Multidimensional embedded MEMS motion detectors for wearable mechanocardiography and 4D medical imaging

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death. Of these deaths, almost 80% are due to coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease. Multidimensional microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors allow measuring the mechanical movement of the heart muscle offering an entirely new and innovative solution to evaluate cardiac rhythm and function. Recent advances in miniaturized motion sensors present an exciting opportunity to study novel device-driven and functional motion detection systems in the areas of both cardiac monitoring and biomedical imaging, for example, in computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: This Ph.D. work describes a new cardiac motion detection paradigm and measurement technology based on multimodal measuring tools — by tracking the heart’s kinetic activity using micro-sized MEMS sensors — and novel computational approaches — by deploying signal processing and machine learning techniques—for detecting cardiac pathological disorders. In particular, this study focuses on the capability of joint gyrocardiography (GCG) and seismocardiography (SCG) techniques that constitute the mechanocardiography (MCG) concept representing the mechanical characteristics of the cardiac precordial surface vibrations. Results: Experimental analyses showed that integrating multisource sensory data resulted in precise estimation of heart rate with an accuracy of 99% (healthy, n=29), detection of heart arrhythmia (n=435) with an accuracy of 95-97%, ischemic disease indication with approximately 75% accuracy (n=22), as well as significantly improved quality of four-dimensional (4D) cardiac PET images by eliminating motion related inaccuracies using MEMS dual gating approach. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) analysis of GCG (healthy, n=9) showed promising results for measuring the cardiac timing intervals and myocardial deformation changes. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate clinical potential of MEMS motion sensors in cardiology that may facilitate in time diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities. Multidimensional MCG can effectively contribute to detecting atrial fibrillation (AFib), myocardial infarction (MI), and CAD. Additionally, MEMS motion sensing improves the reliability and quality of cardiac PET imaging.Moniulotteisten sulautettujen MEMS-liiketunnistimien käyttö sydänkardiografiassa sekä lääketieteellisessä 4D-kuvantamisessa Tausta: Sydän- ja verisuonitaudit ovat yleisin kuolinsyy. Näistä kuolemantapauksista lähes 80% johtuu sepelvaltimotaudista (CAD) ja aivoverenkierron häiriöistä. Moniulotteiset mikroelektromekaaniset järjestelmät (MEMS) mahdollistavat sydänlihaksen mekaanisen liikkeen mittaamisen, mikä puolestaan tarjoaa täysin uudenlaisen ja innovatiivisen ratkaisun sydämen rytmin ja toiminnan arvioimiseksi. Viimeaikaiset teknologiset edistysaskeleet mahdollistavat uusien pienikokoisten liiketunnistusjärjestelmien käyttämisen sydämen toiminnan tutkimuksessa sekä lääketieteellisen kuvantamisen, kuten esimerkiksi tietokonetomografian (CT) ja positroniemissiotomografian (PET), tarkkuuden parantamisessa. Menetelmät: Tämä väitöskirjatyö esittelee uuden sydämen kineettisen toiminnan mittaustekniikan, joka pohjautuu MEMS-anturien käyttöön. Uudet laskennalliset lähestymistavat, jotka perustuvat signaalinkäsittelyyn ja koneoppimiseen, mahdollistavat sydämen patologisten häiriöiden havaitsemisen MEMS-antureista saatavista signaaleista. Tässä tutkimuksessa keskitytään erityisesti mekanokardiografiaan (MCG), joihin kuuluvat gyrokardiografia (GCG) ja seismokardiografia (SCG). Näiden tekniikoiden avulla voidaan mitata kardiorespiratorisen järjestelmän mekaanisia ominaisuuksia. Tulokset: Kokeelliset analyysit osoittivat, että integroimalla usean sensorin dataa voidaan mitata syketiheyttä 99% (terveillä n=29) tarkkuudella, havaita sydämen rytmihäiriöt (n=435) 95-97%, tarkkuudella, sekä havaita iskeeminen sairaus noin 75% tarkkuudella (n=22). Lisäksi MEMS-kaksoistahdistuksen avulla voidaan parantaa sydämen 4D PET-kuvan laatua, kun liikeepätarkkuudet voidaan eliminoida paremmin. Doppler-kuvantamisessa (TDI, Tissue Doppler Imaging) GCG-analyysi (terveillä, n=9) osoitti lupaavia tuloksia sydänsykkeen ajoituksen ja intervallien sekä sydänlihasmuutosten mittaamisessa. Päätelmä: Tämän tutkimuksen tulokset osoittavat, että kardiologisilla MEMS-liikeantureilla on kliinistä potentiaalia sydämen toiminnallisten poikkeavuuksien diagnostisoinnissa. Moniuloitteinen MCG voi edistää eteisvärinän (AFib), sydäninfarktin (MI) ja CAD:n havaitsemista. Lisäksi MEMS-liiketunnistus parantaa sydämen PET-kuvantamisen luotettavuutta ja laatua

