A simplified low-cost phantom for image quality assessment of dental cone beam computed tomography unit.

Introduction: A standardised testing protocol for evaluation of a wide range of dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) performance and image quality (IQ) parameters is still limited and commercially available testing tool is unaffordable by some centres. This study aims to assess the performance of a low-cost fabricated phantom for image quality assessment (IQA) of digital CBCT unit.

Methods: A customised polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cylindrical phantom was developed for performance evaluation of Planmeca ProMax 3D Mid digital dental CBCT unit.

The technology of tongue and hard palate contact detection: a review.

The tongue and hard palate play an essential role in the production of sound during continuous speech. Appropriate tongue and hard palate contacts will ensure proper sound production. Electropalatography, also known as EPG, is a device that can be used to identify the location of the tongue and hard palate contact.

Performance of Stochastic Targeted Blood Glucose Control Protocol by virtual trials in the Malaysian intensive care unit.

Background And Objective: Blood glucose variability is common in healthcare and it is not related or influenced by diabetes mellitus. To minimise the risk of high blood glucose in critically ill patients, Stochastic Targeted Blood Glucose Control Protocol is used in intensive care unit at hospitals worldwide. Thus, this study focuses on the performance of stochastic modelling protocol in comparison to the current blood glucose management protocols in the Malaysian intensive care unit.

Surface modifications of human tooth using Nd:YAG laser for dental applications.

Ablation using Nd:YAG laser has potential in resulting a rough effect on tooth surfaces. The objective of this study is to perform a comparative evaluation of the roughness structure of enamel using the Cynosure Cynergy Nd:YAG laser and 37% phosphoric acid. The results obtained for laser-etched with a pulse width of 300ms show roughed and porous surface with greater depth.

Laser-induced changes of in vitro erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

The study of the effects of low-level laser (LLL) radiation on blood is important for elucidating the mechanisms behind the interaction of LLL radiation and biologic tissues. Different therapy methods that involve blood irradiation have been developed and used for clinical purposes with beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different irradiation protocols using a diode-pumped solid-state LLL (λ = 405 nm) on samples of human blood by measuring the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Effects of low-level laser irradiation on human blood lymphocytes in vitro.

Low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) has various effects on cultured human lymphocytes in vitro, but little is known about such effects in whole blood. This study investigated whether LLLI affected lymphocyte count in human whole blood in vitro. A total number of 130 blood samples were collected from apparently healthy adult patients through venipuncture into tubes containing EDTA.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate of human blood exposed to low-level laser.

This study is designed to investigate in vitro low-level laser (LLL) effects on rheological parameter, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), of human blood. The interaction mechanism between LLL radiation and blood is unclear. Therefore, research addresses the effects of LLL irradiation on human blood and this is essential to understanding how laser radiation interacts with biological cells and tissues.

In Vitro Mean Red Blood Cell Volume Change Induced by Diode Pump Solid State Low-Level Laser of 405 nm.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of low-level laser (LLL) doses on human red blood cell volume. The effects of exposure to a diode pump solid state (DPSS) (λ = 405 nm) laser were observed.

Background Data: The response of human blood to LLL irradiation gives important information about the mechanism of interaction of laser light with living organisms.

Peripheral venous blood oxygen saturation can be non-invasively estimated using photoplethysmography.

Measurement of peripheral venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) is currently performed using invasive catheters or direct blood draw. The purpose of this study was to non-invasively determine SvO2 using a variation of pulse oximetry techniques. Artificial respiration-like modulations applied to the peripheral vascular system were used to infer regional SvO2 using photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors.

A model-based control protocol for transition from ICU to HDU: Robustness analysis.

The robustness of a model-based control protocol as a less intensive TGC protocol using insulin Glargine for provision of basal insulin is simulated in this study. To quantify the performance and robustness of the protocol to errors, namely physiological variability and sensor errors, an in-silico Monte Carlo analysis is performed. Actual patient data from Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand were used as virtual trial patients.