Serious Games Application for Memory Training Using Egocentric Images

Mild cognitive impairment is the early stage of several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. In this work, we address the use of lifelogging as a tool to obtain pictures from a patient's daily life from an egocentric point of view. We propose to use them in combination with serious games as a way to provide a non-pharmacological treatment to improve their quality of life. To do so, we introduce a novel computer vision technique that classifies rich and non rich egocentric images and uses them in serious games. We present results over a dataset composed by 10,997 images, recorded by 7 different users, achieving 79% of F1-score. Our model presents the first method used for automatic egocentric images selection applicable to serious games.Comment: 11 page

The design, evaluation, and reporting on non- pharmacological, cognition- oriented treatments for older adults: Results of a survey of experts

IntroductionCognitive decline and dementia significantly affect independence and quality of life in older adults; therefore, it is critical to identify effective cognition- oriented treatments (COTs; eg, cognitive training, rehabilitation) that can help maintain or enhance cognitive functioning in older adults, as well as reduce dementia risk or alleviate symptoms associated with pathological processes.MethodsThe Cognitive Intervention Design Evaluation and Reporting (CIDER), a working group from the Non- Pharmacological Interventions Professional Interest Area (NPI- PIA) of the Alzheimer’s Association conducted as survey in 2017 with experts in COTs worldwide. The survey’s aims were three- fold: (1) determine the common attitudes, beliefs, and practices of experts involved in the COTs research targeting older people; (2) identify areas of relative agreement and disagreement among experts in the field; and (3) offer a critical review of the literature, including recommendations for future research.ResultsThe survey identified several areas of agreements among experts on critical features of COTs, and on study design and outcome measures. Nevertheless, there were some areas with relative disagreement. Critically, expert opinions were not always supported by scientific evidence, suggesting that methodologic improvements are needed regarding design, implementation, and reporting of COTs. There was a clear consensus that COTs provide benefits and should be offered to cognitively unimpaired older adults, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and mild dementia, but opinions differed for moderate and severe dementia. In addition, there is no consensus on the potential role of COTs in dementia prevention, indicating that future research should prioritize this aspect.DiscussionEvidence of COTs in older adults is encouraging, but additional evidence is needed to enhance dementia prevention. Consensus building and guidelines in the field are critical to improve and accelerate the development of high- quality evidence for COTs in cognitively unimpaired older adults, and those with MCI and dementia.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155935/1/trc212024_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155935/2/trc212024.pd

Carpal tunnel syndrome and the "double crush" hypothesis: a review and implications for chiropractic

Upton and McComas claimed that most patients with carpal tunnel syndrome not only have compressive lesions at the wrist, but also show evidence of damage to cervical nerve roots. This "double crush" hypothesis has gained some popularity among chiropractors because it seems to provide a rationale for adjusting the cervical spine in treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Here I examine use of the concept by chiropractors, summarize findings from the literature, and critique several studies aimed at supporting or refuting the hypothesis. Although the hypothesis also has been applied to nerve compressions other than those leading to carpal tunnel syndrome, this discussion mainly examines the original application – "double crush" involving both cervical spinal nerve roots and the carpal tunnel. I consider several categories: experiments to create double crush syndrome in animals, case reports, literature reviews, and alternatives to the original hypothesis. A significant percentage of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome also have neck pain or cervical nerve root compression, but the relationship has not been definitively explained. The original hypothesis remains controversial and is probably not valid, at least for sensory disturbances, in carpal tunnel syndrome. However, even if the original hypothesis is importantly flawed, evaluation of multiple sites still may be valuable. The chiropractic profession should develop theoretical models to relate cervical dysfunction to carpal tunnel syndrome, and might incorporate some alternatives to the original hypothesis. I intend this review as a starting point for practitioners, educators, and students wishing to advance chiropractic concepts in this area

Prior Bordetella pertussis infection modulates allergen priming and the severity of airway pathology in a murine model of allergic asthma

Background It has been proposed that T helper (Th)2-driven immune deviation in early life can be countered by Th1 inducing childhood infections and that such counter-regulation can protect against allergic asthma. Objective To test whether Th1-inducing infection with Bordetella pertussis protects against allergic asthma using well-characterized murine models. Methods Groups of mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) in the presence or absence of B. pertussis, a well-characterized Th1 inducing respiratory infection. Immunological, pathological and physiological parameters were measured to assess the impact of infection on immune deviation and airway function. Results We demonstrate that OVA sensitization does not affect the development of B. pertussisspecific immune responses dominated by IgG2a and IFN-g and does not impair Th1-mediated clearance of airway infection. In contrast, B. pertussis infection at the time of sensitization modulated the response to OVA and significantly reduced total serum and OVA-specific IgE. The pattern of cytokine responses, in particular OVA-specific IL-5 responses in the spleen was also modulated. However, B. pertussis did not cause global suppression as IL-10 and IL-13 levels were enhanced in OVA-stimulated spleen cell cultures and in lavage fluid from infected co-sensitized mice. Histopathological examination revealed that B. pertussis infection prior to OVA sensitization resulted in increased inflammation of bronchiolar walls with accompanying hyperplasia and mucous metaplasia of lining epithelia. These pathological changes were accompanied by increased bronchial hyper-reactivity to methacholine exposure. Conclusion Contrary to the above premise, a Th1 response induced by a common childhood infection does not protect against bronchial hyper-reactivity, but rather exacerbates the allergic asthmatic response, despite modulation of immune mediators

Stress-inducible-stem cells:a new view on endocrine, metabolic and mental disease?

In general terms we all use the word“stress”to describe ourdiscomfort in coping with challenges of daily life. This ismostly related to our subjective perceptions of workloadand/or other unexpected physical or mental efforts we areexposed to. The term is derived from the concept of stress asa reaction to internal and external stimuli requiring acute orchronic adaptations, as introduced by Hans Selye in thesecond half of the last century [1–3].Published versio