Motion symmetry evaluation using accelerometers and energy distribution

Analysis of motion symmetry constitutes an important area with many applications in engineering, robotics, neurology and biomedicine. This paper presents the use ofmicroelectromechanical sensors (MEMS), including accelerometers and gyrometers, to acquire data via mobile devices so as to monitor physical activities and their irregularities. Special attention is devoted to the analysis of the symmetry of the motion of the body when the same exercises are performed by the right and the left limb. The analyzed data include the motion of the legs on a home exercise bike under different levels of load. The method is based on signal analysis using the discrete wavelet transform and the evaluation of signal segment features such as the relative energy at selected decomposition levels. The subsequent classification of the evaluated features is performed by k-nearest neighbours, a Bayesian approach, a support vector machine, and neural networks. The highest average classification accuracy attained is 91.0% and the lowest mean cross-validation error is 0.091, resulting from the use of a neural network. This paper presents the advantages of the use of simple sensors, their combination and intelligent data processing for the numerical evaluation of motion features in the rehabilitation and monitoring of physical activities. © 2019 by the authors.Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic [FN HK 00179906]; Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic [PROGRES Q40]; project PERSONMED - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) [CZ.02.1.010.00.017_0480007441]; governmental budget of the Czech Republi

Lymphocyte populations and their change during five-year glatiramer acetate treatment

Background The goal of this study was to determine the characteristics that are affected in patients treated with glatiramer acetate (GA). Methods A total of 113 patients were included in this study. Patients were treated with glatiramer acetate (subcutaneous injection, 20 mg, each day). Peripheral blood samples were obtained just prior to treatment as well as 5 years after GA treatment. All the calculations were performed with the statistical system R (r-project.org). Results After 5 years of treatment, a significant decrease was found in the absolute and relative CD3+/CD69+ counts, the absolute and relative CD69 counts, the relative CD8+/CD38+ count and the relative CD38 count. A significant increase was found in the absolute and relative CD5+/CD45RA+ counts and the absolute CD5+/CD45RO+ count after 5 years of treatment. Conclusion This study presents some parameters that were affected by long-term GA treatment

THE DYNAMICS OF HAEMOSTATIC PARAMETERS IN ACUTE PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS: A ONE-YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background: The primary goal of the present study was to replicate our previous finding of increased coagulation and thrombocytes activity in drug-naïve psychotic patients in comparison with healthy controls and ascertain whether the blood levels of thrombogenesis markers further increase over the course of a consecutive one-year antipsychotic treatment. Subjects and methods: We investigated the plasma levels of markers indicating activation of coagulation (D-dimers and Factor VIII) and platelets (soluble P-selectin, sP-selectin) in an antipsychotic-naive group of nineteen men and seventeen women with acute psychosis (age 28.1±8.0 years, body mass index 22.6±4.2), and thirty-seven healthy volunteers matched for age, gender and body mass index. In the patient group, we repeated these assessments after three months and again after one year of antipsychotic treatment. Results: D-dimers (median 0.38 versus 0.19 mg/l; p=0.00008), factor VIII (median 141.5% versus 110%; p=0.02) and sPselectin (median 183.6 versus 112.4 ng/ml; p=0.00005) plasma levels were significantly increased in the group of patients with acute psychosis prior to treatment compared with healthy volunteers. The plasma levels of sP-selectin varied significantly (p=0.016) in the course of the one-year antipsychotic treatment, mainly between 3 and 6 months after start of therapy. The plasma levels of D-dimers and factor VIII did not change significantly, D-dimers remained elevated in contrast to the healthy controls. Conclusions: Patients with acute psychosis had increased levels of markers of thrombogenesis in comparison to the healthy volunteers. The haemostatic parameters also remained elevated during the one-year antipsychotic treatment

Mechanical recanalization in ischemic anterior circulation stroke within an 8-hour time window: a real-world experience

PURPOSE:We aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of mechanical recanalization in patients with ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation within 8 h since symptoms onset and with unknown onset time. We compared time intervals <6 h vs. 6–8 h/unknown onset time, as only limited data are available for a time window beyond 6 h.METHODS:Our cohort included 110 consecutive patients (44 males; mean age, 73.0±11.5 years) with ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation due to the acute occlusion of a large intracranial artery who underwent mechanical recanalization within an 8-hour time window or with unknown onset time. All patients underwent unenhanced computed tomography (CT) of the brain, CT angiography of the cervical and intracranial arteries and digital subtraction angiography. Perfusion CT was performed in patients beyond a 6-hour time window/with unknown onset time. We collected the following data: baseline characteristics, presence of risk factors, neurologic deficit at the time of treatment, time to therapy, recanalization rate, and 3-month clinical outcome. Successful recanalization was defined as Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 2b/3 and good clinical outcome as modified Rankin scale value of 0–2 points.RESULTS:Successful recanalization was achieved in 82 patients (74.5%): in 61 patients treated within 6 h (73.5%), 7 patients treated within 6–8 h (63.6%), and 13 patients with unknown onset time (81.3%). Good 3-month clinical outcome was achieved in 61 patients (55.5%): in 46 patients treated within 6 h (55.4%), 5 patients treated within 6–8 h (45.5%), and 10 patients with unknown onset time (62.5%). Recanalization success or clinical outcome were not significantly different between patients treated at different time windows.CONCLUSION:Our data confirms the safety and effectiveness of mechanical recanalization performed in carefully selected patients with ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation within 8 h of stroke onset or with unknown onset time in everyday practice

