Analysis of closed eyes motion using a wireless eye-mask

The closed eyes motion strongly depends on the sleep depth of humans. Typically, the electroencephalogram and motion of ciliary muscle’s measurement are common methods of evaluating the sleep status and eyeball motion respectively. The proposed survey is to make a wireless eye-mask for monitoring the closed eye motion non-invasively. The mask with CCD unit, wireless module, and an antenna can send the image of closed eye motion into the image-processing module in PC host. The spatial and frequency features from the eye-mask are analyzed to quantitatively describe relative position, velocity, and moving direction of eyelids and eyeballs. Besides, the motion history can feed into the support vector machine neural network and statistics units to evaluate the appropriate time to trigger the alarm if emergency occurs. The survey not only constructs a system with wireless monitoring the closed eye motion non-invasively but develops an algorithm judging whether the closed eye moving or not.     

HTF9C gene of 22q11.21 region associates with schizophrenia having deficit-sustained attention

OBJECTIVE: A region at chromosome 22q11.21 has been reported to potentially harbor a candidate gene for schizophrenia, ZDHHC8 (zinc finger, DHHC domain containing 8; also annotated as KIAA1292) in a number of studies. This finding has been replicated in Han Chinese, but not in other ethnicity-specific studies. For further support from within the Han Chinese ethnic group, we selected two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) located at the distal 5'-end (rs1633445; intron 10 of HpaII tiny fragments locus 9C, HTF9C) and the intron 4 (rs175174) of ZDHHC8 gene to test if these were associated with schizophrenia in a study sample of Taiwan. METHODS: A total of 218 schizophrenia families with at least two affected siblings participated in this study. These two SNPs were genotyped using matrix-assisted laser desorption/localization ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Significant associations with schizophrenia were not shown from these two SNPs. After stratifying schizophrenia according to the deficit and the nondeficit of sustained attention assessed by the Continuous Performance Test, the rs1633445 showed significant association with schizophrenia in the presence of a deficit in sustained attention (P<0.04). CONCLUSION: SNP rs1633445 of the HTF9C gene may be associated with a deficit in sustained attention within schizophrenia, in a Taiwanese cohort. The deficit of sustained attention may be an endophenotype of schizophrenia, and warrants further study.     

DAB2IP modulates primary cilia formation associated with renal tumorigenesis

Primary cilium is a microtubule-based organelle that projects from the surfaces of most mammalian cell types and protrudes into the extracellular milieu as an antenna-like sensor to senses extracellular physical and biochemical signals, and then transmits signals into cytoplasm or nucleus to regulate numerous physical and developmental processes. Therefore, loss of primary cilia is associated to multiple cancer progression, including skin, breast, pancreas, ovarian, prostate, and kidney cancers. Our previous studies demonstrate that high prevalent loss of DAB2 Interacting Protein (DAB2IP) is associated with renal cell carcinoma, and we found a kinesin-like protein, kinesin family member 3A (KIF3a), was significantly increased in DAB2IP-interacting protein fraction. KIF3 is one of the most abundant kinesin-2 family proteins expressed in cells, and it is necessary for ciliogenesis. In this study, we observed that loss of DAB2IP in normal kidney epithelial cell significantly impair primary cilia formation. We unveiled a new mechanism of primary cilia stability via DAB2IP and KIF3a physical interaction at DAB2IP-PH domain. Furthermore, we found that KIF3a also act as a tumor suppressor in renal cell carcinoma, affect tumor development and patient survival.     

Gastric residual volume (GRV) and gastric contents measurement by refractometry

BACKGROUND: Traditional use of gastric residual volumes (GRVs), obtained by aspiration from a nasogastric tube, is inaccurate and cannot differentiate components of the gastric contents (gastric secretion vs delivered formula). The use of refractometry and 3 mathematical equations has been proposed as a method to calculate the formula concentration, GRV, and formula volume. In this paper, we have validated these mathematical equations so that they can be implemented in clinical practice. METHODS: Each of 16 patients receiving a nasogastric tube had 50 mL of water followed by 100 mL of dietary formula (Osmolite HN, Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH) infused into the stomach. After mixing, gastric content was aspirated for the first Brix value (BV) measurement by refractometry. Then, 50 mL of water was infused into the stomach and a second BV was measured. The procedure of infusion of dietary formula (100 mL) and then water (50 mL) was repeated and followed by subsequent BV measurement. The same procedure was performed in an in vitro experiment. Formula concentration, GRV, and formula volume were calculated from the derived mathematical equations. RESULTS: The formula concentrations, GRVs, and formula volumes calculated by using refractometry and the mathematical equations were close to the true values obtained from both in vivo and in vitro validation experiments. CONCLUSIONS: Using this method, measurement of the BV of gastric contents is simple, reproducible, and inexpensive. Refractometry and the derived mathematical equations may be used to measure formula concentration, GRV, and formula volume, and also to serve as a tool for monitoring the gastric contents of patients receiving nasogastric feeding.     

Effects of music on gastric myoelectrical activity in healthy humans

The aim was to study the effects of listening to music on gastric myoelectrical activity in healthy humans. Gastric myoelectrical activity was recorded using surface electrogastrography from 17 healthy volunteers before and for 30 min after they listened to music. All subjects listened to the same music. Ten perceived the music as enjoyable and seven did not. The percentages of normal slow wave, dominant frequency and dominant power did not differ significantly between baseline and during music intervention. An analysis of covariance model that included the subjects' feelings about the music and dominant power showed significantly higher dominant power during music intervention in subjects who enjoyed the music (p < 0.01). In the individuals who enjoyed the music, dominant power (55.0 +/- 9.2 dB) was significantly higher during music intervention than at baseline (49.5 +/- 6.8 dB, p = 0.03). In the subjects who did not enjoy the music, dominant power was significantly lower during music intervention than at baseline (48.8 +/- 6.8 and 55.7 +/- 6.2 dB, respectively; p < 0.01). Listening to enjoyable music increases the amplitude of gastric myoelectrical activity in healthy humans. Music therapy may improve gastric motility and may be used to stimulate gastric emptying.     

Differences between patient and proxy reports in the assessment of disability after stroke

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the assessment of disability level including basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL varies between patients' and proxy respondents' reports, and to explore the factors influencing proxy agreement. DESIGN: Patient-proxy agreement study. SETTING: Hospital settings. SUBJECTS: Fifty-two stroke patients with mild or without cognitive impairments and their primary caregivers voluntarily participated in this study. MAIN MEASURES: The self-administered versions of the Barthel Index and Frenchay Activities Index were completed by the patients and their proxy respondents concurrently, yet separately, to assess the level of disability. RESULTS: The proxy agreement on total scores of the self-administered Barthel Index and self-administered Frenchay Activities Index demonstrated moderate to good agreement (self-administered Barthel Index: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.71; self-administered Frenchay Activities Index: ICC = 0.6). There were no significant differences between patient and proxy reports on self-administered Barthel Index and self-administered Frenchay Activities Index scores (paired t = -0.22, P = 0.83; paired t = 0.88, P = 0.39, respectively). However, limits of agreement of patient and proxy reports on the self-administered Barthel Index and self-administered Frenchay Activities Index were notable. Stepwise regression analysis found no significant variables associated with proxy agreement. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that it is appropriate for research purposes, but not appropriate for clinical usage, to use proxy reports to measure disability levels in patients with stroke. Furthermore, the two methods should not be used interchangeably to monitor patients because of the wide limits of agreement between patient and proxy reports on the self-administered Barthel Index and self-administered Frenchay Activities Index.     

Management of bilateral adrenal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report

The adrenal glands rarely are an extrahepatic site for metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Once identified, adrenal metastasis requires aggressive management, due to the risk of rupture and internal hemorrhaging. Disease management of adrenal metastasis from HCC is limited, given the relative lack of available knowledge, and the present report details our efforts in managing bilateral adrenal metastases from HCC. For this patient, we used radiation therapy and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). The left adrenal tumor was treated by 3D conformal radiation therapy, following the failure of TACE. The size of the left adrenal tumor decreased and no evidence of recurrence after management was noted. One right adrenal tumor was treated using two sessions of TACE, and the size of the tumor did not decrease. We later observed that the right tumor actually progressively increased in size. The tumor was then treated by 3D conformal radiation therapy (total 5400 cGy), and the size decreased by 10 mm, 1 month after treatment. The patient's condition was stable and liver function was maintained at early stage liver cirrhosis (Child A). Renal function was maintained within normal ranges after diagnosis of HCC and throughout the entire follow-up period, and no complications secondary to radiation therapy were noted. Our experience may provide useful information in disease management for these patients.