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This paper presents the design process and the results of a novel fall detector designed and constructed at the Faculty of Electronics, Military University of Technology. High sensitivity and low false alarm rates were achieved by using four independent sensors of varying physical quantities and sophisticated methods of signal processing and data mining. The manuscript discusses the study background, hardware development, alternative algorithms used for the sensor data processing and fusion for identification of the most efficient solution and the final results from testing the Android application on smartphone. The test was performed in four 6-h sessions (two sessions with female participants at the age of 28 years, one session with male participants aged 28 years and one involving a man at the age of 49 years) and showed correct detection of all 40 simulated falls with only three false alarms. Our results confirmed the sensitivity of the proposed algorithm to be 100% with a nominal false alarm rate (one false alarm per 8 h).

The statistical processing of electromyographic signal examination performed in the time domain ensures mostly correct classification of pathology; however, because of an ambiguity of most temporal parameter definitions, a diagnosis can include a significant error that strongly depends on the neurologist's experience. Then, selected temporal parameters are determined for each run, and their mean values are calculated. In the final stage, these mean values are compared with a standard and, including additional clinical information, a diagnosis is given. An inconvenience of this procedure is high time consumption that arises from the necessity of determination of many parameters. Additionally, an ambiguity in determination of basic temporal parameters can cause doubts when parameters found by the physician are compared with standard parameters determined in other research centers. In this paper, we present a definition for spectral discriminant that directly enables a unique diagnosis to be made. An essential advantage of the suggested discriminant is a precise and algoritlnnically realized definition that enables an objective comparison of examination results obtained by physicians with different experiences or working in different research centers. A suggestion of the standard for selected muscle based on a population of 70 healthy cases is presented in the Results section. Index Terms--Fast Fourier transform (FFT) spectrum, motor unit action potential (MUAP, MUP), quantitative electromyography (QEMG).

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Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Dissection of the interior carotid artery is rare in the general population. It can however be a potentially life-threatening condition. In the group of patients below 45 years of age, it constitutes a fairly common cause of cerebral stroke., A Case Report: The study describes the case of a patient with the right interior carotid artery dissection, sustained most probably in the course of work. The patient was admitted to hospital for a severe headache of a few days' duration accompanied by Horner's syndrome on the right side. Promptly undertaken diagnostic procedures allowed for immediate diagnosis and application of the right treatment. The check-up examinations performed showed a healed artery and withdrawal of the neurological syndrome., Conclusions: The case emphasizes the role of prompt diagnosis and treatment in preventing the development of more serious complications. The article refers also to the standards of treating the dissection of the interior carotid artery which still arouse controversies., (© 2021 MEDPRESS.)

