Reconstruction of the rotation center of the hip after oblong cups in revision total hip arthroplasty

Background The preoperative bone defect and the reconstruction of the center of rotation of the hip are critical in acetabular revision surgery. Uncemented oblong cups are employed in order to manage these issues. We analyzed the clinical results and rates of revision of two different uncemented oblong cups, the reconstruction of the center of rotation of the hip, as well as the rate of radiological loosening and possible risk factors. Materials and methods Forty-five patients (46 hips) underwent acetabular revision surgery using two different uncemented oblong cups.Weassessed the clinical results and the survival rate for revision and aseptic loosening. Intraoperative bone loss was classified according to Paprosky, and acetabular reconstruction was assessed according to Ranawat. The mean follow-up was 7.2 years (range 4–11 years). Results There were four re-revisions (three due to aseptic loosening); the survival rate for re-revision due to aseptic loosening was 60.1 % at seven years. The mean distance between the center of the femoral head prosthesis and the approximate center of the femoral head improved from 21.5 to 10.2 mm. Thirteen cups showed radiological loosening; the survival rate for radiological loosening at seven years was 40.54 %. A smaller postoperative horizontal distance was correlated with cup loosening. Conclusions Although optimal acetabular reconstruction can be achieved by using oblong uncemented cups in revision hip surgery, the clinical and radiological results are not encouraging. Excessive medialization of the cup may increase the rate of loosenin

Investigation of potential distribution on a CFRP coupon under impulse current: test results and FDTD simulation

CFRP is becoming in an important material for the future blades due to alternative renewable energy industry plans to increase the length of the blades. This work shows some analytical results about potential distribution on a CFRP coupon obtained after applying an impulse current with different rise time. Effects around electrodes are, symmetry behavior and some interesting comments about the influence of the rise time appear. A FDTD simulation is done and a comparison between FDTD and analytical results. The aim is to evaluate how useful can be this technique when current distribution is over an anisotropic material since tests are not always possible.Preprin

Advances in robotic lung transplantation: development and validation of a new surgical technique in animal models

Lung transplantation; Minimally invasive; Robotic surgeryTrasplantament de pulmó; Mínimament invasiu; Cirurgia robòticaTrasplante de pulmón; Mínimamente invasiva; Cirugía robóticaThe objective of this study was to describe a novel minimally invasive robotic video-assisted approach for lung transplantation, utilizing a minimally invasive technique with a subxiphoid incision, in an animal experimentation model. Two left robotic-assisted single lung transplants were performed in sheep using a robotic surgical system. A subxiphoid incision was made, and robotic ports were inserted into the thoracic cavity for dissection and anastomoses of the bronchus, artery, and pulmonary veins. The integrity of anastomoses was evaluated, and procedural details were recorded. Both animals survived the procedure, with a mean duration of 255 min and a mean console time of 201 min. Anastomoses were performed without complications, and the closed-chest approach with a subxiphoid incision proved successful in preventing gas leakage. The novel approach demonstrated improved exposure and workflow compared to existing techniques. The minimally invasive robotic video-assisted approach for lung transplantation utilizing a closed-chest technique with a subxiphoid incision appears safe and feasible in an animal experimentation model. Further studies in the clinical setting are warranted to establish its feasibility and safety in human lung transplantation. This approach has the potential to offer benefits over the traditional Clamshell incision in lung transplantation procedures

Development and evaluation of different electroactive poly(vinylidene fluoride) architectures for endothelial cell culture

