Project description:Background and objectiveColonoscopy is an ever-growing procedure, being the primary diagnostic and therapeutic modality to manage lower gastrointestinal pathologies. It has a decades-old history with significant successive endoscopic innovations that eventually led to the development of the current colonoscope, as we know it today.MethodsWe reviewed multiple databases in non-systemic fashion using PubMed, Embase and Cochrane library to shed light on historic timeline of advancements and groundbreaking landmark achievements currently underway.Key content and findingsInitially starting off as a rudimentary rigid, device that utilized candles as a light source, the primitive colonoscope was adapted to a semi-rigid framework to allow better maneuverability. Improved lenses allowed better viewing quality and the development of video capabilities with the capability of performing both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions transformed the colonoscope completely into a modern interventional device. Its utility started gaining attention in the late 90s when multiple guidelines were published, supporting its impact on survival for colorectal screening. Over the years, the therapeutic component of colonoscopy has evolved further allowing it to be used as a treatment modality for several lower gastrointestinal pathologies including control of lower gastrointestinal bleeds, management of large bowel perforation, foreign body removal and dilatation of colonic stenosis. With improving technological advances, success rates of colonoscopic interventions continue to rise and new therapeutic modalities underway further enhancing their role. Multiple developments are underway including use of artificial intelligence (AI) with as endocuff vision, amplify EYE and G-EYE among others that hold great promise for the future of colonoscopy.ConclusionsWith our review, we hope to further the understanding clinicians about the colonoscope and help contribute towards its further developments.
Project description:To improve the knowledge on a variety of severe disorders, research has moved from the analysis of individual proteins to the investigation of all proteins expressed by a tissue/organism. This global proteomic approach could prove very useful: (i) for investigating the biochemical pathways involved in disease; (ii) for generating hypotheses; or (iii) as a tool for the identification of proteins differentially expressed in response to the disease state. Proteomics has not been used yet in the field of respiratory research as extensively as in other fields, only a few reproducible and clinically applicable molecular markers, which can assist in diagnosis, having been currently identified. The continuous advances in both instrumentation and methodology, which enable sensitive and quantitative proteomic analyses in much smaller amounts of biological material than before, will hopefully promote the identification of new candidate biomarkers in this area. The aim of this report is to critically review the application over the decade 2004-2013 of very sophisticated technologies to the study of respiratory disorders. The observed changes in protein expression profiles from tissues/fluids of patients affected by pulmonary disorders opens the route for the identification of novel pathological mediators of these disorders.
Project description:Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a recognized cause of reversible cognitive and motor decline, with gait and balance impairments often emerging early. Technologies providing gait and balance measures can aid in early detection, diagnosis, and prognosis of the disease. This systematic review comprehensively discusses previous studies on the instrumental assessment of gait and balance in NPH. A PubMed search following PRISMA guidelines identified studies published between 2000 and 2024 that used laboratory instruments to assess gait and balance in NPH. Studies underwent quality assessment for internal, statistical, and external validity. Methodological details such as motor tasks, instruments, analytical approaches, and main findings were summarized. Overall, this review includes 41 studies on gait and 17 on balance, most of which used observational, cross-sectional designs. These studies employed various tools, such as pressure-sensitive platforms, optoelectronic motion-capture systems, and wearable inertial sensors. Significant differences in kinematic measures of gait and balance have been found in NPH patients compared to healthy controls and individuals with other neurological conditions. Finally, this review explores potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the kinematic changes in gait and balance in NPH and emphasizes the absence of longitudinal data, which hinders drawing definitive conclusions for prognostic purposes.
Project description:ObjectiveThis scoping review aims to characterize the current literature on electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) in rheumatology and assess the feasibility and utility of ePROMs and mobile health technology in the management of rheumatic disease.IntroductionPatient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are commonly used in rheumatology as they are important markers of disease activity and overall function, encourage shared decision-making, and are associated with high rates of patient satisfaction. With the widespread use of mobile devices, there is increasing interest in the use of mobile health technology to collect electronic PROMs (ePROM).Inclusion criteriaAll primary studies that involve the collection of ePROMs using mobile devices by individuals with a rheumatic disease were included. Articles were excluded if ePROMs were measured during clinic appointments.MethodsA scoping review was performed using Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL with index terms and key words related to "patient-reported outcome measures", "rheumatic diseases", and "mobile health technology".ResultsA total of 462 records were identified after duplicates were removed. Of the 70 studies selected for review, 43% were conference proceedings and 57% were journal articles, with the majority published in 2016 or later. Inflammatory arthritis was the most common rheumatic disease studied. Generic ePROMs were used over three times more often than disease-specific ePROMs. A total of 39 (56%) studies directly evaluated the feasibility of ePROMs in clinical practice, 19 (27%) were clinical trials that used ePROMs as study endpoints, 9 (13%) were focus groups or surveys on smartphone application development, and 3 (4%) did not fit into one defined category.ConclusionThe use of ePROMs in rheumatology is a growing area of research and shows significant utility in clinical practice, particularly in inflammatory arthritis. Further research is needed to better characterize the feasibility of ePROMs in rheumatology and their impact on patient outcomes.
