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The author comments on calculating a corrected QT interval (QTc) in acute care settings and the significant role of pharmacists in QTc interpretation. Topics discussed include standards for pharmacists in assessing the risk of QTc prolongation, the methods used to correct QT values, and factors to be considered in assessing the risk of torsades de pointes.

Objective: The index of cardio-electrophysiological balance (iCEB) is a new non-invasive marker that can be used to predict malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Pediatric studies on iCEB are limited in number. Our study aimed to determine the range of its values in different age groups among school-age children. Material and Methods: The study included patients aged 5-17 admitted to Gülhane Training and Research Hospital Pediatric Cardiology Outpatient Clinic between March 2020 and March 2022 without a history of chronic disease, cardiac disease, arrhythmia, or cardiac surgery. Participants were categorised into ages 5-8, 9-12, and 13-17. The iCEB and iCEBc values were calculated and compared between groups. Results: The total number of 1303 cases were categorised into the 5-8 (n=270), 9-12 (n=389), and 13-17 (n=644) age groups. The mean iCEB and iCEBc values for all age groups were 4.39±0.53 and 5.16±0.53, respectively. Any difference was not detected among age groups of 5-8, 9-12, and 13-17 years in terms of iCEB and iCEBc values (4.42±0.56, 4.39±0.53 and 4.39±0.52 vs. 5.19±0.56, 5.15±0.55 and 5.16±0.52, respectively). However, a significant difference was found between male (n=699) and female (n=604) patients in terms of mean iCEB (4.23±0.52 vs. 4.59±0.47) and iCEBc (4.98±0.53 vs. 5.38±0.46) values (p <0.001). Conclusion: iCEB and iCEBc values in school-age children did not differ according to age groups. However, these values differed between boys and girls. This study is the first to reveal normal ranges of iCEB and iCEBc values in school-age children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of SEMS-Journal is the property of Schwiez Zschr Sportmed Sporttraumatologie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common dysrhythmia and a risk factor for stroke and heart failure. Early detection and treatment are key to avoiding complications (especially in sustained AFib). Here, we systematically review the potential of wearable smartwatches (WSWs) to screen for AFib. Method A literature search was conducted, and only those validation studies were shortlisted where the screening ability of WSWs was compared with EKG, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy, and Kappa statistic were provided. Result Twelve studies were included with a combined sample size of 1,075,088. Most validation measures of WSWs were above 90% and comparable with KardiaBand by AliveCor (KB), which is an FDA-approved device to detect AFib. Conclusion WSWs have the potential to reliably and continuously screen for AFib and detect it in a timely manner. The inconclusive results produced by WSWs are a significant problem. Once the inconclusive results are rectified, WSWs may be used for widespread screening of AFib in those people who are at high risk of developing AFib.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common dysrhythmia and a risk factor for stroke and heart failure. Early detection and treatment are key to avoiding complications (especially in sustained AFib). Here, we systematically review the potential of wearable smartwatches (WSWs) to screen for AFib. Method: A literature search was conducted, and only those validation studies were shortlisted where the screening ability of WSWs was compared with EKG, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy, and Kappa statistic were provided. Result: Twelve studies were included with a combined sample size of 1,075,088. Most validation measures of WSWs were above 90% and comparable with KardiaBand by AliveCor (KB), which is an FDA-approved device to detect AFib. Conclusion: WSWs have the potential to reliably and continuously screen for AFib and detect it in a timely manner. The inconclusive results produced by WSWs are a significant problem. Once the inconclusive results are rectified, WSWs may be used for widespread screening of AFib in those people who are at high risk of developing AFib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Spor Hekimligi Dergisi/Turkish Journal of Sports Medicine is the property of Turkish Journal of Sports Medicine / Spor Hekimleri Dernegi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Duzce University Journal of Science & Technology is the property of Duzce University Journal of Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

* Heart rate variability (HRV) operationalizes the successive beat-to-beat fluctuations over a defined period of time, is derived from the time series of successive R-R intervals using various context-dependent metrics, and reflects the complex dynamic modulation of the heart's chronotropic response to physiological and/or pathological perturbations. * HRV metrics are used as markers of human cardiovascular health and risk stratification, or as measures of load quantification, exercise response and performance, respectively. * However, a valid use of HRV in the fields of sports medicine and exercise science requires careful consideration of the specific measurement principle of the recording device, standardized assessment, preprocessing, analysis, and context-sensitive interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Herzschrittmachertherapie und Elektrophysiologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introducción: La forma clínica cardiaca es la principal causa de morbimortalidad de la enfermedad de Chagas, y su patogenia estaría relacionada con alteraciones del sistema nervioso autónomo que afectarían la fisiología cardiovascular. Objetivos: Comparar los valores de frecuencia cardiaca, presión arterial y las alteraciones electrocardiográficas de pobladores infectados con T. cruzi y sujetos control. Material y métodos: estudio analítico, observacional, transversal; realizado en el valle de Vítor de Arequipa en el período 2004-2005. Se estudiaron 75 voluntarios mayores de 15 años de edad, distribuidos en 25 seropositivos y 50 seronegativos para T. cruzi, pareados por edad y sexo. Se midió frecuencia cardiaca, presión arterial y se realizó electrocardiografía estándar, comparándose los resultados en ambos grupos. Resultados: Los valores de frecuencia cardiaca y presión arterial fueron similares entre los sujetos infectados con T. cruzi y los controles, al igual que la presencia de bradicardia sinusal, hipotensión e hipertensión arterial. En 40% de los sujetos seropositivos hubo alteraciones electrocardiográficas, y en sujetos control en 26% diferencia estadísticamente no significativa. Las alteraciones más frecuentes en ambos grupos fueron los cambios inespecíficos de repolarización, bradicardia sinusal, hemibloqueo anerior izquierdo, extrasistolias supraventriculares. Se presentó bloqueo completo de rama derecha y hemibloqueo anterior izquierdo en personas infectadas con T. cruzi menores de 40 años. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de alteraciones cardiovasculares fue similar en población infectada con T. cruzi y sujetos control. Las alteraciones al EKG más frecuentes no son las típicamente descritas en enfermedad de Chagas.

