Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Daniel U. Thomson / The widespread use of beta adrenergic agonists in beef cattle production has been adopted by the beef industry in recent years to improve weight gain and feed efficiency at the end of the feeding period. During this feeding period, anecdotal reports of increased mortality during the timeframe in which beta agonists were being fed to cattle was also reported, and confirmed in epidemiologic studies. Additionally, adverse animal welfare events at abattoirs in cattle fed beta adrenergic agonists were reported in August 2013. The objectives of this dissertation were to investigate physiologic and management factors that may be associated with adverse effects of the use of beta adrenergic agonists in cattle. Two studies were conducted, one to establish normal Holter monitor registration values and evaluate the electrocardiographic effects of zilpaterol and ractopamine hydrochloride on finishing steers, and one to develop a model to investigate the physiologic effects of forced exercises in finished cattle, which was hypothesized to be a possible factor in reported adverse cattle welfare events in August 2013. Thirty steers were enrolled to evaluate the effect of ractopamine, zilpaterol or negative control on arrythmia and mean heart rate at 4 different time periods during a 28 day feeding period. Cattle fed ractopamine and zilpaterol had increased heart rate (P < 0.05) but no differences in arrythmia rates were found. Forty steers were enrolled in a study at a commercial feeding facility to develop a model for fatigue in cattle forced to run 1,540 m compared to control cattle walked 1,540 m. Blood lactate, cortisol, rectal temperature, heart rate was increased (P < 0.05), blood pH decreased (P < 0.01) and to have reduced locomotion, as measured by pedometers, during the 48 hour period following handling compared to controls. Additionally cattle that were fatter and forced to run had increased lactate (P =0.057) and lower blood pH (P < 0.01) than thinner cohorts. Cattle handling method is a factor in the health and welfare of cattle and the continued adoption of low stress handling methods throughout the beef industry should be pursued.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-02-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:51:07Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 yonezawa_la_me_botfmvz.pdf: 3988059 bytes, checksum: dce8716cd4543fcca12121af8b7fe396 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito do exercício físico, treinamento e suplementação com vitamina E sobre as concentrações séricas de malondialdeído (MDA), vitamina E e troponina I cardíaca (cTnI), e sobre parâmetros eletrocardiográficos. Utilizou-se, para as determinações séricas, 16 eqüinos da raça Puro Sangue Árabe divididos em dois grupos: controle (n=8) e suplementado com vitamina E (n=8) na dose diária de 1.000 UI. Para a avaliação do eletrocardiograma, foram utilizados oito eqüinos Árabes, divididos em grupos controle (n=4) e suplementado com vitamina E (n=4) na mesma dose. Submeteu-se os animais a uma prova de exercício progressivo (P1) em esteira de alta velocidade inclinada a +7%, em seguida a um período de treinamento de 20 dias e posteriormente uma nova prova de exercício progressivo (P2). Determinou-se as concentrações séricas de MDA, vitamina E e cTnI, e analisou-se os traçados eletrocardiográficos antes e após as provas P1 e P2. O exercício promoveu estresse oxidativo, determinado por meio do aumento de MDA sérico, mas atenuado pela suplementação de vitamina E. Não houve efeito do treinamento sobre este estresse, nem aumento expressivo da concentração de cTnI após o exercício. O eletrocardiograma é eficiente na detecção das alterações cardíacas promovidas pelo exercício físico e de lesão cardíaca leve, mas desconhece-se o significado clínico desta injúria. A vitamina E suplementar não influenciou nos parâmetros eletrocardiográficos. / The objective of this study was to evaluate physical exercise, training, and vitamin E supplementation effects on serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin E, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and electrocardiographic parameters. Serum determinations were performed in 16 Arabian horses, divided into two groups: control (n=8) and supplemented with vitamin E (n=8) at the daily dose of 1,000 IU. For evaluation of the electrocardiogram, eight Arabian horses were used, divided into groups control (n=4) and supplemented with vitamin E (n=4) at the same dose. Horses were submitted to a trial of incremental exercise (P1) in high-speed treadmill inclined at +7%, then to a training period of 20 days and a further second trial of incremental exercise (P2). Serum determinations of MDA, vitamin E and cTnI, and analysis of electrocardiographic tracings were performed before and after exercise in P1 and P2. Exercise promoted oxidative stress, as a result of increase of serum MDA, but attenuated by vitamin E supplementation. There were no effect of training on oxidative stress, and no increase significantly in serum cTnI after exercise. Electrocardiogram is efficient in detection of cardiac changes promoted by exercise and slight cardiac injury, but its clinical significance remains unknown. Vitamin E supplementation did not influence on electrocardiographic parameters.

