De Ponti F, Bonabello A, D'Angelo L, Frigo G M, Crema A
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, Università di Pavia, Italy.
Int J Biomed Comput. 1988 Jan;22(1):51-64. doi: 10.1016/0020-7101(88)90007-4.
We developed a computerized method that allows quantitative analysis of intestinal spike activity. This method was tested for a series of measurements in six fasting conscious dogs, fitted with bipolar electrodes chronically implanted along the small intestine. Data were stored on 8-channel tape recordings and digitized before computer processing. Spike detection was accomplished by means of a discriminant function able to differentiate spikes from non-spikes (e.g. artifacts) on the basis of six parameters. Computer analysis allowed accurate spike recognition (probability of incorrect classification less than 6%). Spike activity during fasting was monitored by calculating, during each phase of the migrating myoelectric complex, the following parameters per unit of time (30 s): number of spikes, percentage of spiked slow waves and number of spikes per spiked slow wave. Results were given both in tabular and graphical form. This method provides a research tool for a better quantitation of intestinal spike activity.
