Heterotopic Auxiliary Liver Transplantation With Portal Flow

One of the causes of auxiliary liver transplantation failure is the inter-liver competition between the host liver and the graft for the hepatotrophic factors of the portal blood. We have developed an experimental model of heterotopic partial (30%) liver isotransplant using Wistar rats so as to study this competition

Correlador de señales de GPS: estudio preliminar para su implementación

El segmento espacial del Sistema de Posicionamiento Global (Global Positioning System - GPS) consiste de 24 satélites, cada uno de los cuales transmite contínuamente una señal de rango que incluye el mensaje de navegación que indica su posición actual y una corrección de tiempo. La señal de GPS emplea para su modulación la técnica de espectro expandido. Un receptor de GPS recibe esta señal, la procesa, y obtiene como resultado la posición del receptor. El primer paso en la recepción de una señal de espectro expandido, es la sincronización de la portadora local del receptor con la portadora de la señal recibida, y la sincronización del código pseudoaleatorio de la señal entrante con una copia generada localmente. Para realizar la mencionada sincronización de código puede emplearse un correlador de señales, el cual puede ser implementado de diversas maneras. Dos formas de implementación que sobresalen son: el diseño y la contrucción de un Circuito Integrado de Aplicación Específica o ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) y el diseño sobre un circuito integrado de lógica programable. En la actualidad, el avance de las técnicas de integración permite tener acceso a dispositivos de lógica programable con grandes cantidades de lógica combinatoria y secuencial dentro de un solo dispositivo. Este hecho ha abierto la puerta al diseño de circuitos digitales con gran versatilidad que permiten realizar correcciones, mejoras y adaptaciones a nuevos requerimientos del diseño. Todo esto se logra a un costo aceptable, principalmente en diseños de baja escala de producción. Aprovechando las ventajas que brindan los dispositivos de lógica programable, se implementó un correlador de señales de código pseudoaleatorio para GPS. Dicha implementación es descripta en este trabajo, dejando asentados los fundamentos para la construcción de un correlador para señales de GPS completo.Facultad de Ingenierí

Sistema de desarrollo modular para receptores de GPS, implementación de un prototipo

El objetivo de este trabajo es la construcción de una placa de desarrollo, basada en un hardware modular: módulo de procesamiento, módulo de almacenamiento, interfaces de entrada-salida, y módulos de radiofrecuencia y correlación. El hecho de que el receptor sea modular permite adaptar fácilmente diferentes tecnologías, simplificando el empleo de distintas etapas de radiofrecuencia o la emulación de las señales que esta etapa produce, la implementación de hardware propio como ser el desarrollo de la etapa de correladores en dispositivos programables de tipo FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), el desarrollo de software para el cálculo de la solución de navegación, etc.Facultad de Ingenierí

Characterization of the MicroRNA Cargo of Extracellular Vesicles Isolated from a Pulmonary Tumor-Draining Vein Identifies miR-203a-3p as a Relapse Biomarker for Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

In resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), post-surgical recurrence occurs in around 40% of patients, highlighting the necessity to identify relapse biomarkers. An analysis of the extracellular vesicle (EV) cargo from a pulmonary tumor-draining vein (TDV) can grant biomarker identification. We studied the pulmonary TDV EV-miRNAome to identify relapse biomarkers in a two-phase study (screening and validation). In the screening phase, a 17-miRNA relapse signature was identified in 18 selected patients by small RNAseq. The most expressed miRNA from the signature (EV-miR-203a-3p) was chosen for further validation. Pulmonary TDV EV-miR-203a-3p was studied by qRT-PCR in a validation cohort of 70 patients, where it was found to be upregulated in relapsed patients (p = 0.0194) and in patients with cancer spread to nearby lymph nodes (N+ patients) (p = 0.0396). The ROC curve analysis showed that TDV EV-miR-203a-3p was able to predict relapses with a sensitivity of 88% (AUC: 0.67; p = 0.022). Moreover, patients with high TDV EV-miR-203a-3p had a shorter time to relapse than patients with low levels (43.6 vs. 97.6 months; p = 0.00703). The multivariate analysis showed that EV-miR-203a-3p was an independent, predictive and prognostic post-surgical relapse biomarker. In conclusion, pulmonary TDV EV-miR-203a-3p is a promising new relapse biomarker for resected NSCLC patients

Technical results, clinical efficacy and predictors of outcome of intercostal arteries embolization for hemothorax: a two-institutions’ experience

Background: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and identify the predictors of outcome of intercostal arterial embolization for hemothorax caused by intercostal artery (ICA) injuries. Methods: A retrospective multi-institutional study was conducted. Outcomes were analyzed in 30 consecutive patients presenting with hemothorax caused by active ICA hemorrhage undergoing transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). Clinical and procedural parameters were compared between outcomes groups. Results: Overall technical success rate was 87% (n=26). Among the 4 failed cases, 2 underwent repeated TAE and 2 underwent additional surgery. Overall 30-day mortality rate was 23%. Low haemoglobin levels and haematocrit, hepatic comorbidities and more than one artery undergoing embolization increased technical failure rate significantly. Survival was poorer in patients with massive bleeding. Conclusions: ICA embolization was found to be a safe and effective method in treating hemothorax caused by active ICA haemorrhage. Careful pre-embolization evaluation may be required for patient with low haemoglobin levels and haematocrit, hepatic comorbidities and active haemorrhage from more than one artery

