scholarly journals In Vivo Usability Test of Vascular Intervention Robotic System Controlled by Two Types of Master Devices

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 5453
Author(s):  
Hwa-Seob Song ◽  
Jae-Hong Woo ◽  
Jong-Yun Won ◽  
Byung-Ju Yi
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Vascular Intervention ◽  
Task Load ◽  
Usability Test ◽  
Usability Tests ◽  
System Usability Scale

Conventional vascular intervention (VI) procedures are typically performed manually under exposure to X-rays, whereby several problems are presented that need to be addressed owing to the patients and doctors being exposed to large amounts of radiation. In such cases, employing radiation protection units is not a long-term solution to avoid physical damage. Therefore, to overcome these issues, we propose a robotic VI system in this study. Moreover, we compare the extent of radiation exposure in the case of the conventional manual VI procedure with that in the case of the robotic procedure. The radiation exposure is then analyzed from the perspective of the doctor. Subsequently, the results of usability tests for two proposed master devices are presented in terms of the NASA task load index (NASA-TLX) and the system usability scale (SUS) score. To verify the effectiveness of the robotic VI system, animal experiments are conducted using a pig model. Among the two types of master devices tested with the proposed robotic VI system, the ergonomically designed 2-degree-of-freedom master device is found to be more effective than the joystick-type device in terms of the usability test scores. Hence, the proposed robotic VI procedure is shown to be advantageous in terms of reducing radiation exposure and improving usability.

Cytogenetic Damage of Human Lymphocytes in Humanized Mice Exposed to Neutrons and X Rays 24 h After Exposure

2021 ◽  
Vol 161 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 352-361
Author(s):  
Qi Wang ◽  
Younghyun Lee ◽  
Monica Pujol-Canadell ◽  
Jay R. Perrier ◽  
Lubomir Smilenov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Human Lymphocytes ◽  
Absorbed Dose ◽  
Chromosome 1 ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Humanized Mouse Model ◽  
Significant Difference

Detonation of an improvised nuclear device highlights the need to understand the risk of mixed radiation exposure as prompt radiation exposure could produce significant neutron and gamma exposures. Although the neutron component may be a relatively small percentage of the total absorbed dose, the large relative biological effectiveness (RBE) can induce larger biological DNA damage and cell killing. The objective of this study was to use a hematopoietically humanized mouse model to measure chromosomal DNA damage in human lymphocytes 24 h after in vivo exposure to neutrons (0.3 Gy) and X rays (1 Gy). The human dicentric and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assays were performed to measure chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocytes in vivo from the blood and spleen, respectively. The mBAND assay based on fluorescent in situ hybridization labeling was used to detect neutron-induced chromosome 1 inversions in the blood lymphocytes of the neutron-irradiated mice. Cytogenetics endpoints, dicentrics and micronuclei showed that there was no significant difference in yields between the 2 irradiation types at the doses tested, indicating that neutron-induced chromosomal DNA damage in vivo was more biologically effective (RBE ∼3.3) compared to X rays. The mBAND assay, which is considered a specific biomarker of high-LET neutron exposure, confirmed the presence of clustered DNA damage in the neutron-irradiated mice but not in the X-irradiated mice, 24 h after exposure.

scholarly journals User-Centered Evaluations with Older Adults: Testing the Usability of a Mobile Health System for Heart Failure Self-Management

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor P. Cornet ◽  
Carly N. Daley ◽  
Preethi Srinivas ◽  
Richard J. Holden
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Task Load ◽  
Usability Test ◽  
Mobile Health Application ◽  
System Usability Scale ◽  
Health Products ◽  
And Performance

Many older adults living with heart failure struggle to follow recommended self-management routines. To help older adults with heart failure more effectively and efficiently self-manage their disease, we developed Engage, a mobile health application promoting the performance, logging, and sharing of routine self-management behaviors. This paper reports on the usability evaluation of the Engage system with 15 older adults with heart failure and informal caregivers. In two phases, participants used Engage during a task-based usability test (n=5) and a scenario-based usability test (n=10). Usability and performance data were assessed through video-recorded observation and the administration of the system usability scale (SUS) and NASA Task Load Index (TLX). We found that task-based testing was useful in quickly identifying problems within our application, but scenario-based testing elicited more valuable feedback from older adults. A comparison of the different evaluation methods used and the discussion of the challenges encountered provide multiple implications for the practice of usability testing of mobile health products with older adults.

