Evaluation of Photoplethysmography-Based Monitoring of Respiration Rate During High-Intensity Interval Training: Implications for Healthcare Monitoring.

Monitoring respiration rate (RR) is crucial in various healthcare settings, particularly during demanding (physical) activities where respiratory dynamics are critical indicators of health status. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of photoplethysmography (PPG)-based monitoring of RR during high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and its potential applications in healthcare. Between January and March 2024, healthy volunteers participated in a cycling HIIT session with increasing resistance levels.

Evaluation of photoplethysmography-based monitoring of pulse rate, interbeat-intervals, and oxygen saturation during high-intensity interval training.

Background: Heart disease patients necessitate precise monitoring to ensure the safety and efficacy of their physical activities when managing conditions such as hypertension or heart failure. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the accuracy of photoplethysmography (PPG)-based monitoring of pulse rate (PR), interbeat-intervals (IB-I) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) during high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

Methods: Between January and March 2024, healthy volunteers were subjected to a cycling HIIT workout with bike resistance increments to evaluate performance within different heart rate ranges.

Clinical evaluation of a smart wristband for monitoring oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and respiratory rate.

Recently, photoplethysmography-based vital parameter measurements have increased in popularity. However, clinical evaluation of these measurements is lacking. The objective of this study was to rigorously evaluate the clinical accuracy and reliability of a novel photoplethysmography-based wristband for measuring key vital parameters-oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiratory rate (RR), and pulse rate (PR)-during heart catheterisations.

Early Pre-clinical Exposure Enhances Medical Student Knowledge and Readiness in Caring for Patients with Disabilities.

Unlabelled: Physicians receive little dedicated training in caring for patients with disabilities. This study evaluated whether integrating disability-focused content into pre-clinical curricula improved medical student knowledge, readiness, and attitudes in caring for patients with disabilities. Readings, clinical reasoning cases, and patient panels were added to the existing pre-clinical curricula.

Evaluation of a novel cuffless photoplethysmography-based wristband for measuring blood pressure according to the regulatory standards.

Aims: Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a key risk factor in cardiovascular diseases. However, obtaining reliable and reproducible BP remains a challenge. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate a novel cuffless wristband, based on photoplethysmography (PPG), for continuous BP monitoring.

Automated cardiac arrest detection using a photoplethysmography wristband: algorithm development and validation in patients with induced circulatory arrest in the DETECT-1 study.

Background: Unwitnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is associated with low survival chances because of the delayed activation of the emergency medical system in most cases. Automated cardiac arrest detection and alarming using biosensor technology would offer a potential solution to provide early help. We developed and validated an algorithm for automated circulatory arrest detection using wrist-derived photoplethysmography from patients with induced circulatory arrests.

Acute Coronary Syndrome Subphenotypes Based on Repeated Biomarker Measurements in Relation to Long-Term Mortality Risk.

Background: We aimed to identify patients with subphenotypes of postacute coronary syndrome (ACS) using repeated measurements of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and growth differentiation factor 15 in the year after the index admission, and to investigate their association with long-term mortality risk.

Methods And Results: BIOMArCS (BIOMarker Study to Identify the Acute Risk of a Coronary Syndrome) was an observational study of patients with ACS, who underwent high-frequency blood sampling for 1 year. Biomarkers were measured in a median of 16 repeated samples per individual.

Consistency, variability, and predictability of on-farm nutrient responses in four grain legumes across East and West Africa.

Grain legumes are key components of sustainable production systems in sub-Saharan Africa, but wide-spread nutrient deficiencies severely restrict yields. Whereas legumes can meet a large part of their nitrogen (N) requirement through symbiosis with N-fixing bacteria, elements such as phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and secondary and micronutrients may still be limiting and require supplementation. Responses to P are generally strong but variable, while evidence for other nutrients tends to show weak or highly localised effects.

Telemonitoring for heart failure: a meta-analysis.

Aims: Telemonitoring modalities in heart failure (HF) have been proposed as being essential for future organization and transition of HF care, however, efficacy has not been proven. A comprehensive meta-analysis of studies on home telemonitoring systems (hTMS) in HF and the effect on clinical outcomes are provided.

Methods And Results: A systematic literature search was performed in four bibliographic databases, including randomized trials and observational studies that were published during January 1996-July 2022.

Serially measured high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and growth differentiation factor 15 for risk assessment after acute coronary syndrome: the BIOMArCS cohort.

Aims: Evidence regarding the role of serial measurements of biomarkers for risk assessment in post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients is limited. The aim was to explore the prognostic value of four, serially measured biomarkers in a large, real-world cohort of post-ACS patients.

