Search Results (3)

This paper presents a fall risk assessment approach based on a fast mobility test, automatically evaluated using a low-cost, scalable system for the recording and analysis of body movement. This mobility test has never before been investigated as a sole source of data for fall risk assessment. It can be performed in a very limited space and needs only minimal additional equipment, yet provides large amounts of information, as the presented system can obtain much more data than traditional observation by capturing minute details regarding body movement. The readings are provided wirelessly by one to seven low-cost micro-electro-mechanical inertial measurement units attached to the subject’s body segments. Combined with a body model, these allow segment rotations and translations to be computed and for body movements to be recreated in software. The subject can then be automatically classified by an artificial neural network based on selected values in the test, and those with an elevated risk of falls can be identified. Results obtained from a group of 40 subjects of various ages, both healthy volunteers and patients with vestibular system impairment, are presented to demonstrate the combined capabilities of the test and system. Labelling of subjects as fallers and non-fallers was performed using an objective and precise sensory organization test; it is an important novelty as this approach to subject labelling has never before been used in the design and evaluation of fall risk assessment systems. The findings show a true-positive ratio of 85% and true-negative ratio of 63% for classifying subjects as fallers or non-fallers using the introduced fast mobility test, which are noticeably better than those obtained for the long-established Timed Up and Go test. Full article

Wstęp: Incydenty gruźlicy pozapłucnej stanowią mniej niż 6% wszystkich przypadków gruźlicy w Polsce, choć w innych krajach (zwłaszcza europejskich) ten odsetek jest znacznie wyższy. Celem pracy była ocena kliniczna i epidemiologiczna chorych hospitalizowanych na jednym z oddziałów laryngologicznych w Polsce w czasie 36 lat. Materiał i metody: Badaniem retrospektywnym objęto 71 chorych, których podzielono na trzy grupy w zależności od okresu badania: I—lata 1978–1989 (30 osób, 42%), II—lata 1990–2001 (19 osób, 27%) i III—lata 2002–2013 (22 osoby, 31% wszystkich przypadków). W każdym przypadku podejrzenie gruźlicy stawiano na podstawie wyniku badania histopatologicznego. Wyniki: Najczęściej stwierdzono gruźlicę krtani (54.9%), następnie gruźlicę węzłów chłonnych szyi (29.6%) i ucha (8.5%). W gruźlicy krtani, zmiany najczęściej dotyczyły piętra głośni (76.9%). Chorzy z gruźlicą krtani to w większości mężczyźni (87.2%), średnio 10 lat starsi niż kobiety w każdym z wyróżnionych okresów. Odwrotnie, w gruźlicy węzłów chłonnych szyi, kobiety stanowiły 66,7% przypadków i były średnio dwukrotnie starsze niż mężczyźni (64.0 v. 34.7 roku). Potwierdzenie bakteriologiczne uzyskano tylko u jednego chorego. Wnioski: Liczba chorych diagnozowanych w naszym ośrodku z powodu gruźlicy pozapłucnej w obrębie głowy i szyi była większa w pierwszym 12-letnim okresie, a przez ostatnie 24 lata była stała, podobnie jak najczęstsze umiejscowienia gruźlicy (krtań i węzły chłonne szyi). U chorych z gruźlicą głowy i szyi poza oceną histopatologiczną konieczna jest ocena bakteriologiczna. Full article

Introduction: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) accounts for less than 6% of all tuberculosis (TB) cases in Poland, although in other countries (European in particular) this proportion is much higher. The study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological differences in patients hospitalized in one of Otolaryngology Departments in Poland during 36 years. Material and methods: In a retrospective study, 71 patients were identified and divided into three groups according to the study period: I—1978−1989 (30 patients, 42%), II—1990−2001 (19 patients, 27%) and III—2002−2013 (22 patients, 31% of all cases). In each case histological examination of biopsy specimens was available. Results: Larynx TB (54.9%) was most common, followed by cervical lymph nodes TB (29.6%) and auris TB (8.5%). In laryngeal TB, glottic region was most often affected (76.9%). Patients with larynx TB were mainly men (87.2%), 10 years older than women in each study period. However, in lymph nodes TB group, women constituted 66.7% of cases and were twice as old as men (64.0 vs. 34.7 yrs). Bacteriological confirmation was made in only one patient. Conclusions: The number of patients diagnosed in our center declined in the first period of 12 years and remained stable over the last 24 years, as were the common sites of head and neck EPTB (larynx and cervical lymph nodes). In patients with head and neck TB the biopsy specimens should be examined not only histologically but also for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Full article