Browsing by Author "Pereira, Ana"
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- AIRDOC: Smart mobile application for individualized support and monitoring of respiratory function and sounds of patients with chronic osbtructive diseasePublication . Almeida, Rute; Amaral, Rita; Jácome, Cristina; Martinho, Diogo; Vieira-Marques, Pedro; Jacinto, Tiago; Ferreira, Ana; Almeida, Ana; Martins, Constantino; Pereira, Mariana; Pereira, Ana; Valente, José; Almeida, Rafael; Vieira, Ana; Amaral, Rita; Sá-Sousa, Ana; Gonçalves, Ivânia; Rodrigues, Pedro; Alves-Correia, Magna; Freitas, Alberto; Marreiros, GoretiCurrent tools for self-management of chronic obstructive respiratory diseases (CORD) are difficult to use, not individualized and requiring laborious analysis by health professionals, discouraging their use in healthcare. There is an opportunity for cost-effective and easy-to-disseminate advanced technological solutions directed to patients and attractive to different stakeholders. The strategy of AIRDOC is to develop and integrate self-monitoring and self-managing tools, making use of the smartphone's presence in everyday life. AIRDOC intends to innovate on: i) technologies for remote monitoring of respiratory function and computerized lung auscultation; ii) coaching solutions, integrating psychoeducation, gamification and disease management support systems; and iii) management of personal health data, focusing on security, privacy and interoperability. It is expected that AIRDOC results will contribute for the innovation in CORD healthcare, with increased patient involvement and empowerment while providing quality prospective information for better clinical decisions, allowing more efficient and sustainable healthcare delivery.
- Classification model for cardiotocographiesPublication . Pereira, Ana; Salgado, Filipe; Reis, Luís Paulo; Faria, Brígida MónicaCardiotocography is a diagnostic exam performed from the 28th week of pregnancy that registers the fetus cardiac frequency and uterine contractions. From this exam results a cardiotocogram whose reading and observation of the patterns contained in it allow an evaluation of the baby's condition and the fetal vitality in the maternal womb. This work aims the creation of a classification model using Learning Algorithms/Data Mining using the tool Rapid Miner. The subject of study was a Data Set with information registered from a total of 2126 cardiotograms, with 23 attributes, properly classified by 3 specialized obstetricians as to the baby status, in three possible states, namely: N = Normal; S = Suspect; P = Pathologic. All models tested showed an overall accuracy greater than 80%. Therefore the usefulness of creating predictive models for the classification of this type of diagnosis is great.
- Combined image-based approach for monitoring the adherence to inhaled medicationsPublication . Vieira-Marques, Pedro; Teixeira, João Fonseca; Valente, José; Pinho, Bernardo; Guedes, Rui; Almeida, Rute; Jácome, Cristina; Pereira, Ana; Jacinto, Tiago; Amaral, Rita; Gonçalves, Ivânia; Sousa, Ana Sá; Couto, Mariana; Magalhães, Manuel; Bordalo, Diana; Silva, Luís Nogueira; Fonseca, J. AlmeidaThe adherence to inhaled controller medications is of critical importance to achieve good clinical results in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. To objectively verify the adherence, a detection tool was previously developed and integrated in the mobile application InspirerMundi, based on image processing methods. In this work, a new approach for enhanced adherence verification was developed. In a first phase template matching is employed to confirm the inhaler positioning and to locate the dose counter. In a second phase Google ML Kit framework is used for the detection of each numerical dose in the dose counter. The proposed approach was validated through a new detection tool pilot implementation, using a set of images collected by patients using the application in their daily life. Performance of each of the two phases was evaluated for a set of commonly used inhaler devices. Promising results were achieved showing the potential of mobile embedded sensors without the need for external devices.
- A comparison of unsupervised methods based on dichotomous data to identify clusters of airways symptoms: latent class analysis and partitioning around medoids methodsPublication . Amaral, Rita; Jacinto, Tiago; Pereira, Ana; Almeida, Rute; Fonseca, JoãoLatent class analysis (LCA) and partitioning around medoids (PAM) are popular data-driven methods for partitioning objects based on dichotomous data, remaining not clear which is better for large epidemiological datasets. Hence, we compared these methods in the identification of clusters of subjects with airways symptoms, using a large population-based data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).
- Core muscles activity levels during lumbar stabilization exercisesPublication . Ramos, Inês Oliveira; Vilas Boas, Joana; Branco, Sofia; Pereira, Ana; Carvalho, Paulo; Santos, RubimThis study examined the muscle activity levels of abdominal and back muscles while subjects performed specific exercises for lumbar stabilization training with abdominal bracing and drawing-in.
- Could electromyographic and pressure related signals identify differences in abdominal activity and postural control between women with and without C-Section?Publication . Figueiredo, Ana; Cerqueira Lopes, Maria; Pereira, Ana; Sousa, Andreia S. P.; Silva, Cláudia; Noites, AndreiaScars interfere with the motor system; however, the influence of c-section scars has not been described yet. The aim of this study is to relate the presence of abdominal scars from a caesarean section with changes in postural control—stability and orientation and abdominal and lumbar neuromuscular control in the orthostatic position. Cross-sectional analytical observational study comparing healthy primiparous women with caesarean delivery (n = 9) and physiologic delivery (n = 12) who have delivered more than one year before. The relative electromyographic activity of the rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis/oblique internus and lumbar multifidus muscles, antagonist co-activation, the ellipse area, amplitude, displacement, velocity, standard deviation, and spectral power of the centre of pressure, and thoracic and lumbar curvatures, were evaluated in the standing position in both groups, through an electromyographic system, a pressure platform and spinal mouse system. In the “caesarean delivery” group, scar mobility was evaluated using a modified adheremeter. Significant differences in CoP medial-lateral velocity and mean velocity were observed between groups (p < 0.050), while no significant differences were in the level of muscle activity, antagonist co-activation, and thoracic and lumbar curvatures (p > 0.05). The information provided by the pressure signal seems to identify postural impairments in women with c-sections.
