The device for quantitative seismocardiography (Q-SCG) detects cardiac vibrations caused by the heart activity, the measuring sensor is usually placed in the plate of the chair - additional instruments applied on the proband's body are not required. The results of the Q-SCG analysis are usable in various clinical fields. The first and most important step in the process of detection of significant characteristics of measured Q-SCG curves is to detect pseudo-periods in the signal regardless of the initial pseudo-period position. Other characteristics can be acquired by a relatively simple process over the appointed pseudo-period. The experimental equipment for the Q-SCG measuring and analysis was developed and also special algorithms for preprocessing, segmentation and interactive analysis of the Q-SCG signal were developed. In this contribution technical principles of the quantitative seismocardiography are introduced; the method is easy, robust and is appropriate for real-time Q-SCG processing.

The device for quantitative seismocardiography (QSCG) detects cardiac vibrations as they affect the entire body; the measuring sensors (solid-state accelerometers) are usually placed in the plate of the chair – additional instruments applied on the proband’s body are not required. The results of the QSCG analysis are usable in various clinical fields. The first and most important step in the process of detection of significant characteristics of measured QSCG curves is to detect pseudo-periods in the signal regardless of the initial pseudo-period position. Other characteristics can be acquired by a relatively simple process over the appointed pseudo-period. We have developed the experimental equipment for the QSCG measuring and analysis. We have also developed special algorithms for preprocessing, segmentation and interactive analysis of the QSCG signal. In this contribution we will introduce technical principles of the quantitative seismocardiography and then we will focus on the original method for the basic segmentation of the QSCG signal in time-domain; the method is easy, robust and is appropriate for real-time QSCG processing.

During the last two decades, many articles were published summarizing the consequences of the obstructive sleep-apnea syndrome (OSAS). Research in this area mostly focuses on sudden cardiovascular changes during apneic episodes. Long-term adaptive changes in the cardiovascular system are important as well, however, no consensus in this area has been reached yet. Differing echocardiographic findings in OSAS can result from: 1. Evaluation of patients with other concurrent diseases that by themselves lead to important echocardiographic changes. These lead to an erroneous conclusion that OSAS leads to significant echocardiographic findings. 2. Inclusion of patients with only a mild form of OSAS or of patients already treated, where the opposite conclusion can be made - that OSAS has no influence on echocardiographic changes. The aim of this study was to echocardiographically examine 19 patients (18 males, 1 female) with OSAS, mean age 52 (46-57) years, mean weight 116 (103-129) kg, mean BMI 35.1 (25.7-50.7) kg/m(2), mean blood pressure 132/84 (126-138/79-89) min Hg and to find the possible deviations of echocardiographic parameters in a ,,pure" OSAS (T 90 > 30 %) without other diseases except obesity. Complete transthoracic echocardiographic examinations (continual, pulse and color modes) were performed using Toshiba Power Vision 2000. Results showed a mild and insignificant dilatation of the right atrium (38+/-5 mm) in 21%, dilatation of the right ventricle in 10% and a mild diastolic dysfunction of the right ventricle in 42% of the patients. Suspected pulmonary hypertension was observed in 63% of the patients, mild diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in 16% of the patients. All patients had normal ejection fraction of the left ventricle 59+/-4%. We can conclude that echocardiographic abnormalities in,pure" OSAS are mild and clinically insignificant. If more significant echocardiographic findings are present, these may result from other concurrent diseases.

ECG body surface maps (BSM) is one of the noninvasive methods for the detection of ischemic heart disease. In the present work we registered the BSM in 25 patients, 18 men, mean age 56.8 (31-83) years, 7 women, mean age 58.7 (43-72) years with coronary artery disease and in 23 healthy persons, 17 men, mean age 55 (46-60) years, 6 women, mean age 57 (42-70) years. Using diagnostic system Cardiag we measured 32 parameters of heart electric field (ECG, VCG, isopotential, isointegral, and isoarea maps). The results of BSM examination were compared with the results of coronary angiography (CAG) and other noninvasive methods. Twenty-four patients were BSM positive, 5 of them with negative CAG. In one case both BSM and CAG were negative. None of persons with positive CAG were BSM negative. The values of positive BSM in patients with negative CAG approached more to the values of positive CAG persons than to controls. Despite of small number of persons examined in our study one can conclude that the BSM method detects the damage of myocardium by another way than the CAG.

