Real-Time In Vivo Intraocular Pressure Monitoring using an Optomechanical Implant and an Artificial Neural Network

Optimized glaucoma therapy requires frequent monitoring and timely lowering of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). A recently developed microscale IOP-monitoring implant, when illuminated with broadband light, reflects a pressure-dependent optical spectrum that is captured and converted to measure IOP. However, its accuracy is limited by background noise and the difficulty of modeling non-linear shifts of the spectra with respect to pressure changes. Using an end-to-end calibration system to train an artificial neural network (ANN) for signal demodulation we improved the speed and accuracy of pressure measurements obtained with an optically probed IOP-monitoring implant and make it suitable for real-time in vivo IOP monitoring. The ANN converts captured optical spectra into corresponding IOP levels. We achieved an IOP-measurement accuracy of ±0.1 mmHg at a measurement rate of 100 Hz, which represents a ten-fold improvement from previously reported values. This technique allowed real-time tracking of artificially induced sub-1 s transient IOP elevations and minor fluctuations induced by the respiratory motion of the rabbits during in vivo monitoring. All in vivo sensor readings paralleled those obtained concurrently using a commercial tonometer and showed consistency within ±2 mmHg. Real-time processing is highly useful for IOP monitoring in clinical settings and home environments and improves the overall practicality of the optical IOP-monitoring approach

Real-Time In Vivo Intraocular Pressure Monitoring using an Optomechanical Implant and an Artificial Neural Network

Optimized glaucoma therapy requires frequent monitoring and timely lowering of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). A recently developed microscale IOP-monitoring implant, when illuminated with broadband light, reflects a pressure-dependent optical spectrum that is captured and converted to measure IOP. However, its accuracy is limited by background noise and the difficulty of modeling non-linear shifts of the spectra with respect to pressure changes. Using an end-to-end calibration system to train an artificial neural network (ANN) for signal demodulation we improved the speed and accuracy of pressure measurements obtained with an optically probed IOP-monitoring implant and make it suitable for real-time in vivo IOP monitoring. The ANN converts captured optical spectra into corresponding IOP levels. We achieved an IOP-measurement accuracy of ±0.1 mmHg at a measurement rate of 100 Hz, which represents a ten-fold improvement from previously reported values. This technique allowed real-time tracking of artificially induced sub-1 s transient IOP elevations and minor fluctuations induced by the respiratory motion of the rabbits during in vivo monitoring. All in vivo sensor readings paralleled those obtained concurrently using a commercial tonometer and showed consistency within ±2 mmHg. Real-time processing is highly useful for IOP monitoring in clinical settings and home environments and improves the overall practicality of the optical IOP-monitoring approach

Antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects of lotus leaf hot water extract with taurine supplementation in rats fed a high fat diet

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lotus (<it>Nelumbo nucifera</it>) leaf has been used to treat obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects of lotus leaf hot water extract with taurine supplementation in high fat diet-induced obese rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Four week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups with 8 rats in each group for a period of 6 weeks (normal diet, N group; high fat diet, HF group; high fat diet + lotus leaf hot water extract, HFL group; high fat diet + lotus leaf hot water extract + taurine, HFLT group). Lotus leaf hot water extract was orally administrated to HFL and HFLT groups and the same amount of distilled water was orally administered (400 mg/kg/day) to N and HF groups. Taurine was supplemented by dissolving in feed water (3% w/v).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The body weight gain and relative weights of epididymal and retroperitoneal adipose tissues were significantly lower in N, HFL and HFLT groups compared to HF group. HFL and HFLT groups showed lower concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum. HFLT group showed higher the ratio of high density lipoprotein cholesterol/total cholesterol compared to HFL group. HFLT group showed better blood lipid profiles compared to HFL group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Lotus leaf hot water extract with taurine supplementation showed antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects in high fat diet-induced obese rats, which was more effective than lotus leaf hot water extract alone.</p

Antioxidant and hepatic protective effects of lotus root hot water extract with taurine supplementation in rats fed a high fat diet

