1,721,040 research outputs found
Investigation of Gravitational Energy Harvesters for IoT Power Supply in Freight Train Monitoring
Full text linkRecent advances in technology make energy harvesting a promising power supply solution for IoT devices. An electromagnetic gravitational energy harvester prototype for railway monitoring applications is proposed. The main components of the autonomous IoT sensorized node are described. Laboratory dynamic tests and simulations show the harvester resonance frequency and maximum scavenged power for supplying the node. Experimental vertical vibration data collected onboard of a freight railcar are used for harvester frequency tuning and real performance evaluation. The node power management and rectification system is studied to choose the best smoothing capacitor. Experimental battery charge tests under the real onboard excitations are performed and the duty cycle of the autonomous IoT node is defined
A useful electrophysiologic parameter for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.
No full textIn 43 patients (50 hands) with clinical manifestations of mild-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and 36 healthy volunteers (40 hands), orthodromic sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) was measured with surface electrodes in the median nerve between the third digit and palm and between the palm and wrist. These figures were used to calculate the ratio of distal to proximal conduction (distoproximal ratio). All 90 hands were also subjected to other nerve conduction studies used for diagnosis of CTS. All control hands presented distoproximal ratios 1.0) indicating compromised proximal conduction. The sensitivity of this test was significantly greater than that of other methods evaluated, including comparative studies and segmental study of the palm-wrist portion of the median nerve. Segmental study of median SNCV with calculation of the distoproximal ratio is a sensitive technique for diagnosis of CTS in patients with normal findings in standard nerve conduction studies
Efficacy and toxicity of very high-dose cisplatin in advanced ovarian carcinoma: 4-year survival analysis and neurological follow-up.
No full textSomatosensory evoked potentials in the diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy
No full textmedian, ulnar, radial and common peroneal nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were studied in 17 patients suffering from cervical spondylotic myelopathy. median, ulnar and common peroneal nerve SEPs were abnormal in 41%, 71% and 100% of cases respectively. abnormalities of the scalp far-field P14 evoked by upper limb stimulation correlated with joint and touch sensation impairment, but not with radiological findings. therefore, P14 may be a reliable marker of dorsal column impairment in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. the analysis of the cervical N13 response, which was recorded using a cephalic reference electrode, did not give any further information. common peroneal nerve SEP abnormalities were found in all our patients, but they were obviously of no value in identifying the cervical spine as the site of lesion
Aspetti energetici e tariffari nella produzione combinata di energia elettrica, termica e frigorifera
No full textEffect of Mexiletine on transitory depression of compound motor action potential in recessive myotonia congenita
No full textObjective: we aim to demonstrate the effect of mexiletine on the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude transitory depression (TD) in a cohort of patients with recessive myotonia congenita.
Methods: we evaluated 21 patients with recessive myotonia congenita referred to our Institute from 1990 to 2013 and treated with mexiletine chlorhydrate. All patients underwent prolonged 3 Hz repetitive nerve stimulation (3Hz-PLRS) before and after the beginning of treatment.
Results: we observed in all subjects a reduction of CMAP amplitude TD after the beginning of treatment. The mean value of the TD nadir before starting mexiletine treatment was -62.0% and reduced to -28.8% after the therapy was started (51.6 % reduction, p<0.001).
Conclusions: the 3Hz-PLRS is configured as a neurophysiological test able to indirectly detect and quantify, through the measurement of TD, the clinical phenomenon of the transitory weakness that occurs in myotonic syndromes due to CLCN1 mutations.
Significance: this neurophysiological test might be considered a helpful tool to assess the effect of anti-myotonic drugs, as mexiletine, in recessive myotonia congenita
Long-Term Safety and Usefulness of Mexiletine in a Large Cohort of Patients Affected by Non-dystrophic Myotonias
Full text linkObjective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of mexiletine in 112 patients affected by genetically confirmed non-dystrophic myotonias. The study was performed at the Neurophysiologic Division of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome and the Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome. Methods: The treatment was accepted by 59 patients according to clinical severity, individual needs, and concerns about a chronic medication. Forty-three patients were affected by recessive congenita myotonia, 11 by sodium channel myotonia, and five by dominant congenital myotonia. They underwent clinical examination before and after starting therapy, and Electromyography (EMG). A number of recessive myotonia patients underwent a protocol of repetitive nerve stimulations, for detecting and quantifying the transitory weakness, and a modified version of the Timed Up and Go test, to document and quantify the gait impairment. Results: Treatment duration ranged from 1 month to 20 years and the daily dosages in adults ranged between 200 and 600 mg. No patient developed cardiac arrhythmias causing drug discontinuation. Mexiletine was suspended in 13 cases (22%); in three patients, affected by Sodium Channel myotonia, because flecainide showed better efficacy; in one patient because of a gastric cancer antecedent treatment; in four patients because of untreatable dyspepsia; and five patients considered the treatment not necessary. Conclusions: In our experience, mexiletine is very useful and not expensive. We did not observe any hazarding cardiac arrhythmias. Dyspepsia was the most frequent dose-limiting side effect
La rigenerazione di un nervo periferico attraverso una camera impermeabile: aspetti sperimentali
No full textWriting errors in primary progressive aphasia
No full textPeripheral errors in writing, that is errors produced download the spelling, have been occasionally described in primary progressive aphasia (PPA), but the possibility that these errors might be a marker of parkinsonism associated to some subtypes of PPA has not been explored. We investigated whether errors of peripheral nature characterize the writing disorder in PPA when associated with parkinsonian signs (PSs). Subgroups of PPA without PSs and with PSs were studied. The proportion of the central and peripheral errors in writing words and pseudowords was calculated in each group. In writing words, central errors significantly exceeded peripheral errors in subgroups without PSs. The higher the number of peripheral errors, the higher the probability of presenting PSs. No relation emerged between any error and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, but both types of errors correlated with measures of cognitive ability. Peripheral errors emerge when PSs are associated with PPA and may be linked to a decay of the cognitive control on movement, possibly involving the right hemisphere. Peripheral errors have clinical relevance in PPA, to the extent that they may assume the significance of a marker of specific subtypes and can help to outline the specific clinical picture of individual patients
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