A review of ECG-based diagnosis support systems for obstructive sleep apnea

Humans need sleep. It is important for physical and psychological recreation. During sleep our consciousness is suspended or least altered. Hence, our ability to avoid or react to disturbances is reduced. These disturbances can come from external sources or from disorders within the body. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is such a disorder. It is caused by obstruction of the upper airways which causes periods where the breathing ceases. In many cases, periods of reduced breathing, known as hypopnea, precede OSA events. The medical background of OSA is well understood, but the traditional diagnosis is expensive, as it requires sophisticated measurements and human interpretation of potentially large amounts of physiological data. Electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements have the potential to reduce the cost of OSA diagnosis by simplifying the measurement process. On the down side, detecting OSA events based on ECG data is a complex task which requires highly skilled practitioners. Computer algorithms can help to detect the subtle signal changes which indicate the presence of a disorder. That approach has the following advantages: computers never tire, processing resources are economical and progress, in the form of better algorithms, can be easily disseminated as updates over the internet. Furthermore, Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) reduces intra- and inter-observer variability. In this review, we adopt and support the position that computer based ECG signal interpretation is able to diagnose OSA with a high degree of accuracy

A phase I study of bendamustine hydrochloride administered day 1+2 every 3 weeks in patients with solid tumours

The aim of the study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the dose limiting toxicity (DLT), and the pharmacokinetic profile (Pk) of bendamustine (BM) on a day 1 and 2 every 3 weeks schedule and to recommend a safe phase II dose for further testing. Patients with solid tumours beyond standard therapy were eligible. A 30-min intravenous infusion of BM was administered d1+d2 q 3 weeks. The starting dose was 120 mg m−2 per day and dose increments of 20 mg m−2 were used. Plasma and urine samples were analysed using validated high-performance liquid chromatography/fluorescence assays. Fifteen patients were enrolled. They received a median of two cycles (range 1–8). The MTD was reached at the fourth dose level. Thrombocytopaenia (grade 4) was dose limiting in two of three patients at 180 mg m−2. One patient also experienced febrile neutropaenia. Lymphocytopaenia (grade 4) was present in every patient. Nonhaematologic toxicity including cardiac toxicity was not dose limiting with this schedule. Mean plasma Pk values of BM were tmax 35 min, t1/2 49.1 min, Vd 18.3 l m−2, and clearance 265 ml min−1 m−2. The mean total amount of BM and its metabolites recovered in the first micturition was 8.3% (range 2.7–26%). The MTD of BM in the present dose schedule was 180 mg m−2 on day 1+2. Thrombocytopaenia was dose limiting. The recommended dose for future phase II trials with this schedule is 160 mg m−2 per day

Hochrate. Grundlagenuntersuchungen zur Erhoehung des energetischen Wirkungsgrades lasererzeugter Partikelstroeme. Teilvorhaben: Untersuchungen zur Bildung von Partikelstroemen mit UV-Laserstrahlung Abschlussbericht

Subject of the project was the investigation of fundamental processes of the formation of particle fluxes at pulsed laser irradiation of solid targets with high energetic pulsed UV excimer laser radiation. It has been shown, that the parameters of particle fluxes (plasma composition, density, ionisation degree, energy distribution of the particles, deposition rate) strongly depend on the laser parameters. As a result optimal deposition conditions can be choosen with regard to desired film properties. Under certain conditions the deposition rate could be increased up to two orders of magnitude. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: F99B121+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Interaction of Bacillus subtilis CsaA with SecA and precursor proteins.

CsaA from the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis has been identified previously as a suppressor of the growth and protein-export defect of Escherichia coli secA(Ts) mutants. CsaA has chaperone-like activities in vivo and in vitro. To examine the role of CsaA in protein export in B. subtilis, expression of the csaA gene was repressed. While export of most proteins remained unaffected, export of at least two proteins was significantly reduced upon CsaA depletion. CsaA co-immunoprecipitates and co-purifies with the SecA proteins of E. coli and B. subtilis, and binds the B. subtilis preprotein prePhoB. Purified CsaA stimulates the translocation of prePhoB into E. coli membrane vesicles bearing the B. subtilis translocase, whereas it interferes with the SecB-mediated translocation of proOmpA into membrane vesicles of E. coli. The specific interaction with the SecA translocation ATPase and preproteins suggests that CsaA acts as a chaperone that promotes the export of a subset of preproteins in B. subtilis

NetzWerk LebenPlus (NWLP) - ein Hilfs- und Betreuungsnetzwerk für Senioren im Quartier

Rupp K, Nebling T, Zastrau R, et al. NetzWerk LebenPlus (NWLP) - ein Hilfs- und Betreuungsnetzwerk für Senioren im Quartier. In: Amelung VE, Eble S, Hildebrandt H, et al., eds. Innovationsfonds - Impulse für das deutsche Gesundheitssystem. Berlin: MWV Medizinisch Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft; 2017: 218-224

Grundlagenuntersuchungen zum lasergestuetzten Plasma-Jet-CVD-Abscheiden von Schichtsystemen Schlussbericht

The aim of the project was the systematic investigation of laser assisted plasma CVD processes for synthesis of superhard film systems on the basis of carbon or boron nitride respectively. By a successful connection of the known how of scientists from General Physics Institute Moscow (GPI) on the field of plasma jet CVD and the experiences of BIAS on the field of laser assisted deposition a scientific-experimental basis has been developed for further cooperation in laser assisted plasma CVD technique. A 10 kW DC plasma jet system, constructed by scientists from GPI, has been installed in BIAS and was put in operation. With this apparatus polycrystalline anhd nanocrystalline diamond films were deposited on different substrate materials. The substrates or films respectively have been irradiated before, during or after the deposition process. The influence of UV laser radiation on the film properties has been investigated. It was shown that under certain conditions the film properties can be modified and improved. Examples are the increase of adhesion of diamond films on cutting tools (WC(Co)) and the demonstration of a selective deposition technique. Further priorities in the project were the investigation of laser assisted ECR plasma CVD of amorphous diamond-like carbon films as an model example for laser modification of carbon films and first test investigations of photolytical UV laser assisted synthesis of born nitride films from the gas phase (laser CVD). (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: F96B1503+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Laser assisted plasma-jet-CVD deposition of hard film systems Final report

The project was intended on the investigation of high productivity laser assisted plasma-jet deposition procedures in application to such superhard materials as diamond and boron nitride films. Most of the works has been done at the department 'Laser Induced Surface Phenomena' of General Physics Institute -GPI- in Moscow. Special experimental program has been carried out by visiting scientists from GPI at the facilities of Bremen Institute of Applied Beam Technology -BIAS-. High power 10 kW fast axial gas flow DC discharge plasma-jet system (Jet-1) was successful tested. Two of these plasma-jet-CVD devices were manufactured in Russia: one of them for GPI, the second one for BIAS with regard to future joint research work. Furthermore a DC arc plasma device at GPI facilities has been modified and used as a model system for test a number of the Jet-1 technical solutions. In preparation for future experiments with plasma-jet investigations on CVD processes of various carbon films by DC arc discharge were carried out. Polycrystalline and nanocrystalline diamond films were obtained. These films was analysed by various techniques (SEM, XPS, XAES, Raman Spectroscopy, FTIR, hardness measurements). The possibility to modify and improve deposited film quality (e.g. smoothness) and structure (e.g. selective area film growth) by UV excimer laser irradiation has been demonstrated. Also laser induced plasma processes were investigated. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F95B2179+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman