scholarly journals Supernumerary Robotic Fingers as a Therapeutic Device for Hemiparetic Patients

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teddy Ort ◽  
Faye Wu ◽  
Nicholas C. Hensel ◽  
H. Harry Asada
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Test Subject ◽  
Hand Position ◽  
Normal Hand ◽  
Therapeutic Device ◽  
Simple Manipulation ◽  
Robotic Fingers ◽  
Bimanual Tasks

Patients with hemiparesis often have limited functionality in the left or right hand. The standard therapeutic approach requires the patient to attempt to make use of the weak hand even though it is not functionally capable, which can result in feelings of frustration. Furthermore, hemiparetic patients also face challenges in completing many bimanual tasks, for example walker manipulation, that are critical to patients’ independence and quality of life. A prototype therapeutic device with two supernumerary robotic fingers was used to determine if robotic fingers could functionally assist a human in the performance of bimanual tasks by observing the pose of the healthy hand. Specific focus was placed on the identification of a straightforward control routine which would allow a patient to carry out simple manipulation tasks with some intermittent input from a therapist. Part of this routine involved allowing a patient to switch between active and inactive monitoring of hand position, resulting in additional manipulation capabilities. The prototype successfully enabled a test subject to complete various bimanual tasks using the robotic fingers in place of normal hand motions. From these results, it is clear that the device could allow a hemiparetic patient to complete tasks which would previously have been impossible to perform.

scholarly journals The Quality of Life Definition: Where Are We Going?

Uro ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-22
Author(s):  
Tommaso Cai ◽  
Paolo Verze ◽  
Truls E. Bjerklund Johansen
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Extra Dimension ◽  
Sexual Partner ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Laboratory Findings

The quality of life (QoL) concept now includes new aspects related to patients’ well-being because QoL has become more of a personal perception than an an objective and measurable entity. Here, we discuss the principal aspects of QoL-related aspects in urology and andrology by using a narrative review. Some aspects concerning the QoL are essential when managing uro-andrological patients. The aim of treatments should not only include the absence of disease or symptoms relief but also the improvement of a patient’s QoL with regard to his/her internal status and relationship with others. In this sense, any therapeutic approach should be based on the patient’s perspectives and not only on the instrumental and laboratory findings. Finally, we discussed the role of a patient’s sexual partner adding an extra dimension to the patient-centerd approach as part of the QoL concept in andrology.

scholarly journals Aortic stenosis and diabetes mellitus: An ominous combination

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 310-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Banovic ◽  
Lavanya Athithan ◽  
Gerry P McCann
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Aortic Stenosis ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Severe Aortic Stenosis ◽  
Significant Morbidity ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Insight Into

Aortic stenosis and diabetes mellitus are both progressive diseases which, if left untreated, result in significant morbidity and mortality. There is evidence that the prevalence of diabetes is substantially increased in patients with aortic stenosis and those with diabetes have increased rates of progression from mild to severe aortic stenosis. There are good data supporting the hypothesis that aortic stenosis and diabetes mellitus are associated with diabetes mellitus being detrimental towards the quality of life and survival of patients. Thus, a thorough understanding of the pathogenesis of both of these disease processes and the relationship between them aids in designing appropriate preventive and therapeutic approaches. This review aims to give a comprehensive and up-to-date insight into the influence of diabetes mellitus on patients with degenerative aortic stenosis, as well as the prognosis and therapeutic approach to these patients.

Promoting stigma coping and empowerment: Results from the multi-center clinical trial STEM

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S40-S40
Author(s):  
W. Gaebel
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Group Therapy ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Psychiatric Rehabilitation ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Outpatient Services ◽  
Education Group

IntroductionThe stigma of mental illness is still a major challenge for psychiatry. For patients, stigma experiences and self-stigma are associated with reduced quality of life and increased vulnerability to a more chronicle illness course. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of validated therapeutic approaches addressing strategies for coping with stigma.Objectives and aimsA manualized psycho-educational group therapy for stigma coping and empowerment (STEM) should be tested for efficacy in patients with depression and schizophrenia. The study was funded by a research grant of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.MethodsA cluster-randomized RCT with two arms including 30 mental health care services (psychiatric inpatient services, day-units, and outpatient services, as well as inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation services) was conducted. The intervention consisted of 8 sessions regular psycho-education group therapy and 3 sessions addressing stigma coping and empowerment. Controls received 11 sessions regular psycho-education. Primary outcome variable was quality of life (WHO-QOL). Assessments were conducted directly before and after the intervention, and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-ups.ResultsA total of 469 patients participated and more than 300 participants (approx. 65%) completed the 12-month follow-up. First results of the analysis will be presented at the conference.ConclusionsSince the statistical analysis is currently in progress, no conclusions concerning the efficacy of the tested therapeutic approach can be done by now. Nevertheless there is a strong need for supporting patients in developing positive stigma coping strategies. STEM is the first therapeutic approach to our knowledge tested for efficacy in a RCT.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Quality of life in Romanian patients with schizophrenia based on gender, type of schizophrenia, therapeutic approach, and family history

