A meta-analysis on correlations of OX40L variants with atherosclerotic disorders.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the correlations of OX40 ligand (OX40L) variants with atherosclerotic cardio-cerebral vascular diseases (ASCVD). METHODS: Systematic literature research was conducted in PubMed, Medline, and Embase. All statistical analyses were conducted with Review Manager. RESULTS: Totally eighteen studies were enrolled for analyses. Although no any significant correlations between OX40L variants and ASCVD were detected in overall analyses. Further subgroup analyses by ethnicity revealed that rs1234314 variant was significantly associated with ASCVD in East Asians (dominant model: P = 0.03, odds ratios [OR] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.31; allele model: P = 0.04, OR = 1.10, 95%CI, 1.00-1.20). When we stratified eligible studies by type of disease, positive results were observed for rs17568 variant in subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (allele model: P = 0.04, OR = 0.81, 95%CI, 0.65-0.99), for rs1234314 variant in subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD) (dominant model: P = 0.04, OR = 1.16, 95%CI, 1.00-1.35), for rs3850641 variant in subjects with CAD (recessive model: P = 0.02, OR = 1.42, 95%CI, 1.05-1.90) and myocardial infarction (MI) (recessive model: P = 0.03, OR = 1.49, 95%CI, 1.05-2.11). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that rs17568, rs1234314, and rs3850641 variants might serve as genetic biomarkers of certain types of CAD.

Development of a coordinated controller for robot-assisted shape memory alloy actuated needle for prostate brachytherapy.

This paper deals with the development of a coordinated control system for a robot and robot-driven shape memory alloy (SMA) actuated needle to follow a curvilinear path for percutaneous intervention. The robot driving the needle is considered as the outer loop and the non-linear SMA actuated flexible needle system forms the inner loop. The two feedback control loops are coordinated in such a way that the robot drives the needle considering the needle's actual deflection so that the needle tip reaches the target location with an acceptable accuracy. Simulation results are presented to verify the efficacy of the controller for tracking the overall desired trajectory which includes the combined trajectory of the robot and the needle.