Activity classification based on inertial and barometric pressure sensors at different anatomical locations

Miniature, wearable sensor modules are a promising technology to monitor activities of daily living (ADL) over extended periods of time. To assure both user compliance and meaningful results, the selection and placement site of sensors requires careful consideration. We investigated these aspects for the classification of 16 ADL in 6 healthy subjects under laboratory conditions using ReSense, our custom-made inertial measurement unit enhanced with a barometric pressure sensor used to capture activity-related altitude changes. Subjects wore a module on each wrist and ankle, and one on the trunk. Activities comprised whole body movements as well as gross and dextrous upper-limb activities. Wrist-module data outperformed the other locations for the three activity groups. Specifically, overall classification accuracy rates of almost 93% and more than 95% were achieved for the repeated holdout and user-specific validation methods, respectively, for all 16 activities. Including the altitude profile resulted in a considerable improvement of up to 20% in the classification accuracy for stair ascent and descent. The gyroscopes provided no useful information for activity classification under this scheme. The proposed sensor setting could allow for robust long-term activity monitoring with high compliance in different patient populations.

Real-time fMRI neurofeedback: progress and challenges

In February of 2012, the first international conference on real time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI) neurofeedback was held at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), Switzerland. This review summarizes progress in the field, introduces current debates, elucidates open questions, and offers viewpoints derived from the conference. The review offers perspectives on study design, scientific and clinical applications, rtfMRI learning mechanisms and future outlook.

Ipilimumab in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin as first-line therapy in extensive-disease-small-cell lung cancer: results from a randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND

Ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody, demonstrated survival benefit in melanoma with immune-related (ir) adverse events (irAEs) managed by the protocol-defined guidelines. This phase 2 study evaluated ipilimumab+paclitaxel (Taxol)/carboplatin in extensive-disease-small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC).

DESIGN

Patients (n=130) with chemotherapy-naïve ED-SCLC were randomized 1: 1: 1 to receive paclitaxel (175 mg/m2)/carboplatin (area under the curve=6) with either placebo (control) or ipilimumab 10 mg/kg in two alternative regimens, concurrent ipilimumab (ipilimumab+paclitaxel/carboplatin followed by placebo+paclitaxel/carboplatin) or phased ipilimumab (placebo+paclitaxel/carboplatin followed by ipilimumab+paclitaxel/carboplatin). Treatment was administered every 3 weeks for a maximum of 18 weeks (induction), followed by maintenance ipilimumab or placebo every 12 weeks. End points included progression-free survival (PFS), irPFS, best overall response rate (BORR); irBORR, overall survival (OS), and safety.

RESULTS

Phased ipilimumab, but not concurrent ipilimumab, improved irPFS versus control [HR (hazard ratio)=0.64; P=0.03]. No improvement in PFS (HR=0.93; P=0.37) or OS (HR=0.75; P=0.13) occurred. Phased ipilimumab, concurrent ipilimumab and control, respectively, were associated with median irPFS of 6.4, 5.7 and 5.3 months; median PFS of 5.2, 3.9 and 5.2 months; median OS of 12.9, 9.1 and 9.9 months. Overall rates of grade 3/4 irAEs were 17, 21 and 9% for phased ipilimumab, concurrent ipilimumab and control, respectively.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest further investigation of ipilimumab in ED-SCLC.

[Signs of upper airways digestive tract cancers and the general practitionner. Study of the practices by a Script Test Concordance]

INTRODUCTION

Upper Airways digestive tract cancers are the 4th more frequent cancer. They are responsible for non specific symptoms. The examination of this antomical region is very difficult for a general practitioner. The precoce diagnosis of these cancers is based on the good recognition of the clinical situations by the general practitioner. The aim of this study was to test the practice of the general practitioner in front of clinical situations typical of head and neck cancers by a Script test concordance.

METHOD

The study was performed on 107 parisian general practitioners who answered a questionnaire based on a Script Concordance Test (SCT). The SCT is a questionnaire that test the clinical way of thinking comparing the use of an information of experts versus non experts.

RESULTS

The answers of the practitioners tested were quite in accordance with the panel of experts' anwers. They were particularly good concerning the risk factors and the buccal and oropharyngeal cancers. The scores were lower concerning the nasopharyngeal, laryngeal and paranasal sinuses cancers. The scores were significantly better for the most experimented practitioners.

DISCUSSION

The fact that the rhinopharygeal, the laryngeal and the paranasal sinuses cancers are less frequent and the fact that these cancers can not be seen directly during a standard physical examination of general practitioner can explain the lower scores for these types of head and neck cancers. That is why practitioners have to be particularly aware of the symptoms and have to ask a specialized advice in case of doubt.

