Accuracy of the Apple Watch in measuring oxygen saturation: comparison with pulse oximetry and ABG.

BACKGROUND: Smartwatches have gained tremendous attention in recent years and have become widely accepted by patients, despite not being intended for medical diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the accuracy of Apple Watch oxygen saturation measurement in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD by comparing it with medical-grade pulse oximetry and ABG. METHOD: This single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study involved 167 patients. Patients presenting with cardiac arrest, life-threatening symptoms, severe hypoxia, or obvious jaundice were excluded. Additionally, patients whose SpO2 measurements with the Apple Watch took more than 2 min or required eight attempts were also excluded. Vital signs were measured simultaneously using the IntelliVue MX500 monitor with the Masimo Rainbow Set pulse oximeter and the Apple Watch. Concurrently, arterial blood gas (ABG) samples were drawn. RESULTS: A strong correlation between the Apple Watch 6 and medical-grade pulse oximetry (r = 0.89, ICC = 0.940) was noted. The Bland-Altman analysis revealed a mean error of 0.458% between the Apple Watch 6 and ABG (SD: 2.78, level of agreement: - 5.912 to 4.996). The mean error between pulse oximetry and ABG (SD: 5.086, level of agreement; - 10.983 to 8.953) was 1.015%. There was a correlation between respiratory rate and the number of attempts to measure SpO2 with the Apple Watch 6 (r = 0.75, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Apple Watch 6 is an accurate and reliable method for measuring SpO2 levels in emergency patients who presented with acute exacerbation of COPD. However, tachypneic patients may encounter challenges due to the potential need for multiple attempts to measure their oxygen saturation.

Being a Mother under the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: Evaluation of Perinatal Anxiety, Prenatal Attachment, and Maternal-Infant Attachment.

OBJECTIVES: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused both physical and emotional stress throughout the population due to its worldwide impact. The unknowns about the disease, social isolation, pregnant women's concerns regarding exposure to the COVID-19, inaccessibility to necessary care, and the possibility of harm to their fetus may cause increased psychological distress during the perinatal period. We aimed to evaluate the association between perinatal anxiety, prenatal attachment, and maternal-infant attachment status among women with those who delivered their child in a tertiary-care center with rigid hospital restrictions. STUDY DESIGN: Term pregnant women who experienced the last trimester of their pregnancy during COVID-19 curfews between December 2020 and May 2021 were asked specifically about their concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic and they filled out the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). Those who continued the follow-up within a month of period following the delivery were invited to fill out the Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI). RESULTS: A total of 600 women completed the survey. While the evaluation of the relationship between participants' mean PAI and MAI scores showed a statistically significant positive correlation between scales (r = 0.124, p = 0.002), mean PAI and PASS scores showed a statistically significant negative correlation between scale scores (r = - 0.137, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Examining the factors, affecting the attachment process of pregnant and puerperal women, will guide the improvement of the quality of health services in the COVID-19 pandemic. KEY POINTS: · COVID-19 caused psychological distress, with increased anxiety among perinatal women.. · Elevated levels of anxiety about COVID-19 during pregnancy may lead to insecure attachment.. · Insecure attachment in the prenatal period will negatively contribute to mother - infant attachment..

¿Existe una asociación entre la concentración de vitamina D y la alergia a la proteína de la leche de vaca durante la lactancia? / Is there an association between vitamin D levels and cow's milk protein allergy at infancy?

Objetivo. La alergia alimentaria es un problema de salud pública. Los objetivos fueron determinar la asociación entre la alergia a la proteína de la leche de vaca (APLV) y la vitamina 25(OH)D en los lactantes diagnosticados con APLV y la asociación entre la 25(OH)D y (a) tamaño de la zona indurada en la prueba intraepidérmica, (b) IgE específica para leche y (c) IgE específica para caseína. Métodos. Estudio de casos y controles prospectivo, observacional con niños < 2 años con APLV confirmada mediante prueba de exposición oral al alimento. Se incluyó a lactantes sanos como controles. La concentración sérica de 25(OH)D se obtuvo en ambos grupos. Se estudió la correlación entre la vitamina D y la APLV. Resultados. Entre los pacientes (n: 56), el 41,1 % (n: 23) tenía alergia mediada por la IgE y el 58,9 % (n: 33), alergia no mediada por la IgE. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos con APLV y de referencia (n: 55) en la 25(OH)D (33,85 ± 16,18 ng/ml, 30,70 ± 14,90 ng/ml; respectivamente, p : 0,289). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos según la 25(OH)D (adecuada, insuficiencia, deficiencia; p = 0,099). Con la prueba intraepidérmica, se determinó una correlación negativa sin significancia estadística entre la zona indurada del antígeno de la leche y la 25(OH)D (p: 0,794; r = -0,037). Conclusiones. No se observaron diferencias significativas en la 25(OH)D entre ambos grupos. Estos resultados no respaldan la solicitud de rutina de análisis de 25(OH)D en los lactantes con APLV.