Project description:The rumen contains a multi-kingdom, commensal microbiome, including protozoa, bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses, which enables ruminant herbivores to ferment and utilize plant feedstuffs that would be otherwise indigestible. Within the rumen, virus populations are diverse and highly abundant, often out-numbering the microbial populations that they both predate on and co-exist with. To date the research effort devoted to understanding rumen-associated viral populations has been considerably less than that given to the other microbial populations, yet their contribution to maintaining microbial population balance, intra-ruminal microbial lysis, fiber breakdown, nutrient cycling and genetic transfer may be highly significant. This review follows the technological advances which have contributed to our current understanding of rumen viruses and drawing on knowledge from other environmental and animal-associated microbiomes, describes the known and potential roles and impacts viruses have on rumen function and speculates on the future directions of rumen viral research.
Project description:BackgroundHealth technology assessment (HTA) is the systematic evaluation of various properties and effects of a health technology. HTA can serve as a bridge between the world of knowledge and that of decision making, offering decision makers the best summary of scientific evidence. Scoping HTA reports in the context of dentistry can help researchers identify grey areas; help practitioners make evidence-based decisions and further initiate better policy making.AimTo provide an overview on HTAs pertaining to oral health and dentistry in the past decade, map the extension and scope of the methodological practices, key findings, and limitations.MethodologyA scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. A comprehensive search for HTA reports was done through the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment Database from January 2010 to December 2020. Consecutively, electronic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) were searched. Finally, thirty-six reports were included in this review and analyzed.ResultsA total of 709 articles were initially identified, of which thirty-six met the inclusion criteria. Reviewed HTAs focused on various specialties of dentistry worldwide. Maximum number of reports (N = 5) were related to "prosthodontics and dental implants" and technologies related to preventive dentistry were most commonly assessed (N = 4).ConclusionFunctional, appropriate, and evidence-based information provided through HTA pertaining to oral health on a regular basis will enable decision makers to have enough data to make decisions on the future use of new technology, modify existing policies, accelerate its translation into practice, and ensure provision of robust dental healthcare services.
Project description:BackgroundChagas disease (CD) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted mainly through the feces/urine of infected triatomine bugs. The acute phase lasts 2-3 months and is characterized by high parasitemia and nonspecific symptoms, whereas the lifelong chronic phase features symptoms affecting the heart and/or digestive tract occurring in 30-40% of infected individuals. As in humans, cardiac abnormalities are observed in T. cruzi-infected dogs and cats. We reviewed the technological advances in the serological diagnosis of CD in dogs and cats.MethodsA review of the published literature during the last 54 years (1968-2022) on the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of CD in dogs and cats was conducted.ResultsUsing predefined eligibility criteria for a search of the published literature, we retrieved and screened 436 publications. Of these, 84 original studies were considered for inclusion in this review. Dogs and cats are considered as sentinels, potentially indicating an active T. cruzi transmission and thus the risk for human infection. Although dogs and cats are reputed to be important for maintaining the T. cruzi domestic transmission cycle, there are no commercial tests to detect past or active infections in these animals. Most published research on CD in dogs and cats have used in-house serological tests prepared with native and/or full-length recombinant antigens, resulting in variable diagnostic performance. In recent years, chimeric antigens have been used to improve the diagnosis of chronic CD in humans with encouraging results. Some of them have high performance values (> 95%) and extremely low cross-reactivity rates for Leishmania spp., especially the antigens IBMP-8.1 to IBMP-8.4. The diagnostic performance of IBMP antigens was also investigated in dogs, showing high diagnostic performance with negligible cross-reactivity with anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies.ConclusionsThe development of a commercial immunodiagnostic tool to identify past or active T. cruzi infections in dogs and cats is urgently needed. The use of chimeric recombinant T. cruzi antigens may help to fill this gap and is discussed in this review.
Project description:Male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) remains a debilitating condition that adversely impacts all domains of quality of life and is associated with significant social stigma and health economic burden. The incidence of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI) depends on the definition of urinary incontinence and the length of patient follow up. In patients with persistent PPI following failure of conservative measures, surgical treatment is recommended although there is no published guideline on when surgery should be performed, and what the best surgical option is. Male slings (MS) can be divided into adjustable or non-adjustable types, and offers an attractive option for patients who wish to avoid mechanical handling during urinary voiding. Published intermediate data supports good safety and efficacy rate in men with mild to moderate degree of SUI. The AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) remains the standard of treatment for complete continence and has the longest efficacy and safety records. Other AUS-like devices are designed to address current AMS 800 limitations but themselves are fraught with their own issues.
Project description:Molecular flexibility over a wide time range is of central importance to the function of many proteins, both soluble and membrane. Revealing the modes of flexibility, their amplitudes, and time scales under physiological conditions is the challenge for spectroscopic methods, one of which is site-directed spin labeling EPR (SDSL-EPR). Here we provide an overview of some recent technological advances in SDSL-EPR related to investigation of structure, structural heterogeneity, and dynamics of proteins. These include new classes of spin labels, advances in measurement of long range distances and distance distributions, methods for identifying backbone and conformational fluctuations, and new strategies for determining the kinetics of protein motion.