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Global warming implies the risk of a changing oxygen regime in the seas and oceans of our planet. The mitochondrial complex of nuclear erythrocytes of cartilaginous fish, as the energy basis of blood cells, has repeatedly encountered such climatic fluctuations throughout their evolutionary history. In this regard, the features of the adaptive strategy of the erythrocyte mitochondrial complex in the thornback ray (Raja clavata L.) are of interest from the evolutionary and ecological points of view. The rate of oxygen consumption in resuspended (Ht = 25–30%) erythrocytes taken from the Black Sea thornback ray in saline was studied by the polarographic method. A high "basal" rate of respiration in the erythrocytes of the thornback ray was shown, which ranged from 10.5 to 21.6 pmol O2 min−1·106 cells. The addition of substrates of the mitochondrial respiration activators glutamate, maleate, and succinate to the erythrocyte suspension caused a 2–6-fold increase in the respiratory activity of thornback ray erythrocytes. In cases where the rate of respiration of erythrocytes was high, protonophore–dinitrophenol caused an inhibition of the activity of mitochondrial respiration. At low respiration rates of erythrocytes, its effect was opposite and caused a stimulation of mitochondrial respiration. Oligomycin caused a significant inhibition of the respiratory activity of the red blood cell suspension of the thornback ray. This suppression of cell respiration was enhanced under conditions of exposure to the permeabilization of erythrocytes with digitonin. This can be recommended as one of the ways to block the respiratory activity of erythrocytes in cartilaginous fish. Another way of effectively blocking the respiration of the mitochondrial complex of the thornback ray's erythrocytes was the effect of the blockers rotenone and sodium azide. The peculiarity of the mitochondria of the erythrocytes of the thornback ray was the absence of the complete inhibition of respiration by sodium azide (NaN3), which is characteristic of the mitochondria of other fish species. Our data on the activation of the "respiration" of erythrocytes in fish indicate that the potential capabilities of cold-blooded and warm-blooded vertebrates have rather similar characteristics. This may indicate the initial "laying" of the architecture of the inner membrane to support the energy potential of the mitochondria of the cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods are used to measure respiratory rates. These methods rely on the number of times the chest inflates and contracts. Other methods may be inaccurate or take time. So, based on past and recent research, the optical sensor method is very efficient and real-time sensing. This type of sensor is always the most demanded in current and future research so, we proposed a respiratory monitoring system based on an optical fiber sensor. The sensor consists of coreless fiber spliced with multimode fiber on one side coated with nanogold particles and graphene. The sensitivity and response time of the sensor were calculated with coated gold and with coated with gold & graphene; when coated with gold were 473.2 pm/%RH and 2.3 sec respectively, and when coated with gold & graphene was 513.8 pm/%RH and 1.5 sec respectively. The result showed that when breathing increased, the intensity of light decreased. The sleeping case of breathing has more intensity value than the intensity of working sport value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective　To explore the efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy on oxygenation in populations at altitudes above 2 500 meters. Methods　Participants were recruited from medium-altitude Kunming （about 1891 m above sea level） to quickly enter higher altitude Lhasa （about 3650 m above sea level）. Participants inhaled air using high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in Lhasa. The pulse oxygen saturation （SpO2），respiratory rate， heart rate and blood pressure were compared before and after the use of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy . Results　In high altitude area，the high flow nasal canula oxygen therapy went well and smoothly. After high-flow nasal catheter oxygen therapy，SpO2 improved and respiratory rate decreased with the increase of inhaled gas flow，the difference was statistically significant （P < 0.05）. After using high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy equipment for air inhalation，SpO2 improved and respiratory rate decreased with the increase of inhaled gas flow， the difference was statistically significant （P < 0.05） . Conclusion　High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy not only improved participants’ oxygenation，it decreased the effort of breathing，and has potential clinical value in the treatment of high-altitude hypoxemia . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Respiration is recognized as a systematic physiological interference in functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). However, it remains unanswered as to whether it is possible to estimate the respiratory rate (RR) from such interference. Undoubtedly, RR estimation from fNIRS can provide complementary information that can be used alongside the cerebral activity analysis, e.g., sport studies. Thus, the objective of this paper is to propose a method for RR estimation from fNIRS. Our primary presumption is that changes in the baseline wander of oxygenated hemoglobin concentration ( O 2 H b ) signal are related to RR. Methods: fNIRS and respiratory signals were concurrently collected from subjects during controlled breathing tasks at a constant rate from 0.1 Hz to 0.4 Hz. Firstly, the signal quality index algorithm is employed to select the best O 2 H b signal, and then a band-pass filter with cut-off frequencies from 0.05 to 2 Hz is used to remove very low- and high-frequency artifacts. Secondly, troughs of the filtered O 2 H b signal are localized for synthesizing the baseline wander (S1) using cubic spline interpolation. Finally, the fast Fourier transform of the S1 signal is computed, and its dominant frequency is considered as RR. In this paper, two different datasets were employed, where the first one was used for the parameter adjustment of the proposed method, and the second one was solely used for testing. Results: The low mean absolute error between the reference and estimated RRs for the first and second datasets (2.6 and 1.3 breaths per minute, respectively) indicates the feasibility of the proposed method for RR estimation from fNIRS. Significance: This paper provides a novel view on the respiration interference as a source of complementary information in fNIRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tachypnoea in acutely ill patients can be an early sign of a life-threatening condition such as sepsis. Routine measurement of the respiratory rate by GPs might improve the recognition of sepsis. Aim: To assess the accuracy and feasibility of respiratory rate measurements by GPs. Design & setting: Observational cross-sectional mixed-methods study in the setting of out-of-hours (OOH) home visits at three GP cooperatives in The Netherlands. Method: GPs were observed during the assessment of acutely ill patients, and semi-structured interviews were performed. The GP-assessed respiratory rate was compared with a reference measurement. In the event that the respiratory rate was not counted, GPs were asked to estimate the rate (dichotomised as ≥22 breaths per minute or <22 breaths per minute). Results: Observations of 130 acutely ill patients were included, and 14 GPs were interviewed. In 33 patients (25%), the GP counted the respiratory rate. A mean difference of 0.27 breaths per minute (95% confidence interval [CI] = -5.7 to 6.3) with the reference measurement was found. At a cut-off point of ≥22 breaths per minute, a sensitivity of 86% (95% CI = 57% to 98%) was found when the GP counted the rate, and a sensitivity of 43% (95% CI = 22% to 66%) when GPs estimated respiratory rates. GPs reported both medical and practical reasons for not routinely measuring the respiratory rate. Conclusion: GPs are aware of the importance of assessing the respiratory rate of acutely ill adult patients, and counted measurements are accurate. However, in most patients the respiratory rate was not counted, and the rate was often underestimated when estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Merokok merupakan suatu prilaku yang sering dijumpai dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Prilaku merokok perokok aktif ini dapat membahayakan kesehatan baik bagi perokok maupun bagi orang lain di sekitarnya. Merokok akan menyebabkan perubahan patofisiologi paru secara signifikan sesuai dengan intensitas dan lama merokok. Tujuan: untuk mengetahui hubungan lama merokok dan jumlah rokok dengan saturasi oksigen dan frekuensi pernafasan pada perokok aktif. Metode: Penelitian analitik observasional dengan pendekatan cross sectional dengan jumlah responden sebanyak 99 responden. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan menggunakan kuesioner untuk mengukur lama merokok dan jumlah rokok yang dikonsumsi serta alat ukur pulse oxymeter untuk mengukur saturasi oksigen dan gerakan dada untuk menghitung frekuensi pernafasan. Pengolahan data dilakukan secara univariat dan bivariat. Hasil: Dari penelitian ini didapatkan sebagian besar responden memiliki karakteristik lama merokok lebih dari 5 tahun (53,5%), jumlah rokok 11-20 batang perhari (54,5%), saturasi oksigen > 97 (35,4%) dan frekuensi nafas 19-20 (55,6%) serta terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara lama merokok dan jumlah rokok dengan saturasi oksigen (p0,05). Kesimpulan: Semakin lama merokok dan semakin banyak jumlah rokok yang dikonsumsi perokok aktif maka semakin rendah kadar saturasi oksigen dalam darah.

