Respiratory rates among rural Gambian children: a community-based cohort study.

Normal respiratory rates (RR) for children under five in the tropics are well-documented, but data for older children are limited. This study tracked RR changes with age and examined associations with nutritional status and environmental factors. We monitored rural Gambian children aged 6 months to 14 years, recording RR during home visits twice weekly over two rainy seasons. Using a generalized additive model, we constructed RR reference curves, and a linear mixed-effect model identified factors influencing RR. A total of 830 children provided 67,512 RR measurements. Their median age was 6.07 years (interquartile range 4.21-8.55) and 400 (48.2%) were female. Age, stunting, ambient temperature, and time of RR measurement were independent predictors of respiratory rate. Strikingly, children showing signs of illness had greater variability in repeat RR measurements. We constructed a RR reference chart for children aged one to 13 years and proposed a cutoff of > 26 breaths/min for raised RR among children aged > 5 years bridging an important gap in this age group. Although the time of data collection, nutritional status, and ambient temperature were predictors of RR, their effect size is not clinically significant enough to warrant a change in the current WHO guidelines owing to the prevailing uncertainty in the measurement of RR. The finding that RRs between repeat measurements were more variable among children with signs of illness suggests that a single RR measurement may be inadequate to reliably assess the status of sick children-a population in which accurate diagnosis is essential to enable targeted interventions with lifesaving treatment.

The assessment of consciousness status in primary brainstem hemorrhage (PBH) patients can be achieved by monitoring changes in basic vital signs.

The objective of the study was to explore the association between basic vital signs and consciousness status in patients with primary brainstem hemorrhage (PBH). Patients with PBH were categorized into two groups based on Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores: disturbance of consciousness (DOC) group (GCS=3-8) and non-DOC group (GCS=15). Within DOC group, patients were further divided into behavioral (GCS=4-8) and non-behavioral (GCS=3) subgroups. Basic vital signs, such as body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate, were monitored every 3 hours during the acute bleeding phase (1st day) and the bleeding stable phase (7th day) of hospitalization. The findings revealed a negative correlation between body temperature and heart rate with GCS scores in DOC group at both time points. Moreover, basic vital signs were notably higher in the DOC group compared to non-DOC group. Specifically, the non-behavioral subgroup within DOC group exhibited significantly elevated heart rates on the 1st day of hospitalization and moderately increased respiratory rates on the 7th day compared to the control group. Scatter plots illustrated a significant relationship between body temperature and heart rate with consciousness status, while no significant correlation was observed with respiratory rate. In conclusion, the study suggests that monitoring basic vital signs, particularly body temperature and heart rate, can serve as valuable indicators for evaluating consciousness status in PBH patients. These basic vital signs demonstrated variations corresponding to lower GCS scores. Furthermore, integrating basic vital sign monitoring with behavioral assessment could enhance the assessment of consciousness status in PBH patients.

Updating ``Medical radar signal dataset for non-contact respiration and heart rate measurement" with expanded data on laboratory rats under isoflurane anesthesia.

The dataset presented in this article is an update of the dataset provided by K. Edanami and G. Sun entitled "Medical Radar Signal Dataset for Non-Contact Respiration and Heart Rate Measurement" [1]. The new dataset includes radar signals and reference laser measurements from experiments conducted on anesthetized rats. The rats were placed in a prone position, and isoflurane was administered in varying concentrations to maintain anesthesia. A 24 GHz radar and laser sensor were positioned above the rats to capture the necessary data. The dataset contains time-stamped radar I and Q channel signals as well as laser measurements. Additionally, MATLAB code for signal visualization and FFT (fast Fourier transform)-based respiration rate estimation is provided. This comprehensive dataset and accompanying MATLAB code facilitate the advancement of non-invasive respiration measurement techniques in small animals, with potential applications in biomedical research.

A multi-nudge-based behavioural insight into ward nurses' respiratory rate measurement: An observational study.

