Low Profile Wideband Dual-Ring Slot Antenna for Biomedical Applications

In this study, a low-profile, co-planar waveguide (CPW) fed, wideband, and dual-ring slot antenna design for biomedical applications is proposed. The proposed antenna has a total area of 10 mm × 10 mm and a height of 0.4 mm, and is designed by using a thin and biocompatible FR4 epoxy (εr = 4.4) substrate to accomplish human body isolation and great flexibility obtained by implantation. This wideband antenna covers a large bandwidth of industrial scientific and medical (ISM) frequency band, including 902.8 MHz to 928 MHz, 1.395 GHz to 1.4 GHz, 1.427 GHz to 1.432 GHz, 2.4 GHz to 2.485 GHz, and above. The simulation results of return loss, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), impedance matching, gain, and radiation pattern of the proposed antenna are obtained through High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) 14 software

Hybrid Immunity Overcomes Defective Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

peer reviewed[en] INTRODUCTION: Comorbidities and immunosuppressive therapies are associated with reduced immune responses to primary COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). In healthy individuals, prior SARS-COV-2 infection is associated with increased vaccine responses, a phenotype called hybrid immunity. In this study, we explored the potential influence of immune suppression on hybrid immunity in KTRs. METHODS: Eighty-two KTRs, including 59 SARS-CoV-2-naïve (naïve KTRs [N-KTRs]) and 23 SARS-CoV-2-experienced (experienced KTRs [E-KTRs]) patients, were prospectively studied and compared to 106 healthy controls (HCs), including 40 SARS-CoV-2-naïve (N-HCs) and 66 SARS-CoV-2-experienced (E-HCs) subjects. Polyfunctional antibody and T cell responses were measured following 2 doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Associations between vaccine responses and clinical characteristics were studied by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: In naïve KTRs, vaccine responses were markedly lower than in HCs and were correlated with older age, more recent transplantation, kidney retransplantation after graft failure, arterial hypertension, and treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). In contrast, vaccine responses of E-KTRs were similar to those of HCs and were associated with time between transplantation and vaccination, but not with the other risk factors associated with low vaccine responses in naïve KTRs. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, hybrid immunity overcomes immune suppression and provides potent humoral and cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in KTRs

In vitro cytocompatibility assessment of amorphous carbon structures using neuroblastoma and Schwann cells

The development of scaffolds for neural tissue engineering application requires an understanding of cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration of neuronal cells. Considering the potential application of carbon as scaffold materials and the lack of understanding of compatibility of amorphous carbon with neuronal cells, the carbon-based materials in the forms of carbon films and continuous electrospun carbon nanofibers having average diameter of approximate to 200 nm are being investigated with or without ultraviolet (UV) and oxy-plasma (OP) treatments for cytocompatibility property using mouse Neuroblastoma (N2a) and rat Schwann cells (RT4-D6P2T). The use of Raman spectroscopy in combination with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction establishes the amorphous nature and surface-bonding characteristics of the studied carbon materials. Although both UV and OP treatments make carbon surfaces more hydrophilic, the cell viability of N2a cells is statistically more significant on OP treated fibers/films compared to UV fiber/film substrates after 4 days in culture. The electrospun carbon fibrous substrate provides the physical guidance to the cultured Schwann cells. Overall, the experimental results of this study demonstrate that the electrospun amorphous carbon nanofibrous scaffolds can be used as a suitable biomaterial substrate for supporting cell adhesion and proliferation of neuronal cells in the context of their applications as artificial nerve implants. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2013

Vertical electric field stimulated neural cell functionality on porous amorphous carbon electrodes

We demonstrate the efficacy of amorphous macroporous carbon substrates as electrodes to support neuronal cell proliferation and differentiation in electric field mediated culture conditions. The electric field was applied perpendicular to carbon substrate electrode, while growing mouse neuroblastoma (N2a) cells in vitro. The placement of the second electrode outside of the cell culture medium allows the investigation of cell response to electric field without the concurrent complexities of submerged electrodes such as potentially toxic electrode reactions, electro-kinetic flows and charge transfer (electrical current) in the cell medium. The macroporous carbon electrodes are uniquely characterized by a higher specific charge storage capacity (0.2 mC/cm(2)) and low impedance (3.3 k Omega at 1 kHz). The optimal window of electric field stimulation for better cell viability and neurite outgrowth is established. When a uniform or a gradient electric field was applied perpendicular to the amorphous carbon substrate, it was found that the N2a cell viability and neurite length were higher at low electric field strengths (<= 2.5 V/cm) compared to that measured without an applied field (0 V/cm). While the cell viability was assessed by two complementary biochemical assays (MTT and LDH), the differentiation was studied by indirect immunostaining. Overall, the results of the present study unambiguously establish the uniform/gradient vertical electric field based culture protocol to either enhance or to restrict neurite outgrowth respectively at lower or higher field strengths, when neuroblastoma cells are cultured on porous glassy carbon electrodes having a desired combination of electrochemical properties. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Epidemiological Evaluation of Activities of Daily Living among disabled population in a rural area of Uttarakhand

