Advanced waveform analysis of the photoplethysmogram signal using complementary signal processing techniques for the extraction of biomarkers of cardiovascular function.

Introduction: Photoplethysmogram signals from wearable devices typically measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation, but contain a wealth of additional information about the cardiovascular system. In this study, we compared two signal-processing techniques: fiducial point analysis and Symmetric Projection Attractor Reconstruction, on their ability to extract new cardiovascular information from a photoplethysmogram signal. The aim was to identify fiducial point analysis and Symmetric Projection Attractor Reconstruction indices that could classify photoplethysmogram signals, according to age, sex and physical activity.

Novel breathing pattern analysis: Symmetric Projection Attractor Reconstruction improves identification of impending COPD re-exacerbations - a retrospective cohort analysis.

https://bit.ly/3M6uIEB.

The effect of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the submental area on the cardiorespiratory response in normal and awake subjects.

Electrical stimulation has recently been introduced to treat patients with Obstructive sleep apnoea There are, however, few data on the effects of transcutaneous submental electrical stimulation (TES) on the cardiovascular system. We studied the effect of TES on cardiorespiratory variables in healthy volunteers during head-down-tilt (HDT) induced baroreceptor loading. Cardiorespiratory parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, tidal volume, airflow/minute ventilation, oxygen saturation, and end-tidal CO2/O2 concentration) were recorded seated, supine, and during head-down-tilt (50) under normoxic, hypercapnic (FiCO 5%) and poikilocapnic hypoxic (FiO 12%) conditions.

Machine learning outperformed logistic regression classification even with limit sample size: A model to predict pediatric HIV mortality and clinical progression to AIDS.

Logistic regression (LR) is the most common prediction model in medicine. In recent years, supervised machine learning (ML) methods have gained popularity. However, there are many concerns about ML utility for small sample sizes.

Optimizing the World Health Organization algorithm for HIV vertical transmission risk assessment by adding maternal self-reported antiretroviral therapy adherence.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) risk assessment algorithm for vertical transmission of HIV (VT) assumes the availability of maternal viral load (VL) result at delivery and early viral control 4 weeks after initiating antiretroviral treatment (ART). However, in many low-and-middle-income countries, VL is often unavailable and mothers' ART adherence may be suboptimal. We evaluate the inclusion of the mothers' self-reported adherence into the established WHO-algorithm to identify infants eligible for enhanced post-natal prophylaxis when mothers' VL result is not available at delivery.

Viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are the main etiological agents of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized pediatric patients in Spain.

Objectives: To describe the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in hospitalized children in Spain and analyze the predictors of the etiology.

Hypothesis: The different etiological groups of pediatric CAP are associated with different clinical, radiographic, and analytical data.

Design: Observational, multicenter, and prospective study.

A Bayesian Model to Predict COVID-19 Severity in Children.

Background: We aimed to identify risk factors causing critical disease in hospitalized children with COVID-19 and to build a predictive model to anticipate the probability of need for critical care.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective study of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection in 52 Spanish hospitals. The primary outcome was the need for critical care.

Faster Initial Viral Decay in Female Children Living With HIV.

Limited data exist regarding sex bias and viral decay in children with HIV. We investigated the sex differences in viral decay in 25 perinatally HIV-infected children. Females presented faster phase I viral decay regardless of their age at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, baseline CD4 percentages, or baseline RNA levels.

Multi-inflammatory Syndrome in Children Related to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Spain.

Some clusters of children with a multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have been reported. We describe the epidemiological and clinical features of children with MIS-C in Spain. MIS-C is a potentially severe condition that presents in children with recent SARS-CoV-2 infection.