Purpose of review: To summarize the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiac electrophysiology. Recent findings: AI is uniquely powered to integrate variable data-streams and consider complex non-linear relationships. Deep learning algorithms can consider aspects in data with unappreciated relevance in order to produce results that are impossible with other methods. The wide adoption of wearable technologies necessitated the development of accurate algorithms to identify cardiac rhythms. Similarly, algorithms use electrocardiograms to make arrhythmic diagnosis, localize arrhythmias, and uncover pathologies such as contractile dysfunction or valvular disease. AI use in imaging and intracardiac electrogram interpretation may enhance efficiency and reproducibility. AI dramatically improves prognostication including for sudden cardiac death, response to catheter ablations, and cardiac resynchronization therapy. AI also holds promise to potentially guide catheter ablation of the future. Summary: AI may improve availability, accuracy, and efficiency of electrophysiologic treatments as well as aid in translational research. Ethical and legal challenges will need to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the cardiac findings of patients with Infantile hemangiomas (IH) prior to propronalol treatment and to compare our findings with literature data and verify the need for detailed cardiac screening. Materials and Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective review of patients diagnosed with IH who underwent cardiac screening between October 2021 and October 2022. Charts were reviewed and symptoms, heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram findings were recorded for each patient. Results: Of the 50 patients, 30 were female. The mean age and weight were 7.1±7.3 months and 7.6±3.0 kg. Electrocardiography screening did not reveal any contraindication for treatment. Propranolol significantly reduced heart rate and systolic blood pressure (baseline: 120.2±10.5 bpm/89.6±17.6 mmHg; 1st week: 118.5±10.4 bpm/88.7±17.5 mmHg; 2nd week: 117.8±9.5 bpm/88.7±17.3 mmHg; 2nd month: 116.5±9.4 bpm/88.6±17.3 mmHg). Diastolic pressure reduction was significant only between 'baseline- 1st week and 'baseline- 2nd month (58.9±15.6 vs 58.2±15.8 mmHg; 58.9±15.6 vs 57.9±15.5 mmHg, respectively). Conclusion: Screening electrocardiography and hospitalization for initiation of propranolol therapy is not necessary in most infants. Given the low frequency of complications, it seems medical history and physical examination are the cornerstones for safe initiation and monitoring of β-blocker treatment. Electrocardiography and BP control should be part of the pretreatment evaluation in high-risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methadone is one of the most useful opioids that can be used to achieve many therapeutic goals, and also it may be abused as an illicit drug. Methadone can cause different gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiac complications. This study was performed to obtain a better understanding of the cardiac side effects of methadone in patients with methadone poisoning. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 210 samples in Sina Hospital of Hamadan in a one-year period from March 2019 to March 2020. After assessing patients who had methadone poisoning and completing their demographic information and evaluation of changes in patients' EKGs, the data was collected and analyzed by SPSS 16 software. Results: Out of 210 participants, 178 (84.8%) were males and the rest were females. The average age of the studied patients was 39.56 years old. The study found that 6.1% of methadone-poisoned patients were illiterate. It was found in this study that the most common cardiac complications of methadone intoxication were sinus tachycardia (20%), QT interval prolongation (6.64%), and sinus bradycardia (4.3%), respectively; nevertheless, 66.2% of patients did not have any EKG abnormalities. Conclusion: According to the findings, it is necessary to have continuous cardiac monitoring for patients with methadone intoxication and by transferring such findings to medical centers, steps can be taken to use methadone more intelligently.

Aim: It is known that cardiac involvement may occur in patients with COVID-19 infection. And one of the best diagnostic tools of cardiac involvement is the ECG. The aim of this study is to investigate the common ECG findings in COVID-19 infection and the effect of these findings on the prognosis. Material and Method: 215 patients who applied to our emergency department between 04.06.2022 and 04.08.2022 and met the criteria for inclusion in the study were included in this study. All patient results and ECG images were accessed from the hospital data recording system. The results were used for statistical analysis. Results: Of 215 patients, 118 were female and 97 were male, and the mean age was 58±21 years. Of these patients, 52 were hospitalized in the service and 17 were hospitalized in intensive care units, and 146 patients were discharged from the emergency department. The most common ECG finding was ST-T wave change. It was observed that there was a correlation between the detection of VT in the ECG and the intensive care unit admission. It was observed that the ECG findings of the patients had no effect on the prognosis. Conclusion: All ECG findings can be seen in patients admitted to the emergency department with COVID-19 infection. The most common ECG finding is ST-T wave change. In addition, long QTc, sinus tachycardia and AF are also common. However, no correlation was found between ECG findings and disease prognosis.

