Real-time data analysis in health monitoring systems: A comprehensive systematic literature review.

Health monitoring systems (HMSs) capture physiological measurements through biosensors (sensing), obtain significant properties and measures from the output signal (perceiving), use algorithms for data analysis (reasoning), and trigger warnings or alarms (acting) when an emergency occurs. These systems have the potential to enhance health care delivery in different application domains, showing promising benefits for health diagnosis, early symptom detection, disease prediction, among others. However, the implementation of HMS presents challenges for sensing, perceiving, reasoning, and acting based on monitored data, mainly when data processing should be performed in real time. Thus, the quality of these diagnoses relies heavily on the data and data analysis methods applied. Data mining techniques have been broadly investigated in health systems; however, it is not clear what real-time data analysis techniques are best suited for each context. This work carries out a search in five scientific electronic databases to identify recent studies that investigated HMS using real-time data analysis techniques. Thirty-six research studies were selected after screening 2,822 works. Applied data analysis methods, application domains, utilized sensors, physiological parameters, extracted features, claimed benefits, limitations, datasets used, and published results were described, compared and analyzed. The findings indicate that machine learning methods are trending in such studies. There is no universal solution for all health domains; however, support vector machines are a predominant method. Among the application domains, cardiovascular disease is the most investigated. Most reviewed studies reported improvements in performing data mining tasks or operational modes of solutions. Although studies tested algorithms and presented promising results, those are particular for each experiment. This review gives a comprehensive overview of HMS real-time data analysis and points to directions for future research.

Complete remission of stage IV sinonasal small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report.

Sinonasal small cell carcinoma (SmCC) is a rare type of neoplasm. The current case report describes the case of a 30-year-old male patient with stage IV SmCC who underwent concurrent radiotherapy (RT) plus etoposide-cisplatin treatment. Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and fibroscopy examination showed complete remission at 3 months post-treatment. However, leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) occurred at 9 months. A literature search identified no previous case reports describing LM of SmCC. The patient was treated with concurrent RT plus irinotecan-gemcitabine. During the sixth cycle of irinotecan-gemcitabine, the patient required intensive care admission due to severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2-associated pneumonia. Following clearance of the pneumonia, LM was assessed using PET/CT and MRI at 3 months, which revealed a complete response to irinotecan-gemcitabine. In May 2021, the patient succumbed to LM following disease recurrence. The findings of this case report should encourage other authors to publish their treatment outcomes regarding SmCC. More clinical trials are required to achieve better results in terms of patient outcome.

Modified alar batten grafts for treatment in nasal valve dysfunction: Our experience.

OBJECTIVE: Alar batten grafts are used to treat in nasal valve dysfunction (NVD). They can be placed by open or closed rhinoplasty using rib, septal, or auricular concha cartilage. Our surgical team used a modified placement of the classic alar batten.We aim to describe these changes and to the technique and demonstrate that modified alar batten grafts can improve the effects of spreader grafts and classic alar batten grafts. METHODS: A retrospective study of 91 functional rhinoplasties was performed from March 2011 to November 2019 at a public university hospital in Murcia. The patients were divided into three groups. Group A included patients operated on using spreader grafts, group B included patients operated on using spreader grafts associated with alar batten grafts fixed to the caudal edge of the lateral crura of the lower lateral cartilage (LLC), and group C included patients operated on using modified alar batten grafts. RESULTS: A total of 91 functional rhinoplasties were performed, 31 patients were operated on in group A, 27 patients were operated on in group B, and 33 patients were operated on in group C. The success rate was 67.7% in group A, 70.4% in group B and 93.9% in group C. CONCLUSION: Modified alar batten grafts achieved better results than spreader grafts and spreader grafts associated with classic alar batten grafts. The size, position and placement of the sutures of modified alar batten grafts were the key factors in improving our results.

Training data enhancements for improving colonic polyp detection using deep convolutional neural networks.

