A Novel Thrombectomy Device: An In Vitro Evaluation of a Prototype Catheter

Purpose: This prototype catheter is a newly-developed distal access catheter featuring a self-expanding, flexible, funnel-shaped tip. The purpose of its design is to reduce the risk of thrombus fragmentation during mechanical thrombectomy and improve first-pass recanalization (TICI 3). In this experimental setup, we preclinically evaluated the effectiveness and navigability of the new catheter. Methods: A vessel model was filled with a blood-like-viscous medium, and the image was projected with the corresponding vessel area by camera transmission to correspond to the conditions in an angiography. Thrombi from porcine blood were placed into the Arteria Carotis interna of the vascular model and subsequently mechanically thrombectomized with a stent retriever. In the first part, the prototype was compared to a standard distal-access-catheter without using an external catheter. (N = 20 for each catheter). In the second part the prototype was inserted through a guiding catheter (n=11) to determine the navigability performance. Results: In the first experimental series, mechanical thrombectomy was successful 19 out of 20 times (95% success rate) for the prototype catheter versus 15 out of 20 times (75% success rate) for the standard distal-access-catheter. In the second experimental series, the prototype catheter achieved first-pass recanalization 10 out of 11 times (91 % success rate) and 1 out of 11 times at second pass (9%). Conclusion: This series of experiments demonstrated higher first-pass recanalization rates for the newly-developed funnel-shaped prototype featuring a self-expanding tip in comparison to a cylindrical standard distal-access-catheter.

Avaliação de desempenho do processo de descentralização das ações de Vigilância Sanitária no Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Objetivo: Avaliar o desempenho do processo de descentralização das ações de vigilância sanitária no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Método: Pesquisa avaliativa com uso de métodos mistos. Primeiro foi conduzida pesquisa documental sobre o processo de descentralização da vigilância sanitária no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Em sequência método quase-experimental, séries temporais interrompidas, foi aplicado para testar efeitos imediatos e graduais da intervenção sobre o indicador “percentual de municípios que realizam no mínimo seis grupos de ações de vigilância sanitária consideradas necessárias a todos os municípios no ano”. Essa informação foi extraída do Sistema de Informação Ambulatorial. Em ambas as abordagens o período de análise compreendeu 2010 a 2019. Resultados: A linha do tempo foi fundamental para explicitar o caminho percorrido no processo de descentralização da vigilância sanitária no Estado destacando os principais marcos, avanços e desafios que emergiram nesse contexto. A regressão segmentada mostrou que a partir da ampliação da intervenção no Estado houve um aumento (β2) no patamar de 5,12% (p = 0,0000) na execução das ações pactuadas. Com o passar do tempo, a tendência (β3) apresentou queda de -8,39% (p = 0,1370). Foi identificado aumento estatisticamente significativo do nível do indicador nas regiões Baixada Litorânea (β2: 19,90%, p = 0,0000 e IC 95%: 44,6582 - 55,1423), Médio Paraíba (β2: 15,01%, p = 0,0000 e IC95%: 37,8740 - 52,1592), Serrana (β2: 12,80%, p = 0,0000 e IC95%: 17,9140 - 22,1812), Metropolitanas I (β2: 37,82%, p = 0,0002 e IC95%: 28,5069 - 47,1460) e Metropolitana II (β2: 55,05%, p = 0,0011 e IC 95%: 43,2534 - 86,8552). Apenas a região Serrana apresentou tendência de redução de β3: -10,63% estatisticamente significativa (p = 0,0000). Conclusão: Os achados sinalizam que o processo de descentralização necessita de efetivo apoio técnico e administrativo para ser legitimado numa perspectiva social que vise à promoção de ações integradas.

Unlocking big data doubled the accuracy in predicting the grain yield in hybrid wheat

The potential of big data to support businesses has been demonstrated in financial services, manufacturing, and telecommunications. Here, we report on efforts to enter a new data era in plant breeding by collecting genomic and phenotypic information from 12,858 wheat genotypes representing 6575 single-cross hybrids and 6283 inbred lines that were evaluated in six experimental series for yield in field trials encompassing ~125,000 plots. Integrating data resulted in twofold higher prediction ability compared with cases in which hybrid performance was predicted across individual experimental series. Our results suggest that combining data across breeding programs is a particularly appropriate strategy to exploit the potential of big data for predictive plant breeding. This paradigm shift can contribute to increasing yield and resilience, which is needed to feed the growing world population.

Do we cause false positives? An experimental series on droplet or airborne SARS-CoV-2 contamination of sampling tubes during swab collection in a test center

The rapid spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic urged immense testing capacities as one cornerstone of infection control. Many institutions opened outpatient SARS-CoV-2 test centers to allow large number of tests in comparatively short time frames. With increasing positive test rates, concerns for a possible airborne or droplet contamination of specimens leading to false-positive results were raised. In our experimental series performed in a dedicated SARS-CoV-2 test center, 40 open collection tubes placed for defined time periods in proximity to individuals were found to be SARS-CoV-2 negative. These findings argue against false-positive SARS-CoV-2 results due to droplet or airborne contamination.

Raman Spectroscopy-Based Quality Control of “Silicon-On-Insulator” Nanowire Chips for the Detection of Brain Cancer-Associated MicroRNA in Plasma

Application of micro-Raman spectroscopy for the monitoring of quality of nanowire sensor chips fabrication has been demonstrated. Nanowire chips have been fabricated on the basis of «silicon-on-insulator» (SOI) structures (SOI-NW chips). The fabrication of SOI-NW chips was performed by optical litography with gas-phase etching. The so-fabricated SOI-NW chips are intended for highly sensitive detection of brain cancer biomarkers in humans. In our present study, two series of experiments have been conducted. In the first experimental series, detection of a synthetic DNA oligonucleotide (oDNA) analogue of brain cancer-associated microRNA miRNA-363 in purified buffer solution has been performed in order to demonstrate the high detection sensitivity. The second experimental series has been performed in order to reveal miRNA-363 itself in real human plasma samples. To provide detection biospecificity, the SOI-NW chip surface was modified by covalent immobilization of probe oligonucleotides (oDNA probes) complementary to the target biomolecules. Using the SOI-NW sensor chips proposed herein, the concentration detection limit of the target biomolecules at the level of 3.3 × 10−17 M has been demonstrated. Thus, the approach employing the SOI-NW chips proposed herein represents an attractive tool in biomedical practice, aimed at the early revelation of oncological diseases in humans.

Using Grass Germination to Measure the Toxicity of Household Substances & Teach Statistical Methods

We describe a series of three experiments in which students develop a model system for measuring the LC50 of household substances, using grass seed as the model organism. Students use statistical methods to compare two samples (using chi-square and Student’s t-tests), conduct a two-level multifactor experiment to look at multiple factors simultaneously and observe interactions, and make serial dilutions to measure the LC50 over a threefold concentration range. The experimental series was very inexpensive to run and tended to provide very successful LC50 measurements.

Leukocyte Profile in Experimental Animals in Modeling a Wound Process Under Low Altitude Conditions and in the Period of Deadaptation to High Altitude

The article presents the leukocyte profile in experimental animals during the modeling of the wounded process in the conditions of low mountains and during the period of maladjustment to the high mountains. The animals were divided into 3 series: Series I — control series, permanently living in the conditions of Bishkek; Series II — an experimental series, after a 3-day stay at the experimental high-mountain base of the KSMA named after I. K. Akhunbaev as part of the Central Scientific Research Laboratory, moved to the conditions of Bishkek with subsequent modeling and monitoring of the course of the wound process; III series — an experimental series, after a 30-day stay at the experimental high-mountain base of the KSMA named after I. K. Akhunbaev as part of the Central Scientific Research Laboratory, moved to the conditions of Bishkek, followed by modeling and monitoring the course of the wound process. The analysis of the obtained leukograms shows that in the group of purulent inflammation during the period of maladjustment to the highlands after a short stay in the mountains, on the 3rd day of the study, leukocytosis is noted, during the study, a decrease in this indicator was noted and on the 30th day did not reach the norm.

Dynamics of IL-1β and IL-10 Content in Blood Plasma in Experimental Animals During Modeling of a Wound Process Under Low Altitude Conditions and in the Period of Deadaptation to High Altitude

The article presents the dynamics of the content of IL-1β and IL-10 in blood plasma in experimental animals when modeling a wounded process in low mountains and during the period of de-adaptation to high mountains while modeling a wounded process in conditions of low mountains and during a period of de-adaptation to high mountains. Animals were divided into 3 series: Series I — control series, permanently living in the conditions of Bishkek; II series — an experimental series, after a 3-day stay at the experimental high-mountain base of the KSMA named after I.K. Akhunbaev as part of the Central Scientific Research Laboratory, moved to the conditions of Bishkek with subsequent modeling and monitoring of the course of the wound process; III series - an experimental series, after a 30-day stay at the experimental high-mountain base of the KSMA named after I.K. Akhunbaev as part of the Central Scientific Research Laboratory, moved to the conditions of Bishkek, followed by modeling and monitoring the course of the wound process. Analysis of the data obtained shows that during aseptic inflammation, the opposite dynamics of the production of one of the key interleukins, with IL-1β, with a maximum concentration 12 hours after the onset of aseptic inflammation, was observed. The revealed changes in the content of cytokines during experimental aseptic inflammation determined the timely change and adequate duration of cellular reactions. In purulent inflammation, the dynamics of cytokine secretion was unidirectional, which led to a delay in all cellular phases of the inflammatory process. During the period of deadaptation after a long stay in high mountains, there is a low secretion of IL-1 and 10, associated with the depletion of protective and adaptive mechanisms.

Improving eye–computer interaction interface design: Ergonomic investigations of the optimum target size and gaze-triggering dwell time

The Midas touch is reflected by the interactive feedback of interface functional elements, and a low level of spatial accuracy is related to the interaction area. This study tried to solve these two problems from the perspective of human-computer interactions and ergonomics. Two experiments were conducted to explore the optimum target size and gaze-triggering dwell time of the eye–computer interaction (ECI) system. Experimental Series 1 was used as the pre-experiment to identify the size that has a greater task completion rate. Experimental Series 2 was used as the main experiment to investigate the optimum gaze-triggering dwell time by using a comprehensive evaluation of the task completion rate, reaction time, and NASA-TLX (Task Load Index). In Experimental Series 1, the optimal element size was determined to be 256 × 256p x2. The conclusion of Experimental Series 2 was that when the dwell time is set to 600 ms, the efficiency of the interface is the highest, and the task load of subjects is minimal as well. Finally, the results of Experiment Series 1 and 2 have positive effects on improving the usability of the interface. The optimal control size and the optimal dwell time obtained from the experiments have certain reference and application value for interface design and software development of the ECI system.