Zinc phosphate glass microspheres promoted mineralization and expression of BMP2 in MC3T3-E1 cells.

Degradable phosphate glasses have shown favorable properties for tissue engineering. By changing the composition of the glasses, the degradation rate, and ion release are controllable. Zinc oxide can function as a glass network modifier and has been shown to play a positive role in bone formation. Also, phosphate glasses can easily be processed into microspheres, which can be used as microcarriers. This study aims to develop zinc phosphate glasses microspheres and explore the optimized size and composition for applications in bone tissue engineering. Zinc-titanium-calcium-sodium phosphate glasses with 0, 1, 3, 5, or 10 mol % zinc oxide were prepared and processed into microspheres. The smaller microspheres ranged in size from 50 to 106 µm, while the larger ones ranged from 106 to 150 µm. The characteristics of glasses were examined. The osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1 was cultured on the surface of microspheres and the cell viability was examined. To evaluate osteogenic differentiation, Alizarin Red S staining, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis were performed after 14 days. Different sizes of zinc phosphate glass microspheres were successfully made. The glass microspheres with <10 mol % zinc oxide were able to support the adhesion and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cell lines. The relative gene expression of BMP2 was significantly upregulated in the smaller glass microspheres containing 3 mol % zinc oxide (26-fold, p < .001) and both sizes of microspheres containing 5 mol % zinc oxide (smaller: 27-fold, p < .001; larger: 35-fold, p < .001). Additionally, cluster formation was observed in glass microspheres after 14 days, and the mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cell lines was promoted. Based on these findings, the glass microspheres containing 3-5 mol % of zinc oxide can promote osteogenic differentiation for MC3T3-E1 cells.

Effects of wearing myopia glasses on eye movement and scleral blood supply.

The present study examined the effect of wearing myopia glasses on eye movement and scleral blood supply. For this purpose, a total of 30 individuals were recruited for the present self-control study. Under the same fixation distance, the individuals wore 0.00 D and -10.00 D glasses. The amount of eye movement generated when shifting from gazing at a central point to a point light source located at the left or right was measured and compared between the two glasses. The results revealed that the range of eye movement was significantly reduced after wearing -10.00 D glasses. When gazing at the right point light source from the central point, the difference between the rotation distances of the right eye when wearing the 0.00 D glasses and the -10.0 D glasses was 0.73±0.45 mm (t=8.93, P<0.01) and that of the left eye was 0.73±0.43 mm (t=9.34, P<0.01). Similar results were obtained when the left point light source was viewed from a shift in gaze from the central point. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that wearing concave lenses limits eyeball movement. Restricted eyeball movement can affect vascular changes within the extraocular muscles and blood flow, thereby affecting the blood supply to the anterior segment and sclera of the eye, potentially accelerating the development of myopia.

Er 3 + , Nd 3 + , Tm 3 + : Up-conversion in Lead Borophosphate Glasses for Visible Emission.

To investigate the role of PbO as a former or a modifier and effect of its compositional variation on the physical, structural and optical properties, lithium lead borophosphate glasses were synthesized by melt quenching technique. For the physical properties of the prepared glasses, density was measured using the Archimedes principle, which showed an increasing trend from 3.13 to 4.51 with increasing concentrations of lead oxide. Additionally, other physical parameters were calculated based on the measured density values. The structural analysis were performed through X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Lack of sharp and characteristic peaks in the XRD spectra confirmed the non crystalline nature of the prepared glasses. Structural units due to PbO, P 2 O 5 and B 2 O 3 were identified from the FTIR spectra. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy was performed for optical properties and increase in the indirect band gap from 4.80 eV to 4.90 eV was observed. One glass sample was chosen for doping of erbium, neodymium, thulium and ytterbium, for study of their up-conversion properties. The UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectra of erbium, neodymium, and thulium samples were recorded, and wavelength of 980 nm was chosen for excitation. Ytterbium, acting as a sensitizer, facilitated the conversion of the excitation infrared light into visible light. Upon excitation at 980 nm, the erbium-doped sample emitted light at 520 nm, 547 nm, and 665 nm, utilizing excited state up-conversion (ESA) and energy transfer up-conversion (ETU) mechanisms. Similarly, the neodymium-doped sample emitted at 542 nm, 602 nm, and 660 nm, while the thulium-doped sample emitted at 488 nm, 521 nm, and 649 nm. The results of up-conversion indicate that rare earth-doped lithium lead borophosphate glasses are excellent hosts for up-conversion processes.

Structural Connectivity and Bioactivity in Sol-gel Silicate Glass Design.

Bioactive glasses (BGs) bond with bone by forming hydroxy carbonate apatite (HCA) upon reaction in physiological fluid, a phenomenon known as bioactivity. BGs structural network connectivity determines their bioactivity. Sol-gel BGs are synthesized through the hydrolysis and condensation of metal alkoxide precursors in the presence of a catalyst, in aqueous environments. Several sol-gel synthesis parameters directly impact BG network connectivity: pH (i.e. acid or basic catalysis), water to alkoxide ratio (Rw), alkoxide type and presence of dopant ions. However, the relationship between bioactivity and these parameters remains surprisingly unexplored. This study highlights the relationship between synthesis pH, Rw, network connectivity and bioactivity in silica-based sol-gel BGs and BGs doped with titanium (Ti) ions (TiBGs), the latter selected for their known ability to enhance network connectivity. BGs and TiBGs are synthesized with various Rw values under acidic and basic conditions, and their bioactivity is assessed in simulated body fluid for 7 days. Increasing Rw decreases network connectivity and increases bioactivity of BGs with high network connectivity, as observed for base-catalyzed BGs and for both acid and base catalyzed TiBGs, but not in BGs with lower connectivity as evidenced in acid-catalyzed BGs. Basic catalysis of TiBGs prevents crystalline TiO2 domain formation, which was instead consistently observed in TiBGs synthesized under acidic catalysis. These findings help the design of BGs for applications where ion release needs to be enhanced even in the presence of dopants that slow down HCA formation, and of BGs with specific properties, e.g. TiO2-containing BGs with potential bactericidal activity. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Bioactive glasses (BGs) bond with bone by dissolving and forming hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) on their surface, offering applications in medicine and dentistry. BG's network connectivity influences its dissolution rate, and hence HCA formation. While solution-gelation (sol-gel) is commonly used for BG production, the effect of sol gel synthesis parameters on HCA formation remains unexplored. We studied the relationship between synthesis parameters (water-to-alkoxide ratio (Rw), catalyst, and dopant ions, particularly titanium), BG network connectivity, and HCA formation. We find that increasing Rw with any catalyst enhances HCA formation, particularly in glasses with high network connectivity. This understanding allows tailoring BG synthesis for different applications, e.g. those requiring doping with ions that increase network connectivity and fills a crucial gap in BG literature.

Elasticity Mapping of Colloidal Glasses Reveals the Interplay between Mesoscopic Order and Granular Mechanics.

Colloidal glasses (CGs) made of polymer (polymethylmethacrylate) nanoparticles are promising metamaterials for light and sound manipulation, but fabrication imperfections and fragility can limit their functionality and applications. Here, the vibrational mechanical modes of nanoparticles are probed to evaluate the nanomechanical and morphological properties of various CGs architectures. Utilizing the scanning micro-Brillouin light scattering (µ-BLS), the effective elastic constants and nanoparticles' sizes is determined as a function of position in a remote and non-destructive manner. This method is applied to CG mesostructures with different spatial distributions of their particle size and degree of order. These include CGs with single-sized systems, binary mixtures, bilayer structures, continuous gradient structures, and gradient mixtures. The microenvironments govern the local mechanical properties and highlight how the granular mesostructure can be used to develop durable functional polymer colloids. A size effect is revealed on the effective elastic constant, with the smallest particles and ordered assemblies forming robust structures, and classify the various types of mesoscale order in terms of their mechanical stiffness. The work establishes scanning µ-BLS as a tool for mapping elasticity, particle size, and local structure in complex nanostructures.

Evaluation of radiation dose to the lens in interventional cardiology physicians before and after dose limit regulation changes.

