The periodic oscillations of breathing pattern parameters were studied in 34 healthy subjects. In a three minutes' resting spirometric recording we determined the duration of inspiration, expiration and tidal volume in successive breaths and computed autocorrelation functions and power spectral density. Ten of the subjects were re-examined 2 years later. Pulmonary functions were examined in all of them. Rhythmic changes lasting several respiratory cycles were found in the breathing pattern. Rhythmic changes in the duration of inspiration, expiration and tidal volume differed from one another in the same individual. The spectrograms of the individual breathing pattern parameters in the same individual changed during a 2-year period. Despite individual differences, the power spectral density correlations in the same subject and between different subjects two years later, and the mean curves for power spectral densities, show that in all the subjects the power fell at values of 0 to 0.05 Hz and was then maintained at a roughly constant level. Differences in the spectrograms of the various parameters in the same subject can hardly be attributed to a feedback between peripheral receptors and respiratory centres. Rhythmic changes are probably of central origin.

• MeSH
• biometrie MeSH
• dechový objem MeSH
• dýchání * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• spirometrie metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The paper is devoted to the study of facial region temperature changes using a simple thermal imaging camera and to the comparison of their time evolution with the pectoral area motion recorded by the MS Kinect depth sensor. The goal of this research is to propose the use of video records as alternative diagnostics of breathing disorders allowing their analysis in the home environment as well. The methods proposed include (i) specific image processing algorithms for detecting facial parts with periodic temperature changes; (ii) computational intelligence tools for analysing the associated videosequences; and (iii) digital filters and spectral estimation tools for processing the depth matrices. Machine learning applied to thermal imaging camera calibration allowed the recognition of its digital information with an accuracy close to 100% for the classification of individual temperature values. The proposed detection of breathing features was used for monitoring of physical activities by the home exercise bike. The results include a decrease of breathing temperature and its frequency after a load, with mean values -0.16 °C/min and -0.72 bpm respectively, for the given set of experiments. The proposed methods verify that thermal and depth cameras can be used as additional tools for multimodal detection of breathing patterns.

• Klíčová slova
• breathing disorders detection, depth sensors, facial temperature distribution, machine learning, multimodal signals, thermography,
• MeSH
• algoritmy MeSH
• dýchání * MeSH
• počítačové zpracování obrazu MeSH
• pohyb těles MeSH
• umělá inteligence MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This paper is devoted to a new method of using Microsoft (MS) Kinect sensors for non-contact monitoring of breathing and heart rate estimation to detect possible medical and neurological disorders. Video sequences of facial features and thorax movements are recorded by MS Kinect image, depth and infrared sensors to enable their time analysis in selected regions of interest. The proposed methodology includes the use of computational methods and functional transforms for data selection, as well as their denoising, spectral analysis and visualization, in order to determine specific biomedical features. The results that were obtained verify the correspondence between the evaluation of the breathing frequency that was obtained from the image and infrared data of the mouth area and from the thorax movement that was recorded by the depth sensor. Spectral analysis of the time evolution of the mouth area video frames was also used for heart rate estimation. Results estimated from the image and infrared data of the mouth area were compared with those obtained by contact measurements by Garmin sensors (www.garmin.com). The study proves that simple image and depth sensors can be used to efficiently record biomedical multidimensional data with sufficient accuracy to detect selected biomedical features using specific methods of computational intelligence. The achieved accuracy for non-contact detection of breathing rate was 0.26% and the accuracy of heart rate estimation was 1.47% for the infrared sensor. The following results show how video frames with depth data can be used to differentiate different kinds of breathing. The proposed method enables us to obtain and analyse data for diagnostic purposes in the home environment or during physical activities, enabling efficient human-machine interaction.

