BACKGROUND One of the measures of the pulmonary function is the peak expiratory flow (PEF) that can be defined as the major flow obtained in an expiratory pressure after a complete inspiration to the level of the total lung capacity. This measure depends on the effort and strength of expiratory muscles, the airway diameter and the lung volume. OBJECTIVE To compare the results of the peak expi...

This study evaluated the feasibility of using insole pressure sensors together with whole body dynamics to analyse joint kinetics while running. Local affine transformations of shoe kinematics were first used to track the position of insole sensors during locomotion. Centre of pressure estimates derived from the insoles were within 10 mm of forceplate measures through much of stance, while vert...

We have measured cardiovascular changes associated with insufflation of carbon dioxide and the reverse Trendelenburg position during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, using transoesophageal echocardiography in 13 healthy patients. End-tidal carbon dioxide values increased after insufflation of carbon dioxide, with values significantly (P < 0.05) increased after lateral tilt positioning. Creation of...

A measurement method has been developed to quantify the posture of able-bodied subjects seated in their wheelchair. Fourteen geometric parameters were measured in order to represent the pelvis, trunk and lower limbs orientations. They were defined by digitizing the three-dimensional (3-D) position of 23 anatomical landmarks using a mechanical articulated arm (Microscribe3D, Immersion Corporatio...

For instance, ICR mice, which were housed under standardized light-dark cycle conditions (lights-on and lights-off at 7:00 and 19:00, respectively) at a room temperature of 24 ± 1oC (range) and a relative humidity of 60 ± 10% (range) and were allowed free access to food and water displayed a circadian rhythm in their leukocyte counts with a peak at noon and a trough at midnight (Fig. 1). Many o...