Understanding Australian policies on public health using social and political science theories: reflections from an Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Workshop.

There is strong, and growing, evidence documenting health inequities across the world. However, most governments do not prioritize policies to encourage action on the social determinants of health and health equity. Furthermore, despite evidence concerning the benefits of joined-up, intersectoral policy to promote health and health equity, it is rare for such policy approaches to be applied systematically.

Inspiratory gas flow induced by cardiac systole.

This study was made to quantify the inspiratory gas flow pulse produced by cardiac systole. Ten adults (9 men, 1 woman; age 24-65 yr) were studied, of whom two had respiratory muscle weakness. The inspiratory flow pulse commenced 50-60 msec after the R wave of the ECG and lasted 106 (SD22) msec.

Estimating alveolar surface area during life.

Alveolar surface area (Sa) may be derived from measurements of total lung capacity (TLC) and mean linear intercept (Lm), an estimate of average airspace size. Because the index of pulmonary distensibility, K, is a function of Lm, we were able to derive Lm from ln K using their respective age regressions and estimated Sa in 147 healthy subjects. K was obtained from exponential analysis of static pressure-volume data.

Effect of the chest wall and blood volume on pulmonary distensibility.

To determine the reason for increased pulmonary distensibility in excised lungs, we performed deflation pressure-volume (PV) studies in 24 dogs. Exponential analysis of PV data gave K, an index of distensibility. Lung volume was measured by dilution of neon.