We compared four methods to screen emergency department (ED) patients for an early electrocardiogram (ECG) to diagnose ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a 5-year retrospective cohort through observed practice, objective application of screening protocol criteria, a predictive model, and a model augmenting human practice. We measured screening performance by sensitivity, missed acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and STEMI, and the number of ECGs required. Our cohort of 279,132 ED visits included 1397 patients who had a diagnosis of ACS. We found that screening by observed practice augmented with the model delivered the highest sensitivity for detecting ACS (92.9%, 95%CI: 91.4–94.2%) and showed little variation across sex, race, ethnicity, language, and age, demonstrating equity. Although it missed a few cases of ACS (7.6%) and STEMI (4.4%), it did require ECGs on an additional 11.1% of patients compared to current practice. Screening by protocol performed the worst, underdiagnosing young, Black, Native American, Alaskan or Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic patients. Thus, adding a predictive model to augment human practice improved the detection of ACS and STEMI and did so most equitably across the groups. Hence, combining human and model screening––rather than relying on either alone––may maximize ACS screening performance and equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine whether seated cervical manipulation produced changes in autonomic nervous system activity, as measured by heart rate variability and plasma norepinephrine levels. Ninety-five healthy young adults (ages 20-48 years) were recruited into a single-blinded physiological study, with 47 randomized to a seated cervical manipulation and 44 randomized to a sham procedure. Heart rate variability in the frequency domain, and plasma norepinephrine levels were measured prior to, immediately following, and 5 minutes following the intervention. Electrocardiograms were obtained from 39 subjects in the sham group and 43 subjects in the manipulation group. No statistically significant changes were found in measures of heart rate variability in the frequency domain in either the manipulation or sham groups. Blood samples were obtained from 22 subjects in the sham group and 27 subjects in the manipulation group. Plasma norepinephrine levels, as measured by spectrophotometry, declined in both groups from pre- to immediately postintervention, and they remained at decreased levels 5 minutes after the interventions. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in pre- or postintervention norepinephrine levels. Measures of heart rate variability and plasma norepinephrine levels did not show that seated cervical manipulation produced short-term changes in autonomic nervous system activity compared to a sham procedure in healthy young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Continuity of care (CoC) is an important component of health care delivery that can have cost implications and improve patient outcomes. We analysed data obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs to examine the relationship between CoC and use of image-oriented diagnostic tests in patients with comorbid chronic conditions. Methods A longitudinal, retrospective cohort study involving participants ≥18 years old, with comorbid diabetes and chronic kidney disease. We used a multivariate linear regression model to test whether greater care continuity, measured using a care continuity index (CCI), is associated with less frequent use of diagnostic tests. Results Total of 267,442 patients and 8,142,036 tests were included. Of the diagnostic tests we chose to evaluate, the 4 most frequently ordered tests were X-ray (45.6%), electrocardiogram (EKG, 16.8%), computerized tomography (CT, 13.4%), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, 3.4%). Overall, greater CCI was associated with fewer use of tests (P < 0.001). A 1 standard deviation (SD, 0.27) increase in CCI was associated with 4.2% decrease (P < 0.001) in number of tests. But a mixed pattern existed. For X-ray and EKG, greater continuity was associated with less testing, 6.2% (P < 0.001) and 3.3% (P < 0.05) reductions, respectively. Whereas, for CT and MRI, greater continuity was associated with more testing, 2.3% (P < 0.001) and 1.4% increases (P < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion Overall, greater CoC was associated with fewer use of tests, representing a greater presumed efficiency of care. This has implications for designing health care delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) can lead to stroke and heart failure, and early detection of Afib is an effective method of preventing these life-threatening conditions. An estimated 2.7 million Americans are living with Afib1, a number that is expected to rise dramatically in the coming years. Methods: The aim of this demonstration project was to create an additional access point in the community at local pharmacies for Afib screening, detection, and referral to physicians for follow up and initiation of evidence-based therapy when appropriate. This prospective research study was conducted with 14 community pharmacies across the US, in which a total of 650 patients were screened for Afib. Pharmacists conducted SAFEty Risk Assessments that consisted of completion of a stroke risk scorecard and EKG determination utilizing AliveCor’s KardiaMobile® 6L device. Results: In 552 (82.5%) of 669 total EKG readings, a “normal” rhythm was detected, and in 117 (17.5%) EKG readings an abnormal detection occurred. A total of 12 out of 650 patients (1.8%) received EKG readings of Afib, which is greater than double the expected prevalence of Afib in the US (0.81%), a statistically significant finding (p < 0.0001). Other notable findings included 42 (6.3%) EKG readings of Wide QRS, and 26 (3.9%) EKG readings of tachycardia. A total of 44 patients were referred to physicians for follow up on their risk for Afib. Conclusions: Community pharmacies offer a unique, valuable access point for patients to receive Afib screenings. Pharmacists are well positioned to make a significant contribution in the health of their patients and increase the value of team-based health care.

Lithium induced cardiotoxicity is associated with several electrocardiographic (ECG) findings. The most commonly observed cardiac effects include QT prolongation, Twave abnormalities, and to lesser extent SA node dysfunction and ventricular arrythmias. We present a case of a 13-year-old female with acute lithium overdose whodeveloped Mobitz I, a manifestation of lithium associated cardiotoxity not previously reported. The patient had no significant past medical history and presented to the emergency department 1 h after intentional overdose of 10 tablets of unknown drug. Parents reported that the patient had visited her grandmother, who “regularly took many different kinds of medications,” earlier that same evening. On physical examination the patient had reassuring vital signs, was in no acute distress,cardiopulmonary examination was normal, had clear sensorium, and no evidence of a toxidrome. On serological examination complete blood count, chemistries panel, and liver function tests did not show significant derangements. 4 h post-ingestion acetaminophen concentration was 28 mcg/ml and below indication for n-acetylcysteine antidote therapy. During her ED course she showed evidence of Mobitz I (Wenckebach) on 12-lead ECG. No prior ECGs were available for comparison. Medical toxicology was consulted at that time given concern for potential cardiotoxicity from an unknown xenobiotic. Serum dioxin and lithium concentrations were subsequently requested. Serum digoxin concentration was undetectable. Serum lithium concentrations was 1.7 mEq/L (0.6–1.2 mEq/L therapeutic range). The patient was treated with intravenous hydration at twice maintenance rate. Repeat lithium concertation 14 h post-ingestion was undetectable. During her admission, the patient remained hemodynamically stable and asymptomatic despite occasional episodes of Mobitz I, lasting seconds to minutes. Repeat 12-lead ECG obtained 20 h post-ingestion showed normal sinus rhythm. Cardiology recommendations included ambulatory Holter monitoring upon discharge and follow-up in clinic within two weeks. The patient was medically cleared after 36 h of monitoring and discharged after psychiatric evaluation. Our case demonstrates that patients who develop a new Mobitz I atrioventricular block of unclear etiology in the setting of acute ingestion should be screened for lithium exposure, even if otherwise free of more typical manifestations of lithium toxicity

