The use of the LigaSure device and the Stapler in closure of the small bowel: a comparative ex vivo study

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the LigaSure device in closing divisions of the small bowel in an ex vivo porcine model. Methods Two types of closure were performed: stumps created by ‘‘muco-mucosa’’ fusion and stumps created by ‘‘sero-serosa’’ fusion. For each type of closure, different power levels of the LigaSure system were tested in com-bination with different numbers of applications and then compared with the Stapler group. Results With both types of intestinal closure, the highest value of burst pressure was obtained with the application of a power level of three bars and one frequency application. The high burst pressure of the muco-mucosa stump group was significantly lower than that of the Stapler group (41.8 ±5.9 vs. 75.8±5.9, respectively, p\0.01). No differences were found between the high burst pressure of the sero-serosa stump group and the Stapler group (74.1 ±5.5 vs. 75.8±5.9, respectively,p=0.2). Conclusions Our preliminary results showed that the LigaSure is an efficient tool for closing the intestines when sero-serosa stumps are created. The second step of our work will be to evaluate the feasibility of this tool in cre-ating intestinal anastomos

Memorization test and resting state EEG components in mild and subjective cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND: Mild (MCI) and Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI) are conditions at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Differential between normal aging at early stages can be really challenging; available biomarkers need to be combined and can be quite invasive and expensive. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this pilot study is to examine possible EEG alterations in MCI and SCI compared to controls, analyzing if a cognitive task could highlight early AD hallmarks. METHOD: We recruited 11 MCI, 8 SCI and 7 healthy subjects as controls (CS), all matched for age and education. Neuropsychological assessment and EEG recording, at resting state and during a mental memory task, were performed. Classical spectral measures and nonlinear parameters were used to characterize EEGs. RESULTS: During cognitive task, \u3b1-band power reduction was found predominantly in frontal regions in SCI and CS, diffused to all regions in MCI; moreover, decreased EEG complexity was found in SCI compared to controls. The \u3b1 -band power attenuation restricted to frontal regions in SCI during a free recall task (involving frontal areas), suggests that MCI patients compensate for encoding deficit by activating different brain networks to perform the same task. Furthermore, EEG complexity reduction - that has been found already in SCI - could be a possible early hallmark of AD. CONCLUSION: This study draws attention on the importance of nonlinear approach in EEG analysis and the potential role of cognitive task in highlighting EEG alterations at very early stages of cognitive impairment; EEG could therefore have a practical impact on dementia diagnosis

Actuators based on intrinsic conductive polymers/carbon nanoparticles nanocompositesElectroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2013

New polyaniline (PANi) synthesis was performed starting from non-toxic N-phenil-p-phenylenediamine (aniline dimer) using reverse addition of monomer to oxidizing agent, the synthesis allows to produce highly soluble PANi. Several types of doped PANi were prepared to be used on electromechanical active actuators. Different techniques were used to include carbon nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes and graphene. Bimorph solid state ionic actuators were prepared with these novel nanocomposites using a variety of supporting polymer

Low-Cost and High-Performance Solution for Positioning and Monitoring of Large Structures

Systems for accurate attitude and position monitoring of large structures, such as bridges, tunnels, and offshore platforms are changing in recent years thanks to the exploitation of sensors based on Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) as an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). Currently adopted solutions are, in fact, mainly based on fiber optic sensors (characterized by high performance in attitude estimation to the detriment of relevant costs large volumes and heavy weights) and integrated with a Global Position System (GPS) capable of providing low-frequency or single-update information about the position. To provide a cost-effective alternative and overcome the limitations in terms of dimensions and position update frequency, a suitable solution and a corresponding prototype, exhibiting performance very close to those of the traditional solutions, are presented and described hereinafter. The solution leverages a real-time Kalman filter that, along with the proper features of the MEMS inertial sensor and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS, allows achieving performance in terms of attitude and position estimates suitable for this kind of application. The results obtained in a number of tests underline the promising reliability and effectiveness of the solution in estimating the attitude and position of large structures. In particular, several tests carried out in the laboratory highlighted high system stability; standard deviations of attitude estimates as low as 0.04 degrees were, in fact, experienced in tests conducted in static conditions. Moreover, the prototype performance was also compared with a fiber optic sensor in tests emulating actual operating conditions; differences in the order of a few hundredths of a degree were found in the attitude measurements

