A novel tactile probe with medical and surgical applications

Sensor Review ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-409
Author(s):  
Elnaz Afshari ◽  
Hadi Sarkhosh ◽  
Siamak Najarian
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissues ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Laparoscopic Instrument ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Artificial Materials ◽  
Tactile Probe ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
First Time

Purpose The paper aims to discuss design, fabrication, testing and simulation of a novel tactile probe used for measuring the stiffness of biological soft tissues/materials with a view to medical and surgical applications. Design/methodology/approach Both finite element modeling and experimental approach were used in this research. The novel tactile probe capable of recording force-deformation feedback is accompanied with the tactile-status-display which is a custom-designed user-friendly interface. This system can evaluate the stiffness in each part of force-deformation status. Findings The new system named novel tactile probe was fabricated, and the results on artificial materials (with different stiffnesses) and the sheep kidney (containing a hard object) were reported. Recording different stiffnesses, detecting hard object embedded in soft tissue and predicting the exact location of it are the main results that have been extracted through the diagrams obtained by the novel tactile probe system. Research limitations/implications The designed and fabricated system can be modified and miniaturized to be used during different minimally invasive surgeries in the future. Practical implications The most distinguishing feature of this novel tactile probe is its applicability during different laparoscopic surgeries, so the in vivo data can be obtained. Originality/value For the first time, a tactile probe has been designed and tested in the form of laparoscopic instrument which upgrades the efficiency of available laparoscopic instruments. Also, the novel tactile probe can be used in both in vivo and in vitro experimental setups for measuring the stiffness of sensed objects.

scholarly journals The Novel Arylamidine T-2307 MaintainsIn VitroandIn VivoActivity against Echinocandin-Resistant Candida albicans

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 1341-1343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan P. Wiederhold ◽  
Laura K. Najvar ◽  
Annette W. Fothergill ◽  
Rosie Bocanegra ◽  
Marcos Olivo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Invasive Candidiasis ◽  
Placebo Control ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fungal Burden ◽  
Potential Use

ABSTRACTWe evaluated thein vitroandin vivoactivities of the investigational arylamidine T-2307 against echinocandin-resistantCandida albicans. T-2307 demonstrated potentin vitroactivity, and daily subcutaneous doses between 0.75 and 6 mg/kg of body weight significantly improved survival and reduced fungal burden compared to placebo control and caspofungin (10 mg/kg/day) in mice with invasive candidiasis caused by an echinocandin-resistant strain. Thus, T-2307 may have potential use in the treatment of echinocandin-resistantC. albicansinfections.

scholarly journals The Novel Arylamidine T-2307 Demonstrates In Vitro and In Vivo Activity against Candida auris

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan P. Wiederhold ◽  
Laura K. Najvar ◽  
Rosie Jaramillo ◽  
Marcos Olivo ◽  
Hoja Patterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Novel ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fungal Burden

ABSTRACT The in vitro and in vivo activity of the arylamidine T-2307 against Candida auris was evaluated. T-2307 demonstrated in vitro activity (MIC ranges ≤ 0.008 to 0.015 μg/ml at 50% inhibition; 0.125 to >4 μg/ml at 100% inhibition). Treatment with T-2307 (3 mg/kg subcutaneous [SC] once daily) also significantly improved survival (70% at 21 days postinfection) and reduced kidney fungal burden (5.06 log10 CFU/g) compared to control (0% survival and 7.09 log10 CFU/g) (P < 0.01).

scholarly journals Evidence ofIn VivoProphage Induction during Clostridium difficile Infection

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (21) ◽  
pp. 7662-7670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Meessen-Pinard ◽  
Ognjen Sekulovic ◽  
Louis-Charles Fortier
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Bioinformatics Analyses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unique Character ◽  
Viral Particles ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
First Time ◽  
Culture Supernatants

