Extreme Interaction Among Human–Environment–Equipment: A Pilot Study on the Ergonomic Design of Military Snow Boots

2021 ◽  
pp. 106480462110208
Author(s):  
Debojyoti Bhattacharyya ◽  
Madhusudan Pal ◽  
Tirthankar Chatterjee ◽  
Rajeev Varshney
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
National Security ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Ergonomic Design ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Border Regions ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Cold Condition

The Indian soldiers guard the border regions located at extreme elevations in cold, often snow-covered conditions. Protecting their feet from life-threatening cold injuries is a primary objective as well as a matter of national security. As a solution, a new cold-condition “snow boot” design based on ergonomic principles was developed indigenously. The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of the newly developed snow boot through the application of both objective and subjective tools. The new snow boot was as effective as an existing imported boot. Users preferred the new design and appreciated the boot’s relative lightweight.

scholarly journals Protocol for a feasibility study of smoking cessation in the surgical pathway before major lung surgery: Project MURRAY

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e036568
Author(s):  
Sebastian T Lugg ◽  
Amy Kerr ◽  
Salma Kadiri ◽  
Alina-Maria Budacan ◽  
Amanda Farley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Thoracic Surgery ◽  
Elective Surgery ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Pulmonary Complications ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Ethical Approval ◽  
Surgical Pathway

IntroductionSmoking prior to major thoracic surgery is the biggest risk factor for development of postoperative pulmonary complications, with one in five patients continuing to smoke before surgery. Current guidance is that all patients should stop smoking before elective surgery yet very few are offered specialist smoking cessation support. Patients would prefer support within the thoracic surgical pathway. No study has addressed the effectiveness of such an intervention in this setting on cessation. The overall aim is to determine in patients who undergo major elective thoracic surgery whether an intervention integrated (INT) into the surgical pathway improves smoking cessation rates compared with usual care (UC) of standard community/hospital based NHS smoking support. This pilot study will evaluate feasibility of a substantive trial.Methods and analysisProject MURRAY is a trial comparing the effectiveness of INT and UC on smoking cessation. INT is pharmacotherapy and a hybrid of behavioural support delivered by the trained healthcare practitioners (HCPs) in the thoracic surgical pathway and a complimentary web-based application. This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of a substantive trial and study processes in five adult thoracic centres including the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. The primary objective is to establish the proportion of those eligible who agree to participate. Secondary objectives include evaluation of study processes. Analyses of feasibility and patient-reported outcomes will take the form of simple descriptive statistics and where appropriate, point estimates of effects sizes and associated 95% CIs.Ethics and disseminationThe study has obtained ethical approval from NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC number 19/WM/0097). Dissemination plan includes informing patients and HCPs; engaging multidisciplinary professionals to support a proposal of a definitive trial and submission for a full application dependent on the success of the study.Trial registration numberNCT04190966.

Abstract WP21: Primary Thrombectomy Within 3 Hours of Onset in Acute Ischemic Stroke From Large Artery Occlusion (PAST3-LAO)- A Pilot Study

Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahia M Lodi ◽  
Varun Reddy ◽  
George Petro ◽  
Anas Hourani ◽  
Chun-An Chou
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Stent Retriever ◽  
Large Artery ◽  
Good Outcome ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Randomized Controlled Studies ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Number Of Passes