Tissue engineering (TE) aims to develop structures that improve or even replace the biological functions of tissues and organs. Mechanical properties, physical-chemical characteristics, biocompatibility, and biological performance of the materials are essential factors for their applicability in TE. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is a thermoplastic polymer that exhibits good mechanical properties, high biocompatibility and excellent thermal properties. However, PVDF structuring, and the corresponding processing methods used for its preparation are known to significantly influence these characteristics. In this study, doctor blade, salt-leaching, and electrospinning processing methods were used to produce PVDF-based structures in the form of films, porous membranes, and fiber scaffolds, respectively. These PVDF scaffolds were subjected to a variety of characterizations and analyses, including physicochemical analysis, contact angle measurement, cytotoxicity assessment and cell proliferation. All prepared PVDF scaffolds are characterized by a mechanical response typical of ductile materials. PVDF films displayed mostly vibration modes for the a-phase, while the remaining PVDF samples were characterized by a higher content of electroactive beta-phase due the low temperature solvent evaporation during processing. No significant variations have been observed between the different PVDF membranes with respect to the melting transition. In addition, all analysed PVDF samples present a hydrophobic behavior. On the other hand, cytotoxicity assays confirm that cell viability is maintained independently of the architecture and processing method. Finally, all the PVDF samples promote human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation, being higher on the PVDF film and electrospun randomly-oriented membranes. These findings demonstrated the importance of PVDF topography on HUVEC behavior, which can be used for the design of vascular implants.This work has been partially funded by the Junta de Extremadura (Spain), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, and the European Next Generation Funds (Grant Numbers PD18077, TA18023, and GR21201). The authors also thanks to Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for financial support under grants SFRH/BD/140698/2018 (RP), 2020.04163. CEECIND (CR). The also authors acknowledge funding by Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERFD) through the project PID 2019-106099RB-C43/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and from the Basque Government Industry Departments under the ELKARTEK program

Educational models for training in minimally invasive colorectal surgery

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the fourth most deadly cancer in the world for which surgery is the main treatment. Colorectal surgery can be performed through a wide incision in the abdomen or using minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques. Some of these techniques include transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM ), transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS), transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME ), and robot-assisted surgery. Studies increasingly confirm that resections using MIS techniques are safe, oncologically equivalent to open surgery and have better short-term results. These surgical approaches are, however, technically demanding and result in a steep learning curve. The main objective of this study is to review the different MIS techniques for colorectal surgery, as well as the training tools and programs designed to achieve the necessary surgical skills. Different training programs in colorectal surgery have been reported for the different surgical techniques analyzed. Most of these programs are based on training tools in the form of surgical simulators, physical and virtual, as well as the use of experimental and cadaveric models. However, structured training programs in minimally invasive colorectal surgery remain scarce, and there should be a consensus on the fundamental training aspects for the various surgical techniques presented. These training programs should ensure that surgeons acquire sufficient surgical skills to be competent in the development of these surgical techniques, improving the quality of the patient’s surgical outcomes.Rak jelita grubego (RJG) jest trzecim co do częstotliwości rozpoznawania nowotworem złośliwym na świecie, a także czwartą przyczyną zgonów na nowotwory złośliwe. Głównym elementem leczenia RJG jest operacja, którą można wykonać przez rozległe nacięcie powłok lub za pomocą technik minimalnie inwazyjnych. Do tych drugich należą: endoskopowa chirurgia transanalna (TEM ), przezodbytowa chirurgia minimalnie inwazyjna (TAMIS), przezodbytowe całkowite wycięcie mezorektum (TaTME ) oraz chirurgia wspomagana robotowo. Analizy danych potwierdzają, że techniki minimalnie inwazyjne są bezpieczne, równie skuteczne onkologicznie co techniki tradycyjne, a także wiążą się z szybszym powrotem chorych do pełnej sprawności. Ich wspólną cechą są niestety wysokie wymagania techniczne oraz długa krzywa uczenia. W artykule omówione zostały różne techniki minimalnie inwazyjne stosowane w leczeniu RJG oraz metody nauczania tych technik. Jak dotąd opracowano wiele sposobów szkolenia dla różnych technik operacyjnych. Większość opiera się na symulatorach chirurgicznych zarówno rzeczywistych, jak i wirtualnych oraz na wykorzystaniu modeli eksperymentalnych i preparatów z ludzkich zwłok. Niestety usystematyzowane modele szkolenia w minimalnie inwazyjnej chirurgii RJG są nadal rzadkością. Widać wyraźnie potrzebę opracowania konsensusu dotyczącego szkolenia w poszczególnych metodach operacyjnych. Tego rodzaju programy powinny zapewnić uczestniczącym w nich chirurgom zdobycie wiedzy pozwalającej na skuteczne wykonywanie zabiegów w celu zapewnienia pacjentom jak najlepszych efektów leczenia

Endosymbiotic bacteria nodulating a new endemic lupine Lupinus mariae-josephi from alkaline soils in Eastern Spain represent a new lineage within the Bradyrhizobium genus