Abstract Background COVID-19 remains a major healthcare concern. Vital signs are routinely measured on admission and may provide an early, cost-effective indicator of outcome – more so in developing countries where such data is scarce. We sought to describe the association between six routinely measured admission vital signs and COVID-19 mortality, and secondarily to derive potential applications for resource-limited settings. Methods Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients admitted to King Edward VIII Hospital, South Africa, with COVID-19 during June–September 2020 was undertaken. The sample was subdivided into survivors and non-survivors and comparisons made in terms of demographics and admission vital signs. Univariate and multivariate analysis of predictor variables identified associations with in-hospital mortality, with the resulting multivariate regression model evaluated for its predictive ability with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results The 236 participants enrolled comprised 153(77.54%) survivors and 53(22.46%) non-survivors. Most participants were Black African(87.71%) and female(59.75%) with a mean age of 53.08(16.96) years. The non-survivor group demonstrated a significantly lower median/mean for admission oxygen saturation (%) [87(78–95) vs. 96(90–98)] and diastolic BP (mmHg) [70.79(14.66) vs. 76.3(12.07)], and higher median for admission respiratory rate (breaths/minute) [24(20–28) vs. 20(20–23)] and glucose (mmol/l) [10.2(6.95–16.25) vs. 7.4(5.5–9.8)]. Age, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, glucose and diastolic BP were found to be significantly associated with mortality on univariate analysis. A log rank test revealed significantly lower survival rates in patients with an admission oxygen saturation

There is growing recognition that the hypoxic regions of the ocean are also becoming more acidic due to increasing levels of global carbon dioxide emissions. The impact of water acidification on marine life is largely unknown, as most previous studies have not taken into account the effects of hypoxia, which may affect how organisms respond to low pH levels. In this study, we experimentally examined the consequences of water acidification in combination with normoxic or hypoxic conditions on cellular immune parameters in Mediterranean mussels. We measured total hemocyte counts in hemolymph, the cellular composition of hemolymph, phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. General response of the organism was evaluated on the basis of the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the hepatopancreas, as well as respiratory rates over an 8-day exposure period. The mussels were exposed to low pH conditions (7.3), either under normoxic conditions (dissolved oxygen concentration of 8 mg/L) or hypoxic conditions (dissolved oxygen concentration of 2 mg/L). The parameters were assessed at days 1, 3, 6, and 8 of the experiment. Experimental acidification under normoxic conditions reduced THC and ROS production by hemocytes during later stages of exposure, but phagocytic activity (PA) only decreased at day 3 and then recovered. Combined acidification and hypoxia suppressed PA in hemocytes at the beginning of exposure, while hemocyte ROS production and THC decreased by the end of the experiment. The hemolymph cellular composition and activity of antioxidant enzymes were unaffected by acidified conditions under different oxygen regimes, but mussel respiratory rate (RR) decreased with a more significant reduction in oxygen consumption under hypoxia. Mussels showed a relatively high tolerance to acidification in combination with various dissolved oxygen levels, although prolonged acidification exposure led to increased detrimental effects on immunity and metabolism. • Prolonged exposure to acidification can have negative effects on immunity and metabolism. • Acidification reduces ROS production by hemocytes during prolonged the exposure period. • Acidification combined with normoxia/hypoxia reduces the mussel's respiratory rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A fiber optic respiratory sensor based on optical fibers and silicon tube is proposed. • Static and accurate performance testing of fiber optic respiratory sensors is proposed. • The proposed respiratory sensors show high sensitivity and wide measurement range detection. An optical fiber sensor based on the principle of intensity modulation is proposed, which is composed of plastic optical fibers and silicone tubes. The displacement measurement is achieved by stretching the optical fibers to cause changes in the angle between the end faces, resulting in changes in the coupling efficiency between the end faces. To address the challenges in the performance calibration of fiber optic respiratory sensors, it is proposed to convert the dynamic characteristics measurement of the respiratory sensor into the static performance analysis of the displacement sensor, so as to obtain the characteristics such as sensitivity, linearity, and repeatability, etc. It is further proposed to use a stepper motor to simulate the periodic stretching process of the optical fibers caused by the respiratory process, enabling the analysis of frequency measurement accuracy under different respiratory strengths. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed sensor has high linearity, good repeatability, high sensitivity, and a wide measurement range. It can accurately measure respiratory frequency and display amplitude information, providing comprehensive information for respiratory monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acid metabolism not only affects cell membrane functionality but also correlates with the fruit quality and postharvest senescence. This study aims to assess the influence of calcium lactate immersion on lipid metabolism and senescence in 'Jinfeng' pear fruit during room temperature storage. The results demonstrated that calcium lactate effectively suppressed malondialdehyde content, respiratory rate, mass loss, and ethylene release, as well as phospholipase D (PLD), hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), lipoxygenase (LOX), lipase (LPS), alcohol acyltransferase (AAT), and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activities in 'Jinfeng' pears. Additionally, calcium lactate resulted in an up-regulation of the gene expression levels associated with fatty acid biosynthesis, including PcACC , PcFabG , PcFabI , PcFabZ , PcKASII , PcACP , and PcFAD. Furthermore, there was an increase in the expression of genes involved in fatty acid elongation, such as PcKCS4 , PcKCS6 , PcKCS7 , PcKCS10 , PcLACS2 , PcLACS4 , PcLACS8 , and PcCER. Conversely, it caused a down-regulation of the gene expression levels associated with fatty acid degradation, including PcLOX , PcAAT , PcADH , PcPLD , PcACD , PcECH , and PcACOX3. Simultaneously, calcium lactate treatment diminished the content of palmitic acid, while elevating the contents of linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid. In summary, postharvest calcium lactate-immersed can efficaciously retard senescence of 'Jinfeng' pear fruit through regulating fatty acid lipid metabolism. [Display omitted] • Calcium lactate suppressed respiratory rate and ethylene release in pears. • Calcium lactate increased linolenic, linoleic, and oleic acid contents in pears. • Calcium lactate modulated fatty acid metabolism to delay senescence in pears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The respiratory status of dairy cows can reflect their heat stress and health conditions. It is widely used in the precision farming of dairy cows. To realize intelligent monitoring of cow respiratory status, a system based on infrared thermography was constructed. First, the YOLO v8 model was used to detect and track the nose of cows in thermal images. Three instance segmentation models, Mask2Former, Mask R-CNN and SOLOv2, were used to segment the nostrils from the nose area. Second, the hash algorithm was used to extract the temperature of each pixel in the nostril area of a cow to obtain the temperature change curve. Finally, the sliding window approach was used to detect the peaks of the filtered temperature curve to obtain the respiratory rate of cows. Totally 81 infrared thermography videos were used to test the system, and the results showed that the AP50 of nose detection reached 98.6%, and the AP50 of nostril segmentation reached 75.71%. The accuracy of the respiratory rate was 94.58%, and the correlation coefficient R was 0.95. Combining infrared thermography technology with deep learning models can improve the accuracy and usability of the respiratory monitoring system for dairy cows.

The respiratory rate (RR) is a significant indicator to evaluate a patient’s prognosis and status; however, it requires specific instrumentation or estimates from other monitored signals. A photoplethysmogram (PPG) is extensively used in clinical environments as well as in intensive care units (ICUs) to primarily monitor peripheral circulation while capturing indirect information about intrathoracic pressure changes. This study aims to apply and evaluate several deep learning models using a PPG for the continuous and accurate estimation of the RRs of patients. The dataset was collected twice for 2 min each in 100 patients aged 18 years and older from the surgical intensive care unit of a tertiary referral hospital. The BIDMC and CapnoBase public datasets were also analyzed. The collected dataset was preprocessed and split according to the 5-fold cross-validation. We used seven deep learning models, including our own Dilated Residual Neural Network, to check how accurately the RR estimates match the ground truth using the mean absolute error (MAE). As a result, when validated using the collected dataset, our model showed the best results with a 1.2628 ± 0.2697 MAE on BIDMC and RespNet and with a 3.1268 ± 0.6363 MAE on our dataset, respectively. In conclusion, RR estimation using PPG-derived models is still challenging and has many limitations. However, if there is an equal amount of data from various breathing groups to train, we expect that various models, including our Dilated ResNet model, which showed good results, can achieve better results than the current ones.

Unobtrusive monitoring of children’s heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) can be valuable for promoting the early detection of potential health issues, improving communication with healthcare providers and reducing unnecessary hospital visits. A promising solution for wireless vital sign monitoring is radar technology. This paper presents a novel approach for the simultaneous estimation of children’s RR and HR utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) radar using a deep transfer learning algorithm in a cohort of 55 children. The HR and RR are calculated by processing radar signals via spectrogram from time epochs of 10 s (25 sample length of hamming window with 90% overlap) and then transforming the resultant representation into 2-dimensional images. These images were fed into a pre-trained Visual Geometry Group-16 (VGG-16) model (trained on ImageNet dataset), with weights of five added layers fine-tuned using the proposed data. The prediction on the test data achieved a mean absolute error (MAE) of 7.3 beats per minute (BPM < 6.5% of average HR) and 2.63 breaths per minute (BPM < 7% of average RR). We also achieved a significant Pearson’s correlation of 77% and 81% between true and extracted for HR and RR, respectively. HR and RR samples are extracted every 10 s.

Wrist-based respiratory rate (RR) measurement during sleep faces accuracy limitations. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of the RR estimation function during sleep based on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using the Samsung Galaxy Watch (GW) series. These watches are equipped with accelerometers and photoplethysmography sensors for RR estimation. A total of 195 participants visiting our sleep clinic underwent overnight polysomnography while wearing the GW, and the RR estimated by the GW was compared with the reference RR obtained from the nasal thermocouple. For all participants, the root mean squared error (RMSE) of the average overnight RR and continuous RR measurements were 1.13 bpm and 1.62 bpm, respectively, showing a small bias of 0.39 bpm and 0.37 bpm, respectively. The Bland–Altman plots indicated good agreement in the RR measurements for the normal, mild, and moderate OSA groups. In participants with normal-to-moderate OSA, both average overnight RR and continuous RR measurements achieved accuracy rates exceeding 90%. However, for patients with severe OSA, these accuracy rates decreased to 79.45% and 75.8%, respectively. The study demonstrates the GW’s ability to accurately estimate RR during sleep, even though accuracy may be compromised in patients with severe OSA.