Background: Based on recent trials, AIS due to large artery occlusion (LAO) is resistant to IV thrombolysis and adjunctive stent retriever thrombectomy (SRT) is associated with better recanalization rates and outcomes.Despite the benefit with endovascular therapy 39% to 68% of patients were either disabled or dead.Thrombectomy in AIS with LAO within 3 hours (IV t-PA window) is performed as secondary therapy after IV thrombolysis, which may be associated with delay in enrollment and recanalization. Objective: Primary objective is to evaluate the safety, feasibility and recanalization rate of primary SRT (without IV tPA) within 3 hours in AIS with NIHSS >10 from LAO.Secondary objective is to determine the functional outcome in 30-days and 90-days. Methods: Based on institutionally approved protocol patients with LAO with LCB within 3 hours were offered primary SRT alone as an alternative to IV rtPA, after informed consent.Consecutive patients who underwent primary SRT for LAO within 3 hours from 2012 to 2014 were enrolled.Outcomes were measured using modified Rankin Scale. Results: 18 patients with LAO; mean age 62.8±15.3 years and mean NIHSS 16±5; chose primary SRT after informed consent.Thrombectomy was performed using new generation stent-retriever device in addition to small intra-arterial rtPA (2-10 mg).Number of passes was 1.6±0.9.Near complete (TICI2b in 1) and complete (TICI3 in 17) recanalization was observed in all (100%) patients.Mean time to recanalization from symptoms onset was 188.5±82.7 and from groin puncture was 64.61±40.14 minutes.Immediate post-thrombectomy, 24 hour and 30 day NIHSS score was 4.4±3.7, 1.9±3.2 and 0.3±0.9 respectively.There was no procedure related complication.Asymptomatic perfusion related hemorrhage developed in 6 patients (33%).30 days good outcome was observed in all cases (mRS0= 38.9%, mRS1=44.4%, mRS2=16.7%). 90 days good outcome was observed as follows (mRS0= 50.0%, mRS1=44.4%, mRS2=5.6%). Conclusion: Our pilot study demonstrates that primary SRT in AIS due LAO occlusion with LCB is not only safe and feasible, but associated with complete recanalization and good functional outcome.Larger randomized controlled studies are needed.

scholarly journals Awareness during anaesthesia for surgery requiring evoked potential monitoring: A pilot study

2017 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 036-041
Author(s):  
Pritish Korula ◽  
Ramamani Mariappan ◽  
Justin James ◽  
Prashant Kumar ◽  
Grace Korula
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Evoked Potential ◽  
Motor Evoked Potential ◽  
Maintenance Phase ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Anaesthetic Technique ◽  
Depth Of Anaesthesia ◽  
Electrophysiological Monitoring ◽  
Evoked Potential Monitoring ◽  
Potential Monitoring

Abstract Background: Evoked potential monitoring such as somatosensory-evoked potential (SSEP) or motor-evoked potential (MEP) monitoring during surgical procedures in proximity to the spinal cord requires minimising the minimum alveolar concentrations (MACs) below the anaesthetic concentrations normally required (1 MAC) to prevent interference in amplitude and latency of evoked potentials. This could result in awareness. Our primary objective was to determine the incidence of awareness while administering low MAC inhalational anaesthetics for these unique procedures. The secondary objective was to assess the adequacy of our anaesthetic technique from neurophysiologist’s perspective. Methods: In this prospective observational pilot study, 61 American Society of Anesthesiologists 1 and 2 patients undergoing spinal surgery for whom intraoperative evoked potential monitoring was performed were included; during the maintenance phase, 0.7–0.8 MAC of isoflurane was targeted. We evaluated the intraoperative depth of anaesthesia using a bispectral (BIS) index monitor as well as the patients response to surgical stimulus (PRST) scoring system. Post-operatively, a modified Bruce questionnaire was used to verify awareness. The adequacy of evoked potential readings was also assessed. Results: Of the 61 patients, no patient had explicit awareness. Intraoperatively, 19 of 61 patients had a BIS value of above sixty at least once, during surgery. There was no correlation with PRST scoring and BIS during surgery. Fifty-four out of 61 patient’s evoked potential readings were deemed ‘good’ or ‘fair’ for the conduct of electrophysiological monitoring. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrates that administering low MAC inhalational anaesthetics to facilitate evoked potential monitoring does not result in explicit awareness. However, larger studies are needed to verify this. The conduct of SSEP electrophysiological monitoring was satisfactory with the use of this anaesthetic technique. However, the conduct of MEP monitoring was satisfactory, only in patients with Nurick Grade 1 and 2. The MEP response was poor in patients with Nurick Grade 4 and 5.

