Entwicklung von Verfahren für den praktischen Einsatz von Inertialsensoren in der instrumentellen Ganganalyse

Die Nutzung von Inertialsensoren zur Messung von menschlichen Bewegungen bietet eine kostengünstige Alternative zu gängigen markerbasierten Messverfahren. Aufgrund einer kompakten Bauweise können zudem portable Systeme realisiert werden, die durch ihre flexible Einsetzbarkeit neue Anwendungsbereiche der Bewegungsanalyse erschließen. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist die Entwicklung von Methoden für den praktischen Einsatz von Inertialsensoren in der instrumentellen Ganganalyse sowie deren Validierung mit standardisierten markerbasierten Messsystemen. Hierzu werden zunächst manuelle und robotische Kalibrierungsprotokolle zur Messfehlerkompensation erstellt und miteinander verglichen. Im Anschluss wird ein neues biomechanisches Initialisierungsverfahren aufgebaut, mit dem sich Inertialsensoren beliebig an den Gliedmaßen der Testperson positionieren lassen. Schließlich werden bestehende Konzepte zur Detektion von spatio-temporalen Gangparametern durch neue Ansätze derart erweitert, dass robuste und verlässliche Ausgaben trotz des für Inertialsensoren typischen Driftfehlers möglich sind. Auf dieser Basis wird eine umfassende Validierung der mit Inertialsensoren gemessenen Bewegungen bzw. detektierten Gangparameter anhand des Goldstandards Vicon Plug-In Gait durchgeführt, aus der hervorgeht, dass sowohl die temporalen als auch die sagittalen räumlichen Gangparameter vergleichbare Genauigkeiten bei Verwendung von Inertialsensoren gegenüber dem Plug-in Gait Modell ergeben (Differenz < 5%), während lediglich für die Frontalebene wesentliche Unterschiede in den räumlichen Gangparametern auftreten. Da letztere jedoch in der klinischen Anwendung der funktionellen Ganganalyse wenig Anwendung finden, zeigt die Arbeit, dass Inertialsensoren - mit geeigneten Auswertungsmethoden - neben dem Plug-in Gait Modell praktikable Messsysteme im typischen klinischen Umfeld der instrumentellen Ganganalyse darstellen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit unterstützen Anwender von Systemen zur Bewegungsmessung (z.B. Mediziner, Therapeuten, Biomechaniker) mit Inertialsensoren und ermöglichen eine kritische Auseinandersetzung bei der Analyse der aufgezeichneten Bewegungen im Hinblick auf die technischen Voraussetzungen

Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase in Human Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

In recent years tryptophan metabolism and its rate limiting enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) have attracted increasing attention for their potential to modulate immune responses including the regulation of transplantation tolerance. The focus of this review is to discuss some features of IDO activity which particularly relate to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). HSCT invariably involves the establishment of some degree of a donor-derived immune system in the recipient. Thus, the outstanding feature of tolerance in HSCT is that in this type of transplantation it is not rejection, which causes the most severe problems to HSCT recipients, but the reverse, graft-versus-host (GvH) directed immune responses. We will discuss the peculiar role of IDO activity and accelerated tryptophan metabolism at the interface between immune activation and immune suppression and delineate from theoretical and experimental evidence the potential significance of IDO in mediating tolerance in HSCT. Finally, we will examine therapeutic options for exploitation of IDO activity in the generation of allo-antigen-specific tolerance, i.e. avoiding allo-reactivity while maintaining immunocompetence, in HSCT

Detection of Large Vessel Occlusions using Deep Learning by Deforming Vessel Tree Segmentations

