Smart Homes to Support Elderly People

Author(s):  
Arianna D’Ulizia ◽  
Fernando Ferri ◽  
Patrizia Grifoni ◽  
Tiziana Guzzo

Today the biggest challenge of our aging society is to enable people with impairments to have a better quality of life maintaining their independence. The chapter explores how technology can support elderly and disabled people in their home. Firstly, a classification of Smart Home Systems in Safety systems, Environmental control systems, Energy-control-systems, Reminder systems, Medication Dispensing systems, Communication and Entertainment systems is presented. For each of these systems some examples of different technological solutions presented in the literature are described. Moreover, an analysis of social and economic impacts of the use of these technologies on the society is presented. Finally, some studies about the perception and acceptance of these technologies by user are given.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Haubner ◽  
A. Schneider ◽  
H. Schinke ◽  
M. Bertlich ◽  
B. G. Weiss ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Recurrent spontaneous epistaxis is the most common clinical manifestation and the most debilitating symptom in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) patients. To this date, there exist only a classification of HHT patients by different genetic mutations. There is no standard classification for the mucocutaneous endonasal manifestations of HHT. The aim of the present study was to document the variety of endonasal HHT lesions using digital microscopy and to propose a clinical classification. Methods We recorded the endonasal HHT lesions of 28 patients using a digital microscope. We reconstructed the 3D images und videos recorded by digital microscope afterwards and classified the endonasal lesions of HHT in two classes: Grade A, presence of only flat telangiectasias in the mucosa level and Grade B, (additional) presence of raised berry or wart-like telangiectasia spots. We investigated also Haemoglobin level by routine laboratory procedures, plasma VEGF level by ELISA, Severity of epistaxis by epistaxis severity score (ESS) and quality of life by a linear visual analogue scale (VAS). Results We found a higher quality of life and a lower severity of epistaxis in Grade A patients in comparison to Grade B patients. No difference in plasma VEGF level and in Haemoglobin between Grad A patients and Grade B patients could be detected. Plasma VEGF levels showed no gender specific differences. It could also not be correlated to the extranasal manifestation. Conclusion The classification for endonasal manifestation of HHT proposed in this study indicates severity of epistaxis und quality of life. Digital microscopy with the ability of 3D reconstruction of images presents a useful tool for such classifications. The classification of endonasal HHT lesions using digital microscopy allows to evaluate the dynamic of HHT lesions in the course of time independent of examiner. This allows also to evaluate the efficacy of the different treatment modalities by dynamic of HHT lesions. Moreover digital microscopy is very beneficial in academic teaching of rare diseases.


Author(s):  
O. Gorobсhenko

The article is devoted to the problem of implementation of intelligent control systems in transport. An important task is to assess the information parameters of the control systems. In the existing works the question of definition of one of the basic parameters of functioning of locomotive control systems - information value of separate signs of a train situation is not considered. This does not make it possible to determine the order of signal processing at the input and assess their contribution to the adoption of a control decision. Moreover, informativeness is a relative value, which is expressed in the different information value of a particular feature for the classification of different train situations. Also, the informativeness of the feature may depend on the type of decisive rules in the classification procedure. The quality of recognition of a train situation in which the locomotive crew is, depends on the quality of the features used by the classification system. The decisive criterion for the informativeness of the features in the problem of pattern recognition is the magnitude of losses from errors. To determine the range of the most informative features of train situations, the method of random search with adaptation was used. The results of the work make it possible to optimize the operation of automated and intelligent train control systems by reducing the amount of calculations and simplifying their algorithm.