scholarly journals PILOT RESULTS OF STUDYING CARDIAC MICROPOTENTIALS IN PATIENTS WITH MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AND CARDIOGENIC SHOCK

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. V. Maximov ◽  
D. K. Avdeeva ◽  
M. L. Ivanov ◽  
I. A. Zimin ◽  
M. M. Yuzhakov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Cardiogenic Shock ◽  
Myocardial Revascularization ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Software Complex ◽  
Heart Rhythm Disorders ◽  
Life Threatening

Aim. To study cardiac micropotentials registered by the hardware and software complex with nanosensors in patients with myocardial infarction for the early detection of life-threatening conditions.Materials and Methods. The pilot study included 29 patients with acute myocardial infarction who had life-threatening complications such as heart rhythm disorders, the development of acute left ventricular failure, or clinical death prehospitally or at admission to the coronary care unit. The diagnosis of myocardial infarction was established and treatment was carried out according to the national guidelines for the management of patients with myocardial infarction, including the methods of myocardial revascularization.Results. During hospitalization, eight patients developed cardiogenic shock and died. 21 patients survived and were included in the comparison group. At admission, all patients underwent high-resolution electrocardiography using the originally developed hardware and software complex with nanosensors. The micropotentials on the ST segment of the electrocardiogram were recorded for 30 s in three leads on-line. The numbers of micropotentials in the studied groups were analyzed. The analysis of the number of micropotentials within certain ranges of amplitude and duration registered on high-resolution electrocardiogram showed a decrease of the micropotential number in group of patients who died from cardiogenic shock compared with the group of survived patients.Conclusions. The results of this pilot study of cardiac micropotentials are preliminary and require further accumulation of data as well as a search for new criteria for diagnostics, prognosis, and evaluation of the treatment efficacy in patients with myocardial infarction.

Cardiovascular Disease Prediction Using Data Mining Techniques

2019 ◽  
pp. 246-264
Author(s):  
Kalyani Kadam ◽  
Pooja Vinayak Kamat ◽  
Amita P. Malav
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Big Data ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Disease Prediction ◽  
Data Mining Techniques ◽  
Data Architecture ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Using Data

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have turned out to be one of the life-threatening diseases in recent times. The key to effectively managing this is to analyze a huge amount of datasets and effectively mine it to predict and further prevent heart-related diseases. The primary objective of this chapter is to understand and survey various information mining strategies to efficiently determine occurrence of CVDs and also propose a big data architecture for the same. The authors make use of Apache Spark for the implementation.

scholarly journals Therapeutic plasma exchange in adult critically ill patients with life-threatening SARS-CoV-2 disease: A pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 328-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahad Faqihi ◽  
Abdulrahman Alharthy ◽  
Mohammed Alodat ◽  
Demetrios J. Kutsogiannis ◽  
Peter G. Brindley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Plasma Exchange ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange ◽  
Life Threatening

Look of Life

2020 ◽  
pp. 364-375
Author(s):  
Vittoria Sichi ◽  
Giacomo Ercolani ◽  
Luca Franchini ◽  
Luca Golfari ◽  
Silvia Varani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Emotional Wellbeing ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Pain Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
At Home

The use of virtual reality (VR) shows promising results in improving the emotional wellbeing of cancer patients, reducing anxiety, depression, and pain symptoms. No data exist concerning the use of VR in cancer patients assisted at home. The ANT Foundation decided to conduct a pilot study to test the use of VR in cancer patients assisted at home. Fifty-eight ANT patients were randomized and assigned to a control group that didn't use VR devices and to an experimental group that used them. The primary objective of the pilot study was to determine whether VR device could be a viable instrument in homecare patients. Furthermore, the aim of the study was to discover if VR could have beneficial effects on patients' quality of life as well as discover which kind of videos were more effective. The innovative aspect of this study was to test the use of VR directly at home of patients, proposing a use of VR that is compatible with the needs and the daily rhythms of families, and investigating its effectiveness through appropriate validated psychometric questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.

