African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (11), pp. 001-009, November, 2019. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Emotion recognition based on the asymmetric left and right activation

Kwang Shin Park¹*, Hyun Choi¹, Kuem Ju Lee¹, Jae Yun Lee¹, Kwang Ok An¹ and Eun Ju Kim²

¹National Rehabilitation Center Research Institute, 142-884, Seoul, Korea.

²National Rehabilitation Hospital, Seoul, 142-884, South Korea.

Accepted 21 June, 2019

Abstract

We obtained EEG (electroencephalogram) data from 34 healthy subjects while they were watching emotion-inducing videos and we also developed a real-time emotion monitoring system based on the resulting data. When analyzed from the left and right asymmetric EEG data in each emotion state as compared to the rest state (p<0.1), the alpha wave significantly decreased only at the left temporal lobe for the negative emotion. In particular, the increase of the beta wave was observed only at the left temporal lobe in the fear emotion (p<0.0025), which means inactivation of the left brain. On the other hand, the alpha wave decreased at the C4 in the happy emotion; and in the peaceful state, the gamma wave increased in T5 and the alpha wave decreased in CP5. However, when considering that the number of sample groups was less than seventeen, this result satisfied the independence between the EEG of the frequency band of a certain electrode position of a certain emotion and that of other emotion which is the condition of the emotion recognition algorithm, but it almost does not satisfied the overlap among emotions. However, as this was possible by the additional test, the emotion recognition was considered to be possible. The purpose of the present study; area: systems > emotion was to extract emotion indicators/indices from the EEG signals detected in the human scalp and develop a real-time emotion monitor showing emotional states of people, so that they can express their thoughts and feelings, even if they are passive.

Key words: Electroencephalogram (EEG), emotion, index, activation, asymmetry.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (11), pp. 001-005, November, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Serum markers as better predictors than Ranson, Imrie, and APACHE II systems in identifying the severity of acute pancreatitis

Abdu Hassan Alzobydi¹, Salman Yousuf Guraya²* and Shaista Salman²

¹King Khalid Hospital Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

²College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al Madina Al Munawara, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 11 August, 2019

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the predictability of various scoring systems and serum markers in the assessment of the severity of acute pancreatitis. All consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis were prospectively studied. Body mass index was measured at the time of admission. The demographic data, etiology, mean hospital; stay, clinical, radiological, biochemical findings, morbidity, and mortality were recorded. The relations between these parameters, scoring systems (Ranson, APACHE II, Imrie, and various serum markers) and patients' outcome were determined by using appropriate tests. Ninety seven (fifty men and forty seven women) patients were incorporated in the study; mean age was 51 years. Biliary pancreatitis was the most common etiological factor, followed by idiopathic pancreatitis (60 and 29%, respectively). Seventy (72%) patients had severe pancreatitis and 27 (28%) cases had mild disease. Ranson (P=0.2), Glasgow (P=0.4), and APACHE II (P=0.5) appeared insignificant predictors of the severity of acute pancreatitis by multivariate analysis. More reliable serum markers were pancreatic amylase (p ≤ 0.001), neutrophil elastase (p ≤ 0.001), serum albumin (p ≤ 0.02), and C-reactive protein (p ≤ 0.001). Results turned out to be more homogenous when CT scan findings were added together. Not a single parameter achieved statistically significant predictive value when used alone. Ranson, Imrie score, and APACHE II are not accurate predictors of the severity of acute pancreatitis. Serum markers are better predictors to elucidate the severity of disease.

Key words: Acute pancreatitis, Ranson criteria, Imrie score, APACHE II, serum amylase, serum C-reactive protein.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (10), pp. 001-006, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Reasons for patient visit to a rural general practitioner (GP) practice in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa compared with those in first world countries

I. Indiran Govender* and L. H. Mabuza

The University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, South Africa.

Accepted 16 July, 2019

Abstract

The common symptoms that patients present with, to a rural general practitioner (GP) in South Africa may be different to those of GP practices in urban areas and different from patient presentations in first world countries. This study looked at the common reasons for which patients visited a GP in Kwa-Dukuza, South Africa over a four month period during 2006. Kwa-Dukuza is located on the North Coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal to establish the common symptoms and clinical assessments of patients visiting a GP’s private practice and to ascertain the demographics of patients coming to the practice. A cross sectional descriptive survey whereby the reason for every visit, age, sex, payment method (cash or medical aid) and the clinical assessment were recorded for every patient from February to May 2006. The common reasons for patients visiting the GP were cough, fever, and diarrhoea, feeling weak, headaches, sore throat, abdominal pain and runny nose. There were a substantial number of visits for administrative reasons. The common symptoms related to respiratory tract illness, gastrointestinal complaints, stress and depression, skin and back complaints. Reasons for patient visit to an urban GP practice were similar to GP visits in other first world studies (United Kingdom, USA and Canada). Substantial time with patients is spent on administrative issues. It appears that patients visit doctors in rural and urban geographic areas of South Africa for similar reasons to other patients elsewhere.

