Pulsed electric field (PEF) is an innovative non-thermal technology which could be used as an alternative to the traditional thermal process to inactivate the microorganisms and enzymes in liquid foods such as milk. Compared to thermal processing, the PEF process is considered more energy efficient as the microbial or enzymatic inactivation is achieved at ambient or mild temperatures by the app...

The value of home monitoring of peak expiratory flow (PEF) as part of an action plan for asthma management in children and young adults is uncertain. We sought to determine whether home recording of PEF benefited asthma management and whether any contribution was affected by the severity of the asthma. Twenty-eight children and young adults with asthma of different severity (mean age 14 yrs; 95...

still controversial points. However, there were some topics that should have some coincidences, such as the optimal peak expiratory flow (PEF) used when deciding a patient's discharge from the emergency room (ER). It was amazing to realize that the percent predicted PEF value recommended to decide discharge from the ER varied from 50 to 75% (Argentinean 60%, British 75%, Canadian 50%, American ...

BACKGROUND Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), which describes acute airway narrowing that occurs as a result of exercise, is associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) is the most commonly used spirometric test in the diagnosis of EIB in exercise challenge in asthma. Other parameters such as forced ...

Background—In general practice airway obstruction and the bronchodilator response are usually assessed using peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements. A study was carried out in patients presenting with persistent cough to investigate to what extent PEF measurements are reliable when compared with tests using forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) as the measure of response. Methods—Data ...

BACKGROUND Asthma is characterized in part by small airways dysfunction. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurement has been suggested by all international guidelines as an important tool in asthma management. The correlation between PEF and FEV(1) but not with forced expired flow at 50% of vital capacity (FEF(50)) is well-established. STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine the value of PEF measurement as ...

BACKGROUND Despite effective treatments, the morbidity and mortality of obstructive airways disease (asthma and COPD) remains high. Home monitoring of peak expiratory flow (PEF) is increasingly being advocated as an aid to better management of obstructive airways disease. The few available studies describing effects of treatment on the level and variation of PEF have involved relatively small n...

We asked whether the addition of PEF recordings to a symptom-based self-management plan improved outcome in school children with asthma. In an open-randomized, parallel-group, controlled trial, we studied children aged 7-14 years with moderate asthma. After a 4-week run-in, 90 children were randomized to receive either PEF plus symptom-based management or symptom-based management alone for 12 w...

PURPOSE Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured in healthy children aged five to ten years in order to provide baseline values and to determine correlations between PEF and factors such as gender, age and type of school. METHODS After the Ethical Committee of Research in Human of the School of Medicine of ABC - FMABC approval, PEF and height were measured in 1942 children between five and ten...