Blood Oxygen Saturation Level Research Articles

DIY Ventilator using Arduino

Abstract: This document shows the summaries of the several tests we have taken. Breathing occurs in the human lungs. Every time they inhale, they push a system that triggers motivation and the exhalation process. It is really reasonably priced. This can be used when a patient's vital condition is in jeopardy and they are suffering from the harmful consequences of lung or breathing problems. It usesa stepper motor component to propel the ambulance bag. Heartbeat levels are low during breathing, although this component can be. The levels of respiration and heartbeat are displayed on the LED screen. A ringer is included in the system to sound alert in the event that any anomalies related to a patient's critical condition or breathing problem are discovered. In addition, to prevent over- or under-air pressure, the ventilator should be able to track the patient's blood oxygen saturation level and exhale lung strain. The Arduino-powered ventilator that we are developing here satisfies all of these requirements, making it an affordable and dependable do-it-yourself ventilator that can be useful during a pandemic

Health monitoring system using ECG and PPG techniques

The demand for portable health monitoring systems has grown rapidly in recent years due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the need for continuous health monitoring. This article introduces the development and implementation of a portable health monitoring system using photo plethysmography (PPG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) technologies. The system integrates the Node MCU ESP8266 microcontroller, AD8232 ECG sensor, and MAX30100 sensor to measure vital signs such as heart rate and blood oxygen saturation level. The proposed system provides a cost-effective and efficient solution for real-time health monitoring, enabling early detection of abnormalities and timely intervention. The feasibility and performance of the system were proven through experimental tests.

Thermal and functional condition of microbiological laboratory workers when using personal protective equipment against biological factors

Introduction. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) against pathogenic biological agents (PBA) by medical workers in microbiological laboratories is a mandatory requirement for infectious safety, however, low or absent air and vapor permeability of these PPE and their elements can contribute to disruption of the functional and thermal state. The aim of the study is a physiological and hygienic assessment of PPE against pathogenic pathogens based on indicators of the thermal state of the body when modeling the professional activities of microbiological laboratory workers. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the laboratory of personal protective equipment and industrial exoskeletons of Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health on 12 practically healthy individuals — male and female medical workers while simulating work activities and sanitary and epidemiological requirements for a microbiological laboratory. Results. The values of skin and body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation levels obtained in the dynamics of the study made it possible to determine the degree of stress in the thermal and functional state of the body of medical workers. The indicators obtained during the experiment were assessed in accordance with current regulatory documents. A number of thermal state indicators obtained during the study had statistically significant differences from their initial values at p<0.05. Conclusions. When using personal protective equipment against pathogenic pathogens under comfortable microclimatic conditions, an increase in some criterion indicators of the examined individuals was noted, in particular to the upper limit of permissible values of thermal state, which indicates the leading influence of PPE on the thermoregulation of the body and necessitates a reduction in the process of production activities and requires limiting the maximum duration of a work shift under given conditions is three hours, followed by a break to restore the thermal state and water-salt balance. Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with ethical principles and norms, an extract from the minutes of the meeting of the local ethics committee No. 9 dated 11/23/2022 was obtained.

HALF DOSE THROMBOLYSIS IN INTERMEDIATE – HIGH RISK PULMONARY EMBOLISM WITH TRICUSPID VALVE MOBILE MASS: A BAIL OUT STRATEGY

Abstract A 82–year–old previously healthy male was referred to the emergency department complaining sudden onset dyspnea and witnessed syncope complicated by head trauma. Recurrent dizziness occurred previously. No history or drug consumption noted. On admission: heart rate 90 beats/min, blood pressure 110/60 mmHg, respiratory rate 25 breaths/min, oxygen saturation 87% in room air, normal body temperature. No lower extremities tenderness or swelling reported. Consistent with peripheral blood oxygen saturation levels, arterial blood gas analysis showed hypoxemia and respiratory alkalosis. Laboratory exams were significant for thrombocytopenia (89.000 cells/L), elevated cardiac troponin T levels (222 ng/L) and natriuretic peptide (NT pro–BNP 3944 pg/mL). Head CT excluded acute cerebral hemorrhage. At the electrocardiogram, signs of RV strain were present (biphasic T–waves in V1–V3 leads, S1–Q3–T3). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed dilated RV with hypokinetic free wall, “D–shaped” LV, “60/60” sign and a mobile filiform mass crossing the tricuspid valve plan in the right atrium (fig. 1). The patient did not present structural valvular abnormalities or endocarditis–related risk factors. CT pulmonary angiography detected a “saddle” PE and extensive thrombosis in inferior vena cava. After unfractioned heparin (UFH) bolus, the patient was transferred to our intensive care unit and balancing risks and benefits the chosen treatment option consisted in half dose systemic thrombolysis (50 mg rtPA in 60’’; 10 mg as loading dose in 2’). Because of potential harmful effects in thrombocytopenia and recent head trauma, UFH was temporarily withheld and started again after 1 hour. The day after, a beside TTE showed complete tricuspid thrombus resolution, a significant decrease in RV/LV ratio and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (fig. 2). Apart from small hematomas, no bleedings were reported. The patient was shifted to the ward on the next day and following course was uneventful. On day 4 a direct oral anticoagulant (Dabigatran 110 mg) was started. Abdominal and inferior limb–deep–venous ultrasound were both negative for pathological reports. A total body CT was scheduled to exclude silent malignancies at discharge. Take home message: in intermediate–high risk PE, half dose systemic fibrinolysis strategy is controversial since its potential benefit is counterbalanced by concerns about major bleedings, but increasing data suggest its efficacy with low risk profile.

Risk factors for adverse outcome among patients with non-high risk pulmonary embolism

The aim – to determine the factors which have influence on hospital mortality in patients with non-high risk pulmonary embolism (PE).Materials and methods. We analysed 635 medical cards of patients (pts) with diagnosis «Pulmonary Embolism (PE)» who were hospitalised to Kharkiv City Clinical Hospital No.8. during 01.01.2017 – 01.01.2023. The inclusion criteria was diagnosis «PE» verified by multispiral computed tomography angiography (CTPA) of pulmonary arteries and/or by autopsy. Among the 635 pts, 530 were non-high risk. The non-high risk pts were divided into 2 groups: Group I – pts who were discharged with improved status (479 – 90.4 %), Group II – pts who died during hospitalisation (51 – 9.6 %). Clinical, anamnestic, biochemical, instrumental parameters, mortality rates were measured; statistical analysis was done.Results and discussion. The independent factors identified by multivariate vector analysis were associated with in-hospital mortality in pts with non-high risk PE: atrial fibrillation (AF), obesity, history of venous thromboembolism (VTE); lower levels of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), systolic blood pressure (SBP); higher mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP); heart rate (HR) ≥ 110 beats/min. An ROC analysis was also performed to determine the thresholds of factors associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with non-high risk PE: SBP ≤ 124 mm Hg, HR ≥ 110 bts/min, mean PAP ≥ 54 mm Hg. Impact of AF on in-hospital mortality was depicted by Kaplan – Meier.Conclusions. Several factors were associated with increased in-hospital mortality in patients with non-high risk PE: age ˃ 54 years, SBP ≤ 124 mm Hg, history of VTE, obesity, AF; SpO2 ≤ 87 %, mean PAP ≥ 54 mm Hg, HR ≥ 110 bpm.

The metabolic effects of habitual leg shaking: A randomized crossover trial.