Abstract Background In this study we tested the hypothesis that in patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) respiratory rate (RR) is associated with antibiotic treatment, exacerbation status, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods Between June 2018 and May 2019, we consecutively enrolled pwCF who were referred to our hospital. We determined RR and heart rate (HR) by using the minimal-impact system VitaLog during the hospital stay. Furthermore, we performed spirometry and evaluated CRP. Results We included 47 patients: 20 with pulmonary exacerbation and 27 without. RR decreased in patients with exacerbation (27.5/min (6.0/min) vs. 24.4/min (6.0/min), p = 0.004) and in patients with non-exacerbation (22.5/min (5.0/min) vs. 20.9/min (3.5/min), p = 0.024). Patients with exacerbation showed higher RR than patients with non-exacerbation both at the beginning (p = 0.004) and at the end of their hospital stay (p = 0.023). During the hospital stay, HR did not change in the total cohort (66.8/min (11.0/min) vs. 66.6/min (12.0/min), p = 0.440). Furthermore, we did not find significant differences between patients with exacerbation and patients with non-exacerbation (67.0/min (12.5/min) vs. 66.5/min (10.8/min), p = 0.658). We observed a correlation of ρ = -0.36 between RR and FEV1. Moreover, we found a correlation of ρ = 0.52 between RR and CRP. Conclusion In pwCF requiring intravenous therapy, respiratory rate is higher at their hospital admittance and decreased by the time of discharge; it is also associated with C-reactive protein. Monitoring RR could provide important information about the overall clinical conditions of pwCF.

Background: During pregnancy, women undergo adaptive changes in different organ systems including the respiratory system by hormonal changes and mechanical pressures. Several previous studies reported the change in pulmonary functions in pregnancy and tribal populations. However, trimester-wise, pulmonary functions in tribal women residing in Jharkhand, India, are not available. Aim: This study aimed to find and compare the pulmonary function test parameters in tribal and non-tribal women in singleton first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional observational study in a tertiary care hospital in Jharkhand, India, with 58 tribal women and 116 age-matched controls. The pulmonary function tests, namely forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), maximal mid expiratory flow (MMEF) were measured with a computerized spirometer (Spiro Excel, Medicaid, Punjab, India) and FEV1/FVC was calculated. Results: A total of 58 tribal women with median age 22 (Q1–Q3: 21–25) years and 116 non-tribal women with median age 22 (20–25) (P=0.33) participated in the study. The tribal women showed higher respiratory rate (20 [18–24.5] vs. 16 [15–18] per minute, P

Background: Childhood pneumonia is one of the leading causes of mortality among under-five children. It is responsible for 15% of all deaths of children U5, killing 808,694 children in 2017 (1). Traditional visual inspection and manual count method is used to detect and classify fast-breathing, a key indicator of Pneumonia. In response to UNICEF's call for a reliable diagnostic tool, Philips was the first to respond with the Children's Automatic Respiratory Monitor for measuring fast breathing objectively. Aim: UNICEF and Philips Foundation initiated a field study to test the acceptability, usability and efficacy of the Automatic Respiratory Monitor in Determining Fast Breathing in low resource setting environments. Settings and Design: Philips Foundation partnered up with the Directorate of Medical Education in West Bengal, India to conduct the field study amongst community healthcare workers and beneficiaries in a rural district of West Bengal. In collaboration with North Bengal Medical College & Hospital, a community-based study was conducted in a tribal tea garden of Naxalbari block. Methods and Material: Acceptability and usability of the device was assessed through structtured interviews and dialogues with community health workers (CHWs), caregivers and local healthcare practitioners. Efficacy of the device was represented by the inter-rater agreement between the traditional visual inspection and manual count method and the device reading. Statistical Analysis Used: A descriptive community based mixed method study was conducted. Satisfaction among community healthcare workers (CHWs) and beneficiaries was found to be promising across all study parameters. Results and Conclusions: The paper captures the study methods, statistical analysis of the data, the conclusions, areas of further research and recommends community-wide use of the device in objectively measuring fast breathing among children under the age of five years.

Abstract Background: Contactless photoplethysmography (PPG) potentially affords the ability to obtain vital signs in pediatric populations without disturbing the child. Most validity studies have been conducted in laboratory settings or with healthy adult volunteers. This review aims to evaluate the current literature on contactless vital signs monitoring in pediatric populations and within a clinical setting. Methods: OVID, Webofscience, Cochrane library, and clinicaltrials.org were systematically searched by two authors for research studies which used contactless PPG to assess vital signs in children and within a clinical setting. Results: Fifteen studies were included with a total of 170 individuals. Ten studies were included in a meta-analysis for neonatal heart rate (HR), which demonstrated a pooled mean bias of −0.25 (95% limits of agreement (LOA), −1.83 to 1.32). Four studies assessed respiratory rate (RR) in neonates, and meta-analysis demonstrated a pooled mean bias of 0.65 (95% LOA, −3.08 to 4.37). All studies were small, and there were variations in the methods used and risk of bias. Conclusion: Contactless PPG is a promising tool for vital signs monitoring in children and accurately measures neonatal HR and RR. Further research is needed to assess children of different age groups, the effects of skin type variation, and the addition of other vital signs.

Background and Objective Few clinical studies have investigated the accuracy of non-contact monitoring devices for vital signs during sleep and sleep architecture in adults with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of a contactless monitoring device for 1) heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature during sleep and 2) sleep architecture in adults with SDB. Methods Thirty-five consecutive adults, who visited a tertiary university hospital due to suspected SDB, underwent a complete physical examination and standard (level 1) polysomnography plus body temperature measurement with a contactless monitoring device (HoneyCube System). Results A total of 30 subjects (mean age = 46.43 ± 12.9 years; male: female = 22: 8) were finally included, and five subjects were excluded due to inadequate data in this study. The intraclass correlation coefficient values of heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature measured using the contactless monitoring device were 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.892, 0.928), 0.937 (95% CI: 0.919, 0.954), and 0.918 (95% CI: 0.895, 0.941), respectively. The mean kappa value for sleep architecture was 0.562 (95% CI: 0.529, 0.596). Conclusions The contactless monitoring device showed good (almost perfect) agreement in terms of heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature and moderate agreement in sleep architecture with contact measurements. These results suggest that the HoneyCube System is a good candidate device for sleep monitoring at home and in multiple accommodations.

Background: Some electrical impedance tomography (EIT) devices equip reference electrodes. In practice, it is not uncommon to observe high contact impedance for the reference electrode. The influence of bad contact reference electrode on data quality is unknown. The study aimed to investigate the influence of reference electrode on EIT image reconstruction. Methods: Thirty lung healthy volunteers were prospectively examined with EIT. The subjects were spontaneously breathing in supine position. Three scenarios were constructed: 1. Normal measurement; 2. Reference electrode disconnected without recalibration; 3. Reference electrode disconnected, and the measurement restarted after recalibration of the system. EIT-based parameters measuring spatial and temporal ventilation distributions were calculated and compared. A so-call deviation score was calculated to assess the differences in EIT parameters between scenarios 2 and 1, between 3 and 1. Results: The absolute differences for all parameters were significantly higher than zero (p < 0.01 for all parameters and scenarios). Deviation score for scenario 2 was 4.5 ± 3.5. Four subjects had a deviation score of 0 in scenario 2 and five subjects had a score of 1. The deviation in scenario 3 was higher (6.1 ± 3.1). No subjects had a score of 0 and only two subjects had a score of 1. Conclusions: For EIT systems that equips with reference electrode, it is important to ensure the proper contact and functionality of the reference electrode. The EIT data quality would remain unchanged in only a small portion of subjects.

