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Published on: Jul 22, 2020
2 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

The Oxford Vaccine

Recently we wrote a blog on the success of an RNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Within just a few weeks of that incredible research breakthrough, researchers at Oxford University’s Jenner Institute have announced a COVID vaccine that has induced remarkable immune response against the virus.

This study was published in the Lancet, one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world, and a simple summary suggests the vaccine has no early safety concern and is able to induce a strong immune response with both T cells and B cell/antibodies.

THE VACCINE

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, now known as AZD1222, was co-developed by the University of Oxford and one of its spin-off companies, Vaccitech. The vaccine uses a viral vector based on a common cold virus (adenovirus). This carries genetic material for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. In our previous blog, we saw how the spike proteins are used by the virus to target and fuse with our target cells, allowing the virus to invade, replicate and ultimately cause the disease known as COVID. It is also a good target for the human immune system to recognize and attack.

The viral vector delivers the genetic material inside our cells. The spike protein is then produced by our cells, recognized by the immune system as a viral target, and an immune response is created against it. This can be antibodies, which recognize, attach to and mark the virus in our blood, allowing for other white blood cells to destroy the virus.

In this case, the vaccine also produced a T cell response. T cells can recognize cells infected by a virus-based on the markers present on the surface of infected cells. They can tell an infected cell to destroy itself, thereby destroying the virus within without spreading the infection. They also have other functions that we will not discuss in this blog.

THE STUDY

This study was a Phase I/II trial that started in April using the vaccine named ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. This vaccine development started in January 2020, and progress on development has been incredibly rapid. Whilst our previous study had just 45 people, this study looked reviewed over 1,000 healthy adults. 10 of these participants received two doses of the vaccine.

In a study the more participants there are, the greater the power of the study. If the vaccine has any side effects, even ones that rarely occur, it is more likely to be picked up in studies with more people. Similarly having more people helps show that the vaccine is effective, and the strong responses are not merely a fluke or accident. Another benefit of this study is it was able to compare the vaccine against a control group. This shows the results were not simply a placebo and allowed comparison of side effects as well.

The majority of side effects were feeling feverish, chills, muscle ache, headache, and malaise, all symptoms treatable with paracetamol. None of the participants had any serious side effects. It took just 14 days to create a T cell response, and 28 days to make strong antibodies. In 91% of patients, this was enough to neutralize the COVID coronavirus. Receiving two doses gave an even stronger antibody response, and all participants were able to stop the virus.

WHAT NEXT

The news from the University of Oxford is needed, as infection rate and mortality continue to increase in countries such as the US and Brazil. The ability to induce an antibody response without causing harm to the patient shows we have made huge progress in the fight against COVID-19. Further Large scale Phase III trials been set up through a global partnership, and include studies in the US with over 30,000 patients, studies in children as well as some in low to middle-income countries.

If successful a vaccine would be essential in preventing a second wave of COVID in the winter when the elderly population is most at risk. And it would be the key to restarting the economy and getting our everyday lives back to where it was pre-pandemic.

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Remote Cardiac Monitoring India: Transforming Heart Health Through Continuous Digital Tracking

Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in India. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), cardiovascular diseases account for nearly 28% of total deaths in the country. With rising stress levels, sedentary lifestyles, air pollution exposure, diabetes, hypertension, and delayed diagnosis, the need for better cardiac monitoring has grown significantly. Remote cardiac monitoring India is emerging as a powerful solution to monitor heart health in real time and detect abnormalities before they turn into emergencies.

Remote cardiac monitoring involves wearable or portable ECG devices that track heart signals continuously or at regular intervals. These devices transmit data securely to cardiologists or AI-based systems, enabling early detection of arrhythmias, rhythm abnormalities, ischemic patterns, and fluctuations in heart rate variability (HRV). SecondMedic brings cutting-edge remote monitoring options that help patients manage heart-related risks effectively, anytime and anywhere.

Why Remote Cardiac Monitoring Is Becoming Essential in India

India has a disproportionately high cardiac burden. Reports by WHO show that Indians suffer heart attacks at a younger age compared to global averages. Additionally, more than 50% of cardiac patients in India do not recognize early warning signs and reach hospitals late.

Remote cardiac monitoring helps solve these challenges by offering:

Early arrhythmia detection
Timely identification of heart stress
Post-surgery cardiac recovery supervision
Reduced hospital dependency
Continuous heart rhythm tracking
Better outcomes for chronic heart patients

With easy access to digital ECG devices, monitoring is no longer limited to hospitals.

