Characteristics of physical activity are indicative of one’s mobility level, latent chronic diseases and aging process. Accelerometers have been widely accepted as useful and practical sensors for wearable devices to measure and assess physical activity. This paper reviews the development of wearable accelerometry-based motion detectors. The principle of accelerometry measurement, sensor properties and sensor placements are first introduced. Various research using accelerometry-based wearable motion detectors for physical activity monitoring and assessment, including posture and movement classification, estimation of energy expenditure, fall detection and balance control evaluation, are also reviewed. Finally this paper reviews and compares existing commercial products to provide a comprehensive outlook of current development status and possible emerging technologies.

This paper presents the development of a wearable accelerometry system for real-time gait cycle parameter recognition. Using a tri-axial accelerometer, the wearable motion detector is a single waist-mounted device to measure trunk accelerations during walking. Several gait cycle parameters, including cadence, step regularity, stride regularity and step symmetry can be estimated in real-time by using autocorrelation procedure. For validation purposes, five Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and five young healthy adults were recruited in an experiment. The gait cycle parameters among the two subject groups of different mobility can be quantified and distinguished by the system. Practical considerations and limitations for implementing the autocorrelation procedure in such a real-time system are also discussed. This study can be extended to the future attempts in real-time detection of disabling gaits, such as festinating or freezing of gait in PD patients. Ambulatory rehabilitation, gait assessment and personal telecare for people with gait disorders are also possible applications.

Aim: To evaluate Helicobacter pylori primary resistance and its clinical impact on the efficacy of two lansoprazole‐based eradication triple therapies. Methods: H. pylori‐positive patients (n=228) were randomized to receive one of the 1‐week regimens: lansoprazole 30 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1 g (LAC), or lansoprazole 30 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and metronidazole 500 mg (LMC), each given twice daily. H. pylori status was assessed by 13C‐urea breath test and culture at diagnosis and by 13C‐urea breath test 6 weeks after therapy. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by E‐test (n=98). Results: The eradication rates with per protocol/ intention‐to‐treat analyses were: LAC (n=95/114) 83%/69% and LMC (n=96/114) 85%/72%. Primary resistance was 11% for clarithromycin, 41% for metronidazole and 0% for amoxicillin. Eradication in metronidazole‐susceptible/‐resistant strains was 85%/82% in LAC and 83%/63% in LMC. Significantly lower cure rates were observed in clarithromycin‐resistant patients treated with LAC (95% vs. 0%, P < 0.001) and LMC (86% vs. 0%, P < 0.001). Conclusions: One‐week LAC and LMC are similarly effective therapies. Clarithromycin resistance significantly affected H. pylori eradication in both regimens.

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