- Dermocosmética em oncologia: cuidados diários de rosto em mulheres com historial clínico de neoplasia de mamaPublication . Pereira, Ana; Neto, Sara; Oliveira, Rita Ferraz de; Pinho, Cláudia; Oliveira, Ana IsabelA pele, funcionando como barreira protetora contra agentes do meio ambiente, deve manter-se saudável possuindo cuidados como limpeza, esfoliação e hidratação. Tendo sido o cancro da mama considerado o mais incidente em Portugal no sexo feminino em 2010 e os tratamentos oncológicos realizados provocarem efeitos como xerose, prurido e sensibilidade solar, é imprescindível um aconselhamento dermatológico por parte de um profissional de saúde para melhorar a qualidade de vida do doente. O presente estudo pretendeu avaliar se existe o aconselhamento pelo profissional e a adoção de medidas relacionadas com os sintomas cutâneos. Também se pretendeu verificar a influência dos tratamentos oncológicos na saúde cutânea de doentes com cancro da mama.
- Development and validation of a digital image processing-based pill detection tool for an oral medication self-monitoring systemPublication . Holtkötter, Jannis; Amaral, Rita; Almeida, Rute; Jácome, Cristina; Cardoso, Ricardo; Pereira, Ana; Pereira, Mariana; Chon, Ki H.; Fonseca, João AlmeidaLong-term adherence to medication is of critical importance for the successful management of chronic diseases. Objective tools to track oral medication adherence are either lacking, expensive, difficult to access, or require additional equipment. To improve medication adherence, cheap and easily accessible objective tools able to track compliance levels are necessary. A tool to monitor pill intake that can be implemented in mobile health solutions without the need for additional devices was developed. We propose a pill intake detection tool that uses digital image processing to analyze images of a blister to detect the presence of pills. The tool uses the Circular Hough Transform as a feature extraction technique and is therefore primarily useful for the detection of pills with a round shape. This pill detection tool is composed of two steps. First, the registration of a full blister and storing of reference values in a local database. Second, the detection and classification of taken and remaining pills in similar blisters, to determine the actual number of untaken pills. In the registration of round pills in full blisters, 100% of pills in gray blisters or blisters with a transparent cover were successfully detected. In the counting of untaken pills in partially opened blisters, 95.2% of remaining and 95.1% of taken pills were detected in gray blisters, while 88.2% of remaining and 80.8% of taken pills were detected in blisters with a transparent cover. The proposed tool provides promising results for the detection of round pills. However, the classification of taken and remaining pills needs to be further improved, in particular for the detection of pills with non-oval shapes.
- EMG of the transverse abdominus and multifidus during pilates exercisesPublication . Carvalho, Paulo; Pereira, Ana; Santos, Rubim; Vilas Boas, JoãoThe purpose of this research study was to evaluate the intensity of muscle activation of Transverse Abdominus /Oblique Internal (TrA/OI) and Multifidus (Mu) during the performance of four Pilates exercises (and variations), compared, in order to understand the importance of these exercises in the lumbopelvic stability in healthy subjects. The sample consisted of 8 individuals. Using the surface electromyography (EMG), it was found that there are differences in the intensity of muscle activation in the analyzed exercises and, therefore, “Shoulder bridge” and “ShoulderBridge_extension (right and left legs)“ are the more appropriate exercises for co-activation between TrA/OI and Mu muscles for the reeducation of lumbopelvic stability.
- Engagement and usage patterns of a mobile application to monitor disease and treatment adherence in patients with asthmaPublication . Almeida, Rute; Jácome, Cristina; Vieira-Marques, Pedro; Pereira, Ana; Sá-Sousa, Ana; Amaral, Rita; Valente, José; Fonseca, João Almeida; Amaral, RitaInhaled therapies are the cornerstone of effective asthma treatment and adequate inhaled medication adherence (IMA) is critical. mHealth technologies have shown to be promise for asthma self-management, including IMA improvement. InspirerMundi is a mobile application designed to support self-management of patients with asthma. It aims to transform the adherence to treatment into a positive experience through gamification and social interaction while allowing for ubiquitous verified IMA monitoring. The app includes an image-based inhaler usage detection tool, tools for reporting symptoms and burden of the asthma (disease monitoring) and Game & Peer support features. Still, the effectiveness of these tools depends on a regular app use and a real-life assessment of patient engagement and pattern of use is needed. This work evaluates the patient engagement, usage, and acceptance of InspirerMundi app during a real-world multicentre feasibility study. The app use was recommended for a 4-months period to 77 participants with persistent asthma. From those, 72 installed the app, with 67% of them beginning to use both the inhaler usage detection tool and the disease monitoring components within the first week. Over 95% used it more than once, with the period of usage (from first use to last registered monitoring in 2018) being over 30 days for almost 70% of the users, and over 90 days for around 35%. Nevertheless, the usage rate (ratio of the number of days with app usage and the period of use) had a median value of 0.6 and was above 75% for only 35% of the users, revealing room for improvement. In general, the users started to use the app features right after installation and the usage patterns and retention rates indicate that InspirerMundi is well accepted among patients with asthma.