Improving Definition of Screen-Printed Functional Materials for Sensing Application.

Screen printing is one of the most used techniques for developing printed electronics. It stands out for its simplicity, scalability, and effectivity. Specifically, the manufacturing of hybrid integrated circuits has promoted the development of the technique, and the photovoltaic industry has enhanced the printing process by developing high-performance metallization pastes and high-end screens.

Smart and Multifunctional Materials Based on Electroactive Poly(vinylidene fluoride): Recent Advances and Opportunities in Sensors, Actuators, Energy, Environmental, and Biomedical Applications.

From scientific and technological points of view, poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, is one of the most exciting polymers due to its overall physicochemical characteristics. This polymer can crystalize into five crystalline phases and can be processed in the form of films, fibers, membranes, and specific microstructures, being the physical properties controllable over a wide range through appropriate chemical modifications. Moreover, PVDF-based materials are characterized by excellent chemical, mechanical, thermal, and radiation resistance, and for their outstanding electroactive properties, including high dielectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric response, being the best among polymer systems and thus noteworthy for an increasing number of technologies.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: early results of a minimally invasive procedure in patients with obesity.

Objectives: We aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty at 3 months as well as to determine factors influencing post-procedural weight loss.

Methods: Seventy-three patients with obesity classes I, II and III (BMI 31.1-46.

Piezoelectric and Magnetically Responsive Biodegradable Composites with Tailored Porous Morphology for Biotechnological Applications.

The biomedical area in the scope of tissue regeneration pursues the development of advanced materials that can target biomimetic approaches and, ideally, have an active role in the environment they are placed in. This active role can be related to or driven by morphological, mechanical, electrical, or magnetic stimuli, among others. This work reports on the development of active biomaterials based on poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid--3-hydroxyvaleric acid), PHBV, a piezoelectric and biodegradable polymer, for tissue regeneration application by tailoring its morphology and functional response.

Validation of an Artificial Intelligence Algorithm for Diagnostic Prediction of Coronary Disease: Comparison with a Traditional Statistical Model.

Background: Multivariate prognostic analysis has been traditionally performed by regression models. However, many algorithms capable of translating an infinity of patterns into probabilities have emerged. The comparative accuracy of artificial intelligence and traditional statistical models has not been established in the medical field.

Does Advanced Age Reduce the Typicality of Clinical Presentation in Patients with Acute Chest Pain Related to Coronary Artery Disease?

Background: According to traditional diagnosis thinking, very elderly individuals are more predisposed to develop atypical symptoms in acute coronary syndromes.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that very elderly individuals are more predisposed to atypical chest pain manifestations due to obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: The Registry of Thoracic Pain includes patients admitted with acute chest pain.

Triboelectric Energy Harvesting Response of Different Polymer-Based Materials.

Energy harvesting systems for low-power devices are increasingly being a requirement within the context of the Internet of Things and, in particular, for self-powered sensors in remote or inaccessible locations. Triboelectric nanogenerators are a suitable approach for harvesting environmental mechanical energy otherwise wasted in nature. This work reports on the evaluation of the output power of different polymer and polymer composites, by using the triboelectric contact-separation systems (10 N of force followed by 5 cm of separation per cycle).

Prognostic Contrast between Anatomical and Clinical Models Regarding Fatal and Non-Fatal Outcomes in Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Background: Recurrent ischemic events are mediated by atherosclerotic plaque instability, whereas death after an ischemic event results from gravity of insult and ability of the organism to adapt. The distinct nature of those types of events may respond for different prediction properties of clinical and anatomical information regarding type of outcome.

Objective: To identify prognostic properties of clinical and anatomical data in respect of fatal and non-fatal outcomes of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Magnetically Activated Electroactive Microenvironments for Skeletal Muscle Tissue Regeneration.

This work reports on magnetoelectric biomaterials suitable for effective proliferation and differentiation of myoblast in a biomimetic microenvironment providing the electromechanical stimuli associated with this tissue in the human body. Magnetoelectric films are obtained by solvent casting through the combination of a piezoelectric polymer, poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoro-ethylene), and magnetostrictive particles (CoFeO). The nonpoled and poled (with negative and positive surface charge) magnetoelectric composites are used to investigate their influence on C2C12 myoblast adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation.

Magnetic Bioreactor for Magneto-, Mechano- and Electroactive Tissue Engineering Strategies.

Biomimetic bioreactor systems are increasingly being developed for tissue engineering applications, due to their ability to recreate the native cell/tissue microenvironment. Regarding bone-related diseases and considering the piezoelectric nature of bone, piezoelectric scaffolds electromechanically stimulated by a bioreactor, providing the stimuli to the cells, allows a biomimetic approach and thus, mimicking the required microenvironment for effective growth and differentiation of bone cells. In this work, a bioreactor has been designed and built allowing to magnetically stimulate magnetoelectric scaffolds and therefore provide mechanical and electrical stimuli to the cells through magnetomechanical or magnetoelectrical effects, depending on the piezoelectric nature of the scaffold.

Magnetic Proximity Sensor Based on Magnetoelectric Composites and Printed Coils.

Magnetic sensors are mandatory in a broad range of applications nowadays, being the increasing interest on such sensors mainly driven by the growing demand of materials required by Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things concept. Optimized power consumption, reliability, flexibility, versatility, lightweight and low-temperature fabrication are some of the technological requirements in which the scientific community is focusing efforts.

Prognostic Value of NT-proBNP versus Killip Classification in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Background: Plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptides have better diagnostic accuracy compared to clinical-radiologic judgment for acute heart failure. In acute coronary syndromes (ACS), the prognostic value of acute heart failure is incorporated into predictive models through Killip classification. It is not established whether NT-proBNP could increment prognostic prediction.

Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Europe - Results of the EuReCa TWO study.

Background: The epidemiology and outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) varies across Europe. Following on from EuReCa ONE, the aim of this study was to further explore the incidence of and outcomes from OHCA in Europe and to improve understanding of the role of the bystander.

Methods: This prospective, multicentre study involved the collection of registry-based data over a three-month period (1st October 2017 to 31st December 2017).

Bioinspired Three-Dimensional Magnetoactive Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Bone tissue repair strategies are gaining increasing relevance due to the growing incidence of bone disorders worldwide. Biochemical stimulation is the most commonly used strategy for cell regeneration, while the application of physical cues, including magnetic, mechanical, or electrical fields, is a promising, however, scarcely investigated field. This work reports on novel magnetoactive three-dimensional (3D) porous scaffolds suitable for effective proliferation of osteoblasts in a biomimetic microenvironment.

Behavioral Influence of Known Prognostic Markers on the Cardiologist's Decision following Acute Coronary Syndrome: the GRACE Score Paradox.

Background: Behavioral scientists consistently point out that knowledge does not influence decisions as expected. GRACE Score is a well validated risk model for predicting death of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, whether prognostic assessment by this Score modulates medical decision is not known.

Inconsistency prevents the valuable synergism of explanatory and pragmatic trails.

Objective: To assess review articles on pragmatic trials in order to describe how authors define the aim of this type of study, how comprehensive methodological topics are covered, and which topics are most valued by authors.

Methods: Review articles were selected from Medline Database, based on the expression "pragmatic trial" in the titles. Five trained medical students evaluated the articles, based on a list of 15 self-explanatory methodological topics.

Indirect X-ray Detectors Based on Inkjet-Printed Photodetectors with a Screen-Printed Scintillator Layer.

Organic photodetectors (PDs) based on printing technologies will allow to expand the current field of PD applications toward large-area and flexible applications in areas such as medical imaging, security, and quality control, among others. Inkjet printing is a powerful digital tool for the deposition of smart and functional materials on various substrates, allowing the development of electronic devices such as PDs on various substrates. In this work, inkjet-printed PD arrays, based on the organic thin-film transistor architecture, have been developed and applied for the indirect detection of X-ray radiation using a scintillator ink as an X-ray absorber.

Prognostic Accuracy of the GRACE Score in Octogenarians and Nonagenarians with Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Background: The GRACE Score was derived and validated from a cohort in which octogenarians and nonagenarians were poorly represented.

Objective: To test the accuracy of the GRACE score in predicting in-hospital mortality of very elderly individuals with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Methods: Prospective observational study conducted in the intensive coronary care unit of a tertiary center from September 2011 to August 2016.

Marked Object Recognition Multitouch Screen Printed Touchpad for Interactive Applications.

The market for interactive platforms is rapidly growing, and touchscreens have been incorporated in an increasing number of devices. Thus, the area of smart objects and devices is strongly increasing by adding interactive touch and multimedia content, leading to new uses and capabilities. In this work, a flexible screen printed sensor matrix is fabricated based on silver ink in a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate.

Zero Calcium Score as a Filter for Further Testing in Patients Admitted to the Coronary Care Unit with Chest Pain.

Background:: The accuracy of zero coronary calcium score as a filter in patients with chest pain has been demonstrated at the emergency room and outpatient clinics, populations with low prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objective:: To test the gatekeeping role of zero calcium score in patients with chest pain admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU), where the pretest probability of CAD is higher than that of other populations.

Methods:: Patients underwent computed tomography for calcium scoring, and obstructive CAD was defined by a minimum 70% stenosis on invasive angiography.

Accuracy of gestalt perception of acute chest pain in predicting coronary artery disease.

Aim: To test accuracy and reproducibility of gestalt to predict obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with acute chest pain.

Methods: We studied individuals who were consecutively admitted to our Chest Pain Unit. At admission, investigators performed a standardized interview and recorded 14 chest pain features.

EuReCa ONE-27 Nations, ONE Europe, ONE Registry: A prospective one month analysis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes in 27 countries in Europe.

Introduction: The aim of the EuReCa ONE study was to determine the incidence, process, and outcome for out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) throughout Europe.

Methods: This was an international, prospective, multi-centre one-month study. Patients who suffered an OHCA during October 2014 who were attended and/or treated by an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) were eligible for inclusion in the study.

Mechanical fatigue performance of PCL-chondroprogenitor constructs after cell culture under bioreactor mechanical stimulus.

In tissue engineering of cartilage, polymeric scaffolds are implanted in the damaged tissue and subjected to repeated compression loading cycles. The possibility of failure due to mechanical fatigue has not been properly addressed in these scaffolds. Nevertheless, the macroporous scaffold is susceptible to failure after repeated loading-unloading cycles.

Dynamic piezoelectric stimulation enhances osteogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells.

This work reports on the influence of the substrate polarization of electroactive β-poly(vinylidene fluoride) (β-PVDF) on human adipose stem cells (hASCs) differentiation under static and dynamic conditions. hASCs were cultured on different β-PVDF surfaces (non-poled and "poled -") adsorbed with fibronectin and osteogenic differentiation was determined using a quantitative alkaline phosphatase assay. "Poled -" β-PVDF samples promote higher osteogenic differentiation, which is even higher under dynamic conditions.