title: Wavelet transform analysis of skin perfusion during thermal stimulation.
abstract: This work elucidates the mechanisms of skin microcirculation response to local heating at 44°C in vasculopathic patients. Laser Doppler and tcpO2 were simultaneously acquired. Patients were selected on the basis of tcpO2: Group A <30 mmHg; Group B 30-50 mmHg; Group C >50 mmHg. The wavelet analysis of signal oscillations displays six frequency intervals. Each interval is assigned to a specific cardiovascular activity. The contributions of cardiac, myogenic and neurogenic activities were selectively detected. Thermal stimulation increased relative amplitude in all patients: heart activity by +103.26% in A, +162.84% in B, +454.54% in C; myogenic activity by +52.45% in A, +38.51% in B, +156.19% in C; neurogenic activity +43.36% in A, +74.15% in B, +242.42% in C. Thermal stimulation increased relative power in all patients: heart activity by +365.30% in A, +473.72% in B, +1393.77% in C; myogenic activity by +106.92% in A, +66.03% in B, +380.18% in C; neurogenic activity by +77.00% in A, +162.65% in B, +771.93% in C.This work demonstrates that the spectral analysis allows extracting from Laser Doppler signals more information than that can be gained by solely investigating perfusion values over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagno
authors.affiliation: UOC of Angiology, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Romeo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D058067:Wavelet Analysis
keywords: Microcirculation; local heating; wavelet transform