Technology and Health Care - Volume 27, issue S1

Authors: Chiu, Shao-Wen | Peng, Jia-Feng | Wang, Tzu-Hwei | Pan, Lung-Fa | Pan, Lung-Kwang

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The morbidity of breast cancer has continuously achieved a global topicality. In particular, during the last decade several ten thousand female adults in Taiwan have been confirmed as breast cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: To predict the survival rate of breast cancer patients at various (0-IV) stages and provide efficient assessment of proposed radiotherapy for patients. METHODS: The prediction algorithm proposed is based on the revised hit and target model and implies the application of Taylor series expansion to the population-based survey dataset. The proposed algorithm features a specific function comprising a single simple …exponential term exp ⁡ ( - α ⁢ t ) to imply the fundamental degradation of patient’s health multiplied by an additional term P ⁢ ( α ⁢ t ) , which specifies the recovery effect of a particular therapy. RESULTS: Its calculated values for breast cancer patients who undergone radiotherapy at different stages 0-IV were {0.0029, 0.0066, 0.0178, 0.0475, 0.1785} yr - 1 , respectively, while those for corresponding groups of patients with no radiotherapy were assessed as {0.0072, 0.0137, 0.0264, 0.0913, 0.2425} yr - 1 . CONCLUSIONS: The revised algorithm successfully interpreted the breast cancer patients’ survival rate at stages 0-IV and evaluated the necessity of radiotherapy for patients at various stages as well. Show more

Keywords: Survival rate, breast cancer, algorithm, Taylor series expansion, hit and target model

DOI: 10.3233/THC-199011

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 27, no. S1, pp. 109-121, 2019

Authors: Li, Ge | Fang, Qianqian | Xu, Tian | Zhao, Jie | Cai, Hegao | Zhu, Yanhe

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Stroke is the most prevalent neurological disease and often leads to disability. Stroke can affect a person’s daily life, for example, its typical feature is the decline in the patient’s upper limbs. In order to reduce the sports injury of stroke patients, the best method is to carry out certain rehabilitation training. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, inverse kinematic analysis and trajectory planning of a modular upper limb rehabilitation exoskeleton are proposed. METHODS: The reverse coordinate system method is applied to solve inverse kinematics of the exoskeleton with a non-spherical joint in the …wrist. For verifying the effectiveness of the algorithms, the smooth round-trip trajectory movement in joint place is designed and simulated. RESULTS: The reverse coordinate system method can simplify the calculation process compared with the normal coordinate system. Smooth round-trip trajectory planning is simulated to generate a smooth trajectory curve. CONCLUSIONS: The developed inverse kinematics algorithm and trajectory planning method are effective. Show more

Keywords: Upper limb, rehabilitation exoskeleton, modular design, inverse kinematic, trajectory planning

DOI: 10.3233/THC-199012

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 27, no. S1, pp. 123-132, 2019

Authors: Choi, Hojong | Jo, Joohyun | Ryu, Jae-Myung | Yeom, Jung-Yeol

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Compared to laser, light-emitting diodes – non-coherent and divergent light sources requires that the developed optical system support steering and focusing of light on the desired target when acquiring information regarding human tissues. OBJECTIVE: A new optical system with an ultrawide angle was designed to cover large areas of the eye, including facial areas near the eye, in order to overcome the limited field of view of optical systems used for ophthalmology and dermatology applications. METHODS: To achieve a compact and handheld optical system for ophthalmology and dermatology applications, a contrast auto-focus …(AF) method must be used, and the weight reduction of the AF group is considered during the design process to satisfy the effective focal length (EFL), back focal length (BFL), and front focal length (FFL) in the proposed optical system using Gaussian-bracket method. RESULTS: The designed optical system can focus from infinity to a magnification of - 0.19 times, representing a distance of 114.359 mm from the first surface of the optical system to the object. The AF lens moving distance from infinity to the minimum distance is approximately 4.984 mm. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) values of the red, green, and blue light-emitting diodes were 16 mm, 35 mm, and 22 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We have designed an ultrawide-angle optical system for compact optical systems that are suitable for high-performance ophthalmology and dermatology applications. Show more

Keywords: Ultra-wide-angle, light emitting diode, ophthalmology, dermatology

DOI: 10.3233/THC-199013

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 27, no. S1, pp. 133-142, 2019

Authors: Geng, Duyan | Zhao, Jie | Dong, Jiaji | Jiang, Xing

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Heart rate variability (HRV) can reflect the relationship between heart rhythm and sleep structure. OBJECTIVE: In order to study the effect of support vector machine (SVM) on the results of automatic sleep staging and improve the effectiveness of heart rate variability (HRV) as a sleep structure biomarker, thereby realize long term and non-contact monitoring of sleep quality. METHODS: Two kinds of parameter optimization methods are applied to stage sleep experiments when the known SVM can be used for automatic sleep staging. By factor analysis of the time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear …dynamic characteristics of subjects’ HRV signals, the accuracy of the cross-validation method (K-CV) is used as the fitness function value in genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Furthermore, GA and PSO are used to optimize the SVM parameters. RESULTS: The results show that the accuracy rate of sleep stage is 64.44% when parameters are not optimized, the accuracy rate based on PSO is improved to 78.89% and the accuracy rate based on GA is improved to 84.44%. CONCLUSION: Both optimization algorithms can improve the accuracy of SVM for sleep staging and better results based on GA in the experiment. Show more

