scholarly journals Proposal of a Lab Bench for the Unobtrusive Monitoring of the Bladder Fullness with Bioimpedance Measurements

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 3980
Author(s):  
Valentin Gaubert ◽  
Hayriye Gidik ◽  
Vladan Koncar
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Continuous Monitoring ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Bladder Volume ◽  
Bioimpedance Spectroscopy ◽  
Resistance Variation ◽  
Artificial Urine ◽  
Bladder Fullness

(1) Background: millions of people, from children to the elderly, suffer from bladder dysfunctions all over the world. Monitoring bladder fullness with appropriate miniaturized textile devices can improve, significantly, their daily life quality, or even cure them. Amongst the existing bladder sensing technologies, bioimpedance spectroscopy seems to be the most appropriate one to be integrated into textiles. (2) Methods: to assess the feasibility of monitoring the bladder fullness with textile-based bioimpedance spectroscopy; an innovative lab-bench has been designed and fabricated. As a step towards obtaining a more realistic pelvic phantom, ex vivo pig’s bladder and skin were used. The electrical properties of the fabricated pelvic phantom have been compared to those of two individuals with tetrapolar impedance measurements. The measurements’ reproducibility on the lab bench has been evaluated and discussed. Moreover, its suitability for the continuous monitoring of the bladder filling has been investigated. (3) Results: although the pelvic phantom failed in reproducing the frequency-dependent electrical properties of human tissues, it was found to be suitable at 5 kHz to record bladder volume change. The resistance variations recorded are proportional to the conductivity of the liquid filling the bladder. A 350 mL filling with artificial urine corresponds to a decrease in resistance of 7.2%, which was found to be in the same range as in humans. (4) Conclusions: based on that resistance variation; the instantaneous bladder fullness can be extrapolated. The presented lab-bench will be used to evaluate the ability of textiles electrodes to unobtrusively monitor the bladder volume.

scholarly journals Life-and-Death Attitude and Its Formation Process and End-of-Life Care Expectations Among the Elderly Under Traditional Chinese Culture: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 104365962110214
Author(s):  
Lei Lei ◽  
Quanxi Gan ◽  
Chunyan Gu ◽  
Jing Tan ◽  
Yu Luo
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Formation Process ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
The Individual

Introduction With the global aging process intensified, the demand for end-of-life care has surged, especially in China. However, its development is restricted. Understanding the life and death attitude among the elderly and its formation process, and clarifying their needs, are so important to promote social popularization of end-of-life care. Methodology This qualitative study included 20 elderly residents in Nan and Shuangbei Communities, Chongqing City, People’s Republic of China. Data were collected through semistructured in-depth individual interviews and processed by thematic analysis method. Results Three themes and eight subthemes were identified: Characteristics of formation process (passive thinking, closed and single), life-and-death attitude (cherish and enjoy life, quality of life priority, let death take its course) and expectations of end-of-life care (preferences, basic needs, good death). Discussion Life-and-death attitude and end-of-life care expectations of the elderly support the development and delivery of end-of-life care. Furthermore, the individual-family-hospital linkage discussion channel needs to be further explored.

scholarly journals A comparative study of the voice-related quality of life among Egyptian elderly with and without voice complaints

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nesreen Fathi Mahmoud ◽  
Huda Zahran ◽  
Sherif Abdelmonam
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Voice Disorders ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Voice

Abstract Background This study focuses on the self-perception of the voice in the elderly as assessed by the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) questionnaire. This work aimed to compare differences in the voice-related quality of life outcomes between (1) elderly with and without voice disorders, (2) female and male elderly with voice disorders, and (3) different types of voice disorders, and to explore the correlation between the V-RQOL and perceptual analysis done by the clinician. Forty-three dysphonic and 44 non-dysphonic elderly filled out the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) protocol that analyzes the impact of dysphonia on life quality. Vocal perceptual assessment of each subject with dysphonia was made by three voice therapists, followed by a flexible nasofibrolaryngoscope. Results A significant statistical difference was found between the means of total V-RQOL scores and its subdomains for each group (dysphonic and non-dysphonic). No significant differences were found between male and female elderly with dysphonia. The statistical analysis showed a significant correlation with the vocal assessment made by the clinicians and the V-RQOL self-assessment made by the subjects. Conclusions This study provides valuable information regarding the risk factors that contribute to vocal quality in the elderly population. Our results revealed that different types of voice disorders are common among the elderly population with significant negative effects on quality of life. It was observed that the poorest score on the V-RQOL was for functional voice disorders, followed by neoplastic lesions, whereas MAPLs had the best score on the V-RQOL.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Contribution of Small Residential Care Centers for the Elderly to reduce the Socio Environmental Impact and Foster Entrepreneurship in Brazilian Megacities (São Paulo)

