Through this unit, students act as engineers who are given the challenge to design laparoscopic surgical tools. After learning about human anatomy and physiology of the abdominopelvic cavity, especially as it applies to laparoscopic surgery, students learn about the mechanics of elastic solids, which is the most basic level of material behavior. Then, they explore the world of fluids and learn how fluids react to forces. Next, they combine their understanding of the mechanics of solids and fluids to understand viscoelastic materials, such as those found in the human body. Finally, they learn about tissue mechanics, including how collagen, elastin and proteoglycans give body tissues their unique characteristics. In the culminating hands-on activity, student teams design their own prototypes of laparoscopic surgical robots remotely controlled, camera-toting devices that must fit through small incisions, inspect organs and tissue for disease, obtain biopsies, and monitor via ongoing wireless image-taking. They use a (homemade) synthetic abdominal cavity simulator to test and iterate the prototype devices.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"It may be surprising to learn that drugs like morphine can actually make it harder to heal from injuries, including surgery. Researchers report that using opioids to manage this type of acute pain can make the pain last longer, potentially drawing out the need for pain relief. Although it’s unclear exactly why this happens, scientists are beginning to uncover some of the physiological causes of this delayed healing. And they think it has something to do with the brain’s immune system. That conclusion comes from an in-depth look at how morphine affects recovery in mice. Using a mouse model of orthopedic surgery, researchers looked at the consequences of postoperative morphine use. Mice were subjected to tibial fracture and repair and given a 7-day course of either morphine or an inactive vehicle. Some mice underwent a sham operation – they were anesthetized and received skin incisions, but no bone fracture – followed by the same treatment regimen..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"There are currently no prediction models for survival of resectable pancreatic cancer used in clinical practice As more therapeutic options become available, the need for improved tools to predict outcomes and support shared-decision making grows A new article in the British Journal of Surgery systematically reviews studies describing survival models for resectable pancreatic cancer In total, 22 relevant models were found Eight models were developed for the preoperative setting and 13 for the postoperative setting But of these, only 2 were considered promising options It turns out that most available models are at high risk of bias and have not been externally validated The article also narrowed down useful prognostic factors among the models, such as biomarkers and pathological factors This knowledge was used to develop practical recommendations for future studies looking to design and validate new models....."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"New research suggests that for young patients who experience recurring dislocation of the kneecap, reconstructive surgery is an effective treatment option. Among 90 physically active patients undergoing surgery, nearly all were able to return to the court or field in just under 9 months on average, with fewer than a handful reporting recurring instability. Lateral patellar instability is a common problem affecting patients aged 10 to 25. Rehab without surgery is the current standard of care for those undergoing patellar dislocation for the first time. But for repeat sufferers, the path to recovery is less clear. While there is some consensus on taking the surgical route for ligament repair, recommendations on additional bone repair are mixed. On top of the variety of anatomical criteria for making that decision, there’s the possibility that adding such treatment to the surgical menu could increase the risk of complication..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Tears to the anterior cruciate ligament typically require surgical reconstruction But the operation can cause muscle weakness and doesn’t always restore proprioception or joint kinematics A new biologic augmentation technique may overcome these limitations The technique employs intra-ligamentous and intra-articular infiltration of bone marrow aspirate and platelet-rich plasma to regenerate ACL tears When used in athletes with symptomatic partial ACL injuries the treatment restored both the structure and function of the ligament with fewer complications and a faster recovery than traditional surgery Although a larger cohort must still be tested the results show the potential of biologic augmentation for ACL repair Dallo, et al. Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Partial Tears Using the Technique of Biologic Augmentation with Bone Marrow Concentrate and Platelet-rich Plasma Under Arthroscopic Visualization: Preliminary Outcomes with 2 year follow-up..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"The root of the medial meniscus is a vital component that provides stability and cushions axial loads to protect the knee. For that reason, meniscal root tears can be especially debilitating; studies have shown that tearing the posterior root of the medial meniscus is functionally and biomechanically comparable to a complete meniscectomy. Historically, such tears were treated without surgery or with partial removal of the meniscus. Now, clinicians are shifting toward preserving the biomechanical function of the medial meniscus through root repair. While good outcomes have been reported for this surgical treatment option, relatively few studies have compared root repair with other treatment methods. Authors of a recent study compared the long-term outcomes of nonoperative management or partial meniscectomy with those of root repair by the transtibial pull-through technique..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Students use their knowledge about how healthy heart valves function to design, construct and implant prototype replacement mitral valves for hypothetical patients' hearts. Building on what they learned in the associated lesson about artificial heart valves, combined with the testing and scoring of their prototype heart valve designs in this activity, students discover the pros and cons of different types of artificial heart valves based on materials, surgery requirements, and lifespan.