Search

Iontophoresis utilizes electrical current to non-invasively deliver agents through the skin. This pilot study sought to determine if iontophoresis could be paired with laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) to administer adrenergic and cholinergic agonists and measure the subsequent changes in cutaneous blood flow. We hypothesized that iontophoresis administration would produce vascular tone changes consistent with those seen during other delivery methods. We iontophoresed phenylephrine, clonidine, isoproterenol, and acetylcholine to the forearm of one generally healthy 44-year-old female using existing or adapted protocols. We also created half-strength protocols with the goal of establishing dose-response relations. We quantified erythrocyte flux via LDF and beat-by-beat arterial blood pressure via finger photoplethysmography. After baseline, each drug was administered using its half and full-strength protocols, separated by a washout period. Finally, we stimulated maximal blood flow at each iontophoresis site via non-noxious local heating to 43°C. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; laser Doppler flux/ mean arterial pressure) was calculated during baseline and following iontophoresis. We administered vehicle (deionized water) alone as a control, using the same protocols and analysis. The drug responses generally matched our predictions with the exception of phenylephrine, which caused vasodilation. Vehicle administration also caused vasodilation. Full-strength application generally led to a more pronounced change in CVC, suggesting that a dose-response relation might be established with additional data. Applications of certain agents led to a higher CVC than “maximal”, possibly raising the need to alter the method for establishing maximal cutaneous blood flow. Overall, our findings indicate that iontophoresis and LDF can be used to effectively administer adrenergic and cholinergic agonists to non-glabrous skin and affect vascular tone. This non-invasive technique could be used to investigate responses to these agents in those whose cutaneous neural receptor characteristics have been altered as a consequence of disease.

ObjectiveTo develop and prospectively evaluate a method of epileptic seizure detection combining heart rate and movement.MethodsIn this multicenter, in-home, prospective, video-controlled cohort study, nocturnal seizures were detected by heart rate (photoplethysmography) or movement (3-D accelerometry) in persons with epilepsy and intellectual disability. Participants with >1 monthly major seizure wore a bracelet (Nightwatch) on the upper arm at night for 2 to 3 months. Major seizures were tonic-clonic, generalized tonic >30 seconds, hyperkinetic, or others, including clusters (>30 minutes) of short myoclonic/tonic seizures. The video of all events (alarms, nurse diaries) and 10% completely screened nights were reviewed to classify major (needing an alarm), minor (needing no alarm), or no seizure. Reliability was tested by interobserver agreement. We determined device performance, compared it to a bed sensor (Emfit), and evaluated the caregivers’ user experience.ResultsTwenty-eight of 34 admitted participants (1,826 nights, 809 major seizures) completed the study. Interobserver agreement (major/no major seizures) was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65–0.89). Median sensitivity per participant amounted to 86% (95% CI 77%–93%); the false-negative alarm rate was 0.03 per night (95% CI 0.01–0.05); and the positive predictive value was 49% (95% CI 33%–64%). The multimodal sensor showed a better sensitivity than the bed sensor (n = 14, median difference 58%, 95% CI 39%–80%, p < 0.001). The caregivers' questionnaire (n = 33) indicated good sensor acceptance and usability according to 28 and 27 participants, respectively.ConclusionCombining heart rate and movement resulted in reliable detection of a broad range of nocturnal seizures.

