scholarly journals New Assessment Model of Pulse Depth Based on Sensor Displacement in Pulse Diagnostic Devices

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jang-Han Bae ◽  
Young Ju Jeon ◽  
Jong Yeol Kim ◽  
Jaeuk U. Kim

An accurate assessment of the pulse depth in pulse diagnosis is vital to determine the floating and sunken pulse qualities (PQs), which are two of the four most basic PQs. In this work, we proposed a novel model of assessing the pulse depth based on sensor displacement (SD) normal to the skin surface and compared this model with two previous models which assessed the pulse depth using contact pressure (CP). In contrast to conventional stepwise CP variation tonometry, we applied a continuously evolving tonometric mechanism at a constant velocity and defined the pulse depth index as the optimal SD where the largest pulse amplitude was observed. By calculating the pulse depth index for 18 volunteers, we showed that the pulse was deepest atCheok(significance level:P<0.01), while no significant difference was found betweenChonandGwan. In contrast, the two CP-based models estimated that the pulse was shallowest atGwan(P<0.05). For the repeated measures, the new SD-based model showed a smaller coefficient of variation(CV≈7.6%)than the two CP-based models (CV≈13.5% and 12.3%, resp.). The SD-based pulse depth assessment is not sensitive to the complex geometry around the palpation locations and temperature variation of contact sensors, which allows cost-effective sensor technology.

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-115
Author(s):  
Karine Letícia da Silva ◽  
Elisama Sutil ◽  
Diego Hortkoff ◽  
Renata Maria Oleniki Terra ◽  
Márcia Rezende ◽  
...  

Abstract This clinical trial evaluated the effect of the coadministration of ibuprofen/caffeine on bleaching-induced tooth sensitivity (TS). A triple-blind, parallel-design, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 84 patients who received ibuprofen/caffeine or placebo capsules. The drugs were administered for 48 hours, starting 1 hour before the in-office bleaching. Two bleaching sessions were performed with 35% hydrogen peroxide gel with 1-week interval. TS was recorded up to 48 hours after dental bleaching with a 0-10 visual analogic scale (VAS) and a 5-point numeric rating scale (NRS). The color was evaluated with VITA Classical and VITA Bleachedguide scales (ΔSGU) and VITA Easyshade spectrophotometer (ΔE*ab and ΔE00). The absolute risk of TS in both groups was evaluated using Fischer's exact test. Comparisons of the TS intensity (NRS and VAS data) were performed by using the Mann-Whitney test and a two-way repeated measures ANOVA, respectively. The color alteration between the groups was compared with the Student's t test. The significance level was 5%. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for the absolute risk of TS (p = 1.00) or for the intensity of TS (p > 0.05). A bleaching of approximately 7 shade guide units was observed on the Vita Classical and Vita Bleachedguide scales, with no statistical difference between the groups. It was concluded that coadministration of ibuprofen and caffeine did not reduce the absolute risk or intensity of TS and did not interfere with the efficacy of dental bleaching.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
Shahab Papi ◽  
◽  
Yadollah Abolfathi Momtaz ◽  
Mahshid Foroughan ◽  
Farahnaz Mohammadi Shahboulaghi ◽  
...  

