In the last decade, cuffless blood pressure measurement technology has been widely studied because it could be applied to a wearable apparatus. Electrocardiography (ECG), photo-plethysmography (PPG), ...and phonocardiography are always used to detect the pulse transit time (PTT) because the changed tendencies of the PTT and blood pressure have a negative relationship. In this study, the PPG signal was replaced by the impedance plethysmography (IPG) signal and was used to detect the PTT. The placement and direction of the electrode array for the IPG measurement were discussed. Then, we designed an IPG ring that could measure an accurate IPG signal. Twenty healthy subjects participated in this study. The changes in blood pressure after exercise were evaluated through the changes of the PTT. The results showed that the change of the systolic pressure had a better relationship with the change of the PTT
than that of the PTT
(
= 0.700 vs.
= 0.450). Moreover, the IPG ring with spot electrodes would be more suitable to develop with the wearable cuffless blood pressure monitor than the PPG sensor.
Electronic health (eHealth) is a strategy to improve the physical and mental condition of a human, collecting daily physiological data and information from digital apparatuses. Body weight and blood ...pressure (BP) are the most popular and important physiological data. The goal of this study is to develop a minimal contact BP measurement method based on a commercial body weight-fat scale, capturing biometrics when users stand on it. The pulse transit time (PTT) is extracted from the ballistocardiogram (BCG) and impedance plethysmogram (IPG), measured by four strain gauges and four footpads of a commercial body weight-fat scale. Cuffless BP measurement using the electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmogram (PPG) serves as the reference method. The BP measured by a commercial BP monitor is considered the ground truth. Twenty subjects participated in this study. By the proposed model, the root-mean-square errors and correlation coefficients (
s) of estimated systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure are 7.3 ± 2.1 mmHg and 4.5 ± 1.8 mmHg, and 0.570 ± 0.205 and 0.284 ± 0.166, respectively. This accuracy level achieves the C grade of the corresponding IEEE standard. Thus, the proposed method has the potential benefit for eHealth monitoring in daily application.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of lower limbs can easily arise from prolonged sitting or standing. Elders and pregnant women are most likely to have this disease. When the embolus of DVT comes to pass ...the lung, it will become a life-threatening disease. Thus, for DVT disease, early detection and the early treatment are needed. The goal of this study was to develop an examination system to be used at non-medical places to detect the DVT of lower limbs with light reflection rheography (LRR). Consisting of a wearable device and a mobile application (APP), the system is operated in a wireless manner to control the actions of sensors and display and store the LRR signals on the APP. Then, the recorded LRR signals are processed to find the parameters of DVT examination. Twenty subjects were recruited to perform experiments. The veins of lower limbs were occluded by pressuring the cuff up to 100 mmHg and 150 mmHg to simulate the slight and serious DVT scenarios, respectively. Six characteristic parameters were defined to classify whether there was positive or negative DVT using the receiver operating characteristic curves, including the slopes of emptying and refilling curves in the LRR signal, and the changes of venous pump volume. Under the slight DVT scenario (0 mmHg vs. 100 mmHg), the first three parameters, m
, m
, and m
, had accuracies of 72%, 69%, and 69%, respectively. Under the serious DVT scenario (0 mmHg vs. 150 mmHg), m
, m
, and m
achieved accuracies of 73%, 76%, and 73%, respectively. The experimental results show that this proposed examination system may be practical as an auxiliary tool to screen DVT in homecare settings.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogen‐like compound, and an environmental hormone, that is commonly used in daily life. Therefore, it may enter the human body through food or direct contact, causing BPA ...residues in blood and urine. Because most studies focused on the analysis of BPA in reproductive cells or tissues, regarding evidence the effect of BPA on human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE‐19) cells unavailable. Accordingly, the present study explored the cytotoxicity of BPA on ARPE‐19 cells. After BPA treatment, the expression of Bcl‐XL an antiapoptotic protein, in the mitochondria decreased, and the expression of Bax, a proapoptotic protein increased. Then the mitochondrial membrane potential was affected. BPA changed in mitochondrial membrane potential led to the release of cytochrome C, which activated caspase‐9 to promote downstream caspase‐3 leading to cytotoxicity. The nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO‐1) pathway play a major role in age‐related macular degeneration. Our results showed that expression of HO‐1 and Nrf2 suppressed by BPA. Superoxide dismutase and catalase, which Nrf2 downstream antioxidants, were degraded by BPA. AMP‐activated kinase (AMPK), which can regulate the phosphorylation of Nrf2, and the phosphorylation of AMPK expression was reduced by BPA. Finally, BPA‐induced ROS generation and cytotoxicity were reduced by N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine. Taken together, these results suggest that BPA induced ARPE‐19 cells via oxidative stress, which was associated with down regulated Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway, and the mitochondria dependent apoptotic signaling pathway.