The study presents the results of macrovisual characterisation of diversity and distributional pattern of benthic assemblages of fauna and flora, influenced by the hydrodynamic and geomorphological conditions in the Hopavågen Bay. The surveys were carried out by underwater visual census in May 2012 and August 2013, as part of the eco-hydraulic work package (PISCES) of the HYDRALAB IV project. It studied the interactions of vegetation with hydrodynamics, focusing on the ability of physical models of plants to mimic real vegetation, in order to enhance the production of more realistic surrogates. In average, 30 species of macroinvertebrates and 15 species of macrophytes have been identified. The seasonal distribution of biotic components is also presented., {"references":["Alvsvag, M.D., (2017). Mapping of a seagrass habitat in Hopavågen, Sør- Trøndelag, with the use of an Autonomous Surface Vehicle combined with optical techniques. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, 1-58.","Balchen, J.G., (1971). Tilbakekoplet styring av fisk. NTH, Inst.reguI.tekn. Tekn. Notat 13:1-7.","Balchen, J.G., (1979). Modelling, prediction and control of fish behaviour, 99-146 In: Leondes, C.T. (ed.): Control of dynamic systems. Academic Press, New York, 360 p.","Bates, C.R., Whithead, E.J., (2001). ECHOplus Measurements in Hopavågen Bay, Norway. The Oceanography Society, Biennial Scientific Meeting.","Harder, L.D., Hurd, L.C., Speck, T., (2006). Comparison of mechanical properties of four large, wave-exposed seaweeds. American Journal of Botany 93(10): 1426-1322.","Himmelma n, J.H., Ham el, J.R., (1993). Diet, behavior and reproduction of the whelk Buccinum undatum in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, eastern Canada. Marine Biology 116(3): 423-430.","Imrie, D.W., McCrohan, C.R., HAWKINS, S. J. (1990). Feeding behavior in Littorina littorea: a study of the effects of ingestive conditioning and previous dietary history on food preference and rates of consumption. Hydrobiologia 193(1): 191-198. DOI10.1007/ BF00028076","Kelly, E., (ed.), (2005). The role of kelp in the marine environment. Irish Wildlife Manuals, 17. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland. 1-123. ISSN 1393 – 6670.","Kra ufvelin, P., Christie, H., Olsen, M., (2002). Littoral macrofauna (secondary) responses to experimental nutrient addition to rocky shore mesocosms and a coastal lagoon. Hydrobiologia 484: 149-166.","Mange, M.A., Maurer, H.F.W., (1992). Heavy minerals in colour. Ed. Chapman & Hall, London, 147.","Marion, P., van, (1996). Ecological studies in Hopavågen, a landlocked bay at Agdenes, Sor-Trondelag, Norway. Gunneria 71: 1-39. ISBN 82-7126-508-3, ISSN 0332-8554.","Nelson, M.L., Cra ig, S.F., (2011). Role of the sea anemone Metridium senile in structuring a developing subtidal fouling community. Mar Ecol Prog Ser, Vol. 421: 139–149.","Parfenoff, A., Pomerol, C.H., Tourenq, J., (1970). Les mineraux en grains; methods d`etude et determination. Paris: Masson, 578 p.","Paul, M., (2014). Evaluation of the use of surrogate Laminaria digitata in eco-hydraulic laboratory experiments. Journal of Hydrodynamics, 26(3): 374-383. DOI: 10.1016/S1001-6058(14)60042-1","Paul, M., Henry, Y.T.-P., Thoma s, E.R., (2014). Geometrical and mechanical properties of four species of northern European brown macroalgae. Coastal Engineering 84: 73–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. coastaleng.2013.11.007.","Rasmussen, A.D., Banta, G.T., Andersen, O., (1998). Effects of bioturbation by the lugworm Arenicola marina on cadmium uptake and distribution in sandy sediments. Mar Ecol Prog Ser. 164: 179-188.","Tait, W. L., (2010). Primary production of intertidal marine macroalgae: factors influencing primary production over wide spatial and temporal scales: a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 255 p.","Watson, D.C., Norton, T.A., (1985). Dietary preferences of the common periwinkle, Littorina littorea (L.). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 88(3): 193-211.","Woolmington, A.D., Davenport, J., (1983). pH and PO2 levels beneath marine macrofouling organisms. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol, Vol. 66: 113-124.","WoRMS Editorial Board (2017). World Register of Marine Species. Available from http://www.marinespecies.org at VLIZ. Accessed 2017- 12-27. doi:10.14284/170"]}

Heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure are the main vital signs of the human body [1]. Monitoring of these parameters can provide information about the general health status of patients. In general, each vital parameter is measured with a different device. In this paper we present the details of a preclinical prototype for measurement of heart and respiratory rate plus oxygen saturation. This device is embedded in a glove that has an optical sensor to record the photopletysmographic (PPG) signal from the patient. The optical module situated on the palmar side of the glove uses a reflection mode pulse oximeter at 25 degrees incidence. Further, the PPG signal is recorded and transmitted wirelessly by a Shimmer sensor node situated on the dorsal side of the glove. On the same side a solar cell is located which is used to charge the battery of the glove system. The PPG signals are received by a laptop and processed in real time to extract the vital signs. To measure the vital signs, the nurse or the doctor simply touches the patient skin while using the glove. We evaluated the glove on 10 healthy volunteers. The respiratory and heart rate errors were under 4 breaths respective beats per minute when compared with reference. This device can be used in rural areas by doctors to evaluate the general health status of patients. In addition, the glove can communicate with smart phones where databases can be generated.