Orientador: Aguemi Kohayagawa / Banca: Alexandre Secorun Borges / Banca: Wilson Roberto Fernandes / Resumo: Este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito do exercício físico, treinamento e suplementação com vitamina E sobre as concentrações séricas de malondialdeído (MDA), vitamina E e troponina I cardíaca (cTnI), e sobre parâmetros eletrocardiográficos. Utilizou-se, para as determinações séricas, 16 eqüinos da raça Puro Sangue Árabe divididos em dois grupos: controle (n=8) e suplementado com vitamina E (n=8) na dose diária de 1.000 UI. Para a avaliação do eletrocardiograma, foram utilizados oito eqüinos Árabes, divididos em grupos controle (n=4) e suplementado com vitamina E (n=4) na mesma dose. Submeteu-se os animais a uma prova de exercício progressivo (P1) em esteira de alta velocidade inclinada a +7%, em seguida a um período de treinamento de 20 dias e posteriormente uma nova prova de exercício progressivo (P2). Determinou-se as concentrações séricas de MDA, vitamina E e cTnI, e analisou-se os traçados eletrocardiográficos antes e após as provas P1 e P2. O exercício promoveu estresse oxidativo, determinado por meio do aumento de MDA sérico, mas atenuado pela suplementação de vitamina E. Não houve efeito do treinamento sobre este estresse, nem aumento expressivo da concentração de cTnI após o exercício. O eletrocardiograma é eficiente na detecção das alterações cardíacas promovidas pelo exercício físico e de lesão cardíaca leve, mas desconhece-se o significado clínico desta injúria. A vitamina E suplementar não influenciou nos parâmetros eletrocardiográficos. / Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate physical exercise, training, and vitamin E supplementation effects on serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin E, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and electrocardiographic parameters. Serum determinations were performed in 16 Arabian horses, divided into two groups: control (n=8) and supplemented with vitamin E (n=8) at the daily dose of 1,000 IU. For evaluation of the electrocardiogram, eight Arabian horses were used, divided into groups control (n=4) and supplemented with vitamin E (n=4) at the same dose. Horses were submitted to a trial of incremental exercise (P1) in high-speed treadmill inclined at +7%, then to a training period of 20 days and a further second trial of incremental exercise (P2). Serum determinations of MDA, vitamin E and cTnI, and analysis of electrocardiographic tracings were performed before and after exercise in P1 and P2. Exercise promoted oxidative stress, as a result of increase of serum MDA, but attenuated by vitamin E supplementation. There were no effect of training on oxidative stress, and no increase significantly in serum cTnI after exercise. Electrocardiogram is efficient in detection of cardiac changes promoted by exercise and slight cardiac injury, but its clinical significance remains unknown. Vitamin E supplementation did not influence on electrocardiographic parameters. / Mestre

A interpretação dos gráficos gerados em exames com eletrocardiogramas (ECG) requer profissionais da área da saúde treinados para identificar as oscilações elétricas que resultam da atividade do coração. Ainda assim, pequenas alterações podem não ser percebidas, ou desprezadas, eliminando chances potenciais de detecção de patologias em estágios iniciais. A grande maioria dos procedimentos automatizados para a análise de ECGs é baseada em técnicas de filtragem digitais e estatísticas, nas quais geralmente se verifica a desvantagem não apenas do custo computacional, como também a perda da qualidade do sinal e o consequente comprometimento das informações extraídas. O presente trabalho lança mão de filtros com premissas geométricas que preservam essas informações e ainda contribuem para a redução no número de pontos redundantes contidos em um ECG. Também propõe a criação de uma identidade cardíaca capaz de traduzir o padrão morfológico único e característico de cada paciente. Foram analisados ECGs de 52 indivíduos saudáveis, e a redução de pontos alcançada foi de mais de 95%. Por fim, o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta gráfica apresentou uma nova abordagem que viabiliza tanto uma análise personalizada do ECG, como também um acompanhamento da condição cardíaca ao longo da vida. / An interpretation of the graphs generated on electrocardiograms exams (ECG) requires trained healthcare professionals to identify the electrical oscillations that result from heart activity. Even so, small changes can not be perceived, and clinical changes may be neglected, eliminating potential chances of detection of pathologies still in early stages. The large majority of automated procedures for analysis of ECGs are based on digital and statistical filtering techniques, in which it usually occurs beyond computational cost, loss of signal quality and the resulting compromise of extracted information. The present work makes use of filters with geometric premises that preserve this information and also contribute to the reduction in the number of redundant points contained in an ECG. It also proposes the creation of a cardiac identity capable of translating the unique and characteristic morphological pattern of each patient. ECGs were analyzed from 52 healthy individuals, and the reduction of points achieved was greater than 95%. Finally, the development of a graphical tool presented a new approach that enables both a personalized ECG analysis and a monitoring of the cardiac condition throughout life.