The adverse effects of sedentary behavior on obesity and chronic diseases are well established. However, the prevalence of sedentary behavior has increased, with only a minority of individuals meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines. This study aimed to investigate whether habitual leg shaking, a behavior traditionally considered unfavorable, could serve as an effective strategy to improve energy metabolism. A randomized crossover study was conducted, involving 15 participants (mean [SD] age, 25.4 [3.6]; mean [SD] body mass index, 22 [3]; 7 women [46.7%]). The study design involved a randomized sequence of sitting and leg shaking conditions, with each condition lasting for 20 min. Energy expenditure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and other relevant variables were measured during each condition. Compared to sitting, leg shaking significantly increased total energy expenditure [1.088 kj/min, 95% confidence interval, 0.69-1.487 kj/min], primarily through elevated carbohydrate oxidation. The average metabolic equivalent during leg shaking exhibited a significant increase from 1.5 to 1.8. Leg shaking also raised respiratory rate, minute ventilation, and blood oxygen saturation levels, while having no obvious impact on heart rate or blood pressure. Electromyography data confirmed predominant activation of lower leg muscles and without increased muscle fatigue. Intriguingly, a significant correlation was observed between the increased energy expenditure and both the frequency of leg shaking and the muscle mass of the legs. Our study provides evidence that habitual leg shaking can boost overall energy expenditure by approximately 16.3%. This simple and feasible approach offers a convenient way to enhance physical activity levels.

Utilization of IoT-Based Healthcare System and Vital Data Monitoring of patients

The next generation of technology, known as the Internet of Things (IoT), will provide a comprehensive system that connects different domains, functions, and innovations. With the increasing demand for elderly care due to the growing ageing population, health monitoring systems have become increasingly important. Continuous monitoring is required in ICU to monitor the health conditions of patients. In cases where patients are released from the hospital, they are advised to rest and observed for a certain period, and the IoT system is very helpful in such cases. This article primarily discusses the implementation of a precise autonomous medical facility management system using IoT. In the past, only current data was displayed, and the patient's history could not be accessed. In this study, we propose an IoT-based healthcare system for continuous monitoring of a patient's health conditions. The healthcare system focuses on measuring and monitoring various biological parameters of the patient's body, such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation level, and temperature, using a web server and an Android application. Doctors can continuously monitor the patient's condition on their smart phones using the Android application. Moreover, the patient's history will be stored on the web server, and doctors can access the information from anywhere without being physically present.

Antarctic station Vostok as an analogue of a future lunar base: physiological reactions of the human cardiorespiratory system during a year-long exposure to the conditions of hypobaric hypoxia, isolation and hypokinesia

A number of physiological investigations focused on human cardiorespiratory system have been conducted at Vostok station in Central Antarctica during the wintering of 2019.During the one-year expedition at the Vostok station, the cardiorespiratory system gradually adapted to the unusual conditions of life and work in the isolated, confined and extreme (ICE) environment of Central Antarctica.We hypothesized that during a long stay in the conditions of the Central Antarctica the adaptation strategy to physical environmental conditions for representatives of two age groups will differ, which will be evident from the dynamics of indicators of the functioning of the cardiovascular system and when assessing the autonomic nervous system status.The level of blood oxygen saturation stabilized by the second month and was in the range of 86.0-91.0%, which corresponded to a reduced partial pressure of oxygen in the inhaled air. In terms of the respiratory system, central sleep apnea was noted in all subjects throughout the study. Quantitative analysis revealed that the average number of apneas per hour was 43, and their average duration was 25.2 seconds. The maximum apnea number was recorded at the beginning and middle of wintering, while before the end of the expedition the episodes became rarer. In all age groups there was a shortening of the PQ interval, with a tendency towards normalization by the end of wintering, while in the first age group the shortening of the interval was more significant than in the second, which apparently can be explained by a more pronounced active reaction of the sympathetic nervous system of polar explorers of the first age group.Adaptive Potential Index (API) level remained practically unchanged throughout the wintering period in 9 out of 11 members of the expedition. The API value was predominantly in the range from 2.11 to 3.20 points, which corresponds to the level of “adaptation stress”. The autonomous nervous system (ANS) status was assessed by Kerdo Index (KI) values. KI positive dynamic was noted in 90% of cases by the 5th month of wintering. A direct correlation was found between the degree of positive shift in the KI value and the age of the participant. The gained results do not allow us to state that ANS has fully adapted to the conditions of life and work at the station. The results of this investigation demonstrate stable and positive adaptation trend to the ICE environment of Central Antarctica throughout the study period, regardless of age and wintering experience.

