Gait Measurement at Home Using A Single RGB Camera.

BACKGROUND: An individual's gait is a key factor for consideration in evaluating their overall health. Several medical studies have demonstrated the correlation between gait and incidence rate of diseases, mortality, and risk of fall. However, gait is only occasionally evaluated during medical visits, which may delay the detection of health problems. METHODS: In this paper, we propose a gait measurement system that is suitable for use at home. Our method requires only a single RGB camera, whereas other visionary sensor-based methods require depth sensors or multiple RGB cameras. In addition, the setup for the measurement is easy. What the user has to do is only putting a single camera in a room and choosing four location known points on the floor. Our method can measure step positions and step timings, and therefore, other important parameters such as stride length, step width, walking speed, and cadence may also be captured. The individual's gait is captured by the camera, and therefore the user is not required to wear any devices. RESULTS: In the experiment described herein, we demonstrate our method's accuracy by comparing it with the motion capture system. The results indicate that our method can measure walking speed with an error of 3.62 cm/s from the side view, and which is too small a change to be clinically meaningful.

Compartment syndrome of bilateral lower extremities following laparoscopic surgery of rectal cancer in lithotomy position: report of a case.

A 67-year-old man underwent laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer in the lithotomy position. After surgery he complained of bilateral lower limb pain, swollen legs, and sensory disturbance. The serum creatine kinase value was 46 662 U/l. Venography demonstrated compression from outside without any obstruction. The T2 image of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a massive swollen muscle and a partial high-intensity area in the bilateral lower limbs. The posterior compartment pressures of lower legs were high (gastrocnemius muscle: 30 mmHg [right] and 44 mmHg [left]). Compartment syndrome (superficial posterior compartment) was thus diagnosed. He underwent a fasciotomy using the single dorsal approach and the administration of a large amount of fluid. He recovered well without any motor or sensory deficits. Compartment syndrome is rare, occurring only once in every 3500 cases, but it is a severe complication of surgery in the lithotomy position. Several risk factors have been pointed out: including prolonged operation, hardness of the operating table, obesity, dehydration, and hypothermia. To prevent compartment syndrome, appropriate positioning during surgery is therefore essential. To make a timely diagnosis and identify the precise location of muscle edema, the T2 image of MRI is useful.

A case report of papillary fibroelastoma attached to chorda tendineae of mitral valve.

The case was a Japanese man of 62 years old. A bulbar mass attached to mitral valve anterior leaflet was discovered in an echocardiography within detailed examination of ischemic heart disease accidentally. We diagnosed him as ischemic heart disease and doubt of heart tumor. We thought about the danger of future embolism, surgical treatment was decided. We dissected the tumor together with one chorda tendineae of mitral valve, and a performed aorta - coronary bypass surgery. We diagnosed the tumor as papillary fibroelastoma by pathological diagnosis. Papillary fibroelastoma is extremely rare with 7-9% of benign tumor of heart primary. Most of the papillary fibroelastoma is incidentally discovered by echocardiography or autopsy. Or it is discovered for systemic embolism. The tumor is benign, but there is a problem to cause embolism. Therefore, when we discovered papillary fibroelastoma, surgical resection of the tumor is the first-line therapy. A problem on surgical therapy is the range of resection area. Papillary fibroelastoma is benign tumor, but the pathological characteristic is still unidentified. Further epidemiological and pathological studies are necessary to determine the extent of surgical excision in associated with characteristics of papillary fibroelastoma.

A patient who underwent surgical treatment of an adult-type aneurysm in the nonpatent arterial duct.

Adult-type aneurysms in the arterial duct are rare, and their spontaneous prognosis is poor. We performed surgical treatment of an aneurysm in the arterial duct in a 62-year-old male. The patient had had hoarseness since November 2003, and was referred to our hospital in March 2004. Thoracic CT and aortography demonstrated a sacciform aneurysm in the aorta in the distal arch region on the lesser curvature side. The patient was diagnosed as having an adult-type aneurysm in the nonpatent arterial duct, and underwent surgical treatment in April 2004. Thoracotomy in the fourth left intercostal space was performed up to the thoracic aorta, and a sacciform aneurysm, measuring 35 mm x 32 mm, was detected in the arterial duct. The recurrent laryngeal nerve adhering to the front surface of the aneurysm was overextended. Under partial extracorporeal circulation, the aneurysm was excised, and replaced by an artificial blood vessel. The postoperative course was satisfactory, and the patient was discharged from the hospital 14 days after surgery. The surgical outcome was good, and the hoarseness was improved. Taking possible complications into consideration, surgical treatment can be recommended in the early stage.

Subepicardial aneurysm detected during diagnosis of acute cardiac failure.

A 55-year-old female developed dyspnea at night and visited our hospital. A diagnosis of acute cardiac failure was made and the patient was immediately admitted. A false ventricular aneurysm with blood flow was found in the lateral wall of the left ventricle. Past history of myocardial infarction was not clear. Repeated cardiac failure may have resulted from decreased cardiac output by increased blood flow in the aneurysm due to its expansion. After patch closure was performed, the symptoms improved.