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a significant independent risk factor for 1-year mortality in patients with first acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The CHA2DS2-VASc score was initially developed to assess the ...risk of stroke in patients with AF. Recently, this scoring system has been demonstrated to have clinical value for predicting long-term clinical outcomes in AIS but the evidence is insufficient. This large-scale prospective cohort study investigated the independent predictive value of the score in such patients. We included patients with AIS from the Taiwan Stroke Registry (TSR) during 2006-2016 as the present study population. Patients were divided into those with high (greater than or equal to2) and low (<2) CHA2DS2-VASc scores. We further analyzed and classified patients according to the presence of AF. The clinical endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) at 1 year after the index AIS. A total of 62,227 patients with AIS were enrolled. The median age was 70.3 years, and 59% of the patients were women. After confounding factors were controlled, patients with high CHA2DS2-VASc scores had significantly higher incidence of 1-year MACCEs (adjusted hazard ratio HR = 1.63; 95% confidence interval CI = 1.52, 1.76), re-stroke (adjusted HR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.16, 1.42), and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.83, 2.24) than those with low CHA2DS2-VASc scores did. In the comparison between AF and non-AF groups, the AF group had increased MACCEs (adjusted HR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.60, 1.89), myocardial infarction (adjusted HR = 4.86; 95% CI = 2.07, 11.4), re-stroke (adjusted HR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.26, 1.71), and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR = 1.90; 95% CI = 1.72, 2.10). The Kaplan-Meier curve revealed that both CHA2DS2-VASc scores and AF were independent risk predictors for 1-year MACCEs and mortality. The CHA2DS2-VASc score and AF appeared to consistently predict 1-year MACCEs of AIS patients and provide more accurate risk stratification. Therefore, increased use of the CHA2DS2-VASc score may help improve the holistic clinical assessment of AIS patients with or without AF.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Hydroxychloroquine is widely used to treat certain viral and rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus. Cardiac arrhythmia is an important safety issue with hydroxychloroquine. The ...aim of this study was to investigate whether hydroxychloroquine increases new-onset arrhythmia among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
This was a nested case-control study using data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database of Taiwan. A conditional logistic regression model was used to analyse differences in the risk of arrhythmia between systemic lupus erythematosus patients with and without hydroxychloroquine treatment after controlling for related variables.
A total of 2499 patients with newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus were identified (81% females), of whom 251 were enrolled in the new-onset arrhythmia group (mean age 50.4 years) and 251 in the non-arrhythmia group (mean age 49.1 years). There was no significantly increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia (adjusted odds ratio = 1.49, 95% confidence interval: 0.98-2.25) or ventricular arrhythmia (adjusted odds ratio = 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 0.19-5.41) between the patients with and without hydroxychloroquine treatment. In addition, there were no significant differences in the risk of arrhythmia between those receiving hydroxychloroquine treatment for <180 days or ≥180 days, with a drug adherence rate of <50% or ≥50%, and receiving a daily dose of <400 mg or ≥400 mg.
In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, hydroxychloroquine treatment did not significantly increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmia or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia regardless of the different hydroxychloroquine treatment duration, drug adherence rate, or daily dose.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Currently, in terms of reducing the infection risk of the COVID-19 virus spreading all over the world, the development of touchless blood pressure (BP) measurement has potential benefits. The pulse ...transit time (PTT) has a high relation with BP, which can be measured by electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmogram (PPG). The ballistocardiogram (BCG) reflects the mechanical vibration (or displacement) caused by the heart contraction/relaxation (or heart beating), which can be measured from multiple degrees of the body. The goal of this study is to develop a cuffless and touchless BP-measurement method based on a commercial weight scale combined with a PPG sensor when measuring body weight. The proposed method was that the PTTBCG-PPGT was extracted from the BCG signal measured by a weight scale, and the PPG signal was measured from the PPG probe placed at the toe. Four PTT models were used to estimate BP. The reference method was the PTTECG-PPGF extracted from the ECG signal and PPG signal measured from the PPG probe placed at the finger. The standard BP was measured by an electronic blood pressure monitor. Twenty subjects were recruited in this study. By the proposed method, the root-mean-square error (ERMS) of estimated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) are 6.7 ± 1.60 mmHg and 4.8 ± 1.47 mmHg, respectively. The correlation coefficients, r2, of the proposed model for the SBP and DBP are 0.606 ± 0.142 and 0.284 ± 0.166, respectively. The results show that the proposed method can serve for cuffless and touchless BP measurement.
