Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Pennsylvania, 1916. / "From the John Herr Musser Department of Research Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia."

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 70-84).

Abstract Healthy subjects show wide interindividual variation in their heart rate behavior, but the factors affecting heart rate dynamics are not well known. This research was undertaken to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in a large random sample of subjects without evidence of heart disease, and to estimate the relation of heart rate behavior to age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors. Short-term HRV was analyzed from 15-minute periods of standardized recording in supine and upright positions using time and frequency domain measures, and BRS was calculated using the Valsalva maneuver in an original randomly selected population of 600 hypertensive and 600 control middle-aged subjects. In addition, HRV was analyzed from the same segments using new measures based on fractals and complexity (chaos theory) of R - R interval dynamics in the same random population, and from 24-hour period in 114 healthy subjects aged from 1 to 82 years. Large interindividual variation was observed in the measures of HRV and BRS in middle-aged subjects; coefficient of variation (CV) of the standard deviation of R - R intervals (SDNN) 39% (54 ± 21 ms) and CV of BRS 49% (9.9 ± 4.9 ms/mmHg). In healthy middle-aged men, SDNN was weakly related to age (r = -0.19, p < 0.01), HDL cholesterol (0.19, p < 0.01), serum insulin (-0.23, p < 0.001) and triglyceride (-0.25, p < 0.001) levels. In women, SDNN was only related to insulin levels (r = -0.23, p < 0.001). BRS was related to systolic blood pressure (r = -0.31 and -0.30, in men and women respectively, p < 0.001 for both) and blood glucose (r = -0.25, p < 0.01) and serum insulin levels (r = -0.34, p < 0.001) in women. Lesser intersubject variation was observed in the non-linear measures of HRV; CV 14% of short-term scaling exponent (a1), a measure of fractal-like correlation properties of HRV, (1.21 ± 0.17) and CV 12% of approximate entropy, a measure of complexity, (1.13 ± 0.14). Neither a1 or ApEn was related to any risk factors. Women had lower overall short-term HRV (p < 0.01) and BRS (p < 0.001), but a higher spectral high-frequency component of HRV, higher ApEn and lower a1 (p < 0.001 for all) compared to men. The impairment in overall HRV was confined to the hypertensive subjects with metabolic features of the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS, n = 69), but the BRS and spectral high-frequency component were also impaired in hypertensive subjects without IRS compared to normotensive subjects. The 24-hour cardiac interbeat interval dynamics changed markedly from childhood to old age. Children showed similar complexity and fractal correlation properties of R - R intervals as young adults. Healthy aging resulted in R - R interval dynamics with higher regularity and predictability and altered fractal scaling. The traditional measures of HRV and BRS are weakly related to many cardiovascular risk factors in subjects without heart disease, but the interindividual variation of HRV and BRS is only partly explained by these factors, suggesting a genetic background of the intersubject variation in cardiovascular autonomic regulation. The new dynamical measures of HRV show less interindividual variation than the conventional measures of HRV in healthy subjects and are not related to cardiovascular risk variables, suggesting that these dynamical measures quantify the "intrinsic" capacity of a healthy cardiovascular control system without the significant influence of life-style, metabolic or demographic variables. However, there are sex and age-related differences also in the fractal and complexity measures of heart rate behavior.

Three-dimensional electrocardiography with computerized analysis provides a means to rapidly collect and quantitatively analyze electrocardiographic data from rats. Electrical activity at each point in time can be expressed quantitatively as a vector with magnitude and direction. Rats are fitted with plate and needle electrodes in three mutually perpendicular axes: X (right to left), Y (rostral to caudal), and Z (ventral to dorsal). Electrocardiographic signals are recorded on paper and also collected at 1000/sec using an IBM-compatible computer equipped with a fast A/D convertor. Signals are analyzed using an interactive program written in Turbo PASCAL which transforms data into an array consisting of vector magnitude and direction at each time point. The data are further used to produce both a tabular report and graphic output. This method retains simplicity while extending the accuracy of electrocardiographic (ECG) measurement. It literally adds another dimension of information to the three-lead ECG most commonly measured in rats.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

No description available.

