scholarly journals Introduction of a Portable and Non-Invasive Technology for Hand and Foot Cooling: a Preclinical Feasibility Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Cooling Process ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Uniform Manner ◽  
Hands And Feet ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Cooling Methods

Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is caused by damage to neural structures in distal limbs. CIPN can lead to reduced dose or cessation of chemotherapy. Cryotherapy has shown to be effective in reducing or preventing CIPN in the hands/feet. However, when using ice bath or ice gloves/socks there is no way to maintain the targeted temperature and prevent ice from melting. Also, patients have difficulty tolerating the freezing temperatures over long periods of chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to test the cooling performance of a recently developed non-invasive system that can ultimately replace current cooling methods. Materials and Methods: COOLPREVENT circulates cold water at tolerable temperatures into malleable gloves/socks that does not require replacing of melted ice. We administered a cooling protocol via COOLPREVENT on three healthy subjects for 60 minutes. Immediately before and after cooling, skin temperature in the hands and feet were measured. Level of discomfort was also recorded during the cooling process. Results: Results showed that COOLPREVENT reduces skin temperature by 14.5±3.8°C and 10.7±1.7°C in the hands and feet, respectively within 60 minutes without significant discomfort. Conclusion: Although our study is limited by the small number of subjects and participation of healthy individuals, but we can conclude that COOLPREVENT can be a safe and appropriate method for hand and foot cooling in a uniform manner. We hope that these preliminary findings can pave the way to designing clinical trials we plan to conduct in the near future.

scholarly journals Introduction of a Portable and Non-invasive Technology for Hand and Foot Cooling: A Preclinical Feasibility Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirin Davarpanah Jazi ◽  
Johan Ralf ◽  
Mohammad FazelBakhsheshi
Keyword(s):  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Cooling Performance ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Reduced Dose ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hands And Feet ◽  
Near Future

Abstract Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is caused by damage to neural structures in distal limbs. CIPN can lead to reduced dose or cessation of chemotherapy. Cooling the hands/feet has shown to be effective in reducing or preventing CIPN. However, when using ice bath or ice gloves/socks is no way to maintain the targeted temperature and prevent ice from melting. Also, patients have difficulty tolerating the freezing temperatures over long periods of chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to test the cooling performance of a recently developed non-invasive system that can ultimately replace current cooling methods.Methods: COOLPREVENT circulates cold water at tolerable temperatures into malleable gloves/socks. As well, COOLPREVENT does not require replacing of melted ice. We administered a cooling protocol via COOLPREVENT on three healthy subjects for 60 minutes. Immediately before and after cooling, skin temperature in the hands and feet were measured. Level of discomfort was also recorded during the cooling process.Results: Results showed that COOLPREVENT reduce skin temperature by 14.5±3.8°C and 10.7±1.7°C in the hands and feet, respectively within 60 minutes without significant discomfort.Conclusion: Although our study is limited by the small number of subjects and participation of healthy individuals, but we can conclude that COOLPREVENT can be a safe and appropriate method for hand and foot cooling. We hope that these preliminary findings can pave the way to designing clinical trials we plan to conduct in the near future.

scholarly journals Cerebellar rTMS in PSP: a Double-Blind Sham-Controlled Study Using Mobile Health Technology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Pilotto ◽  
Maria Cristina Rizzetti ◽  
Alberto Lombardi ◽  
Clint Hansen ◽  
Michele Biggi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Digital Technology ◽  
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Lower Back ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Double Blind Design ◽  
Theta Burst

AbstractThere are no effective treatments in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of theta burst repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on postural instability in PSP. Twenty PSP patients underwent a session of sham or real cerebellar rTMS in a crossover design. Before and after stimulation, static balance was evaluated with instrumented (lower back accelerometer, Rehagait®, Hasomed, Germany) 30-s trials in semitandem and tandem positions. In tandem and semitandem tasks, active stimulation was associated with increase in time without falls (both p=0.04). In the same tasks, device-extracted parameters revealed significant improvement in area (p=0.007), velocity (p=0.005), acceleration and jerkiness of sway (p=0.008) in real versus sham stimulation. Cerebellar rTMS showed a significant effect on stability in PSP patients, when assessed with mobile digital technology, in a double-blind design. These results should motivate larger and longer trials using non-invasive brain stimulation for PSP patients.

scholarly journals CT perfusion in peripheral arterial disease—hemodynamic differences before and after revascularisation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Veit-Haibach ◽  
Martin W. Huellner ◽  
Martin Banyai ◽  
Sebastian Mafeld ◽  
Johannes Heverhagen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Arterial Disease ◽  
Ct Perfusion ◽  
Arterial Disease ◽  
Lower Leg ◽  
Therapy Control ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Invasive Method ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Peripheral Arterial

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was the assessment of volumetric CT perfusion (CTP) of the lower leg musculature in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) before and after interventional revascularisation. Methods Twenty-nine consecutive patients with symptomatic PAD of the lower extremities requiring interventional revascularisation were assessed prospectively. All patients underwent a CTP scan of the lower leg, and hemodynamic and angiographic assessment, before and after intervention. Ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) was determined. CTP parameters were calculated with a perfusion software, acting on a no outflow assumption. A sequential two-compartment model was used. Differences in CTP parameters were assessed with non-parametric tests. Results The cohort consisted of 24 subjects with an occlusion, and five with a high-grade stenosis. The mean blood flow before/after (BFpre and BFpost, respectively) was 7.42 ± 2.66 and 10.95 ± 6.64 ml/100 ml*min−1. The mean blood volume before/after (BVpre and BVpost, respectively) was 0.71 ± 0.35 and 1.25 ± 1.07 ml/100 ml. BFpost and BVpost were significantly higher than BFpre and BVpre in the treated limb (p = 0.003 and 0.02, respectively), but not in the untreated limb (p = 0.641 and 0.719, respectively). Conclusions CTP seems feasible for assessing hemodynamic differences in calf muscles before and after revascularisation in patients with symptomatic PAD. We could show that CTP parameters BF and BV are significantly increased after revascularisation of the symptomatic limb. In the future, this quantitative method might serve as a non-invasive method for surveillance and therapy control of patients with peripheral arterial disease. Key Points • CTP imaging of the lower limb in patients with symptomatic PAD seems feasible for assessing hemodynamic differences before and after revascularisation in PAD patients. • This quantitative method might serve as a non-invasive method, for surveillance and therapy control of patients with PAD.

scholarly journals Increased Serum Levels of Activated Caspases in Murine and Human Biliary Atresia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2718
Author(s):  
Omid Madadi-Sanjani ◽  
Gunnar Bohlen ◽  
Fabian Wehrmann ◽  
Julia Andruszkow ◽  
Karim Khelif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Injury ◽  
Biliary Atresia ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Serological Detection ◽  
Caspase Activation ◽  
Hepatocyte Apoptosis ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Cholestatic Diseases

In biliary atresia (BA), apoptosis is part of the pathomechanism, which results in progressive liver fibrosis. There is increasing evidence suggesting that apoptotic liver injury can be non-invasively detected by measuring the caspase activity in the serum. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether serological detection of caspase activation mirrors apoptotic liver injury in the infective murine BA-model and represents a suitable biomarker for BA in humans. Analysis showed increased caspase-3 activity and apoptosis in the livers of cholestatic BALB/c mice, which correlated significantly with caspase activation in the serum. We then investigated caspase activation and apoptosis in liver tissues and sera from 26 BA patients, 23 age-matched healthy and 11 cholestatic newborns, due to other hepatopathies. Compared to healthy individuals, increased caspase activation in the liver samples of BA patients was present. Moreover, caspase-3 activity was significantly higher in sera from BA infants compared to patients with other cholestatic diseases (sensitivity 85%, specificity 91%). In conclusion, caspase activation and hepatocyte apoptosis play an important role in experimental and human BA. We demonstrated that serological detection of caspase activation represents a reliable non-invasive biomarker for monitoring disease activity in neonatal cholestatic liver diseases including BA.

scholarly journals Characterization and Identification of Varnishes on Copper Alloys by Means of UV Imaging and FTIR

Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 298
Author(s):  
Miriam Truffa Giachet ◽  
Julie Schröter ◽  
Laura Brambilla
Keyword(s):  
Copper Alloys ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Experimental Methodology ◽  
Artificial Ageing ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Uv Imaging ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Comparative Study ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
Analytical Tools

The application of varnishes on the surface of metal objects has been a very common practice since antiquity, both for protective and aesthetic purposes. One specific case concerns the use of tinted varnishes on copper alloys in order to mimic gilding. This practice, especially flourishing in the 19th century for scientific instruments, decorative objects, and liturgical items, results in large museum collections of varnished copper alloys that need to be preserved. One of the main challenges for conservators and restorers deals with the identification of the varnishes through non-invasive and affordable analytical techniques. We hereby present the experimental methodology developed in the framework of the LacCA and VERILOR projects at the Haute École ARC of Neuchâtel for the identification of gold varnishes on brass. After extensive documentary research and analytical campaigns on varnished museum objects, various historic shellac-based varnishes were created and applied by different methods on a range of brass substrates with different finishes. The samples were then characterized by UV imaging and infrared spectroscopy before and after artificial ageing. The comparative study of these two techniques was performed for different thicknesses of the same varnish and for different shellac grades in order to implement an identification methodology based on simple non-invasive examination and analytical tools, which are accessible to conservators.

scholarly journals OCT angiography metrics predict intradialytic hypotension episodes in chronic hemodialysis patients: a pilot, prospective study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Coppolino ◽  
Adriano Carnevali ◽  
Valentina Gatti ◽  
Caterina Battaglia ◽  
Giorgio Randazzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Hemodialysis ◽  
Dialysis Session ◽  
Intradialytic Hypotension ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Optimal Thresholds ◽  
Scanning Area ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Capillary Plexus

