Validation of four automatic devices for self-measurement of blood pressure according to the International Protocol of the European Society of Hypertension

Jalil Belghazi, Ramzi N El Feghali, Thérèse Moussalem, Maya Rejdych, Roland G AsmarThe CardioVascular Institute, Paris, FranceBackground: Four electronic devices for self-measurement of brachial blood pressure (BP): the Omron M1 Plus, the Omron M6 Comfort, the Spengler KP7500 D, and the Microlife BP A100 Plus, were evaluated in four separate studies according to the International Protocol of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH).Design: The International Validation Protocol is divided into 2 phases: the first phase is performed on 15 selected subjects (45 pairs of BP measurements); if the device passes this phase, 18 supplementary subjects are included (54 pairs of BP measurements) making a total number of 33 subjects (99 pairs of BP measurements) on which the final validation is performed.Methods: The same methodology recommended by the ESH protocol was applied for the 4 studies. In each study and for each subject, 4 BP measurements were performed simultaneously by 2 trained observers using mercury sphygmomanometers alternately with 3 measurements by the tested device. The difference between the BP value given by the device and that obtained by the two observers (mean of the two observers) was calculated for each measure. The 99 pairs of BP differences were classified into 3 categories (≤5, ≤10, ≤15 mmHg). The number of differences in each category was compared with the number required by the International Protocol. An individual analysis was then done to determine for each subject the number of comparisons ≤5 mmHg. At least 22 of the 33 subjects should have 2 of their 3 comparisons ≤5 mmHg.Results: All 4 tested devices passed the fi rst and the second phase of the validation process. The average differences between the device and mercury sphygmomanometer readings were –1.4 ± 5.5 and –0.4 ± 4.8 mmHg for SBP and DBP respectively for the Omron M1 Plus device, –2.1 ± 7.4 and 0.1 ± 4.9 mmHg for SBP and DBP respectively for the Omron M6 Comfort device, –1.4 ± 8.6 and –0.1 ± 3.5 mmHg for SBP and DBP respectively for the Spengler KP7500 D device, and 1.6 ± 4.2 mmHg and 0.54 ± 2.8 mmHg for SBP and DBP respectively for the Microlife BP A100 Plus device. For all devices, readings differing by less than 5, 10, and 15 mmHg for SBP and DBP values fulfill the recommendation criteria of the International Protocol as well as the individual analysis.Conclusions: Omron M1 Plus (HEM-4011C-E), Omron M6 Comfort (HEM 7000-E), Spengler KP7500 D, and Microlife BP A100 Plus devices fulfilled the validation recommendations of the International Protocol.Keywords: Omron M1 Plus (HEM-4011C-E), Omron M6 Comfort (HEM-7000-E), Spengler KP7500 D and Microlife BP A100 Plus, validation, International Protocol, self-blood pressure measuremen

The Sardinia Space Communication Asset: Performance of the Sardinia Deep Space Antenna X-Band Downlink Capability

The Sardinia deep space antenna (SDSA), managed by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) has started its operations in 2017 aiming to provide tracking and communication services for deep space, near earth, and lunar missions, and to support new and challenging radio science experiments. The SDSA shares with the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) a part of the system and infrastructure, but has its own specific equipment and a dedicated control center. The current SDSA capabilities involve the X-band (8.4 GHz-8.5 GHz) reception of telemetry from deep space probes within interplanetary missions. In this work we describe the development and performance of the X-band receiving system. It was designed and assembled with the cooperation of both the NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Specifically, NASA-JPL provided the X-band feed and the cryogenic receiver installed in a suitable focus of the SRT devoted to space applications, and ESA provided the intermediate frequency modem system (IFMS) for signal processing. The coupling of the X-band feed with the parabolic reflector of the SRT and the radiating features of the SDSA have been evaluated with simulations performed using CST Studio Suite and GRASP by Ticra. The telecommunication performance of the system has been assessed by measurements and experiments showing a good agreement between estimates and simulations

The Dawn Gravity Investigation at Vesta and Ceres

The objective of the Dawn gravity investigation is to use high precision X-band Doppler tracking and landmark tracking from optical images to measure the gravity fields of Vesta and Ceres to a half-wavelength surface resolution better than 90-km and 300-km, respectively. Depending on the Doppler tracking assumptions, the gravity field will be determined to somewhere between harmonic degrees 15 and 25 for Vesta and about degree 10 for Ceres. The gravity fields together with shape models determined from Dawn's framing camera constrain models of the interior from the core to the crust. The gravity field is determined jointly with the spin pole location. The second degree harmonics together with assumptions on obliquity or hydrostatic equilibrium may determine the moments of inertia

Central nervous system pathology in preclinical MPS IIIB dogs reveals progressive changes in clinically relevant brain regions

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (MPS IIIB; Sanfilippo syndrome B) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity, leading to increased levels of nondegraded heparan sulfate (HS). A mouse model has been useful to evaluate novel treatments for MPS IIIB, but has limitations. In this study, we evaluated the naturally occurring canine model of MPS IIIB for the onset and progression of biochemical and neuropathological changes during the preclinical stages (onset approximately 24-30 months of age) of canine MPS IIIB disease. Even by 1 month of age, MPS IIIB dogs had elevated HS levels in brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Analysis of histopathology of several disease-relevant regions of the forebrain demonstrated progressive lysosomal storage and microglial activation despite a lack of cerebrocortical atrophy in the oldest animals studied. More pronounced histopathology changes were detected in the cerebellum, where progressive lysosomal storage, astrocytosis and microglial activation were observed. Microglial activation was particularly prominent in cerebellar white matter and within the deep cerebellar nuclei, where neuron loss also occurred. The findings in this study will form the basis of future assessments of therapeutic efficacy in this large animal disease model

Elementary electronic excitation in three-dimensional electron gases under free-electron laser radiations

I present a detailed theoretical study of the collective excitation associated with plasmon modes in threedimensional electron gases 3DEG’s, subject to free-electron laser FEL radiations. Using the exact solution of the time-dependent Schro¨dinger equation in which the effect of the electromagnetic e.m. radiation field is included in the Coulomb gauge, I have derived the Green’s function, the density of states DOS, and the density-density correlation function for free electrons in (K,t) and K, representation. With these results, the influence of the FEL radiations on plasmon spectrum in a 3DEG has been studied by employing the randomphase approximation. It has been found that the presence of the linearly polarized terahertz laser fields will lead to a strong modulation of the electron DOS and of the Fermi energy in a 3DEG structure. As a consequence, the plasmon spectrum in an electron gas can be tuned by varying the intensity and/or frequency of the e.m. radiation. A number of important and distinctive effects induced by the FEL radiations are presented and discussed

A Universal Standard for the Validation of Blood Pressure Measuring Devices

In the past 30 years, several organizations, such as the US Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), the British Hypertension Society, the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Working Group on Blood Pressure (BP) Monitoring, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), have developed protocols for clinical validation of BP measuring devices. However, it is recognized that science, as well as patients, consumers, and manufacturers, would be best served if all BP measuring devices were assessed for accuracy according to an agreed single validation protocol that had global acceptance. Therefore, an international initiative was taken by the AAMI, ESH, and ISO experts who agreed to develop a universal standard for device validation. This statement presents the key aspects of a validation procedure, which were agreed by the AAMI, ESH, and ISO representatives as the basis for a single universal validation protocol. As soon as the AAMI/ESH/ISO standard is fully developed, this will be regarded as the single universal standard and will replace all other previous standards/protocols