Balistocardiography is a method by which body vibrations caused by heart activity are registered. Evolution during the past fifty years to the present is described. Balistocardiography (BCG) represented by instruments of different natural frequencies and damping should bring information about cardiac output. This expectation was not fulfilled due to the unsuitable physical properties of apparatuses. Quantitative balistocardiography (Q-BCG) was based on the exact physical properties of the newly-developed apparatuses, force acting and force registered were exactly measured and expressed in units of force in Newtons. Quantitative seismography (Q-SCG) opens a new field of cardiovascular dynamics examination. Force applied is registered without amplitude, phase or time distortion. Using this absolutely non-invasive method, a new field of monitoring heart rate variability was opened up. Systolic force as well as heart rate variability in relation to changes in external stimuli are registered. Quantitative seismocardiography probably offers a more complex view of both inotropic and chronotropic heart functions. It will be suitable for: examining operators exposed to stress; for assessing the effect of work, fatigue and mental stress; for monitoring persons as part of disease prevention; for determining a person's ability to carry out their duties both on the ground and in the air.

The aim of the study was the comparison of heart hemodynamics and of electric field changes before and during the treatment of essential hypertension. The cardiodynamic data processing system (CDDPS) includes thoracic electrical bioimpedance, sphygmomanometry, and pulse oxymetry. CDDPS and electrocardiographic body surface potential mapping (BSPM) were repeatedly measured in 45 patients (33 men and 12 women). Primary arterial hypertension was complicated by overload and/or ischemic heart disease. In 75% of rationally treated hypertensives, the mean arterial pressure was significantly reduced to normal or borderline values within 1 month (p<0.001). In 33% of cases, normotensive and normodynamic states of circulation were achieved. The BSPM showed only partial improvement of electric field abnormalities at this time. Substantial improvement of electric field changes was ascertained after 3.2 months (mean) with stabilization of hemodynamics and systemic tension. The space QRS-STT angle was significantly decreased (p<0.001), giving evidence of the diminution of global ischemia and/or ischemia and overload. The measurement of hemodynamics and electric field parameters at rest and with exercise allowed precise diagnosis and therapy of arterial hypertension as well as complications of overload and/or ischemic heart disease.

ECG body surface isointegral and isoarea maps (BSM) are the sensitive indications of local electrical depolarization and repolarization changes both in controls and in coronary artery disease. In the present work the absolute values of maximum and minimum (extremum) in BSM have been compared in 24 healthy persons (20-36 years) with 18 older ones (54-70) of both sexes, non-smokers and without cardiovascular diseases in their medical history. Twenty-nine parameters of the heart electric field were registered by 96 unipolar electrodes placed regularly on the thorax and analyzed by the system Cardiag. A lower heart rate and a longer QT interval were found in older persons. The maximum (extremum) of isointegral and isoarea maps was less positive and the minimum was less negative in the older than in the younger subjects (p < 0.01). The maximum Q-wave amplitude on surface thorax was significantly lowers in older than in younger persons. The results confirmed the age-dependent decrease of QRS and T wave potentials.

Some antidepressant drugs, especially tricyclic ones--(TCA), have cardiovascular side effects. To compare the effects of antidepressant drugs, the electrocardiogram (ECG), vectorcardiogram (VCG), and body surface maps (BSM) were recorded in psychiatric patients without cardiovascular diseases treated by a) TCA amitriptyline or dosulepin (daily dose 50-200 mg, 22 patients), b) lithium (serum level 0.66 +/- 0.08 meq/l, 21 patients), c) selective serotonine reuptake inhibitor citalopram (daily doses 20-60 mg, 30 patients), and in 23 control patients. In the TCA-treated patients, the heart rate was increased, QT and RR intervals shortened (p < 0.01, antimuscarinic effect). This was not observed in lithium- and citalopram-treated patients. All antidepressants decreased the absolute maximum values of depolarization isointegral maps, lithium and TCA reduced the initial and citalopram the later phase of depolarization. Citalopram slightly diminished the amplitude of the R wave. The results confirm the antimuscarinic effects of TCA in therapeutic doses and specify the intraventricular effects of antidepressants.