Simvastatin Inhibits Endotoxin-Induced Apoptosis in Liver and Spleen Through Up-Regulation of Survivin/NF-κB/p65 Expression

Endotoxemia is associated by dysregulated apoptosis of immune and non-immune cells. We investigated whether simvastatin has anti-apoptotic effects, and induces hepatocytes and lymphocytes survival signaling in endotoxin-induced liver and spleen injuries. Wistar rats were divided into the groups pretreated with simvastatin (20 or 40 mg/kg, orally) prior to a non-lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the LPS group, and the control. The severity of tissue inflammatory injuries was expressed as hepatic damage scores (HDS) and spleen damage scores (SDS), respectively. The apoptotic cell was detected by TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling) and immunohistochemical staining (expression of cleaved caspase-3, and anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL, survivin and NF-κB/p65). Simvastatin dose-dependently abolished HDS and SDS induced by LPS (p &lt; 0.01), respectively. Simvastatin 40 mg/kg significantly decreased apoptotic index and caspase-3 cleavage in hepatocytes and lymphocytes (p &lt; 0.01 vs. LPS group, respectively), while Bcl-XL markedly increased accordingly with simvastatin doses. In the simvastatin, groups were determined markedly increased cytoplasmic expression of survivin associated with nuclear positivity of NF-κB, in both hepatocytes and lymphocytes (p &lt; 0.01 vs. LPS group). Cell-protective effects of simvastatin against LPS seemed to be mediated by up-regulation of survivin, which leads to reduced caspase-3 activation and inhibition of hepatocytes and lymphocytes apoptosis

Markers of thrombogenesis are activated in unmedicated patients with acute psychosis: a matched case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antipsychotic treatment has been repeatedly found to be associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolism in schizophrenia. The extent to which the propensity for venous thromboembolism is linked to antipsychotic medication alone or psychosis itself is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine whether markers of thrombogenesis are increased in psychotic patients who have not yet been treated with antipsychotic medication.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated the plasma levels of markers indicating activation of coagulation (D-dimers and Factor VIII) and platelets (soluble P-selectin, sP-selectin) in an antipsychotic-naive group of fourteen men and eleven women with acute psychosis (age 29.1 ± 8.3 years, body mass index 23.6 ± 4.7), and twenty-five healthy volunteers were matched for age, gender and body mass index.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>D-dimers (median 0.38 versus 0.19 mg/l, mean 1.12 ± 2.38 versus 0.28 ± 0.3 mg/l; P = 0.003) and sP-selectin (median 204.1 versus 112.4 ng/ml, mean 209.9 ± 124 versus 124.1 ± 32; P = 0.0005) plasma levels were significantly increased in the group of patients with acute psychosis as compared with healthy volunteers. We found a trend (median 148% versus 110%, mean 160 ± 72.5 versus 123 ± 62.5; P = 0.062) of increased plasma levels of factor VIII in psychotic patients as compared with healthy volunteers.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results suggest that at least a part of venous thromboembolic events in patients with acute psychosis may be induced by pathogenic mechanisms related to psychosis rather than by antipsychotic treatment. Finding an exact cause for venous thromboembolism in psychotic patients is necessary for its effective treatment and prevention.</p

Nutritional Interventions as Beneficial Strategies to Delay Cognitive Decline in Healthy Older Individuals

Current demographic trends indicate that the population is aging. The aging process is inevitably connected with cognitive decline, which manifests itself in worsening working memory, processing speed, and attention. Therefore, apart from pharmacological therapies, non-pharmacological approaches which can influence cognitive performance (such as physical activities or healthy diet), are being investigated. The purpose of this study is to explore the types of nutritional interventions and their benefits in the prevention and delay of cognitive delay in healthy older individuals. The methods used in this study include a literature review of the available studies on the research topic found in Web of Science, Scopus, and MEDLINE. The findings show that nutritional intervention has a positive impact on cognitive function in healthy older people. However, it seems that the interactions between more than one nutrient are most effective. The results reveal that specifically the Mediterranean diet appears to be effective in this respect. Moreover, the findings also indicate that multi-domain interventions including diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk monitoring have a far more significant effect on the enhancement of cognitive functions among healthy older individuals

Multidomain Lifestyle Intervention Strategies for the Delay of Cognitive Impairment in Healthy Aging

Present demographic changes demonstrate that the number of elderly people is growing at a frenetic pace. This shift in population consequently results in many social and economic problems, which burden the social and economic systems of countries. The aging process is associated with age-related diseases, the most common of which are dementia and Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, whose main symptom is a decline in cognitive function, especially memory loss. Unfortunately, it cannot be cured. Therefore, alternative approaches, which are cost-effective, safe, and easy to implement, are being sought in order to delay and prevent cognitive impairment. The purpose of this review was to explore the effect of multidomain lifestyle intervention strategies on the delay and/or prevention of cognitive impairment in healthy older individuals. The methods are based on a literature review of available sources found on the research topic in three acknowledged databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. The results of the identified original studies reveal that multidomain lifestyle interventions generate significant effects. In addition, these interventions seem feasible, cost-effective, and engaging. Thus, there is a call for the implementation of effective lifestyle prevention programs, which would involve goal-setting and would focus on the prevention of crucial risk factors threatening the target group of elderly people, who are at risk of cognitive decline and dementia