Hysteroscopic myomectomy without anesthesia

Nuria-Laia Rodríguez-Mias,Montserrat Cubo-Abert,Laura Gomila-Villalonga,Juanjo Gómez-Cabeza,Jose Luis Poza-Barrasús,Antonio Gil-Moreno 대한산부인과학회 2019 Obstetrics & Gynecology Science Vol.62 No.3

ObjectiveScarce literature about myoma removal without anesthesia has been published. The aim of this paper is to evaluatethe feasibility of a new alternative for a hysteroscopic myomectomy in a conventional office setting, without need foranesthesia. MethodsStep-by-step description of the surgical technique has been provided, based on video images. An office hysteroscopywas performed in a Gynecological Endoscopy Department of a tertiary European hospital. ResultsA 49-year-old woman was referred for management of severe hypermenorrhea. Consent and approval were receivedfrom the patient and the institutional review board, respectively. The introduction of a Truclear® hysteroscopicpolyp morcellator of 5.5 mm with optic of 0 degrees into the uterine cavity did not require any kind of anesthesia orcervical dilatation. The use of saline flow helped distend the cavity and identify a submucosal myoma. Under directvision, a full myomectomy was performed via mechanical energy with continuous cutting movements, without anycomplication. After the procedure was completed, the excised material was aspirated through the device into acollecting pouch. A successful complete morcellation of a Type-0 submucosal leiomyoma with a polyp morcellatordevice was performed in an outpatient setting. Good medical results, good tolerance by the patient besides lowersurgical risks due to mechanical instead of electrical energy are shown. ConclusionIn conclusion, this video demonstrates that a hysteroscopic myomectomy can be performed successfully in office withlower risk of complications from the procedure and without use of general anesthesia besides good tolerance by thepatient.

CaRotid Artery Filtering Technique (CRAFT): A Technique for Carotid Artery Stenting with Intrinsic Embolic Protection

Michelle Foo,Yifan Ren,Jay Gajera,Christen D Barras,Hong Kuan Kok,Ashu Jhamb,Hussein Abbouchie,Julian Maingard,Duncan Mark Brooks,Hamed Asadi 대한신경중재치료의학회 2021 Neurointervention Vol.16 No.3

Purpose: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an established treatment for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy. A variety of techniques and devices have been devised to minimise periprocedural stroke risk using either proximal or distal embolic protection. This study presents a method of embolic protection during CAS–the CaRotid Artery Filtering Technique (CRAFT). Materials and Methods: The CRAFT technique employs aspects of both proximal and distal embolic protection. The CASPER RX stent (MicroVention, Tustin, CA, USA), which is a double-layered, closed-cell, micromesh nitinol stent, is deployed across the carotid artery stenosis with the assistance of a FlowGate balloon guide catheter (Stryker Neurovascular, Fremont, CA, USA). The partially deployed stent acts as a distal filter while the balloon guide is deflated midway during stent deployment to prevent distal plaque embolisation, followed by completion of stent deployment and angioplasty. Results: A total of 94 patients underwent CAS using the CRAFT technique between June 2016 and March 2021. Successful stent deployment was achieved in all patients. Preliminary results demonstrated acute stent occlusion in 6 patients (6.4%) and distal embolic stroke in 5 patients (5.3%). The median procedural fluoroscopy time was 34 minutes with an interquartile range of 22 to 55 minutes. Conclusion: The CRAFT technique of CAS presented by this study can be applied in the treatment of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis in both emergency and elective procedure settings with a high technical success and low distal embolic stroke risk.

Short-term exposure to gold nanoparticle suspension impairs swimming behavior in a widespread calanoid copepod