This study proposes an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal stitching scheme to detect arrhythmias in drivers during driving. When the ECG is measured through the steering wheel during driving, the data are always exposed to noise caused by vehicle vibrations, bumpy road conditions, and the driver's steering wheel gripping force. The proposed scheme extracts stable ECG signals and transforms them into full 10 s ECG signals to classify arrhythmias using convolutional neural networks (CNN). Before the ECG stitching algorithm is applied, data preprocessing is performed. To extract the cycle from the collected ECG data, the R peaks are found and the TP interval segmentation is applied. An abnormal P peak is very difficult to find. Therefore, this study also introduces a P peak estimation method. Finally, 4 × 2.5 s ECG segments are collected. To classify arrhythmias with stitched ECG data, each time series' ECG signal is transformed via the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and short-time Fourier transform (STFT), and transfer learning is performed for classification using CNNs. Finally, the parameters of the networks that provide the best performance are investigated. According to the classification accuracy, GoogleNet with the CWT image set shows the best results. The classification accuracy is 82.39% for the stitched ECG data, while it is 88.99% for the original ECG data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assess whether changing an emergency department (ED) chest pain pathway from utilizing the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score for risk stratification to an approach utilizing the History, EKG, Age, Risk, Troponin (HEART) score was associated with reductions in healthcare resource utilization. A retrospective, quasi-experimental study using difference-in-differences and interrupted time series specifications evaluated all ED patients with a chest pain encounter from 8/2015 to 7/2019 at a large academic medical center. We included patients age ≥ 18 with negative troponin testing discharged from the ED. Our standardized care pathway utilized TIMI for risk stratification until 09/2017 and HEART thereafter. We evaluated patients undergoing hospital-based cardiac diagnostic testing (CDT), length of stay (LOS), and 30-day Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) at the intervention site before and after the pathway change and compared these outcomes to a similar control site within the health system for the difference-in-differences specification. During the study period, 6.3% (450 of 7117) of patients in the TIMI cohort and 7.2% (546 of 7623) in the HEART cohort among 400,965 total ED visits underwent CDT. In a multivariable analysis, transition to the HEART pathway was associated with greater odds of receiving CDT (odds ratio 2.88 [95% CI 1.21 to 6.86]), a reduction in LOS of 34 min (95% CI 2.2 to 67.6), and no significant difference in 30-day MACE. The transition from TIMI to HEART was associated with mixed consequences for healthcare resource utilization, including increased CDT but reduced length of stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methadone is one of the most useful opioids that can be used to achieve many therapeutic goals, and also it may be abused as an illicit drug. Methadone can cause different gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiac complications. This study was performed to obtain a better understanding of the cardiac side effects of methadone in patients with methadone poisoning. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 210 samples in Sina Hospital of Hamadan in a one-year period from March 2019 to March 2020. After assessing patients who had methadone poisoning and completing their demographic information and evaluation of changes in patients' EKGs, the data was collected and analyzed by SPSS 16 software. Results: Out of 210 participants, 178 (84.8%) were males and the rest were females. The average age of the studied patients was 39.56 years old. The study found that 6.1% of methadone-poisoned patients were illiterate. It was found in this study that the most common cardiac complications of methadone intoxication were sinus tachycardia (20%), QT interval prolongation (6.64%), and sinus bradycardia (4.3%), respectively; nevertheless, 66.2% of patients did not have any EKG abnormalities. Conclusion: According to the findings, it is necessary to have continuous cardiac monitoring for patients with methadone intoxication and by transferring such findings to medical centers, steps can be taken to use methadone more intelligently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences (OTJHS) / Online Türk Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Oguz KARABAY and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a type of broad complex tachycardia originating from a focus in the ventricle. It is one of the four important rhythms which can lead to cardiac arrest. Accurate and timely diagnosis of true VT is the cornerstone for proper management in the emergency department (ED). We present an interesting case of an electrocardiographic artifact mimicking VT, which led to a diagnostic dilemma in the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: What changes subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) causes on the 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) has remained elusive. We examined the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and cardiac electromechanics, including P wave and QRS axes on ECG and cardiac functions by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). Material and Method: This cross-sectional study included 109 SCH patients who presented to the internal disease outpatient clinic between November 10, 2018, and January 30, 2019. ECG, 2D-STE images, and laboratory findings at admission were recorded for all patients. Findings were compared with a sex and age-matched control group of 74 healthy adults. Results: The median age of the patients was 41 (IQR, 34-50) years, and 76.1% were female. QTc interval was significantly longer in the patient group than in the control group.[435 ms (IQR, 421-457) vs. 424 ms (IQR, 412-438), p=0.001]. The remaining ECG features, including P wave and QRS axes, were similar between the patient and control groups. There were no significant differences between the patients and control group regarding laboratory and echocardiography findings, including left ventricle global longitudinal strain. Conclusion: According to our findings, individuals with SCH exhibited no change in myocardial mobility as measured by strain echocardiography. In addition, SCH may not cause significant ECG changes, except that these patients have a longer QTc interval than subjects with euthyroidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important elements of this study were related to the management of the family medicine office and the endowment of the family medicine office. It is a prospective study, carried out on 22 family medicine offices in Constanța county. As a case study, we highlighted the economic aspects of some optional equipment that can be brought into a cabinet, namely: the cost of the equipment, the cost of operation, the price at which it should work so that the investment is profitable and last but not least, the benefits the community that enjoys the respective medical services, the socio-economic impact and on health. Scientific documentation was used, by extracting information about the topic that is the subject of the research, a survey, to discuss with as many family doctors as possible to obtain essential data, clinical-medical scientific research of the most frequent pathologies from the patient list and the method statistical recording, processing and graphical representation of data. The purpose of this paper is to study the current state of family medicine offices, the optional equipment they have, the optional equipment found in rural/urban offices, as well as the economic advantage that the family doctor could have depending on these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) should undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation to determine the underlying etiology and help guide treatment and counseling. In this article, we review the indications and rationale for medical evaluation of pediatric bilateral SNHL, including history and physical examination, imaging, genetic testing, specialist referrals, cytomegalovirus (CMV) testing, and other laboratory tests. Workup begins with a history and physical examination, which can provide clues to the etiology of SNHL, particularly with syndromic causes. If SNHL is diagnosed within the first 3 weeks of life, CMV testing should be performed to identify patients that may benefit from antiviral treatment. If SNHL is diagnosed after 3 weeks, testing can be done using dried blood spots samples, if testing capability is available. Genetic testing is oftentimes successful in identifying causes of hearing loss as a result of recent technological advances in testing and an ever‐increasing number of identified genes and genetic mutations. Therefore, where available, genetic testing should be performed, ideally with next generation sequencing techniques. Ophthalmological evaluation must be done on all children with SNHL. Imaging (high‐resolution computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging) should be performed to assess for anatomic causes of hearing loss and to determine candidacy for cochlear implantation when indicated. Laboratory testing is indicated for certain etiologies, but should not be ordered indiscriminately since the yield overall is low.

