Wavelet analysis for early identification of HRV changes in offspring with genetic predisposition to hypertension in Oman.

BACKGROUND: Offspring with a genetic predisposition to hypertension may have higher blood pressure (BP) at rest compared with those without a genetic predisposition to hypertension. They are also expected to have a higher sympathetic component in the heart rate variability (HRV) which could be computed with signal processing algorithms. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to design a wavelet-based system to estimate the heart rate variability that can be used to detect early cardiovascular changes in offspring with a genetic predisposition to hypertension. Early detection will help in the treatment of those young people. In this work, the relation between the hypertension and the changes in HRV is investigated. METHODS: The frequency domain and time domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) are studied to understand their relationship to the autonomic nervous system in offspring with and without a genetic predisposition to hypertension in Oman at resting state. The wavelet-based soft-decision algorithm is used as the spectral analysis tool to obtain different features from the HRV signal and to select the best performing features for detection of hypertension. The main task is to classify between three categories of subjects: 36 subjects with both normotensive parents (ONT), 22 subjects with single hypertensive parent (OHT1), and 11 subjects with both hypertensive parents (OHT2). RESULTS: The summation of the power of bands B4 and B5 of the 32 bands HRV wavelet-based spectrum, which is equivalent to the frequency range (0.046875 Hz-0.078125 Hz), is used as a classification factor among OHT2, OHT1, and ONT groups. The efficiency of classification between ONT and OHT2 is 85.10%, and between OHT1 and OHT2 is 81.81%. The result of classifying between (ONT and OHT1 as one group) and OHT2 is 85.50%. CONCLUSIONS: The work proves that the wavelet-based spectral analysis technique is a successful tool for classifying the three groups of subjects (ONT, OHT1, and OHT2) with different susceptibility for development of hypertension.

Developing patient safety system using WHO tool in hospitals in Oman.

OBJECTIVE: Oman is progressively implementing the Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Initiative (PSFHI), a tool formulated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to achieve optimal patient safety in hospitals. This paper describes its implementation in selected government and private hospitals in Oman and analyses the performance of four hospitals whose implementations of PSFHI were assessed by WHO. DESIGN: The PSFHI initiative was launched in 11 hospitals in Oman during 2016. The enrolled hospitals implemented a 1-year plan composed of several steps such as formation of steering committees, working groups, full orientation about the standards, training of staff, documents development and community involvement. One year later, four hospitals which were the earliest to join the initiative were subjected to WHO assessment. SETTING: Secondary level government and private hospitals. INTERVENTION(S): The WHO-PSFHI standards. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Hospitals' adherence to the standards. RESULTS: Three of the four hospitals (one government and two private) scored level two. One government hospital scored level three, earning it the distinction of being the first hospital in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to reach level three in the very first assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of PSFHI in selected hospitals of Oman had successful outcomes in improving patient's safety.

Comparison of condition index in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis between Sebatu and Pasir Panjang, Peninsular Malaysia.

The condition index (which relates to the tissue dry weight to shell volume) of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis was investigated at Sebatu in Melaka and Pasir Panjang in Negri Sembilan from September 2003 to February 2004. Monthly samples of P. viridis were collected from culturing rafts at both sites. Variations in the average monthly condition index (CI) of P. viridis ranged from 21.06 to 26.72 g cm(-3) and 15.18 to 19.41 g cm(-3) in Sebatu and Pasir Panjang, respectively. Salinity values were lowest in November between 27.93 to 28.10 ppt in Sebatu and Pasir Panjang, respectively. Salinity then started increasing gradually until it reached 33.26 ppt in Sebatu and 31.23 ppt in Pasir Panjang in the month of February. Chlorophylla in Pasir Panjang showed higher fluctuation, ranging from 2.93 to 14.39 mg/L, while in Sebatu the fluctuations were lower and ranged between 7.70 and 9.37 mg l(-1). Rapid decline in CI values were recorded during January in Sebatu and February in Pasir Panjang. However, this rapid declining state of CI in P. viridis was an indication of its spawning period, when their gametes were released in the water column. These findings would help in the development of captive breeding techniques and mass seed production in aquaculture.

Determination of some heavy metal concentrations in razor clam (Solen brevis) from Tanjung Lumpur coastal waters, Pahang, Malaysia.

An effort to analyze selected heavy metal accumulation by the razor clam (Solen brevis) from Tanjung Lumpur was conducted on January to April 2010. A total of fifty individuals of Razor clam Solen brevis were sampled and metals such as Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) Concentrations were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Among the metals Fe occurred in elevated concentration in the soft tissue of razor clam followed by Zn. Cd was found to be in least concentration in the sample. Mean concentration of Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cd and Pb in the soft tissue were 415.2 +/- 56.52, 87.74 +/- 11.85, 18.71 +/- 2.10, 8.64 +/- 1.75, 0.67 +/- 0.29 and 1.61 +/- 0.45 microg g(-1) dw, respectively indicating that the bioaccumulation of essential metals in the soft tissue was greater than the non essential heavy metals. Metal accumulation in the soft tissue of razor clam followed Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Pb > Cd order in present study. The observed concentration of acute toxicity of metals in Solen brevis (Family: Solenidae) from Tanjung Lumpur Coastal waters was lower than the permissible limit recommended by National and international standards proved that this species could be utilized for human consumption.

Assessment of aerobic fitness and its correlates in Omani adolescents using the 20-metre shuttle run test: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess aerobic fitness in male and female adolescents using the multistage 20-metre shuttle run test and correlate it with selected fitness variables. METHOD: The subjects comprised 83 girls and 64 boys aged 15-16 years, randomly selected from two segregated government schools in Muscat. After the pupils filled in a short questionnaire on their personal leisure time activities of the preceding week, their heights and weights were measured. Aerobic fitness was assessed by estimating each pupil's minimal oxygen uptake levels (VO2max) using the multistage 20-metre shuttle running test (20-MST). RESULTS: Boys spent more time than girls on leisure physical activities, television, computer and video games and the Internet. The estimated VO2max in both boys and girls showed high correlation with their weekly physical activities. The time spent on television and computer negatively correlated with VO2max in girls but not in boys. Girls had higher body mass index (BMI) and less VO2max compared to boys; BMI showed a negative correlation with VO2max in girls but not in boys. CONCLUSION: Aerobic fitness in this sample was higher in boys than in girls and was strongly influenced by weekly physical activities in both genders. The 20-MST has proved a simple and inexpensive field test for aerobic fitness that could be implemented on a wide scale.