Enhancing Water Safety: Exploring Recent Technological Approaches for Drowning Detection.

Drowning poses a significant threat, resulting in unexpected injuries and fatalities. To promote water sports activities, it is crucial to develop surveillance systems that enhance safety around pools and waterways. This paper presents an overview of recent advancements in drowning detection, with a specific focus on image processing and sensor-based methods. Furthermore, the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning algorithms (MLAs), and robotics technology in this field is explored. The review examines the technological challenges, benefits, and drawbacks associated with these approaches. The findings reveal that image processing and sensor-based technologies are the most effective approaches for drowning detection systems. However, the image-processing approach requires substantial resources and sophisticated MLAs, making it costly and complex to implement. Conversely, sensor-based approaches offer practical, cost-effective, and widely applicable solutions for drowning detection. These approaches involve data transmission from the swimmer's condition to the processing unit through sensing technology, utilising both wired and wireless communication channels. This paper explores the recent developments in drowning detection systems while considering costs, complexity, and practicality in selecting and implementing such systems. The assessment of various technological approaches contributes to ongoing efforts aimed at improving water safety and reducing the risks associated with drowning incidents.

Performance of personalised prosthesis under static pressure: Numerical analysis and experimental validation.

This study investigates the performance of personalised middle ear prostheses under static pressure through a combined approach of numerical analysis and experimental validation. The sound transmission performances of both normal and reconstructed middle ears undergo changes under high positive or negative pressure within the middle ear cavity. This pressure fluctuation has the potential to result in prosthesis displacement/extrusion in patients. To optimise the design of middle ear prostheses, it is crucial to consider various factors, including the condition of the middle ear cavity in which the prosthesis is placed. The integration of computational modelling techniques with non-invasive imaging modalities has demonstrated significant promise and distinct prospects in middle ear surgery. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of Finite Element (FE) analysis in modelling the responses of both normal and reconstructed middle ears to elevated static pressure within the ear canal. The FE model underwent validation using experimental data derived from human cadaveric temporal bones before progressing to subsequent investigations. Afterwards, we assessed stapes and umbo displacements in the reconstructed middle ear under static pressure, with either a columella-type prosthesis or a prosthetic incus, closely resembling a healthy incus. Results indicated the superior performance of the prosthetic incus in terms of both sound transmission to the inner ear and stress distribution patterns on the TM, potentially lowering the risk of prosthesis displacement/extrusion. This study underscores the potential of computational analysis in middle ear surgery, encompassing aspects such as prosthesis design, predicting outcomes in ossicular chain reconstruction (OCR), and mitigating experimental costs.

Meniere's disease: Pathogenesis, treatments, and emerging approaches for an idiopathic bioenvironmental disorder.

Meniere's disease (MD) is a severe inner ear condition known by debilitating symptoms, including spontaneous vertigo, fluctuating and progressive hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness or pressure within the affected ear. Prosper Meniere first described the origins of MD in the 1860s, but its underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive today. Nevertheless, researchers have identified a key histopathological feature called Endolymphatic Hydrops (ELH), which refers to the excessive buildup of endolymph fluid in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear. The exact root of ELH is not fully understood. Still, it is believed to involve several biological and bioenvironmental etiological factors such as genetics, autoimmunity, infection, trauma, allergy, and new theories, such as saccular otoconia blocking the endolymphatic duct and sac. Regarding treatment, there are no reliable and definitive cures for MD. Most therapies focus on managing symptoms and improving the overall quality of patients' life. To make significant advancements in addressing MD, it is crucial to gain a fundamental understanding of the disease process, laying the groundwork for more effective therapeutic approaches. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the pathophysiology of MD with a focus on old and recent theories. Current treatment strategies and future translational approaches (with low-level evidence but promising results) related to MD are also discussed, including patents, drug delivery, and nanotechnology, that may provide future benefits to patients suffering from MD.

Potential nanotechnology-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for Meniere's disease.

Meniere's disease (MD) is a progressive inner ear disorder involving recurrent and prolonged episodes or attacks of vertigo with associated symptoms, resulting in a significantly reduced quality of life for sufferers. In most cases, MD starts in one ear; however, in one-third of patients, the disorder progresses to the other ear. Unfortunately, the etiology of the disease is unknown, making the development of effective treatments difficult. Nanomaterials, including nanoparticles (NPs) and nanocarriers, offer an array of novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications related to MD. NPs have specific features such as biocompatibility, biochemical stability, targetability, and enhanced visualization using imaging tools. This paper provides a comprehensive and critical review of recent advancements in nanotechnology-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for MD. Furthermore, the crucial challenges adversely affecting the use of nanoparticles to treat middle ear disorders are investigated. Finally, this paper provides recommendations and future directions for improving the performances of nanomaterials on theragnostic applications of MD.

