In this paper, we propose a novel independent components (ICs) arrangement strategy to cooperate with the independent component analysis (ICA) method used for ECG beat classification. The ICs calculated with a regular ICA algorithm are re-arranged according to the L2 norms of the rows of the de-mixing matrix. The validity of this ICs arrangement strategy is discussed mathematically and testifie...

OBJECTIVES Psychiatric phenomena in asthma has been debated for some time. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are a significant part of treatment. We attempted to quantify the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity relative to asthma severity, quality of life (QOL), and ICS dose. DATA SOURCES Fifty asthmatic patients (18 > or = X < or =75 years) on ICS, attending an urban clinic had asthma and ICS do...

RATIONALE Treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been shown to be associated with an increased incidence of pneumonia. However, it is unclear if this is associated with increased mortality. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the effects of prior use of ICS on clinical outcomes for patients with COPD hospitalize...

INTRODUCTION Use of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) is the mainstream maintenance therapy for paediatric asthma. Several forms of ICS are available, but the relative effectiveness among ICS has not been well investigated in published, randomised, controlled trials. The paucity of direct comparisons between ICS may have resulted in insufficient estimation in former systematic reviews/meta-analyses....

Background. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is noninvasive and accurate for diagnosing intra common bile duct stones (ICSs). However, given limited access, routine utilisation for investigating all patients with gallstone disease is neither practical nor cost-effective. Conversely, many individuals proceed directly to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), an ...

There is wide consensus regarding the excessive use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [1, 2]. The approved indication for ICS in COPD is the treatment of patients with impaired lung function (usually forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) <60% predicted) and frequent exacerbations, but the recent Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disea...

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the most effective controllers of asthma. They suppress inflammation mainly by switching off multiple activated inflammatory genes through reversing histone acetylation via the recruitment of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2). Through suppression of airway inflammation ICS reduce airway hyperresponsiveness and control asthma symptoms. ICS are now first-line therapy...

BACKGROUND Echocardiography and intra-cardiac dimensions have not previously been reported in adult camels despite its potential application for medical purpose. The aim of this study was to describe the results of a prospective study, aiming to report normal cardiac appearance and normal chamber dimensions in adult camels (Camelus dromedarius). RESULTS On the right side, when the probe was p...

The contribution of Ca(2+) release from intracellular Ca(2+) stores (ICS) for regulation of synaptic plasticity thresholds during aging was investigated in hippocampal slices of old (22-24 mo) and young adult (5-8 mo) male Fischer 344 rats. Inhibition of Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release by thapsigargin, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), or ryanodine during pattern stimulation near the threshold for synapt...

AIMS The association between inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) development is uncertain. We conducted a population-based case-control study to investigate whether ICS use increases the risk of developing TB. METHODS Tuberculosis patients aged 18 years and older were identified using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan between 2002 a...