AIM: This study observed changes in respiratory rate measurement (RRM) and identified barriers and challenges in clinical practice that influence healthcare worker behaviour, aiming to improve RRM in a hospital setting. DESIGN: An observational study was conducted. METHODS: We observed and analysed changes in the behaviour of healthcare workers at a hospital where multi-nudges were introduced to improve RRM. RESULTS: We checked respiration rate using electronic data and discovered that the original measurement rates were low. Measurement rates rapidly increased after posters were added. Barriers such as time constraints and measurement equipment were also noted. CONCLUSION: RRM was found to be effective in promoting behavioural economics in medical settings. The results show that incorporating behavioural science principles into medical interventions has the potential to positively change behaviour. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: By increasing nurses' awareness of respiratory rate measurement and addressing barriers to it, the measurement rate of respiratory rate can also increase, leading to more accurate patient evaluations and triage. IMPACT: WHAT PROBLEM DID THE STUDY ADDRESS?: The proportion of respiratory rate measurements leading to rapid response system (RRS) calls was low. WHAT WERE THE MAIN FINDINGS?: The study observed that a multi-nudge approach effectively changes the behaviour of ward nurses, resulting in enhanced quality of medical care. WHERE AND ON WHOM WILL THE RESEARCH HAVE AN IMPACT?: This research can serve as a valuable reference for leaders promoting healthcare quality projects, by offering a method to encourage behavioural change. REPORTING METHOD: This study complied with the EQUATOR guidelines and its reporting adheres to the STROBE checklist. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

A pilot study using the LASCA technique to analyze stress using heart rate variability.

In the quest to uncover biological cues that help explain organic changes brought on by an external stimulus, like stress, new technologies have become necessary. The Laser Speckle Contrast Analysis (LASCA) approach is one of these technologies that may be used to analyze biological data, including respiratory rate (RR) intervals, and then use the results to determine heart rate variability (HRV Thus, to evaluate the stress brought on by physical activity, this study used the LASCA approach. A stress induction procedure involving physical exertion was employed, and the results were compared to other established techniques (cortisol analysis and ECG signal) to verify the LASCA methodology as a tool for measuring HRV and stress. The study sample comprised 27 willing participants. The technique involving LASCA allowed for the non-invasive (non-contact) acquisition of HRV and the study of stress. Furthermore, it made it possible to gather pertinent data, such as recognizing modifications to the thermoregulation, peripheral vasomotor tonus, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems that were brought on by elevated stress and, as a result, variations in HRV readings.

Validity of the Pneumonitor for Analysis of Short-Term Heart Rate Asymmetry Extended with Respiratory Data in Pediatric Cardiac Patients.

Background: Wearable technologies have been developed to measure physiological parameters conveniently. To consider the new measurement device valid, the crucial point is to assess its reliability with the gold standard. The study aimed to assess the validity of the Pneumonitor (PM, fs = 250 Hz) for acquisition of 5 min RR intervals (RRi) for analysis of heart rate asymmetry (HRA) in relation to the electrocardiography (ECG, fs = 1000 Hz) in a group of 19 pediatric cardiac patients. Association between HRA and respiratory rate (RespRate) was verified. Methods: The validation comprised Bland-Altman analysis, intraclass correlation coefficient, and Student's t-test. Results: Sufficient agreement between 10 from 16 HRA parameters was observed. Different HRA parameters values calculated based on RRi from both devices were related to different results of correlation analysis between two parameters and RespRate. Conclusions: The PM might be considered valid for recording RRi, which are then processed to calculate selected HRA parameters in a group of pediatric cardiac patients in rest condition. However, RRi recorded using devices with fs < 250 Hz may be not adequate for reliable HRA analysis.

A Novel Sensible Smart Mask Using Micro Thermal-Electric Energy Conversion Elements.

