The automatic thresholding function (the same for all the images) used by Image J divides the image into visual signal (shade of grey to black) and background (white) and provides a numerical readout of area of the visual signal. In addition to image analysis of the maximal vibration energy frame, numerical maximal inspiratory Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical vibration energy analysis was performed [4]. This analysis is not dependent on the image and allows total vibration energy to be compared before and after GSK2606414 research buy clinical improvement. Respiratory sound

generated vibration signals have very high signal intensity when compared to usual background noise and combined with the orientation of the sensor, allow pulmonary Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical airflow to be the dominant signal in the

gray-scale distribution. High energy artifacts from background noise due to patient movement against matrix framework or from sudden loud noises in the environment are occasionally encountered and easily identified Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in the image. These images were excluded from the analysis. Statistical Analysis Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired and unpaired data (SPSS 11.5, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to analyze the data. Median and interquartile range (IQR) and mean ± standard deviation (SD) are reported. A pre-study Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical power calculation was not possible due to unknown size of effect of pulmonary edema and treatment on amount and distribution of vibration energy. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Patients A total of 23 consecutive CHF patients with shortness of breath at rest were enrolled in the study. Follow-up studies

were obtained on the day of discharge following clinical improvement of CHF symptoms (no shortness of breath) and were not obtained for 4 patients due to timing of their discharge. In addition to the improvement of CHF symptoms such as shortness of breath, physical examination Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical findings documented by the physicians were also used as objective measures of clinical improvement. All patients were discharged on the recommendation of the treating physician. The average hospital stay for CHF patients without and with REPE was 2.9 ± 1.6 days and 3.4 ± 1.4 days respectively (p > 0.05). CHF patients without and with REPE had a negative click here fluid balance during treatment of 1736 ± 945 ml/day and 1871 ± 763 ml/day, respectively (P > 0.05). Vibration energy images Chest radiographs and vibration energy images for healthy volunteers and CHF patients on admission and after clinical improvement are shown in Figure ​Figure2.2. The images of healthy volunteers encompassed the entire imaging field and were symmetric (Figure ​(Figure2A).2A).