Salmonella typhimurium cells were subjected to pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment at 25 kV/cm for 0-4 ms to investigate the effect of PEF on the cytoplasmic membrane lipids and oxidative injury of cells. Results indicated that PEF treatment induced a decrease of membrane fluidity of Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimuriumi), possibly due to the alterations of fatty acid biosynthesis-associate...

Little is known about the response of variable orifice peak flow meters to high frequency flow input. The purpose of this study was to define and test dynamic requirements for such peak flow meters. In a population sample we measured peak expiratory flow (PEF), rise time (tr), from 10-90% PEF and the duration of the flow in excess of 97.5, 95 and 90% of PEF, by use of a carefully calibrated Fle...

Background: PEF is a reasonably good measure of ventilatory function. It varies with various anthropometric parameters, geographical location of the subjects as well as various disease processes. Objective: To assess the relationship between PEF and certain selected anthropometric parameters and to devise prediction equation based upon these parameters. Materials and Methods: Three hundred heal...

Pulsed electric field (PEF) processing uses short, high-voltage electrical pulses and a specially designed treatment chamber to permeabilize cellular membranes. There are at least two distinct applications of PEF to algal growth and processing – extraction of intracellular material and microalgae predator population control. PEF processing has the potential to provide lower costs and higher pro...

BACKGROUND In a country such as India that covers several latitudes, climatic zones, ethnic groups, and dietary habits lung function within the normal population would be expected to vary. Several studies have looked at normal values of peak expiratory flow (PEF) in different regions of urban India but none has looked at rural South India. A study of PEF has now been carried out in a rural popu...

BACKGROUND Current guidelines for the correct peak expiratory flow (PEF) maneuver include standing. In the hospital setting, PEF values are often ordered to assess response to asthma therapy for exacerbations. We have observed that the PEF is sometimes performed with the patient in bed. METHODS Healthy adults performed the PEF maneuver in random order, standing, lying back at an ~45° angle on...

BACKGROUND Assessing bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) is a main diagnostic criterion of asthma. Provocation testing is not readily available in general practice, but peak expiratory flow (PEF) is. Several guidelines promote the use of PEF variability as a diagnostic tool for BHR. This study tested the agreement between histamine challenge testing and PEF variability, and the consequences fo...

In this issue of Thorax Kamps et al point out that current guidelines for the management of asthma in children frequently advocate the use of home monitoring of lung function. This is supposed to provide an objective measurement of the status of the child’s asthma that can be used to guide therapy. This situation has come about partly as a “trickle down” from guidelines for managing asthma in a...

introduction: ramadan is the 9th  islamic lunar month during which muslims avoid eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.  the effect of ramadan intermittent fasting on asthma control is controversial.  the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ramadan fasting on the spirometric variables and clinical symptoms on well-controlled asthmatic patients during ramadan. material and m...