• Klíčová slova
• MS Kinect data acquisition, big data processing, breathing analysis, computational intelligence, human–machine interaction, image and depth sensors, neurological disorders, visualization,
• MeSH
• audiovizuální záznam MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• dýchání * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování fyziologických funkcí přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• pohyb MeSH
• srdeční frekvence fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The aim of this study was to determine whether respiration would be altered during visual biofeedback condition while standing on a foam surface. Fifty young, healthy subjects (24 men, 26 women) were divided into a spirometry group, in which additional spirometry analysis was performed, and a control group. All subjects were tested in two conditions: 1) standing on a foam surface and 2) standing on a foam surface with visual biofeedback (VF) based on the centre of pressure (CoP). CoP amplitude and velocity in anterior-posterior (Aap, Vap) and medial-lateral (Aml, Vml) directions were measured by the force platform. Breathing movements were recorded by two pairs of 3D accelerometers attached on the upper chest (upper chest breathing - UCB) and the lower chest (lower chest breathing - LCB). Results showed that significant decreases of CoP amplitude and velocity in both directions were accompanied by a significant decrease of lower chest breathing, and an increase of LCB frequency was seen during VF condition compared to control condition in both groups. Moreover, a significant decrease in tidal volume and increased breathing frequency during VF condition were confirmed by spirometric analysis. Reduced breathing movements and volumes as well as increased breathing frequency are probably part of an involuntary strategy activated to maximize balance improvement during VF condition.

• Klíčová slova
• Accelerometry, Breathing, Posture, Spirometry, Visual biofeedback,
• MeSH
• akcelerometrie MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• dýchání * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mechanika dýchání MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• posturální rovnováha * MeSH
• senzorická zpětná vazba * MeSH
• spirometrie MeSH
• světelná stimulace MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep-disordered breathing and diabetes mellitus (DM) are often concomitant; however, data on the impact of sleep-disordered breathing on mortality in the population with diabetes remain scarce. METHODS: The population from the Sleep Heart Health Study, a multicenter prospective observational study representing 5,780 patients with polysomnography and mortality data, including 453 patients with DM, was analyzed to assess the impact of sleep-disordered breathing variables and the presence of DM on all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and noncardiovascular disease associated mortality. Survival analysis and proportional hazard regression models were used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for mortality. RESULTS: Patients with DM and the average oxygen saturation > 91.4% had significantly lower all-cause (aHR 0.52, confidence interval [CI] 0.34-0.80) and cardiovascular disease mortality risk (aHR 0.44, CI 0.22-0.87) as compared with patients with oxygen saturation below this value. Apnea-hypopnea index > 31 (aHR 1.58, CI 1.10-2.28) and oxygen desaturation index > 13.3 (aHR 1.58, CI 1.10-2.25) were associated with increased all-cause mortality in participants with DM on treatment. Sleep efficiency and proportion of rapid eye movement sleep did not have any impact on mortality in patients with DM and thus differed significantly from individuals without DM, where increased all-cause mortality was observed in those with sleep efficiency < 81.4% (aHR 0.77, CI 0.68-0.87) or rapid eye movement sleep < 14.9% (aHR 0.78, CI 0.68-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diabetes on treatment and moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing experience increased all-cause mortality. Reduced average oxygen saturation predicted both all-cause and cardiovascular death in the population with diabetes. CITATION: Vichova T, Petras M, Waldauf P, Westlake K, Vimmerova-Lattova Z, Polak J. Sleep-disordered breathing increases mortality in patients with diabetes. J Clin Sleep Med. 2025;21(1):89-99.

• Klíčová slova
• cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, mortality, oxygen saturation, sleep-disordered breathing,
• MeSH
• diabetes mellitus * mortalita   epidemiologie   MeSH
• kardiovaskulární nemoci mortalita   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polysomnografie * statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• syndromy spánkové apnoe * mortalita   komplikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH

The effects of acute hypoxic hypoxia elicited by N2 inhalation on the driving and timing components of the breathing pattern were studied in 18 adult anaesthetized cats. Two phases could be distinguished in the ventilatory response to acute hypoxia. During the first phase, mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI) increased exponentially up to 240% of the initial value. During the second phase, VT/TI gradually decreased, reaching the control values in the last preapnoeic breaths during the first exposure and remained higher than normal with earlier respiratory arrest in three repeated N2 inhalations. No significant changes could be observed in the timing component of breathing pattern (TI/TT) in the course of the first hypoxic exposure, and the changes in TI/TT did not exceed 7% in repeated attacks. This suggests that the shortening of both inspiratory and expiratory durations increased the breathing frequency up to 130% of its resting value. Moreover, tachypnoea was preserved until respiratory arrest. Accordingly, it is concluded that the decrease in ventilation with the appearance of apnoea during the second phase of N2 inhalation in anaesthetized cats is not due to a failure of respiratory timing, but to a depression of the driving mechanisms which are responsible for this phenomenon.

• MeSH
• analýza rozptylu MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• dýchání fyziologie   MeSH
• hypoxie patofyziologie   MeSH
• kočky MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• kočky MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in conjunction with synchronized spirometry we analyzed and compared diaphragm movement during tidal breathing and voluntary movement of the diaphragm while breath holding. Breathing cycles of 16 healthy subjects were examined using a dynamic sequence (77 slices in sagittal plane during 20 s, 1NSA, 240x256, TR4.48, TE2.24, FA90, TSE1, FOV 328). The amplitude of movement of the apex and dorsal costophrenic angle of the diaphragm were measured for two test conditions: tidal breathing and voluntary breath holding. The maximal inferior and superior positions of the diaphragm were subtracted from the corresponding positions during voluntary movements while breath holding. The average amplitude of inferio-superior movement of the diaphragm apex during tidal breathing was 27.3+/-10.2 mm (mean +/- SD), and during voluntary movement while breath holding was 32.5+/-16.2 mm. Movement of the costophrenic angle was 39+/-17.6 mm during tidal breathing and 45.5+/-21.2 mm during voluntary movement while breath holding. The inferior position of the diaphragm was lower in 11 of 16 subjects (68.75 %) and identical in 2 of 16 (12.5 %) subjects during voluntary movement compared to the breath holding. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to demonstrate that movement of the costophrenic angle and apex of the diaphragm had a linear relationship in both examined situations (r=0.876). A correlation was found between the amplitude of diaphragm movement during tidal breathing and lung volume (r=0.876). The amplitude of movement of the diaphragm with or without breathing showed no correlation to each other (r=0.074). The movement during tidal breathing shows a correlation with the changes in lung volumes. Dynamic MRI demonstrated that individuals are capable of moving their diaphragm voluntarily, but the amplitude of movement differs from person to person. In this study, the movements of the diaphragm apex and the costophrenic angle were synchronous during voluntary movement of the diaphragm while breath holding. Although the sample is small, this study confirms that the function of the diaphragm is not only respiratory but also postural and can be voluntarily controlled.

• MeSH
• bránice fyziologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• dýchání * MeSH
• elektromyografie MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie * MeSH
• mechanika dýchání MeSH
• měření objemu plic MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• referenční hodnoty MeSH
• relaxace svalu * MeSH
• spirometrie MeSH
• svalová kontrakce * MeSH
• tlak MeSH
• vůle MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

(1) Background: Breathing economy during endurance sports plays a major role in performance. Poor breathing economy is mainly characterized by excessive breathing frequency (BF) and low tidal volume (VT) due to shallow breathing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a 4 week intervention based on the Wim Hof breathing method (WHBM) would improve breathing economy during exercise in adolescent runners. (2) Methods: 19 adolescent (16.6 ± 1.53 years) middle- and long-distance runners (11 boys and 8 girls) participated in the study. Participants were randomly divided into experimental (n = 11) and control groups (n = 8). The study was set in the transition period between competitive race seasons and both groups had a similar training program in terms of running volume and intensity over the course of the study. The experimental group performed breathing exercises every day (~20 min/day) for 4 weeks. The control group did not perform any kind of breathing exercise. The breathing exercises consisted of three sets of controlled hyperventilation and consecutive maximum breath holds. Before and after the intervention, participants performed incremental cycle ergometer testing sessions consisting of two minute stages at 1, 2, 3, and 4 W·kg−1 with breath-by-breath metabolic analysis. During the testing sessions, BF, VT, and minute ventilation (VE) were assessed and compared. (3) Results: There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in BF, VT, or VE between experimental and control groups before or after the intervention. A nonsignificant small-to-large effect for an increase in VE and BF in both groups following the 4 week intervention period was observed, possibly due to a reduction in training volume and intensity owing to the down period between competitive seasons. (4) Conclusions: The 4 week intervention of WHBM did not appear to alter parameters of breathing economy during a maximal graded exercise test in adolescent runners.