In poor sanitary conditions, people need to wear masks to protect the health of their respiratory system. Meanwhile, it is necessary for patients with respiratory diseases to have real-time measurement on respiratory rate when wearing masks. Thermoelectric generation provides a new approach and method for powering and sensing small low-power devices, and has good application prospects in smart masks. In view of this, a novel sensible smart mask using micro thermal-electric energy conversion elements (TECE) is proposed in this paper, which can detect and display the respiratory rate in real time. First, the temperature conversion characteristic of micro TECE represented by the thermoelectric generator module is analyzed. Second, the respiratory characteristics of the human body are studied, and the respiratory rate sensing effect based on micro TECEs is analyzed and verified. Then, a sensible smart mask, which can show respiratory rate in real time, is developed by integrating MCU and OLED module. Finally, human respiratory rate experiments are conducted, the experimental results verified the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed sensible smart mask.

An efficient model for extracting respiratory and blood oxygen saturation data from photoplethysmogram signals by removing motion artifacts using heuristic-aided ensemble learning model.

Patients with surgical, pulmonary, and cardiac problems, continual monitoring of Oxygen Saturation of a Person (SpO2) and Respiratory Rate (RR) is essential. Similarly, the persons with cardiopulmonary health issues, RR estimation is crucial. The performance of the ventilator assistance and lung medicines are evaluated using SpO2 and RR. For the persons, those who are living alone with respiratory illnesses need a compulsory estimation of RR. In case of serious illness, the RR might face abrupt changes. The immobility of the disturbance and RR makes the RR evaluation from the PhotoPlethysmoGraphic (PPG) signals is a difficult challenge. So, an efficient RR and SpO2 estimation framework from the PPG signal using the deep learning method is developed in this paper. At first, the PPG signal is collected from standard data sources. The collected PPG signals undergo signal pre-processing. The pre-processing procedures include Motion Artifacts (MA) removal and filtering techniques. The pre-processed signals are split into distinct windows. From the split windows of the signals, the spectral features, RR, and Respiratory Peak Variance (RPV) features are extracted. The retrieved features are selected optimally with the help of Advanced Golden Tortoise Beetle Optimizer (AGTBO). The weights are chosen optimally with the same AGTBO. The optimally selected features are fused with the optimal features to get the weighted optimal features. These weighted optimal features are fed into the Ensemble Learning-based RR and SpO2 Estimation Network (ELRR-SpO2EN). The ensemble learning model is developed by combining Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), AdaBoost, and Attention-based Long Short Term Memory (A-LSTM). The performance of the developed RR and SpO2 estimation model is compared with other existing techniques. The experimental analysis results revealed that the proposed AGTBO-ELRR-SpO2EN model attained 96 % accuracy for the second dataset, which is higher than the conventional models such as MLP (90 %), Adaboost (92 %), A-LSTM (92 %), and MLP-ADA-ALSTM (94 %). Thus, it has been confirmed that the designed RR and SpO2 estimation framework from PPG signals is more efficient than the other conventional models.

The Association Between BMI and Cardiorespiratory Functions Among Medical Students at Northern Border University.

BACKGROUND: Cardiorespiratory function is one of the key health indicators that promote good health. Knowing the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory functioning might assist in the creation of evidence-based therapies that focus on addressing difficulties associated with obesity. OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between BMI and cardiorespiratory functions among medical students at Northern Border University. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at Northern Border University, Saudi Arabia. The blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), and BMI of the students were measured. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 17.1 ± 1.9 years. Nearly 40% of students were overweight or obese. Our study revealed a significant positive correlation between BMI and BP, RR, tidal volume (TV), and MAP. CONCLUSIONS:  The correlation analysis of our study revealed a significant positive correlation of BMI with BP, RR, TV, and MAP.