AbstractIn chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients, intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a complication that increases mortality risk. We run a pilot study to analyzing possible relationships between optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) metrics and IDH with the aim of evaluating if OCT-A could represent a useful tool to stratify the hypotensive risk in dialysis patients. A total of 35 eyes (35 patients) were analyzed. OCT-A was performed before and after a single dialysis session. We performed OCT-A 3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm scanning area focused on the fovea centralis. Patients were then followed up to 30 days (10 HD sessions) and a total of 73 IDHs were recorded, with 12 patients (60%) experiencing at least one IDH. Different OCT-A parameters were reduced after dialysis: central choroid thickness (CCT), 6 × 6 mm foveal whole vessel density (VD) of superficial capillary plexus (SPC) and 6 × 6 mm foveal VD of deep capillary plexus (DCP). At logistic regression analysis, IDH was positively associated with baseline foveal VD of SCP and DCP, while an inverse association was found with the choroid. In Kaplan–Meier analyses of patients categorized according to the ROC-derived optimal thresholds, CCT, the 3 × 3 foveal VD of SCP, the 3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm foveal VD of DCP and the 6 × 6 mm foveal VD of SCP were strongly associated with a higher risk of IDH over the 30-days follow-up. In HD patients, a single OCT-A measurement may represent a non-invasive, rapid tool to evaluate the compliance of vascular bed to HD stress and to stratify the risk of IDH in the short term.

Does Xbox 360 Kinect training improve postural balance in young healthy adults? A preliminary study. (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Grabowicz ◽  
Anna Daniluk ◽  
Anna Hadamus ◽  
Dariusz Białoszewski
Keyword(s):  
Postural Balance ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Unstable Surface ◽  
Baseline Group ◽  
Before And After ◽  
P Balance

BACKGROUND Balance training in young adults may increase coordination, cognitive function or the symmetry of strength on both sides of the body. It is an essential tool for injury or fall prevention and a precondition for becoming a professional athlete. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Xbox 360 Kinect training on postural balance in young, healthy individuals. METHODS The study enrolled 75 individuals who were randomly assigned to three equal groups. The first group (Group VR) performed exercises on an Xbox 360 Kinect console, and the second group (Group T) performed conventional all-round exercises. The third group was a control group (Group C). Each group underwent balance assessments on the Biodex Balance posturographic platform, including the Balance Error Scoring System test, before and after the training cycle. The level of statistical significance was set at P<.05. RESULTS Group VR and Group T achieved statistically significant improvements in the sway index compared with baseline. Group T gained significant decrease in the sway index on the unstable surface (P=.002). Group VR and group T demonstrated significant decreases in the mean sway index on stable and unstable surfaces (group VR — P=.035; group T — P=.001) Group C did not achieve a statistically significant improvement in the sway index. None of the groups demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the test error count. CONCLUSIONS Virtual reality in the form of video games played on an Xbox 360 Kinect console may be an effective method of balance training in healthy individuals.

FUNCTIONAL DISORDERSOF THE SALIVARY GLANDS IN PATIENTS WITH COMPRESSION AND DISLOCATION DYSFUNCTION OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT AND THEIR CORRECTION

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 1695-1698
Author(s):  
Oleg V. Rybalov ◽  
Pavel I. Yatsenko ◽  
Olga Yu. Andriyanova ◽  
Elena S. Ivanytska ◽  
Maria A. Korostashova
Keyword(s):  
Parotid Gland ◽  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Functional State ◽  
Oral Fluid ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Parotid Glands ◽  
Posterior Teeth ◽  
Fluid Content ◽  
Lower Jaw ◽  
Before And After

The aim: Is to assess the functional state of parotid glands and general secretion in patients with compression, dislocation dysfunction of TMJ, to correct the revealed disorders. Materials and methods: We examined 46 patients with dysfunction of TMJ. Examination included TMJ zonography and salivary glands sonography. We studied the general and parotid secretion, transparency, viscosity, pH of the oral fluid and the secretions of the parotid glands before and after treatment. The treatment of dysfunction and hyposialosis included the repositioning of the articular heads of the lower jaw in the correct anatomical position, the use of a repositioning plate on the posterior teeth at the compression side of the articular head, bougienage of the duct of the parotid gland, administration of 10% magnesium-mineral solution of bischofite into the gland. Results: In patients with TMJ dysfunction, a significant decrease in the oral fluid content was noted before treatment. The saliva transparency was reduced, the viscosity was increased, the pH was slightly acidic. A study, which was carried out a month after completion of the course of treatment showed that all the studied parameters corresponded to those in healthy individuals. Conclusions: The study confirmed that in compression and dislocation dysfunction of TMJ, there are disorders of the functional state of the salivary glands.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document