Gait analysis using a measuring walkway for temporal and distance factors

Medical &; Biological Engineering &; Computing -     

Step-length biofeedback device for walk rehabilitation

A biofeedback gait training system for step length is proposed, adapted to the correction of spatial walking asymmetries by means of a simple, quick and reliable method for daily clinical use. The system is composed of a walkway and a gait analysis device (locometer) measuring the main temporal and distance factors of gait. The step length is imposed on the subject by lighted targets appearing on the walkway, alternately on the right and left side; the subject is asked to place a swinging foot on the lighted target. Feedback to the subject is supplied by direct visual information (the subject looking at the movement and the position of the foot with respect to the lighted target) and an acoustic signal delivered in real time when the length step error is greater than an allowed value. The method is validated on a population of hemiparetic patients who have suffered from a stroke and who have been reeducated with traditional rehabilitation methods. The patients were divided into two groups; one group following a gait training with biofeedback (BFB group)_ and one group following a gait training without biofeedback (reference group). Preliminary results are presented, showing a significant beneficial effect of the biofeedback method in increasing the step length of paretic limbs and in correcting step-length asymmetry.     

影响颞叶癫癎预后的危险因素分析

目的：探讨影响颞叶癫癎预后的危险因素,为临床合理治疗颞叶癫癎和判断预后提供依据。方法：采用病例对照研究,回顾性分析两组颞叶癫癎患者即药物难治组102例,药物控制良好组166例的临床资料,采用单因素分析和多因素Logistic回归模型分析影响颞叶癫癎预后的相关因素。结果：单因素分析表明合理药物治疗前病程长、初期发作频繁（〉4次／月）、围产期损伤、服药依从性差、具有神经系统疾患和有影像学异常等6个因素对颞叶癫癎的预后有不利影响（均P〈0．05）,进一步进行多因素Logistic回归分析,筛选出合理治疗前病程长（OR=1．989,95％CI：1．071～3．692）、初期发作频率高（OR=10．393,95％CI：5．355～20．170）、服药依从性差（OR=5．151,95％CI：2．916～8．615）、具有神经系统疾患（OR=1．113,95％CI：0．564-4．448）和有影像学异常（OR=4．032,95％CI：2．160～7．526）是影响颞叶癫癎预后的独立危险因素。结论：合理药物治疗前病程长、初期发作频繁（〉4次／月）、患者服药依从性差、具有神经系统疾患和影像学异常是药物治疗颞叶癫癎的重要危险因素,具有这些因素的患者易发展成难治性癫癎。     

The ‘Hollywood gaitrack’: a method for measuring temporal and distance factors of gait

A method of measuring the temporal and distance factors of gait is described. The system uses a low-cost microcomputer and provides the results at the time of the test.     

Comparison between passive vision-based system and a wearable inertial-based system for estimating temporal gait parameters related to the GAITRite electronic walkway

Quantitative gait analysis allows clinicians to assess the inherent gait variability over time which is a functional marker to aid in the diagnosis of disabilities or diseases such as frailty, the onset of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, among others. However, despite the accuracy achieved by the current specialized systems there are constraints that limit quantitative gait analysis, for instance, the cost of the equipment, the limited access for many people and the lack of solutions to consistently monitor gait on a continuous basis. In this paper, two low-cost systems for quantitative gait analysis are presented, a wearable inertial system that relies on two wireless acceleration sensors mounted on the ankles; and a passive vision-based system that externally estimates the measurements through a structured light sensor and 3D point-cloud processing. Both systems are compared with a reference clinical instrument using an experimental protocol focused on the feasibility of estimating temporal gait parameters over two groups of healthy adults (five elders and five young subjects) under controlled conditions. The error of each system regarding the ground truth is computed. Inter-group and intra-group analyses are also conducted to transversely compare the performance between both technologies, and of these technologies with respect to the reference system. The comparison under controlled conditions is required as a previous stage towards the adaptation of both solutions to be incorporated into Ambient Assisted Living environments and to provide continuous in-home gait monitoring as part of the future work.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in France in 2004: Social factors are important predictors after adjusting for known risk factors

To monitor the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C a cross‐sectional survey was conducted in 2004 among French metropolitan residents. A complex sampling design was used to enroll 14,416 adult participants aged 18–80 years. Data collected included demographic and social characteristics and risk factors. Sera were tested for anti‐HCV, HCV‐RNA, anti‐HBc and HBsAg. Data were analyzed with SUDAAN® software to provide weighted estimates for the French metropolitan resident population. The overall anti‐HCV prevalence was 0.84% (95% CI: 0.65–1.10). Among anti‐HCV positive individuals, 57.4% (95% CI: 43.2–70.5) knew their status. Factors associated independently with positive anti‐HCV were drug use (intravenous and nasal), blood transfusion before 1992, a history of tattoos, low socioeconomic status, being born in a country where anti‐HCV prevalence >2.5%, and age >29 years. The overall anti‐HBc prevalence was 7.3% (95%: 6.5–8.2). Independent risk factors for anti‐HBc were intravenous drug use, being a man who has sex with men, low socioeconomic status, a stay in a psychiatric facility or facility for the mentally disabled, <12 years of education, being born in a country where HBsAg prevalence >2%, age >29 and male sex. The HCV RNA and HBsAg prevalence were 0.53% (95% CI: 0.40–0.70) and 0.65% (95% CI: 0.45–0.93), respectively. Among HBsAg positive individuals, 44.8% (95% CI: 22.8–69.1) knew their status. Anti‐HCV prevalence was close to the 1990s estimates whereas HBsAg prevalence estimate was greater than expected. Screening of hepatitis B and C should be strengthened and should account for social vulnerability. J. Med. Virol. 82:546–555, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

老年糖调节受损患者合并心脑血管疾病的危险因素分析

目的探讨老年糖调节受损(impaired glueose regulation IGR)患者心脑血管病变的特点及相关危险因素。方法通过回顾性分析的方法,将106例老年糖调节受损患者分为心脑血管病变组(病变组)和无血管病变组(无病变组)各53例。病变组,含缺血性心脏病(inchemic heart disease,IHD)患者35例,和脑血管病变(cerebrovascular disease CVD)患者26例。其中二者并存者11例。对两组患者的临床数据进行比较及回归分析。结果病变组的年龄,高血压患病比率、糖调节受损病程、C反应蛋白异常比无病变组明显增高;各亚组与无病变组的比较也有相似的趋势。回归分析显示,年龄、高血压是老年糖调节受损患者总的心脑血管病变的独立危险因素,同时也是IHD和CVD的独立危险因素。另外高甘油三脂血症与病变组和IHD分别独立相关。结论对于老年糖调节受损除了年龄、高血压外,高甘油三脂血症是心脑血管病变的独立危险因子。     

Environmental risk factors for hepatitis A infection in the Zenica–Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the Zenica-Doboj Canton, 1106 hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections were reported during 2000 (an incidence rate of 252/100 000 population), with 996 (90.1%) cases occurring in nine community-wide outbreaks. Analysis of water supplies showed that 398 (19.1%) samples contained coliforms, including 202 (50.8%) that were contaminated with thermotolerant Escherichia coli. Sewage sanitation systems were absent or substandard in 53 910 (81.8%) rural households. The group most affected during outbreaks comprised children aged 7-14 years (incidence rate of 598/100 000). The development of health promotion and prevention initiatives in schools, combined with rigorous hygiene measures, will be necessary to achieve control of the spread of HAV.     