ABSTRACTProphages contribute to the evolution and virulence of most bacterial pathogens, but their role inClostridium difficileis unclear. Here we describe the isolation of fourMyoviridaephages, ϕMMP01, ϕMMP02, ϕMMP03, and ϕMMP04, that were recovered as free viral particles in the filter-sterilized stool supernatants of patients suffering fromC. difficileinfection (CDI). Furthermore, identical prophages were found in the chromosomes ofC. difficileisolated from the corresponding fecal samples. We therefore provide, for the first time, evidence ofin vivoprophage induction during CDI. We completely sequenced the genomes of ϕMMP02 and ϕMMP04, and bioinformatics analyses did not reveal the presence of virulence factors but underlined the unique character of ϕMMP04. We also studied the mobility of ϕMMP02 and ϕMMP04 prophagesin vitro. Both prophages were spontaneously induced, with 4 to 5 log PFU/ml detected in the culture supernatants of the corresponding lysogens. When lysogens were grown in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, or mitomycin C, the phage titers further increased, reaching 8 to 9 log PFU/ml in the case of ϕMMP04. In summary, our study highlights the extensive genetic diversity and mobility ofC. difficileprophages. Moreover, antibiotics known to represent risk factors for CDI, such as quinolones, can stimulate prophage mobilityin vitroand probablyin vivoas well, which underscores their potential impact on phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer events and the evolution ofC. difficile.

scholarly journals Therapeutic Effect and Mechanisms of the Novel Monosulfactam 0073

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Sun ◽  
Xueyuan Liao ◽  
Zhigang Huang ◽  
Yaliu Xie ◽  
Yanbin Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Serial Passage ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the novel monosulfactam 0073 against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in vitro and in vivo and to characterize the mechanisms underlying 0073 activity. The in vitro activities of 0073, aztreonam, and the combination with avibactam were assessed by MIC and time-kill assays. The safety of 0073 was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthizol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and acute toxicity assays. Murine thigh infection and pneumonia models were employed to define in vivo efficacy. A penicillin-binding protein (PBP) competition assay and confocal microscopy were conducted. The inhibitory action of 0073 against β-lactamases was evaluated by the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), and resistance development was evaluated via serial passage. The monosulfactam 0073 showed promising antimicrobial activity against Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii isolates producing metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) and serine β-lactamases. In preliminary experiments, compound 0073 exhibited safety both in vitro and in vivo. In the murine thigh infection model and the pneumonia models in which infection was induced by P. aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, 0073 significantly reduced the bacterial burden. Compound 0073 targeted several PBPs and exerted inhibitory effects against some serine β-lactamases. Finally, 0073 showed a reduced propensity for resistance selection compared with that of aztreonam. The novel monosulfactam 0073 exhibited increased activity against β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative organisms compared with the activity of aztreonam and showed good safety profiles both in vitro and in vivo. The underlying mechanisms may be attributed to the affinity of 0073 for several PBPs and its inhibitory activity against some serine β-lactamases. These data indicate that 0073 represents a potential treatment for infections caused by β-lactamase-producing multidrug-resistant bacteria.

scholarly journals Novel Antiplasmodial Agents from Christia vespertilionis

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1300801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harish C. Upadhyay ◽  
Brijesh S. Sisodia ◽  
Harveer S. Cheema ◽  
Jyoti Agrawal ◽  
Anirban Pal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimalarial Activity ◽  
Complete Suppression ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Aqueous Methanol ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
First Time ◽  
Detailed Chemical

The roots, leaves and stems of Christia vespertilionis were separately and successively extracted with methanol and aqueous-methanol (1:4, v/v) and were evaluated in vitro for their antiplasmodial potential against Plasmodium falciparum NF-54. The aqueous-methanolic stem (AS) extract was the most active (IC50 7.5 μg/mL) followed by the methanolic leaf (ML) extract (IC50 32.0 μg/mL). The in vivo antimalarial activity of the combined plant extract of C. vespertilionis was also assessed in P. berghei infected mice, which showed 87.8% suppression of parasitaemia as compared with complete suppression by chloroquine on day 8. Finally, detailed chemical investigation of C. vespertilionis resulted in the isolation and characterization of fifteen compounds (1–15), of which two (1 and 4) are being reported for the first time from nature. The novel compound 1 possesses potent antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 9.0 μg/mL).

scholarly journals Expression and Functional Characterization of the First Bacteriophage-Encoded Chaperonin

2012 ◽  
Vol 86 (18) ◽  
pp. 10103-10111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia P. Kurochkina ◽  
Pavel I. Semenyuk ◽  
Victor N. Orlov ◽  
Johan Robben ◽  
Nina N. Sykilinda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Inactivation ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chaperonin Groel ◽  
Phage Propagation ◽  
Physicochemical Methods ◽  
First Time