O eletrocardiograma transMITe informações com relação à passagem do pulso elétrico pelo coração e, conseqüentemente, do funcionamento deste. Desde o início da sua utilização, possibilitada pelo trabalho de Willem Einthoven criando a primeira máquina capaz de medir o pulso elétrico de forma não invasiva e com sensibilidade forte o bastante para ser capaz de produzir um gráfico proveitoso, o eletrocardiograma é muito utilizado para avaliação clínica de pacientes. Entretanto a evolução das máquinas que o descrevem não foi muito além do que o elaborado por Einthoven no início do século 20. As máquinas capazes de captar o eletrocardiograma se tornaram menores (até portáteis para algumas aplicações), gráficos passaram a ser disponibilizados em telas de vídeo (ao invés das fitas de papel) e, como maior evolução, as máquinas que observam o eletrocardiograma passaram a conseguir captar a ocorrência de um ciclo cardíaco com alta confiabilidade e, atualmente, passaram a medir também o parâmetro ST com precisão deliMITada (necessitando ajuda do operador para ajuste em alguns casos). É baseado nestes fatos que esta dissertação procura estudar algoritmos matemáticos, de forma mais focada nos modelos do impulso elétrico durante os ciclos cardíacos, e avaliar suas capacidades de interpretar parâmetros do ciclo de ECG de forma precisa e rápida para que o médico tenha prontamente os dados necessários para realizar a avaliação clínica do paciente. Em primeira análise foram estudados os algoritmos para detecção do pulso de eletrocardiograma (detecção da onda R), em seguida feito o janelamento da curva de ECG a fim de separar os ciclos cardíacos. A partir deste ponto foram analisados os modelos matemáticos gerados por equações polinomiais, Transformada de Fourier e Transformada wavelet. E, com o intuito de filtrar ruídos e gerar derivações não medidas, foi implementado um filtro de kalman em um modelo vetorial do eletrocardiograma. Para avaliar os resultados obtidos foram utilizados requisitos de desempenho declarados pelo FDA norte americano e pela norma européia IEC60601-2-51. Essas análises foram feitas através da utilização dos algoritmos gerados nas curvas provindas do banco de dados do PhisioNet. O método polinomial não foi considerado interessante na medida em que não possibilita gerar uma equação para um ciclo cardíaco, mas sim várias equações (uma para cada ponto do ciclo). Os demais métodos apresentaram melhor eficiência na medida em que foram capazes de gerar parâmetros com significado físico e possibilitando melhor caracterização de pontos importantes da curva do eletrocardiograma. / The electrocardiogram gives information related to the passage of an electric pulse through the heart and, therefore, to his state function. Since the beginning of electrocardiogram utilization, thanks to the work of Willem Einthoven building the first machine capable of measuring the electric pulse non-invasively and with sensitivity enough to be able to provide a profitable graph, it is widely used for clinical evaluation of patients. However the evolution of the machines that describes the electrocardiogram hadn´t much more advances since the elaborated by Einthoven in the beginning of the 20th century. They become smaller (even portable for some applications), the graphs are now displayed in video screens (instead of the paper strip) and, taking place as the biggest evolutions, machines that observes the electrocardiogram became able to recognize a cardiac cycle with high reliability and, more recently, became able to measure the ST parameter with liMITed precision (it needs the help of the operator to set specific measuring points in some cases). It is based in these facts that this dissertation looks for analyzing mathematic algorithms, more specifically the mathematic models of the electric impulse during the cardiac cycles, and evaluate their capacities to expound ECG parameters in a fast and reliable way in order to the physician receive promptly the data needed for his clinical evaluation of the patient. For the first step were analyzed some algorithms for electrocardiogram pulse detection (detection of R wave), in the following step were done the windowing of the ECG wave in order to separate the cardiac cycles. In this step were analyzed the mathematic models generated by polynomial equations, Fourier Transform and Wavelet Transform. And, in order to filter noises and generate leads not measure, it was implemented a kalman´s filter at a vector model. To evaluate the obtained results were used the requirements of performance given by north-american FDA and by the European rule IEC60601-2-51. These evaluations were done by executing the generated algorithms in the waves supplied by the databank PhisioNet. The polynomial method weren´t considered interesting because it weren´t able to generate an equation for the cardiac cycle, but many equations (one for each point of the cycle). The other methods showed a better efficiency since they were capable of generate parameters with physical meaning and being able to do a better characterization of the important points of the electrocardiogram wave.

