Cost-Effectiveness of a Whole-Body Vibration Program in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Study Protocol

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disorder, with patients exhibiting hyperglycemia in fasting and postprandial states. T2DM has several complications, including loss of sensation in more distal body parts. Good peripheral sensitivity is essential as this affects different parameters related to activities of daily living, such as leg strength and balance. The objectives of this project were to assess the effects of an 8-week whole-body vibration (WBV) training program on (1) vibration perception threshold (VPT), (2) balance, (3) strength, (4) lipidic profile, (5) health-related quality of life, (6) diabetic neuropathy, and (7) body composition in T2DM patients. Methods/Design: A double-blind, randomized controlled study, with WBV and placebo groups, was carried out. Both groups performed 8 weeks of intervention, with 3 sessions per week, completing a total of 24 sessions. There were two groups: the experimental group, i.e., the WBV group, who received WBV therapy; and the placebo group, who completed a simulated training program that was developed on a Galileo Fitness platform, connected to software displayed on a screen. The participant could see the parameters of the simulated vibration training (duration, amplitude, and frequency), but it was the software that controlled the speakers placed inside the vibration platform. Ninety patients with T2DM (56 males and 34 females) were recruited for the intervention. Participants were assigned equally to the WBV (n = 45) and placebo (n = 45) groups. Primary outcome measures were (1) HbA1c and (2) vibration threshold. Secondary measures were (1) health-related quality of life, (2) balance, (3) strength, (4) body composition, (5) blood pressure, (6) diabetic neuropathy, and (7) lipidic profile. Statistical analysis was carried out by treatment intention and protocol. Discussion: This project aimed to investigate the effects of WBV training on HbA1c, vibration threshold, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio in T2DM patients. In future, guidelines will be provided for the incorporation of the main obtained conclusions into the social-sanitary system and businesses.

Blink reflex changes and sensory perception in infraorbital nerve-innervated areas following zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures

Background Infraorbital nerve dysfunction is commonly reported after zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures. We evaluated sensory changes in four designated areas (eyelid, nose, zygoma, and lip) innervated by the infraorbital nerve. This evaluation was conducted using the static two-point discrimination test and the vibration threshold test. We assessed the diagnostic significance of the blink reflex in patients with infraorbital nerve dysfunction.Methods This study included 18 patients, all of whom complained of some degree of infraorbital nerve dysfunction preoperatively. A visual analog scale, the infraorbital blink reflex, static two-point discrimination, and the vibration threshold were assessed preoperatively, at 1 month postoperatively (T1), and at a final follow-up that took place at least 4 months postoperatively (T4). The results were analyzed using a multilevel generalized linear mixed model.Results Scores on the visual analog scale significantly improved at T1 and T4. The infraorbital blink reflex significantly improved at T4. Visual analog scale scores improved more rapidly than the infraorbital blink reflex. Two-point discrimination significantly improved in all areas at T4, and the vibration perception threshold significantly improved in the eyelid at T4.Conclusions Recovery of the infraorbital blink reflex reflected the recovery of infraorbital nerve dysfunction. We also determined that the lip tended to recover later than the other areas innervated by the infraorbital nerve.

Improved Interface Circuit for Enhancing the Power Output of a Vibration-Threshold-Triggered Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

The vibration-threshold-triggered piezoelectric energy harvester is a new type of piezoelectric energy harvester with a two-stage structure, which can generate electricity in a low frequency environment and recognize vibration intensity at the same time. In this study, a theoretical model of a vibration-threshold-triggered energy harvester was examined, and an equivalent circuit model of the energy harvester was obtained. Then, an interface circuit was proposed that can significantly improve the output power of the energy harvester. The interface circuit achieved impedance matching with the piezoelectric material to maximize the energy collected from the energy harvester. First, we calculated and analyzed the impedance characteristics of the energy harvester, based on the equivalent circuit model. It was found that because the piezoelectric material is in resonance as the energy harvester is in operation, the corresponding impedance is almost resistance. Therefore, a resistance-matching strategy was proposed. Last, we proposed an interface circuit with adjustable input impedance to achieve resistance matching. The experimental results show that the proposed interface circuit can increase the output power of the energy harvester by 48.1–55.7% over that achieved with the standard interface circuit.

MONITORING ON GUARDRAILS TO AFFORD ROAD SAFETY USING IOT

The preservation of the road infrastructures has become an important issue to the road safety and structural monitoring systems industry aiming to reduce the maintenance cost and also to increase the drivers safety. The collision features of the simulation of car- guard rail. It is found that the vibration features of the guardrail within the accident have a good performance to the accident identification. The vibration data of the guardrail are recorded real-timely by the nodes with accelerator sensors on the guardrail network. Then the collision accident is identified in terms of the vibration threshold. The proposed design is a system which can detect accidents in significantly less time and sends the basic information to first aid center within a few seconds covering geographical coordinate the time and angle in which a vehicle accident had occurred. This alert message is sent to the rescue team in a short time which will help in saving the valuable lives.

The Impact of Sensory, Motor and Pain Impairments on Patient- Reported and Performance Based Function in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Background: Research has suggested that persistent sensory and motor impairments predominate the symptoms experienced by patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS); with intermittent pain symptoms, being less predominant. Objective: The study aims to determine the relative contribution of sensory, motor and pain impairments as contributors to patient-report or performance-based hand function. Methods: Fifty participants with a diagnosis of CTS confirmed by a hand surgeon and electrodiagnosis were evaluated on a single occasion. Impairments were measured for sensibility, pain and motor performance. A staged regression analysis was performed. In the first step, variables with each of the 3 impairment categories were regressed on the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) to identify the key variables from this domain. Models were created for both self report (Quick Disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand- Quick DASH) and performance based (Dexterity) functional outcomes. Backward regression modelling was performed for SSS and then, to allow comparability of the importance of different impairments across models, the 7 significant variables from the SSS model were forced into the models. Results: Variables: age, touch threshold and vibration threshold of the little finger of unaffected hand, median-ulnar vibration threshold ratio of affected hand, mean pain tolerance of unaffected hand, grip strength and pinch strength of affected hand, explained 31%, 36% and 63% of the variance in SSS, Quick DASH and dexterity scores, respectively. Conclusion: Hand function in patients with CTS is described by variables that reflect sensory status of the median and ulnar nerves, the persons pain threshold, grip and pinch strength impairments and age.