Aim: Chronic hyperventilation syndrome (CHVS) represents a frequent but poorly understood breathing pattern disorder. In a previous small pilot study, we reported a higher prevalence of right-to-left shunt (RLS) in CHVS patients than in healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to confirm those previous results from this larger and matched case-control study, and to evaluate the prevalence and grade of RLS in patients with CHVS in whom organic and psychiatric causes were excluded., Clinical Rationale for the Study: Determining other types of CHVS triggers not related to organic or psychiatric causes which could be clinically useful., Material and Methods: 100 subjects (mean age 34 ± 6 years; 80% females), including 50 patients with CHVS and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (CG), were prospectively recruited into this single-centre study. Vascular RLS was diagnosed using contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler (c-TCD)., Results: RLS prevalence significantly increased in the CHVS group (n = 23) compared to the CG group (n = 8) (46% vs 16%; p < 0.01). Patients with CHVS and RLS tended to have more frequent permanent shunts compared to the CG (60% vs 25%; p = 0.08), but there was no difference regarding RLS grading between the groups., Conclusions and Clinical Implications: This study confirmed our previous findings in which the prevalence of RLS in patients with CHVS was significantly higher than in an age- and sex-matched healthy control group. However, we could not confirm the results of our prior study, where RLS was larger in CHVS than in CG. The tentative association between RLS and CHVS needs to be further examined.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare syndrome of central nervous system caused by infectious protein called prion. There are four types of CJD: sporadic (sCJD), familial (fCJD), jatrogenic (jCJD) and variant (vCJD). The most frequent symptoms are rapidly progressing dementia, mioclonias, akinetic mutism and signs of cerebellum dysfunction. In sCJD, MRI often shows high signal intensity in the putamen and caudate nucleus on T2-weighted images while in vCJD pulvinar sign is often observed. 70% patients with CJD often has characteristic generalized periodic sharp wave pattern in electroencephalography. In case of 90% patients with CJD 14-3-3 protein is present in cerebrospinal fluid. Neuropathological studies play an important role in disease diagnosis. CJD incidence is 0.5-1 on 1000000 people but some cases can be undiagnosed. Presented study is a description of woman with sCJD confirmed with histopathological study. Since childhood patient had psychotic symptoms and behavior disturbances. Patient wasn't diagnosed due to this symptoms. Few months before admission to hospital her condition was getting worse. Symptoms of cerebellum, pyramidal and extrapyramidal system occurred. In cerebrospinal fluid 14-3-3 protein was detected. In EEG and MRI changes specific for sCJD was observed. After three months patient died.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system. Etiology of MS is undiscovered but it is assumed that both genetic and environmental triggers play an important role in disease pathogenesis. Mitoxantrone (MTX) is an antracycline antibiotic that is used in oncologic treatment of breast, prostate, liver, ovarian and stomach cancer. MTX is also effective in treatment of primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and in relapsing - remitting subtype of disease with no reaction for other drugs therapy. In treatment of MS drug is given intravenously in a dose of 12 mg/m2 in three months intervals to maximal dose of 120-140 mg/m² of body surface. MTX treatment can cause transient reduction of leukocyte, erythrocyte and thrombocyte number in blood but the most dangerous side effect of MTX treatment is therapy related acute leukemia (TRAL). The aim of this study was to evaluate influence of MTX treatment on complete blood count in multiple sclerosis patients. Seventy two patients with multiple sclerosis treated with mitoxantrone from 2002 to 2014 took part in this study. Control group comprised 60 patients with multiple sclerosis who weren't given immunomodulatory treatment. In this study, amount of leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes after MTX treatment was compared to those before treatment and in control group. Six patients were withdrawn from the study because of leucopenia. A decrease of leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes number after MTX treatment was observed in comparison to control group and value before treatment. The decrease of erythrocytes number after MTX treatment was statistically significant. The most frequent side effect of mitoxantrone treatment is transient, asymptomatic leucopenia. Therapy related acute leukemia and other life-threatening complications weren't observed in the study group.

Cervical dystonia is the most common form of dystonia in adult age. It is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that cause abnormal movements and positioning of the head and neck. Symptoms of it are often associated with pain. This distinguishes this form from other dystonia. The drug of choice is botulinum toxin. It effectively reduces both pain and abnormal excessive muscle activity. In some cases, particularly where there is not obtained the full recovery after treatment botulinum toxin we used drugs for systemic effect. To increase the effectiveness and reduce the side effects of botulinum toxin more commonly we used administration of toxin under the EMG and ultrasound control., (© 2016 MEDPRESS.)

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a treatment option with proved effectiveness especially in drug resist depression. It is used in functional brain mapping before neurosurgery operations and diagnostic of corticospinal tract transmission. Many studies are performed to evaluate rTMS using in treatment of obsessive - compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, autism, strokes, tinnitus, Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, cranial traumas. Moreover rTMS was used in treatment of multiple sclerosis, migraine, dystonia. Electromagnetical field generated by rTMS penetrate skin of the scalp and infiltrate brain tissues to a depth of 2 cm, cause neurons depolarization and generating motor, cognitive and affective effects. Depending on the stimulation frequency rTMS can stimuli or inhibit brain cortex. rTMS mechanism of action remains elusive. Probably it is connected with enhancement of neurotransmitters, modulation of signals transductions pathways in Central Nervous System, gene transcription and release of neuroprotective substances. Studies with use of animals revealed that rTMS stimulation can generate brain changes similar to those seen after electric shock therapy without provoking seizures. The aim of presenting study was to analyze actual researches evaluating rTMS use in treatment of psychiatric and neurological diseases., (© 2016 MEDPRESS.)