Background: Tachypnoea in acutely ill patients can be an early sign of a life-threatening condition such as sepsis. Routine measurement of the respiratory rate by GPs might improve the recognition of sepsis. Aim: To assess the accuracy and feasibility of respiratory rate measurements by GPs. Design & setting: Observational cross-sectional mixed-methods study in the setting of out-of-hours (OOH) home visits at three GP cooperatives in The Netherlands. Method: GPs were observed during the assessment of acutely ill patients, and semi-structured interviews were performed. The GP-assessed respiratory rate was compared with a reference measurement. In the event that the respiratory rate was not counted, GPs were asked to estimate the rate (dichotomised as ≥22 breaths per minute or

Wearable health devices and respiratory rates (RRs) have drawn attention to the healthcare domain as it helps healthcare workers monitor patients' health status continuously and in a non-invasive manner. However, to monitor health status outside healthcare professional settings, the reliability of this wearable device needs to be evaluated in complex environments (i.e., public street and transportation). Therefore, this study proposes a method to estimate RR from breathing sounds recorded by a microphone placed inside three types of masks: surgical, a respirator mask (Korean Filter 94), and reusable masks. The Welch periodogram method was used to estimate the power spectral density of the breathing signals to measure the RR. We evaluated the proposed method by collecting data from 10 healthy participants in four different environments: indoor (office) and outdoor (public street, public bus, and subway). The results obtained errors as low as 0% for accuracy and repeatability in most cases. This research demonstrated that the acoustic-based method could be employed as a wearable device to monitor RR continuously, even outside the hospital environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the recent advancements in the field of wearable technologies, the opportunity to monitor stress continuously using different physiological variables has gained significant interest. The early detection of stress can help improve healthcare and minimizes the negative impact of long-term stress. This paper reports outcomes of a pilot study and associated stress-monitoring dataset, named the "Stress-Predict Dataset", created by collecting physiological signals from healthy subjects using wrist-worn watches with a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor. While wearing these watches, 35 healthy volunteers underwent a series of tasks (i.e., Stroop color test, Trier Social Stress Test and Hyperventilation Provocation Test), along with a rest period in-between each task. They also answered questionnaires designed to induce stress levels compatible with daily life. The changes in the blood volume pulse (BVP) and heart rate were recorded by the watch and were labelled as occurring during stress-inducing tasks or a rest period (no stress). Additionally, respiratory rate was estimated using the BVP signal. Statistical models and personalised adaptive reference ranges were used to determine the utility of the proposed stressors and the extracted variables (heart rate and respiratory rate). The analysis showed that the interview session was the most significant stress stimulus, causing a significant variation in heart rate of 27 (77%) participants and respiratory rate of 28 (80%) participants out of 35. The outcomes of this study contribute to the understanding the role of stressors and their association with physiological response and provide a dataset to help develop new wearable solutions for more reliable, valid, and sensitive physio-logical stress monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the effect of controlled mouth breathing during the resting state using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods: Eleven subjects participated in this experiment in which the controlled "Nose" and "Mouth" breathings of 6 s respiratory cycle were performed with a visual cue at 3T MRI. Voxel-wise seed-to-voxel maps and whole-brain region of interest (ROI)-to-ROI connectome maps were analyzed in both "Nose>Mouth" and "Mouth>Nose" contrasts. Results: As a result, there were more connection pairs in the "Mouth" breathing condition, i.e., 14 seeds and 14 connecting pairs in the "Mouth>Nose" contrast, compared to 7 seeds and 4 connecting pairs in the "Nose>Mouth" contrast (false discovery rate [FDR] of P<0.05). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that mouth breathing with controlled respiratory cycles could significantly induce alterations in functional connectivity in the resting-state network, suggesting that it can differently affect resting brain function; in particular, the brain can hardly rest during mouth breathing, as opposed to conventional nasal breathing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate the effects of different levels of banana peel inclusion on the physiological variables of lactating F1 Holstein × Zebu cows. Ten cows distributed in two 5 × 5 Latin squares were used. Five experimental diets were tested: sorghum silage (control group); and the addition of 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% of banana peel to replace sorghum silage. The experiment lasted 80 days. The environmental and physiological variables of the animals were measured. The Black Globe-Humidity Index presented an alert situation in the morning shift and a dangerous situation in the afternoon shift. The respiratory rate was not influenced by the levels of banana peel inclusion (P > 0.05) in the morning shift. However, it was influenced (P < 0.05) in the afternoon shift. The levels of banana peel inclusion in the diet did not affect the rectal temperature. Under the study environmental conditions, the level of up to 60% of banana peel replacing sorghum silage did not alter the physiological variables of thermoregulation in F1 Holstein × Zebu cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All schoolchildren know how often they breathe, but even experts don’t know exactly why. The aim of this publication is to develop a model of the resting spontaneous breathing rate using physiological, physical and mathematical methods with the aid of the principle that evolution pushes physiology in a direction that is as economical as possible. The respiratory rate then follows from an equation with the parameters CO 2 -production rate of the organism, resistance, static compliance and dead space of the lungs, the inspiration duration: expiration duration - ratio and the end-expiratory CO 2 fraction. The derivation requires exclusively secondary school mathematics. Using the example of an adult human or a newborn child, data from the literature then result in normal values for their breathing rate at rest. The reason for the higher respiratory rate of a newborn human compared to an adult is the relatively high CO 2 -production rate together with the comparatively low compliance of the lungs. A side result is the fact that the common alveolar pressure throughout the lungs and the common time constant is a consequence of the economical principle as well. Since the above parameters are not human-specific, there is no reason to assume that the above equation could not also be applicable to many animals breathing through lungs within a thorax, especially mammals. Not only physiology and biology, but also medicine, could benefit: Applicability is being discussed in pulmonary function diagnostics, including pathophysiology. However, the present publication only claims to be a theoretical concept of the spontaneous quiet breathing rate. In the absence of comparable animal data, this publication is intended to encourage further scientific tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies on anesthetized dogs regarding pulse pressure variation (PPV) are increasing. The influence of respiratory rate (RR) on PPV, in mechanically ventilated dogs, has not been clearly identified. Objectives: This study evaluated the