Towards an Implantable Aptamer Biosensor for Monitoring in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a relapsing-remitting condition resulting in chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Present methods are either inadequate or not viable for continuous tracking of disease progression in individuals. In this study, we present the development towards an implantable biosensor for detecting interleukin-6 (IL-6), an important cytokine implicated in IBD.

Development of a Bioinspired Soft Robotic System for Teleoperated Endoscopic Surgery.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has emerged as a critical alternative to laparoscopic excisional surgery for the removal of early gastrointestinal tumors. However, current robotic systems for ESD face challenges with accessibility, dexterity, and precision in confined spaces due to limitations in actuation methods and mechanical design. To overcome these issues, a new motorless, master-slave soft robotic system using hydraulic actuation is introduced for ESD procedures.

Virtual obstacle-avoidance training using daily-life obstacles with physical feedback in older people: A cross-over trial.

Failures in avoiding environmental hazards can lead to falls. We developed a virtual reality (VR) obstacle-avoidance training system that provides physical feedback upon foot contact with a virtual obstacle. This study aimed to assess whether physical feedback reduces obstacle collisions in older adults within a VR environment.

Materials Advances in Devices for Heart Disease Interventions.

Heart disease encompasses a range of conditions that affect the heart, including coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, heart valve disease, and conditions that affect the heart muscle. Intervention strategies can be categorized according to when they are administered and include: 1) Monitoring cardiac function using sensor technology to inform diagnosis and treatment, 2) Managing symptoms by restoring cardiac output, electrophysiology, and hemodynamics, and often serving as bridge-to-recovery or bridge-to-transplantation strategies, and 3) Repairing damaged tissue, including myocardium and heart valves, when management strategies are insufficient. Each intervention approach and technology require specific material properties to function optimally, relying on materials that support their action and interface with the body, with new technologies increasingly depending on advances in materials science and engineering.

Rationale and design of the TeleClinical Care Cardiac (TCC-Cardiac) trial: A pragmatic randomized trial of adjunctive virtual models of care in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events.

Background: Digital health interventions have potential to improve outcomes in high risk cardiac patients through remote monitoring and patient education but introduce accessibility issues among patients who lack suitable smartphones. We will evaluate the effectiveness and scalability of the TeleClinical Care Cardiac (TCCCardiac) platform, that aims to reduce hospital readmissions and improve adherence to care.

Methods: A pragmatic, all-comers trial with nested randomization, where patients being discharged home following an admission with acute myocardial infarction (MI) or decompensated heart failure (HF) are divided into 3 cohorts pragmatically, based on their access to technology.

A CRISPR mediated point-of-care assay for the detection of mucosal calprotectin in an animal model of ulcerative colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder associated with inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to a range of debilitating symptoms. Fecal calprotectin is an established biomarker for ulcerative colitis (UC), one of the main IBD diseases, which provides indications of the presence and severity of inflammation in the digestive tract. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) as a gold standard approach for fecal calprotectin detection is time-consuming and impractical in point-of-care settings.

Response of Human Retinal Networks to Electrical Stimulation using 3D Intra-retinal Microelectrodes.

This research presents a computational model of the human retina's response to electrical stimulation using three-dimensional penetrating electrodes. Our model suggests that varying depths of insertion, coupled with specific stimulation parameters, can maximize the control over retinal ganglion cells. Notably, intra-retinal electrodes positioned in the inner plexiform layer can selectively modulate both ON and OFF functional pathways via direct activation of AII amacrine cells.

A Generic Technique to Remove a Variety of Electrical Stimulation Artifacts and Detect Stimulus-Embedded Neural Activity.

Investigating neural activity is critical to advancing neuroscience and informing clinically-relevant neuromodulation, but it is often burdened by the presence of recording artifacts resulting from electrical stimulation. We developed and evaluated a generalizable method for removing the electrical artifacts elicited by various neurostimulation waveforms. This investigation of a novel variety of stimulation waveforms was facilitated by obtaining and labelling the neural activity of 15 loose cell-attached patch clamp recordings of retinal ganglion cells.

Probing the Impact of Inner Retinal Network Changes on Subretinal Electrical Stimulation Responses.

