The concentration of carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins in human plasma may play a significant role in numerous chronic diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and some types of cancer. Although these compounds are of utmost interest for human health, methods for their simultaneous determination are scarce. A new high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method for the quantification of selected carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins in human plasma was developed, validated, and then applied in a pilot dietary intervention study with healthy volunteers. In 50 min, 16 analytes were separated with an excellent resolution and suitable MS signal intensity. The proposed HPLC–MS/MS method led to improvements in the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for all analyzed compounds compared to the most often used HPLC–DAD methods, in some cases being more than 100-fold lower. LOD values were between 0.001 and 0.422 µg/mL and LOQ values ranged from 0.003 to 1.406 µg/mL, according to the analyte. The accuracy, precision, and stability met with the acceptance criteria of the AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) International. According to these results, the described HPLC-MS/MS method is adequately sensitive, repeatable and suitable for the large-scale analysis of compounds in biological fluids.

This paper describes the design of an electronic instrument for measuring bilirubin by the optical method of light transmission through the skin. There was the knowledge of light transmission and absorption on a specific tissue compartment applied. The relevant skin photo-diagnostics handle 450nm-green and 575nm-blue monochromatic light. The registration of transmitted light of different frequency combinations presents the bilirubin quantity in human body by a non-invasive way. This used device was successfully tested and relevantly confronted with accurate laboratory instruments used for bilirubin measurements. The proposed device is more than ten times cheaper and easy to use. That provides reliable care after newborns within the postnatal care.

The steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) is one of the most discussed method for the brain computer interface (BCI). In this paper, performance of the online SSVEP detection methods was compared. Two parametric and two nonparametric algorithms were used: the classical power spectrum estimation method (PS), the power spectrum estimation using the AR model, the canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and the continuous wavelet transform (CWT). The success of the SSVEP detection and the time consumption of each method were compared.Keywords-Steady-state visual evoked potential, brain computer interface, electroencephalogram, canonical correlation analysis, power spectrum estimation method, continuous wavelet transform

The vectorcardiography (VCG) represents the cardiac electric field by vectors and provides a better morphological interpretation of the cardiac electrical field. The main objective of this paper has been to describe our VCG device that has been determined for scientific research and for the clinical diagnosis of heart diseases. We have designed the hardware as a small portable device and the software that measures data saved in a raw form accessible for further processing. The main contribution is in the new way of common mode reduction (driven right leg circuit). The designed device has a great potential thanks to the new methods of interpretation and automatic signal evaluation an also thanks to the small procurement price.

The development of new computing and classification algorithms recognizing patterns in electroencephalographic (records still presents new knowledge related to functions of such a complex system as the human brain. Many workplaces occupy themselves with the processing of electroencephalographic signals. They solve mainly the issues of the detection epileptic states, Brain Computer Interface, or the detection of evocated potentials initiated by various stimuli (the light, sound, movement, etc.). As the duration of the brain reaction to a given stimulus range within tens of milliseconds, it is necessary to record the event as precisely as possible. The main aim of this paper is to describe a universal device which is able to record external stimuli during the measurement of the electroencephalographic. The designed device contains of a set of sensors and can be used with different measurement systems. The main advantages of this system are the universality, the short reaction time and the ability of recording several stimuli simultaneously.Index Terms-Brain computer interface, trigger circuit, electroencephalography.