A new noninvasive technique for heat-flux-based deep body thermometry together with possible estimation of thermal resistance of the skin tissue.

A new noninvasive core-thermometry technique, based on the use of two heat flux sensors with different very low thermal resistances, is proposed. Thermodynamically derived equations, using a pair of skin temperatures and heat fluxes detected from the sensors, can give the estimated deep body temperature (DBT) together with thermal resistance of the skin tissue itself. The validity and accuracy of this method are firstly investigated through in vitro experiments using a tissue phantom model and, secondly, as in vivo comparisons with sublingual (T) or rectal temperature (T) measurements in 9 volunteers, attaching the sensors around the upper sternum or the nape.

Peripheral arterial elasticity changes derived by volume-oscillometry in reaction to hyperemia as a possible assessment of flow-mediated vasodilatation.

The flow-mediated dilation (FMD) test is commonly utilized and is the only technique for the assessment of vascular endothelial cell function. With this test, the augmentation of a brachial artery diameter following reactive hyperemia is measured precisely using ultrasonography by a skilled operator. This is a hospital-only test, and would be more useful if conveniently performed at home.

Volume elastic modulus with exponential function of transmural pressure as a valid stiffness measure derived by photoplethysmographic volume-oscillometry in human finger and radial arteries: potential for arteriosclerosis screening.

Noninvasive and convenient measurement of vascular stiffness is of considerable importance for early detection and treatment of arteriosclerosis. Volume elastic modulus ([Formula: see text]) is one of representative measures reflecting effective vascular elasticity that is strongly dependent upon blood pressure (BP) or transmural pressure ([Formula: see text] = mean BP - (externally applied pressure)). However, its nonlinear nature in terms of functional form has not been fully investigated in human vasculature.

Cuffless blood pressure estimation based on haemodynamic principles: progress towards mobile healthcare.

Background: Although cuff-sphygmomanometry is used worldwide in medical and healthcare fields, it is a fact that the use of an occlusive cuff to obtain blood pressure () is troublesome and inconvenient. There have therefore been on-going efforts to devise methods that do not require the use of a cuff, almost all being based on the measurement of pulse wave velocity or pulse transit time, but so far few significant developments have been made, especially regarding measurement accuracy. We have previously reported a smartphone-based cuffless method using a linear multiple regression calibration model comprising of obtained with a cuff-sphygmomanometer as an objective variable and modified normalized pulse volume (: a measure of vasoconstrictive activity in a finger) and pulse rate () as explanatory variables.

Physiological interference reduction for near infrared spectroscopy brain activity measurement based on recursive least squares adaptive filtering and least squares support vector machines.

Near infrared spectroscopy is the promising and noninvasive technique that can be used to detect the brain functional activation by monitoring the concentration alternations in the haemodynamic concentration. The acquired NIRS signals are commonly contaminated by physiological interference caused by breathing and cardiac contraction. Though the adaptive filtering method with least mean squares algorithm or recursive least squares algorithm based on multidistance probe configuration could improve the quality of evoked brain activity response, both methods can only remove the physiological interference occurred in superficial layers of the head tissue.

Cuffless blood pressure estimation using only a smartphone.

Cuffless blood pressure (BP) measurement is an all-inclusive term for a method that aims to measure BP without using a cuff. Recent cuffless technology has made it possible to estimate BP with reasonable accuracy. However, mainstream methods require an electrocardiogram and photoplethysmogram measurements, and frequent calibration procedures using a cuff sphygmomanometer.

Side-scattered finger-photoplethysmography: experimental investigations toward practical noninvasive measurement of blood glucose.

