An analytical method and the executable computer program was developed for the analysis of the QT interval in the standard 12 lead ECG recording. The program works in real-time together with the Cardiax system (IMED, Budapest) and communicates interactively via internet with the server program Cardiosoft (Houston, Tx, USA), and is implemented by Cardiosoft as a part of the software package. U.S. patent.
F.32 International patent
COBISS.SI-ID: 28948953In Slovenia and especially in parts of Central and Southern Europe snakebites are relatively rare, but may have serious, potentially fatal outcome. The situation has become even more complicated after several companies have decided to stop production of specific antidotes against Vipera ammodytes ammodyes. Its toxin may have, depending on the amount of injected venom, serious neurologic, haemorrhagic and local effects. In the current shortage of specific antidote Viperfav™ another andtidote, prepared against the venom of Vipera berus (ViperaTAb) is often used instead. Although it is known that venoms of Vipera amodytes ammodytes and Vipera berus differ in the composition of toxins no clinical study has been performed to validate the current practice. Therefore the aim of this study was to improve the strategy of treatment of snakebites in Europe. Context: In clinical practice it is difficult to differentiate between V. berus and V. ammodytes venomous bites. In the past this was not a concern, but due to the current shortage in Viperfav™ and European viper venom antiserum availability, V. a. ammodytes venomous bites have recently been treated with ViperaTAb®, which is a pharmaceutical formulation containing a monospecific ovine Fab fragments against the venom of V. berus. Objective:To evaluate ViperaTAb® in V. a. ammodytes envenomations. Materials and methods: This is a prospective case series of three consecutive patients envenomed by V. a. ammodytes snakebite treated with ViperaTAb®. V. ammodytes venom, neurotoxic ammodytoxins, and Fab fragment levels were determined in serum samples and a pharmacokinetic analysis of the antivenom Fab fragments was carried out. Results: Three patients bitten by V. a. ammodytes with extensive local swelling, neurological symptoms and recurrent thrombocytopenia were treated with ViperaTAb®. V. ammodytes venom was detected in serum of all three patients. Ammodytoxins were detected in the serum of only the most severely envenomed patient who developed neurological symptoms. In the presented moderate cases, a dose of 8?mL of ViperaTAb® reduced swelling and improved systemic effects, such as thrombocytopenia. However, this dose of ViperaTAb® was not effective in the most severely envenomed patient with the highest serum values of V. ammodytes venom. In this case ViperaTAb® did not stop local swelling and it had no effect on neurological signs. ViperaTAb®'s systemic clearance, distribution and elimination half-lives were 4.3-13.4?mL/h/kg, 1.2-3.2?h and 14.1-55.4?h, respectively. Conclusions: In patients envenomed by V. a. ammodytes venom, ViperaTAb® reduces moderate swelling and temporarily improves systemic effects, except neurological symptoms. ViperaTAb® application induces a decrement of V. ammodytes venom level in the blood, but did not affect serum concentration of neurotoxic ammodytoxins in the one patient with measurable concentrations.
F.22 Improvement to existing health/diagnostic methods/procedures
COBISS.SI-ID: 30174759The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) provides an ideal framework to establish multidisciplinary research networks. COST Action BM1203 (EU-ROS) represents a consortium of researchers from different disciplines who are dedicated to providing new insights and tools for better understanding redox biology and medicine and, in the long run, to finding new therapeutic strategies to target dysregulated redox processes in various diseases. This report highlights the major achievements of EU-ROS as well as research updates and new perspectives arising from its members. The EU-ROS consortium comprised more than 140 active members who worked together for four years on the topics briefly described below. The formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is an established hallmark of our aerobic environment and metabolism but RONS also act as messengers via redox regulation of essential cellular processes. The fact that many diseases have been found to be associated with oxidative stress established the theory of oxidative stress as a trigger of diseases that can be corrected by antioxidant therapy. However, while experimental studies support this thesis, clinical studies still generate controversial results, due to complex pathophysiology of oxidative stress in humans. For future improvement of antioxidant therapy and better understanding of redox-associated disease progression detailed knowledge on the sources and targets of RONS formation and discrimination of their detrimental or beneficial roles is required. In order to advance this important area of biology and medicine, highly synergistic approaches combining a variety of diverse and contrasting disciplines are needed.
F.30 Professional assessment of the situation
COBISS.SI-ID: 33275865The authors have presented a new robot that can be trained kinesthetically by hemiparetics, and it can also be used for training of hemiparetics, which speeds-up the recovery of affected limb..
F.06 Development of a new product
COBISS.SI-ID: 7968852Photopletizmograph provides continuous real-time measurement of optical nerve microcirculation. It helps a surgeon to adjust procedures in order to avoid inadequate perfusion of optical nerve that may lead to visual impairment or even blindness.
F.06 Development of a new product
COBISS.SI-ID: 10955348