Impact of high-flow oxygen therapy via high velocity nasal insufflation on diaphragmatic thickening fraction in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy [HFNC] on the diaphragm thickening fraction. DESIGN: Prospective, descriptive, cohort study SETTING: The study was conducted in the Physiology and Respiratory Care Laboratory, Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen healthy subjects >18 years old INTERVENTIONS: High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Demographic data (age and gender), anthropometric data (weight, height, and body mass index), and clinical and respiratory variables (Diaphragm thickening fraction [DTf], esophageal pressure swing, respiratory rate [RR], esophageal pressure-time product per minute [PTPes/min]). RESULTS: Median DTf decreased significantly as flow increased (p < 0.05). The baseline DTf measurement was 21.4 %, 18.3 % with 20 L/m, and 16.4 % with 40 L/m. We also observed a significant decrease in RR as flow increased in HFNC (p < 0.05). In the 8 subjects with recordings, the PTPes/min was 81.3 (±30.8) cmH2O/sec/min and 64.4 (±25.3) cmH2O/sec/min at baseline and 40 L/m respectively (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The use of high-flow oxygen therapy through nasal cannula of HFNC in healthy subjects decreases the DTf and RR in association with increased flow. In addition, the use of 40 L/m flow may reduce the muscular work associated with respiration.

Comparing the Efficacy of Foot Reflexology and Benson's Relaxation on Anxiety and Physiologic Parameters After Cesarean Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of foot reflexology and Benson's relaxation on anxiety and physiologic parameters after cesarean surgery. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with three parallel arms. SETTING: Gynecologic ward of the Persian Gulf Martyrs Hospital in Bushehr, Iran, in 2020. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Women undergoing cesarean surgery (n = 135) were selected by convenience sampling and divided via block randomization into three groups of foot reflexology, Benson's relaxation interventions, and control group (n = 45 in each group). Interventions were performed 2 hours after cesarean surgery. MEASUREMENTS: Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, mercury sphygmomanometer, and pulse oximeter were used to collect the data. Anxiety was measured before and 30 minutes after the intervention. Physiologic parameters were measured before the intervention and immediately, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes after the intervention. Data were analyzed using inferential statistics. RESULTS: The mean score of situational anxiety after the intervention was significantly lower than before the intervention in the reflexology (t = 6.171; 95% confidence interval [CI] [5.66, 11.14]) and Benson's relaxation groups (t = 7.362; 95% CI [5.91, 9.85]). However, changes in the control group were not significant (t = 1.674; 95% CI [-0.24, 2.55]). Decreases in anxiety scores were similar in the two intervention groups. After intervention, in most measurement times, respiratory rate and pulse rate decreased in the two intervention groups compared to the control group, and arterial oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure increased. CONCLUSION: Considering the effect of both interventions on decreasing anxiety and improving most physiologic parameters, it seems that foot reflexology and Benson's relaxation can be recommended after cesarean surgery.

Breathing Monitoring in Soccer: Part I-Validity of Commercial Wearable Sensors.

Growing evidence suggests that respiratory frequency (fR) is a valid marker of effort during high-intensity exercise, including sports of an intermittent nature, like soccer. However, very few attempts have been made so far to monitor fR in soccer with unobtrusive devices. This study assessed the validity of three strain-based commercial wearable devices measuring fR during soccer-specific movements. On two separate visits to the soccer pitch, 15 players performed a 30 min validation protocol wearing either a ComfTech® (CT) vest or a BioharnessTM (BH) 3.0 strap and a Tyme WearTM (TW) vest. fR was extracted from the respiratory waveform of the three commercial devices with custom-made algorithms and compared with that recorded with a reference face mask. The fR time course of the commercial devices generally resembled that of the reference system. The mean absolute percentage error was, on average, 7.03% for CT, 8.65% for TW, and 14.60% for BH for the breath-by-breath comparison and 1.85% for CT, 3.27% for TW, and 7.30% for BH when comparison with the reference system was made in 30 s windows. Despite the challenging measurement scenario, our findings show that some of the currently available wearable sensors are indeed suitable to unobtrusively measure fR in soccer.

Vital Signs as Predictors of Oxygen Requirements in COVID-19 Outpatients: The Development of a Streamlined Risk Score.