Introduction: Regular physical activity is very effective in preventing or delaying chronic diseases and premature death in the elderly. Objective: This study aimed to compare the effect of face-to-face education and e-learning methods on the physical activity of the elderly. Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study conducted in Karaj, Iran in 2018. The participants were 88 elderly people referred to a senior rehab center and then were assigned into three groups of face-to-face education (n=30), e-learning (n=28), and control (n=30).The study data were collected by a demographic form and the 41-item community healthy activities program for seniors questionnaire (CHAMPS) before the intervention, 1 month after the intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Face-to-face education and e-learning were presented to the two educational groups’ during eight 20-minute sessions. The obtained data were analyzed using ANOVA, Bonferroni post hoc test, the Chi-square test, and repeated measures ANOVA. The significance level was set at0.05. Results: Between the two educational groups, a significant difference was observed in the mean score of physical activity at three measurement phases (P = 0.001).The effect size was 0.61 for face-to-face education and 0.64 for e-learning. Based on the results of the Bonferroni post hoc test, there was no significant difference between e-learning and face-to-face education groups. Conclusion: Both face-to-face and e-learning methods were effective in promoting the physical activity behavior of the elderly. E-learning method can be used as one of the complementary methods of traditional education for improving the physical activity of the elderly.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1879
Author(s):  
Silvana Giacomini Collet ◽  
Rejane Dos Santos Sousa ◽  
Enrico Lippi Ortolani ◽  
André Thaler Neto ◽  
Michèli Cristina Carpeggiani ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to assess the metaphylactic effect of subcutaneous doses of trace minerals (copper, zinc, selenium, and manganese) and vitamins A and E on biochemical (NEFA, BHBA, fructosamine, urea, triglycerides, HDL, and calcium) and hormonal parameters (cortisol, insulin, and IGF-1) of Holstein cows in the transition period. Sixty animals kept in a semi-confinement system, with an average production of 22 liters of milk per day (Farm 1) and 24 liters of milk per day (Farm 2) and a diet according to NRC (2001) with a low metabolic challenge, were divided into two groups: a treatment group, supplemented with trace minerals and vitamins (MTVG) (n=30), and a control group (CG) (n=30). The collection of blood samples was performed at the moments M1 (21 days prepartum), M2 (14 days prepartum), M3 (7 days prepartum), M4 (parturition day), M5 (7 days postpartum), M6 (14 days postpartum), and M7 (21 days postpartum). The experimental design was a randomized block design and the data were submitted to analysis of variance with repeated measures in time within the random variable cow. Differences were considered significant at 5% significance level and trend at 10% level. No difference was observed between treatment and the interaction treatment × day in the assessed parameters. However, some variables showed a significant difference of day. NEFA levels (P < 0.0001) were higher on the parturition day. BHBA concentrations were higher after parturition (P=0.0031), with a peak at the third week of lactation. Fructosamine showed increasing values until the parturition day (P=0.0373), in which higher concentrations were observed. Average values of HDL were higher at 21 days postpartum (P < 0.0001). Triglycerides levels remained high during the prepartum period but showed a sudden drop on the parturition day (P < 0.0001), with lower values postpartum. Regarding serum calcium and IGF-1, lower values were observed on the parturition day (P < 0.001) for both parameters. Cortisol presented a difference regarding day, with higher values on the parturition day (P=0.0151). Thus, the use of trace minerals and vitamins A and E in animals with an adequate body score and low metabolic challenge presents a low response to biochemical and hormonal parameters.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (03) ◽  
pp. 200-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica van Tonder ◽  
De Wet Swanepoel ◽  
Faheema Mahomed-Asmail ◽  
Hermanus Myburgh ◽  
Robert H. Eikelboom

AbstractSmartphone-based threshold audiometry with automated testing has the potential to provide affordable access to audiometry in underserved contexts.To validate the threshold version (hearTest) of the validated hearScreen™ smartphone-based application using inexpensive smartphones (Android operating system) and calibrated supra-aural headphones.A repeated measures within-participant study design was employed to compare air-conduction thresholds (0.5–8 kHz) obtained through automated smartphone audiometry to thresholds obtained through conventional audiometry.A total of 95 participants were included in the study. Of these, 30 were adults, who had known bilateral hearing losses of varying degrees (mean age = 59 yr, standard deviation [SD] = 21.8; 56.7% female), and 65 were adolescents (mean age = 16.5 yr, SD = 1.2; 70.8% female), of which 61 had normal hearing and the remaining 4 had mild hearing losses.Threshold comparisons were made between the two test procedures. The Wilcoxon signed-ranked test was used for comparison of threshold correspondence between manual and smartphone thresholds and the paired samples t test was used to compare test time.Within the adult sample, 94.4% of thresholds obtained through smartphone and conventional audiometry corresponded within 10 dB or less. There was no significant difference between smartphone (6.75-min average, SD = 1.5) and conventional audiometry test duration (6.65-min average, SD = 2.5). Within the adolescent sample, 84.7% of thresholds obtained at 0.5, 2, and 4 kHz with hearTest and conventional audiometry corresponded within ≤5 dB. At 1 kHz, 79.3% of the thresholds differed by ≤10 dB. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) between smartphone (7.09 min, SD = 1.2) and conventional audiometry test duration (3.23 min, SD = 0.6).The hearTest application with calibrated supra-aural headphones provides a cost-effective option to determine valid air-conduction hearing thresholds.


