Wireless multichannel electroencephalography in the newborn.

OBJECTIVES: First, to determine the feasibility of an ultra-compact wireless device (microEEG) to obtain multichannel electroencephalographic (EEG) recording in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Second, to identify problem areas in order to improve wireless EEG performance. STUDY DESIGN: 28 subjects (gestational age 24-30 weeks, postnatal age <30 days) were recruited at 2 sites as part of an ongoing study of neonatal apnea and wireless EEG. Infants underwent 8-9 hour EEG recordings every 2-4 weeks using an electrode cap (ANT-Neuro) connected to the wireless EEG device (Bio-Signal Group). A 23 electrode configuration was used incorporating the International 10-20 System. The device transmitted recordings wirelessly to a laptop computer for bedside assessment. The recordings were assessed by a pediatric neurophysiologist for interpretability. RESULTS: A total of 84 EEGs were recorded from 28 neonates. 61 EEG studies were obtained in infants prior to 35 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA). NICU staff placed all electrode caps and initiated all recordings. Of these recordings 6 (10%) were uninterpretable due to artifacts and one study could not be accessed. The remaining 54 (89%) EEG recordings were acceptable for clinical review and interpretation by a pediatric neurophysiologist. Of the recordings obtained at 35 weeks corrected gestational age or later only 11 out of 23 (48%) were interpretable. CONCLUSIONS: Wireless EEG devices can provide practical, continuous, multichannel EEG monitoring in preterm neonates. Their small size and ease of use could overcome obstacles associated with EEG recording and interpretation in the NICU.

[Sensitivity of Escherichia coli phages to the action of the physicochemical factors accompanying the process of cryopreservation]. / Chuvstvitel'nost' fagov Escherichia coli k deistviiu nekotorykh fiziko-khimicheskikh faktorov, soprovozhdaiushchikh protsess kriokonservatsii.

A temperature shock, a change in the pH of the medium for conservation within the range of 4.0 to 10.0, and an increase of NaCl concentration up to 5 M do not inactivate Escherichia coli phages T3, T4 and phi X174. The hydrostatic pressure of 2 X 10(3) atm inactivates phages T4 and phi X174. The sensitivity of the phages to the pressure correlates with their survival rate after freezing.

[Effect of freezing modes on the survival of Escherichia coli bacteriophages]. / Vliianie rezhimov zamorazhivaniia na vyzhivaemost' bakteriofagov Escherichia coli.

The object of this work was to study the effect of freezing down to--196 degrees C at different cooling and warming rates on the survival of T3, T4 and phiX174 phages. Phage particles survived when T3 phage was frozen at a rate of 20-400 degrees/min and phiX174 phage at a rate of 20-45 degrees/min. The survival rate of T4 phage was highest when it was frozen at a rate of 45 degrees/min. The survival of the phages depended also on the regime of warming. The susceptibility of the phages to freezing correlated with their sensitivity to osmotic shock in NaCl and sucrose solutions.