BACKGROUND: With COVID-19 becoming a common disease, primary care facilities such as clinics are required to efficiently triage patients at high risk of severe illness within the constraints of limited medical resources. However, existing COVID-19 severity risk scores require detailed medical history assessments, such as evaluating the severity of pneumonia via chest CT and accounting for past and comorbid conditions. Therefore, they may not be suitable for practical use in clinical settings with limited medical resources, including personnel and equipment. PURPOSE:  The goal is to identify key variables that predict the need for oxygen therapy in COVID-19 patients and develop a simplified clinical risk score based solely on vital signs to predict oxygen requirements. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study of 584 outpatients with COVID-19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction test visited Sasebo Chuo Hospital between April 28, 2022, and August 18, 2022. Analyses were conducted after adjustment for background factors of age and sex with propensity score matching. We used the Fisher test for nominal variables and the Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables. RESULTS: After adjusting for age and sex, several factors significantly correlated with the need for oxygen within seven days including body temperature (p < 0.001), respiratory rate (p = 0.007), SpO2 (p < 0.001), and the detection of pneumonia on CT scans (p = 0.032). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for the risk score based on these vital signs and CT was 0.947 (95% confidence interval: 0.911-0.982). The risk score based solely on vital signs was 0.937 (0.900-0.974), demonstrating the ability to predict oxygen administration with no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Body temperature, advanced age, increased respiratory rate, decreased SpO2, and the presence of pneumonia on CT scans were significant predictors of oxygen need within seven days among the study participants. The risk score, based solely on vital signs, effectively and simply assesses the likelihood of requiring oxygen therapy within seven days with high accuracy. The risk score, which utilizes only age and vital signs and does not require a detailed patient history or CT scans, could streamline hospital referral processes for admissions.

Effect of Heat Stress on Subsequent Estrous Cycles Induced by PGF2α in Cross-Bred Holstein Dairy Cows.

This study aimed to determine the effect of heat stress (HS) on reproductive parameters (calving to first service (CTFS) and the first-service conception rate (FSCR)) and general physiological responses (rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR)) in tropical cross-bred Holstein dairy cows raised in Ratchaburi province, Thailand. HS was determined using the temperature-humidity index (THI), calculated from temperature and humidity inside the barns, and was classified as moderate HS (THI: 80.67 ± 0.79) and mild HS (THI: 77.81 ± 1.09) in this study. Cows with detected corpus luteum were defined as cyclic cows and were injected with PGF2α at the beginning of the experimental period. Reproductive and physiological parameters were recorded. Cows showed significantly lower RT and RR in the mild HS group (38.47 ± 0.21 °C and 41.04 ± 4.55 bpm, respectively) than in the moderate HS group (38.87 ± 0.15 °C and 51.17 ± 10.52 bpm). The percentage of cows that ovulated after being induced by PGF2α and showed estrus signs was higher in the mild than the moderate HS groups (54.55% vs. 18.18%). Furthermore, the FSCR of cows under mild HS tended to be higher than that in the moderate HS group (42.11% and 15%, respectively) (p = 0.06), while the average CTFS interval was significantly shorter under mild HS than moderate HS (69.47 ± 18.18 and 84.60 ± 27.68 days, respectively). These results indicate that moderate HS impairs reproductive performance in crossbred Holstein cows, compared to mild HS conditions.

An Inertial-Based Wearable System for Monitoring Vital Signs during Sleep.

This study explores the feasibility of a wearable system to monitor vital signs during sleep. The system incorporates five inertial measurement units (IMUs) located on the waist, the arms, and the legs. To evaluate the performance of a novel framework, twenty-three participants underwent a sleep study, and vital signs, including respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR), were monitored via polysomnography (PSG). The dataset comprises individuals with varying severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Using a single IMU sensor positioned at the waist, strong correlations of more than 0.95 with the PSG-derived vital signs were obtained. Low inter-participant mean absolute errors of about 0.66 breaths/min and 1.32 beats/min were achieved, for RR and HR, respectively. The percentage of data available for analysis, representing the time coverage, was 98.3% for RR estimation and 78.3% for HR estimation. Nevertheless, the fusion of data from IMUs positioned at the arms and legs enhanced the inter-participant time coverage of HR estimation by over 15%. These findings imply that the proposed methodology can be used for vital sign monitoring during sleep, paving the way for a comprehensive understanding of sleep quality in individuals with SDB.