2021 ◽  
pp. 6-14
Author(s):  
О. О. Bespalova ◽  
P. F. Rybalko ◽  
A. M. Sitovskyi ◽  
T. Y. Tsjupak ◽  
I. V. Savchuk

Excessive training loads during sports cause chronic functional overload of the joints and their trauma, which reduces the quality of life of athletes, limits activity and participation, termination of sports careers, and in severe cases - disability. In sports practice, one of the most common sites of osteoarthritis is the knee joints (gonarthrosis). Gonarthrosis of the knee joint is a degenerative-dystrophic disease in which the destruction of hyaline cartilage, deformation of bone tissue and the qualitative composition of synovial fluid. A key link in the development of an individual program of rehabilitation intervention is the formulation of a rehabilitation diagnosis. The aim of the research: to determine the rehabilitation diagnosis of patients with gonarthrosis of the knee joints on the basis of the International Classification of Functioning, Restriction of Life and Health (ICF). Materials and methods: theoretical (analysis and generalization of scientific-methodical and clinical literature); clinical (analysis of medical records, communication, palpation, clinical and functional testing; physical examination); scale methods for assessing the condition of patients (Leken index, pain scale, depression scale (CES-D), assessment of quality of life according to the SF-36 questionnaire); instrumental (goniometry, manual-muscular testing). The research involved 7 veteran athletes aged 45 to 49 years with primary gonarthrosis stage II. Inclusion criteria: current athletes - men of different specializations; primary gonarthrosis of the second radiological stage according to Kellgren; duration of pain not less than 4 months; the level of pain when walking on the scale of YOUR 45 and more; age of patients older than 45 years; informational consent of patients to participate in the research. Inclusion criteria: secondary gonarthrosis of the knee joint; the presence of comorbidities; severe condition of the patient; knee surgery; planning of arthroplasty of the knee joint; intra-articular injections; lack of information consent. Rehabilitation diagnosis is the most complete reflection of the patient's current problems, which affect the level of his functioning, activity and participation, and are significant for him. It is established by all members of the multidisciplinary team, and is based on the results of comprehensive rehabilitation diagnostics. The main tool for establishing a rehabilitation diagnosis are the categories and domains of IFF. Rehabilitation diagnosis of patients with gonarthrosis: moderate structural changes in the knee joints (s750.2), episodic moderate pain (b28014.2), short-term morning stiffness (b7800.2), decreased mobility of the knee joint (b710.2), his stability (b7150.2) and support function, decrease in muscle tone (b7350.2) and strength of the quadriceps femoris (b7300.2), which limits domestic activity and prolongs it over time (d450.1); difficulties in changing body position (d410.2), moving up stairs and moving long distances (d460.3), which limits participation in active forms of recreation. Patients report poor mood, depression due to health and forced restriction of participation (b152. 1), and concerns about future careers. Conclusions. Rehabilitation care is provided to patients in several stages, one of which is the formulation of a rehabilitation diagnosis. Rehabilitation diagnosis was established, in which the current problems of patients at the level of structure and function, activity and participation, as well as contextual factors that contribute, limit or prevent the achievement of the desired level of functional independence, allow individualization of rehabilitation intervention to bring this level to the maximum possible.


Medical Care ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
George R. Parkerson ◽  
William E. Hammond ◽  
J Lloyd Michener ◽  
Kimberly S.H. Yarnall ◽  
Jeffrey L. Johnson

Author(s):  
Sateesh Reddy Avutu ◽  
Dinesh Bhatia

Patients with neurological disorders are increasing globally due to various factors such as change in lifestyle patterns, professional and personal stress, small nuclear families, etc. Neurological rehabilitation is an area focused by the several research and development organizations and scientists from different disciplines to invent new and advanced rehabilitation devices. This chapter starts with the classification of different neurological disorders and their potential causes. The rehabilitation devices available globally for neurological patients with their underlying associated technologies are explained in the chapter. Towards the end of the chapter, the reader can acquire the fundamental knowledge about the different neurological disorders and the mal-functionality associated with the corresponding organs. The utilization of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning by researchers to fabricate neuro rehabilitation devices to improve patients' quality of life (QOL) are discussed in concluding section of the chapter.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 970-978 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Hatch ◽  
Diego Villacis ◽  
Dhanur Damodar ◽  
Michael Dacey ◽  
Anthony Yi

