Search results

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the ventricular tachycardia by soft computing. Ventricular tachycardia is a type of regular and fast heart rate which arises from improper electrical activity in the ventricles of the heart.

In this study, a soft computing approach was applied for the ventricular tachycardia detection. The soft computing was used to detect which factors are the most important for the ventricular tachycardia.

Three factors were used: brain natriuretic peptide, troponin I which is a part of the troponin complex and C-reactive protein which is an annular (ring-shaped), pentameric protein found in blood plasma.

It was found that troponin I has the most influence on the ventricular tachycardia prediction.

This article discusses the possibility of the automation of sophisticated subject indexing of medical journal articles. Approaches to subject descriptor assignment in information retrieval research are usually either based upon the manual descriptors in the database or generation of search parameters from the text of the article. The principles of the Medline indexing system are described, followed by a summary of a pilot project, based upon the Amed database. The results suggest that a more extended study, based upon Medline, should encompass various components: Extraction of ‘concept strings’ from titles and abstracts of records, based upon linguistic features characteristic of medical literature. Use of the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) for identification of controlled vocabulary descriptors. Coordination of descriptors, utilising features of the Medline indexing system. The emphasis should be on system manipulation of data, based upon input, available resources and specifically designed rules.

The purpose of this paper is to review the Braidwood Commission's two reports on the use of TASER conducted energy weapons in Canada and the death of Robert Dziekanski to determine whether the Commission's conclusions and subsequent recommendations constitute sound evidence‐based public policy.

This study analyzes Commissioner Braidwood's eight findings from the first report regarding the medical implications of the use of TASER devices by comparing those findings to the body of scientific, medical, and technical literature on the physiological effects of TASER technology. Additionally, this study reviews the potential ramifications of the Commissioner's recommendations regarding the use of TASER devices in both reports.

Evidence from the existing literature does not support the Commission's findings regarding the medical risks of the use of TASER technology. Recommendations to restrict the use of TASER devices are unlikely to reduce arrest‐related deaths, but they are likely to result in increased injuries to officers and suspects. Other recommendations, including training standards, testing requirements, reporting requirements, medical assistance, and research and review, are consistent with other reviews on the use of TASER technology and are necessary and appropriate to restore public confidence in police use‐of‐force.

The Braidwood Commission recommendations have had an immediate impact on the policies of several police agencies in Canada, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but this study is the first critically to review whether those recommendations constitute formulation of sound evidence‐based public policy.

Ventricular surface activation time maps are estimated from simulated and measured body surface potential (BSP) maps and extra‐corporal magnetic field maps. In a first step the transfer matrix, relating the primary cardiac sources to the measured potential and/or magnetic field data, is calculated applying the boundary element method. Activation times are determined by minimizing a cost function which is based on this transfer matrix. This optimization method is solved by a quasi Newton method. The critical point theorem is used in order to estimate the starting column matrix.

Automatic internal cardiac defibrillators have various indications for placement. However, some patients may not fully benefit from this technology and the devices are expensive. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to describe a development model for clinical decision support to help providers offer their patients a more effective decision‐making process.

A decision tree was built based on previous trials described in the cardiac literature.

A decision‐making model for implanting these expensive but lifesaving devices is developed and a model for testing them (pre‐ and post‐implantation) is described.

The model could be used to develop prospective trials.

The paper demonstrates that the project's goal is better quality and cost‐effective care.

Discusses environmental factors which may have harmful effects on the cardiovascular system and cause acute or chronic disease. Classifies these factors as chemical, physical, biological and psychosocial. Concentrates on describing the chemical, physical and biological elements which directly cause cardiovascular diseases, such as nicotine and carbon monoxide (chemical); temperatue and electricity (physical) and viral infections such as maternal coxsackie (biological). Concludes by stressing the need for more intensive studies on this subject.

This study has demonstrated how technology may contribute to integrated care solutions by comparing conventional ward telemetry (WT) to a wearable ECG monitor (S-Patch) to detect atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with stroke.

51 patients admitted for stroke workup were recruited across two major tertiary centres to compare WT monitoring for two days versus S-Patch for four days in the detection of AF. The efficacy to detect AF using both technologies was assessed via data extractions and medical officer review. A matrix was used to measure nursing/patient satisfaction and setup/resource times were assessed.

