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Microneedle‐based electrodes have attracted significant attention due to their potential applications in high‐quality, long‐term electrophysiological monitoring. In this study, micromoulding technology is used to develop a flexible, conductive fabric microneedle (CF–MN) electrode by bonding a conductive textile to polymeric microneedle arrays. The resulting electrode conforms to the curved surfaces of the body, and the use of a conductive textile backing reduces metallization time and costs by 50% over double‐sided dry electrodes. The electrode‐skin impedance of the CF–MN electrodes is significantly lower than that of gel electrodes over a wide frequency range, and tests on healthy volunteers, both at rest and under a range of ambulatory conditions, showed that the electrodes are capable of acquiring electrocardiography (ECG) and electromyography (EMG) signals that have a comparable kurtosis and signal‐to‐noise ratio to those recorded using conventional electrodes, but without the need for skin preparation or the use of a wet gel. The biomechanical properties of the electrode are also characterized. This is the first demonstration of CF–MN electrodes that can ultimately be integrated into clothing, which in turn can facilitate personalized cardiac health management by enabling continuous, long‐term ECG/EMG monitoring during daily activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is urgent to diagnose giant cell arteritis (GCA) as quickly as possible to prevent irreversible blindness. The traditional gold standard for diagnosing GCA is temporal artery biopsy (TAB). However, TAB lacks diagnostic performance and carries out risks of surgical intervention. The noninvasive color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) seems to be a promising alternative. This study is designed to assess the diagnostic value of CDU in daily clinical practice. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, patients with a clinical suspicion of active GCA were included and underwent a CDU of the temporal arteries. If deemed necessary by the referrer, a TAB and/or 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography was performed. The retrospective clinical diagnosis was determined 1 year after inclusion by two physicians experienced in the field of vasculitis. Results: 242 patients were included and GCA was diagnosed in 73 (30%) patients by the defined retrospective clinical diagnosis. Compared with the retrospective diagnosis, CDU has a sensitivity of 60% (48–72), specificity of 94% (89–97), positive predictive value (PPV) of 81% (70–89), negative predictive value (NPV) of 85% (80–88), and an accuracy of 84% (78–88). A total of 84 (35%) patients underwent TAB. TAB has a sensitivity of 66% (51–79), specificity of 100% (90–100), PPV of 100% (100), NPV of 67% (58–75), and an accuracy of 80% (70–88). Conclusion: This study shows comparable diagnostic performance for CDU and TAB and even better CDU results with a bilateral halo present. Considering the advantages of the noninvasive CDU, it is the diagnostic tool of choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung transplantation is a necessary step for the patients with the end stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The use of artificial lungs is a promising alternative to natural lung transplantation which is complicated and is restricted by low organ donations. For successful lung engineering, it is important to choose the correct combination of specific biological cells and a synthetic carrier polymer. The focus of this study was to investigate the interactions of human lung epithelial cell line NCl-H292 that is involved in lung tissue development with the biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone) before and after its chemical modification to evaluate potential for use in artificial lung formation. Also, the effect of polymer chemical modification on its mechanical and surface properties has been investigated. The poly(ε-caprolactone) surface was modified using aminolysis followed by immobilization of gelatin. The unmodified and modified polymer surfaces were characterized for roughness, tensile strength, and NCl-H292 metabolic cell activity. The results showed for the first time the possibility for NCI-H292 cells to adhere on this polymeric material. The resazurin assay showed that the metabolic activity at 24 h postseeding of 80% in the presence of the unmodified and greater than 100% in the presence of the modified polymer was observed. The roughness of the poly(ε-caprolactone) increased from 4 to 26 nm and the film strength increased from 0.01 to 0.045 kN when the material was chemically modified. The results obtained to date show potential for using modified poly(ε-caprolactone) as a scaffold for lung tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ABSTRACT Typically, electroresponsive hydrogels have either a high electrical conductivity with little swelling or large swelling with low conductivity. This paper investigates a method of maintaining high swelling capabilities and increasing electrical conductivity by infusing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into a hydrolyzed polyacrylamide hydrogel. Various concentrations of MWCNT and Nafion solutions infused into the hydrogel were investigated. Optical microscopy analysis showed aggregates of carbon nanotube bundles at the macroscale, whereas electron microscopy revealed homogeneous dispersion of carbon nanotube in the polymer matrix at the microscale. Electrical conductivity measurements demonstrated an increase from 0.02 to 0.11 mS cm-1 with infused MWCNT. The MWCNT-infused hydrogels demonstrated a 400% increase in deswelling capabilities during an applied electrical stimulus compared to a noninfused hydrogel. In conclusion, infusing