The aim of this study was to discover a simple/convenient geometrical arrangement of radiation sources and detector to acquire finger-photoplethysmograms (PPGs) with wavelength regions of blood glucose (BGL) absorption, toward practical noninvasive BGL measurement. First, we compared PPGs with three wavelengths: 808 nm (without water absorption), 1160 nm (with weak water absorption), and 1600 nm (with nearly peak BGL absorption and strong water absorption), while the source-detector spacing was successively increased circumferentially around a fingertip. In 10 healthy subjects, we observed clear cardiac-related pulsatile components of PPG signals at 808 and 1160 nm in any incident positions with more than 15 dB of signal-to-noise ratio ( S / N ), but reliable PPG detections at 1600 nm with more than 10 dB of S / N was only possible when the source-detector distance was less than 3 mm around the fingertip circumference.

Advanced Volume-Compensation Method for Indirect Finger Arterial Pressure Determination: Comparison with Brachial Sphygmomanometry.

Objective: The so-called volume-compensation method (VCM) allows noninvasive instantaneous arterial blood pressure (BP) measurement in human fingers. The VCM is mostly carried out with photoplethysmography (PPG) to detect arterial volume pulsations. However, measurement errors may occur due to movement of the PPG sensors relative to skin and underlying vasculature.

Integrating Sphere Finger-Photoplethysmography: Preliminary Investigation towards Practical Non-Invasive Measurement of Blood Constituents.

The aim of this study was to compare conventional photoplethysmography (PPG) in a finger with PPG using an integrating sphere (ISPPG) to enhance scattered light collection. Two representative wavelengths were used; 1160 nm, a window through the absorption spectra of water and alcohol, and 1600 nm around where water absorption is high and there is an absorption peak of blood glucose. Simultaneous transmission-type measurements were made with conventional PPG and with ISPPG for each wavelength in the tips of index fingers of both hands in a total of 10 healthy young male and female volunteers (21.

iPhysioMeter: a smartphone photoplethysmograph for measuring various physiological indices.

iPhysioMeter is a new smartphone application ("App") for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch that allows photoplethysmography (PPG) to be implemented without the need for any additional devices. The resulting signal, the photoplethysmogram, allows the calculation of basic but valuable and frequently used physiological indices such as heart rate (HR) and pulse volume (PV). The design of iPhysioMeter has very much been influenced by a consideration of usability, as is immediately evident from ones first experience with it.

iPhone 4s photoplethysmography: which light color yields the most accurate heart rate and normalized pulse volume using the iPhysioMeter Application in the presence of motion artifact?

Recent progress in information and communication technologies has made it possible to measure heart rate (HR) and normalized pulse volume (NPV), which are important physiological indices, using only a smartphone. This has been achieved with reflection mode photoplethysmography (PPG), by using a smartphone's embedded flash as a light source and the camera as a light sensor. Despite its widespread use, the method of PPG is susceptible to motion artifacts as physical displacements influence photon propagation phenomena and, thereby, the effective optical path length.

Potential for health screening using long-term cardiovascular parameters measured by finger volume-oscillometry: pilot comparative evaluation in regular and sleep-deprived activities.

We explored the potential of health screening based on the long-term measurement of cardiovascular parameters using the finger volume-oscillometric technique. An automated instrument made simultaneous measurements of key cardiovascular parameters, including blood pressure, pulse pressure, heart rate, normalized pulse volume as an index of α-adrenalin-mediated sympathetic activity, and finger arterial elasticity. These were derived from finger photo-plethysmographic signals during application of cuff pressure.

Comparison between red, green and blue light reflection photoplethysmography for heart rate monitoring during motion.

Reflection photoplethysmography (PPG) using 530 nm (green) wavelength light has the potential to be a superior method for monitoring heart rate (HR) during normal daily life due to its relative freedom from artifacts. However, little is known about the accuracy of pulse rate (PR) measured by 530 nm light PPG during motion. Therefore, we compared the HR measured by electrocadiography (ECG) as a reference with PR measured by 530, 645 (red), and 470 nm (blue) wavelength light PPG during baseline and while performing hand waving in 12 participants.

A novel method to detect heat illness under severe conditions by monitoring tympanic temperature.

Introduction: We report a new methodology for detecting heat illness based on continuous tympanic temperature monitoring. This is relevant to industrial workers, astronauts, and pilots, as well as athletes. Here we evaluate the method in Grand Touring (GT) car racers in the closed-cockpit category who can face life-threatening hyperthermia.

