Soft Pneumatic Actuator for Rendering Anal Sphincter Tone.

Sphincter tone examination, as part of digital rectal examination (DRE), can provide essential information to support the early detection of colorectal cancer. Mastering DRE skills for junior doctors is always challenging due to the lack of real training cases. In this article, we developed a soft pneumatic active actuator,made of a compound of silicone rubber materials, to mimic human sphincter muscles and simulate various anal sphincter tones for the purpose of training. Different pumping actuation (syringe and bellows) and driving mechanisms (linear, stepper, and servo motor) were implemented and compared for their effect on the rendered tones. A further comparison was made with a previous prototype based on a cable-driven mechanism. Both quantitative and qualitative assessments were conducted to evaluate the performance of each mechanism. A differential pressure sensor was used to measure applied pressure on a catheter balloon placed inside the sphincter, comparing the readings with anorectal manometry data obtained from real patients. Qualitative feedback was gathered through a user study with ten colorectal expert practitioners. Four questions were asked targeting reaction/response time, pressure level, pressure quality, and similarity to a real case. The results show the capacity and limitation of each mechanism, with the one based on a servo motor and a bellows being the most favourably rated.

Prevalência e fatores associados aos exames de detecção precoce para câncer de próstata e câncer de mama na população brasileira / Prevalence and factors associated with early detection tests for prostate cancer and breast cancer in the Brazilian population

O câncer de próstata e de mama se constituem em desafios para a saúde pública mundial, e o seu rastreamento para a detecção precoce possui vantagens e desvantagens. No sentido de garantir benefícios superiores ao possíveis danos e malefícios atrelados ao rastreamento, suas práticas, tanto no serviço púbico quanto no setor privado de saúde, devem estar orientadas pela evidência científica. O presente estudo tem como objetivo identificar a prevalência e os fatores associados à realização do exame digital retal (EDR) em homens brasileiros com idade superior a 40 anos, e à realização de mamografias na população feminina de 18-39 anos. Foi utilizado a base de dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS), Brasil, 2013. Para tabulação e análise estatística foi usado o software Stata® 14 verificando as Razões de Prevalência com respectivos Intervalos de Confiança de 95% e valores de p, através de análise multivariada com regressão de Poisson. Os usuários de planos de saúde privado (63,3%; IC=60,5-66,0) apresentaram maior prevalência na realização do EDR do que os do sistema público de saúde (41,6%; IC=39,8- 43,4). Os resultados apresentaram associação positiva para o EDR em homens com planos privados com idade entre 60-69 anos, que vivem com cônjuges, que nunca fumaram, e domiciliados em zonas urbanas. Para os homens usuários do serviço de saúde público essa associação positiva com o EDR se deu para a faixa etária de 70-79 anos, que vivem com cônjuges, que possuem autopercepção de saúde ruim/ muito ruim, que não bebem, ex-fumantes, com nível universitário, que apresentam 4 ou mais comorbidades, e domiciliados em zonas urbanas. Ainda para esse grupo houve associação negativa da realização do EDR para homens que moram na região Norte do país. Os resultados para a realização de mamografia na população feminina mostraram que a prevalência do exame foi de 11.6% (IC 95%-10.7-12.5), com maior realização para a faixa etária de 30-39 (18.6%). Após análise multivariada, observou-se associação positiva estatisticamente significativa para mulheres com planos de saúde privado, das regiões Sul e Sudeste (regiões com melhor nível socioeconômico), de maior escolaridade, e ainda com a realização do exame citopatológico do colo de útero. Mulheres com idade entre 18-39 anos, baixo risco de câncer de mama, estão realizando mamografias e há uma associação disso com o maior e melhor acesso aos cuidados médicos e aos serviços. Os achados apontam para diferença nos modos de atuação da prática médica vigente nos dois tipos de serviço de saúde no país, e ainda diferenças estruturais que condicionam o acesso a estes exames de diagnósticos (AU).

