Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and treatments for cartilage degradation, wherein the method comprises administration of a therapeutic agent which inhibits the Ga1N Ac-T activation (GALA) pathway.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus (20) for facilitating medical imaging of a subject, comprising: a medical imaging device receiver configured to receive an ultrasound medical imaging device, a sound wave manipulation module comprising a soundwave deflection surface (113) arranged to direct transmission of sound waves between the ultrasound medical imaging device and the subject, and at least one auxiliary equipment receiver configured to receive an auxiliary equipment and to provide a pathway for insertion of the auxiliary equipment, wherein the pathway extends from the soundwave deflection surface to a base plane of the apparatus when rested on the subject, and an image of the subject is formed by the ultrasound medical imaging device for guiding insertion of the auxiliary equipment towards a target portion of the subject, and wherein the position of the pathway is calibrated for the ultrasonic medical imaging device being used (132).

Abstract: Disclosed is a localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) nanopillar assembly. The LSPR assembly is for use in sensing the presence of a biomarker when attached to a quantum dot. The LSPR assembly comprises a substrate and an array. The array comprises a LSPR nanopillar and a polymer spacer attached to the nanopillar. The LSPR assembly further comprises an antibody attached to the at least one polymer spacer. In the LSPR assembly, a combined height of the polymer spacer and antibody is selected by varying the number of monomer units of the polymer spacer, so that, when in use with the biomarker and the quantum dot, the quantum dot is at a predetermined distance from the nanopillar.

Abstract: There is provided a method of identifying risk of cancer in a human subject, the method comprising: determining in a biological sample of the subject, whether a copy number amplification of at least one continuous genomic region specific to human chromosome 1q21 is present, wherein the presence of a copy number amplification of the region specific to human chromosome 1q21 represents an elevated risk of cancer in the subject and the at least one continuous genomic region is selected from the group consisting of: a human TUFT 1 gene or a gene from the human S100 family. It is also provided a method of treating cancer in a subject determined to have a copy number amplification of a region specific to human chromosome 1q21, the method comprising administering a therapeutic agent capable of suppressing IRAK1, IRAK4 or a S100 family member, such as Pacritinib. There are also provided a method of treating cancer, related polynucleotides, kits, therapeutic agents and use of the therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nasogastric tube (100) comprising a nasogastric tubing (102) having first and second ends (102a, 102b), a power supply part (106) located at or adjacent the first end, and a transducer part (104) located at or adjacent the second end for transmitting or receiving an ultrasound based signal. Also disclosed is a positioning system comprising the said nasogastric tube, and a control module comprising an at least one detection portion and a processor.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for obtaining hemodynamic characteristics of an individual is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first sensor arranged to sense a first hemodynamic data from a first radial artery; a second sensor arranged to sense a second hemodynamic data from a second radial artery; and an occlusion device arranged to be positioned around a third major blood vessel where the second major blood vessel branch from, the occlusion device operable to occlude the third major blood vessel for a predetermined period. The apparatus, system and method are suitable for deriving a risk indicator of one or more types of cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for identifying and extracting pain-related electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. The process comprises receiving, from one or more trials, EEG data for each trial; determining a current density for each signal; estimating the current density for a set of neural activity regions of interest, based on the computed current density; and computing at least one spectrum characteristic for each trial based on the estimated current density. Thus mean and variance of changes in the EEG data between EEG data labeled as being indicative of a pain state and EEG data labeled as being indicative of a non-pain state, for each neural activity region of interest can be calculated, and pain-related EEG signals can be identified based on at least one a region of interest at which the variance is below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for facilitating medical imaging of a subject. The apparatus comprises a medical imaging device receiver configured to receive a medical imaging device, at least one auxiliary equipment receiver configured to receive an auxiliary equipment for placement at a target portion of the subject, and a sound wave manipulation module arranged to direct transmission of sound waves between the medical imaging device and the subject, wherein an image of the target portion is formed by the medical imaging device for guiding placement of the auxiliary equipment. In particular, the medical imaging device is an ultrasound probe, the auxiliary equipment is a needle, catheter or endoscope, while the sound wave manipulation module comprises a sound wave deflection surface arranged to alter a direction of transmission of at least part of the sound waves. The present disclosure also relates to a method of deploying the apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to automated method and system for vision assessment of a subject. The method comprises: determining a set of test patterns for the subject based on a preliminary assessment of an eye of the subject; displaying the set of test patterns sequentially to the subject; collecting data on the subject's gaze in response to each test pattern displayed to the subject; and assessing vision functionality of the subject based on the collected gaze data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for obtaining hemodynamic characteristics of an individual is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first sensor arranged to sense a first hemodynamic data from a first radial artery; a second sensor arranged to sense a second hemodynamic data from a second radial artery; and an occlusion device arranged to be positioned around a third major blood vessel where the second major blood vessel branch from, the occlusion device operable to occlude the third major blood vessel for a predetermined period. The apparatus, system and method are suitable for deriving a risk indicator of one or more types of cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) nanopillar assembly. The LSPR assembly is for use in sensing the presence of a biomarker when attached to a quantum dot. The LSPR assembly comprises a substrate and an array. The array comprises a LSPR nanopillar and a polymer spacer attached to the nanopillar. The LSPR assembly further comprises an antibody attached to the at least one polymer spacer. In the LSPR assembly, a combined height of the polymer spacer and antibody is selected by varying the number of monomer units of the polymer spacer, so that, when in use with the biomarker and the quantum dot, the quantum dot is at a predetermined distance from the nanopillar.

