Relationships Among the Symptoms of the Elderly as Revealed by Multivariate Analysis: A Preliminary Study

1992 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-91
Author(s):  
Makoto J. Kawai ◽  
Kazuko Sumazaki ◽  
Mari Miyamoto ◽  
Yoshiko Miyamoto ◽  
Kimio Miyamoto

One hundred and sixty-eight elderly subjects in a geriatric hospital and the adjoining nursing home were examined in a study of relationships among the items of Hasegawa's dementia scale. A three-dimensional model using multivariate analysis demonstrated the relationships among items. The results led to the identification of six clinical groups determined by the presence of stroke and the score on the dementia scale. Nonstroke subjects of middle intellectual level had disturbances of memory and orientation. This group fell into two categories during the course of a five-year follow-up study: severe dementia and intellectual deterioration. Retrospective multivariate analysis results suggested that features characteristic of the severe intellectual deterioration group were earlier disturbances of orientation and distant memory. This statistical method used only objective clinical data in order to avoid subjective and, often, baised judgements.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsao ◽  
Shu ◽  
Lan

Through virtual interaction and multivariate communication, the social interaction and life satisfaction of elderly people can be improved. This study integrated virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to construct a visualized reminiscence therapy system, which provides not only reminiscence entertainment but may also aid in dementia prevention for healthy and sub-healthy (a therapeutic working concept which defines an intermediate stage between health and disease) elderly people. Images taken by an LG 360 CAM are primarily introduced into Power Director 360 as the guide interface. The special effects are joined using After Effects. With the model constructed under 3ds Max, the reminiscence therapy system integrated by virtual reality and augmented reality is then established by the Unity engine. It is shown that the developed 3D ancient building model can be used by Samsung Note 5 smartphones as well as VR CASE glasses to increase the immersive experience for the elderly. Through nostalgic elements triggered by the AR/VR three-dimensional model and video/audio interaction, the feasibility of our integrated system for reminiscence therapy is thus verified. Through reminiscence therapy, memories and thoughts can fully be activated as a therapy for elderly people. The visualized reality system developed in this study can further promote the social interactional satisfaction of elderly people.


2013 ◽  
Vol 397-400 ◽  
pp. 625-628
Author(s):  
Yu Qian Zhao ◽  
Xiu Feng Tan

The ordinary screw designed in traditional method will increase the power consumption and decrease the juice yield in the process of squeeze. Presented the system design of juice extractor firstly, then used the UG software and dimension driving technology to construct the 3d model entity of the screw with variable pitches and diameters, followed by systems three-dimensional model. Finished the static analysis of the screw blade by ANSYS, completing a follow-up study of parameterized modeling.


1996 ◽  
Vol 151 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-258
Author(s):  
J Pantel ◽  
P Robert ◽  
F Troalen ◽  
P Chanson ◽  
G Schaison ◽  
...  

Abstract Measurement of serum luteinizing hormone (hLH) is important for the detection and follow-up of patients with pathological processes of the reproductive axis. Detection of the uncombined form of the β-subunit of hLH, or free hLHβ, has proved to be of clinical interest in the recognition of gonadotroph adenomas. As no monoclonal antibody specific for the free hLHβ is at present available, we elicited monoclonal antibodies using free hLHβ as an immunogen. An antibody, named BLH01, was selected for its specific binding to the free β-subunit, and its antibody-binding site was characterized at the molecular level, emphasizing the importance of amino acid residues located between the disulfide-bonded Cys93 and Cys100. This region has been demonstrated as being particularly critical for the specific binding of lutropic hormones to their receptors. Topographic assignment of the epitope recognized by BLH01 was then achieved by cross-matching studies based on a library of antibodies directed to hLHβ, and the location of some epitopes on the three-dimensional model of the β-subunit is proposed. A two-site immunoassay based on BLH01 as capture antibody was then developed. This assay, using BLH01, may constitute a simple, sensitive and highly specific procedure for assessing the clinical usefulness of measuring free hLHβ, particularly for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients presenting with pituitary adenomas. Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 151, 251–258


Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Wendong Wang ◽  
Yikai Shi ◽  
Yang Chu ◽  
Xing Ming

Purpose To achieve variable stiffness, this paper aims to design a flexible actuator with variable stiffness by using the magnetorheological effect of magnetorheological fluid. The variable stiffness actuator can well meet the safety requirements of human–robot interaction and be more adaptable to unknown or complex environments. The variable stiffness actuator designed in this study can realize the continuous and controllable change of stiffness compared with the existing actuator. Design/methodology/approach The principle of variable stiffness actuator is illustrated in detail; the three-dimensional model and mechanical model of the flexible actuator are provided. The magnetic field distribution of the actuator coil is analyzed, and the dynamic model of the actuator is provided. Findings Output torque test suggests that the magnetorheological fluid variable stiffness actuator (VSAMF) can output a stable torque which meets the designing requirements of the test; sinusoidal follow-up test shows that VSAMF can implement sinusoidal follow-up; variable stiffness test shows that VSAMF can achieve real-time variable stiffness adjustment; the crash test suggests that VSAMF can well protect machines when meeting obstacles. Originality/value In this paper, a new variable stiffness joint is proposed through changing the current to change the performance of the stiffness, and it can realize the continuous and controllable change of stiffness.


1993 ◽  
Vol 163 (5) ◽  
pp. 589-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Brodaty ◽  
Lynne Harris ◽  
Karin Peters ◽  
Kay Wilhelm ◽  
Ian Hickie ◽  
...  