the MWCNT into the hydrogel increased its electrical conductivity, which allows the hydrogel to deswell more rapidly with an applied electrical bias without compromising its mechanical or swelling properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For patients with haematological malignancies, information on disease, prognosis, treatment and impact on quality of life is of the utmost importance. To gain insight into the perceived need for information in relation to sociodemographic and clinical parameters, comorbidity, quality of life (QoL) and information satisfaction, we compiled a questionnaire based on existing validated questionnaires. A total of 458 patients diagnosed with a haematological malignancy participated. The perceived need for information was moderate to high (40-70%). Multivariate regression analyses showed that a higher need for information was related to younger age, worse QoL, being member of a patient society and moderate comorbidity. The need for disease and treatment-related information was higher than the need for psychosocial information. A higher need for disease and treatment-related information was associated to being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. A higher need for psychosocial information was related to a lower educational level. The information provision could be improved according to 41% of the patients. Higher satisfaction with provided information was associated with better QoL. Most patients (62%) reported that they wanted to be fully informed about their illness and actively involved in treatment decision-making. The results contribute to improving patient-tailored information provision and shared decision-making in clinical practice. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Electro-responsive hydrogels (ERH) are highly researched materials for biomedical applications. However, most of the research is concentrated on the synthesis of novel hydrogels for various applications, and little effort has been made to investigate electrode configuration and optimization of electrical stimulation parameters. This article used a three-dimensional interdigitated (IDT) electrode configuration device to investigate the optimization of electrical actuation parameters in order to radially deswell an ERH. A Pluronic-bismethacrylate hydrogel modified with hydrolyzed methacrylic acid was used as the ERH material. This article reports on using novel electro-actuation parameters and electrode configurations to maximize radial deswelling of an ERH for biomedical applications. The optimal waveform was assessed for, varying electrode spacing's, voltages, duty cycles, and frequencies. The results show that a maximum deswelling occurred with a DC pulsed monophasic waveform, with IDT electrodes spaced close enough to create a relatively uniform electric field, with a peak voltage of 5 V at 1 kHz, and 50% duty cycle. This resulted in a deswelling of 320% in Krebs solution. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results show that the impedance is dependent on the ionic concentration of the fluid environment and that the impedance decreases with increasing frequency. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41687. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterised by islet autoimmunity and beta cell destruction. A gut microbiota-immunological interplay is involved in the pathophysiology of T1D. We studied microbiota-mediated effects on disease progression in patients with type 1 diabetes using faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)., Design: Patients with recent-onset (<6 weeks) T1D (18-30 years of age) were randomised into two groups to receive three autologous or allogenic (healthy donor) FMTs over a period of 4 months. Our primary endpoint was preservation of stimulated C peptide release assessed by mixed-meal tests during 12 months. Secondary outcome parameters were changes in glycaemic control, fasting plasma metabolites, T cell autoimmunity, small intestinal gene expression profile and intestinal microbiota composition., Results: Stimulated C peptide levels were significantly preserved in the autologous FMT group (n=10 subjects) compared with healthy donor FMT group (n=10 subjects) at 12 months. Small intestinal Prevotella was inversely related to residual beta cell function (r=-0.55, p=0.02), whereas plasma metabolites 1-arachidonoyl-GPC and 1-myristoyl-2-arachidonoyl-GPC levels linearly correlated with residual beta cell preservation (rho=0.56, p=0.01 and rho=0.46, p=0.042, respectively). Finally, baseline CD4 +CXCR3+T cell counts, levels of small intestinal Desulfovibrio piger and CCL22 and CCL5 gene expression in duodenal biopsies predicted preserved beta cell function following FMT irrespective of donor characteristics., Conclusion: FMT halts decline in endogenous insulin production in recently diagnosed patients with T1D in 12 months after disease onset. Several microbiota-derived plasma metabolites and bacterial strains were linked to preserved residual beta cell function. This study provides insight into the role of the intestinal gut microbiome in T1D., Trial Registration Number: NTR3697., Competing Interests: Competing interests: MN and WMDV are founders and in the Scientific Advisory Board of Caelus Health, the Netherlands. WMDV is Founder and in the Scientific Advisory Board of A-Mansia, Belgium. MN is in the Scientific Advisory Board of Kaleido Biosciences, USA., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

An 82-year-old woman attended our outpatient clinic because of a swollen right arm and hoarseness. Upon raising both arms, the patient developed a red and swollen face (Pemberton's sign). An MRI of the thorax showed a large intrathoracic goitre, which compressed venous structures and limited blood flow even when she lowered her arms.