Effectiveness and Outcomes of Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation in Patients With Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in individuals experiencing acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with several complications. Therefore, utilizing noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is the suggested initial management for these individuals. The current study was done to assess and compare the clinical and physiological parameters before and after the application of NIPPV and also to evaluate the outcomes of NIPPV. METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study was conducted on 50 patients with COPD experiencing acute exacerbations. These patients were treated with NIPPV. Measurements of blood pressure, respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), dyspnea using the modified Borg scale, and arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters (pH, PaCO2, and PaO2) were recorded at baseline, one hour, six hours, 24 hours, and daily until discharge. The study's outcomes included the subjects who successfully underwent NIPPV and failed during NIPPV. RESULTS: NIPPV effectively reduced the dyspnea score from 7.24 ± 1.58 at baseline to 5.53 ± 1.82 at one hour, 4.11 ± 1.75 at six hours, 2.60 ± 1.03 at 24 hours, and 1.26 ± 0.44 at the time of discharge. Significant improvements were also observed in HR and RR (P < 0.001). When compared to the baseline, the pH level was significantly maintained, PaCO2 was decreased, and PaO2 was increased at various times. Mortality was observed in four patients. CONCLUSIONS: NIPPV was successful in 42 (84%) patients, with improvements in ABG and pH for early recovery and reduced hospital stay.

Continuous Monitoring of Heart Rate Variability and Respiration for the Remote Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Conventional daytime monitoring in a single day may be influenced by factors such as motion artifacts and emotions, and continuous monitoring of nighttime heart rate variability (HRV) and respiration to assist in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis has not been reported yet. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore and compare the effects of continuously monitored HRV, heart rate (HR), and respiration during night sleep on the remote diagnosis of COPD. METHODS: We recruited patients with different severities of COPD and healthy controls between January 2021 and November 2022. Vital signs such as HRV, HR, and respiration were recorded using noncontact bed sensors from 10 PM to 8 AM of the following day, and the recordings of each patient lasted for at least 30 days. We obtained statistical means of HRV, HR, and respiration over time periods of 7, 14, and 30 days by continuous monitoring. Additionally, the effects that the statistical means of HRV, HR, and respiration had on COPD diagnosis were evaluated at different times of recordings. RESULTS: In this study, 146 individuals were enrolled: 37 patients with COPD in the case group and 109 participants in the control group. The median number of continuous night-sleep monitoring days per person was 56.5 (IQR 32.0-113.0) days. Using the features regarding the statistical means of HRV, HR, and respiration over 1, 7, 14, and 30 days, binary logistic regression classification of COPD yielded an accuracy, Youden index, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.958, 0.904, and 0.989, respectively. The classification performance for COPD diagnosis was directionally proportional to the monitoring duration of vital signs at night. The importance of the features for diagnosis was determined by the statistical means of respiration, HRV, and HR, which followed the order of respiration > HRV > HR. Specifically, the statistical means of the duration of respiration rate faster than 21 times/min (RRF), high frequency band power of 0.15-0.40 Hz (HF), and respiration rate (RR) were identified as the top 3 most significant features for classification, corresponding to cutoff values of 0.1 minute, 1316.3 nU, and 16.3 times/min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous monitoring of nocturnal vital signs has significant potential for the remote diagnosis of COPD. As the duration of night-sleep monitoring increased from 1 to 30 days, the statistical means of HRV, HR, and respiration showed a better reflection of an individual's health condition compared to monitoring the vital signs in a single day or night, and better was the classification performance for COPD diagnosis. Further, the statistical means of RRF, HF, and RR are crucial features for diagnosing COPD, demonstrating the importance of monitoring HRV and respiration during night sleep.