Multicriterion Synthesis of Intelligent Control Systems of Generating Unit of Nuclear Power Station

The paper is devoted to solution of some problems in nuclear power station generating unit intellectual control systems using genetic algorithms on the basis of control system model development, optimizations methods of their direct quality indices and improved integral quadratic estimates. Some mathematical vector models were obtained for control system multicriterion quality indices with due consideration of stability and quality indices criteria, this increasing the reliability of optimal control system synthesis. Optimal control systems with fuzzy controllers were synthesized for nuclear reactor, steam generator and steam turbine, thus allowing comparison between fuzzy controllers and traditional PID controllers. Mathematical models built for nuclear power station generating unit control systems, including nuclear reactor, steam generator, steam turbine and their control systems interacting under normal operational modes, which permitted to perform parametrical synthesis of system and to study various power unit control laws. On the basis of power unit control system models controllers were synthesized for normal operational modes

Multicriterion Synthesis of Intelligent Control Systems of Generating Unit of Nuclear Power Station

The paper is devoted to solution of some problems in nuclear power station generating unit intellectual control systems using genetic algorithms on the basis of control system model development, optimizations methods of their direct quality indices and improved integral quadratic estimates. Some mathematical vector models were obtained for control system multicriterion quality indices with due consideration of stability and quality indices criteria, this increasing the reliability of optimal control system synthesis. Optimal control systems with fuzzy controllers were synthesized for nuclear reactor, steam generator and steam turbine, thus allowing comparison between fuzzy controllers and traditional PID controllers. Mathematical models built for nuclear power station generating unit control systems, including nuclear reactor, steam generator, steam turbine and their control systems interacting under normal operational modes, which permitted to perform parametrical synthesis of system and to study various power unit control laws. On the basis of power unit control system models controllers were synthesized for normal operational modes

Plasma malondialdehyde, bilirubin, homocysteine and total antioxidant capacity in patients with angiographically defined coronary artery disease

Oxidative stress has been implicated in coronary artery disease (CAD). Malondialdehyde (MDA) is lipid peroxidation end product. Bilirubin may act as an antioxidant that suppresses lipid oxidation. The role of MDA and antioxidant capacity and their inter-relationship in patients with and without CAD was investigated. Thirty-eight consecutive patients with angiographically diagnosed CAD were compared with 60 age, and sex-matched controls. The controls had completely normal coronary arteries in angiograms. Plasma MDA, serum bilirubin, total homocysteine and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were measured. Risk factors of CAD were determined for all subjects using National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-Adult Treatment Panel (ATP)-III criteria. Serum MDA and total homocysteine concentration were significantly higher, but TAC, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels were lower in CAD patients when compared to the controls. Age, and sex-adjusted plasma MDA levels had negative correlations with TAC (r = -0.30, p = 0.001) and total bilirubin (r = -0.30, p = 0.002) concentrations. In multivariate analysis by the multiple logistic regression method, serum MDA was significantly associated with CAD (OR = 1.15, 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.82; p < 0.0001)) after adjustment for lipid status parameters and traditional risk factors in this study population. Increased serum MDA concentration, as a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, low serum bilirubin and antioxidant capacity were observed in patients with angiographically defined CAD. The significant inverse correlation of the serum bilirubin and MDA levels demands further in-depth investigations to clarify the association between them in the development of CAD

Accelerometer-Based Method for Extracting Respiratory and Cardiac Gating Information for Dual Gating during Nuclear Medicine Imaging

