An Actuated Variable-View Rigid Scope System to Assist Visualization in Diagnostic Procedures.

Objective: Variable-view rigid scopes offer advantages compared to traditional angled laparoscopes for examining a diagnostic site. However, altering the scope's view requires a high level of dexterity and understanding of spatial orientation. This requires an intuitive mechanism to allow an operator to easily understand the anatomical surroundings and smoothly adjust the scope's focus during diagnosis.

A generic scope actuation system for flexible endoscopes.

Background: A scope actuation system assists a surgeon in steering a scope for navigating an operative field during an interventional or diagnostic procedure. Each system is tailored for a specific surgical procedure. The development of a generic scope actuation system could assist various laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures.

User interfaces for actuated scope maneuvering in surgical systems: a scoping review.

Background: A variety of human computer interfaces are used by robotic surgical systems to control and actuate camera scopes during minimally invasive surgery. The purpose of this review is to examine the different user interfaces used in both commercial systems and research prototypes.

Methods: A comprehensive scoping review of scientific literature was conducted using PubMed and IEEE Xplore databases to identify user interfaces used in commercial products and research prototypes of robotic surgical systems and robotic scope holders.

Scope actuation system for articulated laparoscopes.

Background: An articulated laparoscope comprises a rigid shaft with an articulated distal end to change the viewing direction. The articulation provides improved navigation of the operating field in confined spaces. Furthermore, incorporation of an actuation system tends to enhance the control of an articulated laparoscope.

Preliminary design and evaluation of a generic surgical scope adapter.

Background: Robotic scope assistant systems are used to visualise and navigate the operative field during a laparoscopic surgery. The objective of this work is to design a surgical scope adapter that enables control of different scope types (zero-degree, angulated, and articulated), and can be connected to any six degree-of-freedom robotic manipulator for usage as a robotic scope assistant system.

Methods: A surgical scope adapter compatible with different camera heads and scope types was designed and prototyped.

The genome of the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha: a resource for comparative genomics, invasion genetics, and biocontrol.

The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, continues to spread from its native range in Eurasia to Europe and North America, causing billions of dollars in damage and dramatically altering invaded aquatic ecosystems. Despite these impacts, there are few genomic resources for Dreissena or related bivalves. Although the D.

A Holographic Augmented Reality Interface for Visualizing of MRI Data and Planning of Neurosurgical Procedures.

The recent introduction of wireless head-mounted displays (HMD) promises to enhance 3D image visualization by immersing the user into 3D morphology. This work introduces a prototype holographic augmented reality (HAR) interface for the 3D visualization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data for the purpose of planning neurosurgical procedures. The computational platform generates a HAR scene that fuses pre-operative MRI sets, segmented anatomical structures, and a tubular tool for planning an access path to the targeted pathology.

Identification of Target Genes Mediated by Two-Component Regulators of Staphylococcus aureus Using RNA-seq Technology.

Transcriptomics enables us to elucidate comprehensive gene expression profiles in given experimental conditions. Global regulators, which include transcriptional regulators and two-component regulatory systems, have evolved in a variety of bacterial systems. They play important roles in bacterial fitness and pathogenesis by regulating target gene expression.

Measuring sequencer size bias using REcount: a novel method for highly accurate Illumina sequencing-based quantification.

Quantification of DNA sequence tags from engineered constructs such as plasmids, transposons, or other transgenes underlies many functional genomics measurements. Typically, such measurements rely on PCR followed by next-generation sequencing. However, PCR amplification can introduce significant quantitative error.

Fabrication of multipoint side-firing optical fiber by laser micro-ablation.

A multipoint, side-firing design enables an optical fiber to output light at multiple desired locations along the fiber body. This provides advantages over traditional end-to-end fibers, especially in applications requiring fiber bundles such as brain stimulation or remote sensing. This Letter demonstrates that continuous wave (CW) laser micro-ablation can controllably create conical-shaped cavities, or side windows, for outputting light.

Simultaneous steering and imaging of magnetic particles using MRI toward delivery of therapeutics.

