Preference-based assistance optimization for lifting and lowering with a soft back exosuit.

Wearable robotic devices have become increasingly prevalent in both occupational and rehabilitative settings, yet their widespread adoption remains inhibited by usability barriers related to comfort, restriction, and noticeable functional benefits. Acknowledging the importance of user perception in this context, this study explores preference-based controller optimization for a back exosuit that assists lifting. Considering the high mental and metabolic effort discrete motor tasks impose, we used a forced-choice Bayesian Optimization approach that promotes sampling efficiency by leveraging domain knowledge about just noticeable differences between assistance settings.

Effects of Oxiris Therapy on Cytokine Elimination after a LPS Infusion-An Experimental Animal Study.

The clinical effectiveness of Oxiris, particularly in reducing cytokines, remains uncertain due to the limited data provided. This study explored and analyzed the application value of Oxiris endotoxin adsorption technology in a large animal model. Pigs received an intravenous LPS infusion.

Clinical Applicability of Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography in Patients under Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Therapy.

Unlabelled: Relationship between stiffness of genioglossi (GG) and geniohyoidei (GH) muscles under electric hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy (HNS) in relation to success of therapy was investigated with additional special focus on tongue movement.

Patients And Methods: Clinical and sleep laboratory parameters of a cohort of 18 patients with known shear wave velocity (SWV) data of the ipsilateral and contralateral musculi GG and GH (sGG, sGH and nGG, nGH) before and under HNS therapy were analyzed. The SWV was already determined using the ultrasonic shear wave elastography (US-SWE) technique.

The Diagnostic Performance of Multiparametric Ultrasound in the Qualitative Assessment of Inconclusive Cervical Lymph Nodes.

Background: Enlarged cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) can result from infection or malignancies, and a definitive diagnosis requires histological examination. Ultrasound (US) remains the first-line imaging modality for detection, and new US techniques may improve characterization. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the qualitative assessment of multiparametric US (mpUS) can improve diagnostic performance in the differentiation of benign and malignant CLNs.

[Velopalatal coupling in sleep endoscopy: collapse-pattern based analysis of simulated airway opening].

Objective: Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is an established diagnostic procedure to assess the upper airway in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. During DISE airway opening is regularly simulated by various maneuvers. One of them is mandibular advancement by the modified jaw-thrust maneuver (MJTM).

Telepresence for surgical assistance and training using eXtended reality during and after pandemic periods.

Existing challenges in surgical education (See one, do one, teach one) as well as the COVID-19 pandemic make it necessary to develop new ways for surgical training. Therefore, this work describes the implementation of a scalable remote solution called "TeleSTAR" using immersive, interactive and augmented reality elements which enhances surgical training in the operating room. The system uses a full digital surgical microscope in the context of Ear-Nose-Throat surgery.

Reducing Back Exertion and Improving Confidence of Individuals with Low Back Pain with a Back Exosuit: A Feasibility Study for Use in BACPAC.

Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is hallmarked by activity limitations, especially for tasks involving bending. Back exosuit technology reduces low back discomfort and improves self-efficacy of individuals with LBP during bending and lifting tasks. However, the biomechanical efficacy of these devices in individuals with LBP is unknown.

Assessment of Parotid Gland Tumors by Means of Quantitative Multiparametric Ultrasound (mpUS).

Objective: The preoperative diagnostical differentiation of parotid gland tumor (PGT) is not always simple due to several different entities. B-mode-ultrasound (US) remains the imaging modality of choice, while histopathology serves as the gold standard for finalizing the diagnosis. We aimed to evaluate the use of multiparametric US (mpUS) in the assessment of PGT.

Persistent Treatment-Emergent Central Sleep Apnea (TECSA) Following Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation.

Purpose: Since 2001, hypoglossal nerve stimulators (HNS) have been used worldwide to treat patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Recently, a few studies reported treatment-emergent central sleep apnea (TECSA) with spontaneous resolution following HNS. However, the evidence of persistent development of TECSA during long-term care visits was lacking.

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Therapy.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) has been shown to be a safe alternative in the treatment of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A recent meta-analysis of 12 studies by Costantino et al. indicated the surgical success rates at 55-75%, a reduction of the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) of 18 events/h, and a reduction of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) of 2.

The Relationship between the M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization and the Degree of Ossicular Erosion in Human Acquired Cholesteatoma: An Immunohistochemical Study.

The differential involvement of the macrophage activation phenotypes (M1 vs. M2) has been linked to disease severity in various chronic inflammatory disorders. Pharmacologic manipulation of the M1/M2 macrophage polarization has shown therapeutic potential.