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening disease that is characterised by the rapid onset of inflammatory responses. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin that plays an important role in ...triggering ALI via pneumonia and sepsis. However, no effective therapeutic strategies are currently available to treat ALI. Nerolidol is an aliphatic sesquiterpene alcohol that is found in the essential oils of many flowers as well as floral plants. It has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Herein, we show that nerolidol pretreatment counteracted the histopathological hallmarks in LPS-induced ALI mice. Indeed, nerolidol pretreatment inhibited LPS-induced alveolar-capillary barrier disruption, lung edema, and lipid peroxidation. Moreover, nerolidol pretreatment prevented the LPS from decreasing the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Importantly, nerolidol treatment enhanced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and expression of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Taken together, our study reveals the novel protective effects of nerolidol in LPS-induced ALI via the induction of antioxidant responses and activation of the AMPK/Nrf-2/HO-1 signalling pathway.
Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of timing of surgery on mortality risk in patients with necrotizing fasciitis (NF) caused by Vibrio vulnificus infection. Methods ...Medical records of 121 patients (mean age, 65.2 ± 11.6 years) with V vulnificus –related NF who underwent surgical intervention between July 1998 and June 2011 were collected and reviewed retrospectively. These patients were divided into 3 groups according to the time between admission and surgical treatment as follows: those who received surgical treatment less than 12 hours after admission, those who received treatment 12 to 24 hours after admission, and those who received treatment more than 24 hours after admission. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the effect of the timing of surgery after admission on mortality risk across the 3 groups by adjusting for potential confounding covariates. Results During their hospitalization, 35 patients died, yielding a case-fatality rate of 29%. After adjustment for potential confounding covariates (age, sex, duration of prodrome before admission, severity of illness on admission, the presence of primary septicemia, hepatic disorders, chronic renal insufficiency, blood pressure less than 90/60 mm Hg on admission, surgical and antibiotic modalities, and intensive care needed), patients who underwent surgery less than 12 hours after admission had a significantly lower mortality risk compared with those who had surgery either 12 to 24 hours after admission (adjusted hazard ratio HR, .064; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.6 × 10−7 to .25; P = .037) or more than 24 hours after admission (adjusted HR, .0043; 95% CI, 2.1 × 10−5 to .0085; P = .002). There was no difference in mortality risk between patients who underwent surgery 12 to 24 hours after admission and those who had surgery more than 24 hours after admission ( P = .849). Conclusions Our data provide important clinically based evidence for the beneficial effects of surgical treatment within 12 hours of admission for V vulnificus –related NF.
Genotoxic stress from environmental pollutants plays a critical role in cytotoxicity. The most abundant nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in environmental pollutants, 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), is ...generated during fossil fuel, diesel, and biomass combustion under sunlight. Macrophages, the key regulators of the innate immune system, provide the first line of defense against pathogens. The toxic effects of 1-NP on macrophages remain unclear. Through a lactate dehydrogenase assay, we measured the cytotoxicity induced by 1-NP. Our results revealed that 1-NP induced genotoxicity also named DNA damage, including micronucleus formation and DNA strand breaks, in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, 1-NP induced p53 phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation; mitochondrial cytochrome c release; caspase-3 and -9 activation and cleavage; and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) cleavage in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with the PARP inhibitor, 3-aminobenzamide, significantly reduced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and PARP-1 cleavage induced by 1-NP. Pretreatment with the caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD-fmk, significantly reduced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, PARP-1 cleavage, and caspase 3 activation induced by 1-NP. Pretreatment with the p53 inhibitor, pifithrin-α, significantly reduced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, PARP-1 cleavage, caspase 3 activation, and p53 phosphorylation induced by 1-NP. We propose that cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by 1-NP by PARP-1 cleavage via caspase-3 and -9 activation through cytochrome c release from mitochondria and its upstream p53-dependent pathway in macrophages.
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•1-NP induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in RAW264.7 macrophages.•1-NP induced micronucleus formation and DNA strand breaks.•1-NP induced p53 phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 and -9 activation.•1-NP induced PARP-1 cleavage.
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