Mobile-health solutions based on heart rate variability often require electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings by inexperienced operators or real-time automatic analyses of long-term recordings by wearable devices in free-moving individuals. In this context, it is useful to associate a quality index with the ECG, scoring the adequacy of the recording for heart rate variability to identify noise or arrhythmias. Therefore, this work aims to propose and validate a computational method for assessing the adequacy of single-lead ECGs for heart rate variability analysis that may run in real time on wearable systems with low computational power. The method quantifies the ECG pseudo-periodic structure employing cepstral analysis. The cepstrum (spectrum of log-spectrum) is estimated on a running ECG window of 10 s before and after "liftering" (filtering in the cepstral domain) to remove slower noise components. The ECG periodicity generates a dominant peak in the liftered cepstrum at the "quefrency" of the mean cardiac interval. The Cepstral Quality Index (CQI) is the ratio between the cepstral-peak power and the total power of the unliftered cepstrum. Noises and arrhythmias reduce the relative power of the cepstral peak decreasing CQI. We analyzed a public dataset of 6072 single-lead ECGs manually classified in normal rhythm or inadequate for heart rate variability analysis because of noise or atrial fibrillation, and the CQI = 47% cut-off identified the inadequate recordings with 79% sensitivity and 85% specificity. We showed that the performance is independent of the lead considering a public dataset of 1,000 12-lead recordings with quality classified as "acceptable" or "unacceptable" by visual inspection. Thus, the cepstrum describes the ECG periodic structure effectively and concisely and CQI appears to be a robust score of the adequacy of ECG recording for heart rate variability analysis, evaluable in real-time on wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Very few research about atrioventricular blocks (AVB) and use of antipsychotic drugs has been made, although it may play an important role in the outcome of any patient affected by psychosis and AVB. Objectives To describe a case and review clinical data about AVB progression and neuroleptic treatment. Methods We describe a 37 years old inmate male patient who suffered from a first degree AVB and Schizophrenia, being long term treated with neuroleptics (risperidone 9mg/day, switched to paliperidone 9mg/day). Our patient presented very mild symptoms of asthenia and dizziness. An EKG was performed, showing AVB progression to Mobitz Type I1. No structural pathology was assessed by ecocardiography. Holter EKG showed also episodes of third degree AV block. Electrophysiology studies were performed showing a supra-hisian AV Block. Results Lower doses of Paliperidone were used (6mg) and maintened until nowadays. Control EKG showed regression to a known first degree AVB. Being asymptomatic and studies revealing a supra-hisian AVB, no pacemaker was needed. Conclusions There is only a few cases described in scientific literature, and very limited data about AVB and neuroleptic drugs, although it is described as possible side effect using risperidone at higher doses. We suggest monitoring EKG to patients affected by AVB, using high doses of neuroleptic drugs. There is no data available about paliperidone metabolites and a possible progression of AVB. We suggest more studies are needed to better understand and prevent side effects of neuroleptic drugs. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Mobile-health solutions based on heart rate variability often require electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings by inexperienced operators or real-time automatic analyses of long-term recordings by wearable devices in free-moving individuals. In this context, it is useful to associate a quality index with the ECG, scoring the adequacy of the recording for heart rate variability to identify noise or arrhythmias. Therefore, this work aims to propose and validate a computational method for assessing the adequacy of single-lead ECGs for heart rate variability analysis that may run in real time on wearable systems with low computational power. The method quantifies the ECG pseudo-periodic structure employing cepstral analysis. The cepstrum (spectrum of log-spectrum) is estimated on a running ECG window of 10 s before and after “liftering” (filtering in the cepstral domain) to remove slower noise components. The ECG periodicity generates a dominant peak in the liftered cepstrum at the “quefrency” of the mean cardiac interval. The Cepstral Quality Index (CQI) is the ratio between the cepstral-peak power and the total power of the unliftered cepstrum. Noises and arrhythmias reduce the relative power of the cepstral peak decreasing CQI. We analyzed a public dataset of 6072 single-lead ECGs manually classified in normal rhythm or inadequate for heart rate variability analysis because of noise or atrial fibrillation, and the CQI = 47% cut-off identified the inadequate recordings with 79% sensitivity and 85% specificity. We showed that the performance is independent of the lead considering a public dataset of 1,000 12-lead recordings with quality classified as “acceptable” or “unacceptable” by visual inspection. Thus, the cepstrum describes the ECG periodic structure effectively and concisely and CQI appears to be a robust score of the adequacy of ECG recording for heart rate variability analysis, evaluable in real-time on wearable devices.

