A.Eye Drive: gaze-based semi-autonomous wheelchair interface

Existing wheelchair control interfaces, such as sip & puff or screen based gaze-controlled cursors, are challenging for the severely disabled to navigate safely and independently as users continuously need tointeract with an interface during navigation. This putsa significant cognitive load on users and prevents them from interacting with the environment in other forms during navigation. We have combined eyetracking/gaze-contingent intention decoding with computervision context-awarealgorithms and autonomous navigation drawn fromself-driving vehicles to allow paralysed users to drive by eye, simply by decoding natural gaze about where the user wants to go: A.Eye Drive. Our “Zero UI” driving platform allows users to look and interact visually with at an objector destination of interest in their visual scene, and the wheelchairautonomously takes the user to the intended destination, while continuously updating the computed path for static and dynamic obstacles. This intention decoding technology empowers the end-user by promising more independence through their own agency

Volumetric evaluation of fat in the renal sinus in normal subjects using stereological method on computed tomography images and its relationship with body composition

Background: The aim of the study was: to describe a simple, accurate and practical technique for estimating the volume of adipose tissue within the renal sinus (RS) using stereological method on computed tomography (CT) images; to establish a population database for volume of fat within the RS from 21 to 80 years of age; to investigate the effect of age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and abdominal diameters on RS fat volume in normal subjects.Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed abdominal CT examinations of 240 patients without renal pathology between the ages of 21 and 80 years. There were 6 groups of patients, with 40 patients for each decade.Results: RS fat volumes in the left and right kidney were 5.70 ± 2.87 cm3 and 4.15 ± 2.39 cm3, respectively, in males and 3.51 ± 2.67 cm3 and 2.49 ± 2.16 cm3, respectively, in females. RS fat volume and age were positively correlated for both kidneys (left: r = 0.46; right: r = 0.44; p < 0.001, both), though it appeared to decline after age 70.Conclusions: Quantitative data may allow clinicians to better estimate the age-related RS fat volume changes and help them in decision making

Improved delivery of PLGA microparticles and microparticle-cell scaffolds in clinical needle gauges using modified viscosity formulations

Polymer microparticles are widely used as acellular drug delivery platforms in regenerative medicine, and have emerging potential as cellular scaffolds for therapeutic cell delivery. In the clinic, PLGA microparticles are typically administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously, with the clinician and clinical application site determining the precise needle gauge used for delivery. Here, we explored the role of needle diameter in microparticle delivery yield, and develop a modified viscosity formulation to improve microparticle delivery across a range of clinically relevant needle diameters. We have identified an optimal biocompatible formulation containing 0.25% pluronic F127 and 0.25% carboxymethyl cellulose, which can increase delivery payload to 520% across needle gauges 21–30G, and note that needle diameter impacts delivery efficacy. We use this formulation to increase the delivery yield of PLGA microparticles, and separately, PLGA-cell scaffolds supporting viable mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), demonstrating the first in vitro delivery of this cell scaffold system. Together, these results highlight an optimal formulation for the delivery of microparticle and microparticle-cell scaffolds, and illustrate how careful choice of delivery formulation and needle size can dramatically impact delivery payload

Penetrating spinal injury with a wooden fragment: A case report and review of the literature

Study Design.: Case description. Objectives.: To present a case of a missed diagnosis of penetrating spine injury by wood and review of the literature. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Penetrating spinal injuries by wood are rare injuries. Less than 10 cases with penetrating spine injuries by a wooden fragment had been reported earlier. Methods.: A 23-year-old man had fallen from 3 m high tree and sustained a penetrating wound on his right lower back. As the direct radiographic evaluation was normal, the diagnosis of foreign body was missed. Eventually, the diagnosis was made on admission of the patient with purulent discharge from his wound, 1-week postprimary closure. Hypoesthesia of S1, S2, and S3 alone, were noted neurologically. The computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of patient revealed an intraspinal foreign body pierced through the S1-S2 interlaminary space. Extraction of the wooden fragment was then performed by limited S1 laminectomy and the dural defect was also repaired. Results.: With appropriate antibiotherapy, patient recovered, with no sequela. Conclusion.: Due to its density and radiologic properties, it is not unusual for wood to be overlooked, unless detailed imaging with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is used. © 2010, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Mechanisms of viability in rabbit flank venous flaps

PubMed ID: 8333688Venous flaps may become more versatile in reconstruction and offer different opportunities to reconstructive surgeons if the mechanisms of their viability is clarified. In this study, axial pattern flank flaps in rabbits were converted into venous flaps by dividing the cutaneous pedicles and ligating the artery. Fluorescein and radioactive tracer studies were performed to elucidate the mechanisms of possible circulation. It is hypothesized that the venous flaps do not have a capillary circulation, but veins transport the fluid out, which is drawn into the capillaries from the interstitium, and that the nutrients and oxygen for flap viability diffuse from the wound bed. Venous drainage plays an important role by draining the metabolites away until revascularization offers a more direct supply

Changes of zinc, copper, and iron levels in the lung of male rats after subacute (4-week) and subchronic (13-week) exposure to formaldehyde

The medical use of formaldehyde has focused especially on laboratory use. Harmful effects of formaldehyde inhalation, such as nasal squamous cell carcinoma, are quite well documented. However, detailed studies of the mechanisms of the damaging effects of formaldehyde on lung tissue are quite limited. Amounts of such elements as zinc, copper, and iron within lung tissue indicate whether or not they function physiologically. In this study, 36 adult albino Wistar male rats (6 animals per group) were exposed to 0 (Control), 5, and 10 ppm (1 ppm ? 1.2 mg/m3) of formaldehyde gas for subacute (4-week) and subchronic (13-week) periods. Whole-body exposure was continuously carried out for 8 h/day, 5 days/week. Body weights were recorded weekly. Levels of metals mentioned above were measured in lung tissue by atomic absorption spectrometry using wet ashing and were then compared with levels in the control groups. At the end of the study, a gradual decrease in weight gain, a decrease in zinc levels, and an increase in iron levels were observed in both subacute and subchronic groups compared to control groups. Statistically significant increases in tissue Fe levels were seen in the 10 ppm subacute (P < 0.001), 5 ppm subchronic (P < 0.001), and 10 ppm subchronic (P < 0.001) groups. We conclude that subacute or subchronic exposure to cytotoxic concentrations of formaldehyde may cause growth retardation and alter the trace element levels of zinc and iron in the lung tissue. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc