Machine learning models for Parkinson’s disease detection and stage classification based on spatial-temporal gait parameters

BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease with no cure, presenting a challenging diagnosis and management. However, despite a significant number of criteria and guidelines have been proposed to improve the diagnosis of PD and to determine the PD stage, the gold standard for diagnosis and symptoms monitoring of PD is still mainly based on clinical evaluation, which includes several subjective factors. The use of machine learning (ML) algorithms in spatial-temporal gait parameters is an interesting advance with easy interpretation and objective factors that may assist in PD diagnostic and follow up.Research questionThis article studies ML algorithms for: i) distinguish people with PD vs. matched-healthy individuals; and ii) to discriminate PD stages, based on selected spatial-temporal parameters, including variability and asymmetry.MethodsGait data acquired from 63 people with PD with different levels of PD motor symptoms severity, and 63 matched-control group individuals, during self-selected walking speed, was study in the experiments.ResultsIn the PD diagnosis, a classification accuracy of 84.6 %, with a precision of 0.923 and a recall of 0.800, was achieved by the Naïve Bayes algorithm. We found four significant gait features in PD diagnosis: step length, velocity and width, and step width variability. As to the PD stage identification, the Random Forest outperformed the other studied ML algorithms, by reaching an Area Under the ROC curve of 0.786. We found two relevant gait features in identifying the PD stage: stride width variability and step double support time variability.SignificanceThe results showed that the studied ML algorithms have potential both to PD diagnosis and stage identification by analysing gait parameters.     

基于肿瘤影像学异质性分析CT在诊断十二指肠恶性肿瘤的价值

目的 探讨十二指肠肿瘤血流量存在的异质性及容积灌注CT成像对降低肿瘤异质性的影响。方法 纳入我院2013年1月至2014年11月十二指肠结节病例的132例,其中腺癌48例,间质瘤52例,淋巴瘤32例。所有的病例均行单层面灌注CT和容积灌注CT成像扫描,比较两者对十二指肠恶性肿瘤的诊断效能,采用变异系数评价两者在影像学异质性的差异,评价肿瘤影像学异质性对十二指肠恶性肿瘤的影响。结果 容积灌注CT成像与单层面灌注CT诊断恶性结节的效能其敏感性、特异性、准确性、阴性预测值、阳性预测值比较均无明显差别(P0.05);中高分化组及低分化组两个亚组的容积灌注CT成像的变异系数也均小于单层面灌注CT的变异系数,组间相比具有统计学差异(P0.05);血流量差异性的大小相比具有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论 容积灌注CT成像与单层面灌注CT检查在诊断效能上无明显差异,稳定性好,肿瘤影像学异质性对评价十二指肠肿瘤血流量有着一定影响,容积灌注CT成像能够降低肿瘤异质性的影响。     

优化CT扫描参数,降低患者辐射剂量

CT检查中如何有效减少辐射剂量,保护患者,同时保证图像质量,作为从事放射的工作人员应该充分认识。本文从CT检查辐射剂量、优化参数及降低CT检查辐射剂量的途径等方面加以综述。     

Independent and court-ordered forensic neuropsychological examinations: Official statement of the National Academy of Neuropsychology

Independent forensic neuropsychological examinations are performed by neuropsychologists who are hired as independent contractors by third parties to make determinations regarding neuropsychological functioning. The responsibilities of neuropsychologists when performing independent or court-ordered forensic examinations differ from those of clinical examinations. Because neuropsychological training typically occurs in clinical contexts, the transition to forensic contexts may result in uncertainty about how to negotiate the unique responsibilities of the forensic examiner role. Neuropsychologists are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of professional practice when performing independent and court-ordered forensic examinations. To reach and maintain the highest standards of practice, neuropsychologists must understand the unique relationships with retaining parties and examinees and strive to maintain true independence and objectivity. Although a true neuropsychologist-patient relationship is not considered to exist within the context of a forensic neuropsychological evaluation, neuropsychologists have ethical responsibilities to both the retaining party and the examinee.     