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, autoimmunological disease of central nervous system in which axonal damage in brain and spinal cord is observed. It is second most common cause of disability in young adults in West Europe and North America after injuries. There is 2.5 million people suffered from multiple sclerosis worldwide. The worse prognosis is connected with primary progressive MS in which recovery after first symptoms of central nervous system damage isn't observed. That subtype of disease is seen in case of 10-20% people with MS. MTX is a synthetic antracycline with antineoplastic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Drug was allowed to treatment of leukemia. It is also used in treatment of breast, prostate, ovarian, stomach and liver cancer. Additionally MTX is used in treatment of secondary progressive SM and relapsing - remitting subtype of disease with no respond to treatment with interferon beta and glatiramer acetate. MTX inhibits topoisomerase II activity, matches to DNA molecule and damage her structure. Drug inhibits limphocyte T, B and macrophages activity and antibodies synthesis. The most dangerous side effects of MTX treatment are cardiotoxicity and induction of leukemia. There is lack of studies describing MTX effectiveness and safety in treatment of primary progressive SM., (© 2016 MEDPRESS.)

Post-polio syndrome occurs 30-40 years after polio virus infection. The main symptoms of PPS are slowly progressive muscle limbs paresis with muscle atrophy, joints pain, paresthesia. In 90% of patients the main symptom is fatigue that leads to physical and mental activity deterioration. The cause of disease remains unknown. Probably it is an effect of motoneurons damage during acute virus polio infection, their overloading and degeneration of remaining ones. In this study we described a case of man who developed PPS 36 years after Heine-Medin disease. The main symptom was intensification of right limb paresis and muscle atrophy. In electromyography there were damage features of muscle clinically affected and unaffected. Changes in lifestyle made possible to continue occupational activity., (© 2015 MEDPRESS.)

Unlabelled: Brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in central nervous system (CNS). The most common primary brain tumors are: gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary adenomas and craniopharyngiomas. The secondary group are metastatic tumors. About 25% patients with cancers have metastasis to CNS., Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the most common symptoms and localization of brain tumors, time from first symptoms to diagnosis and patients' survival rate., Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study 106 patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors hospitalized in Military Institute of Medicine from 2007 to 2012 year were investigated., Results: The most common cause of metastases to brain is non-smallcell lung carcinoma. The most frequent symptom of brain tumor is headache but very often patients have seizures, vomits, arms and legs weakness. The mean time of life for patients with gliomas was 9 month and 13 days for patients with brain metastases., Conclusions: It occurred that patients with primary and secondary brain tumors lived shorter than it is described in literature. In group of patients with metastases to brain 60% had one or two brain tumors so they could be treated with surgery and prognosis for them was better., (© 2015 MEDPRESS.)

Amyothropic neuralgy is a rare disease witch unknown etiopathogenesis. The main popular theory says that inflammatory and immunomodulatory process is connected with that disease. Diagnosis is made after exclusion of other causes of plexus lumbosacralis damage. The main symptom is neuropathic pain after which there is observed muscle weakness and atrophy. ENG/EMG study and MRI are made to confirm the diagnosis. In this study we described a case of 52 years old female with lower limbs paresis, who was diagnosed few years after first symptoms. Limb paresis was preluded by lumbar pain. MRI study revealed central spinal disc herniations on L1-2, L2-3, L3-4 levels with dura matter compression, L4-5 spinal disc right lateral herniation and synovial cyst. MRI of both lumbar plexuses was also normal. EMG study revealed features of bilateral, chronic damage of lower legs nerves on lumbar plexus level. Patient was treated with physiotherapy and gabapentin with dose of 2x600mg per day., (© 2015 MEDPRESS.)

Unlabelled: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. Efficacy of the surgical treatment is dependent on the severity of median nerve injury., The Aim of Study: To determine the average duration of symptoms to diagnosis CTS., Material and Methods: Survey study conceming the duration of symptoms of CTS to establishing the diagnosis was conducted between 192 consecutive patients with CTS referred to the Electrophysiology Laboratory of the Military Institute of Medicine for the confirmatory EMG testing. The questionnaire included question concerning the duration of symptoms of neuropathy of the median nerve and the selected epidemiological data, i.e., gender, age, place of residence, profession, comorbidities, specialization of referring physician. Nerve conduction parameters of median and ulnarnerves were assessed by means of study ENG/EMG (amplitude, conduction velocity and final latency in motor fibers). Some of the patients had performed comparative tests of the median nerve and ulnar or radial nerves. On the basis of these values the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome was determined according to the Padua's classification., Results: In the group of women surveyed duration of symptoms until diagnosis was on average 39,6 months (from 1 month to 20 years), while in men this time was on average 37.4 months (from I month to 7 years)., Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the average duration of symptoms CTS until diagnosis is long and can have a negative impact on the results of treatment.

