scholarly journals SnapKi—An Inertial Easy-to-Adapt Wearable Textile Device for Movement Quantification of Neurological Patients

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 3875
Author(s):  
Ana Oliveira ◽  
Duarte Dias ◽  
Elodie Múrias Lopes ◽  
Maria do Carmo Vilas-Boas ◽  
João Paulo Silva Cunha

The development of wearable health systems has been the focus of many researchers who aim to find solutions in healthcare. Additionally, the large potential of textiles to integrate electronics, together with the comfort and usability they provide, has contributed to the development of smart garments in this area. In the field of neurological disorders with motor impairment, clinicians look for wearable devices that may provide quantification of movement symptoms. Neurological disorders affect different motion abilities thus requiring different needs in movement quantification. With this background we designed and developed an inertial textile-embedded wearable device that is adaptable to different movement-disorders quantification requirements. This adaptative device is composed of a low-power 9-axis inertial unit, a customised textile band and a web and Android cross application used for data collection, debug and calibration. The textile band comprises a snap buttons system that allows the attachment of the inertial unit, as well as its connection with the analog sensors through conductive textile. The resulting system is easily adaptable for quantification of multiple motor symptoms in different parts of the body, such as rigidity, tremor and bradykinesia assessments, gait analysis, among others. In our project, the system was applied for a specific use-case of wrist rigidity quantification during Deep Brain Stimulation surgeries, showing its high versatility and receiving very positive feedback from patients and doctors.

2020 ◽  
pp. 85-99
Author(s):  
RO Folarin ◽  
OB Surajudeen ◽  
EO Omotosho ◽  
AO Owoniyi ◽  
DO Oyeleye ◽  
...  

Background: Essential tremor, regarded as the world's most common movement disorder, is a neuronal disorder characterized by uncontrollable shaking (tremor) of different parts of the body. Nigella sativa is a medicinal herb with pharmacologically proven therapeutic potentials in various ailments including neurological disorders. Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic roles of Nigella sativa on cerebellar phenotypes in phenol-induced mice models of essential tremor. Methods: Tremor response, body weight, temperature, motor coordination (using the parallel bars and static rods tests), relative brain weights, cerebellar glutamate and Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and histoarchitecture were assayed in 75 adult male BALB/cm ice weighing 21-30g. The animals, equally divided into five groups were respectively administered feed and water only (CTRL); 100mg/kg phenol and 1ml/kg Nigella sativa oil concurrently (PNSC); 100mg/kg phenol (P); 1ml/kg Nigella sativa oil followed by 100mg/kg phenol (NSP); and 1ml/kg Nigella sativa oil (NS). Results: The PNSC, NSP and NS mice displayed significant weight reduction. Histoachitectural defects, stagnancy in weight, high Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and high glutamate levels and poor motor coordination were exhibited by the P group. The CTRL and NS animals demonstrated good motor coordination while the PNSC and NSP groups showed better coordination than the untreated P group. The CTRL group showed no histoarchitectural defects while the NS and PNSC animals showed histoarchitectural regeneration. Conclusion: This research affirmed the weight-reducing, neuroprotective, neuroregenerative and motor coordinating effects of Nigella sativa in the modelled tremor condition.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaimie Krems ◽  
Steven L. Neuberg

Heavier bodies—particularly female bodies—are stigmatized. Such fat stigma is pervasive, painful to experience, and may even facilitate weight gain, thereby perpetuating the obesity-stigma cycle. Leveraging research on functionally distinct forms of fat (deposited on different parts of the body), we propose that body shape plays an important but largely underappreciated role in fat stigma, above and beyond fat amount. Across three samples varying in participant ethnicity (White and Black Americans) and nation (U.S., India), patterns of fat stigma reveal that, as hypothesized, participants differently stigmatized equally-overweight or -obese female targets as a function of target shape, sometimes even more strongly stigmatizing targets with less rather than more body mass. Such findings suggest value in updating our understanding of fat stigma to include body shape and in querying a predominating, but often implicit, theoretical assumption that people simply view all fat as bad (and more fat as worse).