AT-101 or placebo (P) with docetaxel (D) in second-line NSCLC with gene signature biomarker development

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Background: AT-101 inhibits the Bcl-2 protein family (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Mcl-1, Bcl-W) with broad preclinical activity including synergy with D. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, P-controlled phase 2 study. Patients had received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for advanced NSCLC. Patients received AT-101 (40 mg b.i.d. days 1–3) or P with D (75 mg/m2 day 1) Q 21 days. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) by independent review (IR). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and investigator determined PFS. 102 patients were planned for 70 events (80% power, HR 0.6, 1-sided alpha 0.1). A biomarker of AT-101 activity was developed by treating 55 NSCLC cell lines with AT-101 and using the corresponding gene expression data to identify a genomic predictor of sensitivity to AT-101. Results: 106 patients were randomized. Baseline factors were balanced. Median OS for patients on AT-101+D was 7.3 months versus 5.6 months for P + D arm (HR 0.60, p = 0.05). The median investigator determined PFS was 12.6 weeks and 10.7 weeks for AT-101+D and P+D arms respectively (HR 1.0, p = 0.49); IR is ongoing. Common adverse events were fatigue (18%), anemia (18%), and dyspnea (18%). Grade 1/2 headaches occurred more frequently in the AT-101 arm. Analysis of gene expression data by Bayesian regression revealed a robust 500 gene predictor of sensitivity to AT-101 that was cross validated in a leave one out analysis and in an independent cohort of 32 NSCLC cell lines. Validation of the predictor in patient samples from the trial is ongoing. Conclusions: In this phase II trial AT-101, an oral pan Bcl-2 family inhibitor, had favorable OS compared to placebo when combined with docetaxel in previously treated NSCLC and was well tolerated. A genomic predictor of AT-101 sensitivity is likely to enrich for responders and identify novel therapeutic combinations for future

[Table: see text]

MRI-based volumetric differentiation of sporadic cerebellar ataxia

The term idiopathic cerebellar ataxia (IDCA) designates a variety of cerebellar syndromes that may present with a purely cerebellar syndrome (IDCA-C) or with additional extracerebellar features (IDCA-P). Multiple system atrophy is also a sporadic neurodegenerative disorder of unknown origin that may cause prominent cerebellar symptoms (MSA-C). The final neuropathological answer to the question whether IDCA-P and MSA-C represent different varieties of one disease or two distinct entities is still lacking. Three-dimensional MRI-based volumetry allows morphological investigations intra vitam. Volumetric analysis of cerebellum, brainstem and basal ganglia was therefore performed in 46 patients with sporadic cerebellar ataxia and 16 age-matched healthy controls. Patients with dementia were excluded from the study since cognitive impairment is an exclusion criterion for the diagnosis of MSA. Cerebellar patients were clinically divided into two groups: 33 patients with multiple system atrophy with prominent cerebellar symptoms (MSA-C) and 13 patients with extracerebellar features not corresponding to MSA-C (IDCA-P). There was evidence for substantial cerebellar atrophy in both cerebellar groups while additional brainstem atrophy was significantly more pronounced in MSA-C patients. Absolute caudate and putamen atrophy was found to be restricted to single MSA-C individuals while group comparisons of mean volumes did not yield significant differences from controls. Based on the volumetric data, diagnosis could be correctly predicted in 94% of control, 82% of MSA-C and 100% of IDCA-P individuals. The finding of specific imaging characteristics strengthens (i) the value of MRI volumetry in separating MSA-C from other types of sporadic cerebellar ataxia, and (ii) the hypothesis of two independent neurodegenerative disorders in MSA-C and IDCA-P.

Hyperfrontal pattern of human cerebral circulation. Variations with age and atherosclerotic state

The phenomenon of relative hyperperfusion of the frontal areas of the cerebral cortex (hyperfrontal flow distribution) was analyzed in 84 patients between 13 and 78 years of age. Fifty-two patients (group 1) had histories of vascular disease or vascular risk factors, and 32 (group 2) did not. Regional cerebral blood flow was measured by an atraumatic xenon Xe 133 method. The mean hemispheric gray-matter flow was found to decrease similarly with age in the two groups. Other findings were as follows: (1) the level of flow within the frontal region was not homogeneous in young adults; (2) in group 1, the frontal hyperperfusion decreased progressively with age, disappearing during the fifth and sixth decades according to a specific topographic pattern; (3) in group 2, hyperperfusion persisted into old age; and (4) hyperperfusion appeared more persistent with age in women than in men.