Abstract: This invention provides a method for treating or preventing human atrial arrhythmia (fibrillation) using the leading flavone compound acacetin, and its derivatives and analogues that inhibit the ultra-rapidly-activating delayed rectifier potassium current (IKur or IKsus), transient outward potassium (Ito), and acetylcholine-activated potassium current (IK.Ach).

Abstract: Self-renewable embryonic stem cells (ESCs), derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, can propagate indefinitely in culture while maintaining their normal karyotypes and pluripotency to differentiate into all cell types. Therefore, ESCs may provide an unlimited supply of even specialized cells such as brain and heart cells for transplantation and cell-based therapies that are otherwise limited by donor availability. However, this promising application is hampered by concerns that ESCs or their multipotent derivatives also possess the potential to form malignant tumors after transplantation in vivo. The present invention provides for a novel genetic method to arrest undesirable cell division (of ESCs and other unwanted lineages) as a means to inhibit or eliminate their tumorgenic potential after transplantation.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for treating or preventing human atrial arrhythmia (fibrillation) using the leading flavone compound acacetin, and its derivatives and analogues that inhibit the ultra-rapidly-activating delayed rectifier potassium current (IKur or IKsus), transient outward potassium (Ito), and acetylcholine-activated potassium current (IK.ACh).

Abstract: This invention provides a method for treating or preventing human atrial arrhythmia (fibrillation) using the leading flavone compound acacetin, and its derivatives and analogues that inhibit the ultra-rapidly-activating delayed rectifier potassium current (IKur or IKsus), transient outward potassium (Ito), and acetylcholine-activated potassium current (IK.ACh).

Abstract: This invention provides a method for treating or preventing human atrial arrhythmia (fibrillation) using the leading flavone compound acacetin, and its derivatives and analogues that inhibit the ultra-rapidly-activating delayed rectifier potassium current (IKur or IKsus), transient outward potassium (Ito), and acetylcholine-activated potassium current (IK.ACh).

Abstract: A method for accurate and rapid automated detection of atrial fibrillation (AF), sinus rhythm (SF), and atrial flutter (AFL) is disclosed, which allows distinguishing of these cardiac signals with lowered risk of errors by implanted pacemakers and like devices. The method includes training episodes of intra-cardiac signals (called the closed data set CDS) to evaluate five feature parameters with a discriminator classifying the signal into AF, AFL or sinus rhythm (SR). Comparison with the independent decisions of experienced physicians for each episode reveals specificity, accuracy and sensitivity of greater than 97%. Each episode is a window of intracardiac signal of interval 1-2 seconds with the discriminator providing results in less than 0.25 s. In another aspect, the method is resistant to the presence of noise in the data. In yet another aspect, more feature parameters may be used in alternative implementations including for detecting signals other than AF, AFL & SR.

Abstract: An improved, low-cost stretchable band incorporating a conductor for disposition around the human torso or other three-dimensional object, and particularly intended for use with respiration monitoring apparatus, is disclosed. Also presented is an improved enclosure housing circuitry releasable connected to the conductor in the band when the band is incorporated in respiration monitoring apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for improving the detection of the inductance "signal" generated by an inductive plethysmograph (12). Signal detection is improved by modifying the design of the inductive plethysmograph (12) and also by improving the design of the associated circuitry. By virtue of these improvements, the associated circuitry may be located remotely rather than on the transducer, as is the current practice. In one aspect of the invention, the impedance matching transformer (14) joining the inductive plethysmograph (12) to the oscillator (16) is selected such that the inductance of its primary winding is greater than about ten times the reflected inductance of the inductive plethysmograph (12) and the cable (24) joining it to the transformer (14). In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the inductive plethysmograph (12) is modified such that the conductor (20) incorporated therein encircles the relevant body portion a plurality of times.

Abstract: An improved, low-cost stretchable band incorporating a conductor for disposition around the human torso or other three-dimensional object, and particularly intended for use with respiration monitoring apparatus, is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved, low-cost stretchable band incorporating a conductor for disposition about the human torso or other three dimensional object, and particularly intended for use with respiration monitoring apparatus, is disclosed. A method for making the band, which method is suitable to mass production techniques, is also disclosed. Also presented is an improved enclosure housing circuitry releasably connected to the conductor in the band when the band is incorporated in respiration monitoring apparatus.