Author(s):  
Rajendra Pai N. ◽  
U. Govindaraju

Ayurveda in its principle has given importance to individualistic approach rather than generalize. Application of this examination can be clearly seem like even though two patients suffering from same disease, the treatment modality may change depending upon the results of Dashvidha Pariksha. Prakruti and Pramana both used in Dashvidha Pariksha. Both determine the health of the individual and Bala (strength) of Rogi (Patient). Ayurveda followed Swa-angula Pramana as the unit of measurement for measuring the different parts of the body which is prime step assessing patient before treatment. Sushruta and Charaka had stated different Angula Pramana of each Pratyanga (body parts). Specificity is the characteristic property of Swa-angula Pramana. This can be applicable in present era for example artificial limbs. A scientific research includes collection, compilation, analysis and lastly scrutiny of entire findings to arrive at a conclusion. Study of Pramana and its relation with Prakruti was conducted in 1000 volunteers using Prakruti Parkishan proforma with an objective of evaluation of Anguli Pramana in various Prakriti. It was observed co-relating Pramana in each Prakruti and Granthokta Pramana that there is no vast difference in measurement of head, upper limb and lower limb. The observational study shows closer relation of features with classical texts.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-74
Author(s):  
Md Tauhidul Islam Chowdhury ◽  
Mohammad Shah Jahirul Hoque Choudhury ◽  
KM Ahasan Ahmed ◽  
Mohammad Sadekur Rahman Sarkar ◽  
Md Abdullah Yusuf ◽  
...  

Background: Neurological disorders is becoming a growing concern both for developed and developing countries. Magnitude of the problem is increasing day by day. Among all neurological disorders, stroke is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally.Objectives: The purpose of the study was to see the trend of admission of patients with neurological diseases and to study the outcome of patients at referral neurology hospital in Bangladesh.Methodology: This retrospective chart review was conducted in the blue unit of the Department of Neurology at National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from 1st January to 31st December 2016 for a period of one (01) year. All the admitted patients with both sexes were selected as study population. The outcome was observed among the study population.Result: A total number of 1044 patients were admitted during the study period. Majority of the patients were in the age group of the 41 to 50 years which was 417(39.9%) cases. Both male and female were in highest number in the month of May which was 63 and 48 cases respectively. The total death of the study population was 146(14.0%) cases. The mean length of hospital stay was 8.4±2.31 days.Conclusion: Middle aged male is the main bulk of the neurological patients, admitted in a referral neurology hospital in Bangladesh. Highest admission and mortality was observed in stroke patients.Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, 2018;4(2): 69-74


1927 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 1145-1150
Author(s):  
G. M. Lopatin

Aspiration of foreign bodies into the windpipe usually results in respiratory damage. This lesion may be of varying intensity and may be localized in different parts of the respiratory tract or lungs. Both the intensity and the localization of the lesion may depend on a number of reasons and above all on the location of the foreign body and its type, but also on the constitutional characteristics of the body and on many other causes. Aspirated foreign bodies are found in the trachea or larynx and almost as often in the bronchi.


Development ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-161
Author(s):  
Par J. C. Relexans

Transplantations of undifferentiated gonads in the simultaneous hermaphrodite Eisenia foetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) leading to evidence of local factors (inductors?) of sexual differentiation The hypothesis of a ♀ sex capable of autodifferentiation and of a ♂ sex depending on an androgen hormone has been verified in several gonochoric or hermaphrodite invertebrates. In order to test the validity of this hypothesis in the hermaphrodite Eisenia foetida we have investigated the influence of the gonads' environment on their differentiation by transplanting undifferentiated gonads, dorsally and ventrally, on different parts of the body. The gonads, taken with the adjacent wall of the body from new-born worms, are grafted on worms of the same age; some grafts do, others do not, retain their nervous system. The control transplantation in which a graft of a given presumptive sex is transplanted in a region of the same sex can lead to inversions. These inversions have a rare and short-lived character in the gonads coming from presumptive testes. They are more frequent and more or less durable in the gonads coming from presumptive ovaries. These results can only be explained by the existence, within the grafts of the two presumptive sexes, of a dominant relationship between one and the other sexual potentiality which can be momentarily inverted by trophic disturbances caused by the transplantation. The heterosexual transplantations, in which a graft of a given presumptive sex is transplanted in the region of the opposite sex, show that the frequency of the inversions is doubled in relation to the frequency obtained in the control transplantations. The inversions which occur in the presumptive testes can be lasting and even permanent. These results lead to the opinion that to the effects of transplantation is added an inductive action from the host, leading to masculinity in the ♂ region and femininity in the ♀ region. The transplantations outside of the sexual ventral regions lead to inversions of which the character and frequency recall those obtained in the control transplantations. They suggest that these regions are devoid of inductive sexualizing power. The very slight variations of frequency of the inversions observed along the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes can be explained by the existence of physiological gradients acting on the balance of the graft's own potentialities. The removal of the nervous system in the grafts shows that this system plays a part, probably trophic, in favour of the masculine potentialities of the graft. In conclusion, our experiments lead to the rejection of the hypothesis of the ♀ sex capable of autodifferentiation in Eisenia, in order to adopt that of a sexual balance between the ♂ and ♀ potentialities determining, according to their dominant relationship, the synthesis of ♂ or ♀ ‘inductors’ respectively in the ♂ and ♀ ventral regions. These inductors act in turn on the bipotential sexual cells.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
William Omar Contreras López ◽  
Paula Alejandra Navarro ◽  
Santiago Crispín