influence of RR on PPV in mechanically ventilated healthy dogs after hemorrhage. Methods: Five healthy adult Beagle dogs were premedicated with intravenous (IV) acepromazine (0.01 mg/kg). Anesthesia was induced with alfaxalone (3 mg/kg IV) and maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen. The right dorsal pedal artery was cannulated with a 22-gauge catheter for blood removal, and the left dorsal pedal artery was cannulated and connected to a transducer system for arterial blood pressure monitoring. The PPV was automatically calculated using a multi-parameter monitor and recorded. Hemorrhage was induced by withdrawing 30% of blood (24 mL/kg) over 30 min. Mechanical ventilation was provided with a tidal volume of 10 mL/kg and a 1:2 inspiration-to-expiration ratio at an initial RR of 15 breaths/min (baseline). Thereafter, RR was changed to 20, 30, and 40 breaths/min according to the casting lots, and the PPV was recorded at each RR. After data collection, the blood was transfused at a rate of 10 mL/kg/h, and the PPV was recorded at the baseline ventilator setting. Results: The data of PPV were analyzed using the Friedman test followed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p < 0.05). Hemorrhage significantly increased PPV from 11% to 25% at 15 breaths/min. An increase in RR significantly decreased PPV from 25 (baseline) to 17%, 10%, and 10% at 20, 30, and 40 breaths/min, respectively (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: The PPV is a dynamic parameter that can predict a dog's hemorrhagic condition, but PPV can be decreased in dogs under high RR. Therefore, careful interpretation may be required when using the PPV parameter particularly in the dogs with hyperventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is an established first-line treatment of acute respiratory failure both in emergency departments (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU) settings. It is however not always successful. Materials and methods: Prospective, observational study was done among patients above 18 years presenting with acute respiratory failure initiated on NIV. Patients were placed in one of two groups covering successful NIV treatment and NIV failure. Two groups were compared on four variables: initial respiratory rate (RR), initial high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), PaO2/FiO2 ratio (p/f ratio), and heart rate, acidosis, consciousness, oxygenation, and respiratory rate (HACOR) score at the end of 1 hour of initiation of NIV. Results: A total of 104 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study, of which 55 (52.88%) were exclusively treated with NIV (NIV success group), and 49 (47.11%) required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation (NIV failure group). Noninvasive ventilation failure group had a higher mean initial RR compared with NIV success group (40.65 ± 3.88 vs 31.98 ± 3.15, p <0.001). Mean initial PaO2/FiO2 ratio was also significantly lower in the NIV failure group (184.57 ± 50.33 vs 277.29 ± 34.70, p <0.001). Odds ratio for successful NIV treatment with a high initial RR was 0.503 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.390-0.649) and with a higher initial PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 1.053 (95% CI: 1.032-1.071 and with a HACOR score of >5 at the end of 1 hour of initiation of NIV was highly associated with NIV failure (p <0.001). A high initial level of hs-CRP was 0.949 (95% CI: 0.927-0.970). Conclusion: Noninvasive ventilation failure could be predicted with information available at presentation in ED, and unnecessary delay in endotracheal intubation could possibly be prevented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is well-established that extra-diaphragmatic muscles participate in respiration depending on the physiological situation. Even in clinical conditions where the diaphragm cannot act optimally, extradiaphragmatic muscles can compensate for the breathing mechanics. Aim of the study: This study aims to determine the role of motor units in various respiratory conditions by monitoring the motor unit discharge in the scalene, sternocleidomastoid, and rectus abdominis during eupnea, tachypnea, and bradypnea using surface electromyography (sEMG). Material and methods: In this study, 28 healthy, sedentary males without a history of ailments participated. Using sEMG, the motor unit discharges from the scalene, sternocleidomastoid, and rectus abdominis were measured in three breathing patterns: normal breathing, hyperventilation, and intermittent breath retention. Results: The motor unit discharges of the rectus abdominis during eupnea, bradypnea, and tachypnea were significantly different, indicating that only the rectus abdominis' motor units were actively involved. Rectus abdominis muscle experienced changes in motor unit discharges that were highest and lowest during tachypnea and bradypnea, respectively [p<0.05]. Conclusions: This study has tried to evaluate the role of the motor units of three extra-diaphragmatic muscles in healthy sedentary young male adults with different respiratory conditions. This study has revealed that the rectus abdominis actively participates in the physiological conditions in young, sedentary healthy adult males. In scalene and sternocleidomastoid, active involvement of the motor unit has not been observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the effect of Mulligan’s Cervical Sustained Natural Apophyseal glide and cervical traction cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes; systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, ventilation rate, oxygen saturation, neck disability index and cervical range of motion. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial. Setting: Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad Pakistan. Period: November 2021 to March 2022. Material & Methods: A total of 84 participants with age range of 18 to 24 years of either gender with cervical pain and hypo mobility were included in the study whereas individuals with history of cervical trauma or injury, any structural deformity, vertebral instability, cardiac and respiratory complications were excluded. These participants were randomly allocated into two groups by using toss and trial method. Experimental group received sustained natural apophyseal glide and traction while the control group was subjected to traction alone. A total of four sessions were provided over a course of four weeks, with two weeks interval between them. Pre and post vitals including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were monitored at each session along with Numeric Pain Rating scale, Neck disability index and cervical range of motion. Results: Mean age of the participants was 21.70±2 years. Both groups showed significant reduction in pain with p value< 0.05 whereas heart rate was significantly increased in experimental group with pre median 81.75(16.6) and post median 82.00(15.05). Flexion range of motion was significantly improved in experimental group with pre median 69.00(15) and post median 71.00(11.7). Cervical left side bending was significantly improved with p value 0.04. Other variables including ventilation rate, oxygen saturation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, Neck Disability Index, and other cervical range of motion showed no statistically significant difference with p value >0.05. Conclusion: The study results show improvement in both groups in terms of cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes but experimental group has more significant reduction in pain and change in pulse rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of the physiologic metric, respiratory frequency (RF), has been shown to be of value in health, disease, and exercise science. Both heart rate (HR) and variability (HRV), as represented by variation in RR interval timing, as well as analysis of ECG waveform variability, have shown potential in its measurement. Validation of RF accuracy using newer consumer hardware and software applications have been sparse. The intent of this