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"How humans lose consciousness under anesthesia is a bit of a mystery, but that’s especially true in the case of young infants. Scientists have known that in adults, fast alpha-wave frequencies in the electroencephalogram, or EEG, appear when someone undergoes anesthesia and loses consciousness. But that doesn’t happen in infants younger than about 4 months. So, how do young infants lose consciousness? Because awake infants do show slow delta-wave frequencies, a team at the University of Cambridge and Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital decided to investigate those waves. Now, in a new article in the journal Anesthesiology, the researchers report that infants lost slow-wave synchronization—or “functional connectivity”—between the frontal and parietal regions of their brains when they underwent anesthesia. There is evidence that during anesthesia, the adult brain reorganizes itself into a less complex configuration with more segregation between functional systems..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Knee problems such as instability of the kneecap and arthritis can be telltale signs that it’s time for surgery. But they’re not the only ones. A new study suggests that focal lesions of the cartilage that cushions the kneecap, or patella, and of the trochlea, the groove where the patella rests, are just as important and can have similar causes. Understanding how these lesions are related to knee alignment and morphology could help clinicians develop more tailored and durable treatments. Researchers reached that conclusion after comparing the knee anatomy of 135 patients with focal patellofemoral cartilage lesions, but no arthritis, to that of 100 patients with normal cartilage. Using M-R-I, they assessed features including patellar morphology, trochlear morphology, patellar malalignment, and the quadriceps vector. Patients with patellofemoral lesions showed greater trochlear dysplasia and patellar malalignment than those in the control group..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Shoulder dislocations and partial dislocations are some of the most common and disabling injuries in active young people, especially athletes. After the bone has been popped back and the initial agony is over, the issue of what to do next is much debated. One option is surgery to try to repair the damage, but whether that is preferable to less-invasive care remains controversial. Researchers now have evidence that supports the surgical option, at least for young people suffering a first event. The team monitored the degree of bone damage to the shoulder socket, or glenoid bone, which holds the head of the humerus in place. Until now, there has not been much information about the extent of this damage to guide a decision on the best approach. The shoulders of 714 student athletes were imaged by MRI scanning, and the subjects were then followed for four years..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Systems Neuroscience Laboratory consists of a series of laboratories designed to give students experience with basic techniques for conducting systems neuroscience research. It includes sessions on anatomical, neurophysiological, and data acquisition and analysis techniques, and the ways these techniques are used to study nervous system function. Training is provided in the art of scientific writing with feedback designed to improve writing skills. Assignments include weekly preparation for lab sessions, two major research reports and a series of basic computer programming tutorials (MATLAB®). The class involves the use of experimental animals. Enrollment is limited.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Craniopharyngiomas are among the most common calcified tumors in the central nervous system. Although calcification is known to complicate tumor removal, especially in the delicate central nervous system, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. A recent study examined the calcification of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas. Using cultured primary cells, the researchers induced calcification with the protein Bmp2. Calcified cells had elevated expression of the histone deacetylase HDAC3. Paradoxically, however, inhibiting HDAC3 activity increased calcification and differentiation into osteoblasts. Researchers discovered that this disconnect between HDAC3 expression and its activity came down to its cellular location. Bmp2, it turned out, was blocking HDAC3 from relocating to the nucleus. Bmp2 blocked relocation indirectly by increasing the expression of the microRNA miR-181b. miR-181b decreased the expression of the protein CBX4, which normally stabilizes the nuclear localization of HDAC3..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a relatively rare but serious condition – in fact, 60 percent of patients don’t live more than 5 years after diagnosis. Most treatment of the disease involves dilating the arteries to lower pressure. But increasingly, research suggests inflammation may be behind the condition – and newer therapies are on the horizon. A review of pulmonary arterial hypertension from this immunological perspective -- including specialized information for anesthesiologists -- is now available from the journal Anesthesiology. Pulmonary hypertension is defined as a resting mean pulmonary artery pressure of 25 millimeters of mercury or higher. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a type of pulmonary hypertension that mainly affects the blood vessels in the lung. Cases can be idiopathic, hereditary, or associated with infections or a variety of autoimmune or other systemic conditions. The disease is progressive and cannot be cured..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Live donation of a kidney transplant carries various risks One concern is opioid exposure The use of narcotic pain medications in conjunction with general anesthesia can delay a donor’s return to normal daily function....."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Levosimendan has been used in Europe for over 15 years in patients with acute heart failure, and when inotropic support is needed. The drug makes heart muscles more sensitive to calcium, allowing them to contract without the need for increased intracellular calcium and oxygen consumption, and also opens potassium channels inducing vasodilation. Because of these effects, levosimendan is considered helpful for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Over 40 clinical trials have studied the drug in peri-operative settings and meta-analyses have suggested an overall beneficial outcome, particularly in patients with low ejection fraction. But recently, three large multi-center studies were neutral or inconclusive. To understand these conflicting results, a group of experts from eight European countries, including investigators from each of the three trials, met to discuss the discrepancies. The group reviewed each of the trials and searched for subgroup differences..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.