2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olavo de Almeida ◽  
Adriane de Oliveira Sampaio ◽  
Mário Conceição ◽  
Vivian Paranhos ◽  
Danielli Mello ◽  
...  

Muscular Strength and Hydroxyproline Concentration in Urine After Different Flexibility Training ProtocolsThe objective of this study was to evaluate variation in the lumbar spine extension (LSE) muscular strength index and the hydroxyproline (HP) urinary concentrations as a function of flexibility training with maximum intensity (flexibilizing) statically, by proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and submaximally. The sample population - with an age of 17.13 ± 1.23; body mass of 63.23 ± 6.36 kg; height of 173.62 ± 5.465 cm and body fat percentage of 10 ± 3.62% - comprised 60 male individuals divided randomly into four equal groups: CG (control), StrG (stretching), SFG (static flexibilizing) and PNFG (flexibilizing by PNF). The statistical program SPSS 14.0 for Windows was used to perform a Shapiro Wilk test to verify the normality of the data and Levene's test to analyze the homogeneity of the sample, repeated measures ANOVA for multiple comparisons among groups and the Tukey's HSD Post Hoc test to determine the statistical difference within groups of the variables. A significance level of 95% (p<0.05) was adopted. The results showed a significant difference in LSE between PNFG and CG (D% = 11%; p = 0.029). It can be concluded that the practice of PNF increased strength in the study group.


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Moesch ◽  
Juliana Schmatz Mallmann ◽  
Flávia Tomé ◽  
Lizyana Vieira ◽  
Rodolfo Tozeto Ciqueleiro ◽  
...  

Introduction the muscle stretching is widely used to gain extensibility and flexibility, it is important to know the duration of these effects, after return to usual activity level. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of three protocols of hamstring and paravertebral lumbar muscles stretching, and joint flexibility and muscle extensibility after six weeks. Methods participants were 40 volunteers, with limited hamstring extensibility, randomized into three groups: active stretching static (n = 14), proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (n = 14) and kinesiostretching (n = 12). The protocol was divided into 3 stages: the 1st control (six weeks), the 2nd application of stretch (six weeks) and the 3rd follow-up (eight weeks). The project was approved by the Ethics Committee on Human Research Unioeste, under protocol number 25536/2008. Four evaluations were conducted with board coupled to a system and goniometry and Well´s bench, distributed at the beginning and end of each step. Data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA, and one-way, with a significance level of 5%. Results there was no significant difference for the three groups in the control stage. There were significant differences in the three protocols in the stage of stretching. After follow-up stage, there was significant difference in the ratings to the board goniometry, and there was no difference in the Well’s Bench. Conclusion the three techniques promoted significant gain in extensibility and flexibility, extensibility was not maintained after the follow-up stage, and the flexibility of the posterior chain continued gains.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 3021-3027
Author(s):  
Tyler Robert Johnston ◽  
Jordan Liles ◽  
Jonathan Riboh