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-209
Author(s):  
Elena Rosca ◽  
Ovidiu Alexinschi ◽  
Călin Brîncuș ◽  
Valentin Matei ◽  
Ana Giurgiuca
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Family History ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Gender Type

scholarly journals How hardiness and the quality of life relate to the parameters of autonomic balance

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 02016
Author(s):  
Elena Nikolaeva ◽  
Oksana Elnikova ◽  
Eugeny Vergunov ◽  
Yulia Perevoskina
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Test Subject ◽  
The State ◽  
Fast Waves

The purpose of the research was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the two tests most often used by psychologists for describing of the subject's quality of life: the Short Form-36 Health Status Survey (SF-36) and the Hardiness Test (Maddi, 1998). As an indicator of the state of internal control, the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) was chosen. Our study sample consisted of 59 students and office workers (mean age of 25.1 ± 11.0 years). The study was conducted in two successive stages. During each of the stages, the heart rate was recorded, the slow and the fast waves on the cardiogram were assessed. During the first stage, the R-R intervals were recorded with the subject in a state of quiet wakefulness; during the second, while the subject's health was being discussed. A second recording was done for further elaboration (once again while the test subject was in the process of describing the state of their health). The only correlation between a person's own description and the actual inner state arises when they are describing their real responsibilities and how they carry them out.

scholarly journals Obesity and its Implications on Stress Urinary Incontinence

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 3660-3662
Author(s):  
Mihai Cristian Dumitrascu ◽  
Ana Maria Alexandra Stanescu ◽  
Cristian Bejan ◽  
Florica Sandru ◽  
Daniela Oana Toader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Urinary Incontinence ◽  
Stress Urinary Incontinence ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
Negative Effect

Obesity has reached alarming levels worldwide. Urinary incontinence disorders are associated with a profound negative effect on the quality of life. Obesity in women is associated with stress urinary incontinence. This review aims to highlight the mechanisms, the implications, as well as the best therapeutic approach for stress urinary incontinence in obese women, all following the rigorous documentation of the current research.

Self-Determination Calibration for Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation

2019 ◽  
pp. 121-154
Author(s):  
Dionysios Politis ◽  
Sophia Aidona ◽  
Petros Stagiopoulos ◽  
Georgios Kyriafinis ◽  
Jannis Constantinidis
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implantation ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Self Determination

Cochlear implantation is a well-established therapeutic approach for deaf or hearing-impaired patients. After the medical intervention, which aims to restore hearing, subjects undergo rehabilitation procedures in order to cure instructional disadvantages, problematic schooling circumstances, or deficits in their sociability. Essential physical, mental, social, and cognitive skills are taken into perspective, as the prerequisite of a notable aptitude determines the suitability of a subject to get professional and communal roles. Quality of life, as an indicator, provides the metrics that demonstrate the level of adoption with established norms.

scholarly journals Burkitt Lymphoma in Elderly Patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-109
Author(s):  
Ivan Petković ◽  
Dragan Mihailović ◽  
Miljan Krstić ◽  
Ivica Pejčić ◽  
Svetislav Vrbić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Induction Therapy ◽  
Burkitt Lymphoma ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Rapid Progression ◽  
Young Population ◽  
Very High

SUMMARY Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a disease of predominantly young population, while in the elderly it occurs as a rare neoplasm. Elderly patients (age >60 years) represent a significant problem because of the inability to apply effective aggressive chemiotherapy in these cases. The risk of induction death is very high and unacceptible. Mainly, palliative treatments are applied, whose goal is not curing but maintaining the quality of life. We present the case of a person 75 years old with a diagnosis of sporadic, typical BL treated with CHOP+R in the induction therapy with excellent response but rapid progression after the abolition of rituximab. In discussion, the authors are looking for relevant data on the therapeutic approach in BL in the elderly.

Livedoid vasculopathy - a thrombotic disease

VASA ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 317-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Kerk ◽  
Tobias Goerge
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Lower Leg ◽  
Treatment Goals ◽  
Thrombotic Disease ◽  
Livedoid Vasculopathy ◽  
Summer Time ◽  
Therapy Strategies

Livedoid vasculopathy is a rare, chronic occlusive disease of vessels supporting the upper layers of the skin. It is characterized by purpuric maculae and recurrent painful ulcerations mostly affecting the lower leg. These ulcerations occur episodically especially in summer time and heal slowly, leaving characteristic porcelain-white scars called ’atrophie blanche’.This review is focused on the current knowledge on livedoid vasculopathy and modern therapy strategies resulting from its etiopathogenetic associations with prothrombotic states. Livedoid vasculopathy and its pathophysiology are clearly distinguished from inflammatory vasculitis and thus require a different therapeutic approach. The prevention of irreversible residual scarring and improving the quality of life of patients in this often misdiagnosed disease is one of the main treatment goals.

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