Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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We studied the performance of several lossless compression algorithms on eye movement signals recorded in otoneurological balance and other physiological laboratories. Despite the wide use of these signals their compression has not been studied prior to our research. The compression methods were based on the common model of using a predictor to decorrelate the input and using an entropy coder to encode the residual. We found that these eye movement signals recorded at 400 Hz and with 13 bit amplitude resolution could losslessly be compressed with a compression ratio of about 2.7.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2002
How to develop a low cost, in-house distance learning center for continuing medical education. Part I.
Continuing medical education is essential to improve the quality of health care. Residential courses are expensive for small hospitals but videoconferencing is an economical alternative. Models of distance learning centers are described along with an explanation of INTERNET basics and the use of INTERNET protocol for local area networks (INTRANET). Hardware, software and other technology required and the advantages and disadvantages of different communication methods are reported.
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In mechanically ventilated patients a high fraction of the pressure can be dissipated to overcome the viscoelastic components of the respiratory system. Recently it was demonstrated that sigh improved oxygenation in mechanically ventilated ARDS patients. We evaluated if, in acute lung injury (ALI) patients, the sigh can be used to measure the respiratory viscoelastic properties. ⋯ The long inflation time characteristic of the sigh allowed the determination of the viscoelastic constants by means of a simpler and faster method. Moreover it does not require very small tidal volumes, which can increase reabsorption atelectasis in ALI patients and can improve alveolar recruitment and oxygenation in these patients.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2002
How to develop a low cost, in-house distance learning center for continuing medical education. Part II.
The first part of this paper discussed the advantages and communication tools needed to create a Distance Learning Center for continuing medical education by using an Intranet or the Internet. This part continues with an explanation of the hardware, software (largely free) and human resources needed for videoconferencing as well as the costs. Suitable even for small hospitals Distance Learning Centers can be of higher quality than traditional methods of continuing medical education.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Aug 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialBiasing effect of the electromyogram on BIS: a controlled study during high-dose fentanyl induction.
A biasing effect of the electromyogram (EMG) on the Bispectral Index (BIS) may explain discrepancies in previous studies assessing BIS in the presence of neuromuscular activity. Our aims were: to evaluate variations of BIS in the presence of high EMG activity associated with muscular rigidity after administration of high-dose fentanyl; to compare muscular rigidity, as measured by the EMG variable of the BIS monitor, in patients who were administered two different dosages of fentanyl at induction of cardiac anaesthesia. ⋯ During fentanyl-induced muscular rigidity BIS recordings reflect EMG variations. When assessing BIS in the absence of neuromuscular blockade, it is necessary to evaluate the effect of EMG on BIS before making conclusions about depth of sedation. Fentanyl-induced rigidity appears to be a dose-related phenomenon which the EMG variable of BIS 3.4 is able to quantify.