Design and Validation of a Dynamic Pressure-Based Loading Device and 3D Strain Tracking Protocol for Ventral Hernia Modeling

It is estimated that 350,000-500,000 ventral hernia repair surgeries are performed each year in the United States. While the long-term recurrence rate of ventral hernia repairs is not yet known, when tissues are exposed to the trauma of surgery, there is always the chance of recurrence. Commonly used ex vivo testing methods for determining the mechanical properties of the abdominal wall and biomaterials for hernia repair consist primarily of uniaxial and biaxial testing, which are not physiologically relevant loading environments. The need for a testing device that can exert physiologically relevant loads ex vivo to an abdominal wall is crucial for the development of more effective repair strategies and products. After abdominal hernia repairs, coughing poses a major threat to the structural integrity of the repair site. During a cough, the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) can rise as high as 2.5 psi, compared to the normal IAP of approximately 0.1-0.2 psi. The goal of this project was to design a testing device that can apply and measure a representative coughing force applied to an ex vivo porcine abdominal wall, and develop a strain tracking protocol to track three-dimensional abdominal deformation throughout the duration of the cough. The constructed device was successful in applying a physiologically relevant force to a porcine abdominal wall, and subsequently decreasing the force back to a normal IAP in less than 2 seconds. The maximum force of the cough can be easily controlled using the Arduino controller, which makes the device robust enough to explore the effects of a range of pressures. By recording a video of the cough using a 3D camera, we were able to successfully track the deformation of the tissue in three-dimensions with an acceptable level of accuracy. The design and validation of this testing method will pave the way for a variety of experiments that will provide greater insight into the mechanical behavior of the abdominal wall and the effectiveness of various repair strategies and products on restoring native tissue function

Design and Use of a Bilateral Grip Strength Device for Assessing Forelimb Function in Rodents

From the Washington University Office of Undergraduate Research Digest (WUURD), Vol. 13, 05-01-2018. Published by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Joy Zalis Kiefer, Director of Undergraduate Research and Associate Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences; Lindsey Paunovich, Editor; Helen Human, Programs Manager and Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences Mentor(s): Spencer Lak

Investigation Into The Early Events Of Epithelial Wound Healing and HPV16 Infection

HPV16 infection evidently occurs within wounded epithelial tissue, but the cellular and molecular events that culminate in infection establishment remain poorly understood. While HPV is exposed to a multitude of cells in the wound environment, only hyperproliferative keratinocytes are believed to support productive infection. Keratinocytes acquire mobility during wound repair by undergoing prominent phenotypic alterations through an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, cell- and tissue-based models were employed to characterize HPV infection during epithelial wound healing, using both physical injury and growth factor treatment to induce keratinocyte migration. In a tissue-based model of wounding and infection using NIKS-derived organotypic raft\u27 culture, HPV infection did not occur without epithelial wounding, consistent with animal models of wounding and HPV16 infection. Using cell monolayer, keratinocytes induced into an EMT were evaluated for their ability to support HPV16 early infection, which encompasses viral binding, entry, trafficking and nuclear delivery of encapsidated genes. It was found that keratinocytes in an EMT allowed reduced levels of virions to bind the cell surface but HPV16 infection was not supported. A subset of HPV virions appeared to enter cells during EMT, indicating that infection may be compromised post-entry. Interestingly, HPV16 infection of keratinocytes induced into EMT resumed coincident with the return of epithelial characteristics. So while an initial refractory period to infection exists in cells undergoing an EMT, HPV16 infects migrating cells during later stages of wound healing. Based on these results, migrating keratinocytes may serve as an additional reservoir of cellular HPV infection not previously identified

Musculoskeletal Soft Tissue Laboratory Spring 2018 Kivitz Progress Report

This is a semester progress report for the spring 2018 semester working in the Musculoskeletal Soft Tissue Laboratory under the direction of Dr. Spencer Lake. I had two primary tasks/projects I was working on this semester. In chronological order, I was helping Alex Reiter with the editing of gait analysis images to rectify the noise and any problems with the initial code that may have had an impact on the filtering process. After that, I began designing an in vivo range of motion mechanical testing device for unilaterally injured rodents

Redesigning a Bilateral Grip Strength Device for Assessing Forelimb Function in Rodents