Chaperonins promote protein foldingin vivoand are ubiquitously found in bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. The first viral chaperonin GroEL ortholog, gene product 146 (gp146), whose gene was earlier identified in the genome of bacteriophage EL, has been shown to be synthesized during phage propagation inPseudomonas aeruginosacells. The recombinant gp146 has been expressed inEscherichia coliand characterized by different physicochemical methods for the first time. Using serum against the recombinant protein, gp146's native substrate, the phage endolysin gp188, has been immunoprecipitated from the lysate of EL-infected bacteria and identified by mass spectrometry.In vitroexperiments have shown that gp146 has a protective effect against endolysin thermal inactivation and aggregation, providing evidence of its chaperonin function. The phage chaperonin has been found to have the architecture and some properties similar to those of GroEL but not to require cochaperonin for its functional activity.

scholarly journals In VitroAntifungal Susceptibility of Candida glabrata to Caspofungin and the Presence ofFKSMutations Correlate with Treatment Response in an Immunocompromised Murine Model of Invasive Infection

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 3646-3649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiola Fernández-Silva ◽  
Michaela Lackner ◽  
Javier Capilla ◽  
Emilio Mayayo ◽  
Deanna Sutton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Murine Model ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Invasive Infection ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Systemic Infections ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACTIt has been argued that thein vitroactivity of caspofungin (CSP) is not a good predictor of the outcome of echinocandin treatmentin vivo. We evaluated thein vitroactivity of CSP and the presence ofFKSmutations in the hot spot 1 (HS1) region of theFKS1andFKS2genes in 17 Candida glabratastrains with a wide range of MICs. The efficacy of CSP against systemic infections from each of the 17 strains was evaluated in a murine model. No HS1 mutations were found in the eight strains showing MICs for CSP of ≤0.5 μg/ml, but they were present in eight of the nine strains with MICs of ≥1 μg/ml, i.e., three in theFKS1gene and five in theFKS2gene. CSP was effective for treating mice infected with strains with MICs of ≤0.5 μg/ml, showed variable efficacy in animals challenged with strains with MICs of 1 μg/ml, and did not work in those with strains with MICs of >1 μg/ml. In addition, mutations, including one reported for the first time, were found outside the HS1 region in theFKS2gene of six strains with different MICs, but their presence did not influence drug efficacy. Thein vitroactivity of CSP was compared with that of another echinocandin, anidulafungin, suggesting that the MICs of both drugs, as well as mutations in the HS1 regions of theFKS1andFKS2genes, are predictive of outcome.

scholarly journals GFPuv-Expressing Recombinant Rickettsia typhi: a Useful Tool for the Study of Pathogenesis and CD8+ T Cell Immunology in R. typhi Infection

2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Hauptmann ◽  
Nicole Burkhardt ◽  
Ulrike Munderloh ◽  
Svenja Kuehl ◽  
Ulricke Richardt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Scid Mice ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Rickettsia Typhi ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT Rickettsia typhi is the causative agent of endemic typhus, a disease with increasing incidence worldwide that can be fatal. Because of its obligate intracellular life style, genetic manipulation of the pathogen is difficult. Nonetheless, in recent years, genetic manipulation tools have been successfully applied to rickettsiae. We describe here for the first time the transformation of R. typhi with the pRAM18dRGA plasmid that originally derives from Rickettsia amblyommatis and encodes the expression of GFPuv (green fluorescent protein with maximal fluorescence when excited by UV light). Transformed R. typhi (R. typhi GFPuv) bacteria are viable, replicate with kinetics similar to those of wild-type R. typhi in cell culture, and stably maintain the plasmid and GFPuv expression under antibiotic treatment in vitro and in vivo during infection of mice. CB17 SCID mice infected with R. typhi GFPuv succumb to the infection with kinetics similar to those for animals infected with wild-type R. typhi and develop comparable pathology and bacterial loads in the organs, demonstrating that the plasmid does not influence pathogenicity. In the spleen and liver of infected CB17 SCID mice, the bacteria are detectable by immunofluorescence microscopy in neutrophils and macrophages by histological staining. Finally, we show for the first time that transformed rickettsiae can be used for the detection of CD8+ T cell responses. GFP-specific restimulation of spleen cells from R. typhi GFPuv-infected BALB/c mice elicits gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 2 (IL-2) secretion by CD8+ T cells. Thus, R. typhi GFPuv bacteria are a novel, potent tool to study infection with the pathogen in vitro and in vivo and the immune response to these bacteria.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Activities of β-Lactams in Combination with the Novel β-Lactam Enhancers Zidebactam and WCK 5153 against Multidrug-Resistant Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartolome Moya ◽  
Isabel M. Barcelo ◽  
Gabriel Cabot ◽  
Gabriel Torrens ◽  
Snehal Palwe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Molecular Targets ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Penicillin Binding Protein ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Time Kill

