Novel approach to continuous adventitious respiratory sound analysis for the assessment of bronchodilator response.

Background: A thorough analysis of continuous adventitious sounds (CAS) can provide distinct and complementary information about bronchodilator response (BDR), beyond that provided by spirometry. Nevertheless, previous approaches to CAS analysis were limited by certain methodology issues. The aim of this study is to propose a new integrated approach to CAS analysis that contributes to improving the assessment of BDR in clinical practice for asthma patients.

Antiviral activity of maca (Lepidium meyenii) against human influenza virus.

Objective: To investigate antiviral activity of maca to reduce viral load in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells infected with influenza type A and B viruses (Flu-A and Flu-B, respectively).

Methods: Maca were extracted with methanol (1:2, v/v). The cell viability and toxicity of the extracts were evaluated on MDCK cells using method MTT assay.

Identification of human papillomavirus as a preventive strategy for cervical cancer in asymptomatic women in the Peruvian Andes.

Objective: To detect the most prevalent human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in cervical smear samples of asymptomatic Peruvian women by analyzing the correlation between Papanicolaou (PAP)-stained cervical tests and PCR-sequencing.

Methods: A total of 254 women attending routine gynecological examinations were included in this study. The samples were analyzed by PAP technique and examined under a microscope by a pathologist and classified by the Bethesda system.

Active optics null test system based on a liquid crystal programmable spatial light modulator.

We present an active null test system adapted to test lenses and wavefronts with complex shapes and strong local deformations. This system provides greater flexibility than conventional static null tests that match only a precisely positioned, individual wavefront. The system is based on a cylindrical Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, a commercial liquid crystal programmable phase modulator (PPM), which acts as the active null corrector, enabling the compensation of large strokes with high fidelity in a single iteration, and a spatial filter to remove unmodulated light when steep phase changes are compensated.