William Harvey (1628) emphasized that comparative physiologic studies enabled him to understand the essence of blood circulation. This allometric hemodynamic hypothesis was tested: with growing mass the function changes. Cardiovascular dynamics in the whale, elephant, and hummingbird were compared. A custom made portable quantitative ballistocardiograph was constructed: the natural frequency was 1000 cps and it registered force when the examinee was in the sitting position. A special transistor amplifier with a long time constant reduces distortion of form, phase, and time of the registered curves, secured from the VHF-chair of 1000 Hz. No damping or isolation from building vibrations was necessary. Calibration is in absolute values (Newtons). The weight of the system is 5.5 kg. Characteristic quantities are systolic force (F) and minute cardiac force (MF = F x HR). Examined groups were healthy obese children, normal children, adult anorectics, and healthy normals. The minute cardiac force in obese boys was smaller, but not in girls. The systolic force per kg of body weight F kg(-1) in obese boys was smaller. F in anoretic women is lower, but not in men. MF did not differ in men and women; F kg(-1) is higher in anoretic men and women. The same is true for MF kg(-1). Additionally echocardiographic examinations were made in normal (12-14 years) and obese (12-15 years) boys: echo/Doppler data also showed differences indicating that compliance is lower in obese boys and the maximal flow velocity in the aorta in obese boys is lower. A close relationship exists between the body mass and various cardiovascular dynamics indices.

Data presented in this study prove that in term neonates as well as in premature newborns the normal postnatal fall of the body weight is of a smaller extend when breast milk, especially breast milk from their own mothers, is used for nutrition.

The authors submit an aetiological and epidemiological analysis of the influenza epidemic which occurred in the CSR between the 4th and 14th week of 1986 and was caused by the influenza virus subtype A/H3N2/ and type B. The epidemic affected a total of 27.1% of the population, in the age group of 0-5 years 63.7%, in the age group 6-14 years 52.7% and in the age group above 15 years 17.1%. In the course of the epidemic 77,458 cases of pneumonia and bronchitis were reported and 1,412 deaths with the diagnosis influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia and chronic affection of the lungs. The authors analyze also specific indicators of the activation of influenza viruses and reach the conclusion that serological evidence of the circulation of influenza viruses in the population was detected already in the third quarter of 1985, the first isolations were made six weeks before the influenza epidemic. Activation of the influenza viruses is indicated already during the pre-epidemic period by some non-specific indicators which include the rising number of patients with acute respiratory affections in surgeries and the rising number of children absent from nurseries and nursery schools on account of these diseases. The most sensitive non-specific indicator is the rising number of patients with respiratory diseases in surgeries of the First aid medical service.

The occurrence of non-tuberculous non-tumorous respiratory diseases in children and in adults was investigated in a population of approximately 28 300 inhabitants from selected health communities of a Prague industrial district between October 1, 1976 and December 31, 1978. In the course of this period such a disease occurred once at least in 31% of the population. Of a total of 17 133 respiratory disease cases, acute upper respiratory infections occurred in 72.0%, acute bronchitis in 12.2%, influenza in 12.5%, pneumonia in 1.3%, chronic bronchitis in 0.3%, bronchial asthma in 0.6% and other respiratory diseases in 0.5%. Repeated respiratory diseases with four or more episodes of a disease in the course of one year occurred in 6.0% of preschool-age children (0-5 years of age), in 2.8% of school-age children (6-14 years of age), and in 0.2% subjects from the age of 15. Differences in the morbidity rate among the three age groups were statistically significant. In most cases repeated respiratory diseases began to occur after the entry of children to collective institutions. The most frequent respiratory diseases as a cause of incapacity for work were acute upper respiratory infections and influenza with a predominance of incidence in persons younger than 40 years of age. By contrast, in chronic bronchitis as a cause of incapacity for work there was a significant predominance of affected subjects from 40 years of age. The mean duration of incapacity for work due to chronic bronchitis was longer than that due to acute respiratory diseases. In respiratory diseases chronic bronchitis was found to be the most frequent primary cause of death, while pneumonia was quite often an immediate cause of death in the subjects weakened by other diseases.