Laser-assisted Cellular Electrophysiology Measurement System

Patch-clamp technique is the gold standard for cellular electrophysiological measurements, which is capable of measuring single ion transport events across the cell membrane. However, the measurement possesses significant complexity, and it requires a high level of expertise, while its experimental throughput is nevertheless considerably low. Here, we suggest and experimentally demonstrate a laser-assisted method for performing cellular electrophysiological measurements. Femtosecond laser pulses, coupled to an optical microscope, are used to form a sub-micrometer hole on a thin polymer membrane separating two electrodes, where a nearby cell is subsequently placed onto the hole by negative pressure. Afterwards, the cell is punctured using subsequent laser exposure, revealing the cell membrane over the hole for electrophysiological recording. This system could be used to increase the output amount of the electrophysiological measurements substantially.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of a Curved Sandwich Beam with a Time-Dependent Viscoelastic Core Using the Generalized Differential Quadrature Method (GDQM)

This paper focuses on the geometrically nonlinear dynamic analyses of a three-layered curved sandwich beam with isotropic face layers and a time-dependent viscoelastic core. The boundary conditions and equations of motion governing the forced vibration are derived by using Hamilton’s principle. The first-order shear deformation theory is used to obtain kinematic relations. The spatial discretization of the equations is achieved using the generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM), and the Newmark-Beta algorithm is used to solve the time variation of the equations. The Newton–Raphson method is used to transform nonlinear equations into linear equations. The validation of the proposed model and the GDQM solution’s reliability are provided via comparison with the results that already exist in the literature and finite element method (FEM) analyses using ANSYS. Then, a series of parametric studies are carried out for a curved sandwich beam with aluminum face layers and a time-dependent viscoelastic core. The resonance and cancellation phenomena for the nonlinear moving-load problem of curved sandwich beams with a time-dependent viscoelastic core are performed using the GDQM for the first time, to the best of the authors’ knowledge

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Alkali Neutralization in the Refining of Safflower Oil to Minimize the Loss of Bioactive Compounds

In this study, ultrasound-assisted (UA) neutralization parameters are optimized using the response surface methodology to develop a novel alkali neutralization method based on the minimal refining concept. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), magnesium oxide (MgO), and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)) are used in both the traditional (TR) and UA neutralizations. Optimum probe depth, duration, and intensity levels are calculated as 3.7 cm, 25 s, and 54.3%, respectively, for UA neutralization with NaOH, which is more successful at free fatty acid (FFA) reduction and total phenolic content (TPC) retention than MgO and Ca(OH)(2). Validation results of optimum conditions show that lowest average FFA content (0.29%) and highest average TPC (211.2 mg kg(-1)) are determined for the UA-neutralized safflower oil samples. The comparison of all the neutralization experiments reveal that the UA neutralization under optimum conditions using NaOH reduced 82.8% of the FFA content, whereas the TR alkali neutralization reduced the FFA content at a maximum of only 47.8%. Practical Applications: From the results, it can be inferred that the UA neutralization exhibits good performance in FFA content reduction and bioactive compound retention while offering a good solution within the concept of minimal refining.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUB.ITAK) [118O992]; Ege University Planning and Monitoring Coordination of Organizational Development and Directorate of Library and DocumentationThis work was financially supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUB.ITAK) under Project No. 118O992. The authors are grateful to Ege University Planning andMonitoring Coordination of Organizational Development and Directorate of Library and Documentation for their support in editing and proofreading service of this study

An Unusual Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Presentain: Breast, Liver and Lymph Node Metastasis

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) are the common mesenchymal tumors of gastrointestinal tract. They can display benign and malignant clinical behavior. The most common metastasis sites of malignant stromal tumor are liver, peritoneum, lung and bones. Metastasis to breast is extremely rare. Here, we present a case of GIST with liver, bone, lymph node and breast metastasis by reviewing the literature

Myofibroblastoma of the Breast

This study aimed presenting a case of a 64-year-old woman with a rare diagnosis of myofibroblastoma (MFB). MFB is one of the rare, benign, spindle-like stromal tumors arising from the connective tissue of the breast. MFBs are often confused with fibroadenomas and hamartomas because of their benign characteristic appearance on breast imaging and are diagnosed after excisional biopsies. Their differential diagnosis with malignant neoplasia of the breast is important because of their wide morphological spectrum. Our case also demonstrated a breast mass with benign imaging characteristics and a needle core biopsy revealing a benign, spindle-like stromal tumor. The pathological examination performed after the excision of the lump demonstrated a collagenous-/fibrous-type MFB. This case report emphasizes the rare but important place of MFB variants of the breast in the differential diagnosis of breast mass

Organ Sparing Surgery for a Giant Liposarcoma

Liposarcomas those are malignant soft tissue tumors often occur in large sizes in the retroperitoneum and abdomen due to their silent clinic. Excision with negative margins is the gold standard of treatment. A case operated on for a giant intraabdominal liposarcoma is being reported. A giant soft tissue tumor filling the whole abdomen was determined in the computed tomography scan. Core biopsy was obtained and demonstrated a well-differentiated liposarcoma. A 15 kg of mass 44x30x14 cm in size was excised en-bloc. Pathological examination of this tumor showed a well-differentiated liposarcoma with mixoid parts. No recurrence was observed in two years of follow-up despite any adjuvant therapy. This is to be one of the largest retroperitoneal sarcomas in the literature

White blood cell counts and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis of testicular cancer: a simple secondary serum tumor marker

ABSTRACT Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate white blood cell counts and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as markers of systemic inflammation in the diagnosis of localized testicular cancer as a malignancy with initially low volume. Materials and Methods Thirty-six patients with localized testicular cancer with a mean age of 34.22±14.89 years and 36 healthy controls with a mean age of 26.67±2.89 years were enrolled in the study. White blood cell counts and NLR were calculated from complete blood cell counts. Results White blood cell counts and NLR were statistically significantly higher in patients with testicular cancer compared with the control group (p<0.0001 for all). Conclusions Both white blood cell counts and NLR can be used as a simple test in the diagnosis of testicular cancer besides the well-known accurate serum tumor markers as AFP (alpha fetoprotein), hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)