Background: Open physes and trochlear/notch geometries in pediatric patients limit the safe corridor for femoral interference screw graft fixation during medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction. Accordingly, interest is increasing in anchor-based fixation, but biomechanical validation is deficient. Purpose: To compare anchor-based and tenodesis screw femoral fixation of MPFL grafts in a time-zero biomechanical model. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Twenty-seven fresh-frozen porcine distal femurs were potted for testing in an electromechanical load frame, while bovine tendons were used for MPFL grafts. Reconstructions were performed with 1 of 3 femoral fixation strategies: 4.5-mm biocomposite double-loaded threaded anchor (DLA group), 3.9-mm biocomposite knotless threaded anchor (KA group), or traditional 7 × 23–mm biocomposite tenodesis screw (TS group). For testing, femoral specimens were oriented and secured in the mechanical testing apparatus such that actuator tensile pull re-created the normal MPFL trajectory. Specimens underwent 10 cycles of 5- to 15-N loading at 1-Hz preconditioning, followed by 1000 cycles of 10- to 50 N-loading at 1 Hz. After cyclic loading, all specimens were loaded to failure at 305 mm/min. The average cyclic construct stiffness, displacement, and load-to-failure data between the 3 groups were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the significance level set at P < .05. Results: Average cyclic construct stiffnesses were comparable across groups per repeated-measures ANOVA analysis: 68.3 ± 6.3, 71.4 ± 6.4, and 74.3 ± 7.9 N/mm for TS, DLA, and KA groups, respectively (at cycle 1000). Average construct displacements at cycles 100 and 1000 were significantly less in the anchor versus tenodesis screw groups per ANOVA and Tukey post hoc analysis: 7.7 ± 4.2 mm for the TS group versus 3.7 ± 0.4 and 4.3 ± 0.6 mm for the DLA and KA groups, respectively (at cycle 1000). There was no significant difference in ultimate failure loads between the anchor and tenodesis screw groups, but 3 of 9 TS constructs failed at loads below the average failure load of the native MPFL. Conclusion: Compared with the tenodesis group, anchor-based fixation produced constructs with equivalent cyclic stiffnesses, improved load-displacement characteristics, and had less failure load variability in the porcine cadaveric model. Clinical Relevance: Femoral fixation of the MPFL graft with a single anchor (4.5 or 3.9 mm threaded) is a viable alternative to traditional tenodesis screw fixation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1925
Author(s):  
Guilherme Joner ◽  
Dari Celestino Alves Filho ◽  
Andrei Retamoso Mayer ◽  
Patrícia Machado Martini Cattelam ◽  
Camille Carijo Domingues ◽  
...  