Screening for the early detection of cancer, a challenge to global public health, has advantages and disadvantages in its realization, and its practices, both in the public service and in the private health sector, should be guided by scientific evidence in an attempt to ensure advantages over possible damage and harnesses. The present study aims to identify the prevalence and factors associated with digital rectal examination (DRE) in Brazilian men over 40 years old, and mammographies in the female population aged 18-39 years. We used the National Health Survey (NHS) database, Brazil, 2013. For statistical tabulation and analysis, Stata® 14 software was used to verify the Prevalence Ratios with their 95% Confidence Intervals and p values through multivariate analysis with Poisson regression. The users of private health plans (63.3%, CI = 60.5-66.0) had a higher prevalence in the implementation of EDR than in the public health system (41.6%, CI = 39.8% 43.4). The results showed a positive association for DRE in men with private plans aged 60-69 who live with spouses, who never smoked, and domiciled in urban areas. For men who use the public health service, this positive association with DRE occurred in the age group of 70-79 years, living with spouses who have poor / very poor selfperception, who do not drink, former smokers, with university level, who have 4 or more comorbidities, and domiciled in urban areas. Also for this group there was a negative association of the RDS for men living in the northern region of the country. The results for mammography in the female population showed that the prevalence of the test was 11.6% (95% CI -10.7-12.5), with a higher prevalence for the 30-39 age group (18.6%). After multivariate analysis, a statistically significant positive association was observed for women with private health plans, from the South and Southeast regions, with higher schooling, and with the cervical cytopathology exam. Women aged 18-39 years, at low risk of breast cancer, are undergoing mammograms and there is an association with increased access to medical care and services.The findings point to differences in the modes of action of the current medical practice in the two types of health service in the country, and structural differences that condition access to these diagnostic exams (AU).

Creation of a Novel Digital Rectal Examination Evaluation Instrument to Teach and Assess Prostate Examination Proficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To create a validated tool to measure digital rectal examination proficiency and aid with teaching of the examination. DESIGN: The Digital Rectal Examination Clinical Tool was created using a modified Delphi method with 5 urologists and 5 radiation oncologists. The instrument was then validated in a population of preclinical medical students examining male urological teaching associates, and clinical trainees (third- and fourth-year medical students and urology resident physicians) examining prospectively enrolled subjects. Trainees completed paired examinations with an attending urologist, and responses were scored with reference to the attending responses. SETTING: The instrument was validated at the University of Virginia in the urology clinic, endoscopic operating room, and main operating room settings. PARTICIPANTS: We tested the instrument on consenting subjects consisting of male urologic teaching associates (n = 12), clinic patients (n = 4), and operating room patients (n = 64). The participants were undergraduate (n = 302) and graduate (n = 9) medical trainees. RESULTS: In preclerkship trainees, improved scores in subjects without abnormal compared to those with abnormal findings demonstrated validity. In clinical trainees, scores on the Digital Rectal Examination Clinical Tool increased by 2% for each additional year of training, demonstrating construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: We used an expert panel to create a novel instrument for measuring digital rectal examination proficiency and validated it with preclinical and clinical trainee cohorts at our institution.

Are commercially available simulators durable enough for classroom use?

Our efforts show that commercially available simulators can be modified to affect realism and durability.

Prostate mechanical imaging: 3-D image composition and feature calculations.

We have developed a method and a device entitled prostate mechanical imager (PMI) for the real-time imaging of prostate using a transrectal probe equipped with a pressure sensor array and position tracking sensor. PMI operation is based on measurement of the stress pattern on the rectal wall when the probe is pressed against the prostate. Temporal and spatial changes in the stress pattern provide information on the elastic structure of the gland and allow two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of prostate anatomy and assessment of prostate mechanical properties. The data acquired allow the calculation of prostate features such as size, shape, nodularity, consistency/hardness, and mobility. The PMI prototype has been validated in laboratory experiments on prostate phantoms and in a clinical study. The results obtained on model systems and in vivo images from patients prove that PMI has potential to become a diagnostic tool that could largely supplant DRE through its higher sensitivity, quantitative record storage, ease-of-use and inherent low cost.