Lupinus mariae-josephi is a recently described endemic Lupinus species from a small area in Eastern Spain where it thrives in soils with active lime and high pH. The L. mariae-josephi root symbionts were shown to be very slow-growing bacteria with different phenotypic and symbiotic characteristics from those of Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating other Lupinus. Their phylogenetic status was examined by multilocus sequence analyses of four housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, glnII, recA, and atpD) and showed the existence of a distinct evolutionary lineage for L. mariae-josephi that also included Bradyrhizobium jicamae. Within this lineage, the tested isolates clustered in three different sub-groups that might correspond to novel sister Bradyrhizobium species. These core gene analyses consistently showed that all the endosymbiotic bacteria isolated from other Lupinus species of the Iberian Peninsula were related to strains of the B. canariense or B. japonicum lineages and were separate from the L. mariae-josephi isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on nodC symbiotic gene sequences showed that L. mariae-josephi bacteria also constituted a new symbiotic lineage distant from those previously defined in the genus Bradyrhizobium. In contrast, the nodC genes of isolates from other Lupinus spp. from the Iberian Peninsula were again clearly related to the B. canariense and B. japonicum bv. genistearum lineages. Speciation of L. mariae-josephi bradyrhizobia may result from the colonization of a singular habitat by their unique legume host

Wearable Technology for Assessment and Surgical Assistance in Minimally Invasive Surgery

Wearable technology is an emerging field that has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. Advances in sensors, augmented reality devices, the internet of things, and artificial intelligence offer clinically relevant and promising functionalities in the field of surgery. Apart from its well-known benefits for the patient, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a technically demanding surgical discipline for the surgeon. In this regard, wearable technology has been used in various fields of application in MIS such as the assessment of the surgeon’s ergonomic conditions, interaction with the patient or the quality of surgical performance, as well as in providing tools for surgical planning and assistance during surgery. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview based on the scientific literature and our experience regarding the use of wearable technology in MIS, both in experimental and clinical settings

Unearthing the soil-borne microbiome of land plants

Plant–soil biodiversity interactions are fundamental for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, the existence of a set of globally distributed topsoil microbial and small invertebrate organisms consistently associated with land plants (i.e., their consistent soil-borne microbiome), together with the environmental preferences and functional capabilities of these organisms, remains unknown. We conducted a standardized field survey under 150 species of land plants, including 58 species of bryophytes and 92 of vascular plants, across 124 locations from all continents. We found that, despite the immense biodiversity of soil organisms, the land plants evaluated only shared a small fraction (less than 1%) of all microbial and invertebrate taxa that were present across contrasting climatic and soil conditions and vegetation types. These consistent taxa were dominated by generalist decomposers and phagotrophs and their presence was positively correlated with the abundance of functional genes linked to mineralization. Finally, we showed that crossing environmental thresholds in aridity (aridity index of 0.65, i.e., the transition from mesic to dry ecosystems), soil pH (5.5; i.e., the transition from acidic to strongly acidic soils), and carbon (less than 2%, the lower limit of fertile soils) can result in drastic disruptions in the associations between land plants and soil organisms, with potential implications for the delivery of soil ecosystem processes under ongoing global environmental change

The global contribution of soil mosses to ecosystem services

Soil mosses are among the most widely distributed organisms on land. Experiments and observations suggest that they contribute to terrestrial soil biodiversity and function, yet their ecological contribution to soil has never been assessed globally under natural conditions. Here we conducted the most comprehensive global standardized field study to quantify how soil mosses influence 8 ecosystem services associated with 24 soil biodiversity and functional attributes across wide environmental gradients from all continents. We found that soil mosses are associated with greater carbon sequestration, pool sizes for key nutrients and organic matter decomposition rates but a lower proportion of soil-borne plant pathogens than unvegetated soils. Mosses are especially important for supporting multiple ecosystem services where vascular-plant cover is low. Globally, soil mosses potentially support 6.43 Gt more carbon in the soil layer than do bare soils. The amount of soil carbon associated with mosses is up to six times the annual global carbon emissions from any altered land use globally. The largest positive contribution of mosses to soils occurs under a high cover of mat and turf mosses, in less-productive ecosystems and on sandy and salty soils. Our results highlight the contribution of mosses to soil life and functions and the need to conserve these important organisms to support healthy soils.The study work associated with this paper was funded by a Large Research Grant from the British Ecological Society (no. LRB17\1019; MUSGONET). D.J.E. is supported by the Hermon Slade Foundation. M.D.-B. was supported by a Ramón y Cajal grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (RYC2018-025483-I), a project from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the I + D + i (PID2020-115813RA-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033a) and a project PAIDI 2020 from the Junta de Andalucía (P20_00879). E.G. is supported by the European Research Council grant agreement 647038 (BIODESERT). M.B. is supported by a Ramón y Cajal grant from Spanish Ministry of Science (RYC2021-031797-I). A.d.l.R is supported by the AEI project PID2019-105469RB-C22. L.W. and Jianyong Wang are supported by the Program for Introducing Talents to Universities (B16011) and the Ministry of Education Innovation Team Development Plan (2013-373). The contributions of T.G. and T.U.N. were supported by the Research Program in Forest Biology, Ecology and Technology (P4-0107) and the research projects J4-3098 and J4-4547 of the Slovenian Research Agency. The contribution of P.B.R. was supported by the NSF Biological Integration Institutes grant DBI-2021898. J. Durán and A. Rodríguez acknowledge support from the FCT (2020.03670.CEECIND and SFRH/BDP/108913/2015, respectively), as well as from the MCTES, FSE, UE and the CFE (UIDB/04004/2021) research unit financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC)

