2,044 research outputs found
Effects of age on the prevalence of cardiac dysrhythmias in ponies
No full textThis study describes the prevalence of cardiac dysrhythmias occurring over a single 24 h period in ponies and compares the heart rate and frequency of dysrhythmias in two groups of ponies of different ages Electrocardiograms were recorded using a Holter monitoring system from twenty four ponies aged less than 15-year-old (n = 14) and greater than 15-year-old (n = 10). Subsequent analyses of cardiac rhythm revealed that only 3/24 ponies maintained a regular rhythm throughout the recording period. In the remaining 21 ponies, 6 different types of dysrhythmias were detected, the majority of which were vagally mediated; sinus arrhythmia (n = 12), sinoatrial block (n = 6) and second degree atrioventricular block (n = 10). Premature beats of both atrial (n = 3) and ventricular (n = 1) origin were observed only in the older group. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to mean 24-h heart rates or the prevalence of cardiac dysrhythmias.</p
Dynamic modeling of gene expression data
No full textWe describe the time evolution of gene expression levels by using a time translational matrix to predict future expression levels of genes based on their expression levels at some initial time. We deduce the time translational matrix for previously published DNA microarray gene expression data sets by modeling them within a linear framework by using the characteristic modes obtained by singular value decomposition. The resulting time translation matrix provides a measure of the relationships among the modes and governs their time evolution. We show that a truncated matrix linking just a few modes is a good approximation of the full time translation matrix. This finding suggests that the number of essential connections among the genes is small
Amino acid classes and the protein folding problem
No full textWe present and implement a distance-based clustering of amino acids within the framework of a statistically derived interaction matrix and show that the resulting groups faithfully reproduce, for well-designed sequences, thermodynamic stability in and kinetic accessibility to the native state. A simple interpretation of the groups is obtained by eigenanalysis of the interaction matrix. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics
Smart blood pressure holter
No full textBackground and Objective: In this study, a wireless blood pressure holter that can be used with smart mobile devices was developed. The developed blood pressure holter consists of two parts, which are a smart mobile device and a cuff. The smart mobile device is used as a recording, control and display device through a developed interface, while the cuff was designed to take measurements from the arm.& para;& para;Methods: Resistor-Capacitor (RC) and digital filters were used on the cuff that communicates with the smart mobile device via Bluetooth. The blood pressure was estimated using the Simple Hill Climbing Algorithm (HCA). It is possible to measure instantaneous or programmable blood pressure and heart rate values at certain intervals using this holter.& para;& para;Results: The test was conducted with 30 individuals at different ages with the guidance of a specialist health personnel. The results showed that an accuracy at 93.89% and 91.95% rates could be obtained for systolic and diastolic pressure values, respectively, when compared with those obtained using a traditional sphygmomanometer. The accuracy level for the heart rate was measured as 97.66%. Furthermore, this device was tested day and night in the holter mode in terms of working time, the continuity of the Bluetooth connection and the reliability of the measurement results.& para;& para;Conclusions: The test results were evaluated separately in terms of measurement accuracy, working time, the continuity of the Bluetooth connection and the reliability of the measurement results. The measurement accuracy for systolic, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate values was obtained as 93.89%, 91.95% and 97.66%, respectively. The maximum number of measurements which can be conducted with four 1000 mA alkaline batteries at 20 min intervals was found approximately 79 (little more than 24 h). In addition, it was determined that the continuity of the Bluetooth connection and the reliability of the measurement results were automatically achieved through the features in the interface developed for the smart mobile device. These different evaluations showed that the smart blood pressure holter can meet the requirements of a classical holter device. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Necmettin Erbakan University Scientific Research Projects Coordinatorship, Konya, TurkeyThis study is supported by Necmettin Erbakan University Scientific Research Projects Coordinatorship, Konya, Turkey. The author would like to thank the editors and anonymous reviewers of this manuscript for their very helpful suggestions
Comparison Between a Single-Lead ECG Garment Device and a Holter Monitor: A Signal Quality Assessment
No full text: Wearable electronics are increasingly common and useful as health monitoring devices, many of which feature the ability to record a single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). However, recording the ECG commonly requires the user to touch the device to complete the lead circuit, which prevents continuous data acquisition. An alternative approach to enable continuous monitoring without user initiation is to embed the leads in a garment. This study assessed ECG data obtained from the YouCare device (a novel sensorized garment) via comparison with a conventional Holter monitor. A cohort of thirty patients (age range: 20-82 years; 16 females and 14 males) were enrolled and monitored for twenty-four hours with both the YouCare device and a Holter monitor. ECG data from both devices were qualitatively assessed by a panel of three expert cardiologists and quantitatively analyzed using specialized software. Patients also responded to a survey about the comfort of the YouCare device as compared to the Holter monitor. The YouCare device was assessed to have 70% of its ECG signals as "Good", 12% as "Acceptable", and 18% as "Not Readable". The R-wave, independently recorded by the YouCare device and Holter monitor, were synchronized within measurement error during 99.4% of cardiac cycles. In addition, patients found the YouCare device more comfortable than the Holter monitor (comfortable 22 vs. 5 and uncomfortable 1 vs. 18, respectively). Therefore, the quality of ECG data collected from the garment-based device was comparable to a Holter monitor when the signal was sufficiently acquired, and the garment was also comfortable
ECG monitoring of post-stroke occurring arrhythmias: an observational study using 7-day Holter ECG