Cardiovascular hemodynamic effects of Red Bull® Energy Drink during prolonged, simulated, monotonous driving.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular hemodynamic effects of Red Bull® Energy Drink during prolonged, simulated, monotonous driving.

Methods: This was a double-blind, within-subjects-design, crossover study. Twelve healthy volunteers (21.

Validation of normalized pulse volume in the outer ear as a simple measure of sympathetic activity using warm and cold pressor tests: towards applications in ambulatory monitoring.

Normalized pulse volume (NPV) derived from the ear has the potential to be a practical index for monitoring daily life stress. However, ear NPV has not yet been validated. Therefore, we compared NPV derived from an index finger using transmission photoplethysmography as a reference, with NPV derived from a middle finger and four sites of the ear using reflection photoplethysmography during baseline and while performing cold and warm water immersion in ten young and six middle-aged subjects.

Fish consumption and cardiovascular response during mental stress.

Background: Frequent fish consumption is related to a lower risk of coronary heart disease. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying this cardioprotective effect are as yet unknown. We therefore examined certain cardiovascular physiological variables of fish eaters during rest, whilst conducting mental arithmetic, and during recovery.

The effect of competition on heart rate during kart driving: A field study.

Background: Both the act of competing, which can create a kind of mental stress, and participation in motor sports, which induces physical stress from intense g-forces, are known to increase heart rate dramatically. However, little is known about the specific effect of competition on heart rate during motor sports, particularly during four-wheel car driving. The goal of this preliminary study, therefore, was to investigate whether competition increases heart rate under such situations.

Differences in efficacy of monepantel, derquantel and abamectin against multi-resistant nematodes of sheep.

Drug resistance has become a global phenomenon in gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep, particularly resistance to macrocyclic lactones. New anthelmintics are urgently needed for both the control of infections with multi-resistant nematodes in areas where classical anthelmintics are no longer effective, and the prevention of the spread of resistance in areas where the problem is not as severe. Recently, two new active ingredients became commercially available for the treatment of nematode infections in sheep, monepantel (Zolvix®) and derquantel, the latter used only in a formulated combination with the macrocyclic lactone, abamectin (Startect®).

Quarantine treatment of sheep with monepantel--rapidity of fecal egg count reduction.

In the presence of multiple anthelmintic resistance, effective quarantine treatment of sheep entering a farm has become a crucial tool in nematode management. In the present work, the use of the amino-acetonitrile derivative, monepantel as a quarantine treatment was investigated. Of special interest was the rapidity of decrease in fecal egg counts (FEC) compared to other anthelmintics used in sheep.

A pooled analysis of the efficacy of monepantel, an amino-acetonitrile derivative against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep.

Monepantel is the first compound from the amino-acetonitrile derivative class of anthelmintics to be developed for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. An analysis of pooled data from a series of controlled studies is reported providing a single point of efficacy (+/- 95% confidence interval) for each gastrointestinal nematode tested at the fourth larval and/or adult stages. For most nematode species, the pooled efficacy was greater than 99%, and for the remaining few species, efficacy was greater than 90%.

Support vector machines as multivariate calibration model for prediction of blood glucose concentration using a new non-invasive optical method named Pulse Glucometry.

A novel optical non-invasive in vivo blood glucose concentration (BGL) measurement technique, named "Pulse Glucometry", was combined with a kernel method; support vector machines. The total transmitted radiation intensity (I lambda) and the cardiac-related pulsatile changes superimposed on I lambda in human adult fingertips were measured over the wavelength range from 900 to 1700 nm using a very fast spectrophotometer, obtaining a differential optical density (delta OD lambda) related to the blood component in the finger tissues. Subsequently, a calibration model using paired data of a family of delta OD lambda s and the corresponding known BGLs was constructed with support vector machines regression instead of using calibration by a conventional partial least squares regression (PLS).