BACKGROUND: Over the last years, the most relevant results in the context of polyp detection were achieved through deep learning techniques. However, the most common obstacles in this field are the small datasets with a reduced number of samples and the lack of data variability. This paper describes a method to reduce this limitation and improve polyp detection results using publicly available colonoscopic datasets. METHODS: To address this issue, we increased the number and variety of images from the original dataset. Our method consists on adding polyps to the dataset images. The developed algorithm performs a rigorous selection of the best region within the image to receive the polyp. This procedure preserves the realistic features of the images while creating more diverse samples for training purposes. Our method allows copying existing polyps to new non-polypoid target regions. We also develop a strategy to generate new and more varied polyps through generative adversarial neural networks. Hence, the developed approach enriches the training data, creating automatically new samples with their appropriate labels. RESULTS: We applied the proposed data enhancement over a colonic polyp dataset. Thus, we can assess the effectiveness of our approach through a Faster R-CNN detection model. Performance results show improvements over the polyp detections while reducing the false-negative rate. The experimental results also show better recall metrics in comparison with both the original training set and other studies in the literature. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that our proposed method has the potential to increase the data variability and number of samples in a reduced polyp dataset, improving the polyp detection rate and recall values. These results open new possibilities for advancing the study and implementation of new methods to improve computer-assisted medical image analysis.

Development and Validation of LiDAR Sensor Simulators Based on Parallel Raycasting.

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging technologies have been increasingly explored in academia and the industrial sector, especially the ones yielding point clouds. However, obtaining these data can still be expensive and time-consuming, reducing the efficiency of procedures dependent on large datasets, such as the generation of data for machine learning training, forest canopy calculation, and subsea survey. A trending solution is developing simulators for imaging systems, performing the virtual scanning of the digital world, and generating synthetic point clouds from the targets. This work presents a guideline for the development of modular Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system simulators based on parallel raycasting algorithms, with its sensor modeled by metrological parameters and error models. A procedure for calibrating the sensor is also presented, based on comparing with the measurements made by a commercial LiDAR sensor. The sensor simulator developed as a case study resulted in a robust generation of synthetic point clouds in different scenarios, enabling the creation of datasets for use in concept tests, combining real and virtual data, among other applications.

The osteotomy diameter in the transcanalicular laser dacryocystorhinostomy. Our experience in 192 lacrimal pathways.

OBJECTIVES: We want to evaluate the influence of the size of the osteotomy on the postsurgical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in patients who underwent TCL-DCR from January 1, 2008, to March 1, 2019. The patients were divided into two groups: the patients in one group were subjected to LP surgery with an osteotomy diameter equal to 9 mm ± 1 mm (group A), and the patients in the other group were subjected to surgery with an osteotomy diameter equal to 14 mm ± 1 mm (group B). RESULTS: A total of 159 lacrimal pathways (LPs) were operated on in group A with a success rate (SR) of 66.6%. Thirty-three LPs were operated on in group B with an SR of 81.8%. CONCLUSION: An osteotomy diameter equal to 14 mm ± 1 mm achieved better postoperative results than an osteotomy diameter equal to 9 mm ± 1 mm.

Magic Carpet: Interaction Fidelity for Flying in VR.

Locomotion in virtual environments is currently a difficult and unnatural task to perform. Normally, researchers tend to devise ground- or floor-based metaphors to constrain the degrees of freedom (DoFs) during motion. These restrictions enable interactions that accurately emulate the human gait to provide high interaction fidelity. However, flying allows users to reach specific locations in a virtual scene more expeditiously. Our experience suggests that even though flying is not innate to humans, high-interaction-fidelity techniques may also improve the flying experience since flying requires simultaneously controlling additional DoFs. We present the Magic Carpet, an approach to flying that combines a floor proxy with a full-body representation to avoid balance and cybersickness issues. This design space enables DoF separation by treating direction indication and speed control as two separate phases of travel, thereby enabling techniques with higher interaction fidelity. To validate our design space, we conducted two complementary studies, one for each of the travel phases. In this paper, we present the results of both studies and report the best techniques for use within the Magic Carpet design space. To this end, we use both objective and subjective measures to evaluate the efficiency, embodiment effect, and side effects, such as physical fatigue and cybersickness, of the tested techniques in our design space. Our results show that the proposed approach enables high-interaction-fidelity techniques while improving the user experience.

Otoplasty Using the Combined Mustardé-Furnas Technique: Satisfaction and Objective Results.