Computed Tomography Angiography is a key modality providing insights into the cerebrovascular vessel tree that are crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic strokes, in particular in cases of large vessel occlusions (LVO). Thus, the clinical workflow greatly benefits from an automated detection of patients suffering from LVOs. This work uses convolutional neural networks for case-level classification trained with elastic deformation of the vessel tree segmentation masks to artificially augment training data. Using only masks as the input to our model uniquely allows us to apply such deformations much more aggressively than one could with conventional image volumes while retaining sample realism. The neural network classifies the presence of an LVO and the affected hemisphere. In a 5-fold cross validated ablation study, we demonstrate that the use of the suggested augmentation enables us to train robust models even from few data sets. Training the EfficientNetB1 architecture on 100 data sets, the proposed augmentation scheme was able to raise the ROC AUC to 0.85 from a baseline value of 0.56 using no augmentation. The best performance was achieved using a 3D-DenseNet yielding an AUC of 0.87. The augmentation had positive impact in classification of the affected hemisphere as well, where the 3D-DenseNet reached an AUC of 0.93 on both sides.Comment: 7 pages. Accepted at BVM-Workshop 2022, Springe

Preference of pear psyllid (Cacopsylla pyri) for specific colour inspires new application in plant protection

Understanding the cues used by insects to select their hosts is essential for developing sustainable control strategies, particularly for plant disease vectors. Pear psyllids (Cacopsylla pyri) are vectors of the bacterial disease pear decline caused by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’. Yellow sticky traps are typically used to monitor pest insects, but they are non-specific and capture many beneficial insects, too. Against the background of improving visual traps, this research aimed to investigate the colour choice behaviour of C. pyri. Our first approach was to screen insect colour preferences by performing choice assays with different LED colour wavelengths in a small-scale choice arena under controlled conditions. Over six LEDs tested, there was a strong significant preference of C. pyri for green 1 (532 nm) followed by green 2 (549 nm). Yellow (576 nm), orange (593 nm), red 1 (619 nm) and red 2 (633 nm) were less attractive than green. Subsequently, the trapping of pear psyllids was tested in the field using newly developed traps covered with transparent-coloured PVC sheets with a similar wavelength of the preferred LEDs. Red and completely transparent traps have been used as control and combined in randomized blocks in a pear orchard. Field trials revealed that green traps ranging from 525 to 537 nm attracted significantly more pear psyllids than longer wavelength green (543 nm), red and transparent ones. The construction of specific green-coloured sticky traps seems promising for improving psyllid trapping, especially during an early infestation at low population densities. Thus, these visual traps should be considered in future and integrated into psyllid monitoring as part of integrated pest management

Deltoid muscular flap transfer for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of deltoid muscle flap transfer for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears. In a retrospective study 20 consecutive patients were evaluated. The index procedure took place between 2000 and 2003. Fifteen patients were male, mean age was 62 years. Inclusion criterion was a rotator cuff defect Bateman grade IV. Exclusion criteria were smaller defects, shoulder instability and fractures of the injured shoulder. An open reconstruction with acromioplasty and a pedicled delta flap was performed. Follow up period was mean 42 months. Follow-up included clinical examination, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and the Constant and Simple (CS) shoulder tests. According to the Constant shoulder test the results were good in 13 patients, fair in 5 and unsatisfactory in 2. The pre-operative Constant Score improved from mean 25.7 points (±5.3) to 72.3 (±7.8) at follow-up. The mean values for the subcategories of CS increased significantly from 3.9 to 14.4 points for pain and from 4.2 to 15.9 points for activities daily routine (p<0.05). The change in range of motion and strength were not significant (p>0.05). Results of the Simple Shoulder Test showed a significant increase of the mean values from pre-operative 4.3 to 14.7 points post-operatively. MRI showed a subacromial covering of the defect in all cases, all flaps where intact on MRI but always the flap showed marked fatty degeneration. In conclusion, the delta flap is a simple method for the repair of large defects of the rotator cuff leading to satisfying medium results

Methoden und Grundlagen des Lebenslagenansatzes

"Im Rahmen des Forschungsprojekts erfolgt eine theoretische Fundierung und Operationalisierung des Lebenslagenansatzes. Es werden empirische und statistische Analysen durchgeführt, um die kausalen Zusammenhänge hinsichtlich Unter- bzw. Überversorgungslagen zu hinterfragen und auf der Basis relevanter Dimensionen defizitäre Lebenslagen zu definieren. Auf der Grundlage bevölkerungsrepräsentativer Datensätze werden Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der statistischen Erfassung von Lebenslagen im Hinblick auf die Konzeption eines darauf bezogenen Berichtssystems sowie zur Konstruktion sozialer Indikatoren überprüft." (Autorenreferat

More Attacks and Analgesic Use in Old Age: Self-Reported Headache Across the Lifespan in a German Sample

Background: Reliable population-based data on the prevalence and characteristics of primary headache across the lifespan are essential. However, robust data are lacking. Methods: We utilized questionnaire data from a random general population sample in Germany, that comprised 2,478 participants aged ≥14 years. A standardized questionnaire addressing headache and headache treatment was filled in during the face-to-face survey. Results: The 6-month prevalence of self-reported headache in the total sample amounted to 39.0% (known diagnosis of migraine 7.2%; tension-type headache 12.4%; another diagnosis or unknown diagnosis 23.4%). Age-specific prevalence rates were 37.9% (14-34 years), 44.6% (35-54 years), 38.5% (55-74 years), and 26.9% (≥75 years). Compared to age group 14-34, participants aged 35-54 were more (OR = 1.29, 95%-CI 1.05-1.60, p = 0.018) and those aged ≥75 were less (OR = 0.55, 95%-CI 0.40-0.76, p 14 days per month. The frequency of headache did not differ significantly between age groups in men [χ2(3, N = 384) = 1.45, p > 0.05], but in women [χ2(3, N = 651) = 21.57, p 14 days per month: 1.8 (14-34 years), 2.5 (35-54 years), 3.2 (55-74 years), and 3.4 (≥75 years), respectively 7.9 (14-34 years), 11.4 (35-54 years), 18.4 (55-74 years), and 22.8 (≥75 years). Conclusions: In general, the prevalence of headache decreases with age. However, older women suffer from more frequent attacks and older participants take analgesics on more days per month than younger participants. This might put them at risk of medication overuse which may lead to medication overuse headache. More research is needed to understand these specifics in headache frequency and treatment behavior in older people

German Ageing Survey (DEAS) - the second half of life: research instruments of the third wave

Contents: 1. Introduction; 2. Main research areas; 3. Sampling; 4. Survey methods; 5. Project management and staff; 6. Data access; 7. Survey documents

German Ageing Survey (DEAS) - the second half of life: research instruments of the third wave

Contents: 1. Introduction; 2. Main research areas; 3. Sampling; 4. Survey methods; 5. Project management and staff; 6. Data access; 7. Survey documents

Use of outpatient medical care by headache patients in Germany: a population-based cross-sectional study

Background: Headache sufferers in need of professional health care often do not utilize the care available, and factors influencing headache-specific physician consultation are not yet understood. Objectives of this study are (1) to assess self-reported headache-specific physician consultations and (2) to identify headache-related and sociodemographic predictors. Methods: Data of a random sample of the general population in Germany aged ≥14 years were analyzed (N = 2461). A multivariate binary logistic regression was conducted to identify a parsimonious model to predict physician consultation. Results: 50.7% of the participants with headache reported at least one headache-specific physician consultation during lifetime. Of these, 53.6% had seen one, 26.1% two, and 20.3% more than two physicians because of their headaches. The odds of physician consultation increased with the number of headache days per month (HDM) (reference HDM 1) HDM 1–3 (OR = 2.29), HDM 4–14 (OR = 2.41), and HDM ≥15 (OR = 4.83) and increasing Headache Impact Test score (HIT-6) (reference “no or little impact”) moderate impact (OR = 1.74), substantial impact (OR = 3.01), and severe impact (OR = 5.08). Middle-aged participants were more likely to have consulted than younger and older ones (reference 14–34 years) 35–54 years (OR = 1.90), 55–74 years (OR = 1.96), ≥75 years (OR = 1.02). The odds of physician consultation among self-employed subjects were lower than among employed manual workers (OR = 0.48). The living environment (rural versus urban) did not have an influence on the consultation frequency. Conclusion: The results indicate that apart from burden-related factors (headache frequency; headache impact), health care utilization patterns are also influenced by patients’ occupational status and age. Further research is needed to analyze whether the lower consultation rate means that the self-employed have a higher risk of chronification or that they have more effective self-management strategies regarding headache