Aim. Food allergy is an important public health concern with an increasing prevalence. The objectives were to determine the possible association between cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) and 25(OH)D (vitamin-D) levels of infants with an initial diagnosis of CMPA and the association between 25(OH)D levels and (a) SPT (skin prick test) induration size, (b) specific IgE to milk, (c) specific IgE to casein. Methods. Prospective, observational, case control study; the study group was composed of children < 2 years of age with a diagnosis of CMPA confirmed by an oral food challenge test. Healthy infants were enrolled as controls. Serum 25(OH) D levels were obtained at the initial workup in both groups. The correlation of vitamin-D levels was investigated in the development of CMPA. Results. Among the study group of patients (n:56) 41,1% (n:23) had IgE-mediated and 58,9% (n:33) had non-IgE-mediated allergies There were no statistically significant differences between the CMPA and control groups (n: 55), in terms of serum 25(OH)D levels (33.85 ± 16.18ng/ml, 30.70 ± 14.90ng/ml; respectively, p:0.289). No statistically significant difference was found between study and controls according to 25(OH) D levels (adequate, insufficiency, deficiency; p=0.099). In the SPT of the CMPA group, a negative weak correlation without statistical significance was determined between the induration diameter of milk antigen and serum levels of 25(OH)D (p:0,794; r= -0,037). Conclusions. No significant difference was found in serum 25 (OH)D levels between infants with CMPA and healthy controls. Our results do not support the routine request for 25(OH)D levels in pediatric age CMPA patients at their initial workup.

Is there an association between vitamin D levels and cow's milk protein allergy at infancy? / ¿Existe una asociación entre la concentración de vitamina D y la alergia a la proteína de la leche de vaca durante la lactancia?

AIM: Food allergy is an important public health concern with an increasing prevalence. The objectives were to determine the possible association between cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) and 25(OH)D (vitamin-D) levels of infants with an initial diagnosis of CMPA and the association between 25(OH)D levels and (a) SPT (skin prick test) induration size, (b) specific IgE to milk, (c) specific IgE to casein. METHODS: Prospective, observational, case control study; the study group was composed of children < 2 years of age with a diagnosis of CMPA confirmed by an oral food challenge test. Healthy infants were enrolled as controls. Serum 25(OH) D levels were obtained at the initial workup in both groups. The correlation of vitamin-D levels was investigated in the development of CMPA. RESULTS: Among the study group of patients (n:56) 41,1% (n:23) had IgE-mediated and 58,9% (n:33) had non-IgE-mediated allergies There were no statistically significant differences between the CMPA and control groups (n: 55), in terms of serum 25(OH)D levels (33.85 ± 16.18ng/ml, 30.70 ± 14.90ng/ml; respectively, p:0.289). No statistically significant difference was found between study and controls according to 25(OH) D levels (adequate, insufficiency, deficiency; p=0.099). In the SPT of the CMPA group, a negative weak correlation without statistical significance was determined between the induration diameter of milk antigen and serum levels of 25(OH)D (p:0,794; r= -0,037). CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was found in serum 25 (OH)D levels between infants with CMPA and healthy controls. Our results do not support the routine request for 25(OH)D levels in pediatric age CMPA patients at their initial workup.