Hyperkalemia represents a widespread and potentially lethal condition that affects millions of people across their lives. Despite the prevalence and severity of the condition, there are no consensus guidelines on the treatment of hyperkalemia or even a standard definition. Herein, we provide a succinct review of what we believe to be the most significant misconceptions encountered in the emergency care of hyperkalemia, examine current available literature, and discuss practical points on several modalities of hyperkalemia treatment. Additionally, we review the pathophysiology of the electrocardiographic effects of hyperkalemia and how intravenous calcium preparations can antagonize these effects. We conclude each section with recommendations to aid emergency physicians in making safe and efficacious choices for the treatment of acute hyperkalemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emergency physicians (EP) are frequently interrupted to screen electrocardiograms (ECG) from Emergency Department (ED) patients undergoing triage. Our objective was to identify discrepancies between the computer ECG interpretation and the cardiologist ECG interpretation and if any patients with normal ECGs underwent emergent cardiac intervention. We hypothesized that computer-interpreted normal ECGs do not require immediate review by an EP.Methods: This was a retrospective study of adult (≥ 18 years old) ED patients with computer-interpreted normal ECGs. Laboratory, diagnostic testing and clinical outcomes were abstracted following accepted methodologic guidelines. The primary outcome was emergent cardiac catheterization (within four hours of ED arrival). All ECGs underwent final cardiologist interpretation. When cardiology interpretation differed from the computer (discrepant ECG interpretation), the difference was classified as potentially clinically significant or not clinically significant. Data was described with simple descriptive statistics.Main Findings: 989 ECGs interpreted as normal by the computer were analyzed with a mean age of 50.4 ± 16.8 years (range 18-96 years) and 527 (53%) female. Discrepant ECG interpretations were identified in 184 cases including 124 (12.5%, 95% CI 10.4, 14.7%) not clinically significant and 60 (6.1%, 95% CI 4.6, 7.7%) potentially clinically significant. The 60 potentially clinically significant changes included: ST/T wave changes 45 (75%), T wave inversions 6 (10%), prolonged QT 3 (5%), and possible ischemia 10 (17%). Of these 60, 21 (35%) patients were admitted. Six patients had potassium levels >6.0 mEq/L, with one having a potentially clinically significant ECG change. No patient (0%, 95% CI 0, 0.3%) underwent immediate (within four hours) cardiac catherization whereas two underwent delayed cardiac interventions.Conclusions: Cardiologists frequently disagree with a computer-interpreted normal ECG. Patients with computer-interpreted normal ECGs, however, rarely had significant ischemic events. A rare number of patients will have important cardiac outcomes regardless of the computer-generated normal ECG interpretation. Immediate EP review of the ECG, however, would not have changed these patients' ED courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Ümraniye Pediatri Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background In-stent restenosis(ISR) is a common angiographic finding in patients with previous stent implantation. Although the mechanism and predictors of ISR has been well-defined, after definition of neoatherosclerosis, a new perspective was emerged and current guidelines recommended a new classification for myocardial infarction due to stent restenosis(Type 4C). In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical risk factors and predictors of Type 4C myocardial infarction. Material/method We reviewed the local angiography database and patients diagnosed with ISR were extracted. Patients’ demographics, clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes were recorded. Type 4C myocardial infarction is defined as myocardial infarction due to stent restenosis. Results 332 patients were screened and after exclusion 192 patients were included to the final analyses. There were 32 patients with myocardial infarction(group 1). Mean follow-up time was …. months. There was no significant difference between groups with respect to age and gender. Hypertension was significantly more prevalent in group 2. Diabetes mellitus, previous cerebrovascular accident and hyperlipidaemia were comparable between groups, however smoking was significantly more prevalent in group 1. Logistic regression analyses revealed that smoking status and degree of stenosis due to ISR were only independent predictors of type 4C myocardial infarction. Cardiac mortality was significantly increased in patients with myocardial infarction. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that type 4C myocardial infarction should not be underestimated during the long-term follow-up of patients who were diagnosed with ISR. Moreover, since cardiac mortality significantly increases in patients with myocardial infarction, future studies for predictors of myocardial infaction is required.

