Fabrication of Implantable Capsule-Type Channel Sounders for the High-Accuracy Measurement of the Signal Loss of Out-Body to In-Body Channels

This paper proposes a channel sounder to measure the channel properties of an implantable device that transmits data from inside to outside the human body. The proposed channel sounder measures the receiving power of a signal transmitted from outside the human body. The channel sounder is equipped with a Bluetooth module that enables the wireless transmission of the receiving power outside the human body. Wireless transmission enables the channel measurement by isolating the transmitter and receiver inside the channel sounder. Using the proposed channel sounder, the channel properties can be measured without any interference between the transmitter and the receiver.

Design and Analysis of Mechanical Microswimmers

The fascinating field in present civilization scenario at the edge of science is micro-swimmers, which is a combination of bio physics with self-propulsion mechanisms involving swimming strategies at low Reynolds number. These micro swimming robots offer many advantages in biomedical applications such as drug delivery to some specific locations in our human body and also conducting some surgical operations like opening of blocked arteries etc. In recent times, blocked arteries become a major case in the medical world. This is can be diagnosed by Angioplasty (is a minimally invasive, endovascular procedure to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins, typically to treat arterial atherosclerosis) method. So this is the main reason to choose the aorta as our domain for analysis purpose. This paper presents a micro-swimmer with three different heads they are spherical head, Capsule type head and Tapered cylindrical or elliptical head and modelled using SOLIDWORKS and analysis in ANSYS FLUENT.

Novel Klebsiella pneumoniae K23-Specific Bacteriophages From Different Families: Similarity of Depolymerases and Their Therapeutic Potential

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern in many countries worldwide. The rapid spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is the main driving force for the development of novel non-antibiotic antimicrobials as a therapeutic alternative. Here, we isolated and characterized three virulent bacteriophages that specifically infect and lyse MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae with K23 capsule type. The phages belonged to the Autographiviridae (vB_KpnP_Dlv622) and Myoviridae (vB_KpnM_Seu621, KpS8) families and contained highly similar receptor-binding proteins (RBPs) with polysaccharide depolymerase enzymatic activity. Based on phylogenetic analysis, a similar pattern was also noted for five other groups of depolymerases, specific against capsule types K1, K30/K69, K57, K63, and KN2. The resulting recombinant depolymerases Dep622 (phage vB_KpnP_Dlv622) and DepS8 (phage KpS8) demonstrated narrow specificity against K. pneumoniae with capsule type K23 and were able to protect Galleria mellonella larvae in a model infection with a K. pneumoniae multidrug-resistant strain. These findings expand our knowledge of the diversity of phage depolymerases and provide further evidence that bacteriophages and phage polysaccharide depolymerases represent a promising tool for antimicrobial therapy.

Klebsiella pneumoniae with capsule type K64 is overrepresented among invasive disease in Vietnam

Introduction: Recent reports indicate the emergence of community-acquired pneumonia associated with K64-Klebsiella pneumoniae. Here, we identify the capsular types and sequence type of invasive and commensal K. pneumoniae isolates from Vietnam. Methods: We included 93 K. pneumoniae isolates from patients hospitalized at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Hanoi between 2007 and 2011; and 110 commensal isolates from throat swabs from healthy volunteers living in rural and urban Hanoi in 2012. We determined sequence types (STs) by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and capsule typing for seven K types by PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion. Results: The most common detected capsule types were K1 (39/203, 19.2%, mainly ST23) and K2 (31/203, 15.3%, multiple STs: ST65, ST86, ST380). We found significantly more K2 isolates among invasive in comparison to commensal isolates (22.6% vs 9%, p = 0.01) but no significant difference was observed between invasive and commensal K1 isolates (14.5% vs 24.7%, p = 0.075). K64 with varying sequence types were predominantly seen among invasive K. pneumoniae (8 vs. 3) and were isolated from sepsis and meningitis patients. Among K64 isolates, one was carbapenem-resistant with ST799. Conclusion: Our study confirms that capsule type K64 K. pneumoniae is associated with community-acquired invasive infections in Vietnam. Research is needed to unravel the mechanisms of virulence of capsule type K64 in both community and hospital settings.

Defining Double Capsules: A Clinical and Histological Study

Background Macrotextured breast implants are associated with double capsules. There is little agreement as to what defines double capsules, how they present, and whether different degrees of double capsule exist. Objectives This study aimed to define double capsules and report an association between double-capsule type and degree of tissue adherence. Methods Consecutive aesthetic patients undergoing explantation of Biocell (Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA) implants between May 2018 and November 2018 were included if they were found to have double capsules intraoperatively. Patient demographics, implant characteristics, explantation reason, implant adherence, and intraoperative findings were recorded. Both adherent and double capsules were histologically examined. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results Eleven patients had 22 Biocell implants explanted during the study period. The average explantation time was 8.0 years. Sixteen implants were found to have some degree of nonadherence, and all areas of nonadherence were associated with double-capsule formation. Double capsules were either partial or complete. The architecture of the inner layer of double capsules varied between an organized capsular layer and a thin area of nascent capsule. Histologically, all capsular specimens demonstrated an overall hypocellular fibrous capsule with scattered chronic inflammatory infiltrates. Synovial metaplasia was present in all capsule types and spaces/cracks in the capsule were disproportionately represented in partially adherent capsules. Conclusions This is the first study to identify a clinical and pathological correlation between double capsules and failed tissue adherence. Double capsules represent a spectrum of inner capsule formation ranging between nascent capsular tissue to a mature inner capsular layer. Level of Evidence: 4

