Exploring the needs of healthcare workers receiving psychological first aid during the COVID19 pandemic.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCW; e.g., nurses, social workers) work in stressful conditions, a situation that has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A feasibility study of psychological first aid as a supportive intervention among police officers exposed to traumatic events.

Introduction: Police officers are often exposed to traumatic events, which can induce psychological distress and increase the risk of developing post-traumatic stress injuries. To date, little is known about support and prevention of traumatic events in police organizations. Psychological first aid (PFA) has been promoted as a promising solution to prevent psychological distress following exposure to a traumatic event.

Heliox administration in anesthetized rabbits with spontaneous inspiratory flow limitation.

We investigated the effects of heliox administration (80% helium in O) on tidal inspiratory flow limitation (tIFL) occurring in supine anesthetized spontaneously breathing rabbits, regarded as an animal model of obstructive apnea-hypopnea syndrome. 22 rabbits were instrumented to record oro-nasal mask flow, airway opening, tracheal and esophageal pressures, and diaphragm and genioglossus electromyographic activities while breathing either room air or heliox, and, in 12 rabbits, also during the application of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP; 6 cmHO). For the group, heliox increased peak inspiratory flow, ventilation (18 ± 11%), peak inspiratory tracheal and dynamic transpulmonary pressures, but in no animal eliminated tIFL, as instead CPAP did in all.

Sternum length and rib cage dimensions compared with bodily proportions in adults with cystic fibrosis.

Background: A greater structural expansion of the rib cage in females compared with males has been described in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients; however, conflicting data exist as to whether an elongation of the bony ribs and sternum contributes to this expansion.

Objectives: To compare height-adjusted anthropometric measures and sternum length between a group of normal subjects and a group of CF patients of both sexes.

Methods: Anthropometric measurements including body weight, height, upper and lower limb lengths, biacromial distance and pelvic width were measured in the standing position in 30 CF patients (13 males) and 28 normal subjects (14 males).

Use of chlorophyll a fluorescence to detect the effect of microcystins on photosynthesis and photosystem II energy fluxes of green algae.

The phenomenon of cyanobacteria bloom occurs widely in lakes, reservoirs, ponds and slow flowing rivers. Those blooms can have important repercussions, at once on recreational and commercial activities but also on the health of animals and human beings. Indeed, many species are known to produce toxins which are released in water mainly at cellular death.

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale: self-administration versus administration by the physician, and validation of a French version.

Background/objectives: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) measures sleepiness and is used for, among others, patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The questionnaire is usually self-administered, but may be physician administered. The aim was to compare the two methods of administration and to validate a French version.

Estimated prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome after cervical cord injury.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in patients with cervical cord injury and to identify predictive factors.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Rehabilitation center.

Predictive value of automated oxygen saturation analysis for the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea in a home-based setting.

Background: A portable monitor for the automated analysis of episodic nocturnal oxygen saturation or SpO(2) (the Remmers Sleep Recorder, RSR) has been proposed for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea (OSAH). A study was undertaken to compare the diagnostic performance of automated analysis with the manual scoring of polygraphic data by a more comprehensive respiratory monitor (the Suzanne recorder) used simultaneously in their intended home environment.

Methods: The respiratory disturbance indexes of the two monitors were compared in 94 consecutive adult patients suspected of having OSAH and who were deemed eligible for home-based investigation.

Sex differences in thoracic adaptation to pulmonary hyperinflation in cystic fibrosis.

Sex differences in thoracic adaptation have been reported in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The interplay between the pattern of thoracic adaptation and the function of the respiratory muscles in male and female CF patients with pulmonary hyperinflation was investigated. Thoracic dimensions and diaphragm length were measured at residual volume, functional residual capacity and total lung capacity using chest radiography in 23 CF (12 males) and 18 normal (11 males) subjects.

Combined use of photosynthetic enzyme complexes and microalgal photosynthetic systems for rapid screening of wastewater toxicity.

Because of the often episodic nature of wastewater toxicity, routine monitoring using expensive and time consuming tests can constitute an inefficient means of toxicity evaluation, particularly when negative results are generated. Cost-effective screening tests enabling the rapid detection of effluent toxicity are clearly needed, and they should be used to rapidly determine where in-depth investigations should be focused. The LuminoTox is a recently-developed screening test enabling the rapid determination of wastewater toxicity.

Modelling and simulation of an infant's whole body plethysmograph.

In this paper, we describe a computational model dedicated to building an apnoea monitoring system for newborn babies. The proposed model is based on whole body plethysmography, which involves non-invasive measurement of lung ventilation indirectly from the pressure deflections generated when a subject breathes inside a chamber of fixed volume (Bert in C R Soc Biol Paris 20:22-23, 1868). The computational model simulates thermal and environmental flow conditions occurring in the neonate chamber, especially steady state flow with heat transfer and carbon dioxide (CO2) transport during the exhalation phase.

Sexual dimorphism of human ribs.

The volume of the rib cage is about 10% smaller in females than in males having the same height although the reason for this is presently unclear. The cranio-caudal inclination of ribs is greater in females than males but the length of ribs has not previously been compared between the sexes. In 23 males and 23 females studied at necropsy, body length, the length of the upper and lower limbs and the length of the thoracic spine were all smaller in females but the ratios of upper and lower limb lengths to body length and of thoracic spine length to body length were not different.

Reversibility of airflow obstruction by hypoglossus nerve stimulation in anesthetized rabbits.

Rationale: Anesthesia-induced uncoupling of upper airway dilating and inspiratory pump muscles activation may cause inspiratory flow limitation, thereby mimicking obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea.

Objectives: Determine whether inspiratory flow limitation occurs in spontaneously breathing anesthetized rabbits and whether this can be reversed by direct hypoglossal nerve stimulation and by the application of continuous positive airway pressure.

