1,721,035 research outputs found
Clinical validation of a low-power and wearable ECG patch for long term full-disclosure monitoring
No full textClinical validation of a low-power and wearable ECG patch for long term full-disclosure monitoring
No full textIntrathoracic fluid changes from preconception to postpartum as measured by bio-impedance monitoring
No full textIntrathoracic impedance was remotely monitored from preconception to postpartum in a woman with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. At 6 and 20 weeks, two significant changes were recorded, suggestive for thoracic fluid accumulation. After normal outcome, postpartum intrathoracic impedance returned to preconception values. The obtained results from this case report show that these measurements can be obtained with an implanted device. Current devices for measuring cardiac output by impedance technique allow evaluating thoracic fluid changes non-invasively. As such, non-invasive impedance monitoring may be a potential new method for continuous monitoring of maternal vascular changes during any time window between preconception and postpartum, to be assessed in a large cross sectional observational study.This report is part of the Limburg Clinical Research Program (LCRP) UHasselt-ZOL-Jessa, supported by the foundation Limburg Sterk Merk (LSM), Hasselt University, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, and Jessa Hospital. No specific funding was provided for publication of this case report.Lanssens, D (reprint author), Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Dept Gynaecol, Schiepse Bos 6, Genk, Belgium.
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Functional impact of transmitral gradients at rest and during exercise after restrictive annuloplasty for ischemic mitral regurgitation
No full textObjectivesRestrictive mitral valve annuloplasty combined with coronary artery bypass grafting is the treatment of choice for ischemic mitral regurgitation. Postoperative functional mitral stenosis and its potential impact on functional capacity remain the object of debate. The aim of this study was to assess functional and hemodynamic outcome at rest and during exercise in a population with ischemic mitral regurgitation after a standardized restrictive mitral valve annuloplasty.MethodsA total of 23 patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation who were previously treated with coronary artery bypass grafting and restrictive mitral valve annuloplasty underwent a semi-supine (bicycle) exercise test with Doppler echocardiography and ergospirometry. The surgical technique was identical in all patients, using a complete semi-rigid ring downsized by 2 sizes after measuring the height of the anterior mitral leaflet, to achieve a coaptation length of at least 8 mm.ResultsAt a mean follow-up of 28 ± 15 months, mean transmitral gradients at rest and maximal exercise were 4.4 ± 1.8 mm Hg and 8.2 ± 4.2 mm Hg, respectively (P < .001). Transmitral gradients did not correlate with exercise capacity (maximal oxygen uptake) or pulmonary artery pressures. Patients with a resting mean gradient of 5 mm Hg or greater (n = 9) reached a significantly higher maximal oxygen uptake; however, they had a better ejection fraction and cardiac output at rest and reached a higher cardiac output at peak exercise.ConclusionsTransmitral gradients after restrictive mitral valve annuloplasty for ischemic mitral regurgitation did not correlate with functional capacity as measured by maximal oxygen uptake during semi-supine bicycle testing. Functional capacity and transmitral gradients are determined not only by the severity of mitral stenosis but also by hemodynamic factors, such as ejection fraction and cardiac output. Transmitral gradients should be interpreted with respect to patient hemodynamics and not necessarily be considered as detrimental for functional capacity
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Implication of travel behaviour patterns and psychological factors of cardiac patients towards increasing active trips
No full textIschemic Heart Disease (IHD) is among the leading causes of death in Europe. It is caused by plaque build-up in the blood vessels resulting in insufficient oxygen supply to the heart. Achieving a certain amount of Physical Activity (PA) reduces significantly the risk of IHD. Walking and biking are proved to be a beneficial form of PA and require no additional skills or equipment (a bike in case of biking). If walking and biking is performed for daily travel purposes it helps in achieving an increased PA level and it has environmental benefits. Considering the health benefits of active travel, a pilot study is conducted to have an overview of existing active travel behaviour patterns of IHD patients. Data from an activity-based travel behaviour diary was collected for one day from random IHD patients (550) in the Flemish region of Belgium. Among 86 responses received, 70 IHD patients made the trips on the specified day. 37% of the car trips (driver as well as passenger) were identified as shorter trips (≤5km) contributing to the potential for PA increase by replacing these trips to walking or biking. 60% of the IHD patients were identified as sedentary or did not achieve 30 minutes of walking or bike use in a day. The remaining 40% of patients achieved the recommended PA level or more (up till 5 times) in a day. Additionally, IHD patients are found to have significantly different amounts of active and car trips based on their weight status (normal and unhealthy weight). This study proposes to perform a cluster analysis considering the socio-demographic information in combination with medical risk factors and psychological factors such as past behaviour, attitude, Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC) and social norms. The patients filled a standard questionnaire for stating their attitude and behaviour towards use of active travel behaviour. Medical risk factors were gathered from the patient's medical files at their affiliated hospitals. Clustering can identify the patients who are "potential changers" or the ones "already active". Classifying the patients in such different profiles can help caretakers to develop and tailor interventions that are customized to the patient's needs. The patients will be able to improve their PA level during daily trips as a complimentary medicine in management of their disease. Exploiting the behavioural theories and combining them with an objective measure of PA will support identifying the opportunities within their daily lifestyle and increasing the number of active trips