scholarly journals A Curriculum to Improve Residents' End-of-Life Communication and Pain Management Skills During Pediatrics Intensive Care Rotation: Pilot Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 510-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsenia M. Asuncion ◽  
Consuelo Cagande ◽  
Sherry Schlagle ◽  
Barbara McCarty ◽  
Krystal Hunter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Curriculum Evaluation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Management Curriculum ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Research suggests pediatrics practitioners lack confidence and skills in the end-of-life (EOL) care. Objective This pilot study explored the impact of a curriculum designed to prepare future pediatricians to manage pain and provide comfort for children and infants with life-threatening conditions and to be more confident and competent in their EOL discussions with families. Methods Participants included 8 postgraduate year (PGY)-2 residents in the study group and 9 PGY-3 residents in a control group. The EOL curriculum included 4, 1-hour sessions consisting of didactic lectures, videos, and small-group, interactive discussions. Topics included discussing EOL with families, withdrawal of care, and pain assessment and management. Curriculum evaluation used an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), self-assessment confidence and competency questionnaire, and a follow-up survey 18 months after the intervention. Results The OSCE showed no statistically significant differences between PGY-2 versus PGY-3 residents in discussing EOL issues with family (mean  =  48.3 [PGY-2] versus 41.0 [PGY-3]), managing withdrawal of care (mean  =  20.9 [PGY-2] versus 18.91 [PGY-3]), and managing adolescent pain (mean  =  30.97 [PGY-2] versus 29.27 [PGY-3]). The self-assessment confidence and competency scores improved significantly after the intervention for both PGY-2 residents (0.62 versus 0.86, P < .01) and PGY-3 residents (0.61 versus 0.85, P < .01). Conclusions An EOL curriculum for PGY-2 pediatrics residents delivered during the intensive care unit rotation is feasible and may be effective. Residents reported the curriculum was useful in their practice.

scholarly journals P013: Inter-facility transfers for CT scans from a rural emergency department: a pilot study

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
pp. S82-S82
Author(s):  
C. Bergeron ◽  
I. Lavallée-Bourget ◽  
F.K. Tounkara ◽  
R. Fleet
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Annual Number ◽  
Ct Scanner ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Transfer Times

Introduction: Rural emergency departments (EDs) are an important gateway to care for the 20% of Canadians who live in rural areas. We recently reported that fewer than 15% of rural EDs in Canada have access to a CT scanner. Lack of CT scanners in rural hospitals can result in frequent inter-facility transfers and delays in diagnosing and treating life-threatening conditions. No recent study has examined this issue. Objective: With a future larger study in mind, we did a pilot assessment of inter-facility transfers for CT scans from one rural ED and evaluated the quality of the data and feasibility. Methods: This pilot study was part of our province-wide study on rural emergency care. Criteria were having 24/7 physician coverage and acute-care hospitalization beds. The hospital was also selected for its proximity and local interest. Two medical students collected data from hospital databases to determine annual number of ED visits, ED transfers, proportion of transfers for CT scans, reasons for examinations, and transfer times from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2015. Descriptive statistics were reported as well as data quality and feasibility indicators. Results: For each year from 2010 to 2014, there was an average of 13,341 ED visits, 444 inter-facility transfers, and 125 CT scans. Over the five years an average of 28% of the inter-facility transfers were for CT scans, and the majority were abdominal CT scans. Inter-facility transfer data was 100% accessible through hospital databases but inter-facility transfer times and final diagnoses were not. Conclusion: More than a quarter of inter-facility transfers were for CT imaging. The limited electronic data in this Quebec rural ED precluded analysis of inter-facility times. While further cost-benefit analysis is required, preliminary data suggests local CTs may save time, money and lives.

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