low risk, including 77 primigravidae and 43 multigravidae. The PEF was measured by spirometry and the body composition by multisegmental electrical impedance. The unpaired t test was used to compare the groups and the Pearson correlation test was used to determine the association between PEF and independent variab...