Methods: Ten New Zealand White rabbits were anesthetized, instrumented, and studied supine while breathing spontaneously at ambient pressure or during the application of positive or negative airway pressure.

Sex differences in thoracic dimensions and configuration.

The volume of adult female lungs is typically 10-12% smaller than that of males who have the same height and age. In this study, we investigated how this volume difference is distributed between the rib cage and the diaphragm abdomen compartments. Internal rib cage dimensions, diaphragm position relative to spine, and diaphragm length were compared in 21 normal male and 19 normal female subjects at three different lung volumes using anterior-posterior and lateral chest radiographs.

Effects of abdominal distension on breathing pattern and respiratory mechanics in rabbits.

The effects of acute abdominal distension (AD) on the electromechanical efficiency (Eff) of the inspiratory muscles were investigated in anesthetized rabbits by recording the electrical activity (A), pressure (P) exerted by the diaphragm (di) and parasternal intercostal muscles (ic), and lung volume changes when an abdominal balloon was inflated to various degrees. Eff,ic increased with increasing AD both in supine and upright postures. In upright rabbits Eff,di increased for intermediate but decreased at higher levels of AD, whilst it decreased at all levels of AD in supine rabbits.

Effects of emphysema and lung volume reduction surgery on transdiaphragmatic pressure and diaphragm length.

Study Objectives: To determine the effect of emphysema and lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) on diaphragm length (Ldi) and its capacity to generate transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi).

Design: Prospective clinical trial with a parallel group design.

Setting: Laboratory investigations in normal volunteers recruited by advertisement and in emphysema outpatients being evaluated for elective LVRS.

Anatomic landmarks to estimate the length of the diaphragm from chest radiographs: effects of emphysema and lung volume reduction surgery.

Study Objectives: To define anatomic landmarks that can be used to predict insertions of the diaphragm on chest radiographs and to estimate diaphragm length.

Design: Prospective clinical trial with a parallel group design.

Setting: Laboratory investigations in normal volunteers recruited by advertisement and in emphysema outpatients being evaluated for elective bilateral lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS).

Thoracic dimensions at maximum lung inflation in normal subjects and in patients with obstructive and restrictive lung diseases.

Objectives: To compare the distribution of lung volume at total lung capacity (TLC) among adult men and women known to have normal lung function or chronic obstructive disease or restrictive lung disease (RLD).

Design: Five-year retrospective study.

Setting: Review of available clinical pulmonary function testing (PFT) reports and chest radiographs.

Temporal relation between acoustic and force responses at the adductor pollicis during nondepolarizing neuromuscular block.

Background: Contracting muscle emits sounds. The purpose of this study was to compare the time course of muscular paralysis at the adductor pollicis muscle (AP) with use of acoustic myography and mechanomyography.

Methods: Thirteen elective surgery patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I, received rocuronium (0.

Influence of abdomen on respiratory mechanics in supine rabbits.

Previous studies showed that abdominal evisceration has no effect on respiratory system compliance. We hypothesized that this could be related to lung distortion in eviscerated animals. Methods were developed for continuous recording of pleural pressure (Ppl) at various sites over the costal (co) and diaphragmatic lung surface (di) in acutely and chronically instrumented rabbits.

In normal subjects bracing impairs the function of the inspiratory muscles.

Normal subjects can increase their capacity to sustain hyperpnoea by bracing their arms on fixed objects, a procedure which is also known to reduce dyspnoea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the present study, it was tested whether bracing per se could improve the function of the diaphragm. The effect of bracing on diaphragm function was studied in six normal subjects by recording changes in oesophageal (delta Poes) and transdiaphragmatic (delta Pdi) pressure during inspiratory capacity (IC) manoeuvres in the seated and upright postures, and in the seated posture, also during bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation (BPNS) at functional residual capacity (FRC).

Time-frequency analysis of the muscle sound of the human diaphragm.

The time-frequency characteristics of muscular sounds (phonomyogram) produced by the contraction of the human diaphragm under various contractile states is evaluated with the cone-kernel distribution. The results show that the instantaneous frequency of the phonomyogram of the diaphragm has a high cross-correlation (an average of 0.91 +/- 0.

Can we treat respiratory failure in Friedreich ataxia?

Background: Neurochemical disorders associated with spinocerebellar ataxias are multiple.

Objective: To use replacement and neuroprotective therapy in a case of severe respiratory failure in Friedreich ataxia. PATIENT AND TREATMENT: A 44-year-old man with severe Friedreich ataxia displayed arduous periodic breathing associated with minor desaturation as well as obstructive or mixed apneas associated with severe desaturation during the night.

Time and frequency domain analysis of acoustic signals from a human muscle.

We wished to determine whether evoked force output from a human muscle could be inferred from the amplitude and the frequency of evoked muscular sounds. Sounds from adductor pollicis were recorded with a microphone and compared to evoked force changes produced by varying the intensity of nerve stimulation or of voluntary effort as well as by fatigue and twitch potentiation. In all instances, high correlations were obtained between evoked acoustic signals amplitude and evoked twitch force changes.

Diaphragmatic fatigue investigated by phonomyography.

Diaphragmatic phonomyogram (PMG) evoked by maximal bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation has previously been described as a good index of contractility of fresh and fatigued diaphragm. In the present study we hypothesized that diaphragmatic contractility changes could be even more simply evaluated by recording the relationship between the PMG and the compound motor action potential (CMAP) amplitudes during graded submaximal unilateral phrenic nerve stimulation at various intensities. Relationships between CMAPs and PMGs from left and right hemidiaphragms were recorded by means of surface electrodes and miniature microphones placed over the lower rib cage (eighth intercostal space) in five healthy subjects before and after a diaphragmatic fatigue task.