A retrospective cohort study on early antibiotic use in vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID-19 patients.

The bacteriophage behavior of SARS-CoV-2 during the acute and post-COVID-19 phases appears to be an important factor in the development of the disease. The early use of antibiotics seems to be crucial to inhibit disease progression-to prevent viral replication in the gut microbiome, and control toxicological production from the human microbiome. To study the impact of specific antibiotics on recovery from COVID-19 and long COVID (LC) taking into account: vaccination status, comorbidities, SARS-CoV-2 wave, time of initiation of antibiotic therapy and concomitant use of corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A total of 211 COVID-19 patients were included in the study: of which 59 were vaccinated with mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 while 152 were unvaccinated. Patients were enrolled in three waves: from September 2020 to October 2022, corresponding to the emergence of the pre-Delta, Delta, and Omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The three criteria for enrolling patients were: oropharyngeal swab positivity or fecal findings; moderate symptoms with antibiotic intake; and measurement of blood oxygen saturation during the period of illness. The use of antibiotic combinations, such as amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (875 + 125 mg tablets, every 12 h) plus rifaximin (400 mg tablets every 12 h), as first choice, as suggested from the previous data, or azithromycin (500 mg tablets every 24 h), plus rifaximin as above, allows healthcare professionals to focus on the gut microbiome and its implications in COVID-19 disease during patient care. The primary outcome measured in this study was the estimated average treatment effect, which quantified the difference in mean recovery between patients receiving antibiotics and those not receiving antibiotics at 3 and 9 days after the start of treatment. In the analysis, both vaccinated and unvaccinated groups had a median illness duration of 7 days (interquartile range [IQR] 6-9 days for each; recovery crude hazard ratio [HR] = 0.94, p = 0.700). The median illness duration for the pre-Delta and Delta waves was 8 days (IQR 7-10 days), while it was shorter, 6.5 days, for Omicron (IQR 6-8 days; recovery crude HR = 1.71, p < 0.001). These results were confirmed by multivariate analysis. Patients with comorbidities had a significantly longer disease duration: median 8 days (IQR 7-10 days) compared to 7 days (IQR 6-8 days) for those without comorbidities (crude HR = 0.75, p = 0.038), but this result was not confirmed in multivariate analysis as statistical significance was lost. Early initiation of antibiotic therapy resulted in a significantly shorter recovery time (crude HR = 4.74, p < 0.001). Concomitant use of NSAIDs did not reduce disease duration and in multivariate analysis prolonged the disease (p = 0.041). A subgroup of 42 patients receiving corticosteroids for a median of 3 days (IQR 3-6 days) had a longer recovery time (median 9 days, IQR 8-10 days) compared to others (median 7 days, IQR 6-8 days; crude HR = 0.542, p < 0.001), as confirmed also by the adjusted HR. In this study, a statistically significant reduction in recovery time was observed among patients who received early antibiotic treatment. Early initiation of antibiotics played a crucial role in maintaining higher levels of blood oxygen saturation. In addition, it is worth noting that a significant number of patients who received antibiotics in the first 3 days and for a duration of 7 days, during the acute phase did not develop LC.

Validation of a new 3D quantitative BOLD based cerebral oxygen extraction mapping.