In response to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), which lowered the lens equivalent dose limit, Japan lowered the lens dose limit from 150 mSv/year to 100 mSv/5 years and 50 mSv/year, with this new rule taking effect on April 1, 2021. DOSIRIS® is a dosimeter that can accurately measure lens dose. Herein, we investigated lens dose in interventional cardiology physicians one year before and after the reduction of the lens dose limit using a neck dosimeter and lens dosimeter measurements. With an increase in the number of cases, both personal dose equivalent at 0.07 mm [Hp(0.07), neck dosimeter] and personal dose equivalent at 3 mm depth [Hp(3), lens dosimeter] increased for most of the physicians. The Hp(3) of the lens considering the shielding effect of the Pb glasses using lens dosimeter exceeded 20 mSv/year for two of the 14 physicians. Protection from radiation dose will become even more important in the future, as these two physicians may experience radiation dose exceeding 100 mSv/5 years. The average dose per procedure increased, but not significantly. There was a strong correlation between the neck dosimeter and lens dosimeter scores, although there was no significant change before and after the lens dose limit was lowered. This correlation was particularly strong for physicians who primarily treated patients. As such, it is possible to infer accurate lens doses from neck doses in physicians who primarily perform diagnostics. However, it is desirable to use a dosimeter that can directly measure Hp(3) because of the high lens dose.

Investigation of Thermal and Spectroscopic Properties of Tellurite-Based Glasses Doped with Rare-Earth Oxides for Infrared Solid-State Lasers.

The thermal and optical properties of 60TeO2-20K2TeO3-10WO3-10Nb2O5 (in mol%) glasses doped with Ho2O3, Er2O3, and Tm2O3 were explored in the present work. The thermal stability, refractive index n, extinction coefficient k, absorption coefficient α, and optical band gap of the glasses were evaluated. The UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectra, the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameter, the spectroscopic quality factor, and the emission and absorption cross-sections were calculated to investigate the effects of Er3+ and Tm3+, respectively, on the band spectroscopic properties of Ho3+ ions. The results showed that the maximum emission cross-section was approximately 8×10-21 cm2, and the values of the full width at half maximum (FWHM), quality factor (σe×FWHM), and gain coefficient of Ho3+: 5I7→5I8 were also reported. The value of the FWHM×σe was 1200×10-28 cm3, which showed greater gain characteristics than earlier study results. For 2 µm mid-infrared solid-state lasers, the glasses that were examined might be a good host material.

Melatonin-loaded bioactive microspheres accelerate aged bone regeneration by formation of tunneling nanotubes to enhance mitochondrial transfer.

The repair of bone defects in the elderly individuals is significantly delayed due to cellular senescence and dysfunction, which presents a challenge in clinical settings. Furthermore, there are limited effective methods available to promote bone repair in older individuals. Herein, melatonin-loaded mesoporous bioactive glasses microspheres (MTBG) were successfully prepared based on their mesoporous properties. The repair of bone defects in aged rats was significantly accelerated by enhancing mitochondrial function through the sustained release of melatonin and bioactive ions. MTBG effectively rejuvenated senescent bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by scavenging excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), stabilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and increasing ATP synthesis. Analysis of the underlying mechanism revealed that the formation of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) facilitated the intercellular transfer of mitochondria, thereby resulting in the recovery of mitochondrial function. This study provides critical insights into the design of new biomaterials for the elderly individuals and the biological mechanism involved in aged bone regeneration.

Experimental study of gamma-ray attenuation capability of B2O3-ZnO-Na2O-Fe2O3 glass system.

In the present work, a glass system with developed composition consisting of B2O3, ZnO, Na2O and Fe2O3 samples has been investigated. Glass samples were prepared using the melt quenching method and the density of the system was measured using Archimedes' principle. Spectroscopic analysis using a gamma source and a high-purity germanium detector at four energies of 0.0595, 0.6617, 1.173, and 1.333 MeV emitted from Am-241, Cs-137, and Co-60 were used to determine the attenuation parameters of present glass composites. The sample containing 45 B2O3 + 10 Na2O + 40 ZnO + 5 Fe2O3 (coded BNZF-4) had the highest mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) value at all the energies discussed compared to the other composites. Whoever, the BNZF-1 sample had the lowest value at all ranges of energies. The transmission factors (TF, %) of the manufactured samples were calculated, at 0.0595 MeV (TF, %) values are 32.6429 and 6.4612 for samples BNZF-1 and BNZF-4, respectively. The statistical results demonstrated significantly better to increase the ZnO concentration in the sample, where the percentage of zinc oxide inside the prepared glass samples has the following direction BNZF -4 > BNZF -3 > BNZF -2 > BNZF -1. The significance of this study is that transparent, environmentally harmless glass composites with relatively high density have been prepared that can be used as shielding materials against gamma rays, especially at low energies.

Spontaneous Photonic Jammed Packing of Core-Shell Colloids in Conductive Aqueous Inks for Non-Iridescent Structural Coloration.

Integrating structural colors and conductivity into aqueous inks has the potential to revolutionize wearable electronics, providing flexibility, sustainability, and artistic appeal to electronic components. This study aims to introduce bioinspired color engineering to conductive aqueous inks. Our self-assembly approach involves mixing poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with sulfonic acid-modified polystyrene (sPS) colloids to generate non-iridescent structural colors in the inks. This spontaneous structural coloration occurs because PEDOT:PSS and sPS colloids can self-assemble into core-shell structures and reversibly cluster into photonic aggregates of maximally random jammed packing within the aqueous environment, as demonstrated by small-angle X-ray scattering. Dissipative particle dynamics simulation confirms that the self-assembly aggregation of PEDOT:PSS chains and sPS colloids can be manipulated by the polymer-colloid interactions. Utilizing the finite-difference time-domain method, we demonstrate that the photonic aggregates of the core-shell colloids achieve close to maximum jammed packing, making them suitable for producing vivid structural colors. These versatile conductive inks offer adjustable color saturation and conductivity, with conductivity levels reaching 36 S cm-1 through the addition of polyethylene glycol oligomer, while enhanced water resistance and mechanical stability are achieved by doping with a cross-linker, poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether. With these unique features, the inks can create flexible, patterned circuits through processes like coating, writing, and dyeing on large areas, providing eco-friendly, visually appealing colors for customizable, stylish, comfortable, and wearable electronic devices.

Osteoblast and osteoclast activity on collagen-based 3D printed scaffolds enriched with strontium-doped bioactive glasses and hydroxyapatite nanorods for bone tissue engineering.

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) aims to promote bone regeneration by means of the synergistic effect of biomaterials, cells, and other factors, as potential alternative to conventional treatments for bone fractures. To this aim, a composite material was developed, based on collagen type I, strontium-enriched mesoporous bioactive glasses, and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles as bioactive and biomimetic components. Nanostructured scaffolds were 3D printed and subsequently chemically crosslinked with genipin to improve mechanical properties and stability. The developed nanostructured system was maintained in culture until 3 weeks with a co-culture of human bone cells to provide an ex vivo model of bone microenvironment and examine the cellular crosstalk and signaling pathways through paracrine cell activities. Human osteoblasts (OBs), derived from trabecular bone, and human osteoclast precursors (OCs), isolated from buffy coat samples were involved, with OBs seeded on the scaffold and OCs precursors seeded in a transwell device. When compared to the material without inorganic components, the bioactive and biomimetic scaffold positively influenced cell proliferation and cell metabolic activity, boosting alkaline phosphatase activity of osteoblasts, and reducing osteoclast differentiation. Thus, the bioactive and biomimetic system promoted an enhanced cellular response, highlighting its potential application in bone tissue engineering. .

Accelerating NMR Shielding Calculations Through Machine Learning Methods: Application to Magnesium Sodium Silicate Glasses.

In this work, we have applied the Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR) method using a Least Square Support Vector Regression (LSSVR) approach for the prediction of the NMR isotropic magnetic shielding (σiso) of active nuclei (17O, 23Na, 25Mg, and 29Si) in a series of (Mg, Na) - silicate glasses. The Machine Learning (ML) algorithm has been trained by mapping the local environment of each atom described by the Smooth Overlap of Atomic Position (SOAP) descriptor with isotropic chemical shielding values computed with DFT using the Gauge-Included-Projector-Augmented-Wave (GIPAW) approach. The influence of different training datasets generated through molecular dynamics simulations at various temperatures and with different inter-atomic potentials has been tested and we demonstrate the importance of a wide exploration of the configurational space to enhance the transferability of the ML-regressor.  Finally, the trained ML-regressor has been used to simulate the 29Si MAS NMR spectra of systems containing up to 20000 atoms by averaging hundreds of configurations extracted from classical MD simulations to account for thermal vibrations. This ML approach is a powerful tool for the interpretation of NMR spectra using relatively large systems at a fraction of the computational time required by quantum mechanical calculations which are of high computational cost.

Optical, vibrational, and photoluminescence properties of holmium-doped boro-bismuth-germanate glasses.

Holmium (Ho3+)-doped boro-bismuth-germanate glasses having the chemical composition (30-x)B2O3 + 20GeO2 + 20Bi2O3 + 20Na2O + 10Y2O3 + xHo2O3, where x = 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mol% were prepared by melt-quenching technique. The prepared glasses were examined for thermal, optical, vibrational, and photoluminescent properties. The prepared glasses were found to be thermally very stable. The optical bandgap and Urbach energies of 0.1 mol% Ho2O3-doped boro-bismuth-germanate glass were calculated to be 3.3 eV and 377 MeV, respectively, using the absorption spectrum. The Judd-Ofelt analysis was performed on the 0.1 mol% Ho2O3-doped glass and compared the obtained parameters with literature. The branching ratio (ß) and emission cross-section (σem) of the green band were determined to be 0.7 and 0.24 × 10-20 cm2, respectively. Under 450 nm excitation, a strong green emission around 550 nm was observed and assigned to the (5S2 + 5F4) → 5I8 (Ho3+) transition. Upon an increase of Ho2O3 content from 0.1 to 2.0 mol%, the intensities of all observed emission bands as well as decay time of the (5S2 + 5F4) → 5I8 transition have been decreased gradually. The reasons behind the decrease in emission intensity and decay time were discussed. The strong green emission suggests that these glasses may be a better option for display devices and green emission applications.

Evaluating Smart Glasses for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Smart glasses allow care providers to connect to remote experts for consultation and have the potential to improve care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the user experience with smart glasses in a simulated nursing care environment. We collected data via post-simulation semi-structured interviews and System Usability Scale (SUS) surveys. The median SUS score was 74 (range 57.5 to 90). The qualitative and quantitative findings of our study highlighted the potential benefits of smart glasses for assisting novice nurses in patient care, as well as the technical and workflow challenges that need further investigation.

Understanding the tasting of champagne and other sparkling wines from a scientific perspective.

From uncorking the bottle to the bursting of bubbles in the glass, the science behind the tasting of champagne and other sparkling wine is both traditional and at the forefront of modern developments. The strong interaction between the various parameters at play in a bottle and in a glass of sparkling wine has been the subject of study for around two decades. Indeed, sparkling wine tasting is often seen as the pinnacle of glamor and frivolity for most people, but it should also be considered as a fantastic playground for chemists and physicists to explore the subtle science behind this centuries-old drink, whose prestige today goes well beyond the borders of Champagne and France. This article offers an overview of the physicochemical processes that mark a tasting of champagne or sparkling wine in the broad sense, from the cork popping out of the bottleneck to the formation and bursting of bubbles in your glass, including the choice of the glass and how to serve and drink the wine correctly.

Crystallization of Metallic Glasses and Supercooled Liquids.

This is an overview of recent findings on the structural changes observed upon heating, including crystallization processes in conventional metallic glasses, bulk metallic glasses, and their corresponding supercooled liquids. This paper encapsulates the various crystallization behaviors in metallic glasses by primary, eutectic, and polymorphous mechanisms, highlighting the complexity and diversity of the nucleation and growth mechanisms involved. Mechanically induced room-temperature crystallization is also discussed.

Mapping the Nanoscale Heterogeneous Responses in the Dynamic Acceleration of Deformed Polymer Glasses.

Understanding the evolution of local structure and mobility of disordered glassy materials induced by external stress is critical in modeling their mechanical deformation in the nonlinear regime. Several techniques have shown acceleration of molecular mobility of various amorphous glasses under macroscopic tensile deformation, but it remains a major challenge to visualize such a relationship at the nanoscale. Here, we employ a new approach based on atomic force microscopy in nanorheology mode for quantifying the local dynamic responses of a polymer glass induced by nanoscale compression. By increasing the compression level from linear elastic to plastic deformation, we observe an increase in the mechanical loss tangent (tan δ), evidencing the enhancement of polymer mobility induced by large stress. Notably, tan δ images directly reveal the preferential effect of the large compression on the dynamic acceleration of nanoscale heterogeneities with initially slow mobility, which is clearly different from that induced by increasing temperature.

Glass-Forming Ability, Mechanical Properties, and Energetic Characteristics of ZrCuNiAlNbHfY Bulk Metallic Glasses.

