A novel integrated industrial approach with cobots in the age of industry 4.0 through conversational interaction and computer vision

From robots that replace workers to robots that serve as helpful colleagues, the field of robotic automation is experiencing a new trend that represents a huge challenge for component manufacturers. The contribution starts from an innovative vision that sees an ever closer collaboration between Cobot, able to do a specific physical job with precision, the AI world, able to analyze information and support the decision-making process, and the man able to have a strategic vision of the future

A novel integrated industrial approach with cobots in the age of industry 4.0 through conversational interaction and computer vision

From robots that replace workers to robots that serve as helpful colleagues, the field of robotic automation is experiencing a new trend that represents a huge challenge for component manufacturers. The contribution starts from an innovative vision that sees an ever closer collaboration between Cobot, able to do a specific physical job with precision, the AI world, able to analyze information and support the decision-making process, and the man able to have a strategic vision of the future

The Glycolytic Enzyme PFKFB3 Is Involved in Estrogen-Mediated Angiogenesis via GPER1 s

ABSTRACT The endogenous estrogen 17b-estradiol (E2) is a key factor in promoting endothelial healing and angiogenesis. Recently, proangiogenic signals including vascular endothelial growth factor and others have been shown to converge in endothelial cell metabolism. Because inhibition of the glycolytic enzyme activator phosphofructokinase-2/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) reduces pathologic angiogenesis and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling stimulates glucose uptake and glycolysis by inducing PFKFB3 in breast cancer, we hypothesized that E2 triggers angiogenesis in endothelial cells via rapid ER signaling that requires PFKFB3 as a downstream effector. We report that treatment with the selective G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER1) agonist G-1 (10 210 to 10 27 M) mimicked the chemotactic and proangiogenic effect of E2 as measured in a number of short-term angiogenesis assays in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs); in addition, E2 treatment upregulated PFKFB3 expression in a time-and concentrationdependent manner. Such an effect peaked at 3 hours and was also induced by G-1 and abolished by pretreatment with the GPER1 antagonist G-15 or GPER1 siRNA, consistent with engagement of membrane ER. Experiments with the PFKFB3 inhibitor 3-(3-pyridinyl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one showed that PFKFB3 activity was required for estrogen-mediated HUVEC migration via GPER1. In conclusion, E2-induced angiogenesis was mediated at least in part by the membrane GPER1 and required upregulation of the glycolytic activator PFKFB3 in HUVECs. These findings unravel a previously unrecognized mechanism of estrogen-dependent endocrine-metabolic crosstalk in HUVECs and may have implications in angiogenesis occurring in ischemic or hypoxic tissues

EP Testing in Asymptomatic Brugada Patients with Recurrent Palpitations. Just do it

Brugada syndrome is a rare heritable arrhythmogenic disease characterized by a coved ST segment elevation in the right precordial leads and by an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest as a result of polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmias or ventricular fibrillation (1). Although implantable cardioverter defibrillators are considered to be the main therapy in patients with a history of ventricular arrhythmias or syncope, risk stratification in cases without these symptoms remains controversial. Patients with confirmed Brugada pattern and a history of palpitations without major events should be scheduled for risk stratification. Even though its value has been questioned, inducibility of VTs/VF at programmed electric stimulation is widely used to select candidates to receive a prophylactic implantable cardiac defibrillator in these categories. Herein, we report a patient with type I Electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern induced at the Ajmaline test and a family history of sudden cardiac death who had episodes of palpitations. We describe and discuss our management proving the importance of complete electrophysiological testing in the setting of Brugada asymptomatic patients' risk stratification

Case Report Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia with Structural Abnormalities of the Right Ventricle and Left Ventricular Diverticulum

A 43-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with a sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). ECG showed a QRS in left bundle branch block morphology with inferior axis. Echocardiography, ventricular angiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) revealed a normal right ventricle and a left ventricular diverticulum. Electrophysiology studies with epicardial voltage mapping identified a large fibrotic area in the inferolateral layer of the right ventricular wall and a small area of fibrotic tissue at the anterior right ventricular outflow tract. VT ablation was successfully performed with combined epicardial and endocardial approaches