Michalec, Franç,ois-Gaë,l,Holzner, Markus,Barras, Alexandre,Lacoste, Anne-Sophie,Brunet, Loï,c,Lee, Jae-Seong,Slomianny, Christian,Boukherroub, Rabah,Souissi, Sami Elsevier 2017 Environmental pollution Vol.228 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Calanoid copepods play an important role in the functioning of marine and brackish ecosystems. Information is scarce on the behavioral toxicity of engineered nanoparticles to these abundant planktonic organisms. We assessed the effects of short-term exposure to nonfunctionalized gold nanoparticles on the swimming behavior of the widespread estuarine copepod <I>Eurytemora affinis</I>. By means of three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry, we reconstructed the trajectories of males, ovigerous and non-ovigerous females. We quantified changes in their swimming activity and in the kinematics and geometrical properties of their motion, three important descriptors of the motility patterns of zooplankters. In females, exposure to gold nanoparticles in suspension (11.4 <I>μ</I>g L<SUP>−1</SUP>) for 30 min caused depressed activity and lower velocity and acceleration, whereas the same exposure caused minimal effects in males. This response differs clearly from the hyperactive behavior that is commonly observed in zooplankters exposed to pollutants, and from the generally lower sensitivity of female copepods to toxicants. Accumulation of gold nanoparticles on the external appendages was not observed, precluding mechanical effects. Only very few nanoparticles appeared sporadically in the inner part of the gut in some samples, either as aggregates or as isolated nanoparticles, which does not suggest systemic toxicity resulting from pronounced ingestion. Hence, the precise mechanisms underlying the behavioral toxicity observed here remain to be elucidated. These results demonstrate that gold nanoparticles can induce marked behavioral alterations at very low concentration and short exposure duration. They illustrate the applicability of swimming behavior as a suitable and sensitive endpoint for investigating the toxicity of nanomaterials present in estuarine and marine environments. Changes in swimming behavior may impair the ability of planktonic copepods to interact with their environment and with other organisms, with possible impacts on population dynamics and community structure.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> We studied the motion of copepods exposed to non-functionalized gold nanoparticles. </LI> <LI> Exposure depressed swimming activity and velocity in females but not in males. </LI> <LI> This response differs from the hyperactivity commonly observed with pollutants. </LI> <LI> We observed accumulation neither in the digestive track nor on the appendages. </LI> <LI> Nanomaterials can induce marked behavioral toxicity at very low concentrations. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Transcription Profiling of Laser Microdissected Microsporocytes in an Arabidopsis Mutant (Atmcc1) with Enhanced Histone Acetylation

Lucia Barra,Riccardo Aiese-Cigliano,Gaetana Cremona,Pasquale De Luca,Pietro Zoppoli,Ray A. Bressan,Federica M. Consiglio,Clara Conicella 한국식물학회 2012 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.55 No.4

In this work, pollen mother cells (PMCs) isolated in Arabidopsis thaliana by laser-capture microdissection (LCM) were subjected to transcription profiling by microarray (LMM). PMCs covering all meiotic stages, from leptotene to tetrad, were collected in an Atmcc1 characterized by overexpression of a GCN5-like histone acetylase (AtMCC1). A total of 150 genes showed differential expression in Atmcc1PMCs as compared to the wild type. Histone hyperacetylation affected the transcription of genes belonging to categories such as the meiotic and mitotic cycle, the ubiquitinproteasome-system, and the chromatin structure. We also discuss the putative role of ASK1 and RAD51C upregulation in the meiotic defects observed in Atmcc1. PMCLMM experiments allowed identification of candidate AtMCC1 targets with known and potential function in meiosis, providing data for further investigation on plant meiosis.

Iron Reshapes the Gut Microbiome and Host Metabolism

Botta Amy,Barra Nicole G.,Lam Nhat Hung,Chow Samantha,Pantopoulos Kostas,Schertzer Jonathan D.,Sweeney Gary 한국지질동맥경화학회 2021 지질·동맥경화학회지 Vol.10 No.2

Compelling studies have established that the gut microbiome is a modifier of metabolic health. Changes in the composition of the gut microbiome are influenced by genetics and the environment, including diet. Iron is a potential node of crosstalk between the host-microbe relationship and metabolic disease. Although iron is well characterized as a frequent traveling companion of metabolic disease, the role of iron is underappreciated because the mechanisms of iron's influence on host metabolism are poorly characterized. Both iron deficiency and excessive amounts leading to iron overload can have detrimental effects on cardiometabolic health. Optimal iron homeostasis is critical for regulation of host immunity and metabolism in addition to regulation of commensal and pathogenic enteric bacteria. In this article we review evidence to support the notion that altering composition of the gut microbiome may be an important route via which iron impacts cardiometabolic health. We discuss reshaping of the microbiome by iron, the physiological significance and the potential for therapeutic interventions.

Vitamin D and endometriosis: Is there a correlation with disease severity?