The effects of partially substituting Al for Cu in Zr59.62Cu18.4-xNi12Al6+xNb3Hf0.78Y0.2 (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 at.%) bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) on their glass-forming ability (GFA), quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties, and energy characteristics were investigated. The results showed that an appropriate substitution of Al for Cu can improve GFA and reach a critical casting size up to 10 mm. Additionally, with Al replacement of Cu, the change in the distribution and content of free volume inside the BMGs was the main reason for the quasi-static compression plasticity. In contrast, the BMGs exhibited no plasticity during dynamic compression and high-speed impact, owing to the short loading time and thermal softening effect. In terms of energy characteristics, all alloys have a high combustion enthalpy. And on the surface of the fragments collected from impact, the active elements Zr, Al, and Nb reacted because of the adiabatic temperature rise. Further, x = 4 at.% Zr-based BMG with its superior overall performance could penetrate a 6 mm Q235 plate at a speed of 1038 m/s, combining excellent mechanical properties and energy characteristics. This study contributes to the development of Zr-based BMGs as novel energetic structural materials.

The Effect of Video Streaming With Virtual Reality Glasses on on Pain Anxiety and Satisfaction Applied in Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Process.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIC) implementation is among the most frequent and highly invasive nursing initiatives. PIC leads to anxiety with procedural pain, causing individuals to reject these procedures or negatively affecting the process's success. AIM: The study was conducted to determine the effect of virtual reality glasses (VRG) on pain, anxiety, and patient satisfaction during the peripheral intravenous catheter (PIC) process in adults. DESIGN: An experimental study. SETTINGS: An emergency department of a university hospital. METHODS: Individuals who were admitted to the emergency unit of the university hospital were recruited between the data collection dates. Data from individuals' "Patient Information Form," "Visual Pain Scale," "Visual Anxiety Scale," and "Visual Satisfaction Scale" were collected. "VR-Box 3D Glasses" was used as virtual reality glasses. RESULTS: In our study, when the pain point averages with VAS were compared during the PIC process, the pain score average of the patients in the control group was 5.78 ± 1.23 visual anxiety scale 5.89 ± 1.23 and patient satisfaction scale 3.86 ± 2.48, The visual pain score average of patients in the VRG group is 4.12 ± 2.16, visual anxiety scale 3.14 ± 1.76 and visual patient satisfaction scale 7.64 ± 3.26. In short, it has been detected that the pain, anxiety, and patient satisfaction score averages of patients in the VRG group are statistically significant compared to the pain score averages of patients in the control group (p < .005). Our study unearthed a statistically significant relationship at an average level of negative direction between PIC post-treatment pain, anxiety, and patient satisfaction (r = - 0.476). CONCLUSION: Utilization of VRG has been detected to reduce pain and anxiety felt during the PIC process in adult patients and increase process satisfaction. VRG, a non-pharmacological, non-invasive, inexpensive, and feasible nursing initiative, may be recommended for use in pain and anxiety control in patients undergoing PIC treatment.

The Utility and Feasibility of Smart Glasses in Spine Surgery: Minimizing Radiation Exposure During Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Insertion.

OBJECTIVE: Spine surgeons are often at risk of radiation exposure due to intraoperative fluoroscopy, leading to health concerns such as carcinogenesis. This is due to the increasing use of percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) in spinal surgeries, resulting from the widespread adoption of minimally invasive spine stabilization. This study aimed to elucidate the effectiveness of smart glasses (SG) in PPS insertion under fluoroscopy. METHODS: SG were used as an alternative screen for fluoroscopic images. Operators A (2-year experience in spine surgery) and B (9-year experience) inserted the PPS into the bilateral L1-5 pedicles of the lumbar model bone under fluoroscopic guidance, repeating this procedure twice with and without SG (groups SG and N-SG, respectively). Each vertebral body's insertion time, radiation dose, and radiation exposure time were measured, and the deviation in screw trajectories was evaluated. RESULTS: The groups SG and N-SG showed no significant difference in insertion time for the overall procedure and each operator. However, group SG had a significantly shorter radiation exposure time than group N-SG for the overall procedure (109.1 ± 43.5 seconds vs. 150.9 ± 38.7 seconds; p = 0.003) and operator A (100.0 ± 29.0 seconds vs. 157.9 ± 42.8 seconds; p = 0.003). The radiation dose was also significantly lower in group SG than in group N-SG for the overall procedure (1.3 ± 0.6 mGy vs. 1.7 ± 0.5 mGy; p = 0.023) and operator A (1.2 ± 0.4 mGy vs. 1.8 ± 0.5 mGy; p = 0.013). The 2 groups showed no significant difference in screw deviation. CONCLUSION: The application of SG in fluoroscopic imaging for PPS insertion holds potential as a useful method for reducing radiation exposure.