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heloisa Candia Hollnagel ◽  
Luiz Jurandir Simões De Araújo ◽  
Ricardo Luiz Pereira Bueno
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Decent Work ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Peripheral Areas

On 2016 the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda officially came into force proposing that Governments can work to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. This study aims to analyze the contribution of Residential Elderly Care Center – RECC to promote SD along with social support in urban centers of megacities. Considering that the current scenario presents: longer life expectancy and increasing numbers of older people; the growing presence of women in the market and the hierarchy of companies making more and more difficult for them to stay at home as well as the failure of public care structure to respond adequately to citizens’ demands new business models are welcome. While the families are getting smaller which removes potential caregivers within them, conversely mobility issues among peripheral areas and public institutions are increasing. Large arrangements for caring can be useful in some contexts, but generally, require commuting from home to the support structure and new public and private investments. The potential reduction of human daily dislocations could improve the environment and life quality in megacities in many aspects: decreasing vehicles CO2 emissions, pollution and the volume of traffic; giving practicality to everyday life of families with dependent members of care and generating new opportunities of small business. In addition, this new residential structures employment might reduce the need to shift the caregivers themselves to their work place, strengthen community bounds and not require immobilization of new properties of the exclusive use for Care centers in highly urbanized areas. The methodology used in this paper is based in the exploratory-descriptive and bibliographical-documentary method. Results of the study are corroborated by a series of complementary research of the authors. Conceptual step-by-step flowchart to assist an entrepreneur to open a RECC is described.

scholarly journals Gambaran Kualitas Hidup Lansia Yang Tinggal Di Panti Sosial : Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1605-1614
Author(s):  
K Krisdiyanti ◽  
Dyah Putri Aryati
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Elderly Living

AbstractThe increasing number of the elderly population is a phenomenom that occurs today. The high level of dependence of the elderly causes the elderly to have the potential to be placed in care homes. The elderly are individuals who hane a high risk of isease and stressors. This, of course, requires efforts to ensure the life of the elderly, not only seen from fulfillment of the needs of the elderly but also the life quality of the eldely. The study aims to describe the quality of life of the elderly who live in care homes. The study used a literature review method by searching for articles in the Pubmed database, and google sholar. The search was conducted by combining keywords: “Elderly, “Elderly people”, “Quality of life”, “WHOQOL-BREF”, and “Nursing home” with the year 2011-2021. Participants in this study were 395 respondents of elderly living in care homes. The results of the literature review of 6 articles showed that there are 73 respondents (18,5%) with low category of life quality, 195 respondents (49,9%) with medium category of life quality, and 127 repondents (32,1%) high category of the life quality. From this study, it can be concluded that the quality of life of the elderly living in care homes is mostly (49,9%) in moderate category. The role of nurses is needed to improve the quality of life of the elderly who live in care homes.Keywords: care homes; elderly; quality of life; WHOQOL-BREF AbstrakTerjadinya peningkatan jumlah populasi lanjut usia merupakan fenomena yang terjadi saat ini. Tingkat ketergantungan lansia yang tinggi mengakibatkan lansia berpontesi untuk ditempatkan di panti sosial. Lansia merupakan individu yang memiliki resiko tinggi dan rentan terhadap penyakit serta stresor. Hal ini tentunya dibutuhkan upaya untuk menjamin hidup lansia, tidak hanya dilihat dari pemenuhan kebutuhan lansia namun juga dilihat dari kualitas hidup lansia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran kualitas hidup lansia yang tinggal di panti sosial. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode literature review, untuk pencarian artikel dengan mengakses database Pubmed, dan googlescholar. Pencarian dilakukan dengan mengkombinasi kata kunci: “elderly”, “elderly people”, “Quality of life”, “WHOQOL-BREF”, “Nursing home” dengan batasan tahun 2011-2021. Partisipan pada studi ini adalah lansia yang tinggal di panti sosial dengan total 395 lansia. Hasil penelitian literature review dari 6 artikel menunjukan kualitas hidup lansia dengan kategori rendah 73 responden (18,5%), sedang 195 responden (49,9%) dan tinggi 127 responden (32,1%). Dari penelitian ini diketahui bahwa kualitas hidup lansia yang tinggal di panti sosial sebagian besar (49,9%) dalam kategori sedang. Perlu adanya peran perawat untuk meningkatkan kualitas hidup lansia yang tinggal di panti sosial.Kata kunci : kualitas hidup; lansia; panti sosial; WHOQOL-BREF

