Functional Evaluation of the Endotics System, a New Disposable Self-Propelled Robotic Colonoscope: in vitro tests and clinical trial

2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 517-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felice Cosentino ◽  
Emanuele Tumino ◽  
Giovanni Rubis Passoni ◽  
Elisabetta Morandi ◽  
Alfonso Capria
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Stress Pattern ◽  
Colon Perforation ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Functional Evaluation ◽  
System A ◽  
High Level ◽  
Robotic Colonoscope ◽  
Standard Colonoscopy

Objective Currently, the best method for CRC screening is colonoscopy, which ideally (where possible) is performed under partial or deep sedation. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Endotics System, a new robotic device composed of a workstation and a disposable probe, in performing accurate and well-tolerated colonoscopies. This new system could also be considered a precursor of other innovating vectors for atraumatic locomotion through natural orifices such as the bowel. The flexible probe adapts its shape to the complex contours of the colon, thereby exerting low strenuous forces during its movement. These novel characteristics allow for a painless and safe colonoscopy, thus eliminating all major associated risks such as infection, cardiopulmonary complications and colon perforation. Methods An experimental study was devised to investigate stress pattern differences between traditional and robotic colonoscopy, in which 40 enrolled patients underwent both robotic and standard colonoscopy within the same day. Results The stress pattern related to robotic colonoscopy was 90% lower than that of standard colonoscopy. Additionally, the robotic colonoscopy demonstrated a higher diagnostic accuracy, since, due to the lower insufflation rate, it was able to visualize small polyps and angiodysplasias not seen during the standard colonoscopy. All patients rated the robotic colonoscopy as virtually painless com-pared to the standard colonoscopy, ranking pain and discomfort as 0.9 and 1.1 respectively, on a scale of 0 to 10, versus 6.9 and 6.8 respectively for the standard device. Conclusions The new Endotics System demonstrates efficacy in the diagnosis of colonic pathologies using a procedure nearly completely devoid of pain. Therefore, this system can also be looked upon as the first step toward developing and implementing colonoscopy with atraumatic locomotion through the bowel while maintaining a high level of diagnostic accuracy.

Simple modifications of three routine in vitro tests of thyroid function.

1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1715-1718 ◽  
Author(s):  
R W Pain
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Thyroid Function ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Reference Range ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Work Load ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Free Thyroxine Index ◽  
Total Thyroxine

Abstract Semi-automation of equipment and simple modifications of technique reduced the work load without loss of diagnostic accuracy for three commonly used in vitro tests of thyroid function (total thyroxine, thyrobinding index, and free thyroxine index). Major innovations were the use of serum standards for all tests and having each duplicate for tests performed by a different technician. Attention is drawn to the false-positive and false-negative errors that occur when the 95% euthyroid limits is the sole reference range used.

Biphasic Calcium Phosphate/Poly-(DL-Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Biocomposite as Filler and Blocks for Reparation of Bone Tissue

2005 ◽  
Vol 494 ◽  
pp. 519-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ignjatović ◽  
P. Ninkov ◽  
Z. Ajduković ◽  
V. Konstantinović ◽  
Dragan P. Uskokovic
Keyword(s):  
Bone Tissue ◽  
Vascular Tissue ◽  
Average Diameter ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Tissue Reconstruction ◽  
High Level ◽  
Osseous Regeneration

Composite biomaterials, like calciumphosphate/bioresorbable polymer, offer excellent potential for reconstruction and reparation of bone tissue defects induced by different sources. In this paper synthesis of calciumphosphate/poly-DL-lactide-co-glycolide (BCP/DLPLG) composite biomaterial formed as filler and blocks was studied. BCP/DLPLG composite biomaterial was produced in the form of spherical granules of BCP covered by a DLPLG layer, average diameter of 150-250 µm. By cold and hot pressing of granules at up to 10000 kg/cm2, blocks with fine distribution of phases and porosity up to 3% were obtained. Characterization was performed by wide-angle X-ray structural analysis (WAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and mechanical properties by defining the compressive strength. In vitro citotoxicity research was carried out on cellular cultures of fibroblasts of human (MRC5) and mouse (L929). In vivo research was performed in two steps. Reparatory ability of BCP/DLPLG in mice was examined in the first step, and then bone tissue reconstruction possibilities on 10 patients in the next step. In vitro tests showed very good fibroblast adhesion and non-citotoxicity of the composite. A material is considered non-cytotoxic if the cell survival is above 50 %, and in our case it was 90%. In vivo research on mice indicated high level of reparatory ability of this composite with formation of new bone and vascular tissue six weeks after reparation. Application of this composite for healing infrabone defects of patients showed a high level of osseous regeneration.

An Automatic Suturing Machine for Intestinal Anastomosis: Advantages Compared With Hand-Suturing Technique

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanaz Mosafer Khoorjestan ◽  
Gholamreza Rouhi
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Strength ◽  
Intestinal Anastomosis ◽  
Tensile Tests ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
System A ◽  
Expert Surgeon ◽  
Suturing Methods ◽  
Made In

One of the main procedures in intestinal surgery is anastomosis, which is mostly performed by stapling or hand suturing. Due to limitations of these methods, a novel automatic suturing machine was designed and fabricated in this study, equipped with a needle-driving system; a thread control mechanism, and a linear mechanism, which is applicable in intestinal anastomosis by making continuous sutures. The main advantages of the fabricated machine are employing biocompatible suture, from the tissue’s adaptation point of view, and making a uniform suturing pattern, independent of surgeon’s skill, and thus offering a greater strength than the hand-sutured specimen. In order to evaluate the capability of the fabricated machine and investigate the validity of the hypothesis made in this study, that is, a more uniform suture will result in a greater mechanical strength of the sutured tissue, in vitro tests were performed on human intestine specimens, which were manually sutured by an expert surgeon and by the automatic suturing machine. The tensile tests with an elongation rate of 5 mm/min were done for 90 specimens, in 9 groups with various suturing configurations. The optimum pattern, from the mechanical strength point of view, was found to be the same in both manual and automatic suturing methods, that is, h7 d6 ( h = distance of suture from the edge of the tissue = 7 mm, and d = distance between stitches = 6 mm). It was also shown that the maximum breaking strength, for the best suturing pattern, h7 d6, is significantly greater when the automatic suturing machine was employed, compared with the hand-sutured tissue ( P < .001).

scholarly journals High Throughput Functional Evaluation of KCNQ1 Decrypts Variants of Unknown Significance

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos G. Vanoye ◽  
Reshma R. Desai ◽  
Katarina L. Fabre ◽  
Franck Potet ◽  
Jean-Marc DeKeyser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Genetic Diseases ◽  
Functional Evaluation ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Gene Variation ◽  
Variants Of Unknown Significance ◽  
Cardiac Ion Channels ◽  
Unknown Significance ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe explosive growth in known human gene variation presents enormous challenges to current approaches for variant classification that impact diagnosis and treatment of many genetic diseases. For disorders caused by mutations in cardiac ion channels, such as congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS), in vitro electrophysiological evidence has high value in discriminating pathogenic from benign variants, but these data are often lacking because assays are cost-, time- and labor-intensive.Methods and ResultsWe implemented a strategy for performing high throughput, functional evaluations of ion channel variants that repurposed an automated electrophysiology platform developed previously for drug discovery. We demonstrated success of this approach by evaluating 78 variants in KCNQ1, a major LQTS gene. We benchmarked our results with traditional electrophysiological approaches and observed a high level of concordance. Our results provided functional data useful for classifying ~70% of previously unstudied KCNQ1 variants annotated with uninformative descriptions in the public database ClinVar. Further, we show that rare and ultra-rare KCNQ1 variants in the general population exhibit functional properties ranging from normal to severe loss-of-function indicating that allele frequency is not a reliable predictor of channel function.ConclusionsOur results illustrate an efficient and high throughput paradigm linking genotype to function for a human cardiac channelopathy that will enable data-driven classification of large numbers of variants and create new opportunities for precision medicine.

scholarly journals Incidence of Myclobutanil- and Kresoxim-Methyl-Insensitive Isolates of Venturia inaequalis in Quebec Orchards

Plant Disease ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 91 (10) ◽  
pp. 1351-1358 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Jobin ◽  
O. Carisse
Keyword(s):  
Lognormal Distribution ◽  
Alternative Oxidase ◽  
Venturia Inaequalis ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Baseline Sensitivity ◽  
Scab Control ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Level ◽  
Demethylation Inhibitor

Sensitivity of baseline and exposed populations of Venturia inaequalis to myclobutanil and to kresoxim-methyl were evaluated in vitro. For myclobutanil, the population was constructed with 238 monoconidial isolates of V. inaequalis collected from 48 orchards. For kresoxim-methyl, the population was constructed with 251 monoconidial isolates collected from 49 orchards. Baseline populations were constructed with 34 and 29 monoconidial isolates collected from apple trees that had never been treated for myclobutanil and kresoxim-methyl, respectively. Sensitivity to fungicides was evaluated based on 50% effective dose (ED50) values. The V. inaequalis population that was not exposed to myclobutanil had a baseline sensitivity (mean ED50) of 0.064 μg/ml and showed a lognormal distribution. The V. inaequalis population constructed with isolates from commercial orchards had a mean ED50 of 2.600 μg/ml, which was significantly higher than the baseline sensitivity. The distribution of ED50 values did not follow a lognormal distribution. In response to declining levels of scab control with myclobutanil and other sterol demethylation inhibitor fungicides (DMIs), three orchards were more deeply investigated. The mean ED50 values were 1.618 (n = 23), 3.079 (n = 29), and 1.500 μg/ml (n = 20) in orchards one, two, and three, respectively. Resistant isolates, according to criteria set by other studies, accounted for 39, 76, and 85% of the isolates tested. The V. inaequalis population that had never been exposed to kresoxim-methyl had a baseline sensitivity (mean ED50) of 0.092 μg/ml and showed a lognormal distribution. The V. inaequalis population constructed with isolates from commercial orchards had a mean ED50 of 6.093 μg/ml, which was significantly higher than the baseline sensitivity. The distribution of ED50 values followed a lognormal distribution. However, when a subsample of isolates was retested for their sensitivity to kresoxim-methyl with the addition of salicylhydroxamic acid (an inhibitor of alternative oxidase) at 100 μg/ml to the growth medium, more than 98% inhibition was observed for all isolates. The results from in vitro tests showed a high level of resistance to myclobutanil and a low level of resistance to kresoxim-methyl, suggesting that the use of myclobutanil and DMIs should be discontinued or significantly reduced before practical resistance is reached.