Magnetic resonance navigation (MRN) offers the potential for real-time steering of drug particles and cells to targets throughout the body. In this technique, the magnetic gradients of an MRI scanner perform image-based steering of magnetically-labelled therapeutics through the vasculature and into tumours. A major challenge of current techniques for MRN is that they alternate between pulse sequences for particle imaging and propulsion.

Systematic improvement of amplicon marker gene methods for increased accuracy in microbiome studies.

Amplicon-based marker gene surveys form the basis of most microbiome and other microbial community studies. Such PCR-based methods have multiple steps, each of which is susceptible to error and bias. Variance in results has also arisen through the use of multiple methods of next-generation sequencing (NGS) amplicon library preparation.

Fed state prior to hemorrhagic shock and polytrauma in a porcine model results in altered liver transcriptomic response.

Hemorrhagic shock is a leading cause of trauma-related mortality in both civilian and military settings. Resuscitation often results in reperfusion injury and survivors are susceptible to developing multiple organ failure (MOF). The impact of fed state on the overall response to shock and resuscitation has been explored in some murine models but few clinically relevant large animal models.

Transcriptomic analysis of Staphylococcus aureus using microarray and advanced next-generation RNA-seq technologies.

The transcriptome has shown tremendous potential for the comprehensive investigation of gene expression profiles and transcriptional levels in comparative biology, the identification of regulatory mechanism of transcriptional regulators, and the evaluation of target gene for developing new chemotherapeutic agents, vaccine, and diagnostic methods. The traditional microarray and advanced next-generation RNA sequencing technologies (RNA-seq) provide powerful and effective tools for the determination of the transcriptome of bacterial cells. In this chapter, we provide a detailed protocol for scientists who want to investigate gene expression profiles by performing microarray and/or RNA-seq analysis, including different RNA purification methods, mRNA enrichment, decontamination, cDNA synthesis, fragmentation, biotin labeling for hybridization using Affymetrix Staphylococcus aureus chips, quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR, and RNA-seq data analysis.

Financing your strategic plan: finding the right tool for the right job.

Financing options available through the private sector and government agencies can fund facility renovations or new construction. To upgrade IT, hospital leaders have three major financing options: purchase, use cloud-based services for a fee, or lease. Hospital leaders may finance physician integration like other capital projects, but there are risks to diverting dollars from buildings.

A pilot study of preoperative gefitinib for early-stage lung cancer to assess intratumor drug concentration and pathways mediating primary resistance.

Background: Targeted agents such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been extensively studied in preclinical systems and in advanced-stage patients. Little is known about levels of kinase inhibitors found in tumors as opposed to plasma. Similarly, effects of inhibitors on tumor signaling pathways in patient-based materials are unclear.

Prostatic involution after intraprostatic injection of cobra toxin.

Purpose: We evaluated the comparative effects of intraprostatic injection of cobra cardiotoxin D and botulinum toxin type A on prostate structure in the rat model.

Materials And Methods: A total of 18 Sprague-Dawley® rats weighing 500 to 600 gm received a single 0.1 ml injection of saline (6), botulinum toxin type A (6) or the cardiotoxin D (6) component of cobra (Naja naja atra) toxin in the right and left ventral lobes of the prostate.

Conservative management of a grade V injury to an ectopic pelvic kidney following blunt trauma to the lower abdomen: a case report.

Introduction: Ectopic pelvic kidneys represent an anatomic variant that remains clinically asymptomatic in most patients. While there is some literature to suggest that ectopic kidneys may be more predisposed to blunt trauma injuries, there are few examples to guide the management of these injuries. To our knowledge, we present the first case of a grade V renal injury to an ectopic pelvic kidney managed successfully with conservative measures.

Effect of alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist exposure on prostate cancer incidence: an observational cohort study.

Purpose: The quinazoline based alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists doxazosin and terazosin suppress prostate tumor growth via the induction of apoptosis and decrease in tissue vascularity. To assess the effect of alpha1-blocker exposure on the incidence of prostate cancer we performed an exploratory, observational cohort study.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of all male patients enrolled at Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center were searched to identify men treated with quinazoline based alpha1-adrenoreceptor antagonists between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2002 for hypertension and/or benign prostatic enlargement.