Quantitative BOLD (qBOLD) MRI allows evaluation of oxidative metabolism of the brain based purely on an endogenous contrast mechanism. The method quantifies deoxygenated blood volume (DBV) and hemoglobin oxygen saturation level of venous blood (Yv), yielding oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and along with a separate measurement of cerebral blood flow, cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) maps. Here, we evaluated our recently reported 3D qBOLD method that rectifies a number of deficiencies in prior qBOLD approaches in terms of repeat reproducibility and sensitivity to hypercapnia on the metabolic parameters, and in comparison to dual-gas calibrated BOLD (cBOLD) MRI for determining resting-state oxygen metabolism. Results suggested no significant difference between test-retest qBOLD scans in either DBV and OEF. Exposure to hypercapnia yielded group averages of 38 and 28% for OEF and 151 and 146 µmol/min/100 g for CMRO2 in gray matter at baseline and hypercapnia, respectively. The decrease of OEF during hypercapnia was significant (p ≪ 0.01), whereas CMRO2 did not change significantly (p = 0.25). Finally, baseline OEF (37 vs. 39%) and CMRO2 (153 vs. 145 µmol/min/100 g) in gray matter using qBOLD and dual-gas cBOLD were found to be in good agreement with literature values, and were not significantly different from each other (p > 0.1).

IOT-BASED SMART SALINE LEVEL AND HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM

The many uses of saline solution include as providing temporary fluids when there is under or no hydration among the trauma cases. In addition, they participate in the control of salt and the levels of electrolytes in the body. To maintain the level of a saline bottle, hospital nurses or aides prime responsibility is to check it on a regular basis. The failure to replace them in time may result in a reversal of blood flow, compromising the patient’s life. An Internet of Things (IoT)-based Smart Saline Level was developed to solve this issue and to provide an automated and efficient solution for remote monitoring. The Proposed system employs Internet of Things (IoT) technology, integrating NodeMCU, a load cell amplifier (HX711), Arduino UNO, Pulse oximeter (MAX 30100) sensor, DHT11 Sensor and a voltage regulator(L7805). The load cell, in combination with the HX711 amplifier, accurately measures the weight of the saline bottle. MAX30100 sensor measures Heart Rate &amp; Oxygen saturation (SPo2) levels in blood. DHT11 Sensor detects the Humidity and Temperature levels. All the data is transmitted to the Arduino UNO, which serves as a master, the NodeMCU facilitates wireless communication, relaying the collected data from the Arduino UNO to the designated IoT cloud platform for remote monitoring.

Can we predict lung sequelae in post-COVID-19 patients?

Amaç: COVID-19 pnömonisi ile hastaneye yatırılan hastalar, uzun süreli standart tedavi veya antienflamatuar rejim uygulansa bile enfeksiyon sonrası akciğer fibrozisine ilerleyebilir. Hangi hasta grubunun ilerleyici akciğer hastalığına sahip olacağını tahmin etmek zordur. Bu çalışma enfeksiyonun başlangıcından itibaren daha sonra akciğer fibrozisini öngörebilecek olası biyobelirteçleri tanımlamayı amaçlamaktadır.&#x0D; Gereç ve Yöntemler: Ocak-Aralık 2020 tarihleri arasında COVID-19 pnömonisi nedeniyle yatan ve PCR pozitif olan hastalar çalışmaya alındı. COVID-19 sonrası semptomlar ve akciğer sekel oluşumu açısından hastalar 12 ay boyunca takip edildi.&#x0D; Bulgular: Çalışmaya ortanca yaşı 62 (R: 17-93) olan toplam 64 hasta dahil edildi ve %42.2 kadındı (n=27). 35 hastada (%54.7) COVID sonrası semptomlar mevcuttu, 8 hasta (%12.5) kaybedildi ve 22’si (%34.4) yeniden hastaneye yatırıldı. Hastaların %76.6'sının klinik seyri iyiydi ancak hastaların %54.7'sinde enfeksiyon sonrası sekel gelişti. Pnömoni skoru, kan oksijen satürasyon düzeyi, CRP ve başvuru sırasındaki troponin düzeyleri sekel gelişimi ile anlamlı olarak ilişkiliydi (p