Urban greenspaces and nearby natural areas support similar levels of soil ecosystem services

9 páginas.- 5 figuras.- 53 referencias.- Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-024-00154-zGreenspaces are important for sustaining healthy urban environments and their human populations. Yet their capacity to support multiple ecosystem services simultaneously (multiservices) compared with nearby natural ecosystems remains virtually unknown. We conducted a global field survey in 56 urban areas to investigate the influence of urban greenspaces on 23 soil and plant attributes and compared them with nearby natural environments. We show that, in general, urban greenspaces and nearby natural areas support similar levels of soil multiservices, with only six of 23 attributes (available phosphorus, water holding capacity, water respiration, plant cover, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and arachnid richness) significantly greater in greenspaces, and one (available ammonium) greater in natural areas. Further analyses showed that, although natural areas and urban greenspaces delivered a similar number of services at low (>25% threshold) and moderate (>50%) levels of functioning, natural systems supported significantly more functions at high (>75%) levels of functioning. Management practices (mowing) played an important role in explaining urban ecosystem services, but there were no effects of fertilisation or irrigation. Some services declined with increasing site size, for both greenspaces and natural areas. Our work highlights the fact that urban greenspaces are more similar to natural environments than previously reported and underscores the importance of managing urban greenspaces not only for their social and recreational values, but for supporting multiple ecosystem services on which soils and human well-being depends.We thank the researchers involved in the MUSGONET project for collection of field data and soil samples. This study was supported by a 2019 Leonardo Grant for Researchers and Cultural Creators, BBVA Foundation (URBANFUN), and by the BES grant agreement No LRB17\1019 (MUSGONET). M.D-B. acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the I + D + i project PID2020-115813RA-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. M.D-B. is also supported by a project of the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) and the Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades of the Junta de Andalucía (FEDER Andalucía 2014−2020 Objetivo temático “01 - Refuerzo de la investigación, el desarrollo tecnológico y la innovación”) associated with the research project P20_00879 (ANDABIOMA). D.J.E. is supported by the Hermon Slade Foundation (HSF21040). H.C. is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32101335), and The Young Science and Technology Talent Support Project of Jilin Province (QT202226), J.D. is supported by Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by BAST (No. BYESS2023456) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and M.B. by a Ramón y Cajal grant (RYC2021-031797-I) from Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. F.A. acknowledges support from FONDECYT 1220358 and C.P. support from the EU’s H2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101000224. A.R. acknowledges support from the FCT (SFRH/BDP/108913/2015), the MCTES, FSE, UE, and the CFE (UIDB/04004/2021) research unit financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC). S.A. thanks the ANID/FONDECYT 1170995 and the ANID ACT 192027. T.P.M. acknowledges funding from the National Research Foundation of South Africa (UID 118981). T.G. and T.U.N. were supported by the research projects J4-3098 and J4-4547, and by the Research Program in Forest Biology, Ecology, and Technology (P4-0107) of the Slovenian Research Agency. J.P.V. thanks the SERB (EEQ/2021/001083, SIR/2022/000626), DST (DST/INT/SL/P-31/2021) and Banaras Hindu University, IoE (6031) incentives grant for providing support for Phytomicrobiome and soil microbiome research. L.W. and J.W. were supported by the Program for Introducing Talents to Universities (B16011), and the Ministry of Education Innovation Team Development Plan (2013-373).Peer reviewe