Respiratory Rate Estimation from a Single Lead ECG Obtained During Dental Surgery

Respiratory rates were estimated from single lead ECG measurements, obtained on 30 patients during dental surgery, by using the Toolbox of Respiratory Rate Algorithms, from the Respiratory Rate Estimation (RRest) project. The purpose was to find the best performing among more than 300 algorithms implemented in the toolbox. Since the dataset does not contain a reference respiratory signal, respiratory rate extraction algorithms were compared with respect to the mean respiratory rate calculated from applying all the algorithms. The investigation found one algorithm that estimates respiratory rates within tolerance of ± 2 breaths/min in at least 50% of the recordings' lengths, for 27 of the total 30 measurements. The selected algorithm has not satisfied the criteria on 3 patients, possibly because of the big variation in the shape of the recorded ECGs, but also because the patch ECG device was not in the position where ECG amplitude modulation, caused by respiration, is expected. The selected algorithm is the smart fusion of respiratory rates obtained by peak detection and zero-crossings of respiratory signals, that are calculated from ECG features.</p

Using patch ECG device during lower third molar surgery

This study aimed to evaluate cardiac activity changes during lower third molar surgery concerning gender and anxiety levels. Thirty healthy subjects who required lower third molar surgery filled out Norman Corah dental anxiety scale (DAS) before surgery. A patch ECG device (Savvy, Institute ''Jožef Stefan'', Ljubljana, Slovenia) was applied to the patient to evaluate heart rate (HR) and heart rhythm. These parameters were assessed in 8 different intervals. Periods of the highest mean HR values-incision and flap elevation compared to the period with minimal mean HR values-during suturing showed statistical significance difference (p&lt;0.05). The most common outstanding ECG finding was sinus tachycardia, especially in anxious compared to non-anxious patients. Extraction difficulty score was correlated with the procedure duration time and with the abnormal ECG findings in the period of tooth extraction. Significant cardiac activity changes are detected during surgery. Physiological manifestations of anxiety may be evaluated successfully using a patch ECG device. Copyright </p

Expression, purification, and characterization of the cellulose-binding domain of the scaffoldin subunit from the cellulosome of Clostridium thermocellum

The major cellulose-binding domain (CBD) from the cellulosome of Clostridium thermocellum YS was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed protein was purified efficiently by a modification of a novel procedure termed affinity digestion. The properties of the purified polypeptide were compared with those of a related CBD derived from a cellulosome-like complex of a similar (but mesophilic) clostridial species, Clostridium cellulovorans. The binding properties of the two proteins with their common substrate were found to be very similar. Despite the similarity in the amino acid sequences of the two CBDs, polyclonal antibodies raised against the CBD from C. thermocellum failed to interact with the protein from C. cellulovorans. Chemical modification of the single cysteine of the CBD had little effect on the binding to cellulose. Biotinylation of this cysteine allowed the efficient binding of avidin to cellulose, and the resultant matrix is appropriate for use as a universal affinity system.</jats:p

DNA methylation program during development

DNA methylation is a key epigenetic mark when occurring in the promoter and enhancer regions regulates the accessibility of the binding protein and gene transcription. DNA methylation is inheritable and can be de novo-synthesized, erased and reinstated, making it arguably one of the most dynamic upstream regulators for gene expression and the most influential pacer for development. Recent progress has demonstrated that two forms of cytosine methylation and two pathways for demethylation constitute ample complexity for an instructional program for orchestrated gene expression and development. The forum of the current discussion and review are whether there is such a program, if so what the DNA methylation program entails, and what environment can change the DNA methylation program. The translational implication of the DNA methylation program is also proposed