Evangelisti, Giulio,Barra, Fabio,Fichera, Michele,Ferrero, Simone The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine 2020 Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine Vol.47 No.3

High Intensity Interval Training Increases Natural Killer Cell Number and Function in Obese Breast Cancer-challenged Mice and Obese Women

Nicole G. Barra,Isabella Y. Fan,Jenna B. Gillen,Marianne Chew,Katarina Marcinko,Gregory R. Steinberg,Martin J. Gibala,Ali A. Ashkar 대한암예방학회 2017 Journal of cancer prevention Vol.22 No.4

High intensity interval training (HIIT) boosts natural killer (NK) cell number and activity in normal weight breast cancer patients; however, whether this occurs in obese individuals is not well established. The goal of this study was to determine whether HIIT effectively boosts NK cells as a therapeutic strategy against breast cancer in an obese mouse model and in overweight/obese women. Diet induced female C57Bl/6 obese mice were assigned to undergo HIIT for four weeks or remain sedentary. Female participants were subjected to a six weeks HIIT protocol. HIIT mice acclimatized to treadmill running were subsequently injected with 5 × 105 polyoma middle T (MT) breast cancer cells intravenously. NK cell number and activation were monitored using flow cytometry, and tumor burden or lipid content evaluated from histological lung and liver tissues, respectively. In both mice and humans, circulating NK cell number and activation (CD3‒NK1.1+CD27+ and CD3‒CD56+, respectively) markedly increased immediately after HIIT. HIIT obese mice had reduced lung tumor burden compared to controls following MT challenge, and had diminished hepatic lipid deposition despite minimal body weight loss. Our findings demonstrate that HIIT can benefit obese individuals by enhancing NK cell number and activity, reducing tumor burden, and enhancing metabolic health.

ANN Modeling of a Smart MEMS-based Capacitive Humidity Sensor

Kouda Souhil,Dibi Zohir,Barra Samir,Dendouga Abdelghani,Meddour Fayçal 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2011 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.9 No.1

This paper presents a design of a smart humidity sensor. First we begin by the modeling of a Capacitive MEMS-based humidity sensor. Using neuronal networks and Matlab environment to accu-rately express the non-linearity, the hysteresis effect and the cross sensitivity of the output humidity sensor used. We have done the training to create an analytical model CHS ‘Capacitive Humidity Sen-sor’. Because our sensor is a capacitive type, the obtained model on PSPICE reflects the humidity variation by a capacity variation, which is a passive magnitude; it requires a conversion to an active magnitude, why we realize a conversion capacity/voltage using a switched capacitor circuit SCC. In a second step a linearization, by Matlab program, is applied to CHS response whose goal is to create a database for an element of correction ‘CORRECTOR’. After that we use the bias matrix and the weights matrix obtained by training to establish the CHS model and the CORRECTOR model on PSPICE simulator, where the output of the first is identical to the output of the CHS and the last cor-rect its nonlinear response, and eliminate its hysteresis effect and cross sensitivity. The three blocks; CHS model, CORRECTOR model and the capacity/voltage converter, represent the smart sensor.

Women’s Empowerment and Its Impact on Household Use of Solid Fuels in Four Southeast Asian Countries

Sharisse May Mate Barra,Hamdi Muhyuddin D. Barra 숙명여자대학교 아시아여성연구원 2019 Asian Women Vol.35 No.4

Household air pollution (HAP) is a leading cause of negative health outcomes, including respiratory diseases, cancer, low birth weight, and infant mortality. One of the foremost sources of HAP is the use of solid fuels for cooking. Indeed, HAP from solid fuel use is a major environmental health risk, especially in developing nations. Because of traditional gender roles, women are more exposed to HAP from solid fuel use since they are primarily responsible for cooking. Nonetheless, literature suggests that women’s empowerment may play a crucial role in reducing the utilization of solid fuels. Hence, we conducted a cross-sectional study to determine whether women’s empowerment is associated with solid fuel use for household cooking in four Southeast Asian countries. Data from the recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste were used for the analysis. Three dimensions of women’s empowerment, namely, labor force participation, household decision-making, and education, were considered as explanatory variables. Taken together, results of the multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that women’s empowerment is significantly related to solid fuel use. Specifically, women’s labor force participation, involvement in household decision-making, and having secondary and higher education were associated with decreased likelihood of solid fuel use for cooking. On the whole, the results of this study shed light on the essential role of women in addressing pressing environmental issues such as the continued use of inefficient cooking fuels in developing nations. In particular, findings from this study imply that women and their household status must be taken into account in the design and implementation of environmental policies and intervention programs geared toward diminishing HAP and dependence on solid fuels.

Behavioral non-ideal Model of 8-bit Current-Mode Successive Approximation Registers ADC by using Simulink

Salah Hanfoug,Nour-Eddine Bouguechal,Samir Barra 보안공학연구지원센터(IJUNESST) 2014 International Journal of u- and e- Service, Scienc Vol.7 No.3