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Obesity has become a major public health concern worldwide, with current behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical treatments offering varying rates of success and adverse effects. Neurosurgical approaches to treatment of refractory obesity include deep brain stimulation (DBS) on either specific hypothalamic or reward circuitry nuclei, which might contribute to weight reduction through different mechanisms. We aimed to determine the safety and clinical effect of DBS in medical refractory obesity. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic review to identify all original studies – observational and experimental – in which DBS was performed to treat refractory obesity. From database inception to April 2021, we conducted our search in PubMed, Scopus, and LILACS databases using the following MeSH terms: “Obesity” OR “Prader-Willi Syndrome” AND “Deep Brain Stimulation.” The main outcomes were safety and weight loss measured with the body mass index (BMI). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methods were applied to evaluate the quality of evidence. This study protocol was registered with PROSPERO ID: CRD42019132929. Seven studies involving 12 patients met the inclusion criteria; the DBS target was the nucleus accumbens in four (57.1%), the lateral hypothalamic area in two (29.6%), and the ventral hypothalamus in one (14.3%). Further, 33% of participants had obesity secondary to Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and 66.6% had primary obesity. The global BMI average at baseline was 46.7 (SD: 9.6, range: 32.2–59.1), and after DBS, 42.8 (SD: 8.8, range: 25–53.9), with a mean difference of 3.9; however, the delta in PWS patients was −2.3 and 10 in those with primary obesity. The incidence of moderate side effects was 33% and included manic symptoms (<i>N</i> = 2), electrode fracture (<i>N</i> = 1), and seizure (<i>N</i> = 1); mild complications (41.6%) included skin infection (<i>N</i> = 2), difficulties falling asleep (<i>N</i> = 1), nausea (<i>N</i> = 1), and anxiety (<i>N</i> = 1). <b><i>Key Messages:</i></b> Despite available small case series and case reports reporting a benefit in the treatment of refractory obesity with DBS, this study emphasizes the need for prospective studies with longer follow-ups in order to further address the efficacy and indications.


Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 4146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Chereshnev ◽  
Attila Kertész-Farkas

Several studies have analyzed human gait data obtained from inertial gyroscope and accelerometer sensors mounted on different parts of the body. In this article, we take a step further in gait analysis and provide a methodology for predicting the movements of the legs, which can be applied in prosthesis to imitate the missing part of the leg in walking. In particular, we propose a method, called GaIn, to control non-invasive, robotic, prosthetic legs. GaIn can infer the movements of both missing shanks and feet for humans suffering from double trans-femoral amputation using biologically inspired recurrent neural networks. Predictions are performed for casual walking related activities such as walking, taking stairs, and running based on thigh movement. In our experimental tests, GaIn achieved a 4.55 prediction error for shank movements on average. However, a patient’s intention to stand up and sit down cannot be inferred from thigh movements. In fact, intention causes thigh movements while the shanks and feet remain roughly still. The GaIn system can be triggered by thigh muscle activities measured with electromyography (EMG) sensors to make robotic prosthetic legs perform standing up and sitting down actions. The GaIn system has low prediction latency and is fast and computationally inexpensive to be deployed on mobile platforms and portable devices.


Author(s):  
Osman Balli ◽  
Yakup Kutlu

One of the most important signals in the field of biomedicine is audio signals. Sound signals obtained from the body give us information about the general condition of the body. However, the detection of different sounds when recording audio signals belonging to the body or listening to them by doctors makes it difficult to diagnose the disease from these signals. In addition to isolating these sounds from the external environment, it is also necessary to separate their sounds from different parts of the body during the analysis. Separation of heart, lung and abdominal sounds will facilitate digital analysis, in particular. In this study, a dataset was created from the lungs, heart and abdominal sounds. MFCC (Mel Frekans Cepstrum Coefficient) coefficient data were obtained. The obtained coefficients were trained in the CNN (Convolution Neural Network) model. The purpose of this study is to classify audio signals. With this classification, a control system can be created. In this way, erroneous recordings that may occur when recording physicians' body voices will be prevented. When looking at the results, the educational success is about 98% and the test success is about 85%.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document