Anti-Diabetic Activity of a Mineraloid Isolate, in vitro and in Genetically Diabetic Mice

2011 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Deneau ◽  
Taufeeq Ahmed ◽  
Roger Blotsky ◽  
Krzysztof Bojanowski
Keyword(s):  
Dna Microarrays ◽  
Human Fibroblasts ◽  
Diabetic Animal ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Diabetic Mice ◽  
Fossil Material ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Enhanced Expression ◽  
Genetically Diabetic Mice

Type II diabetes is a metabolic disease mediated through multiple molecular pathways. Here, we report anti-diabetic effect of a standardized isolate from a fossil material - a mineraloid leonardite - in in vitro tests and in genetically diabetic mice. The mineraloid isolate stimulated mitochondrial metabolism in human fibroblasts and this stimulation correlated with enhanced expression of genes coding for mitochondrial proteins such as ATP synthases and ribosomal protein precursors, as measured by DNA microarrays. In the diabetic animal model, consumption of the Totala isolate resulted in decreased weight gain, blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin. To our best knowledge, this is the first description ever of a fossil material having anti-diabetic activity in pre-clinical models.

Comparison of High Purity Factor IX Concentrates and a Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in a Canine Model of Thrombogenicity

1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (05) ◽  
pp. 609-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
I R MacGregor ◽  
J M Ferguson ◽  
L F McLaughlin ◽  
T Burnouf ◽  
C V Prowse
Keyword(s):  
High Purity ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Prothrombin Complex Concentrate ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Canine Model ◽  
Factor Ix ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Albumin Infusion

SummaryA non-stasis canine model of thrombogenicity has been used to evaluate batches of high purity factor IX concentrates from 4 manufacturers and a conventional prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC). Platelets, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen, fibrin(ogen) degradation products and fibrinopeptide A (FPA) were monitored before and after infusion of concentrate. Changes in FPA were found to be the most sensitive and reproducible indicator of thrombogenicity after infusion of batches of the PCC at doses of between 60 and 180 IU/kg, with a dose related delayed increase in FPA occurring. Total FPA generated after 100-120 IU/kg of 3 batches of PCC over the 3 h time course was 9-12 times that generated after albumin infusion. In contrast the amounts of FPA generated after 200 IU/kg of the 4 high purity factor IX products were in all cases similar to albumin infusion. It was noted that some batches of high purity concentrates had short NAPTTs indicating that current in vitro tests for potential thrombogenicity may be misleading in predicting the effects of these concentrates in vivo.

A Comparison of the in Vitro and in Vivo Thrombogenic Activity of Factor IX Concentrates Using Stasis (Wessler) and Non-Stasis Rabbit Models

1980 ◽  
Vol 44 (02) ◽  
pp. 081-086 ◽  
Author(s):  
C V Prowse ◽  
A E Williams
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Rich Plasma ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Factor Ix ◽  
Coagulation System ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Clinical Use ◽  
Low Activity

SummaryThe thrombogenic effects of selected factor IX concentrates were evaluated in two rabbit models; the Wessler stasis model and a novel non-stasis model. Concentrates active in either the NAPTT or TGt50 in vitro tests of potential thrombogenicity, or both, caused thrombus formation in the Wessler technique and activation of the coagulation system in the non-stasis model. A concentrate with low activity in both in vitro tests did not have thrombogenic effects in vivo, at the chosen dose. Results in the non-stasis model suggested that the thrombogenic effects of factor IX concentrates may occur by at least two mechanisms. A concentrate prepared from platelet-rich plasma and a pyrogenic concentrate were also tested and found to have no thrombogenic effect in vivo.These studies justify the use of the NAPTT and TGt50 in vitro tests for the screening of factor IX concentrates prior to clinical use.

In Vitro Thrombogenicity Tests of Factor IX Concentrates

1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (05) ◽  
pp. 1355-1367 ◽  
Author(s):  
C V Prowse ◽  
A Chirnside ◽  
R A Elton
Keyword(s):  
Factor Viii ◽  
Partial Thromboplastin Time ◽  
Generation Time ◽  
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time ◽  
Factor Ix ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Factor Viii Inhibitor ◽  
Factor Ixa ◽  
Viii Inhibitor

SummaryVarious factor IX concentrates have been examined in a number of in vitro tests of thrombogenicity. The results suggest that some tests are superfluous as in concentrates with activity in any of these tests activation is revealed by a combination of the non-activated partial thromboplastin time, the thrombin (or Xa) generation time and factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity tests. Assay of individual coagulant enzymes revealed that most concentrates contained more factor IXa than Xa. However only a small number of concentrates, chiefly those that had been purposefully activated, contained appreciable amounts of either enzyme.

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