Teletransmission system supporting intensive insulin treatment of out-clinic type 1 diabetic pregnant women. Technical assessment during 3 years' application.

A telematic system supporting intensive insulin treatment of pregnant type 1 diabetic out-clinic patients was implemented and technical efficiency of the system was evaluated over long-term ambulatory application. The system consists of a patient teletransmission module (PTM) and a central clinical control unit (CCU). The PTM contains a one-box blood glucose meter and electronic logbook, a modem and a dial-up or cellular phone set.

Spectral analysis of laser-Doppler perfusion signal measured during thermal test.

The method of spectral analysis of laser-Doppler perfusion signal measured during thermal test is proposed. During three 20 min phases with 40, 5, and 40 degrees C of thermal test laser-Doppler perfusion signal was recorded. For each signal phase frequency spectra were calculated using the FFT method.

Multichannel laser-Doppler probe for blood perfusion measurements with depth discrimination.

The laser-Doppler method is frequently used in clinical experiments for blood perfusion measurement. A multichannel laser-Doppler probe was constructed, and calibrated and evaluated using a flow model and real examination of healthy subjects. Results obtained on a three-capillary flow model suggest that the probe can be used to obtain information from superficial and deeper layers of the tissue.

Attachment and metabolic activity of hepatocytes cultivated on selected polymeric membranes.

Plasma or hormones added to hepatocyte incubation media mask the function of membranes as substrata per se for hepatocyte adhesion. This hypothesis was verified with hepatocyte cultures on various membranes in serum and hormone free medium. Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes were seeded on flat sheet membranes made of Cellulose Acetate (CA), aminated Cellulose Acetate (aCA), polysulfone (PSf) and sulfonated polysulfone (sPSf) and incubated in Hank's Balanced Salts Solutions (HBSS) as well as in William's E medium supplemented with newborn calf serum.

Construction of the geometrical-conductivity human chest model in simulation of the cardiac electrical field.

In this article the problem of the construction of the geometrical-conductivity model of a human chest in a computer simulation of the cardiac electrical field, applying image diagnostic data (CT, conventional radiography and 2D projections of a torso) is presented. On the basis of these data parameters are defined which allow the determination of locations and sizes of significant chest organs. Calculations and comparison of the values of these parameters for CT and radiographic data of the example patient, using image processing methods, have been carried out.

Investigation of the models of electrical field generated by the heart for cardiac surgery conditions.

In this work the investigations of the electrical field generated by the heart, carried out using a computer simulation method are presented. Two models have been constructed approximating the chest region for the following conditions: (a) normal heart activity, and (b) open chest during the cardiac surgery. For the above models the distribution of potentials on the heart surface are determined.

Evaluation of the expert system for respiratory therapy of newborns on archival data.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the artificial ventilation expert system for neonates (AVES-N) using archival data. The recommendations of the system were compared to the decisions made by the expert-physician in the same clinical situation (patient condition, respirator settings). In our retrospective study we used data of 320 newborns which were ventilated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville (USA).

Alternative descriptions of combined diffusive and convective mass transport in hemodialyzer.

Two alternative versions of the mathematical description of the combined diffusive and convective membrane transport in hemodialyzers were compared using the one-dimensional theory of hemodialyzers. The first version is based on the assumption of homogeneity of the membrane. The second version is a widely used "ad hoc" formulation, which can be interpreted as a description of the membrane as tighter at the dialysate side than at the blood side.

Theoretical basis and experimental verification of the impact of ultrafiltration on dialyzer clearance.

Dialyzer clearance K is usually presented as K = K0 + Tr Qu, were Qu is ultrafiltration rate, K0 is clearance for Qu = 0, and Tr is transmittance coefficient. Although a simple and accurate mathematical description of K0 is widely used, only a somewhat inaccurate formula for Tr that predicts a linear relationship between Tr and K0 has been proposed before. In this study the detailed investigation of Tr using a one-dimensional theory of a dialyzer is presented.

Mathematical modeling of antigen and immune complex kinetics during extracorporeal removal of autoantibody.

The extracorporeal removal of circulating auto-antibodies by repeated plasma exchange or continuous lymph drainage is modeled by single-pool kinetics. Total amounts of antigenic determinants, k-valent antibodies and immune complexes are variables of the model. Factors influencing the course of therapy are included: production rate of antigen and antibody and their natural catabolism.

Analysis of low density lipoprotein apheresis: post-treatment rebound using mathematical models.

Double membrane low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis (thermofiltration) was applied to treat six hyperlipidaemic patients and five controls 14 and 5 times, respectively, and post-treatment plasma LDL cholesterol (LDLc) concentration rebound was measured. To simulate the rebound, a nonlinear model (NLM) was developed. It consists of two compartments representing plasma and liver.

A mathematical model of extracorporeal antibody removal in autoimmune disease.

A mathematical model of T-B cell cooperation is adopted to describe autotolerance and autoimmunity. The model describes the development of plasma cells and T-helper cells from their precursors through activated and proliferating cells. A state of autotolerance is simulated by reducing the rate of T precursors supply (partial clonal deletion theory), while the normal rate yields a stable state of autoimmunity.