No full textPost-stroke arrhythmias represent a risk factor for complications and worse prognosis after cerebrovascular events. The aims of the study were to detect the rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other cardiac arrhythmias after acute ischemic stroke, by using a 7-day Holter ECG which has proved to be superior to the standard 24-h recording, and to evaluate the possible association between brain lesions and arrhythmias. One hundred and twenty patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke underwent clinical and neuroimaging assessment and were monitored with a 7-day Holter ECG. Analysis of the rhythm recorded over 7 days was compared to analysis limited at the first 24 h of monitoring. 7-day Holter ECG detected AF in 4% of patients, supraventricular extrasystole (SVEB) in 94%, ventricular extrasystole (VEB) in 88%, short supraventricular runs (SVRs) in 54%, supraventricular tachycardia in 20%, and bradycardia in 6%. Compared to the first 24 h of monitoring, 7-Holter ECG showed a significant higher detection for all arrhythmias (AF p=0.02; bradycardia p=0.03; tachycardia p=0.0001; SVEB p=0.0002; VEB p=0.0001; SVRs p=0.0001). Patients with SVRs and bradycardia were older (p=0.0001; p=0.035) and had higher CHA(2)DS(2)VASc scores (p=0.004; p=0.026) respectively, in the comparison with patients without these two arrhythmias. An association was found between SVEB and parietal (p=0.013) and temporal (p=0.013) lobe lesions, whereas VEB correlated with insular involvement (p=0.002). 7-day Holter ECG monitoring proved to be superior as compared to 24-h recording for the detection of all arrhythmias, some of which (SVEB and VEB) were associated with specific brain areas involvement. Therefore, 7-day Holter ECG should be required as an effective first-line approach to improve both diagnosis and therapeutic management after stroke
Holter monitoring for syncope: diagnostic yield in different patient groups and impact on device implantation
No full textBackground: Holter monitoring is routinely used in patients referred for the evaluation of syncope, but its diagnostic value in different patient groups is unclear, as is its impact on device implantation (pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator). Aim: To determine the diagnostic yield of Holter monitoring in the routine evaluation of syncope, and its impact on subsequent device implantation. Design: Retrospective record review. Methods: We reviewed all Holter studies in patients referred with syncope between 2000 and 2005. Strict criteria were applied to determine whether a study was diagnostic. The diagnostic value of Holter monitoring (overall and in five subgroups: age, gender, structural heart disease, ejection fraction, medication) and its impact on the implantation of devices, were determined. Results: Of 4877 Holter studies, 826 were performed in patients with syncope (age 72 ± 15 years): 71 (8.6%) were considered to explain the syncope. Structural heart disease, ejection fraction and age were significant predictors of a diagnostic study (all p < 0.01), whereas gender and cardiac medication were not. A device was implanted in 33 patients (4.4%) whose initial Holter did not explain their syncope, after mean 7 months, whereas 45 patients (5.4%) received a pacemaker based on the Holter results (p = 0.32). Discussion: The overall diagnostic yield of Holter monitoring in the evaluation of syncope was 8.6%, with dramatic differences between subgroups. Our data suggest that the impact of Holter monitoring on device implantation is generally overestimate
The working alliance in automated therapy: Development of an alliance-supporting eHealth program and two grounded theory studies of relating and change.
No full textElectronic health (eHealth) programs are promising for a variety of health purposes, but there are few eHealth-specific theories describing how such programs work to support change. One possible working mechanism is a “working alliance”, considered an important element in psychotherapy. However, the alliance usually assumes an emotional bond, which seems controversial in the context of automated therapy requiring both empirical and theoretical work.
In her PhD study, Marianne T. S. Holter and her associates developed a quitting smoking program specifically to support an alliance. She then conducted two qualitative, grounded theory studies on how the users related to the program and whether ways of relating influenced change. The analysis reached theoretical saturation and is based on interviews (N = 16) and triangulated with written answers within the program (theoretical samples; Study 1: N = 55, Study 2: N = 16).
The analysis led to two grounded theory models. The first model suggests that people relate to eHealth program through keeping un-alive and making come-alive; thinking about the program as an inanimate object and thinking about it (through a play-like process) as a social presence. The combination of making come-alive and keeping un-alive leads to a semi-social interaction or -relationship. Most participants alternated between making come-alive and keeping un-alive.
The second model suggests that these relational processes can facilitate change-space (feeling free and supported to work constructively on changing on one’s own terms). Making come-alive made participants feel understood and supported by a social presence, while keeping un-alive kept the interaction free from social forcing.
The thesis launches models that can be used to generate hypotheses for further research into the working alliance as a possible eHealth working mechanism, and provides evidence supporting the alliance as a meaningful and potentially useful concept in automated therapy
REMOTE HOLTER LONGITUDINAL MONITORING - PROMISING DIRECTION IN TELEHEALTH DEVELOPMENT
No full textThe aim of the telehealth project is to study possible performance of remote analysis of Holter outcomes. We present experience of of our institution and remore Holter monitoring fulfillment. We studied diagnostic advantages of its remote performance. We used portable recorders and proprietary software. Analysis was performed by three physicians of the functional diagnosis department, Scientific Research Institute - Ochapovsky Regional Clinic Hospital #1. By present we performed more 2000 examinations. Clinical cases demonstrating advantages of remote Holter monitoring are described. We discussed perspective of this direction of telehealth. To this system 25 stations of registration devices were connected up in cities and territories of Krasnodar region. We apply 30 cardio-recorders of various producers. Thus, in Krasnodar region the full-scale system of remote Holter monitoring functions and advances now and this has been reached due to active introduction of modern innovative technologies in the field of communication, informatics and development of the software
Scale-free behavior and universality in random fragmentation and aggregation
No full textTwo distinct mechanisms underlying the existence of power-law distributions are presented: the distribution is stationary under the process of merging and splitting of classes and the distribution of the entities under study is invariant under changes of the classification scheme. We provide an explanation for the ubiquitous inverse n relationship in the species abundance relationship in ecology and the 1/n(2) distribution of company sizes based on the minimum impact principle.
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