A neural probe with up to 966 electrodes and up to 384 configurable channels in 0.13 μm SOI CMOS

In vivo recording of neural action-potential and local-field-potential signals requires the use of high-resolution penetrating probes. Several international initiatives to better understand the brain are driving technology efforts towards maximizing the number of recording sites while minimizing the neural probe dimensions. We designed and fabricated (0.13-μm SOI Al CMOS) a 384-channel configurable neural probe for large-scale in vivo recording of neural signals. Up to 966 selectable active electrodes were integrated along an implantable shank (70 μm wide, 10 mm long, 20 μm thick), achieving a crosstalk of −64.4 dB. The probe base (5 × 9 mm2) implements dual-band recording and a 1

Cardiovascular Organ Damage in Clinical Subtypes of Systemic Sclerosis: Arterial Stiffness and Echocardiography Might Not Be the Ideal Tools for Patient Risk Stratification

Background. Vascular damage is recognized as a diagnostic landmark in systemic sclerosis (SSc), both in its limited and diffuse subtypes. Early detection at a subclinical stage with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) may be helpful in therapeutic planning and management. Aim of the Study. The aim of the study was to evaluate presence of subclinical cardiovascular damage in patients with limited and diffuse SSc in comparison with a cohort of healthy individuals. Methods. Consecutive patients with limited and diffuse SSc underwent complete TTE and cfPWV and a complete review of clinical data. As controls, 23 healthy subjects with similar hemodynamic profiles were selected. Results. 41 patients (35 female, aged 56.9 years), 21 with diffuse and 20 with limited SSc, were recruited. Past medical history, cardiovascular risk factors, gender distribution, and disease duration were similar in the two groups as well as TTE parameters and hemodynamic indexes—cfPWV (6.5 [6–6.8] vs. 7.0 [6.2–8.5], p=0.24) and augmentation index (145.6 ± 14.2 vs. 149 ± 20.6, p=0.52). Patients with limited SSc were 10 years older than patients with diffuse SSc. In the multiple regression analysis, only age (p=0.0154) and disease duration (p=0.0467) resulted as the significant determinant of cfPWV. When compared to healthy controls, no significant difference emerged in TTE or hemodynamic indexes. Conclusion. In SSc, cfPWV increases with age, with no additional impact of pathology or subtype. Vascular damage in the SSc population is not accurately reflected in increased arterial stiffness, as evaluated with cfPWV, or classically defined echocardiographic findings of organ damage (i.e., left ventricular concentric remodelling and increased filling pressures)

Predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT on survival in locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiation

To evaluate the prognostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in terms of survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) who had undergone surgery preceded by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Moreover, the existence of correlation between Overall Survival (OS) and Disease Free Survival (DFS) with pathological staging ((y)pTNM and TRG) was evaluated

Project “V-FIDES”: An innovative, multi purpose, autonomous underwater platform

The proposed work aims to describe the “V-FIDES” project, focused on developing a new generation of agile, over-actuated, long endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, for deep underwater exploration, operation and environmental monitoring. The project, co-funded by Tuscany Region (Italy), has been developed by a team lead by WASS S.p.A. (Whitehead Sistemi Subacquei, Livorno), with the participation of several partners including Kayser Italia S.r.l., Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, University of Pisa and other SMEs in the Tuscany area. This paper gives an overview of the developed general architecture of the vehicle and obtained results during the project

A 966-Electrode Neural Probe with 384 Configurable Channels in 0.13µm SOI CMOS

In vivo recording of neural action-potential (AP) and local-field-potential (LFP) signals requires the use of high-resolution penetrating probes. Driven by the need for large-scale recording and minimal tissue damage, a technology roadmap has been defined for next-generation probes aiming to maximize the number of recording sites while minimizing the probe dimensions [1]. In this paper we present a 384-channel configurable active neural probe for high-density recording which implements in situ buffering under each electrode to minimize the crosstalk between adjacent metal lines along the shank and other parasitic effects inherent to traditional passive probes [2]. Up to 966 selectable, neuron-sized electrodes (12×12μm2) were densely packed along a narrow (70μm) and thin (20μm) implantable shank using integrated CMOS. With twice the number of electrodes compared to state-of-the-art neural probes [2], our design achieves the highest electrode count in a single shank reported so far

"GONE WITH THE WIND": The Transitory Effects of COVID-19 on the Gynecological System

The coronavirus disease no longer seems to represent an insurmountable global problem. This is thanks to the advent of coronavirus vaccines, which have alleviated the most serious symptoms associated with this disease. On the other hand, there are still many extrapulmonary symptoms of COVID-19, and among these also those of a gynecological nature. At the moment, there are several questions in this field, one above all concerns the causal link between COVID-19, vaccines and gynecological alterations. Furthermore, another important aspect is represented by the clinical impact of post-COVID-19 gynecological alterations on the female population which, to date, would seem to be mainly due to their duration, even if the extent of these symptoms is still poorly understood. Furthermore, it is not possible to foresee eventual long-term aggravations, or more serious symptoms caused by other viral variants that may arrive in the future. In this review, we focus on this theme and attempt to reorganize the different pieces of a puzzle which, to date, does not seem to have shown us its complete picture