The specialized tomograph rotary table design in the T-Flex CAD system

Статья "Проектирование поворотного стола специализированного томографа в T-Fleх CAD" посвящена актуальной проблеме обеспечения правильного расположения объектов контроля в томографических комплексах. Представлен вариант конструкции поворотного стола, спроектированный в среде T-Fleх CAD.The article "Designing of the Rotary Table of the Specialized Tomograph in the T-Flex CAD system" is devoted to the urgent problem of the object correct arrangement control in a tomographic complex. The rotary table embodiment is designed with the T-Flex CAD system

H-Ras Expression in Immortalized Keratinocytes Produces an Invasive Epithelium in Cultured Skin Equivalents

Ras proteins affect both proliferation and expression of collagen-degrading enzymes, two important processes in cancer progression. Normal skin architecture is dependent both on the coordinated proliferation and stratification of keratinocytes, as well as the maintenance of a collagen-rich basement membrane. In the present studies we sought to determine whether expression of H-ras in skin keratinocytes would affect these parameters during the establishment and maintenance of an in vitro skin equivalent.Previously described cdk4 and hTERT immortalized foreskin keratinocytes were engineered to express ectopically introduced H-ras. Skin equivalents, composed of normal fibroblast-contracted collagen gels overlaid with keratinocytes (immortal or immortal expressing H-ras), were prepared and incubated for 3 weeks. Harvested tissues were processed and sectioned for histology and antibody staining. Antigens specific to differentiation (involucrin, keratin-14, p63), basement-membrane formation (collagen IV, laminin-5), and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT; e-cadherin, vimentin) were studied. Results showed that H-ras keratinocytes produced an invasive, disorganized epithelium most apparent in the lower strata while immortalized keratinocytes fully stratified without invasive properties. The superficial strata retained morphologically normal characteristics. Vimentin and p63 co-localization increased with H-ras overexpression, similar to basal wound-healing keratinocytes. In contrast, the cdk4 and hTERT immortalized keratinocytes differentiated similarly to normal unimmortalized keratinocytes.The use of isogenic derivatives of stable immortalized keratinocytes with specified genetic alterations may be helpful in developing more robust in vitro models of cancer progression

Quality of human-computer interaction - results of a national usability survey of hospital-IT in Germany

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Due to the increasing functionality of medical information systems, it is hard to imagine day to day work in hospitals without IT support. Therefore, the design of dialogues between humans and information systems is one of the most important issues to be addressed in health care. This survey presents an analysis of the current quality level of human-computer interaction of healthcare-IT in German hospitals, focused on the users' point of view.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To evaluate the usability of clinical-IT according to the design principles of EN ISO 9241-10 the IsoMetrics Inventory, an assessment tool, was used. The focus of this paper has been put on suitability for task, training effort and conformity with user expectations, differentiated by information systems. Effectiveness has been evaluated with the focus on interoperability and functionality of different IT systems.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>4521 persons from 371 hospitals visited the start page of the study, while 1003 persons from 158 hospitals completed the questionnaire. The results show relevant variations between different information systems.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Specialised information systems with defined functionality received better assessments than clinical information systems in general. This could be attributed to the improved customisation of these specialised systems for specific working environments. The results can be used as reference data for evaluation and benchmarking of human computer engineering in clinical health IT context for future studies.</p

Functional and structural properties of thin electroceramic films by laser radiation

The deposition of single layer electroceramic thin films by pulsed excimer laser radiation (248 nm) on Ti/Pt/Si (111) substrates is investigated as a function af laser parameters (fluence, repetition rate, beam geometry) and processing variables (pressure and composition of processing gas, target-substrate arrangement) under conditions of various temporal and spatial properties of the involves vapor and/or plasma states represented in the type, number, ionization degree, momentum, and energy of the ensemble of species generated. The film characteristics were measured using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, ellipsometry and impendance measurements. The experimental results are related to theoretical results of film growth calculating the densification of the films via momentum trasfer and the temperature of the films via energy storage. The film properties are dicussed in view of suitable permittivities and coupling coefficients for electrical, sensoric and actuatoric applications

Influence of spinal cord stimulation on insulin sensitivity in chronic pain patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This prospective, sham-controlled, randomized, cross-over study (NCT03637075), was designed to test the hypothesis that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for the treatment of pain can also improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity when compared to sham stimulation. METHODS: Ten non-diabetic participants (5 females, mean age 48.8 years) who had an SCS system implanted for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain were studied. Whilst applying a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, sham-stimulation and tonic stimulation were performed for 45 min (n=4) or 60 min (n=6) in each case randomly. The insulin sensitivity index and pain levels were determined. A second investigation, BurstDR stimulation was also conducted and the result was compared to that of sham stimulation (cross-over design). RESULTS: The insulin sensitivity improved significantly under the tonic stimulation when compared to the sham stimulation (p=0.037). BurstDR stimulation independently did not lead to a significantly improved insulin sensitivity compared to that after sham stimulation (p=0.16). We also examined the pain during the test and found no significant difference between sham and tonic stimulation (p=0.687). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that tonic stimulation used for the treatment of pain could also improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Further investigations are required to investigate the clinical relevance of the role of glucose metabolism in diabetic chronic pain participants and its underlying mechanisms

Impact of end-stage renal disease on glucose metabolism-a matched cohort analysis.

Background. Renal function is known to affect glucose metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess glucose metabolism in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and in matched controls with normal renal function and to delineate its underlying pathophysiology. Methods. ESRD patients without diabetes mellitus on the active kidney transplant waiting list of a large European university hospital were metabolically phenotyped by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and by calculating insulin sensitivity and secretion indices. Matched controls with normal renal function were derived from the TUEF (Tuebingen Family) study cohort, which includes healthy non-diabetic individuals with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Matches were made for (i) gender, age and body mass index (BMI) (cohort 1) and for (ii) gender, age, BMI, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h glucose in OGTT (cohort 2). Results. A total of 107 patients ( 90 on haemodialysis and 17 on peritoneal dialysis) and two cohorts, each comprising 107 matched controls, were investigated. ESRD patients had significantly lower FPG. Additional matching for OGTT glucose concentrations revealed significantly lower insulin sensitivity in ESRD patients than in controls. This finding was abrogated after adjustment for triglyceride levels. Insulin secretion, however, was significantly higher in ESRD patients. Insulin kinetics during OGTT as well as C-peptide levels demonstrate higher insulin secretion to be a compensation for lower insulin sensitivity and not to result from impaired insulin clearance. Conclusion. Our study is the first to provide metabolic phenotyping in patients with ESRD and to compare them with matched controls with normal renal function. Glucose metabolism differs substantially between cohorts, with insulin resistance and a compensatory increase in insulin secretion in ESRD patients