Microfluidic pneumatic cages : A novel approach for in-chip crystal trapping, manipulation and controlled chemical treatment

The precise localization and controlled chemical treatment of structures on a surface are significant challenges for common laboratory technologies. Herein, we introduce a microfluidic-based technology, employing a double-layer microfluidic device, which can trap and localize in situ and ex situ synthesized structures on microfluidic channel surfaces. Crucially, we show how such a device can be used to conduct controlled chemical reactions onto on-chip trapped structures and we demonstrate how the synthetic pathway of a crystalline molecular material and its positioning inside a microfluidic channel can be precisely modified with this technology. This approach provides new opportunities for the controlled assembly of structures on surface and for their subsequent treatment

ICAR: endoscopic skull‐base surgery

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TCP/IP-based control and monitoring of manufacturing system

In this paper, a framework for remote monitoring and controlling of manufacturing system at lower level of automation in manufacturing is proposed. This framework has capability to develop the higher level of automation in manufacturing. In order to proof that the proposed framework can be implemented, a demo system based on the framework is built.Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system as a manufacturing system is controlled and monitored remotely within demo system was utilised. In general, the system consists of two Graphical User Interface (GUI) program; one as a client and the other one as server program connected using TCP/IP protocol. The system proposed include the CIM system which connected to the server computer and able to controlled and monitored via the client GUI program. In addition for demonstration purposes, several sub-systems of the CIM system which includes the conveyor, stoppers, sensors and the pick and place robot were used to control and monitor the system development. The programming language used in this system is Visual C++ with Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) application. The overall developed system has successfully demonstrates the ability of remotely control the system

The effect of age on result of straight leg raising test in patients suffering lumbar disc herniation and sciatica

Background: Ninety percent of all people sometimes during their lives experience low back pain, and 30-40 develops radicular leg pain with the sciatica characteristics. Although for clinical diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) straight leg raising (SLR) test in 85-90 of cases indicates LDH, but in our practice with LDH patients this test is frequently negative despite radicular leg pain due to LDH. Hence, we decided to evaluate this test in LDH in different age groups. Materials and Methods: All patients with leg pain referring to neurosurgery clinic were enrolled. Those with a history of pain other than sciatica excluded and SLR test and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbosacral spine performed. The patients with negative MRI findings excluded and finally 269 patients with true sciatica and positive MRI were included. SLR tests were performed for different age groups. Results: Of 269 patients, 167 were male. The age range was 16-80 years. The most involved levels were L5-S1 (47) and L4-L5 (42), respectively. The rate of positive SLR result, which was 100, 87 and 82 for 10-19, 20-29 and 30-39 years age group respectively. With an increment of age, the rate of positive test regularly declined. The chance of positive SLR in men is 1.3 times the women (odds ratio OR 2.4; 95% confidence interval CI = 1.265-4.557; P = 0.007). Increasing the age has suppression effect in positivity of SLR so that for each 1-year the chance of SLR become 0.27 times less to become positive and this is also statically meaningful (OR = 0.271;95% CI = 0.188-0.391; P,0.001). The chance of positive SLR for patients under 60 is 5.4 folds more than patients above 60 years old (OR = 5.4; 95% CI = 4-8.3; P, 0.001). Conclusion: Age, sex (male), and disk level had statistically the effect on SLR positive test. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserve

Effect of Gabapentin on Postoperative Pain and Operation Complications: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial

Objective: Prevention and treatment of postoperative pain and operation complications such as nausea and vomiting are most important concerns in postoperative care. There are several mechanisms involved in postoperative pain. Gabapentin is a gamma aminobutyric acid analogue that is known as an anticonvulsant drug. This drug is tolerated well and has known effects on pain and anxiety. This study has compared the effect of gabapentin on postoperative pain, operation complications and haemodynamics. Subjects and Methods: This randomized double blinded placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted on 61 patients divided randomly into two groups (30 as cases and 31 as controls). All patients had total abdominal hysterectomy. In the first group, the patients got 100 mg gabapentin in the night and 300 mg gabapentin orally (one capsule) two hours before surgery. The second group got one capsule of multivitamin orally. Then all patients were subjected to the same anaesthesia protocol and total abdominal hysterectomy. During the 24 hours after operation, the patients were assessed according to pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse rate (PR) and morphine use at 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Results: Mean age and weight of patients were 45.86 ± 4.06, 48.16 ± 4.48, 64.56 ± 13.29 and 68.8 ± 12.88 in the study population and control groups, respectively. Except in the first hour after operation (p = 0.02), there was no significant differences between the two groups in morphine use. There was no significant correlation between the groups according to postoperative complications and the haemo-dynamic parameters (PR, SBP and DBP). Conclusion: Results show that gabapentin can decrease the need for morphine use in the first hour after operation only and has no significant effect on operation complications. Thus, we suggest gabapentin for pain management, and not to decrease opium use. Keywords: Abdominal hysterectomy, gabapentin, postoperative pain "Efecto de la Gabapentina en el Dolor Postoperatorio y Complicaciones de la Operación: un Ensayo Clínico, Aleatorio, Controlado con Placebo" RESUMEN Objetivo: La prevención y tratamiento de dolor postoperatorio y las complicaciones de la operación – tales como la náusea y el vómito – son problemas de suma importancia en el cuidado postoperatorio. Hay varios mecanismos implicados en el dolor postoperatorio. La gabapentina es un análogo del ácido gamma-aminobutírico, conocido como un medicamento anticonvulsivo.  Este medicamento es bien tolerado, y tiene efectos conocidos sobre el dolor y la ansiedad.  El presente estudio compara el efecto de la gabapentina sobre el dolor postoperatorio, las complicaciones de la operación, y la hemo-dinámica. Sujetos y Métodos: Este ensayo clínico, aleatorio, doble ciego y controlado con placebo, se llevó a cabo con 61 pacientes divididos aleatoriamente en dos grupos (30 como casos y 31 como control). Todas las pacientes tuvieron histerectomía abdominal total. En el primer grupo, las pacientes recibieron vía oral 100 mg de gabapentina por la noche y 300 mg de gabapentina (una cápsula) dos horas antes de la cirugía. El segundo grupo recibió una cápsula de multivitaminas por vía oral. Luego, todas las pacientes fueron sometidas al  mismo protocolo de anestesia e histerectomía abdominal total. Durante las 24 horas después de la operación, las pacientes fueron evaluadas en relación con dolores, náusea, vómitos, vértigo, presión sanguínea sistólica (PSS), presión sanguínea diastólica (PSD), frecuencia de pulso (FP), y el uso de morfina a la 1, 6, 12 y 24 horas. Resultados: La edad promedio y el peso de las pacientes fue 45.86 ± 4.06, 48.16 ± 4.48, 64.56 ± 13.29 y 68.8 ± 12.88 en la población de estudio y los grupos de control, respectivamente. Excepto en la primera hora tras la operación (p = 0.02), no hubo ninguna diferencia significativa entre los dos grupos en cuanto al uso de morfina. No hubo correlación significativa alguna entre los grupos sobre la base de las complicaciones postoperatorias y los parámetros hemodinámicos (FP, PSS, y PSD). Conclusión: Los resultados muestran que la gabapentina sólo puede disminuir la necesidad del uso de morfina en la primera hora tras la operación, y no tiene efectos significativos en las complicaciones de la operación. Por lo tanto, se sugiere el uso de la gabapentina para el tratamiento del dolor, pero no para reducir el uso del opio.   Palabras claves: histerectomía abdominal, gabapentina, dolor postoperatori

Exploiting Reaction-Diffusion Conditions to Trigger Pathway Complexity in the Growth of a MOF

Coordination polymers (CPs), including metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), are crystalline materials with promising applications in electronics, magnetism, catalysis, and gas storage/separation. However, the mechanisms and pathways underlying their formation remain largely undisclosed. Herein, we demonstrate that diffusion-controlled mixing of reagents at the very early stages of the crystallization process (i.e., within ≈40 ms), achieved by using continuous-flow microfluidic devices, can be used to enable novel crystallization pathways of a prototypical spin-crossover MOF towards its thermodynamic product. In particular, two distinct and unprecedented nucleation-growth pathways were experimentally observed when crystallization was triggered under microfluidic mixing. Full-atom molecular dynamics simulations also confirm the occurrence of these two distinct pathways during crystal growth. In sharp contrast, a crystallization by particle attachment was observed under bulk (turbulent) mixing. These unprecedented results provide a sound basis for understanding the growth of CPs and open up new avenues for the engineering of porous materials by using out-of-equilibrium conditions