Detection of subclinical transient fluid accumulation during pregnancy in a patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and OptiVol (R) fluid monitoring algorithm
No full textImplication of travel behaviour patterns and psychological factors of cardiac patients towards increasing active trips
No full textIschemic Heart Disease (IHD) is among the leading causes of death in Europe. It is caused by plaque build-up in the blood vessels resulting in insufficient oxygen supply to the heart. Achieving a certain amount of Physical Activity (PA) reduces significantly the risk of IHD. Walking and biking are proved to be a beneficial form of PA and require no additional skills or equipment (a bike in case of biking). If walking and biking is performed for daily travel purposes it helps in achieving an increased PA level and it has environmental benefits. Considering the health benefits of active travel, a pilot study is conducted to have an overview of existing active travel behaviour patterns of IHD patients. Data from an activity-based travel behaviour diary was collected for one day from random IHD patients (550) in the Flemish region of Belgium. Among 86 responses received, 70 IHD patients made the trips on the specified day. 37% of the car trips (driver as well as passenger) were identified as shorter trips (≤5km) contributing to the potential for PA increase by replacing these trips to walking or biking. 60% of the IHD patients were identified as sedentary or did not achieve 30 minutes of walking or bike use in a day. The remaining 40% of patients achieved the recommended PA level or more (up till 5 times) in a day. Additionally, IHD patients are found to have significantly different amounts of active and car trips based on their weight status (normal and unhealthy weight). This study proposes to perform a cluster analysis considering the socio-demographic information in combination with medical risk factors and psychological factors such as past behaviour, attitude, Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC) and social norms. The patients filled a standard questionnaire for stating their attitude and behaviour towards use of active travel behaviour. Medical risk factors were gathered from the patient's medical files at their affiliated hospitals. Clustering can identify the patients who are "potential changers" or the ones "already active". Classifying the patients in such different profiles can help caretakers to develop and tailor interventions that are customized to the patient's needs. The patients will be able to improve their PA level during daily trips as a complimentary medicine in management of their disease. Exploiting the behavioural theories and combining them with an objective measure of PA will support identifying the opportunities within their daily lifestyle and increasing the number of active trips
Using Biosensors and Digital Biomarkers to Assess Response to Cardiac Rehabilitation: Observational Study
No full textBackground: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is known for its beneficial effects on functional capacity and is a key component within current cardiovascular disease management strategies. In addition, a larger increase in functional capacity is accompanied by better clinical outcomes. However, not all patients respond in a similar way to CR. Therefore, a patient-tailored approach to CR could open up the possibility to achieve an optimal increase in functional capacity in every patient. Before treatment can be optimized, the differences in response of patients in terms of cardiac adaptation to exercise should first be understood. In addition, digital biomarkers to steer CR need to be identified. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the difference in cardiac response between patients characterized by a clear improvement in functional capacity and patients showing only a minor improvement following CR therapy. Methods: A total of 129 patients in CR performed a 6-minute walking test (6MWT) at baseline and during four consecutive short-term follow-up tests while being equipped with a wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) device. The 6MWTs were used to evaluate functional capacity. Patients were divided into high- and low-response groups, based on the improvement in functional capacity during the CR program. Commonly used heart rate parameters and cardiac digital biomarkers representative of the heart rate behavior during the 6MWT and their evolution over time were investigated. Results: All participating patients improved in functional capacity throughout the CR program (P<.001). The heart rate parameters, which are commonly used in practice, evolved differently for both groups throughout CR. The peak heart rate (HR peak) from patients in the high-response group increased significantly throughout CR, while no change was observed in the low-response group (F 4,92=8.321, P<.001). Similar results were obtained for the recovery heart rate (HR rec) values, which increased significantly over time during every minute of recuperation, for the high-response group (HR rec1: P<.001, HR rec2: P<.001, HR rec3: P<.001, HR rec4: P<.001, and HR rec5: P=.02). The other digital biomarkers showed that the evolution of heart rate behavior during a standardized activity test differed throughout CR between both groups. These digital biomarkers, derived from the continuous measurements, contribute to more in-depth insight into the progression of patients' cardiac responses. Conclusions: This study showed that when using wearable sensor technology, the differences in response of patients to CR can be characterized by means of commonly used heart rate parameters and digital biomarkers that are representative of cardiac response to exercise. These digital biomarkers, derived by innovative analysis techniques, allow for more in-depth insights into the cardiac response of cardiac patients during standardized activity. These results open up the possibility to optimized and more patient-tailored treatment strategies and to potentially improve CR outcome. Signal Processing System
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