scholarly journals Identification of Potential Biomarkers of Radiation Exposure in Blood Cells by Capillary Electrophoresis Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lue Sun ◽  
Yohei Inaba ◽  
Norie Kanzaki ◽  
Mahesh Bekal ◽  
Koichi Chida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Capillary Electrophoresis ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Time Of Flight ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry

Biodosimetry is a useful method for estimating personal exposure doses to ionizing radiation. Studies have identified metabolites in non-cellular biofluids that can be used as markers in biodosimetry. Levels of metabolites in blood cells may reflect health status or environmental stresses differentially. Here, we report changes in the levels of murine blood cell metabolites following exposure to X-rays in vivo. Levels of blood cell metabolites were measured by capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The levels of 100 metabolites were altered substantially following exposure. We identified 2-aminobutyric acid, 2′-deoxycytidine, and choline as potentially useful markers of radiation exposure and established a potential prediction panel of the exposure dose using stepwise regression. Levels of blood cell metabolites may be useful biomarkers in estimating exposure doses during unexpected radiation incidents.

A technique for protecting delicate specimens during processing

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 982-983
Author(s):  
R.J. Mount ◽  
R.V. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Basilar Membrane ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Sensory Epithelium ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Air Drying ◽  
Specimen Handling ◽  
Two Component

The sensory end organ of the ear, the organ of Corti, rests on a thin basilar membrane which lies between the bone of the central modiolus and the bony wall of the cochlea. In vivo, the organ of Corti is protected by the bony wall which totally surrounds it. In order to examine the sensory epithelium by scanning electron microscopy it is necessary to dissect away the protective bone and expose the region of interest (Fig. 1). This leaves the fragile organ of Corti susceptible to physical damage during subsequent handling. In our laboratory cochlear specimens, after dissection, are routinely prepared by the O-T- O-T-O technique, critical point dried and then lightly sputter coated with gold. This processing involves considerable specimen handling including several hours on a rotator during which the organ of Corti is at risk of being physically damaged. The following procedure uses low cost, readily available materials to hold the specimen during processing ,preventing physical damage while allowing an unhindered exchange of fluids.Following fixation, the cochlea is dehydrated to 70% ethanol then dissected under ethanol to prevent air drying. The holder is prepared by punching a hole in the flexible snap cap of a Wheaton vial with a paper hole punch. A small amount of two component epoxy putty is well mixed then pushed through the hole in the cap. The putty on the inner cap is formed into a “cup” to hold the specimen (Fig. 2), the putty on the outside is smoothed into a “button” to give good attachment even when the cap is flexed during handling (Fig. 3). The cap is submerged in the 70% ethanol, the bone at the base of the cochlea is seated into the cup and the sides of the cup squeezed with forceps to grip it (Fig.4). Several types of epoxy putty have been tried, most are either soluble in ethanol to some degree or do not set in ethanol. The only putty we find successful is “DUROtm MASTERMENDtm Epoxy Extra Strength Ribbon” (Loctite Corp., Cleveland, Ohio), this is a blue and yellow ribbon which is kneaded to form a green putty, it is available at many hardware stores.

Die Effektivität formativer Evaluation bei der Entwicklung gebrauchs- tauglicher Software–eine Fallstudie

2010 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Kaspar ◽  
Kai-Christoph Hamborg ◽  
Timo Sackmann ◽  
Julia Hesselmann
Keyword(s):  
Subjektive Bewertung ◽  
Usability Test ◽  
Usability Tests ◽  
Usability Problems

Die vorliegende Fallstudie befasste sich mit der Effektivität von Usability-Tests als Methodik für die Gestaltung gebrauchstauglicher Software. Ein Online-Bookshop wurde zu zwei Zeitpunkten in einem Entwicklungszyklus mithilfe eines Usability-Tests evaluiert. Aus den im ersten Usability-Test identifizierten Usability-Problemen wurden Gestaltungskonsequenzen abgeleitet und umgesetzt. Die so überarbeitete zweite Version des Bookshops wurde einem weiteren Usability-Test unterzogen, in dem wiederum Usability-Probleme erhoben wurden. Die ausgewertete Stichprobe von 22 studentischen Versuchspersonen unterteilte sich in 11 Novizen und 11 Experten, 10 Probanden waren männlichen und 12 weiblichen Geschlechts. Von diesen 22 Probanden nahmen jeweils 11 an einem der beiden Usability-Tests teil, in denen die gleichen drei aufeinander aufbauenden Testaufgaben bearbeitet wurden. Die Befunde zeigen wie angenommen, dass sich die Quantität der erkannten Usability-Probleme vom ersten zum zweiten Usability-Test verringerte. Entgegen der Erwartung wurde jedoch keine Veränderung der Bedeutsamkeit der erhobenen Usability-Probleme verzeichnet. Entsprechend der Untersuchungsannahmen zeigt sich weiterhin ein Effekt der Kombination von Evaluation und Gestaltung auf die subjektive Bewertung von Gefallensaspekten und der ergonomischen Qualität des Bookshops durch die Nutzer. Zudem stellt sich die Expertise der Nutzer als relevanter Faktor für die Häufigkeit explizit geäußerter Kritik am Produkt dar. Konsequenzen für die Praxis und weitere Forschung im Bereich des Usability-Engineerings sowie die Notwendigkeit einer psychologisch begründeten Definition des Konstrukts des Usability-Problems werden diskutiert.

Effects of Probiotics in the Management of Infected Chronic Wounds: From Cell Culture to Human Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-206
Author(s):  
Brognara Lorenzo ◽  
Salmaso Luca ◽  
Mazzotti Antonio ◽  
Di M. Alberto ◽  
Faldini Cesare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Wounds ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Keywords Probiotics

Background: Chronic wounds are commonly associated with polymicrobial biofilm infections. In the last years, the extensive use of antibiotics has generated several antibiotic-resistant variants. To overcome this issue, alternative natural treatments have been proposed, including the use of microorganisms like probiotics. The aim of this manuscript was to review current literature concerning the application of probiotics for the treatment of infected chronic wounds. Methods: Relevant articles were searched in the Medline database using PubMed and Scholar, using the keywords “probiotics” and “wound” and “injuries”, “probiotics” and “wound” and “ulcer”, “biofilm” and “probiotics” and “wound”, “biofilm” and “ulcer” and “probiotics”, “biofilm” and “ulcer” and “probiotics”, “probiotics” and “wound”. Results: The research initially included 253 articles. After removal of duplicate studies, and selection according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, 19 research articles were included and reviewed, accounting for 12 in vitro, 8 in vivo studies and 2 human studies (three articles dealing with animal experiments included also in vitro testing). Most of the published studies about the effects of probiotics for the treatment of infected chronic wounds reported a partial inhibition of microbial growth, biofilm formation and quorum sensing. Discussion: The application of probiotics represents an intriguing option in the treatment of infected chronic wounds with multidrug-resistant bacteria; however, current results are difficult to compare due to the heterogeneity in methodology, laboratory techniques, and applied clinical protocols. Lactobacillus plantarum currently represents the most studied strain, showing a positive application in burns compared to guideline treatments, and an additional mean in chronic wound infections. Conclusions: Although preliminary evidence supports the use of specific strains of probiotics in certain clinical settings such as infected chronic wounds, large, long-term clinical trials are still lacking, and further research is needed.

scholarly journals Radiosensitization of Prostate Cancers In Vitro and In Vivo to Erbium-filtered Orthovoltage X-rays Using Actively Targeted Gold Nanoparticles

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison M. Khoo ◽  
Sang Hyun Cho ◽  
Francisco J. Reynoso ◽  
Maureen Aliru ◽  
Kathryn Aziz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Nanoparticles ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Prostate Cancers

scholarly journals Perilla frutescens Leaf Extract and Fractions: Polyphenol Composition, Antioxidant, Enzymes (α-Glucosidase, Acetylcholinesterase, and Tyrosinase) Inhibitory, Anticancer, and Antidiabetic Activities

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 315
Author(s):  
Zhenxing Wang ◽  
Zongcai Tu ◽  
Xing Xie ◽  
Hao Cui ◽  
Kin Weng Kong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethyl Acetate ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Ethyl Acetate Fraction ◽  
The Body ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Antioxidant Power ◽  
Glycogen Accumulation ◽  
Inhibitory Ability

