Brain diseases affect millions of people and have a huge social and economic impact.The use of neural probes for studies in animals has been the main approach to increasing knowledge about neural network functioning.Ultimately,neuroscientists are trying to develop new and more effective therapeutic approaches to treating neurological disorders.The implementation of neural probes with multifunctionalities(electrical,optical,and fluidic interactions)has been increasing in the last few years,leading to the creation of devices with high temporal and spatial resolution.Increasing the applicability of,and elements integrated into,neural probes has also led to the necessity to create flexible interfaces,reducing neural tissue damage during probe implantation and increasing the quality of neural acquisition data.In this paper,we review the fabrication,characterization,and validation of several types of flexible neural probes,exploring the main advantages and drawbacks of these devices.Finally,future developments and applications are covered.Overall,this review aims to present the currently available flexible devices and future appropriate avenues for development as possible guidance for future engineered devices.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer death. Patients treated with chemotherapy are at risk of developing chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN), a potentially life-threatening complication. The aims of this study were (1) to characterize FN admissions of patients with LC in a pulmonology department, and (2) to determine associations between patient profiles, first-line antibiotic failure (FLAF) and mortality. METHODS: Retrospective observational case-series, based on the analysis of medical records of LC patients that required hospitalization due to chemotherapy-induced FN. RESULTS: A total of 42 cases of FN were revised, corresponding to 36 patients, of which 86.1% were male, with a mean age of 66.71±9.83 years. Most patients had a performance status (PS) equal or less than 1, and metastatic disease was present in 40.5% (n=17). Respiratory tract infections accounted for 42.9% (n=18) of FN cases, and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the most isolated agent. The mortality rate was 16.7% (n=7), and the FLAF was 26.2% (n=11). Mortality was associated with a PS≥2 (P=0.011), infection by a Gram-negative agent (P=0.001) and severe anemia (P=0.048). FLAF was associated with longer hospitalizations (P=0.020), PS≥2 (P=0.049), respiratory infections (P=0.024), and infection by a Gram-negative (P=0.003) or multidrug-resistant agent (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS Lower PS, severe anemia, and infections by Gram-negative or multi-resistant agents seem to be associated with worse outcomes in FN patients.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects* ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Male ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies