Diabetic Cystopathy Occurs Independently from Other Atherosclerotic Risks

It has not yet been clarified whether atherosclerotic risks other than diabetes are related to bladder small fiber neuropathy (cystopathy) in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to answer this question by urodynamics. This was a retrospective study. The subjects were 44 patients: 27 male, 17 female; mean age 67.0 ± 12.7 years; mean duration of diabetes 16.8 ± 13.1 years; mean HbA1c 7.8 ± 1.2%. We analyzed the relationship between diabetic cystopathy (at least one of the following abnormalities in urodynamics: decreased bladder sensation, post-void residual, detrusor overactivity, low-compliance detrusor) and clinical items, i.e., severity and duration of diabetes, nerve conduction, body mass index, blood pressure, cardio-ankle vascular stiffness index, and ultrasound Doppler echography (plaque score, intima-media thickness) in these patients. As a result, urodynamic diabetic cystopathy was not correlated with any of the above systemic items. In conclusion, the above findings suggest that bladder small fiber neuropathy can occur independently from systemic atherosclerotic risks.

EVALUATION OF THE BRAIN PLACENTA INDEX AND THE AMNIOTIC LIQUID IN HIGH RISK PREGNANCY AS A PREDICTOR OF LOW APGAR

Fetal distress is an alteration of the fetus maternal exchange with disorder in the metabolism due to complications of high-risk pregnancies that affect the well-being of the fetus, Evaluation by Doppler echography and amniotic fluid index can help us to diagnose fetal distress; the Objective of the research was to analyze the Brain placenta index and amniotic fluid index in high-risk pregnancies as a predictor of low Apgar; We investigated pregnant women who attended the hospital Alfredo G Paulson performing Doppler ultrasounds, the result when evaluating the pathologies of high Risk comparing ALI with Apgar was (p.208) and BPI with Apgar was (p.064) which indicates that there are differences so we came to the conclusion that they do not predict if the fetus at the time of birth would present Apgar bass.

Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 are CAD More Relevant Biomarkers Than -1, -8, and -12 to Separate CAD from Non-CAD Patients

Background: Atherosclerotic Carotid Artery Disease (CAD) is a frequent cause of mortality worldwide. The discovery of biomarkers that evidenced CAD progression would help with cardiovascular risk reduction. Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been associated with plaque progression, lesion aggravation, and rupture. Objective: This study evaluated that MMPs serum optical-densities and digestive gel-activity are associated with CAD. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 65 outpatients presenting CAD (n=31) or not (n=34). The Carotid disease was evidenced by Doppler echography. ELISA and SDS-PAGE zymography were performed to determine MMPs serum optical-densities and proteolytic-activity. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed to identify the most relevant MMPs (MMP-1, 2, 8, 9 and 12). Results: MMP-2 and MMP-9 showed lower serum optical-densities in CAD (MMP-2, p = 0.0246; and MMP-9, p < 0.0001), but higher digestive enzymatic activity when compared to non-CAD samples (p < 0.0001). PCA analysis strengthens the singling out of those individual MMPs as predictors of choice to differentiate CAD from non-CAD patients as opposed to others MMPs. Analysis of the loadings showed MMP-2 and MMP-9 as the most important independent variables to separate CAD from non-CAD patients. Conclusion: MMP-2 and MMP-9 are more relevant biomarkers for CAD than the other MMPs analyzed.

On the Design of a Safe Human-Friendly Teleoperated System for Doppler Sonography

Variable stiffness actuators are employed to improve the safety features of robots that share a common workspace with humans. In this paper, a study of a joint variable stiffness device developed by PPRIME Institute—called V2SOM— for implementation in the joints of a multi-DoF robot is presented. A comparison of the interaction forces produced by a rigid body robot and a flexible robot using the V2SOM is provided through a dynamic simulator of a 7-DoF robot. As an example of potential applications, robot-assisted Doppler echography is proposed, which mainly focuses on guaranteeing patient safety when the robot holding the ultrasound probe comes into contact with the patient. For this purpose, an evaluation of both joint and Cartesian control approaches is provided. The simulation results allow us to corroborate the effectiveness of the V2SOM device to guarantee human safety when it is implemented in a multi-DoF robot.