ABSTRACT Zidebactam and WCK 5153 are novel bicyclo-acyl hydrazide (BCH) agents that have previously been shown to act as β-lactam enhancer (BLE) antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. The objectives of this work were to identify the molecular targets of these BCHs in Klebsiella pneumoniae and to investigate their potential BLE activity for cefepime and aztreonam against metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing strains in vitro and in vivo. Penicillin binding protein (PBP) binding profiles were determined by Bocillin FL assay, and 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) were determined using ImageQuant TL software. MICs and kill kinetics for zidebactam, WCK 5153, and cefepime or aztreonam, alone and in combination, were determined against clinical K. pneumoniae isolates producing MBLs VIM-1 or NDM-1 (plus ESBLs and class C β-lactamases) to assess the in vitro enhancer effect of BCH compounds in conjunction with β-lactams. Additionally, murine systemic and thigh infection studies were conducted to evaluate BLE effects in vivo. Zidebactam and WCK 5153 showed specific, high PBP2 affinity in K. pneumoniae. The MICs of BLEs were >64 μg/ml for all MBL-producing strains. Time-kill studies showed that a combination of these BLEs with either cefepime or aztreonam provided 1 to >3 log10 kill against MBL-producing K. pneumoniae strains. Furthermore, the bactericidal synergy observed for these BLE–β-lactam combinations translated well into in vivo efficacy even in the absence of MBL inhibition by BLEs, a characteristic feature of the β-lactam enhancer mechanism of action. Zidebactam and WCK 5153 are potent PBP2 inhibitors and display in vitro and in vivo BLE effects against multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae clinical isolates producing MBLs.

scholarly journals The Novel Arylamidine T-2307 Selectively Disrupts Yeast Mitochondrial Function by Inhibiting Respiratory Chain Complexes

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohei Yamashita ◽  
Taiga Miyazaki ◽  
Yoshiko Fukuda ◽  
Junichi Mitsuyama ◽  
Tomomi Saijo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Chain ◽  
Mitochondrial Function ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Respiratory Chain Complexes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chain Complexes

ABSTRACT The novel arylamidine T-2307 exhibits broad-spectrum in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities against clinically significant pathogens. Previous studies have shown that T-2307 accumulates in yeast cells via a specific polyamine transporter and disrupts yeast mitochondrial membrane potential. Further, it has little effect on rat liver mitochondrial function. The mechanism by which T-2307 disrupts yeast mitochondrial function is poorly understood, and its elucidation may provide important information for developing novel antifungal agents. This study aimed to determine how T-2307 promotes yeast mitochondrial dysfunction and to investigate the selectivity of this mechanism between fungi and mammals. T-2307 inhibited the respiration of yeast whole cells and isolated yeast mitochondria in a dose-dependent manner. The similarity of the effects of T-2307 and respiratory chain inhibitors on mitochondrial respiration prompted us to investigate the effect of T-2307 on mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. T-2307 particularly inhibited respiratory chain complexes III and IV not only in Saccharomyces cerevisiae but also in Candida albicans, indicating that T-2307 acts against pathogenic fungi in a manner similar to that of yeast. Conversely, T-2307 showed little effect on bovine respiratory chain complexes. Additionally, we demonstrated that the inhibition of respiratory chain complexes by T-2307 resulted in a decrease in the intracellular ATP levels in yeast cells. These results indicate that inhibition of respiratory chain complexes III and IV is a key factor for selective disruption of yeast mitochondrial function and antifungal activity.

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