Mesothelial cells are specific epithelial cells that are lined in the serosal cavity and internal organs. Nonetheless, few studies have explored the possibility to culture mesothelial cells in a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold for tissue engineering applications. Towards this end, we fabricated macroporous scaffolds from gelatin and gelatin/hyaluronic acid (HA) by cryogelation, and elucidated the influence of HA on cryogel properties and the cellular phenotype of mesothelial cells cultured within the 3D scaffolds. The incorporation of HA was found not to significantly change the pore size, porosity, water uptake kinetics, and swelling ratios of the cryogel scaffolds, but led to a faster scaffold degradation in the collagenase solution. Adding 5% HA in the composite cryogels also decreased the ultimate compressive stress (strain) and toughness of the scaffold, but enhanced the elastic modulus. From the in vitro cell culture, rat mesothelial cells showed quantitative cell viability in gelatin (G) and gelatin/HA (GH) cryogels. Nonetheless, mesothelial cells cultured in GH cryogels showed a change in the cell morphology and cytoskeleton arrangement, reduced cell proliferation rate, and downregulation of the mesothelium specific maker gene expression. The production of key mesothelium proteins E-cadherin and calretinin were also reduced in the GH cryogels. Choosing the best G cryogels for in vivo studies, the cell/cryogel construct was used for the transplantation of allograft mesothelial cells for mesothelium reconstruction in rats. A mesothelium layer similar to the native mesothelium tissue could be obtained 21 days post-implantation, based on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical staining.

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/18/4527/pdf

Preparation of Gelatin and Gelatin/Hyaluronic Acid Cryogel Scaffolds for the 3D Culture of Mesothelial Cells and Mesothelium Tissue Regeneration

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a complex environment comprised of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus, which all cooperate to form the complete working GI system. Access to the GI using endoscopy has been augmented over the past several decades by swallowable diagnostic electromechanical devices, such as pill cameras. Research continues today and into the foreseeable future on new and more capable miniature devices for the purposes of systemic drug delivery, therapy, tissue biopsy, microbiome sampling, and a host of other novel ground-breaking applications. The purpose of this review is to provide engineers in this field a comprehensive reference manual of the GI environment and its complex physical, biological, and chemical characteristics so they can more quickly understand the constraints and challenges associated with developing devices for the GI space. To accomplish this, the work reviews and summarizes a broad spectrum of literature covering the main anatomical and physiological properties of the GI tract that are pertinent to successful development and operation of an electromechanical device. Each organ in the GI is discussed in this context, including the main mechanisms of digestion, chemical and mechanical processes that could impact devices, and GI motor behavior and resultant forces that may be experienced by objects as they move through the environment of the gut.

/pdf/fundamentals-of-the-gut-for-capsule-engineers-28jq1x0m8c.pdf

Fundamentals of the gut for capsule engineers

Ergonomic evaluation and performance of a new handle for laparoscopic tools in surgery

Augmented reality can improve the outcome of hepatic surgeries, assuming an accurate liver model is available to estimate the position of internal structures. While researchers have proposed patient-specific liver simulations, very few have addressed the question of boundary conditions. Resulting mainly from ligaments attached to the liver, they are not visible in preoperative images, yet play a key role in the computation of the deformation. We propose to estimate both the location and stiffness of ligaments by using a combination of a statistical atlas, numerical simulation, and Bayesian inference. Ligaments are modeled as polynomial springs connected to a liver finite element model. They are initialized using an anatomical atlas and stiffness properties taken from the literature. These characteristics are then corrected using a reduced-order unscented Kalman filter based on observations taken from the laparoscopic image stream. Our approach is evaluated using synthetic data and phantom data. By relying on a simplified representation of the ligaments to speed up computation times, it is not estimating the true characteristics of ligaments. However, results show that our estimation of the boundary conditions still improves the accuracy of the simulation by 75% when compared to typical methods involving Dirichlet boundary conditions. By estimating patient-specific boundary conditions, using tracked liver motion from RGB-D data, our approach significantly improves the accuracy of the liver model. The method inherently handles noisy observations, a substantial feature in the context of augmented reality.

