<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Methods that had been applied to study central neuronal circuits regulating cough and respiratory reflexes so far rely on recording performed in vivo, ex vivo, micro injecting and lesion methods. Based on the available data it is clear that this network is complicated, multilevel, holarchical, undergoing reconfiguration under afferent inputs. For many students and researchers it is complicated to get a virtual spatial image of these cooperating neuronal populations. The project was aimed to create graphical three-dimensional computer model of the brainstem using environment MATLAB and the matrix algebra to visualize neuron localization within the brainstem. Relevant data for the model had been taken from recent and also former research papers published in particular areas. This model may help scientists to visualize groups of neurons, help them to find targets for microinjecting or lesion studies together with stereotaxic positioning. The model is upgradeable and highly flexible for future use, research and teaching applications in MATLAB environment. MATLAB is a high-level language and interactive environment that enables you to perform computationally intensive tasks faster than with traditional programming languages</abstract>

Department of Pathological Physiology, JFM CU, Sklabinska cesta, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia

Department of Pathological Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University, Slovak Republic

Department of Medical Biophysics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University, Slovak Republic

Three-Dimensional Computer Model of Brainstem Respiratory Neuronal Circuits - Application for Research in Respirology

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Cough is the most common symptom of many respiratory diseases. Currently, no standardized methods exist for objective monitoring of cough, which could be commercially available and clinically acceptable. Our aim is to develop an algorithm which will be capable, according to the sound events analysis, to perform objective ambulatory and automated monitoring of frequency of cough. Because speech is the most common sound in 24-hour recordings, the first step for developing this algorithm is to distinguish between cough sound and speech. For this purpose we obtained recordings from 20 healthy volunteers. All subjects performed continuous reading of the text from the book with voluntary coughs at the indicated instants. The obtained sounds were analyzed using by linear and non-linear analysis in the time and frequency domain. We used the classification tree for the distinction between cough sound and speech. The median sensitivity was 100% and the median specificity was 95%. In the next step we enlarged the analyzed sound events. Apart from cough sounds and speech the analyzed sounds were induced sneezing, voluntary throat and nasopharynx clearing, voluntary forced ventilation, laughing, voluntary snoring, eructation, nasal blowing and loud swallowing. The sound events were obtained from 32 healthy volunteers and for their analysis and classification we used the same algorithm as in previous study. The median sensitivity was 86% and median specificity was 91%. In the final step, we tested the effectiveness of our developed algorithm for distinction between cough and non-cough sounds produced during normal daily activities in patients suffering from respiratory diseases. Our study group consisted from 9 patients suffering from respiratory diseases. The recording time was 5 hours. The number of coughs counted by our algorithm was compared with manual cough counts done by two skilled co-workers. We have found that the number of cough analyzed by our algorithm and manual counting, as well, were disproportionately different. For that reason we have used another methods for the distinction of cough sound from non-cough sounds. We have compared the classification tree and artificial neural networks. Median sensitivity was increasing from 28% (classification tree) to 82% (artificial neural network), while the median specificity was not changed significantly. We have enlarged our characteristic parameters of the Mel frequency cepstral coefficients, the weighted Euclidean distance and the first and second derivative in time. Likewise the modification of classification algorithm is under our interest</abstract>

Department of Pathological Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sklabinska Str. 26, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia. Phone: +421 43 2633 606

Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University, Slovak Republic

Cough Sound Analysis

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Asthma and allergic diseases are complex conditions caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Cough is a major symptom in some people with asthma. Cough reflex sensitivity (CRS) test with capsaicin is one of the most important method for cough studying. Cough reflex sensitivity was defined as the lowest concentration of capsaicin that elicited 2 or more (C2) and 5 or more coughs (C5). The aim of this study was to find out a cough reflex sensitivity in patients with asthma bronchiale and in healthy volunteers. In the present study we conclude that cough reflex sensitivity was significantly increased in asthmatic adult patients compared with healthy adult volunteers.</abstract>

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 26, Sklabinska Str., 036 01 Martin, Slovak Republic Phone: +421 43 2633 605

Cough Reflex Sensitivity Testing in Asthmatic Patients and Healthy Volunteers

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Histamine is one of the most important biogenic amines and it mediates numbers of physiological processes. It is also involved in majority of inflammatory diseases via its receptors H1, H2, H3 and H4. The role of histamine had been recognized as substantial in many allergic diseases including bronchial asthma, thus the histamine receptor antagonists (H1) are frequently used in the clinical practice as potent anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, first generation of antihistamines have also adverse effects, predominantly sedation, changes in appetite and many more, and they are still not fully effective in all patients. Attention is now focused mainly on H3 and H4 receptor antagonists and their potential clinical applications. This review focuses basically on the H3 receptor, its expression pattern and some effects which are mediated by H3, discussing its clinical relevance</abstract>

Histamine and its Effects Mediated via H3 Receptor – Potential Clinical Applications of H3 Antagonists

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Visceral pain brings deep medical burden to society, and it is clinically often the first symptom which leads to a medical consultation. In the time of deeper understanding of molecular transducers in pain pathways, there is still need for models to test hypothesis how would selective inhibition of nociceptive pathways modulates the behavior of experimental animal. In comparison with somatic pain, there is less visceral pain models, probably due to complex extrinsic (dual innervation by dorsal root ganglia and vagus nerve innervation) and intrinsic innervation. We want to develop a new model of visceral pain in guinea pigs to test our hypothesis that vagal afferent innervation affects perception of visceral pain. In this mini-review we would like to closely describe advantages and drawbacks of visceral pain models used in our department</abstract>

Upper Gastrointestinal Visceral Pain Models in Guinea-Pigs (Mini-Review)

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Acta Medica Martiniana

 Acta Medica Martiniana is a medical scientific journal, first published in print form in December 2001. It is a continuation of the journal / almanac Folia Medica Martiniana (1971 - 1996). The journal‘s owner is the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Slovakia. The aims and scope of the AMM:   Dissemination of research results and scientific knowledge from all areas of medicine and nursing.  Stimulation, facilitation and supporting of publication activity for the young medical research and clinical generation. The contributions of young novice authors (PhD students and post-doctorials) are particularly welcome.   Acta Medica Martiniana (AMM) publishes, and here only in English, high quality original papers (in extenso and short-rapid communications), case reports as well as review articles.  Acta Medica Martiniana is an open-access journal, with a periodicity of publishing three times per year (Apr/Aug/Dec). It covers a wide range of basic medical disciplines, such as anatomy, histology, biochemistry, human physiology, pharmacology, etc., as well as all clinical areas incl. preventive medicine, public health and nursing. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary manuscripts, including papers from all areas of biomedical research, are welcome.  All articles are submitted to a peer-review process. They are peer-reviewed anonymously (double blind) by external experts pursuant to the standard evaluation criteria. Based on the reviewers opinions, the Editorial Board will decide whether a paper is to be included in the journal.  Rejection Rate:   15-30%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

Acta Medica Martiniana

Volume 13 (2013): Issue Supplement-1 (March 2013)

Three-Dimensional Computer Model of Brainstem Respiratory Neuronal Circuits - Application for Research in Respirology

Cough Sound Analysis

Cough Reflex Sensitivity Testing in Asthmatic Patients and Healthy Volunteers

Histamine and its Effects Mediated via H₃ Receptor – Potential Clinical Applications of H₃ Antagonists

Upper Gastrointestinal Visceral Pain Models in Guinea-Pigs (Mini-Review)

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