ABSTRACT
The use of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) systems to monitor critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has enabled quality and real-time healthcare management. Fuzzy logic as an approach to designing RPM systems provides a means for encapsulating the subjective decision-making process of medical experts in an algorithm suitable for computer implementation. In this paper, a remote monitoring system for preterm in neonatal ICU incubators is modeled and simulated. The model was designed with 4 input variables (body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen level saturation), and 1 output variable (action performed represented as ACT). ACT decides whether an alert is generated or not and also determines the message displayed when a notification is required. ACT classifies the clinical priority of the monitored preterm into 5 different fields: code blue, code red, code yellow, code green, and code black. The model was simulated using a fuzzy logic toolbox of MATLAB R2015A. About 216 IF_THEN rules were formulated to monitor the inputs data fed into the model. The performance of the model was evaluated using the confusion matrix to determine the model’s accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and false alarm rate. The experimental results obtained shows that the fuzzy-based system is capable of producing satisfactory results when used for monitoring and classifying the clinical statuses of neonates in ICU incubators.
ABSTRACT
Background: Differences exist in the impact of blindness by age and sex; the overall risk of death being higher for blind males than females. Aim: To describe the age and sex differences among the blind in Ahoada-East Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State; Nigeria. Methods: Age and sex data were analyzed for 24 blind persons seen during a cross-sectional; community-based study of blindness in Ahoada East LGA. A total of 866 subjects were studied and ocular examination included visual acuity; pen torch examination; fundoscopy and applanation tonometry. Ages were estimated from historic events or verified using hospital/immunization cards. Results: Of the 866 subjects examined; there were 400 males and 466 females. Children and adolescents (0-19 years) formed 44.1while those = 60 years old were 16. Of the 24 blind persons; 21 (87.5) were over 60 years while 3 (12.5) were less than 50 years old; the difference in age among the blind was statistically significant (P 0.05). The age-specific prevalence of blindness in the study population increased from 0.6in adolescence to 38.3in those =90 years. The sex specific prevalence of blindness was 4.5for males and 1.3for females. Males were more likely to be blind than females (Relative Risk=3.49; 95CI=1.40-8.72). Conclusion: This study found blindness to be commoner in the older age groups; and the male gender appeared to be an important risk factor. Eye health education must target such vulnerable groups. Males especially should be enlightened on social habits and environmental factors that increase their risk
Subject(s)
Blindness/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Sex DistributionABSTRACT
Ameloblastoma of the jaws is a relatively common neoplasm in African population. Although, it is slow growth in characteristics, occasionally the tumour can reach a considerable size [giant] often described in African term as [second head] due to delay in presentation. This delay in presentation is due to a combination of poor socioeconomic background and beliefs of the patients. Treatment of this condition is usually a challenge to the surgeon in a developing country with minimal surgical facilities. Two cases of [Giant amelobla$toma]of the mandible are presented to illustrate the management of this condition in our environment. The result of the surgery was satisfactory. The overall aesthetics, physical, emotional, psychological well being, as well as quality of life of our patients were greatly enhanced