A novel non-contact radar sensor for affective and interactive analysis.

Currently, many physiological signal sensing techniques have been applied for affective analysis in Human-Computer Interaction applications. Most known maturely developed sensing methods (EEG/ECG/EMG/Temperature/BP etc. al.

Using dual-antenna nanosecond pulse near-field sensing technology for non-contact and continuous blood pressure measurement.

Long-term and continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring has shown that it is the most important to clinical diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and personal home health care. Currently, there are many preferable non-invasive methods, including optical sensor, pressure-sensitive transducers, and applanation tonometry, to get insight of blood pressure and flow signal detection. However, the operation of traditional monitors is cuff accessories needed, and also the sensing probes needed to exert pressure to the user directly.

Using nanosecond pulse near-field sensing technology for non-contact cardiovascular parameters measurement.

Clinically arterial stiffness has shown that it is the most important cause of cardiovascular complications and also an independent risk factor to several cardiovascular diseases. In routine, there are many preferable non-invasive methods, including pressure-sensitive transducers, applanation tonometry, Doppler ultrasound and MRI, to get insight of cardiovascular condition. However, the operation of traditional monitors is relied on professionals' experience, and also the sensing probes needed to exert pressure to the user directly.

Frontal cerebral blood flow changes after hormone replacement therapy in depressed postmenopausal women.

We investigated the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on frontal cerebral blood flow (CBF), depressive symptoms, and cognitive function in depressed postmenopausal women. Fourteen postmenopausal women with depressive symptoms underwent HRT, and seven controls not undergoing HRT were studied. We evaluated frontal CBF, expressed as frontal/cerebellum (F/C) ratio, using Tc-99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxime single photon emission computed tomography (Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT), cognitive function using the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), and depression using the HAD (Hospital Anxiety and Depression) scale.

Quantification of cerebral glucose metabolic rate in mice using 18F-FDG and small-animal PET.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate various methods for estimating the metabolic rate of glucose utilization in the mouse brain (cMR(glc)) using small-animal PET and reliable blood curves derived by a microfluidic blood sampler. Typical values of (18)F-FDG rate constants of normal mouse cerebral cortex were estimated and used for cMR(glc) calculations. The feasibility of using the image-derived liver time-activity curve as a surrogate input function in various quantification methods was also evaluated.

Reduced frontal perfusion in depressed postmenopausal women: a SPECT study with WCST.

Objectives: To investigate frontal cerebral blood flow (CBF) in depressed postmenopausal women and its relation to cognitive function and the severity of depressive symptoms.

Methods: Regional CBF of 20 unmedicated depressed postmenopausal women was measured using Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT, both at rest and during frontal activation using the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST). Frontal CBF was semi-quantified by comparing the radioactivity in the prefrontal region to the cerebellum (F/C ratio).

In vivo quantitation of glucose metabolism in mice using small-animal PET and a microfluidic device.

Unlabelled: The challenge of sampling blood from small animals has hampered the realization of quantitative small-animal PET. Difficulties associated with the conventional blood-sampling procedure need to be overcome to facilitate the full use of this technique in mice.

Methods: We developed an automated blood-sampling device on an integrated microfluidic platform to withdraw small blood samples from mice.