ABSTRACT
Information extracted from whole-nerve electroneurograms, recorded using electrode cuffs, can provide signals to neuroprostheses. However, the amount of information that can be extracted from a single tripole is limited. This communication demonstrates how previously unavailable information about the direction of action potential propagation and velocity can be obtained using a multi-electrode cuff and that the arrangement acts as a velocity-selective filter. Results from in vitro experiments on frog nerves are presented.
Subject(s)
Action Potentials/physiology , Algorithms , Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted/methods , Electrodes, Implanted , Microelectrodes , Neural Conduction/physiology , Sciatic Nerve/physiology , Amplifiers, Electronic , Animals , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , Feasibility Studies , RanidaeSubject(s)
Electrocardiography , Heart Diseases/diagnosis , Age Factors , Aged , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/diagnosis , Cardiomegaly/diagnosis , Female , Heart Block/diagnosis , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Hospitalisation of an aged person is undertaken for various reasons, partly medical, and partly (even primarily in some cases) social. Exaggerated hospitalisation can upset the functional efficiency of a hospital. In some instances, admission itself may be the cause of serious psychophysical deterioration. An investigation of 40 aged patients successively admitted to a hospital department was carried out to identify the medical and social factors responsible for the above-mentioned phenomena. The preliminary results appear to suggest that geriatric hospital 34 departments are almost solely peopled by subjects belonging to the lower social classes, and that both autochthonous and immigrant aged women and culturally ostracised subjects are exposed to the greatest risk.
Subject(s)
Aged , Hospitalization , Education , Family , Female , Humans , Italy , Male , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
The clinical data of 68 patients who died in a geriatric ward have been compared with their necropsies to identify discrepancies between clinical diagnosis and necropsy. A percentage of error of 32.78% was observed with respect to the clinical diagnosis of the main death-causing disease. It proved impossible to reach clinical diagnosis in 7 cases and in one not even necropsy cleared up the situation. An overestimate of neoplastic diseases was observed with an underestimate of diseases of the cardiocirculatory and respiratory apparatus. Other important pathological conditions associated with the main cause of death have also been considered and among these a total error percentage of 29.5% was found. A further 22 conditions were not diagnosed in life. The highest incidence of error was encountered in diagnoses judged to be clinically uncertain. Necropsy should therefore be encouraged as it remains the best way assessing the accuracy of clinical diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Autopsy , Diagnosis , Diagnostic Errors , Age Factors , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
A case of diffuse primary amyloidosis with predominantly liver onset is reported. The absence of amyloid in the abdominal subcutaneous fat and in the rectal mucosa, the wide ECG voltage range, the absence of nephropathy and proteinuria as well as the absence of immunoglobulin involvement, are in contrast with autoptic findings of ubiquitous involvement of amyloid substance. It is considered that the pathogenesis of this disease is still open to discussion.