Quantitative Multiparametric Ultrasound (mpUS) in the Assessment of Inconclusive Cervical Lymph Nodes.

Background: Enlarged cervical lymph nodes (CLN) are preferably examined by ultrasound (US) by using criteria such as size and echogenicity to assess benign and suspicious CLN, which should be histologically evaluated. This study aims to assess the differentiation of malign and benign CLN by using multiparametric US applications (mpUS). Methods: 101 patients received a standardized US protocol prior to surgical intervention using B-mode−US, shear-wave elastography (SWE) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

Endoscopic ear examination improves self-reported confidence in ear examination skills among undergraduate medical students compared with handheld otoscopy.

Handheld otoscopy is the standard tool used to teach ear examination in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Previous studies have shown that the undergraduate teaching of ear examination with handheld otoscopes is inadequate, resulting in low self-reported levels of student confidence in their diagnostic skills. With the increase in popularity of endoscopic ear surgery, an increasing number of otolaryngologists are using endoscopes for office examinations of the ear due to the method's superior visualization and excellent image qualities.

Predictors for Adherence to Treatment Strategies in Elderly HNSCC Patients.

Finding a cure may be less important than ensuring the quality of life in elderly patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The aim of this study was to determine predictors for adherence. Clinical and pathological data from patients ≥70 years with HNSCC (initial diagnoses 2004-2018) were investigated retrospectively.

Real-time gait metric estimation for everyday gait training with wearable devices in people poststroke.

Hemiparetic walking after stroke is typically slow, asymmetric, and inefficient, significantly impacting activities of daily living. Extensive research shows that functional, intensive, and task-specific gait training is instrumental for effective gait rehabilitation, characteristics that our group aims to encourage with soft robotic exosuits. However, standard clinical assessments may lack the precision and frequency to detect subtle changes in intervention efficacy during both conventional and exosuit-assisted gait training, potentially impeding targeted therapy regimes.

Classifying and Predicting Surgical Complications After Laryngectomy: A Novel Approach to Diagnosing and Treating Patients.

Objectives: The total laryngectomy is one of the most standardized major surgical procedures in otolaryngology. Several studies have proposed the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) as a solution to classifying postoperative complications into 5 grades from less severe to severe. Yet more data on classifying larger patient populations undergoing major otolaryngologic surgery according to the CDC are needed.

Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography of the Tongue during Selective Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Currently, there is no established technique to directly measure extrinsic tongue muscle activation during selective hypoglossal stimulation therapy (sHNS) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in a simple, non-invasive clinical setting. Ultrasound shear-wave elastography (US-SWE) enables quantitative measurement of tissue stiffness. We investigated whether US-SWE is able to detect changes in muscle stiffness of the tongue during sHNS.

The Diagnostic Yield of Excisional Biopsy in Cervical Lymphadenopathy: A Retrospective Analysis of 158 Biopsies in Adults.

Objectives: Cervical lymph nodes are the most common site of peripheral lymphadenopathy. The underlying etiologies are usually benign and self-limiting but may include malignancies or other severe life-threatening diseases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the various underlying pathologies of cervical lymphadenopathy as assessed by the diagnostic yield of excisional lymph node biopsies of the neck in a tertiary adult practice.

Bilateral Hearing Loss Due to Metastatic Gastric Signet Cell Adenocarcinoma Involving the Internal Auditory Canal and Cerebellopontine Angle.

Intracranial metastases of stomach cancers are very rare and are associated with a poor prognosis. Of those, metastases of gastric cancers in the internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle represent an extremely rare subgroup. Such metastatic lesions may be indistinguishable from vestibular schwannomas in imaging studies and clinical presentation.

Incidence and survival of HNSCC patients living with HIV compared with HIV-negative HNSCC patients.

Purpose: The aim was to analyze the incidence and survival of patients living with HIV (PLWH) with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to compare with a control group of HIV-negative HNSCC patients.

Methods: Clinicopathological data and predictors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were investigated (2009-2019).

Results: 50 of 5151 HNSCC patients (0.

Validation of two techniques for intraoperative hyperspectral human tissue determination.

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a non-contact optical imaging technique with the potential to serve as an intraoperative computer-aided diagnostic tool. Our work analyzes the optical properties of visible structures in the surgical field for automatic tissue categorization. Building an HSI-based computer-aided tissue analysis system requires accurate ground truth and validation of optical soft tissue properties as these show large variability.