Keywords: Support vector machine, particle swarm optimization, genetic algorithm, sleep stage

DOI: 10.3233/THC-199014

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 27, no. S1, pp. 143-151, 2019

Authors: Hu, Chao-Chien | Chiu, Yin-Chen | Chaw, Jen-Ray | Chen, Chin-Fu | Liu, Hsia-Wei

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Wet age-related macular degeneration (Wet AMD) has been treated clinically by intravitreal injection of bevacizumab, which is a kind of the anti-VEGF antibody drug. Nevertheless, because of the short half-life and frequent injections, the use of this treatment is limited. OBJECTIVE: To confirm whether mPEG-PLGA-BOX can be considered as a VEGF drug delivery system to inhibit retinal angiogenesis. METHODS: A thermo-responsive hydrogel of methoxy-poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (mPEG-PLGA-BOX) was synthesized. The thermo-responsive hydrogel mPEG-PLGA-BOX was able to have sol-gel phase transition upon stimulation by the body temperature with improved biocompatibility and …biodegradation. The bevacizumab released from mPEG-PLGA-BOX inhibited RF/6A cells according to a JC-1 assay, which indicated that the released bevacizumab was active to be able to suppress the growth of new blood vessels. In an animal study, retinal laser photocoagulation was performed to induce angiogenesis in the eyes of Rex rabbits using an 810-mm laser. RESULTS: The retina was penetrated when the laser power was more than 500 mW and the exposure time was more than 500 ms. New blood vessels were created at the 28th day after retinal laser photocoagulation. At this time, intravitreal 0.05-mL injections of mPEG-PLGA-BOX (bevacizumab) solution were administered. The bevacizumab released from mPEG-PLGA-BOX (bevacizumab) solution suppressed the angiogenesis. In an in vivo study, the histomorphology of the rabbit retina also indicated that mPEG-PLGA-BOX after intravitreal injection is not toxic to the rabbit retina. CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab released from mPEG-PLGA-BOX (bevacizumab) solution suppressed angiogenesis, and mPEG-PLGA-BOX can be considered as a novel thermo-responsive hydrogel with potential as a gelling carrier for extended bevacizumab drug release to treat intraocular neovascular diseases. Show more

Keywords: Bevacizumab, thermo-responsive hydrogel, intraocular neovascular diseases, angiogenesis

DOI: 10.3233/THC-199015

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 27, no. S1, pp. 153-163, 2019

Authors: Kim, Jung-Hun | Park, Ji-Eun | Ji, In-Hee | Won, Chul-Ho | Lee, Jong-Min | Jo, Jin-Ho | Park, Yu-Jin | Nah, Jae-wook

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Assistant equipment for the visually impaired has a white cane. If the information in the three-dimensional space is transmitted by sound, the blind can draw a three-dimensional space. OBJECTIVE: This study developed “Visual System,” an ambulation aid/guide for the blind that transforms visual-spatial information into auditory information, and verified its utility. Unlike conventional systems, which are in essence simple collision-warning systems, Visual System helps the visually impaired to recreate their surroundings and to be cognizant of the location and proximity of obstacles. METHODS: Ten subjects with normal vision (mean age: 32.4 years; …male-to-female ratio: 6 to 4) were selected for blind tests. The subjects were instructed to detect and avoid obstacles presented in various three-dimensional settings. Prior to the tests, experiments were conducted to determine the distance to each subject. Upon completion of Visual System-based detection training, obstacles were presented and tests conducted. For evaluation, the subjects’ vertical position detection, horizontal position detection, distance detection, and overall performance success were each evaluated. RESULTS: The total performance scores ranged between 88 (lowest) and 100 (highest), with a mean score of 91.5. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that Visual System as a product can assist the visually impaired in their daily functioning. Show more

Keywords: Visual disturbance, visual reconstruction, auditory signal, vision system

DOI: 10.3233/THC-199016

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 27, no. S1, pp. 165-173, 2019

Authors: Lin, Lan | Fu, Zhenrong | Wu, Yuchao | Wu, Shuicai

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Physical exercises have been shown to be a surprisingly effective strategy to take advantage of the brain’s natural capacity for plasticity, and prevent brain degeneration in mouse histological studies. In vivo magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) provides highly resolved anatomical images and allows quantitative assessment of brain atrophy in the aged mouse model. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate, through the effects of 10 weeks voluntary wheel running, the mouse’s brain atrophy. METHODS: Sixteen C57BL/6J mice, aged 21 months, were randomized to the exercise or sedentary group. Each mouse …was scanned in a 7.0-T MRM scanner at two time points: 22 months old baseline and a follow-up three months later. Multi-atlas based brain segmentation approach was used to obtain volumes of 39 brain regions. RESULTS: The results showed that mice in the exercise group had less brain atrophy compared with the mice in the sedentary group. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide new insights into exercise induced brain plasticity in aged animals. Show more