Abstract Objectives Targeted temperature management is the recommended therapy for comatose patients after an out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest resuscitation due to the reduction in neurological damage and improved outcomes. However, there may result in electrocardiographic instability depending on the degree of targeted temperature management, including minor or life‐threatening dysrhythmias or conduction delays. This project aims to describe the frequency of ECG interval changes and clinically relevant dysrhythmias in targeted temperature management patients. Methods This is a retrospective observational study from January 2009 to December 2015. Patients who qualified for the study had a non‐traumatic cardiac arrest with a return of spontaneous circulation, received targeted temperature management at 33.5°C for 24 hours followed by 16 hours of rewarming. ECG interval changes and dysrhythmias were recorded immediately after return of spontaneous circulation, and at 24 and 48 hours post return of spontaneous circulation. Results A total of 322 patients (age 61.0 ± 16.9 years) had targeted temperature management initiated during the study period, of which 169 had complete data and 13 died prior to completing 24 hours of hypothermia. There were statistically significant changes during targeted temperature management in heart rate (96.7 ± 26.0/min before targeted temperature management; 69.5 ± 19.1/min during, P < 0.001), QRS duration (115.1 ± 32.6 ms before targeted temperature management; 107.8 ± 27.9 ms during targeted temperature management, P < 0.001), and QTc (486.3 ± 52.8 ms before targeted temperature management; 526.9 ± 61.7 ms during targeted temperature management, P < 0.001). There were cardiac dysrhythmias that received treatment during cooling and rewarming. Conclusion During the period of targeted temperature management and rewarming, we observed few self‐limiting ECG interval changes and no clinically significant dysrhythmias in this population during the period of targeted temperature management.

Background The Brugada pattern is identified on the EKG by a coved ST-segment elevation accompanied by a negative T wave in the early precordial leads in the absence of a cardiac structural abnormality. Brugada pattern and Brugada syndrome should be differentiated, as the latter is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Methods The literature was searched using multiple databases to identify all the articles on Brugada pattern. Data were screened and analyzed by independent authors. Results Sixty articles, comprising 71 patients, were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 42.6 years, with a higher prevalence of Brugada pattern in men (83%) than women (17%). The most frequent findings associated with Brugada pattern was fever (83%). Other less common presentations included cough (21%), sore throat (10%), syncope (18%), abdominal pain (8%), and chest pain (7%). Comorbidities included pneumonia (30%), upper respiratory tract infections (14%) and smoking (14%). Among treatment modalities, 39% of patients had ICD placement performed, 44% received antibiotics, while 14% had supportive care. Adenosine was given to 3% of patients, while other antiarrhythmics like milrinone, amiodarone, sotalol, procainamide, flecainide, and nitroglycerin were given to 1% of patients. Most patients with Brugada syndrome had a satisfactory outcome, with only 4% mortality rate(WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 11%?). Out of the 71 patients, 3% had persistent Brugada patterns, while 86% of patients recovered completely. There was no significant effect of ICD on mortality or Brugada pattern resolution (p 0.37). Conclusion Our study shows that fever is the main reason for unmasking the Brugada pattern in patients with this channelopathy. ICD placement in such patients is not recommended as it has no mortality benefits.

Background: Reusable suction-cup electrodes are used for recording a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) in resource-limited settings. These electrodes may easily detach if those are attached on a hirsute chest. Additionally, the suction pressure may cause erythema and pain. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a low-cost strap for holding the suction-cup-based precordial electrodes and to test its applicability to the recording of ECG. Materials and Methods: A scrap rubber tube was cut in size so that it can cover all the precordial electrode positions. Slit openings (electrodes can be inserted through these opening) were made on this rubber strap. A cloth and a hook-and-loop fastener were used to make an adjustable fastener. ECG was recorded first on 16 non-hairy males with electrodes placed on the chest with the strap and then with electrodes attached by suction. After that, ECG was recorded on 16 males with hirsute chest first with the electrodes placed with the help of the strap and then with suction (without strap) on the shaved chest. Results: The outcome of this study is a low-cost ECG chest strap for a hirsute chest. Both the negative and positive QRS voltages in six precordial leads recorded with electrodes placed with the strap were similar to that of suction-attached electrodes in both non-hairy and hirsute chest. Conclusion: Developed rubber chest strap can be made with minimal cost and expertise in any resource-limited settings. This would help in recording the ECG of a patient with a hirsute chest. This prototype strap has scope for further improvement.

This study proposes an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal stitching scheme to detect arrhythmias in drivers during driving. When the ECG is measured through the steering wheel during driving, the data are always exposed to noise caused by vehicle vibrations, bumpy road conditions, and the driver’s steering wheel gripping force. The proposed scheme extracts stable ECG signals and transforms them into full 10 s ECG signals to classify arrhythmias using convolutional neural networks (CNN). Before the ECG stitching algorithm is applied, data preprocessing is performed. To extract the cycle from the collected ECG data, the R peaks are found and the TP interval segmentation is applied. An abnormal P peak is very difficult to find. Therefore, this study also introduces a P peak estimation method. Finally, 4 × 2.5 s ECG segments are collected. To classify arrhythmias with stitched ECG data, each time series’ ECG signal is transformed via the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and short-time Fourier transform (STFT), and transfer learning is performed for classification using CNNs. Finally, the parameters of the networks that provide the best performance are investigated. According to the classification accuracy, GoogleNet with the CWT image set shows the best results. The classification accuracy is 82.39% for the stitched ECG data, while it is 88.99% for the original ECG data.