My primary complete accomplishment of the Fall 2017 semester in the Musculoskeletal Soft Tissue Laboratory is the addition of 3 3D printed parts to the grip strength device to improve the precision of the device. To reach the end result of these 3 parts, I 3D-modelled the parts, 3D printed the prototypes, and integrated the parts into the device for testing. Near the end of the semester I had seen this process through, and the grip strength device is now fully functional and the most accurate and precise it has been. Aside from my primary project of the grip strength device, Alex Reiter and I reconstructed AGATHA with thicker acrylic

Activity Monitoring System

This semester I constructed an activity monitoring arena and determined the appropriate data acquisition settings. Videos are recorded and processed at 30 frames per seconds and a “minimum distance travelled filter” is used to eliminate any motion that does not require the animal to take a step. The filter does capture any movements that do require a step, so we will be able to determine an average degree of activity during the animal’s session of free cage activity

Universal Tube Fixture

The goal of this design project was to create a device that can aid in the assembly of glue joints between concentric tubes. In many medical devices, whether they be laser probes, retractable injectors, or other devices with actuating parts, there are often concentric glue joints. The problem we are trying to solve is controlling where the 2 tubes are relative to one another when they are glued

The Ursinus Weekly, May 14, 1956

Results of men\u27s voting announced; Rheiner is prexy • U.C. classes vote for new officers; Results released • Marge and Ruth write open letter of thanks • FTA to hold meeting Tuesday • W.C. group presents vespers • M. W. Armstrong is editor of new book; To be on TV • Awards presented at WAA banquet • Tuesday night set for women\u27s government banquet • Traditional May Day program presented Saturday; Featured pageant, concert, play: Spring play given Thurs., Fri., Sat.; Award is given; UC Band presents concert with the Meistersingers; May Day pageant presented to huge crowd Saturday • Recipients of honorary degrees announced • IRC elects new officers • Winner of silver contest • Tau Kappa Alpha debating society accepts members • Girls\u27 day study election • Pi Nu chooses officers • Student leaders to plan new calendar • Editorial: Less room for more; And a good time was had by all • APO: National service fraternity • Liberal means free • Letters to the editor • Review of Charley\u27s Aunt • SWC has outdoor service; Final vespers to be Sun. • Bruin rackets stop Drexel, PMC • Belles top Garnets for fifth victory • Belles crush CJC; Lose to W. Chester • Cindermen take first victory in romp over Lebanon Valley, 99-26 • Bruins stop Haverford, Drew; Edged in Moravian tilt, 4-2 • Second term finals schedule • Men to pick rooms Mon., Wed., Fri. • Chi Alpha holds electionshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1452/thumbnail.jp

Apremilast monotherapy in DMARD-naive psoriatic arthritis patients: Results of the randomized, placebocontrolled PALACE 4 trial

Objectives. The PALACE 4 trial evaluated apremilast monotherapy in patients with active PsA who were DMARD-naive. Methods. Eligible patients were randomized (1:1:1) to placebo, apremilast 20mg twice a day or apremilast 30mg twice a day. At week 16 or 24, placebo patients were rerandomized to apremilast. Double-blind apremilast treatment continued to week 52, with extension up to 4 years. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving ≥20% improvement in ACR response criteria (ACR20) at week 16; secondary endpoints included the mean change in the HAQ Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score at week 16. Results. A total of 527 patients with mean disease duration of 3.4 years and high disease activity were randomized and received treatment. More apremilast patients achieved ACR20 response at week 16 [placebo, 15.9%; 20 mg, 28.0% (P = 0.0062); 30 mg, 30.7% (P = 0.0010)]. The mean HAQ-DI improvements were -0.17 (20 mg; P = 0.0008) and -0.21 (30 mg; P<0.0001) vs 0.03 (placebo). Both apremilast doses showed significant ACR50 responses vs placebo at week 16 and improvements in secondary efficacy measures (swollen/tender joint counts) and psoriasis assessments, with sustained improvements through week 52. Common adverse events (AEs) over 52 weeks were diarrhoea, nausea, headache and upper respiratory tract infection; most events were mild or moderate. Serious AEs and AEs leading to discontinuation were comparable between groups. Laboratory abnormalities were infrequent and transient. Conclusions. In DMARD-naive patients, apremilast monotherapy improved PsA signs/symptoms over 52 weeks and was generally well tolerated