We investigated the influence of degenerated retinal networks on the efficacy of subretinal prosthetic devices in eliciting retinal neural responses. We present a computational model that incorporates intricate descriptions of retinal connectivity spanning neural layers, conductance-based cellular and synaptic parameters, and analytical formulas governing the electrical field. Our results suggest the possibility of selective modulation of functionally-distinct retinal pathways through subretinal stimulation, even in the absence of all photoreceptors.

Novel Index for Non-Invasive Myocardial Recovery Assessment in LVAD-Supported Heart Failure Patients.

Objectives: Accurate assessment of residual cardiac function in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) supported heart failure (HF) patients is necessary for their effective clinical management, assessing the presence and degree of myocardial recovery (MR), and facilitating strategies for its active encouragement. The aim of this study was to develop a novel, non-invasive myocardial recovery index that uses data from the LVAD to provide this assessment, while addressing the limitations of current clinical methods and existing indices, including their sensitivity to cardiac loading and heart rate (HR).

Methods: We proposed the index ${\text{J}}_{\text{nV}}$, a ratio between maximum pump flow jerk during systole and the LVAD's hydraulic power.

Motor-Free Soft Robots for Cancer Detection, Surgery, and In Situ Bioprinting.

Recent advancements in teleoperated surgical robotic systems (TSRSs) for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) have significantly improved diagnostic and surgical outcomes. However, as the complexity of MIS procedures continues to grow, there is an increasing need to enhance surgical tools by integrating advanced functionalities into these instruments for superior medical results. Despite recent advancements, TSRSs face significant challenges, including rigidity, suboptimal actuation methods, large sizes, and complex control mechanisms.

Virtual human retina: Simulating neural signalling, degeneration, and responses to electrical stimulation.

Introduction: Current brain-based visual prostheses pose significant challenges impeding adoption such as the necessarily complex surgeries and occurrence of more substantial side effects due to the sensitivity of the brain. This has led to much effort toward vision restoration being focused on the more approachable part of the brain - the retina. Here we introduce a novel, parameterised simulation platform that enables study of human retinal degeneration and optimization of stimulation strategies.

Wearable Technology in Mobility and Falls Health Care: Finding Consensus on Their Clinical Utility and Identifying a Roadmap to Actual Use.

Background: Despite the promise wearable technology offers through detailed insight into mobility and fall risk, timely identification of high risk, assessment of risk severity, evaluation of clinical interventions, and potential to redefine the assessment of behaviours which influence health, they are not routinely used in clinical practice.

Objective: Establish consensus on how wearable technology can be applied to support clinical care for people aged 50 and over experiencing changes to mobility and/or who are at increased risk of falling.

Methods: A Delphi study was conducted among 17 hospital-based health professionals.

Development of a Self-Deploying Extra-Aortic Compression Device for Medium-Term Hemodynamic Stabilization: A Feasibility Study.

Hemodynamic stabilization is crucial in managing acute cardiac events, where compromised blood flow can lead to severe complications and increased mortality. Conditions like decompensated heart failure (HF) and cardiogenic shock require rapid and effective hemodynamic support. Current mechanical assistive devices, such as intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), offer temporary stabilization but are limited to short-term use due to risks associated with prolonged blood contact.

Virtual reality obstacle avoidance training can be enhanced by physical feedback via perturbations: A proof-of-concept study.

Background: Fall injuries resulting from trips are a major health concern. Virtual reality (VR) offers an effective way of training obstacle avoidance while walking due to its ability to provide safe and meaningful real-time feedback during rehabilitation. This proof-of-concept study examined the benefit of providing physical feedback during obstacle avoidance gait training using VR.

Vector-Free Deep Tissue Targeting of DNA/RNA Therapeutics via Single Capacitive Discharge Conductivity-Clamped Gene Electrotransfer.

Viral vector and lipid nanoparticle based gene delivery have limitations around spatiotemporal control, transgene packaging size, and vector immune reactivity, compromising translation of nucleic acid (NA) therapeutics. In the emerging field of DNA and particularly RNA-based gene therapies, vector-free delivery platforms are identified as a key unmet need. Here, this work addresses these challenges through gene electrotransfer (GET) of "naked" polyanionic DNA/mRNA using a single needle form-factor which supports "electro-lens" based compression of the local electric field, and local control of tissue conductivity, enabling single capacitive discharge minimal charge gene delivery.

Acceptance and willingness of patients with chronic facial nerve palsy for an implantable device that assists with eye closure.