Dissertation submitted in compliance with the requirements for Masters Degree in Technology in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Technikon Natal, 2000. / The purpose of this study is the development of an affordable computer-based electrocardiogram, heart rate and temperature monitoring system, that would complement those that are available on the market and contribute to the reduction of the shortage of these medical instruments in South African hospitals and clinics. Electrocardiogram (ECG) refers to the graph that results from time versus voltage in a patient's chest. It reflects the rhythmic activity of the heart. For this reason the electrocardiogram has a diagnostic value that can be used by medical personnel to examine the biological (hence, clinical) behavior of the heart. The electrocardiogram can also be used to get the heart rate. This thesis explained how to acquire ECG signals from the patient and also how to achieve a cheaper way of providing galvanic isolation, which is required for sensors that are attached to the human body. It also explains computer interfacing using the parallel port and computer-based processing of these ECG signals to determine the instantaneous value of the heart rate and also to reduce the interference that contaminates these signals. In reducing interference, the performance of traditional IIR notch and adaptive filters, as noise cancelers, has been analyzed and compared. Least Mean Squares (LMS) and Normalized Least Mean Squares (NLMS) algorithms are the two algorithms that were considered in this study for adaptive noise canceling and their performance is evaluated and is compared based on their convergence rate, complexity and noise reduction. / M

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o perfil eletrocardiográfico dos eqüinos praticantes de hipismo clássico em São Paulo e também se estes parâmetros sofrem influências em relação ao tipo de atividade física desempenhada pelo animal (provas de salto abaixo de 1,20 metros e provas acima de 1,20 metros), faixa etária e fatores sexuais. Foram utilizados 100 eqüinos de hipismo clássico, representados por 61 machos e 39 fêmeas, com idades entre 4 e 19 anos. A freqüência cardíaca variou de 18,50 batimentos por minuto (bpm) a 89,45bpm, com média de 40,2077±13,3321, o ritmo cardíaco mais freqüente foi o sinusal com 56%, seguido de taquicardia sinusal 23%, arritmia sinusal 20% e bradicardia sinusal com 1%. As alterações encontradas foram: marcapasso migratório 25%, bloqueio átrio-ventricular de 2°grau (BAV de 2°grau) 9%, BAV de 1°grau 7%, complexos ventriculares prematuros 2% e bloqueio sinoatrial/ \"sinus arrest\" e complexos atrial prematuro com 1%. O eixo elétrico no plano frontal em 87% dos casos esteve entre o e +90 graus. O score cardíaco médio foi de 94,9±16,1milisegundos e em relação à duração na derivação bipolar II, obteve-se onda P com 0,1100±0,0242 segundos, intervalo P-R com 0,3140±0,0744 seg., complexo QRS com 0,0908±0,0250 seg., intervalo QT com 0,4908±0,0536 seg. e onda T com 0,1130±0,0330 seg. Quanto à amplitude também na derivação bipolar II, obteve-se onda P única em 35% dos casos com média de 0,2671±0,0747 milivolts, onda P bifásica em 11% dos eqüinos com média de 0,3136±0,1098mV e onda P bífida em 54% dos animais, sendo esta dividida em porção 1 e 2 (P1 e P2), P1 teve média de 0,1352±0,0492mV e P2 teve média de 0,2259±0,0502mV. A onda R e a onda T estiveram presentes em 100% dos eqüinos obtendo média de 1,0220±0,5028mV e 0,4425±0,2042mV, respectivamente. Quanto à morfologia, considerando-se todas as derivações analisadas, encontraram-se 11 configurações distintas para a onda P e 5 configurações diferentes para o complexo QRS e para a onda T. Segundo as análises estatísticas, houve diferenças significativas na duração, amplitude e morfologia de algumas ondas, intervalos e complexos, em relação ao grupo de atividade física, sexo e idade. / This study aimed to evaluate the electrocardiographic profiles of horses practicing show jumping in São Paulo as well as whether these parameters are affected by kind of physical activity performed by the animal (competitions below 1.20m jumps or above 1.20m), the age level or gender. A hundred show jumping horses were used, being 61 males, and 39 females. Their ages ranged from 4 to 19 years. Heart rate ranged from 18.50 beats per minute (bpm) to 89.45bpm, with an average of 40.2077±13.3321, the most frequent rhythm was sinusal with 56%, followed by sinus tachycardia 23%, sinus arrhythmia 20% and sinus bradycardia 1%. The alterations found were: wandering pacemaker 25%, second-degree atrioventricular block (BAV 2°) 9%, first-degree BAV 7%, ventricular premature complexes 2% and sinoatrial block / sinus arrest as well as premature atrial complexes 1%. The electrical axis at the frontal plane in 87% of the cases was between 0 and +90°. The average cardiac score was 94.9±16.1 milliseconds. In relationship to the bipolar lead II, P wave with 0.1100±0.0242 seconds, P-R interval of 0.3140±0.0744 seconds, QRS complex of 0.0908±0.0250 seconds, QT interval of 0.4908±0.0536 seconds and T wave with 0.1130±0.0330 seconds were obtained. In the amplitude, also at the bipolar lead II a single-peaked P wave was obtained in 35% of the cases with an average of 0.2671±0.0747 millivoltz, biphasic P wave in 11% of horses with an average of 0.3136±0.1098 mV and bifid P wave in 54% of the animals, being the latter divided into portions 1 and 2 (P1 and P2). P1 got an average of 0.1352±0.0492mV and P2 got an average of 0.2259±0.0502 mV. R wave and T wave were present in 100% of the horses, getting an average of 1.0220±0.5028mV and 0.4425±0.2042mV respectively. In relationship to the morphology, considering all the analyzed leads, 11 different configurations for P wave, and 5 different configurations for T wave were observed. According to the statistical investigation, there were significant differences in duration, amplitude and morphology of some waves, intervals and complexes in relationship to the physical activity group, sex and age.