/pdf/estimation-of-boundary-conditions-for-patient-specific-liver-222b2xkz24.pdf

Estimation of boundary conditions for patient-specific liver simulation during augmented surgery

The problem of research is how humans perceive interactive future products and robots directly as new behavioral objects, and how to address the shortcomings in the design of robotic systems and their identification on specific tasks; With the increase in technological complexity in the current era, it has become necessary for the designer to set clear standards for designing a special lexicon for communication between the human element and robotic systems within interactive work environments, starting from full awareness of them - physical presence - within the real work environment, and even direct interaction with them - dynamic presence – In a way that seems logical, and how humans respond to interacting with these innovative products, to reduce workload, make the right decisions, predict the behavior of the corresponding entity, and improve the quality of interaction experiences in general.
Objectives
The research aims to discuss the considerations of modern Ergonomics sciences in how robotic systems exist within work environments in terms of dynamic presence in contrast to any of the elements of the traditional work environment, and this would enhance the user’s interactive capabilities and develop his skill performance within the work environment, by directing cognitive processes and behavior Humanity towards acquiring a new interactive approach through which it is possible to study the different dimensions of the context of physical and cognitive interactions.
Significance
Consolidating the concept of the dynamic presence of robotic products and systems, as they are modern engineering innovations that contain future knowledge and advanced technologies, which distinguish them from traditional engineering products, as well as laying new foundations for the design and development of robotic products, to study a new aesthetic aspect of the concept of interaction between humans and machines with a dynamic presence.
Methodology
The research relied on the inductive approach
Results
By identifying the latest developments in Ergonomics, the designer can enhance the capabilities associated with the design of robotic systems as new behavioral products, through the determinants of Operational Space formulation, to establish the reality of the dynamic presence of robotic products and systems.
Improving the procedures for interacting with the robot product within the interaction environments, considering design elements such as: the Forming of Realism, Physical Presence, Behavioral Expectations, Shape Patterns, Visual Appearances, and Time Management, which in turn interact and affect the human component of the system, in order to conduct intuitive interactions for a good and more realistic experience

https://idj.journals.ekb.eg/article_191705_330f8d7d3aacbe20c4c5f378c09eec66.pdf

Robot Ergonomics: Giving the Behavioral Objects a dynamic presence

Using personas to exploit environmental attitudes and behaviour in sustainable product design.

This article presents an investigation into the mechanical properties of porcine mesocolon, small intestinal mesentery, fascia, and peritoneum tissues to generate a preliminary database of the mech...

Mechanical characterisation of porcine non-intestinal colorectal tissues for innovation in surgical instrument design:

Toward a Model of Human Information Processing for Decision-Making and Skill Acquisition in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

A study of laparoscopic instrument use during colorectal surgery.

Key Points The study compares the effect of vascular access (arteriovenous fistula versus central venous catheter) on health-related quality of life. Arteriovenous fistula users were more satisfied with their access but dissatisfied with physical complications of access type, including bruising, bleeding, and pain. Central venous catheter users were more dissatisfied with social aspects of access care such as showering and bathing. Visual Abstract Background Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) have superior clinical outcomes compared with central venous catheters (CVC) among patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Yet, there is increasing recognition that health-related quality of life (HRQoL) may be more important to patients than survival and that differences may exist between AVF and CVCs in this regard. This study compared HRQoL between AVF and CVC in an Irish cohort. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among prevalent patients undergoing hemodialysis (N=119) dialyzing with either an AVF or CVC at a regional program. The Short Form 36 (SF-36) and a validated Vascular Access Questionnaire (SF-VAQ) compared QoL between AVF and CVC in domains of physical functioning, social functioning, and dialysis complications. Multivariable logistic regression compared differences between groups for outcomes of physical functioning, social functioning, and dialysis complications expressed as adjusted odds ratios and 95% CI. Results Mean age was 66.6 years; 52% were using an AVF and 48% had a CVC. Patients dialyzing with an AVF were more satisfied with their access when asked directly (6.2 versus 5.0; P<0.01). Physical functioning scores for bleeding, swelling, and bruising were significantly higher for AVF than CVC (P=0.001, P=0.001, and P<0.001, respectively). In contrast, patients with a CVC reported greater difficulties in bathing and showering than those using an AVF (4.4 versus 2.0; P<0.001), whereas patients with an AVF expressed greater concerns with physical appearances. Compared with AVF, CVC users were less likely to report difficulties in physical functioning (OR=0.35; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.94; P=0.04) but more likely to report dialysis complications (OR=1.94; 95% CI, 0.69 to 5.87; P=0.22). Conclusions Vascular access contributes to HRQoL in hemodialysis. CVCs are associated with fewer difficulties from bleeding and bruising but greater negative effect on social activities, including bathing and showering. Overall, patients with a CVC had lower dissatisfaction scores than patients with an AVF when all three domains were added. Innovation in vascular access design and engineering may confer benefits and improve patient comfort on HD.

https://kidney360.asnjournals.org/content/kidney360/3/6/1065.full.pdf

Eoin J. White

Papers

Using personas to exploit environmental attitudes and behaviour in sustainable product design.

Mechanical characterisation of porcine non-intestinal colorectal tissues for innovation in surgical instrument design:

Toward a Model of Human Information Processing for Decision-Making and Skill Acquisition in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

A study of laparoscopic instrument use during colorectal surgery.

Differential Impact of Central Venous Catheters versus Arteriovenous Fistulae on Quality of Life among Irish Haemodialysis Patients