OBJECTIVE: Aging is progressive, and its effects on the respiratory system include changes in the composition of the connective tissues of the lung that influence thoracic and lung compliance. The Powerbreathe® K5 is a device used for inspiratory muscle training with resistance adapted to the level of the inspiratory muscles to be trained. The Pilates method promotes muscle rebalancing exercises that emphasize the powerhouse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of inspiratory muscle training combined with the Pilates method on lung function in elderly women. METHODS: The participants were aged sixty years or older, were active women with no recent fractures, and were not gait device users. They were randomly divided into a Pilates with inspiratory training group (n=11), a Pilates group (n=11) and a control group (n=9). Spirometry, manovacuometry, a six-minute walk test, an abdominal curl-up test, and pulmonary variables were assessed before and after twenty intervention sessions. RESULTS: The intervention led to an increase in maximal inspiratory muscle strength and pressure and power pulmonary variables (p<0.0001), maximal expiratory muscle strength (p<0.0014), six-minute walk test performance (p<0.01), and abdominal curl-up test performance (p<0.00001). The control group showed no differences in the analyzed variables (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest inspiratory muscle training associated with the Pilates method provides an improvement in the lung function and physical conditioning of elderly patients.

Abstract Introduction The discrete wavelet transform is used in many studies as signal preprocessor for EEG spike detection. An inherent process of this mathematical tool is the recursive wavelet convolution over the signal that is decomposed into detail and approximation coefficients. To perform these convolutions, firstly it is necessary to extend signal borders. The selection of an unsuitable border extension algorithm may increase the false positive rate of an EEG spike detector. Methods In this study we analyzed nine different border extensions used for convolution and 19 mother wavelets commonly seen in other EEG spike detectors in the literature. Results The border extension may degrade an EEG spike detector up to 44.11%. Furthermore, results behave differently for distinct number of wavelet coefficients. Conclusion There is not a best border extension to be used with any EEG spike detector based on the discrete wavelet transform, but the selection of the most adequate border extension is related to the number of coefficients of a mother wavelet.

Introduction Crackles are discontinuous, non-stationary respiratory sounds and can be characterized by their duration and frequency. In the literature, many techniques of filtering, feature extraction, and classification were presented. Although the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is a well-known tool in this area, issues like signal border extension, mother-wavelet selection, and its subbands were not properly discussed. Methods In this work, 30 different mother-wavelets 8 subbands were assessed, and 9 border extension modes were evaluated. The evaluations were done based on the energy representation of the crackle considering the mother-wavelet and the border extension, allowing a reduction of not representative subbands. Results Tests revealed that the border extension mode considered during the DWT affects crackle characterization, whereas SP1 (Smooth-Padding of order 1) and ASYMW (Antisymmetric-Padding (whole-point)) modes shall not be used. After DWT, only 3 subbands (D3, D4, and D5) were needed to characterize crackles. Finally, from the group of mother-wavelets tested, Daubechies 7 and Symlet 7 were found to be the most adequate for crackle characterization. Discussion DWT can be used to characterize crackles when proper border extension mode, mother-wavelet, and subbands are taken into account.

INTRODUCTION: Areas of the brain that are associated with the vestibular system can be activated using galvanic vestibular stimulation. These areas can be studied through a combination of galvanic vestibular stimulation with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In order to provide an appropriate sequence of galvanic stimulation synchronous with the MRI pulse sequence, a specific electronic device that was built and assessed is presented. METHODS: The electronic project of the GVS is divided in analog and digital circuits. The analog circuits are mounted in an aluminum case, supplied by sealed batteries, and goes inside the MRI room near to the feet of the subject. The digital circuits are placed in the MRI control room. Those circuits communicate through each other by an optical fiber. Tests to verify the GVS-MRI compatibility were conducted. Silicone (in-house) and Ag/AgCl (commercial) electrodes were evaluated for maximum balance and minimal pain sensations. fMRI experiments were conducted in eight human volunteers. RESULTS: GVS-MRI compatibility experiments demonstrate that the GVS did not interfere with the MRI scanner functionality and vice versa. The circular silicone electrode was considered the most suitable to apply the galvanic vestibular stimulation. The 1 Hz stimulation sinusoid frequency produced the biggest balance and the less pain sensations when compared to 2 Hz. The GVS was capable of eliciting activation in the precentral and postcentral gyri, in the central sulcus, in the supplementary motor area, in the middle and inferior frontal gyri, in the inferior parietal lobule, in the insula, in the superior temporal gyrus, in the middle cingulate cortex, and in the cerebellum. CONCLUSION: This study shows the development and description of a neurovestibular stimulator that can be safely used inside the MRI scanner room without interfering on its operation and vice versa. The developed GVS could successfully activate the major areas involved with multimodal functions of the vestibular system, demonstrating its validity as a stimulator for neurovestibular research. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that shows the development and the construction of a galvanic vestibular stimulator that could be safely used inside the MRI room.

INTRODUÇÃO: A termografia por imagem infravermelha (IR) é uma técnica para diagnóstico não-invasiva que permite a avaliação e quantificação de variações de temperatura na superfície da pele. Apesar de fornecer informações significativas para auxiliar no diagnóstico médico, esta técnica não permite avaliar det alhes anatômicos da região sendo analisada. Este artigo apresenta uma nova metodologia para realizar a fusão entre diferentes modalidades de imagens, tais como ressonância magnética (MRI) ou tomografia computadorizada por raios X (CT), juntamente com imagens de termografia infravermelha. MÉTODOS: Para a construção do modelo 3D, primeiramente são adquiridas as imagens por ressonância magnética (MRI) ou tomografia computadorizada (CT) e um conjunto de imagens térmicas da região de interesse. Em seguida, realiza-se o registro utilizando as projeções 2D (dos planos tomográficos) com as imagens térmicas. Após o registro, as imagens térmicas são combinadas e projetadas sobre o modelo 3D das imagens de MRI ou CT. RESULTADOS: O resultado é uma imagem 3D que combina informação de duas modalidades de imagens médicas diferentes. A combinação dessas duas modalidades de imagens médicas disponibiliza uma nova técnica de imagem 3D que agrupa informações anatômicas (MRI ou CT) e funcionais (variações de temperatura na superfície do corpo). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados obtidos até o momento com essa nova metodologia indicam que ela pode auxiliar em diagnósticos médicos.

INTRODUCTION: Infrared (IR) thermal imaging is a non-invasive and diagnostic technique that allows evaluation and quantification based on the temperature changes of the skin surface. It provides significant information for clinical diagnosis; however this technique does not present the anatomical details of the region under inspection. In this work, it is presented an innovative image fusion method between different imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance images (MRI) or X-ray computed tomography (CT), together with IR thermal images. METHODS: Firstly, in order to build the 3D model, the MRI or CT images and the IR thermal images (from the region of interest) are acquired. Then, based on the tomographic planes (image slices), the 2D projections are generated, and the IR images are registered accordingly. Next, the already registered IR set of images are combined and projected over the 3D MRI or CT model. RESULTS: The result is a 3D fused image that combines the information contents from the two different medical imaging modalities. The combination of these two medical imaging modalities offers a new 3D imaging technique that combines anatomical (MRI or CT) and functional (the body's surface temperature) information. CONCLUSION: The results obtained up to now with this new methodology indicate that it can aid in medical diagnosis.