Abstract: A device and method for forming an anastomotic joint between two parts of a human or animal body having a hollow connector with at least two proximal arms biased towards an open position; and at least two distal arms biased towards an open position, wherein in use when pressure is applied to the proximal arms to overcome the bias into a position in which the proximal arms are closer to each other; similarly pressure is applied to the distal arms to overcome the bias into a position in which the distal arms are closer to each other; the distal end can be pushed into a passage in the first human or animal body part until the distal arms are located in the first lumen of the first body part and released allowing the distal arms to move to the biased position to urge against the first lumen of the first body part; and the proximal end can be pushed into a passage in the second human or animal body part until the proximal arms are located in the second lumen of the second body part and released allowing the proxim

Abstract: A method of calibrating a motor imagery detection module and a system for motor rehabilitation are provided. The method comprises acquiring Electroencephalography (EEG) data from a subject; selecting classification features from the EEG data; wherein the feature selection comprises modelling an idle state ?n of the subject by M sub-classes ?j, j=1, . . . , M.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography (OCT) image of the anterior chamber of an eye is processed to determine automatically a location in the image corresponding to Schwalbe's line. First, the method finds the location of the corneal endothelium. Then the method fits a model to the detected corneal endothelium. Then the method determines the location of Schwalbe's line based on the relationship between the detected corneal endothelium and the fitted model, such as where the detected corneal endothelium diverges most from the fitted model. The Schwalbe's line is used to obtain a numerical measure of the anterior chamber angle of the eye. The method can be used in a process for screening patients for glaucoma. In the case of patients found to be suffering from glaucoma, treatment can be performed.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography (OCT) image of the anterior chamber of an eye is processed to determine automatically a location in the image corresponding to Schwalbe's line. First, the method finds the location of the corneal endothelium. Then the method fits a model to the detected corneal endothelium. Then the method determines the location of Schwalbe's line based on the relationship between the detected corneal endothelium and the fitted model, such as where the detected corneal endothelium diverges most from the fitted model. The Schwalbe's line is used to obtain a numerical measure of the anterior chamber angle of the eye. The method can be used in a process for screening patients for glaucoma. In the case of patients found to be suffering from glaucoma, treatment can be performed.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in simulated image guided surgery comprises a positional transducer, clamping means located proximate to the transducer, and a processor. The transducer is responsive to a thin flexible member that can be manipulated by a user, and produces signals representative of displacement and rotation of the thin flexible member. The clamping means responds to a controlling signal to apply a predetermined variable clamping force to the flexible member. The processor receives these displacement and rotation signals, and is programmed to plot the path of the flexible member therefrom as it is manipulated by the user. Additionally, the processor produces the controlling signal to the clamping means in response to the instantaneous position along the path. The processor may be coupled to a display device for displaying an image of the instantaneous position of the flexible wire therealong, or other information. The invention also includes a related method for the simulation of image guided surgery.