report is to assess the precision of the RF derived using Kubios HRV Premium software version 3.5 with the Movesense Medical sensor single-channel ECG (MS ECG) and the Polar H10 (H10) HR monitor. Gas exchange data (GE), RR intervals (H10), and continuous ECG (MS ECG) were recorded from 21 participants performing an incremental cycling ramp to failure. Results showed high correlations between the reference GE and both the H10 (r = 0.85, SEE = 4.2) and MS ECG (r = 0.95, SEE = 2.6). Although median values were statistically different via Wilcoxon testing, adjusted median differences were clinically small for the H10 (RF about 1 breaths/min) and trivial for the MS ECG (RF about 0.1 breaths/min). ECG based measurement with the MS ECG showed reduced bias, limits of agreement (maximal bias, −2.0 breaths/min, maximal LoA, 6.1 to −10.0 breaths/min) compared to the H10 (maximal bias, −3.9 breaths/min, maximal LoA, 8.2 to −16.0 breaths/min). In conclusion, RF derived from the combination of the MS ECG sensor with Kubios HRV Premium software, tracked closely to the reference device through an exercise ramp, illustrates the potential for this system to be of practical usage during endurance exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory rate (RR) is a clinically important predictor of cardio-respiratory deteriorations. The mainstay of clinical measurement comprises the manual counting of chest movements, which is variable between clinicians and limited to sporadic readings. Emerging solutions are limited by poor adherence and acceptability or are not clinically validated. Albus HomeTM is a contactless and automated bedside system for nocturnal respiratory monitoring that overcomes these limitations. This study aimed to validate the accuracy of Albus Home compared to gold standards in real-world sleeping environments. Participants undertook overnight monitoring simultaneously using Albus Home and gold-standard polygraphy with thoraco-abdominal respiratory effort belts (SomnomedicsEU). Reference RR readings were obtained by clinician-count of polygraphy data. For both the Albus system and reference, RRs were measured in 30-s segments, reported as breaths/minute, and compared. Accuracy was defined as the percentage of RRs from the Albus system within ±2 breaths/minute of reference counts. Across a diverse validation set of 32 participants, the mean accuracy exceeded 98% and was maintained across different participant characteristics. In a Bland–Altman analysis, Albus RRs had strong agreement with reference mean differences and the limits of agreement of −0.4 and ±1.2 breaths/minute, respectively. Albus Home is a contactless yet accurate system for automated respiratory monitoring. Validated against gold –standard methods, it enables long-term, reliable nocturnal monitoring without patient burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High frequency jet ventilationis a mechanical lung ventilation method which uses a relatively high flow usually through an open system. This work examined the effect of high-frequency jet ventilation on respiratory parameters of an intubated patient simulated using a high-frequency jet ventilator attached to a ventilation monitor for measurements of ventilation parameters. The series of experiments altered specific parameters each time (respiratory rate, inspiratory-expiratory (I:E) ratio, and inspiratory pressure), under different lung compliances. A reduction of minute ventilation was observed alongside a rise in respiratory rate, with low airway pressures over the entire range of lung compliances. In addition, an I:E ratio of 2:1 to 1:1; and the tidal and minute volumes were directly related to the inspiratory pressure over all compliance settings. To conclude, the respiratory mechanics in high-frequency jet ventilation are very different from those of conventional rate ventilation in a lung model. Further studies on patients and/or a biological model are needed to investigate pCO2 and end-tidal carbon-dioxide during high-frequency jet ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory rate (RR) is a marker of critical illness, but during hospital care, RR is often inaccurately measured. The capaciflector is a novel sensor that is small, inexpensive, and flexible, thus it has the potential to provide a single-use, real-time RR monitoring device. We evaluated the accuracy of continuous RR measurements by capaciflector hardware both at rest and during exercise. Continuous RR measurements were made with capaciflectors at four chest locations. In healthy subjects (n = 20), RR was compared with strain gauge chest belt recordings during timed breathing and two different body positions at rest. In patients undertaking routine cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET, n = 50), RR was compared with pneumotachometer recordings. Comparative RR measurement bias and limits of agreement were calculated and presented in Bland–Altman plots. The capaciflector was shown to provide continuous RR measurements with a bias less than 1 breath per minute (BPM) across four chest locations. Accuracy and continuity of monitoring were upheld even during vigorous CPET exercise, often with narrower limits of agreement than those reported for comparable technologies. We provide a unique clinical demonstration of the capaciflector as an accurate breathing monitor, which may have the potential to become a simple and affordable medical device. Clinical trial number: NCT03832205 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03832205 registered February 6th, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The demand for wearable devices to simultaneously monitor heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) values has grown due to the incidence increase in cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The use of inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors, embedding both accelerometers and gyroscopes, may ensure a non-intrusive and low-cost monitoring. While both accelerometers and gyroscopes have been assessed independently for both HR and RR monitoring, there lacks a comprehensive comparison between them when used simultaneously. In this study, we used both accelerometers and gyroscopes embedded in a single IMU sensor for the simultaneous monitoring of HR and RR. The following main findings emerged: (i) the accelerometer outperformed the gyroscope in terms of accuracy in both HR and RR estimation; (ii) the window length used to estimate HR and RR values influences the accuracy; and (iii) increasing the length over 25 s does not provide a relevant improvement, but accuracy improves when the subject is seated or lying down, and deteriorates in the standing posture. Our study provides a comprehensive comparison between two promising systems, highlighting their potentiality for real-time cardiorespiratory monitoring. Furthermore, we give new insights into the influence of window length and posture on the systems' performance, which can be useful to spread this approach in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a method to perform simultaneous measurements of percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), pulse rate (PR), and respiratory rate (RR) in real-time, using a digital red–green–blue (RGB) camera. Concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (CHbO), deoxygenated hemoglobin (CHbR), total hemoglobin (CHbT), and StO2 were estimated from videos of the human face using a method based on a tissue-like light transport model of the skin. The photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals are extracted from the temporal fluctuations in CHbO, CHbR, and CHbT using a finite impulse response (FIR) filter (low and high cut-off frequencies of 0.7 and 3 Hz, respectively). The PR is calculated from the PPG signal for CHbT. The ratio of pulse wave amplitude for CHbO and that for CHbR are associated with the reference value of SpO2 measured by a commercially available pulse oximeter, which provides an empirical formula to estimate SpO2 from videos. The respiration-dependent oscillation in CHbT was extracted