Key words: General practitioner, rural practice, reasons for doctor visits, administrative issues.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (10), pp. 001-003, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Comparison of hospital stay duration following total abdominal hysterectomy for benign disorders in private and general hospitals in Northern Iran

Nader Esmailpour Fariba Mirblook, Fatemeh Salamat Mitra Ahmad Soltani*

Guilan University of Medical Sciences Research Vice Chancellorship, Rasht, Iran.

Accepted 12 July, 2019

Abstract

The objective of this study is to present the current data on hospital stay duration after hysterectomy for benign disorders and to compare this data in private with general hospitals in Rasht, Northen Iran. This is a cross-sectional study of all admissions for abdominal hysterectomies for benign conditions in general and private hospitals in Rasht during a six month-period. Fisher exact and paired t-test and Mann-Whitney tests were used for comparisons. Out of 861 patients, 521 were from general and 340 from private hospitals. The mean duration of total hospital stay in the private setting was significantly shorter than that of the general hospitals (P < 0.05). The postoperative complications after discharge were not significantly different across the groups. It might be rational to reduce the duration of hospital stays to the level of private setting in the study region, since this seems not to cause any increase in post-hysterectomy morbidity.

Key words: Total abdominal hysterectomy, hospital stay duration, private and general hospital.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (10), pp. 001-009, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Patterns of electroencephalography (EEG) change against stress through noise and memorization test

Kwang Shin Park¹*, Hyun Choi¹, Kuem Ju Lee¹ Jae Yun Lee¹, Kwang Ok An¹, Eun Ju Kim²

¹The National Rehabilitation Center Research Institute, Korea.

²The National Rehabilitation Hospital, Seoul, South Korea, 142-884.

Accepted 09 April, 2019

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the appearance of brainwaves due to mental stress caused by memory recall and mental calculation, and physical stress caused by noises. We obtained Electroencephalography (EEG) data from 34 healthy subjects while they were at memory test interrupted by noises. Noise was accompanied by instability as it significantly decreased the relative power of the alpha wave of the left parietal lobe as compared to the rest state. In the word or picture memory recall, judging from the significant facts at the occipital and parietal lobes, the relative power of the alpha wave was more decreased, while the relative power of the theta wave was more increased at the occipital and parietal lobes; more so, the relative power of theta was more increased and the relative power of alpha was more decreased when solving the problems than when the problems were given only. Memorizing the process of words and pictures could also be considered as a stress factor like noises. When carrying out the mental calculation, the significant decrease of the relative power of the alpha wave at the occipital and parietal lobes showed instability during problem solving when compared to the rest state. This implies that mental calculation can also be considered as a stress factor. From the point that right-biased alpha wave was analyzed as significantly high in noises that are sometimes generated during the mental calculating process, it is possible to consider asymmetrical interpretation. As a result, noises (a physical stress factor) and memory recall (a mental stress factor) showed reduction of relative power of Alpha wave in the parietal and occipital lobes, and in case of the mental stress factor, even an increase of the relative power of theta wave was observed. Therefore, the appearance of brainwaves due to stresses is used as data to investigate mental activities.

Key words: Stress, noise, memory, electroencephalogram, power.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

L-arginine treatment alters the pattern of rat maternal aggressive response toward an intruder entering the homing cage

Esther Pérez-Torrero¹*, Margarita I. Hernández-Urbiola², Anaid Cadena-Estrada³, and Carlos I. Silva-Barrón³

¹División de Investigación y Posgrado, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Querétaro, Qro, México.

²Posgrado en Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro, México, CP 76230.

³Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av de las Ciencias S/N, Juriquilla Querétaro, Qro, México, CP 76230.

Accepted 11 July, 2019

Abstract

Maternal aggression toward intruders is temporarily expressed during lactation in association with the rearing and protection of offspring to promote their survival and growth. This normal component of maternal behaviour that requires both the hormonal changes occur at the end of pregnancy and due to the presence of newborn for its establishment analyzed in Wistar rats. The effects of nitric oxide (NO) by L-arginine (L-arg) was analyzed when administered on days 1, 4, and 8 postpartum in order to observe the maternal aggressive response to an intruder. Data collected indicated that L-arg treated dams exhibited a significant increase of the frequency of biting on postpartum days 1 and 8. In contrast, findings also showed reductions of the frequency of sniffing on day 1. Both frontal and lateral attacks also showed significant decreases attributable to L-arg treatment. These findings suggest that the role of NO during the lactating period may be relevant for the survival and long-term behavioral development of the progeny due to the fact that it has been demonstrated that several neurotransmitters are closely regulated by NO. Therefore, this is interesting in the development of antidepressant drugs for possible human applications.

Key words: Aggressive behavior, lactating period, rats, L-arginine treatment, postpartum.