e-MIS Contents: Multimedia Contents for e-Learning Environments in Minimally Invasive Surgery

This work describes the design and application of multimedia contents for web technologies-based training in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The chosen strategy allows knowing the deficiencies of the current training methods so new multimedia contents can cover them. This study is concluded with the definition of three different types of multimedia contents accordingly to the development degree and didactic objectives that they present: Didactic resources are basic contents such as videos or documents that can be enhanced with contributions of users. On the other hand, case reports and didactic units have a defined structure. Didactic resources and case reports provide an informal training while didactic units are included in a more regulated training

Simulador cardiovascular para ensayo de robots de navegación autónoma

[Resumen] Este artículo presenta un modelo de simulación del sistema cardiovascular en el entorno de Matlab/Simulink, más concretamente de la zona de mayor riesgo cardiovascular, la arteria carótida. Está basado en un modelo eléctrico del sistema que describe la dinámica de contracción del corazón, así como su carácter cíclico y autónomo. Como primer paso, este modelo se generaliza para contemplar también la dinámica de la arteria carótida izquierda. A partir de él, y haciendo una serie de equivalencias entre dominios, se obtiene un modelo hidráulico que emula el comportamiento del sistema cardiovascular en esa zona y que, a diferencia del anterior, no presenta carácter autónomo. Para el diseño del control, se hace uso de la estrategia de linealización por realimentaón. Se incluyen simulaciones, tanto del modelo eléctrico completo como del hidráulico propuesto, para demostrar el correcto funcionamiento del simulador desarrollado. El objetivo final de este trabajo es la construcción de una plataforma de ensayo para robots nadadores tipo flagelo eucariótico y bacteriano de pequeñas dimensiones a partir del modelo hidráulico desarrollado que permita emular las condiciones en las que se encontrarían estos robots navegando por el sistema circulatorio humano.Junta de Extremadura; GR15178Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; DPI2016-80547-

Ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat microvascular skin free flap model: A histological, genetic, and blood flow study.

Ischemia reperfusion injury is associated with tissue damage and inflammation, and is one of the main factors causing flap failure in reconstructive microsurgery. Although ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a well-studied aspect of flap survival, its biological mechanisms remain to be elucidated. To better understand the biological processes of ischemia reperfusion injury, and to develop further therapeutic strategies, the main objective of this study was to identify the gene expression pattern and histological changes in an I/R injury animal model. Fourteen rats (n = 7/group) were randomly divided into control or ischemia-reperfusion group (8 hours of ischemia). Microsurgical anastomoses were objectively assessed using transit-time-ultrasound technology. Seven days after surgery, flap survival was evaluated and tissue samples were harvested for anatomopathological and gene-expression analyses.The I/R injury reduced the survival of free flaps and histological analyses revealed a subcutaneous edema together with an inflammatory infiltrate. Interestingly, the Arginase 1 expression level as well as the ratio of Arginase 1/Nitric oxide synthase 2 showed a significant increase in the I/R group. In summary, here we describe a well-characterized I/R animal model that may serve to evaluate therapeutic agents under reproducible and controlled conditions. Moreover, this model could be especially useful for the evaluation of arginase inhibitors and different compounds of potential interest in reconstructive microsurgery

Evaluation of antigen-induced synovitis in a porcine model: Immunological, arthroscopic and kinetic studies

Abstract Background Synovitis is an inflammation-related disease linked to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, infections and trauma. This inflammation is accompanied by immune cells infiltration which initiates an inflammatory response causing pain, discomfort and affecting the normal joint function. The treatment of synovitis is based on the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs or biological agents such as platelet rich plasma and mesenchymal stem cells. However, the evaluation and validation of more effective therapies of synovitis requires the establishment of clinically relevant animal models. Results In this study, Large White pigs were pre-immunized to evaluate an antigen-induced synovitis. The immune monitoring of synovial fluids in this model allowed us the identification of IL-12p40 and T cell subsets as immune biomarkers. Moreover, the evolution of synovitis was performed by arthroscopic procedures and kinetic analysis. In summary, this paper describes an animal model of antigen-induced synovitis to be used in the evaluation of anti-inflammatory therapies. Conclusions The novelty of this paper lies in the development of a clinically relevant model of synovitis which permits the simultaneous evaluation of synovitis from an immunological, surgical and kinetic point of view