Esta dissertação visa estudar a aplicabilidade e a importância prognóstica de métodos matemáticos não lineares no estudo das variações da freqüência cardíaca bem como no das mudanças morfológicas em sinais de eletrocardiograma. Apresentaremos uma revisão geral desse assunto focando em técnicas de análise não linear para o estudo de sinais de eletrocardiograma (ECG) visando construir uma base de conhecimentos que permita, no futuro, a abordagem de novos aspectos dessas metodologias. Como resultado do aprendizado, é gerado um programa que utiliza algumas das técnicas descritas ao longo da dissertação. Ao final da dissertação, abordaremos as vantagens e desvantagens dos métodos não lineares, concluindo que são ferramentas promissoras para a análise de sinais de ECG. / This dissertation presents a study about the applicability and the prognostic importance of nonlinear mathematical methods in the variations of heart frequency as well as in the morphological changes in the electrocardiogram signs. We will present a general revision of this subject focusing on application of nonlinear analysis for the study of electrocardiogram (ECG) signs in order to provide a base of knowledge that allows, in the future, the approach of new aspects of these methodologies. As a result this work, it was built a program that uses nonlinear analysis described along the dissertation. At the end of this document, we describe the advantages and disadvantages of the nonlinear methods, concluding that they are promising tools in the analysis of ECG signs.

Neste trabalho é descrito um sistema para aquisição e processamento do sinal de eletrocardiograma (ECG) para uso em experimentos de fisiologia cardíaca adaptativa de animais aquáticos (peixes). A aplicação imediata destina-se ao Laboratório de Zoofisiologia e Bioquímica Comparativa do Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas da Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Um algoritmo de processamento do sinal de ECG é proposto, implementado e comparado com outros dois algoritmos, descritos na literatura especializada, tendo demonstrado ótimo desempenho. Um sistema de controle de experimentação, onde as condições do meio como temperatura e pressão de oxigênio, são mantidas constantes, também foi implementado. / In this work a system for signal acquisition and digital processing of the electrocardiogram (ECG) for adaptive cardiac physiology of fishes is described. The instrumentation has been developed to be used in the \"Laboratório de Zoofisiologia e Bioquímica do Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas da Universidade Federal de São Carlos\". A new algorithm for signal processing of ECO is proposed, implemented and compares favourable with two others described in the literature. Also, a control system to keep constant the temperature and pressure has been designed.

Master of Science / Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / Steven Warren / A reference design for a wearable, wireless biomedical sensor set has been a long-term need for researchers at Kansas State University, driven by the idea that a basic set of sensor components could address the demands of multiple types of human and animal health monitoring scenarios if these components offered even basic reconfigurability. Such a reference design would also be a starting point to assess sensor performance and signal quality in the context of various biomedical research applications. This thesis describes the development of a set of wireless health monitoring sensors that can be used collectively as a data acquisition platform to provide biomedical research data and to serve as a baseline reference design for new sensor and system development. The host computer, an Intel Edison unit, offers plug-and-play usability and supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. The reference sensor set that accompanies the Intel Edison single-board computer includes an electrocardiograph, a pulse oximeter, and an accelerometer/gyrometer. All sensors are based on the same physical footprint and connector placement so that the sensors can be stacked to create a collection with a minimal volume and footprint. The latest hardware version is 3.1. Version 1.0 supported only a pulse oximeter, whereas version 2.0 included an electrocardiograph, pulse oximeter, and respiration belt. In version 3.0, the respiration belt was removed, and accelerometers and gyroscopes were added to the sensor set. Version 3.1 is a refined version of the latter design, where known hardware bugs were remedied. Future work includes the development of new sensors and casing designs that can hold these sensor stacks.