Introduction- In India, Disability remains about the able-bodied. The disabled person frequently describes limitations in their activities of daily living (ADL). Although few studies have discussed about ADL among disabled but in rural setting it is still unexplored. Thus the objective of the study was to assess the dependency of disabled persons according to ADL. And to find the association between each ADL item with the socio-demographic findings. Methodology- A cross-sectional study compromising of 2600 study participants aged 5-59 years were recruited through multi-stage random sampling technique in a rural area of district Dehradun. Chi-square and Fischer exact test analysis was used to analyse the association among activities of daily living (ADL) with socio-demographic variables. Result- The overall prevalence of disability among both male and females was 2.3 %. 20-39 years age-group was mostly affected. Among ADL most of the disabled were fully dependent on others for grooming &amp; bathing. Age, religion, education and occupation were statistically significant with the ADL. Conclusion- Better health policies, Training of family members to provide support to disabled persons and Promotion of home-based occupations should be executed. To improve ADL and QOL of disabled people education, employment, non-discrimination, vocational training and rehabilitative services should be strengthened

Multiport Combined Endoscopic Approach to Nonembolized Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma with Parapharyngeal Extension: An Emerging Concept

Background. Surgical approaches to the parapharyngeal space (PPS) are challenging by virtue of deep location and neurovascular content. Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA) is a formidable hypervascular tumor that involves multiple compartments with increase in size. In tumors with extension to parapharyngeal space, the endonasal approach was observed to be inadequate. Combined Endoscopic Endonasal Approaches and Endoscopic Transoral Surgery (EEA-ETOS) approach has provided a customized alternative of multicorridor approach to access JNA for its safe and efficient resection. Methods. The study demonstrates a case series of patients of JNA with prestyloid parapharyngeal space extension operated by endoscopic endonasal and endoscopic transoral approach for tumor excision. Results. The multiport EEA-ETOS approach was used to provide wide exposure to access JNA in parapharyngeal space. No major complications were observed. No conversion to external approach was required. Postoperative morbidity was low and postoperative scans showed no residual tumor. A one-year follow-up was maintained and there was no evidence of disease recurrence. Conclusion. Although preliminary, our experience demonstrates safety and efficacy of multiport approach in providing access to multiple compartments, facilitating total excision of JNA in selected cases

Patterned growth and differentiation of neural cells on polymer derived carbon substrates with micro/nano structures in vitro

The growth of neuroblastoma (N2a) and Schwann cells has been explored on polymer derived carbon substrates of varying micro and nanoscale geometries: resorcinol-formaldehyde (RE) gel derived carbon films and electrospun nanofibrous (similar to 200 nm diameter) mat and SU-8 (a negative photoresist) derived carbon micro-patterns. MTT assay and complementary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay established cytocompatibility of RE derived carbon films and fibers over a period of 6 days in culture. The role of length scale of surface patterns in eliciting lineage-specific adaptive response along, across and on the interspacing between adjacent micropatterns (i.e., ``on'', ``across'' and ``off'') has been assayed. Textural features were found to affect 3',5'-cyclic AMP sodium salt-induced neurite outgrowth, over a wide range of length scales: from similar to 200 nm (carbon fibers) to similar to 60 mu m (carbon patterns). Despite their innate randomness, carbon nanofibers promoted preferential differentiation of N2a cells into neuronal lineage, similar to ordered micro-patterns. Our results, for the first time, conclusively demonstrate the potential of RE-gel and SU-8 derived carbon substrates as nerve tissue engineering platforms for guided proliferation and differentiation of neural cells in vitro. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Quality of Life among Disabled Persons- A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural Area of Dehradun District

Background: Quality of life is a multidimensional concept. Disability has a shattering effect on the quality of life with a predominantly negative effect on “marriage, educational attainment, employment and emotional state” as it jeopardizes personal, family and social life. Assessment of “quality of life” (QOL) in disabled is essential measure to bring “disabled” to core stream of civilization. Aims &amp; Objectives: To assess the “Quality of Life” among disabled and to determine the “association between socio-demographic” factors with the quality of life. Materials &amp; Methods: A “community based Cross-Sectional study” was conducted in rural area of Dehradun district. Multistage random sampling technique was used to enrol 2600 people in age group of 5- 59 years for the study. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic information while WHO-BREF questionnaire was used to assess the QOL. Results: 61(2.3%) people were found to be disabled. Among those disabled individuals 52.5% were males and 47.5 % were females. In Psychological and Environmental domain, (65.6% &amp; 55.7%) of the study participants respectively were partially satisfied, while 60.7% of the disabled persons were dissatisfied in social domain. However, 68.9 % disabled were satisfied in physical domain. Religion was found to be strong determinant for physical, psychological and environmental domain of QOL (p-value= 0.001, 0.032 and 0.047 respectively). Socio-economic status was also found to be significantly associated with psychological domain (p-value=0.000). Conclusion: Very few individuals were found to be disabled in the present study, but religion was strongly affecting the satisfaction level among disabled. Thus, religious issues should be addressed to improve quality of life among disabled persons and there should be a holistic approach for managing disabled person