Therapeutic effects of long-term HBOT on Alzheimer's disease neuropathologies and cognitive impairment in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder with the pathological hallmarks of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain. Although there is a hope that anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies may emerge as a new therapy for AD, the high cost and side effect is a big concern. Non-drug therapy is attracting more attention and may provide a better resolution for the treatment of AD. Given the fact that hypoxia contributes to the pathogenesis of AD, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may be an effective intervention that can alleviate hypoxia and improve AD. However, it remains unclear whether long-term HBOT intervention in the early stage of AD can slow AD progression and ultimately prevent cognitive impairment in this disease. In this study we applied consecutive 3-month HBOT interventions on 3-month-old APPswe/PS1dE9 AD mice which represent the early stage of AD. When the APPswe/PS1dE9 mice at 9-month-old which represent the disease stage we measured cognitive function, 24-h blood oxygen saturation, Aβ and tau pathologies, vascular structure and function, and neuroinflammation in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. Our results showed that long-term HBOT can attenuate the impairments in cognitive function observed in 9-month-old APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. Most importantly, HBOT effectively reduced the progression of Aβ plaques deposition, hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregation, and neuronal and synaptic degeneration in the AD mice. Further, long-term HBOT was able to enhance blood oxygen saturation level. Besides, long-term HBOT can improve vascular structure and function, and reduce neuroinflammation in AD mice. This study is the first to demonstrate that long-term HBOT intervention in the early stage of AD can attenuate cognitive impairment and AD-like pathologies. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of long-term HBOT as a disease-modifying approach for AD treatment.

Comparison of massage and prone position on heart rate and blood oxygen saturation level in preterm neonates hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units

BackgroundMany years ago, it was proposed that prone positioning and infant massage would benefit preterm and babies with low birth weight.Aim of the workEvaluating the effectiveness of massage therapy and the neonatal prone position on the heart rate (HR) and blood oxygen saturation level (SPO2) of premature neonates in neonatal intensive care units.Subject and methodsOur study was conducted as a single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial at the NICUs of Menoufia University Hospital. After enrollment, the (240) cases were divided into group A: (80) infants with prone position, group B: (80) infants with massage therapy (as intervention groups), group C: (80) infants as a control group (without intervention).ResultsRegarding group A, there was a significant difference between the first and last days of intervention regarding HR and SPO2 at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min. Regarding group B, there was a significant difference between the first and last days of intervention regarding HR and SPO2 at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min. Regarding group C, there was no significant difference between the First and last days of intervention regarding HR at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min.ConclusionProne position and infant’s massage equally reduce Heart Rate and increase preterm babies' blood oxygen saturation level neonates admitted in NICU.

Relationship between Oxygen Saturation and Blood Cholesterol Levels in the Elderly

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), elderly people are a population group aged 60 years or more (WHO, 2015). In 2010 the number of elderly people was 18.1 million people or 17.6 percent. In 2014 the number increased to 18.8 million people. In Indonesia, elderly people in 2020 are estimated to reach 28.8 million people or 11.34 percent of the total population in the country. Based on 2018 data, Indonesia Health Research Organization (RISKESDA) stated the majority of elderly people in Indonesia have degenerative diseases and/or chronic health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease (Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, 2018). In the 21st century, a special challenge in the health sector from the continuing increase in the number of elderly people is the emergence of degenerative problems and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and mental health disorders, namely depression, dementia, anxiety disorders, and sleeping disorders. These diseases will cause problems if they are not treated or prevented. Oxygen saturation is the hemoglobin fraction of oxygen saturation relative to the total hemoglobin in the blood or the oxygen level in the blood. Oxygen is bound to Hemoglobin in the Red blood cells or Erythrocytes. The human body needs and regulates a very precise and specific balance of oxygen in the blood, because the human body needs oxygen from the environment outside the body for metabolic processes and body activities. The normal arterial blood oxygen saturation level in humans is 95-100 percent. Based on data from the Global Health Observatory (GHO) from the World Health Organization (WHO), it shows that one third of ischemic heart disease is caused by high cholesterol levels. Overall, elevated cholesterol is estimated to cause 2.6 million deaths (4.5% of total deaths in the world) and 29.7 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYS), or 2% of total DALYS. (Increased ......

