Evaluation and Application of a Customizable Wireless Platform: A Body Sensor Network for Unobtrusive Gait Analysis in Everyday Life.

Body sensor networks (BSNs) represent an important research tool for exploring novel diagnostic or therapeutic approaches. They allow for integrating different measurement techniques into body-worn sensors organized in a network structure. In 2011, the first Integrated Posture and Activity Network by MedIT Aachen (IPANEMA) was introduced. In this work, we present a recently developed platform for a wireless body sensor network with customizable applications based on a proprietary 868MHz communication interface. In particular, we present a sensor setup for gait analysis during everyday life monitoring. The arrangement consists of three identical inertial measurement sensors attached at the wrist, thigh, and chest. We additionally introduce a force-sensitive resistor integrated insole for measurement of ground reaction forces (GRFs), to enhance the assessment possibilities and generate ground truth data for inertial measurement sensors. Since the 868MHz is not strongly represented in existing BSN implementations, we validate the proposed system concerning an application in gait analysis and use this as a representative demonstration of realizability. Hence, there are three key aspects of this project. The system is evaluated with respect to (I) accurate timing, (II) received signal quality, and (III) measurement capabilities of the insole pressure nodes. In addition to the demonstration of feasibility, we achieved promising results regarding the extractions of gait parameters (stride detection accuracy: 99.6±0.8%, Root-Mean-Square Deviation (RMSE) of mean stride time: 5ms, RMSE of percentage stance time: 2.3%). Conclusion: With the satisfactory technical performance in laboratory and application environment and the convincing accuracy of the gait parameter extraction, the presented system offers a solid basis for a gait monitoring system in everyday life.

The psychosocial age: a tool to reduce the institutional stigma of elderly people with mental disorders.

In line with previous studies on elderly with mental disorders discrimination, a concept called "Psychosocial age" has been methodologically formalized and mathematically modelized. Its aim is to support health providers and hinder stigmatization process which is influenced by social representations of our population. This article presents the construction of this indicator and its clinical implications. A literature review was therefore firstly conducted to isolate the involved cognitive functions in psychosocial adaptation. Then a second literature review isolated French-language valid tests and their retained scores for mathematical modelization on each aforementioned selected cognitive function. Nine databases were reviewed (PsychInfo and PsycArticles, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, PubMed (Medline), Taylor & Francis, the Wiley Online Library, Cairn and Google Scholar). The selected articles are both in French or English and the publication period is between 2000 and 2017. The mathematical modelization is then psychometrically presented and illustrated by too clinical illustrations. Finally, strength and limits of the psychosocial age are exposed especially highlighting its interest in the institutional decision process.

How to facilitate the orientation of elderly subjects with psychical disabilities to a health alternative to hospitalization?

This paper is aimed to improve the socio-psycho-therapeutic support for older patients with heavy psychiatric disability. First, we review the literature to question the specific grounds reported by professionals regarding the orientation of these vulnerable subjects. Secondly, we emphasize that integration of these subjects within alternatives to hospitalization requires a type of support similar to that usually proposed, an accompaniment of psychosocial rehabilitation. Then, we propose to build an indicator called the psychosocial age, which reduces the weight of the chronological age for the orientation of these subjects. Ultimately, we question the health policies in psychiatry.

MAOA-VNTR polymorphism modulates context-dependent dopamine release and aggressive behavior in males.

A recent [(18)F]FDOPA-PET study reports negative correlations between dopamine synthesis rates and aggressive behavior. Since dopamine is among the substrates for monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), this investigation examines whether functional allelic variants of the MAOA tandem repeat (VNTR) promotor polymorphism, which is known to modulate aggressive behavior, influences dopamine release and aggression in response to violent visual stimuli. We selected from a genetic prescreening sample, strictly case-matched groups of 2×12 healthy male subjects with VNTRs predictive of high (MAOA-High) and low (MAOA-Low) MAOA expression. Subjects underwent pairs of PET sessions (dopamine D2/3 ligand [(18)F]DMFP) while viewing a movie of neutral content, versus violent content. Directly afterwards, aggressive behavior was assessed by the Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP). Finally, PET data of 23 participants and behavioral data of 22 participants were analyzed due to post hoc exclusion criteria. In the genetic prescreening sample MAOA-Low carriers had significantly increased scores on the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. In the PET-study-group, aggressive behavior under the emotional neutral condition was significantly higher in the MAOA-Low group. Interestingly, the two MAOA-groups showed inverse dopaminergic and behavioral reactions to the violent movie: The MAOA-High group showed higher dopamine release and increased aggression after the violent movie; MAOA-Low subjects showed decreases in aggressive behavior and no consistent dopamine release. These results indicate a possible impact of the MAOA-promotor polymorphism on the neurobiological modulation of aggressive behavior. However, the data do not support approaches stating that MAOA-Low fosters aggression by a simple pro-dopaminergic mechanism.