Chui Wai Leung. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-126). / List of tables and figures --- p.1 / Declaration --- p.6 / Acknowledgments --- p.7 / Summary --- p.8 / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1 --- Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) / Chapter 1.2 --- Diagnosis of AMI / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Clinical Signs / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Electrocardiogram (ECG) / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Cardiac enzymes / Chapter 1.3 --- "CKMB,a marker of choice" / Chapter 1.4 --- "Troponin-T, another candidate marker" / Chapter 1.5 --- Objectives / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Analytical evaluation of CKMB measurement by the four methods --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1 --- Analytical methods / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Assay for total creatine kinase / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Assay for CKMB / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- CKMB mass concentration assay / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- CKMB EEC & immunoinhibition activity assay / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- CKMB activity concentration assay1 / Chapter 2.1.2.4 --- CKMB activity concentration assay2 / Chapter 2.2 --- Precision / Chapter 2.3 --- Accuracy / Chapter 2.4 --- Linearity / Chapter 2.5 --- Recovery / Chapter 2.6 --- Interference / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Effect of haemolysis / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Effect of turbidity / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Effect of bilirubin / Chapter 2.7 --- Stability / Chapter Chapter 3 : --- Correlation among the four methods of CKMB measurement --- p.61 / Chapter Chapter 4 : --- Establishment of reference ranges for the four methods of CKMB measurement --- p.71 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Information on the Qualitative Troponin-T Rapid Assay® --- p.80 / Chapter Chapter 6 : --- Clinical Evaluation of CKMB and Troponin-T in detection of AMI --- p.82 / Chapter 6.1 --- Material and Methods / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Subjects / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Specimens / Chapter 6.1.3 --- Criteria for diagnosis / Chapter 6.1.4 --- Analytical methods / Chapter 6.1.5 --- Statistical methods / Chapter 6.2 --- Results / Chapter 6.3 --- Discussion / Chapter Chapter 7 : --- General Discussion --- p.105 / Appendix 1: study protocol sheet --- p.113 / Appendix 2: diagnostic criteria for a definite AMI --- p.115 / Appendix 3: criteria for exclusion of AMI --- p.117 / Appendix 4: enzyme criteria --- p.118 / References --- p.120