• Klíčová slova
• Wim Hof method, adolescents, breathing, diaphragm, runners,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Diverse studies have demonstrated the importance of monitoring breathing rate (BR). Commonly, changes in BR are one of the earliest and major markers of serious complications/illness. However, it is frequently neglected due to limitations of clinically established measurement techniques, which require attachment of sensors. The employment of adhesive pads or thoracic belts in preterm infants as well as in traumatized or burned patients is an additional paramount issue. The present paper proposes a new robust approach, based on data fusion, to remotely monitor BR using infrared thermography (IRT). The algorithm considers not only temperature modulation around mouth and nostrils but also the movements of both shoulders. The data of these four sensors/regions of interest need to be further fused to reach improved accuracy. To investigate the performance of our approach, two different experiments (phase A: normal breathing, phase B: simulation of breathing disorders) on twelve healthy volunteers were performed. Thoracic effort (piezoplethysmography) was simultaneously acquired to validate our results. Excellent agreements between BR estimated with IRT and gold standard were achieved. While in phase A a mean correlation of 0.98 and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.28 bpm was reached, in phase B the mean correlation and the RMSE hovered around 0.95 and 3.45 bpm, respectively. The higher RMSE in phase B results predominantly from delays between IRT and gold standard in BR transitions: eupnea/apnea, apnea/tachypnea etc. Moreover, this study also demonstrates the capability of IRT to capture varied breathing disorders, and consecutively, to assess respiratory function. In summary, IRT might be a promising monitoring alternative to the conventional contact-based techniques regarding its performance and remarkable capabilities.

• Klíčová slova
• Breathing disorders, Data fusion, Physiological monitoring, Respiratory rate, Thermal imaging,
• MeSH
• algoritmy MeSH
• audiovizuální záznam MeSH
• Bayesova věta MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• dechová frekvence * MeSH
• dýchání * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování fyziologických funkcí metody   MeSH
• pilotní projekty MeSH
• počítačové zpracování signálu * MeSH
• pohyb MeSH
• statistické modely MeSH
• zdraví dobrovolníci pro lékařské studie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The proper way of breathing is important for everyone. Healthy people often do not follow respiration until breathing problems start-during stress or during sport activity in physiological cases. More serious cases are stroke, injury, or surgery of the chest and others. So, learning to breathe correctly and/or breathing diagnosis is considerable for many reasons. Two novel methods of breath analysis suitable for diagnostics and rehabilitation are presented. The first technique utilizes pressure belts fastened to the patient's belly and chest, and the second method relies on a SwissRanger SR-4000 time-of-flight camera. The measurement principles are described together with the advantages and disadvantages of the applied techniques. The SwissRanger camera depth calibration is proposed to facilitate better results during the breath analysis. The methods are tested on a group of students to provide a comparison of their individual performances. As it was demonstrated, presented methods proved to work reliably. The method based on time-of-flight camera seems to be more suitable for diagnosis, while the method based on pressure belts is more suitable for rehabilitation and biofeedback applications.

• Klíčová slova
• Breath analysis, Calibration, Pressure measurement, Range measurement,
• MeSH
• audiovizuální záznam přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• dechové testy přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• design vybavení MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• dýchání MeSH
• kalibrace MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• tlak MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH