Respiratory monitoring with an acceleration sensor

Respiratory gating radiotherapy is used to irradiate a local area and to reduce normal tissue toxicity. There are certain methods for the detection of tumor motions, for example, using internal markers or an external respiration signal. However, because some of these respiratory monitoring systems require special or expensive equipment, respiratory monitoring can usually be performed only in limited facilities. In this study, the feasibility of using an acceleration sensor for respiratory monitoring was evaluated. The respiratory motion was represented by means of a platform and measured five times with the iPod touch? at 3, 4 and 5 s periods of five breathing cycles. For these three periods of the reference waveform, the absolute means ± standard deviation (SD) of displacement were 0.45 ± 0.34 mm, 0.33 ± 0.24 mm and 0.31 ± 0.23 mm, respectively. On the other hand, the corresponding absolute means ± SD for the periods were 0.04 ± 0.09 s, 0.04 ± 0.02 s and 0.06 ± 0.04 s. The accuracy of respiratory monitoring using the acceleration sensor was satisfactory in terms of the absolute means ± SD. Using the iPod touch? for respiratory monitoring does not need special equipment and makes respiratory monitoring easier. For these reasons, this system is a viable alternative to other respiratory monitoring systems.     

Paraganglioma presenting with an aortic aneurysm

The concurrence of a paraganglioma of the organ of Zuckerkandl and an abdominal aortic aneurysm is reported in a 72-year-old caucasian male. Computerized tomography scan confirmed the aneurysm and noted a well-circumscribed tumour of the aneurysmal wall. At operation, the tumour was identified and excised with part of the aneurysmal wall. The tumour exhibited all the features of a paraganglioma while the vessel wall showed atherosclerosis and secondary degenerative changes. The features of the aortico-sympathetic group of paragangliomas are discussed.     

Co-Operator Experiments with an REG Device

Experiments in anomalous human/machine interaction wherein two operators simultaneously attempt to shift the means of output distributions produced by a microelectronic random event generator (REG) yield statistically significant correlations with the operators’ shared intentions. The overall results of 256,500 trials of 200 binaries each, produced by 15 co-operator pairs in 42 independent experimental series, are consistent with those of a benchmark database of 2,520,000 trials generated on the same device by 91 individual operators. The patterns of achievement are characteristic of the particular operator pairs, but bear no evident resemblance to those of either of the two individuals operating separately, or to any simple combinations thereof. The composite performance of eight operator pairs of the same sex is opposite to intention, while that of seven opposite-sex pairs conforms significantly to intention, with an average effect size 3.7 times larger than that of the single operator data. Of the opposite-sex pairs, four “bonded” couples achieve average effects more than twice the size of those of three unbonded pairs, and nearly six times those of the single operators. These results contrast with those of a substantial body of remote perception data, where effects produced by agent/percipient pairs of opposite sex are smaller than those generated by pairs of the same sex, suggesting that gender-pairing is a complex parameter in consciousness-related anomalies research.     

An infant with an XXXYY karyotype

An infant with mild retardation of psychomotor development and ambiguous genitalia was found to have a 49, XXXYY karyotype. The identity of the chromosomes was established by different banding methods, both fluorescent and non-fluorescent. An attempt was made to find the origin of the extra X chromosomes by testing the Xg blood group in the whole family. An evaluation of the clinical features exhibited by male patients with different sex chromosome configurations is given in relation to the excess of X and Y chromosomes.     

Severe Hepatitis Associated with an Echovirus 18 Infection in an Immune-Compromised Adult

Enteroviruses are recognized as important pathogens in pediatric patients; however, they are often overlooked as etiologic agents of disease in adults. Here, we report a case of echovirus 18-associated severe systemic infection and acute liver failure in an adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient. Additionally, we illustrate the utility of molecular methods for the detection and typing of enteroviral infections.     

Sleep detection with an accelerometer actigraph: comparisons with polysomnography

Two validation studies were conducted to optimize the sleep-detection algorithm of the Actillume. The first study used home recordings of postmenopausal women (age range: 51 to 77 years), which were analyzed to derive the optimal algorithm for detecting sleep and wakefulness from wrist activity data, both for nocturnal in-bed recordings and considering the entire 24 h. The second study explored the optimal algorithm to score in-bed recordings of healthy young adults (age range: 19 to 34 years) monitored in the laboratory. In Study I, the algorithm for in-bed recordings (n=39) showed a minute-by-minute agreement of 85% between Actillume and polysomnography (PSG), a correlation of.98, and a mean measurement error (ME) of 21 min for estimates of sleep duration. Using the same algorithm to score 24-h recordings with Webster's rules, an agreement of 89%, a correlation of.90, and 1 min ME were observed. A different algorithm proved optimal to score in-bed recordings (n=31) of young adults, yielding an agreement of 91%, a correlation of.92, and an ME of 5 min. The strong correlations and agreements between sleep estimates from Actillume and PSG in both studies suggest that the Actillume can reliably monitor sleep and wakefulness both in community-residing elderly and healthy young adults in the laboratory. However, different algorithms are optimal for individuals with different characteristics.     

Fragile X syndrome in an extended family with special reference to an affected male with Klinefelter syndrome.

We report on a large family (4 generations), with 77 studied individuals, 9 mentally retarded males, and one affected female with fragile X syndrome [fra(X)]. The analysis of 6 flanking polymorphic DNA markers showed that the affection is transmitted, through the carrier daughters to the grandsons and the greatgrandsons and that the great-grandfather is a transmitting male. This observation led us to question the importance of these clinically normal males, who are nonexpressing carriers and termed transmitting males. One propositus, described as a mentally retarded young man, had inherited identical restriction polymorphisms from his mother. Chromosome analysis showed a Klinefelter syndrome, with a fragile site in 18% of the cells leading to the conclusion that the nondisjunction occurred at the first stage of the maternal meiosis.     

Experience with an elimination diet in children with atopic dermatitis

In order to define possible food-provoking factors, we placed twenty-nine children with chronic atopic dermatitis on an elimination diet. The children remained on their normal diet for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks on the elimination diet. Foods were then re-introduced at the rate of a new one every 2 days in an attempt to identify foods exacerbating eczema. Thirteen children (45%) completed the elimination diet and seven of these were improved on parental assessment of sleeplessness, itchiness and area of eczema. Five were improved on the dermatologist's assessment. Only two children were able to identify foods provoking their eczema. Sixteen children (55%) failed to complete the elimination diet. Eight felt it was too strict, while eight did not return for follow-up. From our experience, dietary manipulation in older children with chronic atopic dermatitis offers only limited long-term therapeutic gains.     

Formosanin-C, an immunomodulator with antitumor activity

Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae) grown in the mountain areas of Taiwan, has been used as a folk remedy for snake bite, and as an anti-inflammatory or anti-neoplastic agent. The effects of formosanin-C, a diosgenin saponin isolated from Paris formosana, on immune responses and transplantable murine tumor were studied. In culture systems, formosanin-C (0.03-0.16 microM) displayed significant enhancement of the blastogenic response of human peripheral blood cells to phytohemagglutinin. Formosanin-C also significantly increased the 3H-thymidine incorporation of ConA-stimulated lymphocytes at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.01 microM. The responsiveness of the granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFC) to mouse fibroblast cells L929 conditioned medium was altered in the presence of 0.01 and 0.001 microM of formosanin-C. In addition, formosanin-C given intraperitoneally activated natural killer cell activity at doses of 1-2.5 mg/kg. An intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg/kg of formosanin-C markedly induced interferon production, the peak blood level of which was observed 24 h after formosanin-C injection. Growth of subcutaneously transplanted MH134 mouse hepatoma was retarded by intraperitoneal treatment with 1-2.5 mg/kg of formosanin-C. The activity of 5-fluorouracil against MH-134 mouse hepatoma was potentiated by intraperitoneal treatment with formosanin-C. These results suggest that formosanin-C might display antitumor activity in association with modification of the immune system.