METHODS: The investigated dataset was obtained via long-term measurements in retirement homes and intensive care units (ICU). Data were measured unobtrusively using a measuring pad equipped with piezoceramic sensors. The proposed approach focused on the processing methods of the measured ballistocardiographic signals, Cartan curvature (CC), and Euclidean arc length (EAL).
RESULTS: For analysis, 218,979 normal and 216,259 aberrant 2-second samples were collected and classified using a convolutional neural network. Experiments using cross-validation with expert threshold and data length revealed the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the proposed method to be 86.51 CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method provides a unique approach for an early detection of health concerns in an unobtrusive manner. In addition, the suitability of EAL over the CC was determined.
METHOD: Between November 2009 and July 2010, outpatients from 45 countries who met the criteria for stable CAD were recruited into the registry. Baseline characteristics were documented at enrolment, and patients were reassessed during their annual visits over a five-year follow-up period. Key outcomes measured were sudden death and cardiovascular (CV) death, non-CV death and CV morbidity.
RESULTS: At baseline, 33,283 patients were available for analysis within the registry; 380 and 27 were Malaysians and Bruneians, respectively. The mean ages of Malaysian/Bruneian patients and the rest of the world (RoW) were 57.83 ±9.98 years and 64.23 ± 10.46 years, respectively (p<0.001). The median body mass index values were 26.6 (24.4-29.6) kg/m2 and 27.3 (24.8-30.3) kg/m2, respectively (p=0.014). Malaysian/Bruneian patients had lower rates of myocardial infarction (54.55% versus 59.76%, p=0.033) and higher rates of diabetes (43.24% versus 28.99%, p<0.001) and dyslipidaemia (90.42% versus 74.66%, p<0.001) compared with the RoW. Measured clinical outcomes in Malaysian and Bruneian patients at 2-years follow-up were low and generally comparable to the RoW.
CONCLUSION: Malaysian/Bruneian patients with stable CAD tend to be younger with poorer diabetic control compared with the RoW. However, they had similar outcomes as the main registry following two years of treatment.
STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial.
ANIMALS: A total of 40 adult wild common palm civets, 24 female and 16 male, weighing 1.5-3.4 kg.
METHODS: The civets were randomly assigned for anesthesia with butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine (0.6, 0.6 and 0.2 mg kg-1, respectively; group BAM) or with butorphanol, midazolam and medetomidine (0.3, 0.4 and 0.1 mg kg-1, respectively; group BMM) intramuscularly (IM) in a squeeze cage. When adequately relaxed, the trachea was intubated for oxygen administration. Physiological variables were recorded every 5 minutes after intubation. Following morphometric measurements, sampling, microchipping and parasite treatment, medetomidine was reversed with atipamezole at 1.0 or 0.5 mg kg-1 IM to groups BAM and BMM, respectively. Physiological variables and times to reach the different stages of anesthesia were compared between groups.
RESULTS: Onset time of sedation and recumbency was similar in both groups; time to achieve complete relaxation and tracheal intubation was longer in group BAM. Supplementation with isoflurane was required to enable intubation in five civets in group BAM and one civet in group BMM. All civets in group BAM required topical lidocaine to facilitate intubation. End-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure was lower in group BAM, but heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, peripheral hemoglobin oxygen saturation and mean arterial blood pressure were not different. All civets in both groups recovered well following administration of atipamezole.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Both BAM and BMM combinations were effective for immobilizing wild common palm civets. The BMM combination had the advantage of producing complete relaxation that allowed intubation more rapidly.