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is the rare disease and cause great inefficient. It is characterized by progressive stiffness muscles of trunk and the limbs on which the cramps of muscles overlap. In the electrophysiological investigation of the patients the involuntary discharge of motor unit potentials find and also simultaneous contraction agonistic and antagonistic muscles. SPS is presented with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus often or is the symptom of the paraneoplastic syndrome. It is commonly associated with high anti-glutamic acid decarboxylaze (GAD) antibody titters in the serum of the blood of patients. Establishing the diagnosis can cause difficulties. We observed the patient in the last period about the atypical course the disease. The diagnosis was confirmed occurrences of the high titters of antibodies anti-GAD, the discharge of motor unit potential in paraspinal muscles in the rest and good response the treatment with diazepamem.

Personage-Turner syndrome or acute brachial radiculitis is rare syndrome. In typical cases it was manifested by strong pain of shoulder region and the weakness of muscles which are supplies by individual nerves or part of brachial plexus and in longer time with atrophy. Aetiology of this disease is unknown, probably on the autoimmuno-inflammatory background. Diagnosis is made on the typical clinical picture and in exclusion many illness with impairment brachial plexus. In presented case the course of disease as well as executed investigations suggested that discopathy could be the reason of paresis, however renewed estimation caused the change of the diagnosis.

The damage of the ulnar nerve on a level Guyon's canal is a rare occur in clinical practice. The presence of pathology mass, injury or long-lasting pressure the most often be caused. The authors represent four patients from this syndrome, in three cases the damage the long-lasting pressure of nerve was caused in neighborhood Guyon's canal, and in one injury of neighborhood of wrist. In therapeutic-rehabilitation management was recommended the avoidance the loading of adjacent of wrist. In two cases in catamnestic examination after retreat provocative factor, the symptoms of damage of ulnar nerve revealed. The principles of diagnosis and treatment in adjacent of wrist the damages of ulnar nerve in article were presented.

The paper presents a new method for neuromuscular disorders diagnosis based on analysis of scalograms determined by the Symlet 4 wavelets technique. Obtained results served for extraction of five features, which, after SVM analysis, were reduced to a single decision parameter allowing assigning the investigated cases to one of three groups: myogenic, neurogenic or normal. Software implementation of the method permitted to create a diagnostic tool for EMG investigation aid. The method characterizes high probability of accurate diagnosis of a muscle state with total error of 0.5% - 4 misclassifications out of 780 examined cases.

One of the haematological causes of stroke is essential thrombocythemia (ET). It is one of the proliferative syndromes of the haematopoietic system. Patients with ET have an increased risk of thrombosis and/or haemorrhage of veins and arteries. The patient aged 58 had a history of two stroke incidents within two month despite the treatment with acenocumarole for chronic atrial fibrillation. The clinical diagnostic procedure revealed an increased platelet count was 668 000/ml, and these cerebrovascular events were the first manifestation of ET Antithrombotic drugs were not effective in the secondary prevention of stroke while antiplatelets prevented this patient from further ischemic events for 12 months.

The paper presents a new approach to the computer aided diagnostic systems for the needs of quantitative electromyography. The approach is based on the analysis of wavelet scalograms of the motor unit action potentials calculated on the basis of 4th order Symlet wavelet. The scalograms provide the vector consisting of six features describing the state of a muscle that can be reduced to the two features with use of Linear Discriminant Analysis. Consequently, the healthy, myogenic and neurogenic cases can be successfully classified using the linear methods.

A method of diagnosing neural-muscular diseases via Fourier spectral analysis is presented in the paper. Application of this analysis allowed for obtaining a series of spectral features. This resulted in a selection of a discriminant ensuring the best sensitivity of the new method, better than the QEMG method used in the clinical practice. Software implementation of the spectral discriminant enabled creation of a computer diagnostic tool supporting EMG examination. The method is fully automated.