This study aims to evaluate the bioactive components, in vitro bioactivities, and in vivo hypoglycemic effect of P. frutescens leaf, which is a traditional medicine-food homology plant. P. frutescens methanol crude extract and its fractions (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol fractions, and aqueous phase residue) were prepared by ultrasound-enzyme assisted extraction and liquid–liquid extraction. Among the samples, the ethyl acetate fraction possessed the high total phenolic (440.48 μg GAE/mg DE) and flavonoid content (455.22 μg RE/mg DE), the best antioxidant activity (the DPPH radical, ABTS radical, and superoxide anion scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power were 1.71, 1.14, 2.40, 1.29, and 2.4 times higher than that of control Vc, respectively), the most powerful α-glucosidase inhibitory ability with the IC50 value of 190.03 μg/mL which was 2.2-folds higher than control acarbose, the strongest proliferative inhibitory ability against MCF-7 and HepG2 cell with the IC50 values of 37.92 and 13.43 μg/mL, which were considerable with control cisplatin, as well as certain inhibition abilities on acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase. HPLC analysis showed that the luteolin, rosmarinic acid, rutin, and catechin were the dominant components of the ethyl acetate fraction. Animal experiments further demonstrated that the ethyl acetate fraction could significantly decrease the serum glucose level, food, and water intake of streptozotocin-induced diabetic SD rats, increase the body weight, modulate their serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C, improve the histopathology and glycogen accumulation in liver and intestinal tissue. Taken together, P. frutescens leaf exhibits excellent hypoglycemic activity in vitro and in vivo, and could be exploited as a source of natural antidiabetic agent.

scholarly journals Long noncoding RNA SNHG14 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by regulating miR-876-5p/SSR2 axis

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhibin Liao ◽  
Hongwei Zhang ◽  
Chen Su ◽  
Furong Liu ◽  
Yachong Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Noncoding Rna ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Western Blot Assay ◽  
Downstream Target ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Elevated Expression ◽  
Rna Immunoprecipitation

Abstract Background Aberrant expressions of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be related to the progress of HCC. The mechanisms that SNHG14 has participated in the development of HCC are obscure. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the lncRNA, microRNA and mRNA expression level. Cell migration, invasion and proliferation ability were evaluated by transwell and CCK8 assays. The ceRNA regulatory mechanism of SNHG14 was evaluated by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual luciferase reporter assay. Tumorigenesis mouse model was used to explore the roles of miR-876-5p in vivo. The protein levels of SSR2 were measured by western blot assay. Results In this study, we demonstrated that SNHG14 was highly expressed in HCC tissues, meanwhile, the elevated expression of SNHG14 predicted poor prognosis in patients with HCC. SNHG14 promoted proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells. We further revealed that SNHG14 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-876-5p and that SSR2 was a downstream target of miR-876-5p in HCC. Transwell, CCK8 and animal experiments exhibited miR-876-5p inhibited HCC progression in vitro and in vivo. By conducting rescue experiments, we found the overexpression of SSR2 or knocking down the level of miR-876-5p could reverse the suppressive roles of SNHG14 depletion in HCC. Conclusion SNHG14 promotes HCC progress by acting as a sponge of miR-876-5p to regulate the expression of SSR2 in HCC.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Biosafety Analysis of Resorbable Polyglycolic Acid-Polylactic Acid Block Copolymer Composites for Spinal Fixation

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Seung Kyun Yoon ◽  
Jin Ho Yang ◽  
Hyun Tae Lim ◽  
Young-Wook Chang ◽  
Muhammad Ayyoob ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Polymeric Materials ◽  
Polyglycolic Acid ◽  
Poly Lactic Acid ◽  
Skin Sensitization ◽  
Spinal Fixation ◽  
In Vivo Degradation

Herein, spinal fixation implants were constructed using degradable polymeric materials such as PGA–PLA block copolymers (poly(glycolic acid-b-lactic acid)). These materials were reinforced by blending with HA-g-PLA (hydroxyapatite-graft-poly lactic acid) and PGA fiber before being tested to confirm its biocompatibility via in vitro (MTT assay) and in vivo animal experiments (i.e., skin sensitization, intradermal intracutaneous reaction, and in vivo degradation tests). Every specimen exhibited suitable biocompatibility and biodegradability for use as resorbable spinal fixation materials.

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