Inadequate dietary magnesium intake increases atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits

Epidemiological studies have shown dietary magnesium (Mg) intake and serum Mg levels to be inversely correlated with the development of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that low levels of Mg would promote atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits (4 months old, n = 22) were fed an atherogenic diet containing 0.12% (−Mg), 0.27% (control), or 0.43% (+Mg) Mg for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks and were assayed for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, triglycerides (TG), C-reactive protein, serum Mg, and erythrocyte Mg. Aortas from −Mg had significantly more plaque, with an intima thickness 42% greater than control and 36% greater than +Mg. Serum cholesterol levels rose over time, and at 8 weeks, −Mg had the highest and +Mg the lowest total and non-HDL cholesterol and TG levels, although these results did not reach significance. Over time, serum Mg levels increased, and erythrocyte Mg levels decreased. C-reactive protein significantly increased in all groups at 4 and 6 weeks but returned to baseline levels by 8 weeks. This study supports the hypothesis that inadequate intake of Mg results in an increase in atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits.     

门诊抽血室医院感染标本检测结果分析

目的 :了解门诊抽血室医院内感染情况。方法 :通过对空气培养、医护人员的手、物体表面、使用中的消毒液 4项指标 112 0份标本进行监测分析。结果 :112 0份标本检验结果合格 10 30份 ,合格率 92 % ,不合格标本 90份 ,培养出细菌 87份。结论 :通过监测抽血室的医院感染标本 ,了解了院内感染情况 ,有效地减少和防止了医护人员之间、医患之间以及和家属之间的交叉感染 ,提高了医疗护理质量 ,预防了医院交叉感染的发生。     

多站点综合性毕业考试的改革与实践

我校改革临床医学专业毕业考试模式与方法，在临床实习过程中组织多站点综合性考试，采用闭卷笔试方法考核临床理论知识，占70％；采用实践操作与现场口试方法考核临床技能及相关知识，占20％；采用开卷笔试方法考核医疗文书书写，占10％。实践证明，此项改革能促进医学生端正实习态度，调动实习的积极性与主动性，引导医学生在实习中重视理论学习与临床实践的密切结合，促进临床教学质量的提高。     

电视宫腔镜检查妇科疾病1114例临床分析

目的　探讨宫腔镜在临床中的应用价值。方法　对我科 2 0 0 0 - 1 0～ 2 0 0 3- 0 4间对 1 1 1 4例因子宫异常出血、不孕症、宫内异常等 ,行宫腔镜检查者进行回顾性分析。结果　正常宫腔 1 83例 ,镜下发现不同疾病共 931例 ,阳性检出率是 83 6 %。其中 ,6 98例在宫腔镜检查的同时进行了治疗 ,占 6 2 1 %。 1 1 1 4例均未发生并发症。结论　应用电视宫腔镜能在直视下检查宫腔内病变 ,对异常子宫出血、宫腔粘连、宫腔占位 ,以及处女检查等是一种较好的诊疗手段 ,而且能同时予以不同的治疗 ,具有较高的临床应用价值     

社会支持对考试应激的影响

目的了解社会支持对考试应激的影响。方法采用焦虑自评量表和社会支持量表分别对７２７个学生考试前１个月、考试期间考试焦虑分数及社会支持情况进行调查，比较分析考试焦虑分数与社会支持因素的关系。结果考试焦虑分数与客观支持、来自同学和老师的主观支持以及社会支持的利用度成反比。结论家长和学校给予学生足够的社会支持，以及让学生参加适当的社会活动，培养他们利用社会支持的能力，有助于让学生减缓考试应激的水平     

腰椎椎弓崩裂CT征象的临床诊断价值

目的分析腰椎椎弓峡部裂的CT表现,探讨各个征象的诊断价值和意义.方法自可疑椎弓峡部裂脊椎的椎弓根的上缘至下一个椎弓根上缘,层厚2～3mm连续扫描.结果86例中发生L5椎弓峡部裂51例,L4者33例,L3,者2例.各种CT征象发现率为:环裂征91%,椎体前移征85%,双椎体征50%,椎管拉长征45%,双关节面征38%,葫芦征26%,游移征15%,磨旋征6%.结论环裂征是该病的特征性表现;双关节面征及葫芦征发现率较低,但特异性较高.椎管拉长征具有一定诊断价值,其它征象无论其发现率大小,均是该病的继发改变,不能作为确诊的直接依据.