Publications using the PortaLite
Approximate entropies of resting state continuous neurocardiovascular physiological signals are associated with physical frailty in older adults
Frailty in older adults is characterised by dysregulation in multiple physiological systems. The frailty phenotype is defined on the basis of exhaustion, unexplained weight loss, weakness, slowness and low physical activity (one or two: pre-frail; 3 …
Arterial Stiffness Responses to Prolonged Sitting Combined with a High Glycemic Index Meal: A Double-Blind, Randomized Cross-Over Trial
Regular exposure to uninterrupted prolonged sitting and the consumption of high glycemic meals (HGI) is independently associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Sitting for as little as 1-hour can impair the health of both peripheral and …
Cerebrovascular function response to prolonged sitting combined with a high‐glycemic index meal: A double‐blind, randomized cross‐over trial
Acute prolonged sitting leads to cerebrovascular disruptions. However, it is unclear how prolonged sitting interacts with other common behaviors, including high- (HGI) and low- glycemic index (LGI) meals. Using a double- blind randomized cross- over …
Measuring tibial hemodynamics and metabolism at rest and after exercise using near-infrared spectroscopy
The bone vascular system is important; yet, evaluation of bone hemodynamics is difficult and expensive. This study evaluated the utility and reliability of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a portable and relatively inexpensive device, in measuring …
The effect of muscle blood flow restriction on hemodynamics, cerebral oxygenation and activation at rest
This study tested the hypothesis that muscle blood flow restriction reduces muscle and cerebral oxygenation, at rest. In 26 healthy males, aged 33±2 yrs, physiological variables were continuously recorded during a 10-min period in two experimental …
Effects of NMES pulse width and intensity on muscle mechanical output and oxygen extraction in able-bodied and paraplegic individuals
Purpose: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is commonly used in neuromuscular rehabilitation protocols, and its parameters selection substantially affects the characteristics of muscle activation. Here, we investigated the effects of short …
Evaluation of Cerebral Tissue Oximeters Using Multilayered Dynamic Head Models
Cerebral tissue oximetry (CTO) based on near-infrared spectroscopy provides clinically relevant information on tissue perfusion and has been used specifically in infant monitoring and during cardiac surgeries. With different sensor designs in the …
High Intensity Intermittent Exercise Plays a Role in Improving Brain Activation During Complex Executive Functional Tasks
Several neuroimaging studies have examined the effect of different types and combinations of exercises on activation of brain associated with cognitive testing but none of these studies have examined the role of high intensity intermittent exercise …
Impact of acute partial-body cryostimulation on cognitive performance, cerebral oxygenation, and cardiac autonomic activity
We assessed the effects of a 3-min partial-body cryostimulation (PBC) exposure—where the whole body is exposed to extreme cold, except the head—on cognitive inhibition performance and the possible implications of parasympathetic cardiac control and …
The association between generalized anxiety disorder and resting-state prefrontal cortex oxygenation is modified by self-reported physical activity: results from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing
Individuals with anxiety disorders exhibit lower intrinsic functional connectivity between prefrontal cortical areas and subcortical regions. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is sensitive to the acute and chronic effects of physical activity (PA), while …
High-intensity interval training vs. hydrochlorothiazide on blood pressure, cardiovascular health and cognition: Protocol of a non-inferiority trial
Background: While the number of people with hypertension (HBP) continues to increase, the therapeutic target for optimal blood pressure (BP) has been revised to a lower level. Studies have suggested that High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) could …
Age-related decline in visuo-spatial working memory is reflected by dorsolateral prefrontal activation and cognitive capabilities
Introduction: Visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM) performances undergo a decline throughout aging and are affected by the space in which the task is performed (reaching or navigational). Cerebral oxygenation and cognitive capabilities could explain …
An optical window into brain function in children and adolescents: A systematic review of functional near-infrared spectroscopy studies: fNIRS in developmental cognitive neuroscience
Despite decades of research, our understanding of functional brain development throughout childhood and adolescence remains limited due to the challenges posed by certain neuroimaging modalities. Recently, there has been a growing interest in using …
Cerebral hemodynamic response to a therapeutic bed for procedural pain management in preterm infants in the NICU: a randomized controlled trial
Introduction: We developed a novel device, Calmer, that mimics key components of skin-to-skin holding to reduce stress in preterm infants. Our feasibility trial showed that Calmer worked 50% better than no treatment and no differently from our …
Contact, high-resolution spatial diffuse reflectance imaging system for skin condition diagnosis: a first-in-human clinical trial
Significance: Oxygenation is one of the skin tissue physiological properties to follow for patient care management. Furthermore, long-term monitoring of such parameters is needed at the patient bed as well as outside the hospital. Diffuse reflectance …
Fatigue following COVID-19 infection is not associated with autonomic dysfunction.
BACKGROUND The long-term clinical and physiological consequences of COVID-19 infection remain unclear. While fatigue has emerged as a common symptom following infection, little is known about its links with autonomic dysfunction. SARS-CoV-2 is known …
Hair glucocorticoids and resting-state frontal lobe oxygenation: Findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing
Cerebral blood flow and oxygenation are crucial for maintaining healthy brain structure and function, with hypoperfusion and hypometabolism associated with neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions. Chronic stress and elevated cortisol have …
Intermittent compression of the calf muscle as a countermeasure to protect blood pressure and brain blood flow in upright posture in older adults
Purpose: Orthostatic hypotension, leading to cerebral hypoperfusion, can result in postural instability and falls in older adults. We determined the efficacy of a novel, intermittent pneumatic compression system, applying pressure around the lower …
Influence of cuff-occlusion duration on contrast-enhanced ultrasound assessments of calf muscle microvascular blood flow responsiveness in older adults
New Findings: What is the central question of the study? Cuff-occlusion duration may influence contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) assessments of skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow responsiveness: what are the effects of 1, 3 and 5 min …