Modeling of human movement monitoring using Bluetooth Low Energy technology.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a wireless communication technology which can be used to monitor human movements. In this monitoring system, a BLE signal scanner scans signal strength of BLE tags carried by people, to thus infer human movement patterns within its monitoring zone. However to the extent of our knowledge one main aspect of this monitoring system which has not yet been thoroughly investigated in literature is how to build a sound theoretical model, based on tunable BLE communication parameters such as scanning time interval and advertising time interval, to enable the study and design of effective and efficient movement monitoring systems. In this paper, we proposed and developed a statistical model based on Monte-Carlo simulation, which can be utilized to assess impacts of BLE technology parameters in terms of latency and efficiency, on a movement monitoring system, and can thus benefit a more efficient system design.

The survey of diastolic function changes in end-stage renal disease patients before and 3 and 6 months after kidney transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, which is prevalent in end-stage renal disease, predicts morbidity and mortality among affected patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate diastolic function changes in end-stage renal disease patients before as well as 3 and 6 months after kidney transplantation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This longitudinal study from November 2008 to November 2009, enrolled 27 consecutive kidney transplant patients. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and echocardiograghic parameters such as ejection fraction, left ventricular mass, and diastolic functions were measured before, as well as 3 and 6 months after transplantation. Data were analyzed by repeated-measure analysis of variance and Friedman tests using SPSS version 18. RESULTS: The mean patients age was 39.47 ± 12.27 years with 55.6% males. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and left ventricular mass decreased significantly in the first 3 (125.44 ± 11.35, 78.51 ± 6.32, 141.94 ± 3.32) and 6 months (121.48 ± 10.63, 72.96 ± 4.21, 138.25 ± 3.12) after renal transplantation compared to the values before the procedure (136.77 ± 14.09, 81.92 ± 9.01, 158.30 ± 3.58 respectively; P < .05). The left ventricular ejection fraction increased significantly at 3 (63.00 ± 6.49) and 6 months (66.11 ± 5.87) compared with preoperative (62.48 ± 5.74; P < .05). Step mean diastolic function also decreased significantly at 3 (1.94) and 6 months (1.81) compared with before transplantation (2.24; P < .05). CONCLUSION: According to our findings, transplantation can correct ejection fraction and systolic and diastolic blood pressure and lead to regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. Diastolic function was improved after transplantation.

Early inhibition of caspase-3 activity lessens the development of graft coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The role of apoptosis in the development of graft coronary artery disease (GCAD) is poorly understood. We have previously shown that early overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 lessens the development of GCAD. We hypothesized that early inhibition of apoptosis with a caspase-3 inhibitor would also lessen the development of GCAD. METHODS: Heterotopic heart transplantation was performed in 4 groups of rats. Donor hearts were pretreated with 50 microg DEVD-CHO, a cell-permeable caspase-3 inhibitor, or vehicle. Recipient animals were pretreated with 1.7 mg/kg intraperitoneal DEVD-CHO or vehicle. Animals were treated with 7.5 mg/kg/d cyclosporine for 10 days to prevent acute rejection. On post-operative day 90, the animals were sacrificed and the transplanted hearts were assessed morphometrically for evidence of GCAD. RESULTS: At 90 days, intimal proliferation was significantly higher in vehicle treated animals than in inhibitor treated animals. Moreover, the percentage of vessels with high-grade occlusion (>50%) was also lower in inhibitor treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: Early inhibition of caspase-3 activity with cell-permeable DEVD-CHO lessens the development of GCAD. Caspase-3 inhibition may be a useful strategy for prevention of GCAD in clinical transplantation.