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Nelumbo nucifera</it>, known as sacred lotus, is a well-known medicinal plant and this lotus root is commonly used as food compared to different parts of this plant. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant and hepatic protective effects of lotus root hot water extract with taurine supplementation in high fat diet-induced obese rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats (4-week-old) were randomly divided into four groups (n=8) for 6 weeks (normal diet, N group; high fat diet, HF group; high fat diet + lotus root hot water extract, HFR group; high fat diet + lotus root hot water extract + taurine, HFRT group). Lotus root hot water extract was orally administrated (400mg/kg/day) to HFR and HFRT groups and the same amount of distilled water was orally administered to N and HF groups. Taurine was supplemented by dissolving in feed water (3% w/v).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase in serum were lower in HFR and HFRT groups compared to HF group. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance contents in all groups fed a high fat diet were higher compared to N group. The activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes were higher in HFR and HFRT groups compared to HF group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that lotus root hot water extract with taurine supplementation shows antioxidant and hepatic protective effects in high fat diet-induced obese rats.</p

Herbal extract THI improves metabolic abnormality in mice fed a high-fat diet

Target herbal ingredient (THI) is an extract made from two herbs, Scutellariae Radix and Platycodi Radix. It has been developed as a treatment for metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. One component of these two herbs has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been no reports about the effects of the mixed extract of these two herbs on metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the metabolic effects of THI using a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. High-fat diet (HFD) mice were orally administered daily with 250 mg/kg of THI. After 10 weeks of treatment, the THI-administered HFD mice showed reduction of body weights and epididymal white adipose tissue weights as well as improved glucose tolerance. In addition, the level of total cholesterol in the serum was markedly reduced. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the metabolic effects of THI in vitro, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with THI, after which the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors, including C/EBPα and PPARγ, were measured. The results show that the expression of these two transcription factors was down regulated by THI in a dose-dependent manner. We also examined the combinatorial effects of THI and swimming exercise on metabolic status. THI administration simultaneously accompanied by swimming exercise had a synergistic effect on serum cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that THI could be developed as a supplement for improving metabolic status

High temperature performance of a piezoelectric micro cantilever for vibration energy harvesting

Energy harvesters withstanding high temperatures could provide potentially unlimited energy to sensor nodes placed in harsh environments, where manual maintenance is difficult and costly. Experimental results on a classical microcantilever show a 67% drop of the maximum power when the temperature is increased up to 160 °C. This decrease is investigated using a lumped-parameters model which takes into account variations in material parameters with temperature, damping increase and thermal stresses induced by mismatched thermal coefficients in a composite cantilever. The model allows a description of the maximum power evolution as a function of temperature and input acceleration. Simulation results further show that an increase in damping and the apparition of thermal stresses are contributing to the power drop at 59% and 13% respectively

Two Different Renal Cell Carcinomas and Multiple Angiomyolipomas in a Patient with Tuberous Sclerosis

We report a case of tuberous sclerosis associated with two histologically different renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and multiple angiomyolipomas (AMLs) in the same kidney. A 43-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with left flank pain and a huge palpable mass in the left flank area. Abdominal computed tomography revealed two concurrent RCCs and multiple AMLs in the left kidney. Because of the clinical suspicion of RCC, the patient underwent left radical nephrectomy. On gross examination, the total size of the resected left kidney was 30.5×17×8 cm. Microscopically, the upper pole tumor features were consistent with chromophobe RCC and the midpole tumor was a clear-cell RCC. The multifocal masses in the remaining remnant parenchyma were AMLs. Six months after surgery, the patient is healthy without signs of tumor recurrence

A Large Intrathoracic Meningocele in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis-1

A large intrathoracic meningocele, a saccular protrusion of the meninges through a dilated intervertebral foramen or a bony defect of the vertebral column, was diagnosed in a 41-year-old female patient showing clinical features of neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1), including café-au-lait spots, cutaneous neurofibromas, and axillary frecklings and Lisch nodules on the iris. Her daughter and son also had similar manifestations of NF-1. Regular follow-up with periodic imaging was recommended without surgical treatment because there were no signs or symptoms. Meningocele should be differentiated from posterior mediastinal tumors such as neurofibroma, neuroblastoma, and ganglioneuroma because NF-1 has a high risk of tumor formation. We report on this case with a brief review of the literature