Immersive technologies as a solution for general data protection regulation in Europe and impact on the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: General data protection regulation (GDPR) provides rules according to which datashould be managed and processed in a secure and appropriate way for patient requirements and security.Currently, everyone in Europe is covered by GDPR. Thus, the medical practice also requires accessto patient data in a safe and secure way.Methods: Holographic technology allows users to see everything visible on a computer screen in a newand less restricted way, i.e. without the limitations of traditional computers and screens.Results: In this study, a three-dimensional holographic doctors’ assistant is designed and implementedin a way that meets the GDPR requirements. The HoloView application, which is tailored to run onMicrosoft HoloLens, is proposed toallow display and access to personal data and so-called sensitiveinformation of all individual patients without the risk that it will be presented to unauthorized persons.Conclusions: To enhance the user experience and remain consistent with GSPR, a holographic deskis proposed that allows displaying patient data and sensitive information only in front of the doctor’seyes using mixed reality glasses. Last but not least, it boasts of a reduction in infection risk for the staffduring the COVID-19 pandemic, affording medical care to be carried out by as few doctors as possible

Multimodality imaging of intermediate lesions: Data from fractional flow reserve, optical coherence tomography, near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound

  Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) assesses a functional impact of the atheroma on the myocardial ischemia, but it does not take into account the morphology of the lesion. Previous optical coherence tomography (OCT), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) studies presented their potential to detect vulnerable plaques, which is not possible by FFR assessment. With the following study, the intermediate lesions were assessed by FFR, OCT and combined NIRS-IVUS imaging to identify plaque vulnerability. Methods: Thirteen intermediate lesions were analyzed simultaneously by FFR, OCT and combined NIRS-IVUS imaging. Results: Two lesions were found to have FFR ≤ 0.80 (0.65 and 0.76). The other 11 lesions had FFR > 0.80 with a mean FFR 0.88 ± 0.049. Two lesions with FFR ≤ 0.80 had plaque burden (PB) > 70% and minimal lumen area (MLA) < 4 mm2, but neither of these 2 lesions were identified as OCT de­fined thin fibrous cap atheroma (TCFA), or NIRS-IVUS possible TCFA. Among the other 11 lesions with FFR > 0.80, 8 were identified as OCT-defined TCFA, 4 had PB > 70%, 6 had MLA < 4 mm2, 2 had both PB > 70% and MLA < 4 mm2, 3 lesions were identified as NIRS-IVUS possible TCFA, and 4 lesions had lipid core burden index > 400. Conclusions: The FFR-negative lesions pose traits of vulnerability as assessed simultaneously by IVUS, OCT and NIRS imaging.

Endoscopic transconjunctival surgical approach to intraconal space of the orbit: First clinical experience

Background and purpose Recently, a transconjunctival, endoscope-assisted (TEA) approach to the medial intra-orbital space was developed based on cadaver preparations, with an ultimate goal of minimizing disturbances of the anatomic structures of the orbit. However, no report on clinical validation of this promising technique was published thus far. We present our experiences with the TEA approach in two patients. Material and methods In emergency conditions, we approached the lateral retrobulbar space of a 42-year-old male through a 180° incision close to the corneal limbus; a scrap of metal, which had perforated the globe and resided at its posterior wall, was removed endoscopically. Moreover, we used the TEA approach to remove a tumor from the upper intraconal space in a 63-year-old woman. Results In both patients the surgical goal was achieved with no muscle transection and without additional morbidity and complications. Conclusions Our experiences with TEA approach suggest that the procedure is clinically feasible, produces no co-morbidity and yields good functional and cosmetic results. As a result, the whole circumference of the retrobulbar space can be conveniently explored

Repair of UV-induced thymine dimers is compromised in cells expressing the E6 protein from human papillomaviruses types 5 and 18

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is a major mutagenic environmental agent, causing the appearance of DNA adducts that, if unrepaired, may give rise to mutations. Ultraviolet radiation has been indicated as a major risk factor in the development of nonmelanoma skin cancers; however, recent reports have suggested that infections with human papillomaviruses, a widespread family of epitheliotropic DNA viruses, may also contribute to the tumorigeneic process. Here, we investigated whether expression of the E6 protein from different HPV types interfere with the repair of thymine dimers caused by UV-B radiation. Results show that unrepaired DNA damage can be observed in UV-B-irradiated cells expressing the E6 protein of HPV types found in cervical and epithelial cancers. Moreover, such cells have the ability to overcome the G(1) cell cycle checkpoint induced as a result of unrepaired DNA. (C) 2004 Cancer Research UK