41 research outputs found

    Poor nutritional status is associated with other geriatric domain impairments and adverse postoperative outcomes in onco-geriatric surgical patients – a multicentre cohort study

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    Background: Nutritional status (NS), though frequently affected in onco-geriatric patients, is no standard part of a geriatric assessment. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between a preoperatively impaired NS and geriatric domain impairments and adverse postoperative outcomes in onco-geriatric surgical patients. Methods: 309 patients ≥70 years undergoing surgery for solid tumours were prospectively recruited. Nine screening tools were preoperatively administered as part of a geriatric assessment. NS was based on BMI, weight loss and food intake. Odds ratio’s (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using logistic regression analysis. The occurrence of 30-day adverse postoperative outcomes was recorded. Results: At a median age of 76 years, 107 patients (34.6%) had an impaired NS. Decreased performance status and depression were associated with an impaired NS, when adjusted for tumour characteristics and comorbidities (ORPS>1 3.46; 95%CI 1.56-7.67. ORGDS>5 2.11; 95%CI 1.05-4.26). An impaired NS was an independent predictor for major complications (OR 3.3; 95%CI 1.6-6.8). Ten out of 11 patients who deceased had an impaired NS. Conclusion: An impaired NS is prevalent in onco-geriatric patients considered to be fit for surgery. It is associated with decreased performance status and depression. An impaired NS is a predictor for adverse postoperative outcomes. NS should be incorporated in a geriatric assessment

    Sound design and perception in walking interactions

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    This paper reviews the state of the art in the display and perception of walking generated sounds and tactile vibrations, and their current and potential future uses in interactive systems. As non-visual information sources that are closely linked to human activities in diverse environments, such signals are capable of communicating about the spaces we traverse and activities we encounter in familiar and intuitive ways. However, in order for them to be effectively employed in human–computer interfaces, significant knowledge is required in areas including the perception of acoustic signatures of walking, and the design, engineering, and evaluation of interfaces that utilize them. Much of this expertise has accumulated in recent years, although many questions remain to be explored. We highlight past work and current research directions in this multidisciplinary area of investigation, and point to potential future trends

    A vibrotactile device for display of virtual ground materials in walking

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    We present a floor tile designed to provide the impression of walking on different ground materials, such as gravel, carpet, or stone. The device uses affordable and commercially available vibrotactile actuators and force sensors, and as such might one day be cost-effectively used in everyday environments. The control software is based on a lumped model of physical interactions between the foot and the ground surface. We have prototyped a measurement scheme for calibrating the device to match real-world ground materials
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