Your smartphone could act as a pulse-oximeter and as a single-lead ECG

In the post-covid19 era, every new wave of the pandemic causes an increased concern/interest among the masses to learn more about their state of well-being. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to come up with ubiquitous, low-cost, non-invasive tools for rapid and continuous monitoring of body vitals that reflect the status of one’s overall health. In this backdrop, this work proposes a deep learning approach to turn a smartphone—the popular hand-held personal gadget—into a diagnostic tool to measure/monitor the three most important body vitals, i.e., pulse rate (PR), blood oxygen saturation level (aka SpO2), and respiratory rate (RR). Furthermore, we propose another method that could extract a single-lead electrocardiograph (ECG) of the subject. The proposed methods include the following core steps: subject records a small video of his/her fingertip by placing his/her finger on the rear camera of the smartphone, and the recorded video is pre-processed to extract the filtered and/or detrended video-photoplethysmography (vPPG) signal, which is then fed to custom-built convolutional neural networks (CNN), which eventually spit-out the vitals (PR, SpO2, and RR) as well as a single-lead ECG of the subject. To be precise, the contribution of this paper is twofold: (1) estimation of the three body vitals (PR, SpO2, RR) from the vPPG data using custom-built CNNs, vision transformer, and most importantly by CLIP model (a popular image-caption-generator model); (2) a novel discrete cosine transform+feedforward neural network-based method that translates the recorded video-PPG signal to a single-lead ECG signal. The significance of this work is twofold: (i) it allows rapid self-testing of body vitals (e.g., self-monitoring for covid19 symptoms), (ii) it enables rapid self-acquisition of a single-lead ECG, and thus allows early detection of atrial fibrillation (abormal heart beat or arrhythmia), which in turn could enable early intervention in response to a range of cardiovascular diseases, and could help save many precious lives. Our work could help reduce the burden on healthcare facilities and could lead to reduction in health insurance costs.

Effects of N95 Masks on Cerebral Oxygen Saturation and End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure in Healthcare Workers

Background: Healthcare workers must wear masks throughout their shifts, especially those in operating rooms for long periods. Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of wearing N95 masks on blood and cerebral oxygen saturation levels for three hours. Methods: The present case-control study enrolled 20 operating room workers wearing N95 masks. Their blood oxygen saturation (SaO2), end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PETCO2), and right- and left-sided cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) were measured in the beginning (0 h) and after wearing N95 masks for one and three hours. Results: Wearing a mask affected PETCO2, rSO2, and pulse rate and caused fatigue and lightheadedness in some cases. The participants' mean PETCO2 increased significantly, from 32 mmHg before putting on a mask to 38 mmHg after wearing it for three hours (P &lt; 0.05). No significant change was observed in the participants' mean rSO2, though changes in their rSO2 levels were recorded (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: We showed evidence of changes in different physiology parameters due to using masks for 1 to 3 h. Notably, wearing an N95 mask increased end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure and decreased cerebral oxygen saturation in individual cases, not all cases.

Smart Non-invasive Physiological Parameter Monitoring System Using IoT and Blynk App

This work aims to provide an advanced, portable and non-invasive multiple physiological parameters monitoring system using the Internet of Things (IoT) platform and Blynk App. The device detects essential physiological parameters non-invasively including heart rate (bpm), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), blood glucose (mg/dL) and body temperature (C or F) from a person’s finger, peripheral part of the body or forehead. The sensors like pulse oximeter MAX30100 to read both heart rate and blood oxygen saturation, MLX9606 for sensing the body temperature and IR sensors to interpret blood glucose by near infrared optical method, have been calibrated and integrated with Arduino microprocessor and node MCU. The signal from the device is then sent to the Blynk App installed in an Android phone via a Wi-Fi connection, allowing the user to record and monitor the data. Test results showed that the device is capable of sensing and monitoring the physiological parameters and can transmit real time data instantly after sensing to the user. This non-invasive method of sensing parameters showed an average accuracy of 99.2% in temperature measurement, 99.07% in blood oxygen saturation level measurement and 90.52% in blood glucose measurement.

