Forearm sEMG data from young healthy humans during the execution of hand movements.

This work provides a complete dataset containing surface electromyography (sEMG) signals acquired from the forearm with a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz. The dataset is named WyoFlex sEMG Hand Gesture and recorded the data of 28 participants between 18 and 37 years old without neuromuscular diseases or cardiovascular problems. The test protocol consisted of sEMG signals acquisition corresponding to ten wrist and grasping movements (extension, flexion, ulnar deviation, radial deviation, hook grip, power grip, spherical grip, precision grip, lateral grip, and pinch grip), considering three repetitions for each gesture. Also, the dataset contains general information such as anthropometric measures of the upper limb, gender, age, laterally of the person, and physical condition. Likewise, the implemented acquisition system consists of a portable armband with four sEMG channels distributed equidistantly for each forearm. The database could be used for the recognition of hand gestures, evaluation of the evolution of patients in rehabilitation processes, control of upper limb orthoses or prostheses, and biomechanical analysis of the forearm.

Low-Cost Wearable Band Sensors of Surface Electromyography for Detecting Hand Movements.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a non-invasive measure of electrical activity generated due to muscle contraction. In recent years, sEMG signals have been increasingly used in diverse applications such as rehabilitation, pattern recognition, and control of orthotic and prosthetic systems. This study presents the development of a versatile multi-channel sEMG low-cost wearable band system to acquire 4 signals. In this case, the signals acquired with the proposed device have been used to detect hand movements. However, the WyoFlex band could be used in some sections of the arm or the leg if the section's diameter matches the diameter of the WyoFlex band. The designed WyoFlex band was fabricated using three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques employing thermoplastic polyurethane and polylactic acid as manufacturing materials. Then, the proposed wearable electromyographic system (WES) consists of 2 WyoFlex bands, which simultaneously allow the wireless acquisition of 4 sEMG channels of each forearm. The collected sEMG can be visualized and stored for future post-processing stages using a graphical user interface designed in Node-RED. Several experimental tests were conducted to verify the performance of the WES. A dataset with sEMG collected from 15 healthy humans has been obtained as part of the presented results. In addition, a classification algorithm based on artificial neural networks has been implemented to validate the usability of the collected sEMG signals.

Prácticas de prescripción y conocimientos médicos acerca de los anticoagulantes orales directos en un hospital de referencia / Prescription practices and medical knowledge on direct oral anticoagulants in a reference hospital / Práticas de prescrição e conhecimentos médicos a respeito dos anticoagulantes orais diretos num hospital de referência

Introducción y objetivo: se desconocen la experiencia y el conocimiento con los que cuenta el personal médico del medio en el manejo de los anticoagulantes orales directos. Se pretende describir el uso de estos medicamentos en los pacientes atendidos en el Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe y evaluar el nivel de conocimientos al respecto en los profesionales de la misma institución. Materiales y métodos: estudio de corte transversal en el período comprendido entre enero del 2012 y enero del 2013. Para recolectar la información se utilizaron dos estrategias: el análisis de las historias clínicas pertinentes y la evaluación de conocimientos sobre la prescripción y el uso de anticoagulantes orales directos en el grupo de especialistas facultados. Resultados: en el análisis se incluyeron 114 historias; el rivaroxaban fue el medicamento prescrito con mayor frecuencia (87%) seguido del dabigatrán (13%). La principal indicación fue la profilaxis en cirugía ortopédica (69%). Entre los especialistas evaluados, el promedio de respuestas acertadas fue del 67% sin diferencias aparentes entre los mismos. Conclusión: el rivaroxaban se prescribió con mayor frecuencia que el dabigatrán; sin embargo, este hallazgo no parece asociarse con un conocimiento médico claro y suficiente acerca de estos medicamentos. No se encontraron reportes de eventos adversos asociados al uso de los mismos.

Introduction and objective: The experience and knowledge concerning the use of direct oral anticoagulants among specialists in Medellin, Colombia, are not known. Our goal was to describe the use of these drugs in patients treated at Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe and to assess the level of knowledge regarding this issue in professionals from this institution. Materials and methods: Cross sectional study conducted between January 2012 and January 2013. Two strategies to collect information were used, namely: Analysis of relevant medical records and evaluation of knowledge about the appropriate use and prescription of direct oral anticoagulants in the group of medical specialists. Results: 114 records were included in the analysis; rivaroxaban was the most frequently prescribed drug (87%) followed by dabigatran (13%). The main indication was prophylaxis in orthopedic surgery (69%). Average of correct answers among the different specialists evaluated was 67% with no apparent difference between them. Conclusion: rivaroxaban was prescribed more often than dabigatran; however, this fact does not appear to be associated with a clear and sufficient medical knowledge about these drugs. No reports of adverse events associated with this therapy were found.

Introdução e objetivo: desconhecem-se a experiência e o conhecimento com os que conta o pessoal médico do meio no manejo dos anticoagulantes orais diretos. Pretende-se descrever o uso destes medicamentos nos pacientes atendidos no Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe e avaliar o nível de conhecimentos com respeito aos profissionais da mesma instituição. Materiais e métodos: estudo de corte transversal no período compreendido entre janeiro do 2012 e janeiro do 2013. Para coletar a informação se utilizaram duas estratégias: a análise das histórias clínicas pertinentes e a avaliação de conhecimentos sobre a prescrição e o uso de anticoagulantes orais diretos no grupo de especialistas facultados. Resultados: na análise se incluíram 114 histórias; o Rivaroxabana foi o medicamento prescrito com maior frequência (87%) seguido do Dabigatran (13%). A principal indicação foi a profilaxia em cirurgia ortopédica (69%). Entre os especialistas avaliados, a média de respostas acertadas foi de 67% sem diferenças aparentes entre os mesmos. Conclusão: o Rivaroxabana se prescreveu com maior frequência do que o Dabigatran; no entanto, este achado não parece associar-se com um conhecimento médico claro e suficiente a respeito destes medicamentos. Não se encontraram reportes de eventos adversos sócios ao uso dos mesmos.

Cell patterning by laser-assisted bioprinting.

The aim of tissue engineering is to produce functional three-dimensional (3D) tissue substitutes. Regarding native organ and tissue complexity, cell density and cell spatial 3D organization, which influence cell behavior and fate, are key parameters in tissue engineering. Laser-Assisted Bioprinting (LAB) allows one to print cells and liquid materials with a cell- or picoliter-level resolution. Thus, LAB seems to be an emerging and promising technology to fabricate tissue-like structures that have the physiological functionality of their native counterparts. This technology has additional advantages such as automation, reproducibility, and high throughput. It makes LAB compatible with the (industrial) fabrication of 3D constructs of physiologically relevant sizes. Here we present exhaustively the numerous steps that allow printing of viable cells with a well-preserved micrometer pattern. To facilitate the understanding of the whole cell patterning experiment using LAB, it is discussed in two parts: (1) preprocessing: laser set-up, bio-ink cartridge and bio-paper preparation, and pattern design; and (2) processing: bio-ink printing on the bio-paper.