Background: Patients with facial nerve palsy often experience lagophthalmos (incomplete eye closure), which can lead to exposure keratitis. The Bionic Lid Implant for Natural Eye Closure (BLINC) is a medical device designed to mimic the more natural blink kinetics than traditional lid loading techniques.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate potential factors that might influence the design of the BLINC device and willingness of participant to undergo the implant placement surgery.

A Novel Deep Ensemble Method for Selective Classification of Electrocardiograms.

Objective: Telehealth paradigms are essential for remotely managing patients with chronic conditions. To assist clinicians in handling the large volumes of data collected through these systems, clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have been developed. However, the effectiveness of CDSSs depends on the quality of remotely recorded physiological data and the reliability of the algorithms used for processing this data.

Soft robotic artificial left ventricle simulator capable of reproducing myocardial biomechanics.

The heart's intricate myocardial architecture has been called the Gordian knot of anatomy, an impossible tangle of intricate muscle fibers. This complexity dictates equally complex cardiac motions that are difficult to mimic in physical systems. If these motions could be generated by a robotic system, then cardiac device testing, cardiovascular disease studies, and surgical procedure training could reduce their reliance on animal models, saving time, costs, and lives.

Needle-Shaped Biosensors for Precision Diagnoses: From Benchtop Development to In Vitro and In Vivo Applications.

To achieve the accurate recognition of biomarkers or pathological characteristics within tissues or cells, in situ detection using biosensor technology offers crucial insights into the nature, stage, and progression of diseases, paving the way for enhanced precision in diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies. The implementation of needle-shaped biosensors (N-biosensors) presents a highly promising method for conducting in situ measurements of clinical biomarkers in various organs, such as in the brain or spinal cord. Previous studies have highlighted the excellent performance of different N-biosensor designs in detecting biomarkers from clinical samples in vitro.

Soft Fibrous Syringe Architecture for Electricity-Free and Motorless Control of Flexible Robotic Systems.

Flexible robotic systems (FRSs) and wearable user interfaces (WUIs) have been widely used in medical fields, offering lower infection risk and shorter recovery, and supporting amiable human-machine interactions (HMIs). Recently, soft electric, thermal, magnetic, and fluidic actuators with enhanced safety and compliance have innovatively boosted the use of FRSs and WUIs across many sectors. Among them, soft hydraulic actuators offer great speed, low noise, and high force density.

Gene Electrotransfer via Conductivity-Clamped Electric Field Focusing Pivots Sensori-Motor DNA Therapeutics: "A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down".

Viral vectors and lipofection-based gene therapies have dispersion-dependent transduction/transfection profiles that thwart precise targeting. The study describes the development of focused close-field gene electrotransfer (GET) technology, refining spatial control of gene expression. Integration of fluidics for precise delivery of "naked" plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in sucrose carrier within the focused electric field enables negative biasing of near-field conductivity ("conductivity-clamping"-CC), increasing the efficiency of plasma membrane molecular translocation.

Energy-Efficient Sleep Apnea Detection Using a Hyperdimensional Computing Framework Based on Wearable Bracelet Photoplethysmography.

Objective: Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is a common sleep disorder, which has been shown to be an important contributor to major neurocognitive and cardiovascular sequelae. Considering current diagnostic strategies are limited with bulky medical devices and high examination expenses, a large number of cases go undiagnosed. To enable large-scale screening for SAS, wearable photoplethysmography (PPG) technologies have been used as an early detection tool.

Deep learning in spatially resolved transcriptfomics: a comprehensive technical view.

Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) is a pioneering method for simultaneously studying morphological contexts and gene expression at single-cell precision. Data emerging from SRT are multifaceted, presenting researchers with intricate gene expression matrices, precise spatial details and comprehensive histology visuals. Such rich and intricate datasets, unfortunately, render many conventional methods like traditional machine learning and statistical models ineffective.

FD-Net: Feature Distillation Network for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Lymph Node Segmentation in Hyperspectral Imagery.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has the characteristics of early regional lymph node metastasis. OSCC patients often have poor prognoses and low survival rates due to cervical lymph metastases. Therefore, it is necessary to rely on a reasonable screening method to quickly judge the cervical lymph metastastic condition of OSCC patients and develop appropriate treatment plans.