The prognosis of depression in the elderly was investigated in a mixed-age sample of 242 consecutive referrals, with DSM-III defined unipolar major depressive episode, to a specialist unit for mood disorders. Subjects were followed up at about 1 and 3.8 years. There was no significant difference in outcome between younger (under 40 years), middle aged (40–59 years) and older (60 years or more) depressed patients. For the 61 elderly subjects with depression, prognosis improved with time, with 25% having a lasting recovery at the first and 41% at the second follow-up. Early onset, recurrence, and poor premorbid personality were associated with a worse prognosis. Three (5%) elderly depressives had committed suicide and seven (11%) had died from natural causes by the second follow-up. Despite some methodological limitations, our findings suggest a more optimistic outlook and the need for longer, more assertive treatment for elderly, depressed patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catrin Williams ◽  
Anca Mateescu ◽  
Emma Rees ◽  
Kirstie Truman ◽  
Claire Elliott ◽  
...  

Background Data about the epidemiology of valvular heart disease (VHD) in the elderly is scarce. Hand-held ultrasound devices (HUDs) enable point-of-care ultrasound scanning (POCUS) but their use in an elderly population has not been reported for VHD screening in primary practice. Methods One hundred consecutive subjects aged >70 years without a VHD diagnosis had 2D and colour Doppler POCUS by an accredited sonographer, using a contemporary HUD (Vscan), in a primary practice setting. Patients with left-sided valve pathology identified by Vscan were referred for formal echo in the local tertiary cardiac centre. Results Mean age (s.d.) was 79.08 (3.74) years (72–92 years); 61 female. By Vscan, we found five patients with ≥moderate aortic stenosis (AS), eight with ≥moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) and none with ≥moderate aortic regurgitation. In the AS and MR groups each, one patient had valve intervention following from the initial diagnosis by Vscan, two and one respectively are under follow-up in the valve clinic, while two and four respectively refused TTE or follow-up. Two patients with moderate MR by Vscan had mild and mild/moderate MR respectively by TTE and were discharged. Total cost for scanning 100 patients was $18,201 – i.e. $182/patient. Conclusions Screening with a hand-held scanner (Vscan), we identified 5/100 elderly subjects who needed valve replacement or follow-up in valve clinic, at a cost of $182/patient. These findings have potential significance for the allocation of resources in the context of an ageing population.


1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 979-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. E. JANZING ◽  
J. M. P. BOUWENS ◽  
R. J. TEUNISSE ◽  
M. A. VAN'T HOF ◽  
F. G. ZITMAN

Background. Little is known about the effects of depression on the mortality rates of elderly subjects with dementia.Methods. Logistic regression analysis, adjusting for possible confounders, was used to study the associations between GMS-AGECAT derived syndrome and symptom measures and 12-month mortality rates in a cohort of 73 elderly subjects who met the DSM-III-R criteria of dementia with a median MMSE score of 19.Results. Twenty-three subjects (32%) died within the 12 month follow-up period. A baseline diagnosis of syndromal or subsyndromal depression was associated with increased mortality. At the symptom level mortality was predicted by higher scores on the factor ‘mood symptoms’. The effects of interactions between depression measures and severity of dementia were not significant.Conclusions. Short-term mortality in elderly subjects with less severe dementia is predicted by the presence of (sub) syndromal depression and by mood symptoms. The effects of depression and severity of dementia on the mortality rates seem to be largely independent.


2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 1138-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia González ◽  
José M. Huerta ◽  
Serafina Fernández ◽  
Ángeles M. Patterson ◽  
Cristina Lasheras

Although total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) has been extensively studied as a risk factor of CVD, longitudinal evidence on its association with mortality is scarce, especially among the elderly. The study cohort consisted of 215 subjects (eighty-eight male and 127 female), aged 60 years or older, recruited in fourteen elderly care institutions from Asturias (Spain). All participants were free of major chronic pathology and took no vitamin and/or mineral supplements. Baseline determinations included tHcy in plasma and folate, vitamin B12and Se in serum. Survival analyses were performed by quintiles of these factors after 6 years (mean follow-up time 4·3 years) by means of Cox regression models. During follow-up time sixty participants died. tHcy above 16·7 μmol/l was associated with an increased risk of mortality in the sample (relative risk 2·30 (95 % CI 1·02, 5·17)). Among the nutritional determinants of tHcy evaluated, folate and Se were not predictive of death risk of the cohort, while vitamin B12showed inconsistent results. Nevertheless, mortality was significantly lower at higher serum Se levels (upper quintile), but this effect was restricted to women. Higher tHcy in both sexes and lower serum Se in women were found to be independently associated with an increased risk of death in elderly subjects.


GeroPsych ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Franke ◽  
Christian Gaser

We recently proposed a novel method that aggregates the multidimensional aging pattern across the brain to a single value. This method proved to provide stable and reliable estimates of brain aging – even across different scanners. While investigating longitudinal changes in BrainAGE in about 400 elderly subjects, we discovered that patients with Alzheimer’s disease and subjects who had converted to AD within 3 years showed accelerated brain atrophy by +6 years at baseline. An additional increase in BrainAGE accumulated to a score of about +9 years during follow-up. Accelerated brain aging was related to prospective cognitive decline and disease severity. In conclusion, the BrainAGE framework indicates discrepancies in brain aging and could thus serve as an indicator for cognitive functioning in the future.


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