Patients (84–94%) and nursing staff (75–95%) preferred the S-Patch wearable technology. Non-parametric tests indicated significant time saving for removal of S-Patch versus WT [2.2 min vs 5.1 min (p = 0.00)]. Efficacy of S-Patch to detect AF following medical officer review was greater than WT, with seven patients identified with AF by S-Patch versus one using WT. The S-patch had a false positive rate of 78%.

The S-Patch is sensitive in the detection of AF; however, it showed a high false-positive rate with automated reporting. This study has provided insight into the details of delivery of integrated healthcare using wearable technology.

The technology and partnership were the first-in-kind in Australia. The S-Patch had a higher detection rate of AF compared to WT which allows patients to be anti-coagulated appropriately for the prevention of further stroke. The results of this study will be ideally placed to inform future policy in integrated healthcare using new technologies.

The practice of restraint is controversial as deaths in care or custody have been a consequence of restraint. The purpose of this paper is to clarify research from national and international literature to ascertain any common findings in order to provide guidance for staff on safe and effective restraint techniques where there is no other resort in the management of violent and aggressive individuals.

The researchers undertook a review of the literature on the medical theories relating to restraint‐related deaths and an analysis of deaths in custody in the UK for the time period 1 Jan 1999 to 1 Jan 2010.

Findings showed that certain groups are particularly vulnerable to risks while being restrained. There are also biophysiological mechanisms which staff need to be aware of when restraining an aggressive or violent individual.

It is evident that those in vulnerable groups when restrained in a prone position, or in a basket hold, for a prolonged period and who are agitated and resistive, are most at risk of death in custody. Consistency in reporting relevant deaths locally and nationally is necessary to facilitate analysis of key information and prevent deaths in custody in the future. Staff training and awareness are also key factors.

Digital computing and machine learning-driven predictive analysis in the diagnosis of non-communicable diseases are gaining significance. Globally many research studies are focusing on developing comprehensive models for such detection. Categorically in the proposed diagnosis for arrhythmia, which is a critical diagnosis to prevent cardiac-related deaths, any constructive models can be a value proposition. In this study, the focus is on developing a holistic system that predicts the scope of arrhythmia from the given electrocardiogram report. The proposed method is using the sequential patterns of the electrocardiogram elements as features.

Considering the decision accuracy of the contemporary classification methods, which is not adequate to use in clinical practices, this manuscript coined a new dimension of features to perform supervised learning and classification using the AdaBoost classifier. The proposed method has titled “Electrocardiogram stream level correlated patterns as features (ESCPFs),” which takes electrocardiograms (ECGs) signal streams as input records to perform supervised learning-based classification to detect the arrhythmia scope in given ECG record.

From the results and comparative reports generated for the study, it is evident that the model is performing with higher accuracy compared to some of the earlier models. However, focusing on the emerging solutions and technologies, if the accuracy factors for the model can be improved, it can lead to compelling predictions and accurate outcome from the process.

The authors represent complete automatic and rapid arrhythmia as classifier, which could be applied online and examine long ECG records sequence efficiently. By releasing the needs for extraction of features, the authors project an application based on raw signals, one result to heart rates date, whose objective is to lessen computation time when attaining minimum classification error outcomes.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of psychosocial treatments to support families living with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression. The paper highlights that depression in people with CVD is a predictor of non-adherence to both medicines and cardiovascular rehabilitation programmes. The authors believe there is a clinical need to develop a programme of care to support the whole family to adhere to cardiovascular rehabilitation programmes.

A team of expert cardiovascular nurses, mental health nurses (MHN) and cardiologist clinical opinions and experiences. These opinions and experiences were supplemented by literature using MEDLINE as the primary database for papers published between December 2000 and December 2013.

People with CVD who become depressed are more likely to stop taking their medicine and stop working with their health care worker. Most people with heart and mood problems live with their families. Health workers could have a role in supporting families living with heart and mood problems to their care and treatment. The paper has highlighted the importance of working with families living with heart and mood problems to help them to stick with care and treatment.

Most people with heart and mood problems live with their families. The paper has highlighted the importance of working with families living with heart and mood problems to help them to persevere with care and treatment. MHN may have a role, though consideration should also be given to exploring the role of other health care workers and members of the community. As the population ages, clinicians and communities will need to consider the impact of depression on adherence when working with families living with CVD and depression.