Keywords: Neuroprotection, voluntary wheel running, mouse brain, MRM

DOI: 10.3233/THC-199017

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 27, no. S1, pp. 175-184, 2019

Authors: Jiang, Zhongting | Wang, Dong | Wu, Peng | Chen, Yuehui | Shang, Huijie | Wang, Luyao | Xie, Huichun

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: For a protein to execute its function, ensuring its correct subcellular localization is essential. In addition to biological experiments, bioinformatics is widely used to predict and determine the subcellular localization of proteins. However, single-feature extraction methods cannot effectively handle the huge amount of data and multisite localization of proteins. Thus, we developed a pseudo amino acid composition (PseAAC) method and an entropy density technique to extract feature fusion information from subcellular multisite proteins. OBJECTIVE: Predicting multiplex protein subcellular localization and achieve high prediction accuracy. METHOD: To improve the efficiency of predicting multiplex …protein subcellular localization, we used the multi-label k-nearest neighbors algorithm and assigned different weights to various attributes. The method was evaluated using several performance metrics with a dataset consisting of protein sequences with single-site and multisite subcellular localizations. RESULTS: Evaluation experiments showed that the proposed method significantly improves the optimal overall accuracy rate of multiplex protein subcellular localization. CONCLUSION: This method can help to more comprehensively predict protein subcellular localization toward better understanding protein function, thereby bridging the gap between theory and application toward improved identification and monitoring of drug targets. Show more

Keywords: Pseudo amino acid composition (PseAAC), subcellular localization of multisite proteins, entropy density, multi-label k-nearest neighbors (ML-KNN), wML-KNN

DOI: 10.3233/THC-199018

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 27, no. S1, pp. 185-193, 2019

Authors: Cai, Yongqing

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In orthodontics, the tooth movement is a biologic reaction to applied force systems, brackets, archwires, and periodontium tissue. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of the various archwire characteristics like the friction coebetween bracket and archwire, the cross-section shape, and the cross-section dimension, on the displacement and the periodontal ligament (PDL) stresses of canine’s movement in a self-ligating treatment using the finite element (FE) analysis method. METHODS: Models of teeth and their supporting tissues, brackets and archwires were constructed. Ten kinds of archwires were used for the simulation. RESULTS: Considering …the translation movement, the maximum displacement, highest stress, and R c ⁢ r increased with an increase in the cross-section area. The maximum displacement and highest stress increased with an increase in the friction coefficient. The R c ⁢ r values increased with an increase in the friction coefficient in the round archwires, while decreased with an increase in the rectangular archwires. However, these change tends were different in rotation and inclination movement. CONCLUSION: The archwire characteristics (round archwire, rectangular archwire, cross-section area, and friction coefficient) exhibited different effects on the tooth translation, rotation, and inclination. Our results can assist in the improvement of the self-ligating orthodontic treatment. Show more

Keywords: Finite element method, archwire shape, cross-section area, friction coefficient, tooth movement

DOI: 10.3233/THC-199019

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 27, no. S1, pp. 195-204, 2019

Authors: Sun, Yumei | Tang, Lingtong | Sun, Qiaoyan | Wang, Meichun | Han, Xiang | Chen, Xiangguang

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: How to accurately predict the occurrence of contamination in the fermentation process of Chlortetracycline? How to prompt field operators to take effective measures in time? This is a difficult problem that the fermentation process of Chlortetracycline has not been solved well. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to effectively predict whether the fermentation process of Chlortetracycline is contaminated or not. METHODS: A Gaussian process regression soft sensor modeling method with real time integration learning is studied in depth by combining two local learning strategies, namely just-in-time learning (JITL) method and integrated …learning method, and a multi-model weighted Gaussian process regression (MWGPR) soft sensor modeling method based on real-time integration learning is proposed in the paper. This soft sensing method was used to study the relationship between the viscosity of fermentation broth and the contamination in fermentation process. A soft-sensing model based on the viscosity of fermentation broth for predicting the signs of contamination is established. RESULTS: The validity of this method is verified by field data. The experimental results demonstrate that the soft sensing model proposed in this paper can effectively determine whether the fermentation broth is infected by hybrid bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The method proposed in this paper is innovative and practical so that field operators can issue early warning and take effective measures. Show more

Keywords: Chlortetracycline fermentation, soft sensor modeling, contamination prediction, just-in-time learning, Gaussian process regression

DOI: 10.3233/THC-199020

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 27, no. S1, pp. 205-215, 2019