Methods And Results: BIOMArCS is a prospective, multi-centre, observational study in 844 post-ACS patients in whom 12 218 blood samples (median 17 per patient) were obtained during 1-year follow-up.

Feasibility of Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction Calculation Using Electrocardiographically Gated SPECT Acquisition of 99m Tc-HDP Bone Scintigraphy in Cardiac Amyloidosis.

We performed bone scintigraphy in 6 patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis. To evaluate feasibility of left ventricle function analysis, we additionally performed electrocardiographically gated SPECT acquisition. The cardiac-gated SPECT data confirmed adequate tracer uptake for automatic myocardial contour determination.

Development of an interdisciplinary microtia-atresia care model: A single-center 20-year experience.

Objectives: Microtia and aural atresia are congenital ear anomalies with a wide-ranging spectrum of phenotypes and varied functional and psychosocial consequences for patients. This study seeks to analyze the management of microtia-atresia patients at our center over a 20-year period and to propose recommendations for advancing microtia-atresia care at a national level.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from patients presenting to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear (Boston, MA) for initial otolaryngology consultation for congenital microtia and/or aural atresia between 1999 and 2018.

Drivers of mortality in patients with chronic coronary disease in the low-dose colchicine 2 trial.

Background: Low-dose colchicine significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with chronic coronary disease. An increase of non-cardiovascular death raised concerns about its safety. This study reports cause-specific mortality and baseline predictors of mortality in the Low-Dose Colchicine 2 (LoDoCo2) trial.

Relation of Iron Status to Prognosis After Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Iron deficiency has been extensively researched and is associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure. However, to our knowledge, the temporal evolution of iron status has not been previously investigated in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Therefore, we aimed to explore the temporal pattern of repeatedly measured iron, ferritin, transferrin, and transferrin saturation (TSAT) in relation to prognosis post-ACS.

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Targeted Screening Implementation and Outcomes: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and outcomes of a targeted cytomegalovirus (CMV) testing protocol.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary care institution.

Hearing Aid Use in Children With Unilateral Hearing Loss: A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial.

Objectives/hypothesis: In children with mild to moderately severe unilateral hearing loss (UHL), assess whether subject-reported quality of life (QOL) and teacher- and parent-reported perception of listening difficulty are affected by use of a hearing aid (HA) with baseline accommodations, compared to children receiving only baseline accommodations.

Study Design: Randomized crossover clinical trial.

Methods: Thirty-seven children 6-12 years of age with mild to moderately severe UHL and ≥80% word recognition scores in the poorer hearing ear were randomized into arm 1, using baseline accommodations (frequency-modulated system and strategic seating) for 12 weeks, followed by addition of a HA for 12 weeks.

Basket of options: Unpacking the concept.

How to stimulate technological change to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce poverty remains an area of vigorous debate. In the face of heterogeneity among farm households and rural areas, one proposition is to offer potential users a 'basket of options' - a range of agricultural technologies from which potential users may select the ones that are best suited to their specific circumstances. While the idea of a basket of options is now generally accepted, it has attracted little critical attention.

Assessment of Pain and Analgesic Use in Children Following Otologic Surgery.

Objective: To compare postoperative pain and analgesic use in children following transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) vs non-transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (non-TEES).

Study Design: Prospective case series.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Systematic Review of Endoscopic Ear Surgery Outcomes for Pediatric Cholesteatoma.

Objective: Endoscopic ear surgery (EES) has been increasingly adopted to enhance visualization during otologic surgery including pediatric cholesteatoma resection. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the current literature reporting rates of residual cholesteatoma to evaluate outcomes of EES in the pediatric population.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane.

Cochlear Implantation in Children With Single-Sided Deafness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: In 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration approved cochlear implantation for children with single-sided deafness (SSD). The absence of robust clinical data specific to pediatric patients to guide shared decision-making and to identify potential advantages is a challenge in family counseling.

Objective: To evaluate the audiological and patient-reported outcomes in children who underwent cochlear implantation for SSD and to assess the association between time of implantation, subjective outcomes, and cochlear implant device use rates.

Endoscopic Management of Pediatric Chronic Ear Disease.

Pediatric chronic ear disease and its sequelae often necessitate surgical intervention, such as ear tube insertion, ossiculoplasty, tympanoplasty, and cholesteatoma removal. Although these procedures have traditionally been performed with the microscope, use of rigid endoscopes provides an alternative method for visualization. The endoscope offers improved visualization of the middle ear space and adjacent structures and can either be used alone to perform surgery through the ear canal or together with the microscope if mastoidectomy is required.