Abstract Several studies have shown that altered cardiovascular autonomic regulation is associated with hypertension, diabetes, aging, angiographic severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), and increased mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The purpose of this study was to assess the temporal changes and prognostic significance of various measures of heart rate (HR) behaviour and their possible associations to coronary risk variables, and the progression of CAD in different populations. This study comprised five patient populations. The first consisted of 305 patients with recent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and lipid abnormalities, the second of 109 male patients with recent CABG, the third of 53 type II diabetic patients with CAD, the fourth of 600 patients with recent AMI, and the fifth of 41 elderly subjects. HR variability and non-linear measures of HR dynamics were analysed. Among the patients with prior CABG, a significant correlation existed between the baseline HR variability (standard deviation of N-N intervals, SDNN) and the progression of CAD (r = 0.26, p &lt; 0.001)). In the longitudinal study of patients with prior CABG, only the fractal indexes of HR dynamics, such as the power law slope (β) and the short-term fractal exponent (α1), decreased significantly. In diabetic patients, SDNN decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.001) during the three-year period. The reduction of SDNN was related to cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels, and also to progression of CAD (r = 0.36, p &lt; 0.01). In the longitudinal follow-up study of patients with recent AMI, reduced fractal indices (α1 and β), and reduced HR turbulence predicted cardiac death when measured at the convalescent phase after AMI. Reduced β and turbulence slope predicted cardiac death when measured at 12 months after AMI. In the elderly population, β (p &lt; 0.001) and α1 (p &lt; 0.01) reduced significantly. Low-frequency power spectra were the only traditional measure of HR variability that decreased significantly during the 16-year period. HR variability is associated with many risk factors of atherosclerosis and with progression of CAD among patients with ischemic heart disease. Fractal HR dynamics are more sensitively able to detect age-related changes in cardiovascular autonomic regulation. Altered fractal HR dynamics and HR turbulence are associated with increased mortality after AMI.

Orientador: Simone Biagio Chiacchio / Resumo: A pecuária no Brasil evolui a cada ano buscando avanços genéticos como, animais mais rústicos e precoces. A raça Nelore é à base do rebanho comercial de corte brasileiro, correspondendo a cerca de 80% do rebanho nacional, e ainda com poucos estudos sobre o período pré o pós-natal de bezerros desta raça que é extremamente adaptada às condições climáticas, resistência a ecto e endo parasitas, além de boa fertilidade mesmo em condições de escassez de alimento de alta qualidade. Buscando técnicas que proporcionam menor estresse no monitoramento gestacional, o acompanhamento via avaliação da frequência cardíaca materna fetal e a variabilidade da frequência cardíaca estão em desenvolvimento. A importância de procedimentos adequados durante as fases que antecedem o parto, período pré-natal e o período neonatal diminuem a mortalidade dos neonatos, melhorando a assistência veterinária neste momento crítico. Assim este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar parâmetros clínicos, índices eletrocardiográficos (ECG) e de variabilidade cardíaca (VFC) em vacas (n=10) (período pré e pós parto) e nos fetos (n=10), 35 dias pré parto, e na fase neonatal até 35 dias de idade. Os momentos de análise foram 35°, 28°, 21°, 14°, 7 ° 1° dia antes do parto e ao 1°, 7°, 14°, 21°, 28° e 35° dias pós-parto. Os neonatos apresentaram boa adaptação com o avançar da idade, foram verificadas poucas alterações no ECG desta categoria, com isso verificou-se que bezerros saudáveis se adaptam bem as alterações da fase fe... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Livestock in Brazil evolves every year looking for genetic advances such as more rustic and precocious animals. The Nellore breed is based on the commercial Brazilian beef bank, corresponding to about 80% of the national bank, and still with few studies on the pre or post-natal period of calves of this breed which is extremely adapted as climatic conditions, ecto resistance. and endo parasites in addition to good fertility even in conditions of scarcity of high quality food. Seeking techniques that provide less stress on pregnancy monitoring, or monitoring via maternal heart rate and heart rate variability are under development. The importance of the procedures used during the phases that precede birth, the prenatal period and the neonatal period decrease the mortality of neonates, improving veterinary assistance at this critical moment. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate clinical criteria, electrocardiographic indexes (ECG) and cardiac variability (HRV) in cows (n = 10) (pre and postpartum period) and in cases (n = 10), 35 days before delivery. pregnancy, and in the neonatal phase until they reach 35 days of life The moments of analysis were 35 °, 28 °, 21 °, 14 °, 7 ° 1 ° day before participating and on the 1 °, 7 °, 14 °, 21, 28 and 35 days postpartum. The newborns showed good adaptation with advancing age, less changes in the ECG were verified in this category, with this it was verified whether calves adapt as well as changes in the fetal to neonatal phase, resulting in a... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre