Background: Heart disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Typical symptoms of heart disease are lacking in nearly one-third of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Simplified ECG assessment via lead I by various handheld and smartphone-based electrocardiogram (ECG) devices may be used for rapid screening without the traditional delays, privacy concerns, or costs of 12-lead ECG recording in patients who are asymptomatic or have atypical symptoms. The purpose of this DNP project was to compare ECG data from lead I to the standard 12-lead ECG to determine its potential efficacy as an early screening tool for AMI. Methods: This project compared ECGs in 84 patients with cardiac diagnoses, 66 (78.6%) had acute myocardial infarction with abnormal 12-lead ECGs and 18 (22.6 %) were without AMI or abnormal findings on the standard 12-lead ECG. ST-segment and T-wave amplitude and characteristics were compared between infarction territories. Results: Lead I in those with abnormal ECGs had a mean ST-segment deviation from baseline of 1.0 ± 0.7 mm, which was significantly different than those with normal ECGs (mean 0.1 ± 0.3 mm)(p = .000). The mean T-wave amplitude in patients with abnormal ECGs was 0.7 ± 1.3 mm, which was a significant reduction compared to those with normal ECGs group of 2.2 ± 1.5 mm (p = .000). Conclusion: ST-segment deviations and reduction in T-wave amplitude are significant indicators of acute myocardial infarction in lead I ECG, the same vector used in handheld single-lead ECG devices.

No description available.

O objetivo do experimento I foi avaliar a redução do tempo de permanência do dispositivo de P4 de 9 para 7 dias sob parâmetros reprodutivos de vacas Nelore. Foram utilizadas 674 vacas lactantes entre 40-60 dias pós parto que receberam no início do protocolo (d0) BE + CIDR. No momento da retirada do CIDR foi administrado PGF2 &#945;, ECP e eCG. A IATF ocorreu 55 e 48 horas após a retirada do dispositivo nos tratamentos 7d-CIDR e 9d-CIDR, respectivamente. Dez dias após a IA foi realizada colheita de sangue para dosagem de P4 sérica e confirmação da ovulação. Vacas tratadas com 7d-CIDR apresentaram menor (p < 0,01) folículo ovulatório em relação ao 9d-CIDR. No entanto, a concentração de P4 pós-IA, taxas de ovulação, detecção de estro e prenhez não foram influenciadas pelo tempo de permanência do CIDR. Assim, o uso do CIDR por 7 dias promoveu desempenho reprodutivo semelhante em vacas Nelore comparado ao protocolo com 9 dias. O experimento II teve o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da reutilização do CIDR por até 35 dias de uso em vacas e 42 dias em novilhas Nelore. Utilizou-se 749 vacas lactantes 40-60 dias pós parto e 92 novilhas púberes. No d0 os animais receberam BE + CIDR novo (CIDR1) ou previamente usado por 7 (CIDR2), 14 (CIDR3), 21 (CIDR4), 28 (CIDR5) e 35 (CIDR6) dias. No momento da retirada do CIDR (d7) foi administrado PGF2 &#945;, ECP, eCG e exame de US para mensuração do maior folículo (FD), além de colheita de sangue para dosagem de P4. A IATF ocorreu 55 horas após a retirada do dispositivo. O diâmetro do FD foi maior (p < 0,01) de acordo com o maior número de usos do CIDR nas vacas, a concentração de P4 reduziu nos CIDRs reutilizados porém se mantiveram acima de 1,5 ng/ml e a taxa de prenhez não foi afetada pela reutilização do dispositivo por até 5 vezes em vacas e o sexto uso em novilhas. O protocolo com 7 dias de permanência permite a reutilização do CIDR por até 6 vezes mantendo a mesma eficiência reprodutiva. No experimento III o objetivo foi avaliar se a aplicação do eCG dois dias antes da retirada do dispositivo aumenta o tamanho do FO, CL e taxa de prenhez. Foram utilizadas 681 vacas lactantes 40-60 dias pós parto e 182 novilhas púberes. Os animais foram distribuídos em dois tratamentos com aplicação de eCG no quinto (5d-eCG) ou sétimo dia (7d-eCG). No d0, os animais receberam BE + CIDR e no dia 7 o CIDR foi retirado e administrado PGF2 &#945; e ECP. Dez dias após a IA foi realizada US para mensuração do CL e colheita de sangue para dosagem de P4. A IATF ocorreu 55 horas após a retirada do dispositivo. O tratamento 5d-eCG aumentou (p < 0,01) o FO nas vacas em relação ao grupo 7deCG e o mesmo ocorreu nas novilhas. Em vacas, a concentração de P4 pós IA foi mais alta (p = 0,04) no 5d-eCG. Em novilhas o diâmetro do CL pós-IA foi maior (p < 0,01) no 5d-eCG. No entanto, a antecipação da aplicação do eCG foi eficiente em aumentar o folículo ovulatório no momento da IATF, mas não aumentou a taxa de prenhez / The aim of the experiment I was to evaluate the reduction of the time of P4 device from 9 (9d-CIDR) to 7 (7d-CIDR) days and its impacts on reproductive parameters of Nellore cows. Six hundred and seventy-four suckling cows 40-60 days postpartum received EB + CIDR at d0 of the protocol. At CIDR removal, there were administered PGF2 &#945;, ECP, eCG. The FTAI occurred 55 and 48 hours after device removal in the treatment 7d-CIDR and 9d-CIDR, respectively. Ten days after AI blood samples were collected for P4 analysis and ovulation rate. Cows of treatment 7d-CIDR showed lower (p <0.01) ovulatory follicle (OF) than 9d-CIDR. The CIDR length in cows and heifers did not influence concentration of P4, ovulation rate, estrus detection rate and pregnancy rate. Thus, the use of CIDR by 7 days did not impacted reproductive result in suckling cows and Nellore heifers. The aim of experiment II was to evaluate the effects of the CIDR reuse up to 35 days in cows and heifers on reproductive characteristics. We used 749 suckling cows 40-60 days postpartum and 92 pubertal heifers. In d0 animals received EB + new CIDR (CIDR1) or previously used by 7 (CIDR2), 14 (CIDR3), 21 (CIDR4), 28 (CIDR5) and 35 (CIDR6) days. At CIDR removal were administered PGF2 &#945;, ECP, eCG and US to measure the largest follicle (LF), and blood collection for P4 analysis. The TAI occurred 55 hours after device removal. The LF diameter was greater (p <0.01) in CIDR reused in cows. P4 concentration was lower in CIDR reused, but was higher than 1.5 ng / mL, and the device reused up to 5 times in cows and 6 times heifers did not affect pregnancy rate. The 7d-CIDR protocol allowed the reuse of CIDR up to 6 times keeping the same efficiency of CIDR new. In the experiment III the objective was to evaluate whether the application of eCG two days before the device removal increases the size of OF, CL and pregnancy rates. Six hundred and eighty-one suckling cows 40-60 days postpartum and 182 pubertal heifers were used. The animals were divided into two treatments with eCG application in fifth (5d-eCG) or seventh day (7d-eCG) of protocol. In d0, the animals received EB + CIDR and day 7 CIDR was removed and administered PGF2 and ECP. Ten days after AI, US was performed to measure the size of CL and blood collection for P4 analysis. The TAI occurred 55 hours after CIDR removal. The treatment d5 eCG increased (p < 0.01) OF. In cows, the concentration of P4 after AI was higher (p = 0.04) in 5d-eCG. In heifers, the CL diameter was higher in 5d-eCG. However, the 5d-eCG did not increase (p > 0.1) pregnancy rate. The strategy of eCG application in d5 was efficient to increase ovulatory follicle, but did not increase pregnancy rate

A gonadotrofina coriônica equina (eCG) tem sido utilizada em programas de sincronização para inseminação artificial em tempo fixo e normalmente promove o aumento do volume do corpo lúteo e a da produção de progesterona. Além disso, esta mesma gonadotrofina pode ser utilizada para superovulação. Desse modo, hipóteses relativas aos mecanismos pelos quais gonadotrofinas exógenas alteram as funções celulares nos corpos lúteos resultantes foram formuladas. Para testar tais hipóteses, 18 vacas (Bos indicus) foram divididas em grupos: controle (n=5), estimulado (n=6) e superovulado (n=7) e a ovulação das mesmas foi sincronizada usando um protocolo já estabelecido com dispositivo de progesterona. Os animais estimulados receberam 400 UI de eCG no dia de remoção do dispositivo de progesterona e os animais superovulados 4 dias antes. No dia 7 após injeção de GnRh, os animais foram abatidos para a coleta de CLL e sangue. Análises de peso e volume de CL, concentração de progesterona (P4), bem como da expressão gênica e proteica de fatores angiogênicos e de proteínas esteroidogênicas foram realizadas. Além disso, o transcriptoma foi analisado por microarranjo. Foi observado que o volume do CL foi maior nos animais do grupo estimulado (1177,37 ± 167,07 mm3) e ainda maior nos do superovulado (1495,18 ± 137,01 mm3) quando comparados ao grupo controle (830,33 ± 234,99 mm3; p = 0,03). A concentração média de progesterona por CL nos animais do grupo estimulado foi maior que nos animais do grupo controle (5,95 ± 0,17 vs 3,69 ± 0,72 ng/ml; p = 0,03) e que nos superovulados (4,11 ± 0.73; p = 0,01). Além disso, os tratamentos com eCG aumentaram a expressão do FGFR2 e também da STAR nos animais estimulados e superovulados (p < 0,05). Quanto aos resultados do microarranjo, no total 242 transcritos foram aumentados e 111 foram diminuídos nos animais estimulados e 111 foram aumentados e 113 diminuídos nos animais superovulados em relação aos animais controle (~1,5 vezes, p 0.05). Entre os genes diferencialmente expressos, muitos estavam envolvidos na síntese de lipídios e na produção de progesterona, tais como: PPARG, HMGCR, STAR, receptores de prolactina e folistatina. Estes achados demonstraram que os tratamentos com eCG modularam a expressão gênica diferencialmente, dependendo do tratamento, e que nossos dados contribuem para entender as vias relacionadas ao aumento do volume do CL e da produção de progesterona observada após os tratamentos. Em um segundo experimento, foi realizado análises da influência do FSH na expressão de VEGF no cultivo de células da granulosa. Neste experimento foi possível observar que o FSH aumentou a expressão gênica e proteica do VEGF, colaborando com a ideia de que as gonadotrofinas têm propriedades angiogênicas. / Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) has been widely used in synchronization protocol to artificial insemination program and usually promote corpus luteum (CL) volume increases and stimulates progesterone production. Furthermore the same gonadotropin can be used to superovulation protocols. Thus, hypotheses concerning the mechanisms by which exogenous gonadotropins alter cellular functions in resulting corpora lutea were formulated. To test that hypothesis, 18 (Bos indicus) cows were divided into control (n=5), stimulated (n=6) and superovulated groups (n=7). Ovulation was synchronized using a progesterone device-based protocol. Stimulated animals received 400 IU of eCG of device removal and superovulated animals received 2000 IU of eCG 4 days prior. Corpora lutea (CLL) and blood samples were collected seven days after GnRH administration. Analyses of CL weight and volume, progesterone (P4) concentration, as well as the gene and protein expression of angiogenic and steroidogenic proteins were performed. Furthermore, the transcriptome was evaluated by microarray. The CL volume was higher in superovulated (1495.18 ± 137.01) than in stimulated (1177.37 ± 167.07) cows and higher in stimulated than in the control (830.33 ± 234.99) cows, and the P4 concentration per CL was higher in stimulated (5.95 ± 0.17 ng/ml) animals than in the control (3.69 ± 0.72 ng/ml) and superovulated (4.11 ± 0.73 ng/ml; P = 0.01) animals. Overall, 242 transcripts were up-regulated and 111 transcripts were downregulated in stimulated cows (P 0.05) and 111 were up-regulated and 113 down-regulated in superovulated cows in relation to the control (1.5 fold, P 0.05). Among the differentially expressed genes, many were involved in lipid biosynthesis and progesterone production, as PPARG, HMGCR, STAR, prolactin receptors and follistatin. In conclusion, eCG modulates gene expression differently depending on the treatment. Our data contribute to the understanding of the pathways involved in increased CL volume and progesterone levels observed after eCG treatment. In a second experiment, analyzes were performed about the influence of FSH on the expression of VEGF in the culture of granulosa cells. In this experiment it was observed that FSH increases the expression of the VEGF gene and protein, these finding collaborate with the idea that gonadotrophins have angiogenic properties.

This thesis is focused on the analysis of fetal ECG records measured by indirect method from mother´s abdomen. The thesis consists of the theoretical part is focused on fetal, heart development and description of fetal ECG signal. This thesis also offers an overview of fECG signal processing methods used nowadays. The practical part of the thesis deals with the implementation of algorithms based on wavelet transformation and Least Mean Square LMS method in Matlab programming environment. The final part of the thesis consists of the analysis of achieved results.

Yes / The efficiency and acquisition of a clean (diagnosable) ECG signal dependent upon the proper selection of electronic components and the techniques used for noise elimination. Given that the human body and the lead cables act as antennas, hence picking up noises from the surroundings, thus a major part in the design of an ECG device is to apply various techniques for noise reduction at the early stage of the transmission and processing of the signal. This paper, therefore, covers the design and development of a Single Chanel 3-Lead Electrocardiograph and a Software-based processing environment. Main design characteristics include reduction of common mode voltages, good protection for the patient, use of the ECG device for both monitoring and automatic extraction (measurements) of the ECG components by the software. The hardware consisted of a lead selection stage for the user to select the bipolar lead for recording, a pre-amplification stage for amplifying the differential potentials while rejecting common mode voltages, an electrical isolation stage from three filtering stages with different bandwidths for noise attenuation, a power line interference reduction stage and a final amplification stage. A program in LabVIEW was developed to further improve the quality of the ECG signal, extract all its features and automatically calculate the main ECG output waveforms. The program had two main sections: The filtering section for removing power line interference, wideband noises and baseline wandering, and the analysis section for automatically extracting and measuring all the features of the ECG in real time. A Front Panel Environment was, therefore, developed for the user interface. The present system produced ECG tracings without the influence of noise/artefacts and provided accurate detection and measurement of all the components of the ECG signal.

The research over-viewed in this dissertation concerns very accurate variational calculations of the molecular systems with more than two electrons under the assumption of the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation. The centerpiece of this research is the use of explicitly correlated Gaussian (ECG) basis functions with floating centers to generate the potential energy curve (PEC) and potential energy surface (PES) of the considered molecular systems. One challenge of such calculations is the occurrence of the linear dependency between basis functions in the process of basis set optimization. The BO PECs generated with ECG basis sets were limited to two-electron molecular systems for a few decades prior to the implementation of the author's approaches to this issue. These approaches include methods for a partial remedy to linear dependence, better guessing of initial basis functions, permanently removing the restriction of memory usage in parallel computer systems, and efficiently paralleling the calculations. The approach effectively utilizing the super computer systems yields benefits not only to the ECG calculations but could also be useful in the fields that require the significant amount of the computational resources. These procedures were implemented in computer codes that were run quite extensively on several parallel computer systems during the period of the author's Ph.D study. The calculated adiabatic PECs and the rovibrational energy levels are proven to be the most accurate ones to date. The dissertation is primarily based on the content of the papers that were published in co-authorship with my scientific advisor and other collaborators in several scientific journals. It also includes some details that were not considered in the publications but are essential for the completeness and good understanding of the presented work. In order to provide readers an insight into the development of the ECG based BO molecular calculation, the published results of many calculations are classified and presented in a comprehensive way.

No description available.

Este trabajo se encuentra dividido en seis capítulos, en el primero de ellos hacemos referencia a los objetivos este proyecto, sus aplicaciones y porque realizamos el proyecto. En el capitulo siguiente hacemos una pequeña reseña histórica de la electrónica en la medicina, como esta ha ido evolucionando, sus objetivos y las diferentes aplicaciones que pueda tener en el campo de la medicina. En el tercer capítulo realizamos una introducción de las señales ECG y sus características principales, para su mejor entendimiento, también hacemos referencia del electrocardiograma para que se pueda comprender el significado de los gráficos que obtendremos. En el capítulo cuatro explicaremos los métodos de extracción de los parámetros, es decir damos a conocer los métodos para la separar y así poder mostrar los parámetros QRS P y T de las señales ECG. El capítulo cinco explica la interface visual de usuario, las diversas opciones que presenta al momento de la ejecución del mismo. En el último capítulo detallamos los resultados y conclusiones obtenidas luego del desarrollo de este proyecto, dando algunas recomendaciones para trabajos futuros.

Via the delivery of blood, heart transfers oxygen and nutrients to various organs and is thus a highly influential for circulatory system. To adapt to the variation of physiological conditions, the intensity and frequency of heart beats change with time. Careful observation finds that the time intervals between heartbeats are often different even if the body is at rest. Such heart rate variability (HRV) has been used to estimate the activity of the autonomic nervous system which can be divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic subsystems both of which can significantly affect the physiology of the human body. As a result, HRV has been used as a physiological indicator to assist doctors in making diagnostic decisions. Many studies have used HRV to analyze the ECG signal via studying the QRS complex waveform to determine the time intervals between R-peaks and analyze the R-R intervals from time and frequency domains. Different from the conventional R-R Interval based approach, this work introduces new HRV feature variables by computing spectrogram of the ECG signal waveform. In particular, based on the harmonics of the spectrum, we introduce the concepts of modes. By find the relative amount of energy associated with each mode and degree-of-energy-concentration associated with each mode, this work introduces two sets of new HRV features. In addition, we also investigate how these variables change with time and the correlations between these features. To demonstrate the potential of the proposed features, the differences of the values of the proposed features are compared for healthy individuals versus OSA patients, young versus old and male versus female. The experimental results show the differences between many of the tested features are statistically significant.