Biomedical Engineering

This study aims to formulate mucoadhesive vancomycin loaded thiolated chitosan (TCS) nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are mucoadhesive and enhance the retention of the drug at the ocular site. For this purpose, TCS loaded vancomycin nanoparticles were prepared by the ion-gelation method and were characterized for their size, shape, polydispersity index, mucoadhesion, cellular uptake and anti-inflammatory activity. The average size of the synthesized nanoparticles was found to be 288 nm with positive zeta potential. Moreover, 85% vancomycin was successfully encapsulated in TCS nanoparticles by using this method. A 2-fold increase in mucoadhesion was found as compared to non-thiolated vancomycin formulation (p < 0.05). Zone of inhibition of vancomycin loaded TCS was also significantly improved compared to non-thiolated chitosan nanoparticles and vancomycin alone. In-vivo anti-inflammatory evaluation via histopathology resulted in ocular healing. Based on the results, it is inferr...

Brain computer interfaces (BCI) provide a direct communication link between the brain and a computer or other external devices. They offer an extended degree of freedom either by strengthening or by substituting human peripheral working capacity and have potential applications in various fields such as rehabilitation, affective computing, robotics, gaming, and neuroscience. Significant research efforts on a global scale have delivered common platforms for technology standardization and help tackle highly complex and non-linear brain dynamics and related feature extraction and classification challenges. Time-variant psycho-neurophysiological fluctuations and their impact on brain signals impose another challenge for BCI researchers to transform the technology from laboratory experiments to plug-and-play daily life. This review summarizes state-of-the-art progress in the BCI field over the last decades and highlights critical challenges.

Restorative brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have been proposed to enhance stroke rehabilitation. Restorative BCIs are able to close the sensorimotor loop by rewarding motor imagery (MI) with sensory feedback. Despite the promising results from early studies, reaching clinically significant outcomes in a timely fashion is yet to be achieved. This lack of efficacy may be due to suboptimal feedback provision. To the best of our knowledge, the optimal feedback update interval (FUI) during MI remains unexplored. There is evidence that sensory feedback disinhibits the motor cortex. Thus, in this study, we explore how shorter than usual FUIs affect behavioural and neurophysiological measures following BCI training for stroke patients using a single-case proof-of-principle study design. The action research arm test was used as the primary behavioural measure and showed a clinically significant increase (36%) over the course of training. The neurophysiological measures including motor evoke...

Ở Việt Nam, các quần xã cây Cóc đỏ phân bố gần cửa sông, ven biển nơi chỉ ngập triều cao, đất sét hơi chặt, thường mọc lẫn các loài Giá (Excoecaria agallocha), Dà (Ceriops sp.) có khi mọc thành quần xã ưu thế hoặc gần như thuần loại với mật độ dày. Trong bài báo này, đã tiến hành lấy mẫu đất ở 15 vị trí của 3 khu vực có sự phân bố tập trung của các quần xã cây Cóc đỏ phân bố ở Nam Bộ theo 2 mùa (mưa và khô). Tiến hành phân tích chỉ số lí hóa của các đất thu được theo Tiêu chuẩn Việt Nam và Viện Thổ nhưỡng nông hóa. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy các chỉ tiêu gồm pH đất, độ dẫn điện (EC), hàm lượng tổng muối tan (TMT%), chất hữu cơ, hàm lượng N tổng số và N dễ tiêu, tỉ lệ C/N giữa ba khu vực nghiên cứu (Cần Giờ, Côn Đảo và Phú Quốc) có sự khác biệt có ý nghĩa theo mùa (mùa mưa và mùa khô) và theo tầng đất khảo sát (0 – 20 cm, 40 – 60 cm). Các chỉ số hàm lượng tổng muối tan với độ dẫn điện trong đất; giữa hàm lượng chất hữu cơ với N tổng số; giữa hàm lượng chất hữu cơ với N dễ tiêu; và g...

Atualmente diversas são as opções de reabilitação oral em pacientes edêntulos. Uma opção já validada na literatura por diversos estudos e que vem sendo uma alternativa ao uso desses enxertos para reabilitação oral, é o protocolo de reabilitação total implantossuportada denominado All-on-four. Essa técnica, inicialmente divulgada em 2003, vem se mostrando nas duas últimas décadas, uma opção favorável, por ser uma técnica rápida e segura para os pacientes dendentados totais. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi apresentar uma revisão de literatura e um relato de caso clínico, de um paciente com maxila atrófica, utilizando o protocolo All-on-four e reabilitando com prótese implantossuportada. Para esse estudo buscou-se artigos nos bancos de dados PUBMED, Lilacs e Scielo. Foram buscados artigos com os termos implantes dentários, reabilitação oral, planejamento de prótese dentária e protocolo All-on-four, nos idiomas portugues e/ou inglês. Selecionou-se 34 artigos publicados entre os anos...