The Exoscope in Neurosurgery: An Overview of the Current Literature of Intraoperative Use in Brain and Spine Surgery

Background: Exoscopes are a safe and effective alternative or adjunct to the existing binocular surgical microscope for brain tumor, skull base surgery, aneurysm clipping and both cervical and lumbar complex spine surgery that probably will open a new era in the field of new tools and techniques in neurosurgery. Methods: A Pubmed and Ovid EMBASE search was performed to identify papers that include surgical experiences with the exoscope in neurosurgery. PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) were followed. Results: A total of 86 articles and 1711 cases were included and analyzed in this review. Among 86 papers included in this review 74 (86%) were published in the last 5 years. Out of 1711 surgical procedures, 1534 (89.6%) were performed in the operative room, whereas 177 (10.9%) were performed in the laboratory on cadavers. In more detail, 1251 (72.7%) were reported as brain surgeries, whereas 274 (16%) and 9 (0.5%) were reported as spine and peripheral nerve surgeries, respectively. Considering only the clinical series (40 studies and 1328 patients), the overall surgical complication rate was 2.6% during the use of the exoscope. These patients experienced complication profiles similar to those that underwent the same treatments with the OM. The overall switch incidence rate from exoscope to OM during surgery was 5.8%. Conclusions: The exoscope seems to be a safe alternative compared to an operative microscope for the most common brain and spinal procedures, with several advantages that have been reached, such as an easier simplicity of use and a better 3D vision and magnification of the surgical field. Moreover, it offers the opportunity of better interaction with other members of the surgical staff. All these points set the first step for subsequent and short-term changes in the field of neurosurgery and offer new educational possibilities for young neurosurgery and medical students

Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia with Structural Abnormalities of the Right Ventricle and Left Ventricular Diverticulum

A 43-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with a sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). ECG showed a QRS in left bundle branch block morphology with inferior axis. Echocardiography, ventricular angiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) revealed a normal right ventricle and a left ventricular diverticulum. Electrophysiology studies with epicardial voltage mapping identified a large fibrotic area in the inferolateral layer of the right ventricular wall and a small area of fibrotic tissue at the anterior right ventricular outflow tract. VT ablation was successfully performed with combined epicardial and endocardial approaches

The Glycolytic Enzyme PFKFB3 Is Involved in Estrogen-Mediated Angiogenesis via GPER1

The endogenous estrogen 17β-estradiol (E2) is a key factor in promoting endothelial healing and angiogenesis. Recently, proangiogenic signals including vascular endothelial growth factor and others have been shown to converge in endothelial cell metabolism. Because inhibition of the glycolytic enzyme activator phosphofructokinase-2/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) reduces pathologic angiogenesis and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling stimulates glucose uptake and glycolysis by inducing PFKFB3 in breast cancer, we hypothesized that E2 triggers angiogenesis in endothelial cells via rapid ER signaling that requires PFKFB3 as a downstream effector. We report that treatment with the selective G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER1) agonist G-1 (10−10 to 10−7 M) mimicked the chemotactic and proangiogenic effect of E2 as measured in a number of short-term angiogenesis assays in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs); in addition, E2 treatment upregulated PFKFB3 expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Such an effect peaked at 3 hours and was also induced by G-1 and abolished by pretreatment with the GPER1 antagonist G-15 or GPER1 siRNA, consistent with engagement of membrane ER. Experiments with the PFKFB3 inhibitor 3-(3-pyridinyl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one showed that PFKFB3 activity was required for estrogen-mediated HUVEC migration via GPER1. In conclusion, E2-induced angiogenesis was mediated at least in part by the membrane GPER1 and required upregulation of the glycolytic activator PFKFB3 in HUVECs. These findings unravel a previously unrecognized mechanism of estrogen-dependent endocrine-metabolic crosstalk in HUVECs and may have implications in angiogenesis occurring in ischemic or hypoxic tissues