AbstractWe aimed to determine factors that affect the quality of life of patients undergoing a standardized surgical and postoperative management protocol for knee dislocations. A total of 31 patients (33 knees) were included in this study. We contacted patients at a minimum of 12 months postoperatively (mean: 38 months; range, 12–111 months) and administered the previously validated Multiligament Quality of Life questionnaire (ML-QOL), 2000 International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC), and Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale. We performed independent two-sample t-tests and age-adjusted multivariable linear regression analysis to examine the difference in these scores. Patients who underwent previous knee ligament surgery had significantly worse mean ML-QOL scores relative to patients who did not undergo previous knee ligament surgery (114.3 versus 80.4; p = 0.004) (higher score indicates worse quality of life). All other differences in the ML-QOL scores were not statistically significant. IKDC and Lysholm scores did not differ significantly with regards to the studied variables. Among patients with no previous knee ligament surgery, patients undergoing surgery within 3 weeks of injury had significantly worse mean ML-QOL scores relative to patients undergoing surgery greater than 3 weeks after their injury (98.7 versus 74.7; p = 0.042) and patients with Schenck classification of III or IV had significantly worse mean ML-QOL scores relative to patient with a Schenck classification of I or II (88.7 versus 62.9; p = 0.015). We found that patients with a previous history of knee ligament surgery had a significantly worse quality of life relative to those with no history of knee ligament surgery. This is a level III, retrospective cohort study.


Author(s):  
Michel Billiard ◽  
Yves Dauvilliers

Besides obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and narcolepsy, there are a number of other causes of excessive daytime sleepiness, listed in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, third edition, as central disorders of hypersomnolence. They include primary sleep disorders such as idiopathic hypersomnia, Kleine-Levin syndrome and a number of hypersomnias due to a medical disorder, a medication, or a substance, associated with a psychiatric disorder, or due to insufficient sleep. Idiopathic hypersomnia and Kleine–Levin syndrome have attracted much interest in recent years, and an overview of recent progresses is presented in this chapter. The symptomatic hypersomnias are less well known to sleep physicians and often neglected by specialists, either internists or psychiatrists, although they may seriously impact the quality of life of patients


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 155798832092263
Author(s):  
Ichraf Anane ◽  
Fatma Guezguez ◽  
Hend Knaz ◽  
Helmi Ben Saad

No study has evaluated the utility of different classifications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) airflow limitation (AFL) in terms of the refined “ABCD” classification of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) or in terms of the impacts on quality of life. This study aimed to compare some relevant health outcomes (i.e., GOLD classification and quality-of-life scores) between COPD patients having “light” and “severe” AFL according to five COPD AFL classifications. It was a cross-sectional prospective study including 55 stable COPD male patients. The COPD assessment test (CAT), the VQ11 quality-of-life questionnaire, a spirometry, and a bronchodilator test were performed. The patients were divided into GOLD “A/B” and “C/D.” The following five classifications of AFL severity, based on different post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) expressions, were applied: FEV1%pred: “light” (≥50), “severe” (<50); FEV1z-score: “light” (≥−3), “severe” (<−3); FEV1/height2: “light” (≥0.40), “severe” (<0.40); FEV1/height3: “light” (≥0.29), “severe” (<0.29); and FEV1Quotient: “light” (≥2.50), “severe” (<2.50). The percentages of the patients with “severe” AFL were significantly influenced by the applied classification of the AFL severity (89.1 [FEV1z-score], 63.6 [FEV1%pred], 41.8 [FEV1/height3], 40.0 [FEV1Quotient], and 25.4 [FEV1/height2]; Cochrane test = 91.49, df = 4). The CAT and VQ11 scores were significantly different between the patients having “light” and “severe” AFL. In GOLD “C/D” patients, only the FEV1Quotient was able to distinguish between the two AFL severities. To conclude, the five classifications of COPD AFL were not similar when compared with regard to some relevant health outcomes.


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