4216 Application of artificial neural networks for image analysis of organ culture preserved donor corneas: A pilot study

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers account for 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) is an advanced therapeutic endoscopy technique with superior clinical outcome due to the minimally invasive and en bloc removal of tumours. In the western world, ESD is seldom carried out, due to its complex and challenging nature. Various surgical systems are being developed to make this therapy accessible, however, these solutions have shown limited operational workspace, dexterity, or low force exertion capabilities. The current paper shows the ESD CYCLOPS system, a bimanual surgical robotic attachment that can be mounted at the end of any flexible endoscope. The system is able to achieve forces of up to 46N, and showed a mean error of 0.217mm during an elliptical tracing task. The workspace and instrument dexterity is shown by pre-clinical ex vivo trials, in which ESD is successfully performed by a GI surgeon. The system is currently undergoing pre-clinical in vivo validation

Penile Exogenous Pigmentation Mimicking Melanoma

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A Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Scans Identifies IL18RAP, PTPN2, TAGAP, and PUS10 As Shared Risk Loci for Crohn's Disease and Celiac Disease

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Generation of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (UNIBSi008-A, UNIBSi008-B, UNIBSi008-C) from an Ataxia-Telangiectasia (AT) patient carrying a novel homozygous deletion in ATM gene.

Abstract Using a Sendai Virus based vector delivering Yamanaka Factors, we generated induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a patient affected by Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT), caused by a novel homozygous deletion in ATM, spanning exons 5 to 7. Three clones were fully characterized for pluripotency and capability to differentiate. These clones preserved the causative mutation of parental cells and genomic stability over time (>100 passages). Furthermore, in AT derived iPSCs we confirmed the impaired DNA damage response after ionizing radiation. All these data underline potential usefulness of our clones as in vitro AT disease model

Generation of three iPSC lines from fibroblasts of a patient with Aicardi Goutières Syndrome mutated in TREX1

Fibroblasts from a patient with Aicardi Gouti\ue8res Syndrome (AGS) carrying a compound heterozygous mutation in TREX1, were reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to establish isogenic clonal stem cell lines: UNIBSi006-A, UNIBSi006-B, and UNIBSi006-C. Cells were transduced using the episomal Sendai viral vectors, containing human OCT4, SOX2, c-MYC and KLF4 transcription factors. The transgene-free iPSC lines showed normal karyotype, expressed pluripotent markers and displayed in vitro differentiation potential toward cells of the three embryonic germ layers

Intravesical prostaglandin e2 effectiveness in the prevention of urinary retention after transvaginal reconstruction of the pubo-cervical fascia and short arm sling according to Lahodny: a prospective randomized clinical trial

Intravesical prostaglandin E2 is effective in the recovery of spontaneous voiding after transvaginal reconstruction of the pubocervical fascia and short arm sling according to Lahodny. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of intravesical prostaglandin E2 in the prevention of urinary retention after transvaginal reconstruction of the pubocervical fascia and short arm sling according to Lahodny. STUDY DESIGN: From November 1996 to June 1999 fifty women underwent the Lahodny procedure for moderate/severe cystocele and stress urinary incontinence. Women were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 study groups: intravesical prostaglandin E2 versus controls. Data obtained were analyzed with the Student t test and the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Two patients of the treatment group had to be excluded from the study, one because of the wrong measurement of the post-voidal residual volume and another due to a fastidious burning sensation which appeared immediately after prostaglandin instillation and required the suspension of the treatment. No other side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or hyperthermia were observed. Patients who underwent the prostaglandin E2 treatment showed a recovery of spontaneous voiding after 7.9±6.7 days, whereas this interval was significantly longer in the control group, being 12.9±9.7 days (p=0.04, Two tailed Unpaired Student's T test). CONCLUSION: The effectiveness and the low associated morbidity mark the treatment with intravesical prostaglandin E2 useful in the recovery of normal voiding after transvaginal pubocervical fascia reconstruction and short arm sling with the procedure according to Lahodny

Increased p21 expression in chondrocytes of achondroplasic children independently from the presence of the G380R FGFR3 mutation

Background. Achondroplasia (ACH) represents the major cause of dwarfi sm and is due to mutations in the fi broblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene. The cellular mechanisms involved in the reduced growth have been mainly described for in vitro or in vivo models, but few data have been obtained for humans. Methods. Thirteen children with ACH were enrolled in the study; the presence of FGFR3 mutations was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and sequencing, whereas protein expression in cartilage biopsy was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results. Chondrocytes in cartilage biopsies of ACH children were characterized by the presence of growth arrest mediated by STAT activation (both STAT1 and STAT5) and increased expression of p21 and cyclin D1, whereas no expression of either p53 or cyclin D3 could be detected. This mechanism was present in ACH children carrying the G380R mutation but also in a patient in whom no mutation could be detected in the entire coding region of the FGFR3 gene. Conclusions. These data thus demonstrate the presence of a common fi nal mechanism involving p21 and possibly leading to a block in chondrocyte proliferation

Distress, depression and coping in HLA-B27-associated anterior uveitis with focus on gender differences

Background/aims To evaluate depression, coping with disease and stress, and the subjective impression of distress and/or life events as triggers for recurrences in HLA-B27-associated anterior uveitis (B27-AU), with attention to gender-specific characteristics. Methods 171 patients with a history of B27-AU responded to a postal survey performed between January 2006 and April 2008 using standardised psychological questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory, Freiburg Questionnaire on Coping with Illness, and Stress Coping Inventory. Results Patients with B27-AU differed from healthy controls showing more depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, 31.6%), applying characteristic disease coping as well as negative stress coping strategies. Female B27-AU patients tended to react with depression and male patients to use negative stress coping strategies. 57.9% of patients believed that psychological distress was a trigger for relapses, and 34.5% stated specific life events. Together, this group of patients achieved higher depression scores and used more negative disease and stress coping styles than patients without perception of distress. Conclusion Patients with B27-AU patients exhibited significant psychopathology concerning depression and disease coping. Distress and life events were subjectively suspected to be a trigger. By imparting knowledge to the patients on probable development of depressive moods and the role of stress/life events as trigger for relapses, as well as offering behaviour therapy to optimise coping, may help patients to cope better with B27-AU