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic, known to rapidly induce short-lasting alterations in conscious experience, characterized by a profound and immersive sense of physical transcendence alongside rich and vivid auditory distortions and visual imagery. Multimodal neuroimaging data paired with dynamic analysis techniques offer a valuable approach for identifying unique signatures of brain activity - and linked autonomic physiology - naturally unfolding during the altered state of consciousness induced by DMT. We leveraged simultaneous fMRI and EKG data acquired in 14 healthy volunteers prior to, during, and after intravenous administration of DMT, and, separately, placebo. fMRI data was preprocessed to derive individual dynamic activity matrices, reflecting the similarity of brain activity in time, and community detection algorithms were applied on these matrices to identify brain activity substates; EKG data was used to derive continuous heart rate. We identified a brain substate occurring immediately after DMT injection, characterized by hippocampal and medial parietal deactivations and increased superior temporal lobe activity under DMT. Deactivations in the hippocampus and medial parietal cortex correlated with alterations in the usual sense of time, space and self-referential processes, reflecting a deconstruction of essential features of ordinary consciousness. Superior lobe activations instead correlated with audio/visual hallucinations and experience of " entities ", reflecting the emergence of altered sensory experiences under DMT. Finally, increased heart rate under DMT correlated positively with hippocampus/medial parietal deactivation and the experience of " entities ", and negatively with altered self-referential processes. These results suggest a chain of influence linking sympathetic regulation to hippocampal and medial parietal deactivations under DMT, which combined, may contribute to positive mental health outcomes related to self-referential processing following psychedelic administration., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: LP is a scientific advisor for AWEAR LLC.

Introduction: Autonomic dysfunction has been reported as one of nonmotor manifestations of both presymptomatic and manifest Huntington's disease (HD). The aim of our study was to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) during wake and sleep in a cohort of patients with manifest HD. Methods: Thirty consecutive patients with manifest HD were enrolled, 14 men and 16 women, mean age 57.3 ± 12.2 years. All patients underwent full-night attended video polysomnography. HRV was analyzed during wake, NREM sleep, and REM sleep, in time and frequency domain. Results were compared with a control group of healthy volunteers matched for age and sex. Results: During wake, HD patients presented significantly higher mean heart rate than controls (72.4 ± 9.6 vs. 58.1 ± 7.3 bpm; p < 0.001). During NREM sleep, HD patients showed higher mean heart rate (65.6 ± 11.1 vs. 48.8 ± 4.6 bpm; p < 0.001) and greater low frequency (LF) component of HRV (52.9 ± 22.6 vs. 35.5 ± 17.3 n.u.; p = 0.004). During REM sleep, we observed lower standard deviation of the RR interval in HD subjects (3.4 ± 2.2 vs. 3.7 ± 1.3 ms; p = 0.015). Conclusion: Our results show that HD patients have higher heart rate than controls, during wake and NREM, but not during REM sleep. Among HRV parameters, the most relevant difference regarded the LF component, which reflects, at least partially, the ortho-sympathetic output. Our results confirm the involvement of autonomic nervous system in HD and demonstrate that it is evident during both wake and sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Naringin in Cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. In the study, forty male adult Sprague Dawley rats weighing approximately 200-250 g were used. Rats were divided into 5 experimental groups as control, CYP, Naringin50+CYP, Naringin100+CYP and Naringin100. Control and CYP groups were administered to intragastric (i.g.) saline for 10 days. Also, the CYP group was given a single dose of CYP (200 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)) on the 10th day. Naringin50+CYP and Naringin100+CYP groups were administered i.g. 50 and 100 mg/kg doses of Naringin for 10 days, respectively, and was given a single dose of CYP (200mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)) on the 10th day. Naringin100 group was administered to Naringin (100mg/kg), i.g.) for 10 days. ECG was recorded under anesthesia, and intracardiac blood samples were taken. Troponin I, creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) parameters were examined in serum samples. As a result of the necropsy, preparations were prepared by routine cardiac tissue follow-up method for histopathological examination. For the detection of DNA damage in the cardiac tissue, 8-OHdG expression was investigated. CYP has been shown to have cardiotoxic effects on ECG values, cardiac enzymes, and cardiac histopathology of rats. In this study, it was determined that Naringin has a protective effect in CYP-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) should undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation to determine the underlying etiology and help guide treatment and counseling. In this article, we review the indications and rationale for medical evaluation of pediatric bilateral SNHL, including history and physical examination, imaging, genetic testing, specialist referrals, cytomegalovirus (CMV) testing, and other laboratory tests. Workup begins with a history and physical examination, which can provide clues to the etiology of SNHL, particularly with syndromic causes. If SNHL is diagnosed within the first 3 weeks of life, CMV testing should be performed to identify patients that may benefit from antiviral treatment. If SNHL is diagnosed after 3 weeks, testing can be done using dried blood spots samples, if testing capability is available. Genetic testing is oftentimes successful in identifying causes of hearing loss as a result of recent technological advances in testing and an ever‐increasing number of identified genes and genetic mutations. Therefore, where available, genetic testing should be performed, ideally with next generation sequencing techniques. Ophthalmological evaluation must be done on all children with SNHL. Imaging (high‐resolution computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging) should be performed to assess for anatomic causes of hearing loss and to determine candidacy for cochlear implantation when indicated. Laboratory testing is indicated for certain etiologies, but should not be ordered indiscriminately since the yield overall is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reliability of the electrocardiogram (ECG) after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is unclear. While its predictive value has previously been described, no studies have looked at the influence of time on the post-ROSC ECG. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the ECG immediately after ROSC and between 1 and 5 hours later to assess whether time influences its ability to accurately predict the need for percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods: A single-centre, retrospective, observational 1-year analysis examined the records of post-ROSC patients who underwent coronary angiography and for whom prehospital and delayed post-ROSC ECGs were available for analysis. Findings: Forty-two post-ROSC ECGs were reviewed alongside angiographic findings. Sensitivities of 25% and 69%, specificities of 60% and 100% and an accuracies of 33% and 76% were calculated for the prehospital and delayed hospital ECGs respectively. A chi-squared value of 7.78 (P=0.0053) suggests there is statistical significance between the two. Conclusions: The delayed post-ROSC ECG is statistically significantly more accurate, suggesting that time influences the reliability of the post-ROSC ECG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]