Objetivo. La alergia alimentaria es un problema de salud pública. Los objetivos fueron determinar la asociación entre la alergia a la proteína de la leche de vaca (APLV) y la vitamina 25(OH)D en los lactantes diagnosticados con APLV y la asociación entre la 25(OH)D y (a) tamaño de la zona indurada en la prueba intraepidérmica, (b) IgE específica para leche y (c) IgE específica para caseína. Métodos. Estudio de casos y controles prospectivo, observacional con niños < 2 años con APLV confirmada mediante prueba de exposición oral al alimento. Se incluyó a lactantes sanos como controles. La concentración sérica de 25(OH)D se obtuvo en ambos grupos. Se estudió la correlación entre la vitamina D y la APLV. Resultados. Entre los pacientes (n: 56), el 41,1 % (n: 23) tenía alergia mediada por la IgE y el 58,9 % (n: 33), alergia no mediada por la IgE. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos con APLV y de referencia (n: 55) en la 25(OH)D (33,85 ± 16,18 ng/ml, 30,70 ± 14,90 ng/ ml; respectivamente, p : 0,289). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos según la 25(OH)D (adecuada, insuficiencia, deficiencia; p = 0,099). Con la prueba intraepidérmica, se determinó una correlación negativa sin significancia estadística entre la zona indurada del antígeno de la leche y la 25(OH)D (p: 0,794; r = -0,037). Conclusiones. No se observaron diferencias significativas en la 25(OH)D entre ambos grupos. Estos resultados no respaldan la solicitud de rutina de análisis de 25(OH)D en los lactantes con APLV.

Assessment of epicardial fat and carotid intima media thickness in gestational hypertension.

AIM: Gestational hypertension (GHT) is a common disorder of pregnancy characterized by new onset hypertension without the presence of detectable proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) are suggested as new predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis. Although the relationship between these parameters and essential hypertension has been demonstrated, this association in patients with GHT is still unknown. We aimed to investigate CIMT and EFT in patients with GHT. METHODS: A total of 90 patients (44 GHT and 46 controls) were enrolled. Patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were excluded. In the third trimester, the mean CIMT at the far wall of both left and right common carotid arteries was measured on B-mode duplex ultrasound. EFT was measured on the free wall of the right ventricle at the end systole in the parasternal long-axis view by standard transthorasic 2D echocardiography. RESULTS: Unlike the mean CIMT (0.52 ± 0.13 mm vs 0.47 ± 0.11 mm; P = 0.078), the mean EFT was significantly higher in the GHT group compared to the controls (5.31 ± 1.68 mm vs 4.17 ± 1.16 mm; P = 0.002). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, among the most pertinent clinical variables, only EFT is an independent determinant of GHT (OR: 2.903; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.454-5.796; P = 0.003). In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, EFT >5.5 mm had 82.6% specificity and 52.3% sensitivity in predicting a diagnosis of GHT (ROC area under curve: 0.689, 95% CI: 0.577-0.802, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Maternal EFT may be higher in pregnant women with GHT in comparison with those of controls.

Effects of green tea and vitamin E in the testicular tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible therapeutic or protective effects of green tea in diabetic rat's testicular tissue, either as a single agent, or together with vitamin E. METHODS: The present study was carried out at the Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey from May to August 2011 for 10 weeks. Forty-eight adult male Wistar albino rats, weighting 250-300 g, were divided into 8 groups: control; nondiabetic vitamin E (0.4 mg/kg/NG); nondiabetic green tea (300 mg/kg/NG); nondiabetic vitamin E plus green tea administered groups; diabetic group (60 mg/kg/IV streptozotocin); diabetic vitamin E; diabetic green tea; and diabetic vitamin E plus green tea administered groups. Proliferative and apoptotic indexes were determined using anti-PCNA antibody immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assays respectively. Tubule degeneration was evaluated using the Johnson's score and also seminiferous tubules diameters, epithelial thickness were measured. RESULTS: Histopathological examination in diabetic group revealed degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules together with a statistically significant decrease in PCNA positive cells, in epithelial thickness, diameter of the tubules and in Johnson's score, while exhibited an increase in the number of apoptotic cells. When all these findings are considered together, the most successful protective effects in diabetes were obtained in the combined antioxidant group. CONCLUSION: Combined therapy of vitamin E and green tea in diabetes was more effective than monotherapy. Therefore, these antioxidants may be use as a supporting therapy for reproductive dysfunction.