BACKGROUND: To understand the level of satisfaction among patients undergoing otoplasty using the combined Mustardé-Furnas technique. To evaluate surgery outcomes using McDowell/Wright (MW) criteria. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to analyze any possible correlation between satisfaction level and surgery outcome. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective study on patients who underwent combined Mustardé and Furnas otoplasty between 1996 and 2016. All patients were assessed 12 months after surgery employing MW goals and satisfaction surveys. RESULTS: The study includes 172 patients who underwent 343 otoplasty procedures. There were 134 patients (77.9%) who had all 6 of the criteria for surgical success as defined by MW 12 months after surgery, reporting satisfaction levels of 9 to 10. Fifteen patients (9.3%) had 5 of the 6 MW criteria, reporting satisfaction levels of 9 to 10, and 22 patients (12.79%) had only 4 MW objectives and reported satisfaction levels of 7 to 10. The Spearman rho coefficient was 0.545 and the Kendall coefficient was 0.375, with a statistically significant association (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patient satisfaction increases as the number of MW goals are met, although the correlation is moderate to low. Patients perceive the results of the surgery as satisfactory or very satisfactory, even when ENT surgeons consider outcomes to be poor according to MW criteria.

Pseudoepitheliomatous Hyperplasia of the Larynx Requiring Total Laryngectomy.

BACKGROUND Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PEH) is a reactive epithelial proliferation occurring secondary to infection, neoplasm, injury, and inflammation. The histopathological characteristics of PEH may lead to it being confused with well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). CASE REPORT We present here the case of a 57-year-old male patient, who was diabetic and a smoker, who presented with dysphonia. Although nasal endoscopy suggested SCC, morphological and immunophenotypical study of biopsy tissue ruled out malignancy. CONCLUSIONS As the prognosis worsened, the patient required several urgent surgical interventions due to bleeding abscesses and dyspnea. A total laryngectomy was performed.

Anatomical variants and bilateral lacrimal pathways surgery: avoiding unnecessary surgery.

Success rates (SR) of transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (TCL DCR) may be affected by the presence of nasal anatomical variations and additionally by whether or not the pathology is bilateral. The aim is to determine whether it is necessary to perform preliminary nasal anatomical variations surgery and to determine whether bilateral cases may be operated simultaneously. We extracted the patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral TCL DCR and we compared SR across the different groups using ANOVA, Chi-square testing and logistical regression. 159 Lacrimal pathways were operated: 89 unilateral and 35 bilateral. Non-nasal anatomical variations (non-NAV) unilateral surgery returned a success of 72.72%. The mean SR for nasal anatomical variations (NAV) unilateral surgery was 70.1%. The SR for non-NAV bilateral surgery was 60.86%. The mean SR for nasal anatomical variations bilateral surgery was 58.33%. As we identified no significant differences in the SR for NAV and non-NAV patients, we can avoid simultaneous corrective surgery.

Influence of Septal Deviation on the Prognosis of Transcanalicular Diode Laser-Assisted Dacryocystorhinostomy.

Purpose. The objective of the present study is to determine whether the success rate in transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (TCL DCR) is influenced by the variant septal deviation (SD). Methods. Patients were divided into two groups: one including operated lacrimal pathways (LP) with no anatomical nasosinusal variants and the other group of LP with SD. This study began on January 1, 2008, and ended on December 31, 2010, at Morales Meseguer Hospital. Variables were compared by means of ANOVA and a logistic regression model (LOGIT). Results. Out of the 159 LP operated on, 102 had no nasosinusal anatomic variant, but 39 LP were associated with SD. The first group evidenced a success rate of 67.64%, while the second group evidenced a success rate of 66.7%. Conclusion. We found no significant statistical differences between the success rates in the two groups (with SD and no anatomical variants). So we could avoid previous or concomitant septoplasty in some cases (mild and moderate SD).

A System for Integrated Visualization in Oil Exploration and Production.

Computer systems currently used in oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) generally do not allow the combined display of all the necessary data types. SIVIEP (System for Integrated Visualization in Exploration and Production) was conceived as a system for the visualization of integrated oil and gas E&P projects. It allows the combination, in a single tridimensional scene, of both geosciences and engineering models. This article discusses some of the project's technical challenges, such as the large amount of heterogeneous data; the different orders of magnitude of scene elements; software extensibility to allow new data formats, visualization, and analysis; and VR features to provide immersive visualization in different environments.