A computer assisted apparatus for the continuous measurement of azygos blood flow is described. The system was validated in vitro and changes in flow which occur with respiration and Valsalva manoeuvre are illustrated. This apparatus allows real time inspection of flow values which enables changes in flow over short periods to be readily studied.

This work evaluates the intrinsic contribution of the yaw rate reference to the overall handling performance of an electric vehicle with torque vectoring control in terms of minimum-time manoeuvring. A range of yaw rate references are compared through optimal control simulations incorporating closed-loop controller dynamics. Results show yaw rate reference has a significant effect on manoeuvre ...

Previous research highlighting gender differences in knee mechanics during cutting were questioned due to these studies typically disregarding the effects of participant characteristics on cutting technique. When males and females were matched for sport, true skill level and lower limb anthropometry, previously-reported gender differences in knee kinematics and moments were no longer evident du...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiovascular function in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and to investigate the possible relation with ocular dryness. METHODS 41 (40 women) patients with primary SS, mean age 50 years (range 20-80) with a mean disease duration of eight years (range 1-30), were studied. In each patient direct arterial blood pressure (BP), heart ra...

BACKGROUND Inspiratory muscle strength measurements have become a cornerstone in monitoring neuromuscular disorders. Usually, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) are performed. To our knowledge the session-to-session learning effect has rarely been evaluated for MIP performance and has never been done for SNIP performance. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized ...

BACKGROUND Passive leg raising (PLR) is a so called self-volume challenge used to test for fluid responsiveness. Changes in cardiac output (CO) or stroke volume (SV) measured during PLR are used to predict the need for subsequent fluid loading. This requires a device that can measure CO changes rapidly. The Vigileo™ monitor, using third-generation software, allows continuous CO monitoring. The ...

QUESTION Does a modified postural drainage position (horizontal) produce less cardiovascular and respiratory stress than a head-down postural drainage position (30 degrees) in people with severe heart disease? DESIGN A quasi-experimental study. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-one patients (mean age 69 years, SD 13) with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (mean ejection fraction 23%, SD 7) who...

Background: Thoracic gas compression (TGC) exerts a negative effect on forced expiratory flow. Lung resistance, effort during a forced expiratory manoeuvre, and absolute lung volume influence TGC. Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) reduces lung resistance and absolute lung volume. LVRS may therefore reduce TGC, and such a reduction might explain in part the improvement in forced expiratory fl...

BACKGROUND Atelectasis is known to develop during anaesthesia and after operation atelectasis leads to impaired oxygenation. Lung recruitment manoeuvres, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) have been proposed for reduction of atelectasis but their benefits have not been shown to persist after operation. We proposed that a combination of these ...

INTRODUCTION Patients with absent pulmonary valve syndrome often present early with airway compression from aneurysmal pulmonary arteries. This study reviews our experience in managing absent pulmonary valve syndrome in later presenting children, and techniques used for managing airway compression. METHODS This study is a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent repair of abse...