BCI-Based Neuro-Rehabilitation Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease: cases Report

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is characterized by motor and cognitive decay, coupled to an alteration of brain oscillatory patterns. In this study a novel neuro-rehabilitation tool, based on the application of motor imagery into a Brain Computer Interface system, is presented with some preliminary data. Three patients were evaluated (with motor, neuropsychological and EEG testing) before and after a neuro-rehabilitation protocol made by 15 experimental sessions. Patients showed a decrease of freezing of gait severity, an improvement in alpha and beta EEG bands power, and a better performance on some attention and executive tasks

Cerebral hypoperfusion in post-COVID-19 cognitively impaired subjects revealed by arterial spin labeling MRI

Cognitive impairment is one of the most prevalent symptoms of post Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome COronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) state, which is known as Long COVID. Advanced neuroimaging techniques may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiological brain changes and the underlying mechanisms in post-COVID-19 subjects. We aimed at investigating regional cerebral perfusion alterations in post-COVID-19 subjects who reported a subjective cognitive impairment after a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, using a non-invasive Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) MRI technique and analysis. Using MRI-ASL image processing, we investigated the brain perfusion alterations in 24 patients (53.0 ± 14.5 years, 15F/9M) with persistent cognitive complaints in the post COVID-19 period. Voxelwise and region-of-interest analyses were performed to identify statistically significant differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps between post-COVID-19 patients, and age and sex matched healthy controls (54.8 ± 9.1 years, 13F/9M). The results showed a significant hypoperfusion in a widespread cerebral network in the post-COVID-19 group, predominantly affecting the frontal cortex, as well as the parietal and temporal cortex, as identified by a non-parametric permutation testing (p < 0.05, FWE-corrected with TFCE). The hypoperfusion areas identified in the right hemisphere regions were more extensive. These findings support the hypothesis of a large network dysfunction in post-COVID subjects with cognitive complaints. The non-invasive nature of the ASL-MRI method may play an important role in the monitoring and prognosis of post-COVID-19 subjects

Harmonic technology versus neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser and electrocautery for lung metastasectomy: An experimental study

We compared the efficacy of non-anatomical lung resections with that of three other techniques: monopolar electrocautery; neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser and harmonic technology. We hypothesized that the thermal damage with harmonic technology could be reduced because of the lower temperatures generated by harmonic technology compared with that of other devices.OBJECTIVES We compared the efficacy of non-anatomical lung resections with that of three other techniques: monopolar electrocautery; neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser and harmonic technology. We hypothesized that the thermal damage with harmonic technology could be reduced because of the lower temperatures generated by harmonic technology compared with that of other devices. METHODS Initial studies were performed in 13 isolated pig lungs for each group. A 1.5-cm capsule was inserted within the lung to mimic a tumour and a total of 25 non-anatomical resections were performed with each device. The damage of the resected lung surface and of the tumour border were evaluated according to the colour (ranging from 0 - pink colour to 4 - black colour), histological (ranging from Score 0 - no changes to Score 3 - presence of necrotic tissue) and radiological (ranging from Score 0 - isointense T2 signal at magnetic resonance imaging to Score 3 - hyperintense T2 signal) criteria. A total of seven non-anatomical resections with harmonic technology were also performed in two live pigs to assess if ex vivo results could be reproducible in live pigs with particular attention to haemostatic and air-tightness properties. RESULTS In the ex vivo lung, there was a statistical significant difference between depth of thermal damage (P < 0.0001) in electrocautery (1.3 [1.2-1.4]), laser (0.9 [0.6-0.9]) and harmonic (0.4 [0.3-0.5]) groups. Electrocautery had a higher depth of thermal damage compared with that of the laser (P = 0.01) and harmonic groups (P = 0.0005). The harmonic group had a less depth of thermal damage than that of the laser group (P = 0.01). Also, histological damages of tumour borders (P < 0.001) and resected lung surface (P < 0.001), radiological damage of tumour borders (P < 0.001) and resected lung surface (P < 0.001) and colour changes (P < 0.001) were statistically different between three study groups. Resections of in vivo pig lungs showed no bleeding; 2 of 7 cases of low air leaks were found; however, they ceased by sealing lung parenchyma with harmonic technology. CONCLUSIONS Our experimental data support the resections performed with the use of harmonic technology. The lack of severe tissue alterations could favour healing of parenchyma, assure air tightness and preserve functional lung parenchyma. However, randomized controlled studies are needed in an in vivo model to corroborate our findings

Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease amyloid protein polymerizes according to the "dock-and-lock" model.

Prion protein (PrP) amyloid formation is a central feature of genetic and acquired prion diseases such as Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Themajor component of GSS amyloid is a PrP fragment spanning residues ∼82-146, which when synthesized as a peptide, readily forms fibrils featuring GSS amyloid. The present study employed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to characterize the binding events underlying PrP82-146 oligomerization at the first stages of fibrillization, according to evidence suggesting a pathogenic role of prefibrillar oligomers rather than mature amyloid fibrils. We followed in real time the binding reactions occurring during short term (seconds) addition of PrP82-146 small oligomers (1-5-mers, flowing species) onto soluble prefibrillar PrP82-146 aggregates immobilized on the sensor surface. SPR data confirmed very efficient aggregation/elongation, consistent with the hypothesis of nucleation-dependent polymerization process. Much lower binding was observed when PrP82-146 flowed onto the scrambled sequence of PrP82-146 or onto prefibrillar Aβ42 aggregates. As previously found with Aβ40, SPR data could be adequately fitted by equations modeling the "dock-and-lock" mechanism, in which the "locking" step is due to sequential conformational changes, each increasing the affinity of the monomerfor the fibril until a condition of irreversible binding is reached. However, these conformational changes (i.e. the locking steps) appear to be faster and easier with PrP82-146 than with Aβ40. Such differences suggest that PrP82-146 has a greater propensity to polymerize and greater stability of the aggregates. © 2006 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc

Development status of the UV-VIS detector system of SOXS for the ESO-NTT telescope

SOXS will be the new spectroscopic facility for the ESO NTT telescope able to cover the optical and NIR bands by using two different arms: the UV-VIS (350-850 nm), and the NIR (800-2000 nm). In this article, we describe the development status of the visible camera cryostat, the architecture of the acquisition system and the progress in the electronic design. The UV-VIS detector system is based on a CCD detector 44-82 from e2v, a custom detector head, coupled with the ESO continuous flow cryostats (CFC), a custom cooling system, based on a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), and the New General Controller (NGC) developed by ESO. This paper outlines the development status of the system, describes the design of the different parts that make up the UV-VIS arm and is accompanied by a series of information describing the SOXS design solutions in the mechanics and in the electronics parts. The first tests of the detector system with the UV-VIS camera will be shown.Comment: 10 pager, 13 figure

Clinical Features, Cardiovascular Risk Profile, and Therapeutic Trajectories of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Candidate for Oral Semaglutide Therapy in the Italian Specialist Care

Introduction: This study aimed to address therapeutic inertia in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by investigating the potential of early treatment with oral semaglutide. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 among specialists treating individuals with T2D. A scientific committee designed a data collection form covering demographics, cardiovascular risk, glucose control metrics, ongoing therapies, and physician judgments on treatment appropriateness. Participants completed anonymous patient questionnaires reflecting routine clinical encounters. The preferred therapeutic regimen for each patient was also identified. Results: The analysis was conducted on 4449 patients initiating oral semaglutide. The population had a relatively short disease duration (42%  60% of patients, and more often than sitagliptin or empagliflozin. Conclusion: The study supports the potential of early implementation of oral semaglutide as a strategy to overcome therapeutic inertia and enhance T2D management