河北省0～6岁儿童中枢神经性系统（CNS）缺陷调查及相关因素分析

目的对河北省2003年1月1日至2008年12月31日出生的0～6岁中枢神经系统（CNS）缺陷儿童进行调查和相关因素分析。方法采取整群回顾性调查的方式,详细记录患儿的出生地点、出生日期、性别、孩次、父母年龄及可能的危险因素。结果全省共调查0～6岁儿童4 611 808名,其中发现CNS缺陷儿9498例,总发生率为21.42/万。2003年至2006年CNS缺陷发生率基本保持较高水平,各年份发生率均接近或高于6年平均水平21.42/万（P〉0.01）;2007年至2008年,CNS缺陷发生率呈下降趋势,2年的发生率均明显低于6年平均水平21.42/万（P〈0.001）。从全省CNS缺陷构成看,脑瘫占比最大,达64.59%,其次是先天性智力低下,占24.59%,神经管畸形占比最低,为10.45%。对9498例0～6岁儿童CNS缺陷进行分析显示：与父母一方或双方有遗传病、家族疾病史有关的为934例,占9.83%,与母亲孕期不良因素（包括病毒微生物感染、感冒、接触有毒有害物、污染物、服药、营养、不良妊娠史、年龄因素等）有关的为2164例,占22.78%,与父亲因素（包括污染及毒害物接触史、非遗传性疾病等）有关的为331例,占3.48%,与出生因素（包括早产、缺氧、产伤、溶血、多胎等）有关的共2166例,占22.80%,不明原因或其他因素的病例为3903例,占41.09%。结论河北省出生儿CNS缺陷有下降的趋势。加强孕前、孕期保健、做好优生遗传学咨询与指导、有针对性地开展产前诊断和筛查及提高高危妊娠者检测率是减少CNS缺陷特别是神经管畸形、脑瘫、智力低下患儿出生的有效措施。     

Baseline factors and early viral response (week 4) to antiviral therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin for predicting sustained virologic response in patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1: A multicenter study

Both baseline predictive factors and viral response at week 4 of therapy are reported to have high predictive ability for sustained virologic response to peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1. However, it is not clear how these baseline variables and week 4 response should be combined to predict sustained virologic response. In this multicenter study, the authors investigated the impact of baseline predictive factors on the predictive value of week 4 viral response. Receiver‐operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to evaluate the ability of week 4 reduction in HCV RNA levels to predict sustained virologic response in 293 Japanese patients infected with HCV genotype 1b. Analyses were performed in all patients and in patient subgroups stratified according to baseline variables. Overall, week 4 viral reduction demonstrates a high predictive ability for sustained virologic response. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value, and accuracy were higher than those of viral reduction at week 12. However, the best cut‐off levels differ depending on the baseline factors and they were lower in patients with unfavorable baseline predictors. When patients had the TG/GG rs8099917 genotype, the best cut‐off was markedly low with low PPV. Week 4 viral response can be a predictor of sustained virologic response in patients with HCV genotype 1 and is better than week 12 viral response. However, the cut‐off levels should be modified based on the baseline predictive variables. J. Med. Virol. 85:65–70, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Importance of factors H and I for the adherence of C3b-coated erythrocytes to cells

The role of cell membrane-associated human factor H for the binding of cell-bound C3b to complement receptor-carrying (CR+) cells was investigated. Pretreatment of CR+ cells with antibodies to factor H inhibited the adherence of C3b-coated red cells to human tonsil lymphocytes (TL) and peripheral blood monocytes (M phi). The C3b receptor reactivity of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) was not influenced and the one of Raji lymphoblastoid cells only slightly influenced; iC3b and C3d receptor reactivity was in no case affected. When diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) in a concentration of 0.1 mM was present during pretreatment of the CR+ cells with anti H, the antibodies gained the capacity to inhibit the adherence of C3b-coated erythrocytes to Raji cells; this effect was dose-dependent with respect to DFP. In contrast, there was no influence of DFP on the inhibition pattern of anti H in the case of TL and M phi. The adherence of C3b-coated erythrocytes to PMN remained unaffected by anti-H antibodies in the presence of DFP. Polyclonal as well as monoclonal antibodies directed against human factor I inhibited the binding of C3b cells to Raji cells but not to TL. Additionally, when anti I and anti H antibodies were both present, C3b receptor reactivity of Raji cells was inhibited to a larger extent than with either antibody alone; again, TL remained unaffected. Results obtained by washing the Raji cells before and after treatment with anti H and anti I suggest that the respective antibodies act on factor H primarily on the level of the cell membrane and on factor I in the fluid phase.