89 research outputs found
Patient Tracking Intravenous Pole: Design and Evaluation
No full textThe Intravenous (IV) pole is an essential part of the medical profession and is always placed close to the patients. It holds fluids or medication which is usually connected to the patient. It, therefore, creates a logistic inconvenience when the patient needs to use the restroom or move to another location. The proximity of the IV pole to patients implies that it can also be used as a patient monitoring device. Hence, the need is to make it more than a hanging device for IV bags but to incorporate monitoring and delivery systems. This thesis tackles the first step of making the IV pole a medical aid, which is the ability to track and always be around the patient. This thesis explains the hardware needed to achieve autonomy, the software architecture, and the control algorithm that considers a medical facility's changing environment and the monitoring that can be achieved. The primary scope of this project is a recognition algorithm that recognizes a unique identifier in real-time at a minimum of 20 frames per second and a Python code that interacts with the Botshell of the robot and controls the wheels and neck of the robot. The scope of this research does not include the mechanical design of the robot. Hence an Ohmni telepresence robot is adopted to test the code. Future modifications and features are also briefly considered. The autonomy of the IV pole is achieved by combining a camera for vision, a LIDAR for localization and navigation, and a joystick or button for manual control. An object detection algorithm is combined with an obstacle avoidance algorithm for effective navigation. This IV pole consists of material selection and mechanical assembly. Although this IV pole might not offer competitive costs compared to traditional IV poles, it shall provide competitive features which would make it an invaluable tool in the medical field.Embargo status: Restricted until 01/2024. To request the author grant access, click on the PDF link to the left
Aquaporin 2 mutations in Trypanosoma brucei gambiense field isolates correlate with decreased susceptibility to pentamidine and melarsoprol
No full textThe predominant mechanism of drug resistance in African trypanosomes is decreased drug uptake due to loss-of-function mutations in the genes for the transporters that mediate drug import. The role of transporters as determinants of drug susceptibility is well documented from laboratory-selected Trypanosoma brucei mutants. But clinical isolates, especially of T. b. gambiense, are less amenable to experimental investigation since they do not readily grow in culture without prior adaptation. Here we analyze a selected panel of 16 T. brucei ssp. field isolates that (i) have been adapted to axenic in vitro cultivation and (ii) mostly stem from treatment-refractory cases. For each isolate, we quantify the sensitivity to melarsoprol, pentamidine, and diminazene, and sequence the genomic loci of the transporter genes TbAT1 and TbAQP2. The former encodes the well-characterized aminopurine permease P2 which transports several trypanocides including melarsoprol, pentamidine, and diminazene. We find that diminazene-resistant field isolates of T. b. brucei and T. b. rhodesiense carry the same set of point mutations in TbAT1 that was previously described from lab mutants. Aquaglyceroporin 2 has only recently been identified as a second transporter involved in melarsoprol/pentamidine cross-resistance. Here we describe two different kinds of TbAQP2 mutations found in T. b. gambiense field isolates: simple loss of TbAQP2, or loss of wild-type TbAQP2 allele combined with the formation of a novel type of TbAQP2/3 chimera. The identified mutant T. b. gambiense are 40- to 50-fold less sensitive to pentamidine and 3- to 5-times less sensitive to melarsoprol than the reference isolates. We thus demonstrate for the first time that rearrangements of the TbAQP2/TbAQP3 locus accompanied by TbAQP2 gene loss also occur in the field, and that the T. b. gambiense carrying such mutations correlate with a significantly reduced susceptibility to pentamidine and melarsoprol
List of <i>T.b. gambiense</i> strains used in this study.
No full text<p>In alias name: AT = after treatment, BT = before treatment. Treatment outcome: outcome of patient treated with melarsoprol (in Mbuji-Mayi) or with nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (Masi-Manimba). Couple = number of the couple of two strains isolated from the same patient.</p><p>List of <i>T.b. gambiense</i> strains used in this study.</p
Migraines patient compassion in healthcare
No full textBakalaura darba tēma: Migrēnas pacientu līdzestība veselības aprūpē. Tēmas aktualitāti pamato tas, ka darba autore pati sirgst no migrēnas. Darba mērķis: Noskaidrot migrēnas pacientu līdzestību veselības aprūpē. Pētniecības uzdevumi: 1.Analizēt teorētiskās literatūras avotus par migrēnu. 2.Raksturot migrēnas ietekmējošos faktorus. 3.Izveidot pētījuma instrumentu un veikt pētījumu. 4.Apkopot intervijas datu analīzi. 5.Izstrādāt secinājumus. Pētniecības jautājums: Kāda ir migrēnas pacientu līdzestība veselības aprūpē? Pētniecības metode: kvalitatīva pētniecības metode. Pētniecības instruments: pacientu intervija Pētījuma rezultāti: katrs trešais migrēnas pacients nav līdzestīgs, kas skaidrojams ar to, ka iepriekš viņi ir izmēģinājuši vairākas iespējas, kā mazināt migrēnu, taču bez īpašiem rezultātiem, tādēļ atliek vienkārši pārdzīvot pašu spēkiem.Bachelor thesis topic: Migraines patient compassion in healthcare. The topicality of the topic is justified by the fact that the author of the work herself suffers from migraines. Purpose of work: To find out the compassion of migraine patients in healthcare. Research tasks: 1.Analyze theoretical literature sources on migraine. 2.Characterize the factors affecting migraine. 3.Create a research instrument and conduct a study. 4.Collect interview data analysis. 5.Develop conclusions. Question of the research: What is the compassion of migraine patients in health care? Research method: Qualitative research method. Research instrument: patient interview. Results of the research: Every third migraine patient is not compassionate, which is explained by the fact that in the past they have tried several options, how to relieve migraine, but to no avail, so it remains to simply survive on their own
Classification of study participants according to reference standards for diagnosis, staging and follow-up (FU).
No full text<p>At each follow-up time point, the number of patients attending is given. Patient groups reaching a final outcome of treatment failure during follow-up and excluded from analysis at subsequent time points, are indicated with an arrow.</p
Field Postmortem Rabies Rapid Immunochromatographic Diagnostic Test for Resource-Limited Settings with Further Molecular Applications
No full textInternational audienceFunctional rabies surveillance systems are crucial to provide reliable data and increase the political commitment necessary for disease control. To date, animals suspected as rabies-positive must be submitted to a postmortem confirmation using classical or molecular laboratory methods. However, most endemic areas are in low-and middle-income countries where animal rabies diagnosis is restricted to central veterinary laboratories. Poor availability of surveillance infrastructure leads to serious disease underreporting from remote areas. Several diagnostic protocols requiring low technical expertise have been recently developed, providing opportunity to establish rabies diagnosis in decentralized laboratories. We present here a complete protocol for field postmortem diagnosis of animal rabies using a rapid immunochromatographic diagnostic test (RIDT), from brain biopsy sampling to the final interpretation. We complete the protocol by describing a further use of the device for molecular analysis and viral genotyping. RIDT easily detects rabies virus and other lyssaviruses in brain samples. The principle of such tests is simple: brain material is applied on a test strip where gold conjugated antibodies bind specifically to rabies antigens. The antigen-antibody complexes bind further to fixed antibodies on the test line, resulting in a clearly visible purple line. The virus is inactivated in the test strip, but viral RNA can be subsequently extracted. This allows the test strip, rather than the infectious brain sample, to be safely and easily sent to an equipped laboratory for confirmation and molecular typing. Based on a modification of the manufacturer's protocol, we found increased test sensitivity, reaching 98% compared to the gold standard June 2020 • 160 • e60008 • Page 2 of 29 reference method, the direct immunofluorescence antibody test. The advantages of the test are numerous: rapid, easy-to-use, low cost and no requirement for laboratory infrastructure, such as microscopy or cold-chain compliance. RIDTs represent a useful alternative for areas where reference diagnostic methods are not available
A panel of Trypanosoma brucei strains tagged with blue and red-shifted luciferases for bioluminescent imaging in murine infection models.
No full textBACKGROUND:Genetic engineering with luciferase reporter genes allows monitoring Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) infections in mice by in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI). Until recently, luminescent T.b. models were based on Renilla luciferase (RLuc) activity. Our study aimed at evaluating red-shifted luciferases for in vivo BLI in a set of diverse T.b. strains of all three subspecies, including some recently isolated from human patients. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We transfected T.b. brucei, T.b. rhodesiense and T.b. gambiense strains with either RLuc, click beetle red (CBR) or Photinus pyralis RE9 (PpyRE9) luciferase and characterised their in vitro luciferase activity, growth profile and drug sensitivity, and their potential for in vivo BLI. Compared to RLuc, the red-shifted luciferases, CBR and PpyRE9, allow tracking of T.b. brucei AnTaR 1 trypanosomes with higher details on tissue distribution, and PpyRE9 allows detection of the parasites with a sensitivity of at least one order of magnitude higher than CBR luciferase. With CBR-tagged T.b. gambiense LiTaR1, T.b. rhodesiense RUMPHI and T.b. gambiense 348 BT in an acute, subacute and chronic infection model respectively, we observed differences in parasite tropism for murine tissues during in vivo BLI. Ex vivo BLI on the brain confirmed central nervous system infection by all luminescent strains of T.b. brucei AnTaR 1, T.b. rhodesiense RUMPHI and T.b. gambiense 348 BT. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:We established a genetically and phenotypically diverse collection of bioluminescent T.b. brucei, T.b. gambiense and T.b. rhodesiense strains, including drug resistant strains. For in vivo BLI monitoring of murine infections, we recommend trypanosome strains transfected with red-shifted luciferase reporter genes, such as CBR and PpyRE9. Red-shifted luciferases can be detected with a higher sensitivity in vivo and at the same time they improve the spatial resolution of the parasites in the entire body due to the better kinetics of their substrate D-luciferin
Novel TBR groups identified by BLAST.
No full textAlignment of the TBR sequence [K00392.1], both TBR variants, 177-T1 and 177-T2, and the 80% consensus sequences derived from each of the four TBR sequence sets. Polymorphisms in comparison to K00392.1 are indicated in green.</p
Analytical sensitivity of novel qPCRs in different multiplex formats.
No full textCq-values obtained from a tenfold dilution series from 500 pg down to 5 fg of pure parasite DNA (in elution buffer) of two T.b.g. I clones: AnTat 11.17 and LiTat 1.6 in different qPCR formats. Each of the novel qPCRs was first tested individually in simplex format (A). qGPI-PLC, q177D or qM, was combined with q18S in duplex format (B). q177T and q176T were combined with q18S in triplex format, representing the qTBR (C). (TIF)</p
Semi-quantitative conventional TBR PCRs on <i>Trypanozoon</i>.
No full textSemi-quantitative conventional TBR PCRs using the c177, c176, Masiga, Becker, Mumba, and M18S II primer sets on fivefold serial dilutions containing 2000, 400, 80, 16, 3.2, 0.64, 0.128 or 0 fg of pure genomic Trypanozoon DNA. Each of the six gels shows the electrophoretic results of one conventional PCR tested on 3 T.b.r. (upper part of the gels) and 3 T.b.g. (lower part of the gels) strains, separated by 5 μl of the Generuler 100-bp DNA ladder (Thermo Scientific).</p
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