ObjectiveTo present a clinical case of a patient with Tatton‐Brown‐Rahman syndrome, to provide evidence of the importance of supplying patients with appropriate dental care, emphasizing in behavioral management.Study designClinical case report.ResultsThis 7‐year‐old child, had a history of persistent ductus arteriousus, autism spectrum behavior, language disorders, dyslalias, hearing disorder, hypotonic musculature, and joint hyperlaxity. The main facial and oral diagnoses were dolichocephaly, convex profile, atypical swallowing, mixed breathing, class II malocclusion, mandibular retrognathism, maxillary prognathism, caries lesions, and biofilm associated gingivitis. A comprehensive treatment was carried out from the stage of adaptation to dental care, control of dental biofilm, motivation, and teaching of oral hygiene with appropriate strategies to the child's age and cognitive abilities. Also, resin restorations, habits management and malocclusion with the use of the modified ...

A recent computational model of brain tumor growth, developed to better describe how gliomas invade through the adjacent brain parenchyma, is based on two major elements: cell proliferation and isotropic cell diffusion. On the basis of this model, glioma growth has been simulated in a virtual brain, provided by a 3D segmented MRI atlas. However, it is commonly accepted that glial cells preferentially migrate along the direction of fiber tracts. Therefore, in this paper, the model has been improved by including anisotropic extension of gliomas. The method is based on a cell diffusion tensor derived from water diffusion tensor (as given by MRI diffusion tensor imaging). Results of simulations have been compared with two clinical examples demonstrating typical growth patterns of low‐grade gliomas centered around the insula. The shape and the kinetic evolution are better simulated with anisotropic rather than isotropic diffusion. The best fit is obtained when the anisotropy of the cell ...

The 2022 POSNA Annual Meeting Pre-course, the last of its kind, was dedicated to “Improving Patient care through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” showing the continued commitment of the organization to these vital topics in the continued growth of our field.  Orthopaedic surgery remains the least diverse subspecialty. Although studies show representation of women and underrepresented minorites (URM) is increasing in orthopaedics, it is increasing at a slower rate than other surgical subspecialties. These issues were thought to stem from a lack of pipeline programs. Recent data, however, reveal that rates of attrition during residency (defined as either withdrawal or dismissal) are disproportionately higher for underrepresented groups. In addition, rates at which URM and women hold leadership positions in organizational and society boards are lower. Lack of diversity in orthopaedics cannot be explained solely by a lack of matching residents. Mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship are...

First-principles density functional calculations together with experimental measurements demonstrate that pressure (uniform and uniaxial) increases the band gap of a perfect lithium hexafluoroaluminate (LiCaAlF6, LiCAF) crystal. As fluoride crystals can be highly transmitting at vacuum ultraviolet wavelengths, crystal modifications that further increase the band gap are highly sought after for future Vacuum ultraviolet applications. Through an extensive series of density functional theory simulations, we demonstrate that the band gap increases monotonically from 12.2 eV to 14.1 eV with the application of uniform pressure. Through joint theoretical and experimental investigation, we explore different uniaxial compressions that can be achieved through cutting-edge laser-shock compression. We find that uniaxial pressure also increases the LiCAF band gap by 0.3 and 0.4 eV for a- and c-axis compressions, respectively.

Edentulous patients show some significant changes in ridge relationship caused by resorption of alveolar ridge. The changes are characterized by an upward rotation of mandible, increase in mandibular prognathism that ultimately results in change of natural head posture. This clinical study was planned to know the effect of complete denture on head posture in different age groups of Indian completely edentulous population, after placement of complete denture at various time intervals. The sample consisted of completely edentulous patients without previous experience of the dentures. They were divided into 2 age groups: Group A (45-60) and Group B (61-75). During placement of complete denture craniovertical angle was measured with the help of custom made ruler protector device. Readings were taken before denture placement, immediately after denture placement, 30 minutes, 24 hours and 30 days after dentures placement. The results of this study indicated that in most of the patients (90...

Introduction : Oral hygiene mantainenece is paramount alongside Orthodontic treatment. In Pakistan, oral hygiene awareness is inadequate and measures must be taken to improve it for decreasing the load on tertiary care facilities. Hence the aim of the present study was to determine oral hygiene status of orthodontic patients requiring hyrax expander as part of their treatment reporting to Orthodontics Department, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 30 patients (14 males and 16 females) of age ranging between 8 and 14 years. Simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-s) by Green and Vermilion 11 was used to calculate plaque values before insertion of hyrax, after one month of insertion and after three months of insertion of hyrax expander. Six index teeth were selected that included four posterior teeth and two anterior teeth. Buccal surface of maxillary first permanent molars, maxillary right central incisor, mandibular left central inciso...

This study was conducted to determine and apply a mathematical model to simulate the environmental and climatic parameters to evaluate the performance of different greenhouses in three areas within the Khartoum North – Sudan (Date Palm Technology Company., Abu Halima Center and Khartoum University). The assessment method depends on development of a computer simulation model to generate from house physical characteristics and climate data ten environmental performance evaluation indicators (Relative moisture efficiency; Cooling effectiveness, Moisture saturation efficiency; Water consumption rate; House overall efficiency; House ventilation rate, Optimum internal temperature and internal relative humidity).The result of application of the evaluation model for nine greenhouses in three different locations in Khartoum North reveals that there is no significant differences (P = 0.05) in evaluation indicators between the three studied areas. The study concluded that additional work is ne...