Visual Performance of Eyes with Residual Refractive Errors after Implantation of an Extended Vision Intraocular Lens

Background. To analyze the tolerance on distance vision of different combined residual astigmatic situations in patients implanted with a novel wavefront shaping extended depth of focus (EDoF) intraocular lens (IOL). Methods. The study included patients implanted with the Acrysof® IQ Vivity® IOL. Uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were measured three months after surgery, considering CDVA as the reference situation of the study. Distance VA was also measured in different refractive situations: (A) with 0.50 diopters (D) of positive (myopization) and negative (hyperopization) defocus and (B) with a residual mixed astigmatic refraction induced by adding a combination of −0.25 D spherical and 0.50 D cylindrical lenses placed in vertical (against the rule-ATR), oblique, and horizontal (with the rule-WTR) positions. Results. The study included 30 eyes of 30 patients. UDVA and CDVA were −0.04 ± 0.05 and −0.05 ± 0.05 logMAR, respectively. VA values with +0.50 D and −0.50 D of defocus were 0.01 ± 0.06 and 0.00 ± 0.04 logMAR, respectively. VA was better with distance correction (p<0.001) and no differences were found between the myopic and the hyperopic situations (p=0.09). Distance VA for the ATR, oblique, and WTR astigmatic situations was 0.01 ± 0.05, 0.01 ± 0.06, and 0.01 ± 0.04 logMAR, respectively. VA was better for the reference situation (p<0.001) and no differences were found among the three astigmatic situations (p=0.21). Conclusions. Low residual defocus and mixed astigmatic errors, regardless of its orientation, seem to be tolerated by patients implanted with the studied EDoF IOL. This trial is registered with NCT05392998. Registered 26 May 2022-Retrospectively registered

Changes in Optical Quality Induced by Tilt and Decentration of a Trifocal IOL and a Novel Extended Depth of Focus IOL in Eyes with Corneal Myopic Ablations

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of decentration and tilt combined with prior myopic ablations on the optical performance of a trifocal intraocular lens (IOL) and a novel IOL with an extended depth of focus (EDOF) design. METHODS: The XACT Mono-EDOF ME4 (Santen Pharmaceutical Co Ltd) and the trifocal FineVision (PhysIOL) IOLs were analyzed with and without simulated previous myopic ablations. The optical quality of the IOLs was evaluated with the PMTF optical bench (LAMBDA-X). The through-focus modulation transfer function (MTF) curves were recorded. Measurements were done for three situations: centered, 0.4 mm decentered, and 4 degrees tilted. RESULTS: The trifocal IOL showed three peaks of vision and the EDOF IOL showed a far distance peak with intermediate addition. When decentration or tilt were induced, the trifocal IOL showed negligible changes but the EDOF IOL showed a -0.50 diopters (D) shift of the overall curve. With simulated myopic ablation, the trifocal IOL showed a -0.50 D shift of the curve. When tilt or decentration were also induced, the better optical results were found at -1.00 D. With myopic ablations, the EDOF IOL showed a -0.50 D shift of the optical quality and when decentration or tilt were then induced, negative shifts over -1.00 D were found. CONCLUSIONS: The trifocal IOL was less affected by misalignments. When myopic ablations were induced, both lenses decreased their optical quality and the effects of misalignments were higher. In patients who have undergone corneal myopic ablation procedures, proper alignment of the implanted IOL and obtaining effective emmetropia becomes even more critical

Patient Satisfaction and Visual Performance in Patients with Ocular Pathology after Bilateral Implantation of a New Extended Depth of Focus Intraocular Lens

To evaluate visual results and patient-perceived outcomes in patients with ocular pathologies implanted with a new extended depth-of-focus intraocular lens (IOL). Methods. Patients with ocular pathology undergoing cataract surgery and bilaterally implanted with Vivity® IOLs were evaluated three months after surgery. The control group included patients with no ocular pathologies. Binocular defocus curves, corrected and uncorrected mono- and binocular distance visual acuity (DVA), and binocular contrast sensitivity were measured. Patients completed the Catquest-9SF questionnaire and reported on dysphotopsia and their need for spectacle-correction. Results. Twenty-five patients were included in each group. Monocular uncorrected DVA was better in the control group (−0.01 ± 0.07) compared with the study group (0.03 ± 0.08), p=0.027 . There were no other statistically significant differences in DVA, with an uncorrected binocular acuity of −0.06 ± 0.06 for the control group and −0.05 ± 0.06 for the study group. Binocular defocus curves were similar for both groups and there were no differences in contrast sensitivity values. Pooling the refractive results, 96% of eyes were within ±0.50 D of target refraction. Seventy percent of patients in the control group reported no halos, compared with 40% in the study group, p=0.047 . In both groups, 40% of patients reported being completely spectacle-independent, with the other 60% requiring glasses for near vision always or often. All patients reported being fairly or very satisfied with their vision. Conclusion. Initial results of visual function after Vivity implantation in patients with ocular pathologies are encouraging, with high patient satisfaction and few difficulties for daily activities