from another FIR filter (low and high cut-off frequencies of 0.05 and 0.5 Hz, respectively) and used to calculate the RR. In vivo experiments with human volunteers while varying the fraction of inspired oxygen were performed to evaluate the comparability of the proposed method with commercially available devices. The Bland–Altman analysis showed that the mean bias for PR, RR, SpO2, and StO2 were -1.4 (bpm), -1.2(rpm), 0.5 (%), and -3.0 (%), respectively. The precisions for PR, RR, Sp O 2, and StO2 were ±3.1 (bpm), ±3.5 (rpm), ±4.3 (%), and ±4.8 (%), respectively. The resulting precision and RMSE for StO2 were pretty close to the clinical accuracy requirement. The accuracy of the RR is considered a little less accurate than clinical requirements. This is the first demonstration of a low-cost RGB camera-based method for contactless simultaneous measurements of the heart rate, percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation, and tissue oxygen saturation in real-time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Weaned lambs raised on pasture-based systems in Brazil are often subjected to periods of forage shortage, limiting their nutrient and energy intake and, hence, their growth. Fast recovery of lamb body weight is important to the efficiency, sustainability and profitability of these sheep production systems. Aim: We evaluated the effects of refeeding on growth performance, blood metabolites and physiological parameters of Dorper × Santa Ines lambs after low and moderate feed restriction, to determine whether there was a compensatory growth response. Methods: Twenty-four non-castrated male lambs were assigned to a completely randomised design with three treatments and eight replicates. The trial was conducted in a feedlot and divided into two phases: (1) feed restriction for 64 days, and (2) refeeding for 42 days. In Phase 1, the respective treatments provided energy supplies of 0.481, 0.841 and 1.205 MJ metabolisable energy per kg metabolic weight daily, corresponding to 60% (PR60, moderate) and 30% (PR30, low) feed restriction levels and ad libitum intake. In Phase 2, the lambs in PR60 and PR30 treatments were refed ad libitum. Performance and blood measurements were taken in Phase 1 for the ad libitum treatment, and Phase 2 for PR60 and PR30 treatments. Key results: Highest initial and final bodyweights of 32.7 and 41.2 kg were recorded in the PR30 treatment during Phase 2, compared with 23.0 and 36.7 kg averaged over PR60 and ad libitum treatments. Average daily gain did not differ among treatments (276 g/day, on average). Dry matter intake was significantly higher in PR30 than the ad libitum treatment (1406 vs 1158 g/day), with PR60 intermediate (1267 g/day). Serum levels of albumin, urea and creatinine indicated that protein metabolism was strongly affected by the PR60 treatment. High metabolic rate and subsequent rapid growth determined high respiratory rate and rectal temperature in the lambs from PR60 and PR30 treatments. Conclusions: Moderate feed restriction relative to maintenance level followed by an ad libitum refeeding period in the feedlot leads to a strong compensatory growth response in Dorper × Santa Ines lambs. Implications: In periods of low feed availability, keeping weaned lambs under moderate feed restriction is a good strategy to induce an efficient compensatory growth response in the feedlot during the finishing phase. After a period of low feed availability and limited growth rate, fast recovery of lamb bodyweight makes sheep production systems more efficient, sustainable and profitable. Compensatory growth is followed by several adaptations at metabolic and physiological levels, including accelerated protein metabolism, high respiratory rate and high body temperature. After lambs are subjected to moderate feed restriction relative to the maintenance requirements, an efficient compensatory growth response is obtained under feedlot conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vital signs are critical in assessing the severity and prognosis of infections, for example, COVID-19, influenza, sepsis, and pneumonia. This study aimed to evaluate a new method for rapid camera-based non-contact measurement of heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. Consecutive adult patients attending a hospital emergency department for suspected COVID-19 infection were invited to participate. Vital signs measured with a new camera-based method were compared to the corresponding standard reference methods. The camera device observed the patient's face for 30 s from ∼1 m. Between 1 April and 1 October 2020, 214 subjects were included in the trial, 131 female (61%) and 83 male (39%). The mean age was 44 years (range 18–81 years). The new camera-based device's vital signs measurements were, on average, very close to the gold standard but the random variation was larger than the reference methods. The principle of contactless measurement of blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation works, which is very promising. However, technical improvements to the equipment used in this study to reduce its random variability is required before clinical implementation. This will likely be a game changer once this is sorted out. Universal Trial Number (UTN) U1111-1251-4114 and the ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04383457. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Middle Ear Surgeries (MESs) are generally performed using local anaesthesia under sedation. Butorphanol and nalbuphine both are well-known synthetic opioid with agonist-antagonist characteristics. However, no reports present a direct comparison of the analgesic efficacy of these two drugs. Aim: To evaluate analgesic efficacy of intravenous butorphanol versus intravenous nalbuphine during Monitored Anaesthesia Care (MAC) in patients undergoing tympanoplasty. Materials and Methods: This randomised clinical trial was conducted at the Department of Anaesthesiology, School of Medicine, D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University, Mumbai, Maharashtra India, from March 2018 to March 2021. Total 112 adult patients, undergoing tympanoplasty, were randomly allocated into two groups. Group N received 0.2 mg/kg nalbuphine intravenous (i.v.) and group B received i.v. 0.02 mg/kg butorphanol. The patients were then evaluated for analgesic efficacy, sedation, blood pressure, Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), Heart Rate (HR), Respiratory Rate (RR), blood oxygen levels (SpO2), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Score, need for intraoperative rescue sedation/analgesia, duration of action and side-effects. Results: A significant difference was observed in the patients' responses to needle prick, where only 8 (13.3%) subjects gave a vocal response in group N versus 22 (36.6%) in group B. A significant difference in the mean time of onset of pain amongst both the group was recorded (3.16±1.38 hrs in group N and 2.63±1.19 hrs in group B). A significant difference was also recorded in the mean VAS at 15th (p-value=0.012) and 30th min (p-value= 0.017). Only 7 patients (11.6%) from group N, and 12 patients (20%) from group B required rescue agent (0.5 mcg/kg/ hour dexmedetomidine injection and 75 mg diclofenac sodium injection intravenous). Conclusion: Both 0.2 mg/kg nalbuphine and 0.2 mg/kg Butorphanol provide satisfactory results in terms of analgesic efficacy, sedation, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, albeit, nalbuphine can be coined to be superior in terms of response to pin prick and duration of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the authors present their study which evaluated the feasibility of a specific protocol for reducing respiratory rate in patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the effect of reducing the frequency on hemodynamics, respiratory mechanics, and mechanical power. Also cited are how mechanical ventilation could promote the phenomenon called ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI), and the strategies to prevent VILI like the use of prone positioning.