Dry matter and neutral detergent fiber contents act as physical regulators of voluntary intake in ruminants. Therefore, different levels of these components may interfere with animal performance and require careful assessment of the used raw material. This study was conducted with the purpose to assess the effect of soybean hulls and white oat in distinct or associated uses in the concentrate diet on the ingestive behavior of cattle. Thirty-six steers with an initial mean age of 20 months and initial mean weight of 226 kg were used. The diet was composed of 50% sorghum silage and 50% concentrate based on dry matter. The tested diets were soybean hulls (concentrate fraction composed mainly of soybean hulls), white oat grains (concentrate fraction composed mainly of white oat grains), and mixture (concentrate fraction composed of equal parts of soybean hulls and white oat grains). The experimental design was a randomized block design with 12 animals per diet. The data were compared by the PROC MIXED procedure with repeated measures in time, and the means were compared by the least significant difference test at 5% significance level. Diets presented different contents of neutral detergent fiber (66, 56, and 47%) and lignin (3.2, 3.7, and 4.1%) as the percentage of white oat grain increased in the diet. The total rumination time was lower (447 minutes) for animals that received equal parts of soybean hulls and white oat grains in the diet when compared to animals receiving a diet containing soybean hulls (483 minutes) and white oat grains (495 minutes), with no difference from each other. Animals fed a diet containing soybean hulls and white oat grains showed longer feeding time, a higher number of daily meals, shorter rumination time, shorter time spent chewing, and fewer number of chews per bolus and day. This diet results in a better dry matter and neutral detergent fiber rumination efficiencies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elísio Alves Pereira Neto ◽  
Simoni Teixeira Bittar ◽  
Júlio César Gomes da Silva ◽  
Patrick Allan Souza Pfeiffer ◽  
Heleodório Honorato dos Santos ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: Improving strength levels is important to women with osteoporosis. Resistance and aerobic exercise are effective means of reaching this goal; however, the use of low-load exercises with blood flow restriction is an alternative to traditional methods of exercise to achieve the same strength gains in this population. Objective: To analyze the chronic effects of aerobic and resistance training combined with blood flow restriction on the maximal dynamic strength (MDS) of women with osteoporosis. Methods: Twenty women (61.40±4.63 years of age, 61.82±12.54 kg, 1.51±0.05 m, 27.16±5.55 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to four groups: 1 - high-intensity resistance training (HI); 2 - low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction (LI-BFR); 3 - aerobic training with blood flow restriction (ABFR); and 4 - control group (CG). Unilateral knee extension MDS was assessed using the one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength test before and after the 6th and 12th weeks of intervention. The data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a Bonferroni post-hoc test performed using SPSS (version 21.0), considering a significance level of P<0.05 for all tests. Results: Baseline comparisons showed that HI and CG had lower strength levels than LI-BFR and ABFR groups (P<0.05). The ABFR group exhibited a significant increase in MDS between the 1st and the 6th week (9%, P=0.001) and between the 1st and the 12th week (21.6%, P=0.008). The LI-BFR group exhibited increased MDS between the 1st and the 6th week (10.1%, P=0.001), between the 1st and the 12th week (24.2%, P=0.003) and between the 6th and 12th week (12.8%, P=0.030). The HI group exhibited a significant difference between the 1st and the 6th week (38.7%, P<0.001), between the 1st and the 12th week (62%, P<0.001) and between the 6th and 12th weeks (17.4%, P=0.020), whereas the CG had no significant differences between the timepoints (P>0.05). Conclusions: ABFR and LI-BFR effectively increased the MDS of women with osteoporosis.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9519-9519
Author(s):  
T. Van den Wyngaert ◽  
M. T. Huizing ◽  
E. Fossion ◽  
J. B. Vermorken

9519 Background: Bisphosphonates (BP) have been associated with the occurrence of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), possibly by causing an excessive inhibition of local bone turnover. However, little in vivo evidence currently exists to support this theory. Methods: Whole-body scintigrams acquired after administration of 99mTc labeled medronate of 120 patients were studied. Patients with skeletal metastases from a solid tumor (n=40) were individually matched with cancer patients without BP exposure (n=40) and controls with neither a malignancy nor BP use (n=40). Controls were matched for age, gender, malignancy, steroid and hormonal therapy use, where appropriate. Patients with established ONJ or intense focal abnormalities in the studied regions were excluded. Mandibular bone turnover (MBT) was quantified relative to the femurs by defining regions-of-interest on the scintigrams with correction for background activity. The study had a power of 90% to detect a 10% reduction in MBT after BP use. Results were analyzed using a repeated-measures ANOVA with a two-sided significance level of p<0.05. Results: The patients with BP exposure (34 female, 6 male) had a median age of 62 years (range 25–80) and received a median number of 11 zoledronic acid administrations (range 1–48). Malignancies included: breast (n=30), prostate (n=4), colon (n=2) and bladder cancer (n=2); and neuroendocrine carcinoma (n=2). The mean MBT was significantly lower in BP using cancer patients (2.59) compared with matched controls from oncological patients without BP use 3.01 (difference 0.42; 95% CI 0.13 - 0.72; p=0.006), or patients without cancer or BP exposure 3.09 (difference 0.50; 95% CI 0.21 - 0.78; p=0.001). In contrast, there was no significant difference in MBT between non-BP users (difference 0.08; 95% CI -0.31 - 0.46; p=0.7). Likewise, no correlation between MBT and the number of BP administrations could be demonstrated (r2=0.01; p=0.4), suggesting a stochastic rather than a deterministic effect. Conclusions: This in vivo data suggests that BP cause a higher inhibition of bone turnover in the mandible relative to the femur, which strengthens the hypothesis that the inhibition of bone turnover may be important in the pathophysiology of ONJ. [Table: see text]


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