Autonomy, identity and health: defining quality of life in older age

2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-107185
Author(s):  
Sara Kate Heide
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Healthcare Team ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Made In

Defining quality of life is a difficult task as it is a subjective and personal experience. However, for the elderly, this definition is necessary for making complicated healthcare-related decisions. Commonly these decisions compare independence against safety or longevity against comfort. These choices are often not made in isolation, but with the help of a healthcare team. When the patient’s concept of quality of life is miscommunicated, there is a risk of harm to the patient whose best interests are not well understood. In order to bridge this gap in understanding and unite seniors with their caretakers as a cohesive team, we need to establish a definition of quality of life. In this paper, my personal experiences with the elderly will be analysed along with five essays on the topic of ageing. These sources provide clear evidence that quality of life for seniors is majorly determined by the ability to preserve one’s lifelong identity. When making difficult decisions in geriatric healthcare, this greater understanding of the determinants of life quality will allow treatments to best serve the elderly. Defining quality of life allows healthcare providers to shift the focus from minimising disability toward maximising ability. I believe this shift would provide seniors with better health outcomes and properly enhance the quality of their years.

Current Source Design for Electrical Bioimpedance Spectroscopy

2008 ◽  
pp. 359-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Seoane ◽  
Ramón Bragos ◽  
Kaj Lindecrantz ◽  
Pere Riu
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Impedance Spectroscopy ◽  
Biological Tissue ◽  
Electrical Impedance ◽  
Current Source ◽  
Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy ◽  
Bioimpedance Spectroscopy ◽  
Electrical Bioimpedance ◽  
Electronic Instrumentation ◽  
Passive Electrical Properties

The passive electrical properties of biological tissue have been studied since the 1920s, and with time, the use of Electrical Bioimpedance (EBI) in medicine has successfully spread (Schwan, 1999). Since the electrical properties of tissue are frequency-dependent (Schwan, 1957), observations of the bioimpedance spectrum have created the discipline of Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), a discipline that has experienced a development closely related to the progress of electronic instrumentation and the dissemination of EBI technology through medicine.

scholarly journals Carrot Pomace Polysaccharide (CPP) Improves Influenza Vaccine Efficacy in Immunosuppressed Mice via Dendritic Cell Activation

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2740
Author(s):  
Pureum Sun ◽  
Yeeun Kim ◽  
Hoyoung Lee ◽  
Jihyun Kim ◽  
Bok Kyung Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Dendritic Cell Activation

Despite the advancements in vaccination research and practices, influenza viruses remain a global health concern. Inducing a robust immune response by vaccination is especially challenging in the elderly, the immunocompromised, and persons with chronic illnesses. Polysaccharides derived from food may act as a safe and readily accessible means to boost the immune system during vaccination. In this study, we investigated whether crude polysaccharides derived from carrot pomace (CPP) could stimulate innate immune cell function and promote influenza vaccine immunogenicity. In bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), CPP increased the fraction of CD11c+MHCII+ cells and the expression of co-stimulatory molecules CD40 and CD80, indicative of enhanced maturation and activation. Functionally, CPP-treated BMDCs promoted inflammatory cytokine production in splenic lymphocytes. In a mouse model of immunosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide, animals given CPP before and after an influenza vaccine challenge showed increased frequencies of dendritic cells and natural killer cells in the spleen, in addition to the recovery of vaccine-specific antibody titers. Moreover, innate myeloid cells in CPP-fed mice showed evidence of phenotypic modification via markedly enhanced interleukin(IL)-12 and interferon(IFN)-γ production in response to lipopolysaccharide(LPS) stimulation ex vivo. Our findings suggest that the administration of carrot pomace polysaccharides can significantly enhance the efficacy of influenza vaccination.

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