Investigating the association of physical and psychological problems with the levels of interleukin-1 and -6 in COVID-19 patients.

The COVID-19 virus spreads at a high rate, exerting many physical, mental and psychological effects on patients. Patients with COVID-19 have been reported to have high levels of interleukin 1 and interleukin 6. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the association of physical, mental, and psychological problems with the levels of interleukin-1 and -6 in COVID-19 patients. This is cross-sectional descriptive-analytical research on 121 COVID-19 patients selected using simple random sampling method. The patients were hospitalized in university hospitals affiliated to Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences and Amir al-Momenin Hospital. Data collection tools included the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS), a demographic questionnaire, and a checklist of physical problems. Blood sampling was also done to perform an ELISA test and measure the level of interleukin-1 and -6. Data were analyzed based on independent t-tests, chi-square, regression, and Pearson's correlation coefficient, using SPSS ver. 22. The average age of the 121 patients participating in this study was 53.31 ± 14.09. A direct and statistically significant correlation was observed between body temperature on the first day and interleukin 1 level. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between blood oxygen saturation level and interleukin-1 and -6 on the first, third and fifth days. Shortness of breath and coughing had a statistically significant correlation with the level of interleukin 1 on the third and fifth days. A direct and statistically significant correlation was observed between body temperature on the first, third and fifth days and interleukin 6 level. Coughing on the third and fifth days had a statistically significant relationship with interleukin 6 level. No direct and non-significant statistical correlation was found between depression and stress and the serum level of interleukin 1, but a significant correlation was observed between anxiety and serum level of interleukin 1. Finally, the results showed that depression, anxiety and stress had a direct and statistically significant correlation with the serum level of interleukin 6. Given the relationship between interleukin-1 and -6 and most physical and psychological problems, level of the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin-1 and -6 can be used to estimate the severity of physical and psychological symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

The effects of mydriatic eye drops on cerebral blood flow and oxygenation in retinopathy of prematurity examinations.

Mydriatic eye drops used during retinopathy examination have been associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal side effects. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of the drops used for pupil dilatation on cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygenation. The study included 62 infants who underwent retinopathy screening exams. Vital signs, heart rate (HR), arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded. Cerebral oxygenation and middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity were evaluated using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and Doppler ultrasonography, respectively, and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) was also calculated. The mean gestational age of the infants included was 31.29 ± 1.42weeks, and the mean birth weight was 1620 ± 265g. Heart rate was found to be significantly decreased after mydriatic eye drop instillation; however, there were no significant differences regarding blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels (HR: p < 0.001; MAP: p = 0.851; SpO2: p = 0.986, respectively). After instillation while cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rScO2) measurements were significantly decreased at the 60th minute (p = 0.01), no significant difference was found in Vmax and Vmean of MCA before and after mydriatic eye drop instillation (p = 0.755, p = 0.515, respectively). Regarding CMRO2 measurements, we also did not find any statistical difference (p = 0.442). Conclusion:Our study has shown that although eye drops may affect heart rate and regional cerebral oxygen saturation, they do not alter cerebral blood flow velocities and metabolic rate of oxygen consumption. Current recommendations for mydriatic eye drop use in retinopathy exam appear to be safe. What is Known: • Mydriatic eye drop installation is recommended for pupil dilatation during ROP screening exams. • It's known that mydriatics used in ROP examination have affects on the vital signs, cerebral oxygenation and blood flow. What is New: • This is the first study evaluating the changes in cerebral oxygenation and blood flow velocity after mydriatic drop instillation using NIRS and Doppler US concomitantly. • While the eye drops may affect heart rate and regional cerebral oxygen saturation, they do not alter cerebral blood flow velocities and metabolic rate of oxygen consumption.