Adaptive gender-based thermal control system

A closed loop adaptive gender-based thermal control system (AG-TCS) is designed, modelled, analysed and tested. The system has the unique feature of adapting to the surrounding environment as a function of the number of humans present and the gender ratio. The operation of the system depends on a unique interface between a radio frequency identification (RFID) device and an imaging device, both of which are correlated and interfaced to a controller. Testing of the system resulted in smooth transition and shape conversion of the response curve, which proved its adaptability. Three mathematical equations describing the internal mechanisms of the AG-TCS are presented and have been proven to optimally reflect the original statistical data covering both genders

Percutaneous central venous catheterization in children, is it efficient?

ObjectiveTo evaluate the frequent use of percutaneous central venous catheters (CVCs) in pediatric agegroup.MethodsRetrospectively we reviewed the records of all children that had percutaneous CVCs in the pediatric surgical ward and pediatric intensive care unit at King Hussein Medical Center between January2007 and December 2007 (one year). Patients were evaluated with respect to their age, gender, catheter type, indication for CVC insertion, site of CVC insertion. The duration of catheter use and eventual complications were also taken into consideration.ResultsA total of 120 percutaneous CVCs were inserted in 104 children. Patient age ranged from one day to14 years. The average catheter insertion time was 12.5 days. We noted 66 (18.8%) CVC- related complications. Complications related to percutaneous CVCs insertion were malposition of catheter (5.4%) and pneumothorax (0.9%). Occlusion of CVCs (4.3%), catheter related bloodstream infections (CRBI) (4.0%), dislodgment (3.7%) and catheter damage (0.6%) were complications associated with lenght of CVCs use.ConclusionWe conclude that percutaneous central venous catheterization is a safe and efficient procedure that can be done at bedside with minimal complications in pediatric age group.Keywords: Percutaneous, indications, complications, children.

What we learn about bipolar disorder from large-scale neuroimaging: Findings and future directions from the ENIGMA Bipolar Disorder Working Group

First published: 29 July 2020MRI-derived brain measures offer a link between genes, the environment and behavior and have been widely studied in bipolar disorder (BD). However, many neuroimaging studies of BD have been underpowered, leading to varied results and uncertainty regarding effects. The Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Bipolar Disorder Working Group was formed in 2012 to empower discoveries, generate consensus findings and inform future hypothesis-driven studies of BD. Through this effort, over 150 researchers from 20 countries and 55 institutions pool data and resources to produce the largest neuroimaging studies of BD ever conducted. The ENIGMA Bipolar Disorder Working Group applies standardized processing and analysis techniques to empower large-scale meta- and mega-analyses of multimodal brain MRI and improve the replicability of studies relating brain variation to clinical and genetic data. Initial BD Working Group studies reveal widespread patterns of lower cortical thickness, subcortical volume and disrupted white matter integrity associated with BD. Findings also include mapping brain alterations of common medications like lithium, symptom patterns and clinical risk profiles and have provided further insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of BD. Here we discuss key findings from the BD working group, its ongoing projects and future directions for large-scale, collaborative studies of mental illness.Christopher R. K. Ching .... Bernhard T. Baune ... et al

Effect of ploidy, recruitment, environmental factors, and tamoxifen treatment on the expression of sigma-2 receptors in proliferating and quiescent tumour cells

Recently, we demonstrated that sigma-2 receptors may have the potential to be a biomarker of tumour cell proliferation (Mach et al (1997) Cancer Res57: 156–161). If sigma-2 receptors were a biomarker of tumour cell proliferation, they would be amenable to detection by non-invasive imaging procedures, thus eliminating many of the problems associated with the flow cytometric measures of tumour cell proliferation presently used in the clinic. To be a good biomarker of tumour cell proliferation, the expression of sigma-2 receptors must be essentially independent of many of the biological, physiological, and/or environmental properties that are found in solid tumours. In the investigation reported here, the mouse mammary adenocarcinoma lines, 66 (diploid) and 67 (aneuploid), 9L rat brain tumour cells, and MCF-7 human breast tumour cells were used to study the extent and kinetics of expression of sigma-2 receptors in proliferative (P) and quiescent (Q) tumour cells as a function of species, cell type, ploidy, pH, nutrient depletion, metabolic state, recruitment from the Q-cell compartment to the P-cell compartment, and treatment with tamoxifen. In these experiments, the expression of sigma-2 receptors solely reflected the proliferative status of the tumour cells. None of the biological, physiological, or environmental properties that were investigated had a measurable effect on the expression of sigma-2 receptors in these model systems. Consequently, these data suggest that the proliferative status of tumours and normal tissues can be non-invasively assessed using radiolabelled ligands that selectively bind sigma-2 receptors. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Effects of age, BMI and sex on the glial cell marker TSPO - a multicentre [C-11]PBR28 HRRT PET study

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ageing, sex and body mass index (BMI) on translocator protein (TSPO) availability in healthy subjects using positron emission tomography (PET) and the radioligand [C-11]PBR28. Methods [C-11]PBR28 data from 140 healthy volunteers (72 males and 68 females; N = 78 with HAB and N = 62 MAB genotype; age range 19-80 years; BMI range 17.6-36.9) were acquired with High Resolution Research Tomograph at three centres: Karolinska Institutet (N = 53), Turku PET centre (N = 62) and Yale University PET Center (N = 25). The total volume of distribution (V-T) was estimated in global grey matter, frontal, temporal, occipital and parietal cortices, hippocampus and thalamus using multilinear analysis 1. The effects of age, BMI and sex on TSPO availability were investigated using linear mixed effects model, with TSPO genotype and PET centre specified as random intercepts. Results There were significant positive correlations between age and V-T in the frontal and temporal cortex. BMI showed a significant negative correlation with V-T in all regions. Additionally, significant differences between males and females were observed in all regions, with females showing higher V-T. A subgroup analysis revealed a positive correlation between V-T and age in all regions in male subjects, whereas age showed no effect on TSPO levels in female subjects. Conclusion These findings provide evidence that individual biological properties may contribute significantly to the high variation shown in TSPO binding estimates, and suggest that age, BMI and sex can be confounding factors in clinical studies

Recent Biomaterial Developments for Bone Tissue Engineering and Potential Clinical Application: Narrative Review of the Literature

Over the course of time, there has been a progression in the materials utilized for implants, transitioning from inert substances to those that replicate the structural characteristics of bone. Consequently, there has been a development of bioabsorbable, biocompatible, and bioactive materials. This article presents a comprehensive survey of diverse biomaterials with the potential to serve as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. The objective of this study is to present an in-depth review of the predominant biomaterials utilized in the fabrication of scaffolds. This review encompasses the origins, classifications, characteristics, and methodologies involved in the development of these biomaterials. The review also highlights the incorporation of additives in biomaterial scaffolds. This study ultimately underscores the potential advantages and challenges associated with the utilization of biomaterials in scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Additionally, it critically examines the integration of state-of-the-art technology with biomaterials