Sugar-Coated Killer: Serotype 3 Pneumococcal Disease

Capsular polysaccharide (CPS), which surrounds the bacteria, is one of the most significant and multifaceted contributors to Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence. Capsule prevents entrapment in mucus during colonization, traps water to protect against desiccation, can serve as an energy reserve, and protects the bacterium against complement-mediated opsonization and immune cell phagocytosis. To date, 100 biochemically and serologically distinct capsule types have been identified for S. pneumoniae; 20 to 30 of which have well-defined propensity to cause opportunistic human infection. Among these, serotype 3 is perhaps the most problematic as serotype 3 infections are characterized as having severe clinical manifestations including empyema, bacteremia, cardiotoxicity, and meningitis; consequently, with a fatality rate of 30%–47%. Moreover, serotype 3 resists antibody-mediated clearance despite its inclusion in the current 13-valent conjugate vaccine formulation. This review covers the role of capsule in pneumococcal pathogenesis and the importance of serotype 3 on human disease. We discuss how serotype 3 capsule synthesis and presentation on the bacterial surface is distinct from other serotypes, the biochemical and physiological properties of this capsule type that facilitate its ability to cause disease, and why existing vaccines are unable to confer protection. We conclude with discussion of the clonal properties of serotype 3 and how these have changed since introduction of the 13-valent vaccine in 2000.

Physical chemical characterization, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of Pachira aquatica Aublet almonds

The Pachira aquatica Aublet, belonging to the Malvaceae family, is a tree of variable size, annually produces large quantities of capsule type fruits, in which its seeds remain stored. Even though it is commonly found in southern Mexico and Brazil, there are few studies on its composition. Therefore, the objective of this study is to demonstrate the characteristics of this fruit by means of physical analyzes and to evaluate the bioactive compounds of the almonds in the raw, cooked and roasted forms. Type of research laboratory and quantitative. The almonds showed high content of lipids (above 30%), proteins (above 15%), pH (above 5.66), total soluble solids (above 15º Brix) and total titratable acidity (above 3%). The roasted almond had a higher content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and carotenoids. In the raw form, a higher content of antioxidant activity, anthocyanins and condensed tannins was obtained. The cooked almond presented intermediate values in all data on bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity.

A New Pneumococcal Capsule Type, 10D, is the 100th Serotype and Has a Large cps Fragment from an Oral Streptococcus

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a major human pathogen producing structurally diverse capsular polysaccharides. Widespread use of highly successful pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) targeting pneumococcal capsules has greatly reduced infections by the vaccine types but increased infections by nonvaccine serotypes. Herein, we report a new and the 100th capsule type, named serotype 10D, by determining its unique chemical structure and biosynthetic roles of all capsule synthesis locus (cps) genes. The name 10D reflects its serologic cross-reaction with serotype 10A and appearance of cross-opsonic antibodies in response to immunization with 10A polysaccharide in a 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine. Genetic analysis showed that 10D cps has three large regions syntenic to and highly homologous with cps loci from serotype 6C, serotype 39, and an oral streptococcus strain (S. mitis SK145). The 10D cps region syntenic to SK145 is about 6 kb and has a short gene fragment of wciNα at the 5′ end. The presence of this nonfunctional wciNα fragment provides compelling evidence for a recent interspecies genetic transfer from oral streptococcus to pneumococcus. Since oral streptococci have a large repertoire of cps loci, widespread PCV usage could facilitate the appearance of novel serotypes through interspecies recombination. IMPORTANCE The polysaccharide capsule is essential for the pathogenicity of pneumococcus, which is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide each year. Currently available pneumococcal vaccines are designed to elicit antibodies to the capsule polysaccharides of the pneumococcal isolates commonly causing diseases, and the antibodies provide protection only against the pneumococcus expressing the vaccine-targeted capsules. Since pneumococci can produce different capsule polysaccharides and therefore reduce vaccine effectiveness, it is important to track the appearance of novel pneumococcal capsule types and how these new capsules are created. Herein, we describe a new and the 100th pneumococcal capsule type with unique chemical and serological properties. The capsule type was named 10D for its serologic similarity to 10A. Genetic studies provide strong evidence that pneumococcus created 10D capsule polysaccharide by capturing a large genetic fragment from an oral streptococcus. Such interspecies genetic exchanges could greatly increase diversity of pneumococcal capsules and complicate serotype shifts.