Emerging Roles of Long Non-coding RNAs in Uterine Leiomyoma Pathogenesis: a Review.

Uterine leiomyoma (UL), as the most prevalent type of women's health disorders, is a benign tumor that originates from the smooth muscle cell layer of the uterus. A great number of associated complications are observed including infertility, miscarriage, bleeding, pain, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and dyspareunia. Although the etiology of UL is largely undefined, environmental and genetic factors are witnessed to engage in the UL development. As long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in various types of cellular functions, in recent years, a great deal of attention has been drawn to them and their possible roles in UL pathogenesis. Moreover, they have illustrated their potential to be promising candidates for UL treatment. In this review paper, firstly, an overview of UL pathogenesis is presented. Then, the regulation of lncRNAs in UL and their possible mechanisms in cancer development are reviewed. Eventually, therapeutic approaches targeting lncRNAs in various cancers and UL are explored.

Cancer Therapy and Imaging Through Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes Decorated with Magnetite and Gold Nanoparticles as a Multimodal Tool.

Pharmacotherapy and imaging are two critical facets of cancer therapy. Carbon nanotubes and their modified species such as magnetic or gold nanoparticle conjugated ones they have been introduced as good candidates for both purposes. Gold nanoparticles enhance effects of X-rays during radiotherapy. Nanomaterial-mediated radiofrequency (RF) hyperthermia refers to using RF to heat tumors treated with nanomaterials for cancer therapy. The combination of hyperthermia and radiotherapy, synergistically, causes a significant reduction in X-ray doses. The present study was conducted to investigate the ability and efficiency of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with magnetic Fe3O4 and gold nanoparticles (mf-MWCNT/AuNPs) for imaging and cancer therapy. The mf-MWCNT/AuNPs were utilized for imaging approaches such as ultrasounds, CT scan, and MRI. They were also examined in thermotherapy and radiotherapy. The MCF-7 cell line was used as an in vitro model to study thermotherapy and radiotherapy. The mf-MWCNT/AuNPs are beneficial as a contrast agent in imaging by ultrasounds, CT scan, and MRI. They are also radio waves and X-rays absorbent and enhance the efficiency of thermotherapy and radiotherapy in the elimination of cancer cells. The valuable properties of mf-MWCNT/AuNPs in radio- and thermotherapies and imaging strategies make them a good candidate as a multimodal tool in cancer therapy. Graphical Abstract The mf-MWCNT/AuNPs are beneficial as a contrast agent in imaging by US (ultrasounds), CT scan, and MRI. They are also radio waves and X-rays absorbent and enhance the efficiency of thermotherapy and radiotherapy in the elimination of cancer cells. The valuable properties of the mf-MWCNT/AuNPs in radio- and thermotherapies and imaging strategies make them a good candidate as a multimodal tool in cancer therapy.

Caspases interplay with kinases and phosphatases to determine cell fate.

Cellular differentiation is one of the critical processes in the life of multicellular organisms. In this phenomenon, a non-specialized cell is converted to a specialized one with its own specific function and morphology. One of the requirements for specialization is silencing of the pathways involved in cell proliferation in parallel with turning on the molecular mechanisms involved in differentiation. Similar to other biological phenomena, the change in cellular state from the proliferative to the differentiated needs molecular switches to persuade the change in response to the internal or external inducers. The quiddity of these molecular switches has not been identified, yet. However, there exists a growing body of evidence showing that the same agents involved in apoptosis have a broad contribution to differentiation progression. To our knowledge, this evidence is still ambiguous because it has raised fundamental questions that require more proof to be answered. The most important questions are: How can two totally different cellular fates act through a similar pathway? What is the separating edge? What forces a cell to choose one of them (death or differentiation)? To address these issues, we will concentrate on three groups of molecules; caspases as the key players of apoptosis, protein kinases, and phosphatases as the major regulators of many cellular and biochemical processes. The evidence reveals a triangle of caspases, kinases, and phosphatases in which their communication leads to the fine-tuning of caspases and consequently they determine cell fate.

Carbon nanotube-delivered iC9 suicide gene therapy for killing breast cancer cells in vitro.

AIM: To induce a safe death to MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line through gene therapy based on iC9 suicide gene. MATERIALS & METHODS: To induce apoptosis to MCF-7 cell line, iC9 gene was transfected using pyridine-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Then, to enhance chemotherapy, iC9 suicide gene therapy was performed alongside. RESULTS: The results show that the MCF-7 cells were efficiently eliminated in a high percentage by this approach. Furthermore, the suicide gene by itself/in combination with the chemotherapeutic drugs managed to pass the cell cycle arrests. CONCLUSION: We introduced an in vitro treatment approach based on suicide gene therapy and the first step was taken toward the enhancement of chemotherapy, although more investigation is required.