Cardiotoxicity of Cadmium and Its Effects on Heart Efficiency During Early and Late Chick Embryogenesis.

Cadmium (Cd) is a dangerous heavy metal that is non-degradable in the environment. Many organs can accumulate Cd and adversely affect organ function and health. Cd is considered as a teratogenic and embryotoxic agent. This study aims to evaluate the teratogenicity of Cd at concentrations lesser than the permissible and its effects on the heart during chick embryogenesis. Fertilized eggs of the chick Gallus domesticus were divided into; control, saline injected and four experimental groups injected with single doses of 5, 25, 50 or 75 µM of CdCl2. Histological observations of the heart before hatching and the cardiomyocytes after hatching were recorded. Morphometric measurements of heart chambers were achieved at 3, 4 and 6 days of incubation. Electrocardiograph and respiratory rate were recorded at tenth day. Different cardiac problems had been brought on by Cd. In comparison to controls, the heart looked much larger, and in certain cases, growth retardation was seen. Degeneration in heart walls and malformations of dorsal aorta were noticed. Morphometrically, the width and wall thickness of heart chambers showed significant changes. Heart beats and respiratory rate significantly decreased compared to control. The cardiotoxic effect of Cd on heart compartments structure and function was dose dependent. One of Cd toxicity is its ability to induce cellular oxidative stress. The heart in particular is sensitive to oxidative stress. Cardiac oxidative stress might intensify heart failure and promote disease progression. Calcium is one of the components that is needed for normal heart work. Cd might interfere with calcium metabolism by removing it from the body.

Agreement between Vital Signs Measured Using Mat-Type Noncontact Sensors and Those from Conventional Clinical Assessment.

Vital signs are crucial for assessing the condition of a patient and detecting early symptom deterioration. Noncontact sensor technology has been developed to take vital measurements with minimal burden. This study evaluated the accuracy of a mat-type noncontact sensor in measuring respiratory and pulse rates in patients with cardiovascular diseases compared to conventional methods. Forty-eight hospitalized patients were included; a mat-type sensor was used to measure their respiratory and pulse rates during bed rest. Differences between mat-type sensors and conventional methods were assessed using the Bland-Altman analysis. The mean difference in respiratory rate was 1.9 breaths/min (limits of agreement (LOA): -4.5 to 8.3 breaths/min), and proportional bias existed with significance (r = 0.63, p < 0.05). For pulse rate, the mean difference was -2.0 beats/min (LOA: -23.0 to 19.0 beats/min) when compared to blood pressure devices and 0.01 beats/min (LOA: -11.4 to 11.4 beats/min) when compared to 24-h Holter electrocardiography. The proportional bias was significant for both comparisons (r = 0.49, p < 0.05; r = 0.52, p < 0.05). These were considered clinically acceptable because there was no tendency to misjudge abnormal values as normal. The mat-type noncontact sensor demonstrated sufficient accuracy to serve as an alternative to conventional assessments, providing long-term monitoring of vital signs in clinical settings.

Engagement-free and Contactless Bed Occupancy and Vital Signs Monitoring.

This paper presents the design and evaluation of an engagement-free and contactless vital signs and occupancy monitoring system called BedDot. While many existing works demonstrated contactless vital signs estimation, they do not address the practical challenge of environment noises, online bed occupancy detection and data quality assessment in the realworld environment. This work presents a robust signal quality assessment algorithm consisting of three parts: bed occupancy detection, movement detection, and heartbeat detection, to identify high-quality data. It also presents a series of innovative vital signs estimation algorithms that leverage the advanced signal processing and Bayesian theorem for contactless heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and inter-beat interval (IBI) estimation. The experimental results demonstrate that BedDot achieves over 99% accuracy for bed occupancy detection, and MAE of 1.38 BPM, 1.54 BPM, and 24.84 ms for HR, RR, and IBI estimation, respectively, compared with an FDA-approved device. The BedDot system has been extensively tested with data collected from 75 subjects for more than 80 hours under different conditions, demonstrating its generalizability across different people and environments.