How Remote Cardiac Monitoring Works

Remote cardiac monitoring uses smart ECG patches, chest straps, handheld ECG devices, and even AI-driven wearables. These devices record heart electrical activity or rhythm patterns and transmit the data to:

Cardiologists
Digital dashboards
AI algorithms
Care teams

The real-time nature of the data allows immediate response in case of abnormalities.

Core parameters captured include:

ECG waveform
Heart rate variability (HRV)
Arrhythmias (AFib, SVT, PVCs)
Tachycardia or bradycardia
QT interval abnormalities
Stress-related heart rhythm changes

SecondMedic ensures that the captured data is clinically relevant and accessible to both patients and doctors.

Patients Who Benefit Most from Remote Cardiac Monitoring

1. Post-Cardiac Surgery Patients

After angioplasty, bypass surgery, pacemaker implantation, or stent placement, patients require strict monitoring for weeks or months. Remote devices track recovery trends.

2. Individuals With Arrhythmia

Conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib) require continuous monitoring, as episodes may come and go unpredictably.

3. Patients With Heart Failure

Monitoring helps evaluate worsening symptoms or cardiac stress.

4. High-Risk Individuals

Patients with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or family history of heart disease benefit from early detection.

5. Elderly and Homebound Patients

Remote monitoring eliminates frequent hospital visits for routine ECG checks.

6. People Experiencing Palpitations

Intermittent symptoms can be captured and analyzed with wearable monitors.

Key Advantages of Remote Cardiac Monitoring

Early Detection Saves Lives

Abnormal rhythms such as atrial fibrillation can go unnoticed and lead to stroke. Remote monitoring detects these in real time.

Avoids Emergency Situations

AI alerts allow doctors to intervene early before symptoms worsen.

Better Long-Term Cardiac Care

Continuous data provides better insights than occasional clinic-based ECGs.

High Accuracy

Medical-grade ECG wearables match hospital-level precision for diagnosis.

Patient Convenience

Patients can monitor their heart health from home, office, or while traveling.

Improved Doctor Decisions

Trend-based cardiac data supports more accurate treatment planning.

Role of AI in Remote Cardiac Monitoring

AI and machine learning models analyze patterns collected from ECG devices.

AI enhances care by:

Identifying subtle abnormalities
Predicting arrhythmia events
Detecting ischemic trends early
Classifying ECG signal types
Reducing manual interpretation burden

SecondMedic integrates AI-assisted analysis to strengthen cardiac risk evaluation.

Post-Surgery and Rehabilitation Monitoring

Cardiac rehabilitation is crucial after major procedures. Remote monitoring provides:

Heart rate control
Blood pressure trend tracking
Rhythm abnormality detection
Activity monitoring
Medication adherence support

This reduces readmission rates and supports safer recovery.

Remote Cardiac Monitoring in Rural India

Many small towns lack cardiology specialists or advanced ECG equipment. Remote monitoring bridges this gap by:

Connecting patients to cardiologists virtually
Providing ECG analysis without hospital visits
Reducing delay in diagnosis
Supporting long-term monitoring at home

SecondMedic helps democratize heart care access across India.

Challenges and Solutions

Device Accuracy Variability

Solution: Use medical-grade, certified ECG wearables.

Digital Literacy Issues

Solution: Simple interfaces, guided onboarding, multilingual instructions.

Data Security

Solution: End-to-end encrypted data under DPDP Act compliance.

Connectivity Challenges

Solution: Devices with offline sync capabilities.

Future of Remote Cardiac Monitoring in India

The next decade will bring significant advancements:

Patch-based continuous ECG devices
AI-driven early warning scores
Smart pacemaker data integration
Multi-day continuous ECG monitoring
Predictive arrhythmia detection algorithms
Tele-ICU support for remote patients

SecondMedic is actively working to integrate next-generation cardiac monitoring tools into its platform.

Conclusion

Remote cardiac monitoring India is transforming heart care by enabling real-time ECG tracking, early abnormality detection, and continuous cardiologist oversight. This digital-first approach empowers high-risk patients, improves outcomes, and ensures safer long-term cardiac management. SecondMedic’s integrated digital heart monitoring solutions allow patients across India to access expert cardiac care anytime.

To explore remote cardiac monitoring solutions, visit www.secondmedic.com

References

ICMR - Cardiovascular disease burden
WHO - Early cardiac risk detection
NITI Aayog - Digital health innovation in India
ABDM - Unified digital health mission
Statista - Wearable and ECG device adoption India
SecondMedic cardiac care insights

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