Both respiratory and cardiac motions reduce the quality and consistency of medical imaging specifically in nuclear medicine imaging. Motion artifacts can be eliminated by gating the image acquisition based on the respiratory phase and cardiac contractions throughout the medical imaging procedure. Electrocardiography (ECG), 3-axis accelerometer, and respiration belt data were processed and analyzed from ten healthy volunteers. Seismocardiography (SCG) is a noninvasive accelerometer-based method that measures accelerations caused by respiration and myocardial movements. This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of the accelerometer-based method in dual gating technique. The SCG provides accelerometer-derived respiratory (ADR) data and accurate information about quiescent phases within the cardiac cycle. The correct information about the status of ventricles and atria helps us to create an improved estimate for quiescent phases within a cardiac cycle. The correlation of ADR signals with the reference respiration belt was investigated using Pearson correlation. High linear correlation was observed between accelerometer-based measurement and reference measurement methods (ECG and Respiration belt). Above all, due to the simplicity of the proposed method, the technique has high potential to be applied in dual gating in clinical cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) to obtain motion-free images in the future.</p

Meconium microbial toxins and microbiota: A novel and non-invasive proposed diagnostic sample to anticipate the severity of neonates COVID-19

The novel coronavirus, termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) is a major public health challenge all over the world and is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since December 2019 the outbreak of COVID-19 has become a major epidemic issue all over world. In this pandemic, preterm and term neonates with infected mothers are becoming more vulnerable each day. Although we mostly witness asymptomatic neonates, getting symptomatic may not be a rarity in the future. After entrance of COVID-19 into the body it could affect the balance of microbiota combination which can result in microbiota dysbiosis and eventually leads to immune imbalance. Intrauterine microbiome dysbiosis in COVID-19 positive mothers and transmission of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) may restructure the environment of the developing fetus with possible short/long-term impact on the individual’s health and disease. Therefore, assessing the changes in microbiome of neonates from infected mothers via exploring meconium could be valuable. It is also logical to measure LPS level and balanced its levels by using prebiotics and probiotics as a supplemental therapeutic procedure to prevent medical challenges in future. The aim of this essay is to review the potential conception that detection of COVID-19 and the meconium microbiota and LPS quantity could be used as a source of prognostic information about the COVID-19 severity in the fetus of pregnant women with COVID-19

Reference Database of CrossLaps and Osteocalcin for a Healthy Iranian Population

Markers of bone turnover are becoming an important tool for practitioners in the management of osteoporosis. Therefore, it is essential to establish a reference database of the markers before using them in various clinical settings. A total of 785 individuals (37% males, 63% females) without apparent or suggested abnormalities affecting bone mass were randomly selected from 13 clusters in Bushehr Port in southern Iran. The serum CrossLaps ELISA and the N-MID Osteocalcin ELISA were used for the quantitative measurement of CrossLaps and osteocalcin in sera. Bone mineral density was determined for the lumbar spines (L2-L4), proximal femur (neck), and forearm (the distal part) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Men had higher biochemical serum bone markers (P<0.0001). In women, there were progressive increases in serum CrossLaps after 30 years of age, peaking at >60 years. In men, serum CrossLaps levels were decreased progressively by increases in age, with the peak at 20 – 29 years. In women, there was a significant decrease in serum osteocalcin from 20 – 29 years to 30–49 years, followed by a progressive increases during 50 – 59 years, with the peak at >60 years. In men, the highest concentrations for serum osteocalcin occurred at 20 – 29 years. At all sites checked for bone mineral densitys, women in the high osteocalcin quartile had the lowest mean bone mineral densitys values, but women in the high CrossLaps quartile had the lowest mean bone mineral densitys at lumbar and radial sites. However, in men, bone mineral densitys values at neither site differed between the lowest and the highest quartiles of serum biochemical bone markers. We presented a five- year age-specific mean values of bone markers in a general healthy Iranian population. Only women in the high osteocalcin and CrossLaps quartiles had the lowest mean bone mineral densitys values at the lumbar and radial sites. Our results suggest that the significance of osteoclastic bone resorption or bone formation as a determinant of bone mineral densitys may depend on sex. Archives of Iranian Medicine, Volum