A smartphone-based microfluidic platform was developed for point-of-care (POC) detection using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of gold nanoparticles (GNPs). The simultaneous colorimetric detection of trace arsenic and mercury ions (As3+ and Hg2+) was performed using a new image processing application (app). To achieve this goal, a microfluidic kit was fabricated using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate with the configuration of two separated sensing regions for the quantitative measurement of the color changes in GNPs to blue/gray. To fabricate the microfluidic kit, a Plexiglas mold was cut using a laser based on the model obtained from AutoCAD and Comsol outputs. The colorimetric signals originated from the formation of nanoparticle aggregates through the interaction of GNPs with dithiothreitol – 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (DTT-PCDA) and lysine (Lys) in the presence of As3+ and Hg2+ ions. This assembly exhibited the advantages of simplicity, low cost, and high portability along with a low volume of reagents and multiplex detection. Heavy Metals Detector (HMD), as a new app for the RGB reader, was programmed for an Android smartphone to quantify colorimetric analyses. Compared with traditional image processing, this app provided significant improvements in sensitivity, time of analysis, and simplicity because the color intensity is measured through a new normalization equation by converting RGB to an Integer system. As a simple, real-time, and portable analytical kit, the fabricated sensor could detect low concentrations of As3+ (710 to 1278 μg L−1) and Hg2+ (10.77 to 53.86 μg L−1) ions in water samples at ambient conditions.A smartphone-based microfluidic platform was developed for point-of-care (POC) detection using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of gold nanoparticles (GNPs).相似文献
Long-acting reversible contraceptives, such as the intrauterine device (IUD), remain underutilised in Pakistan with high discontinuation rates. Based on a 24-month prospective client follow-up (nested within a larger quasi-experimental study), this paper presents the comparison of two intervention models, one using private mid-level providers branded as “Suraj” and the other using community midwives (CMWs) of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Programme, for method continuation among IUD users. Moreover, determinants of IUD continuation and the reasons for discontinuation, and switching behaviour were studied within each arm.
Methods
A total of 1,163 IUD users, 824 from Suraj and 339 from the CMW model, were enrolled in this 24-month prospective client follow-up. Participants were followed-up by female community mobilisers physically every second month to ascertain continued IUD usage and to collect information on associated factors, switching behaviour, reasons for discontinuation, and pregnancy occurrence. The probabilities of IUD continuation and the risk factors for discontinuation were estimated by life table analysis and Cox proportional-hazard techniques, respectively.
Results
The cumulative probabilities of IUD continuation at 24 months in Suraj and CMW models were 82% and 80%, respectively. The difference between the two intervention areas was not significant. The probability distributions of IUD continuation were also similar in both interventions (Log rank test: χ2 = 0.06, df = 1, P = 0.81; Breslow test: χ2 = 0.6, df = 1, P = 0.44). Health concerns (Suraj = 57.1%, CMW = 38.7%) and pregnancy desire (Suraj = 29.3%, CMW = 40.3%) were reported as the most prominent reasons for IUD discontinuation in both intervention arms. IUD discontinuation was significantly associated with place of residence in Suraj and with age (15–25 years) in the CMW model.
Conclusion
CMWs and private providers are equally capable of providing quality IUD services and ensuring higher method continuation. Pakistan’s National Maternal Newborn and Child Health programme should consider training CMWs and providing IUDs through them. Moreover, private sector mid-level providers could be engaged in promoting the use of IUDs.
Clinical Rheumatology - Considering the pathologic significance of inflammation and oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic... 相似文献
Metabolic Brain Disease - Chronic methamphetamine (meth) abuse can lead to certain deficits in the hippocampal function by affecting the hippocampal neurogenesis and plasticity. To determine... 相似文献
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Bile leak following liver resection can be associated with significant morbidity. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of intraoperative bile leak testing on postoperative bile leak rate and other complications after liver resection without biliary reconstruction for any cause.
Methods
PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and grey literature databases were searched for articles between 1960 and 2017 comparing bile leak rates with or without bile leak testing. Standard meta-analysis methods were used. The primary outcome was bile leak rate, and secondary outcomes were overall morbidity, reintervention rate and length of stay.
Results
8 articles met inclusion criteria. Intraoperative bile leak testing after resection was associated with lower postoperative bile leak rate (4.1% vs 12.3%, OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.23–0.55, p < 0.001), overall morbidity (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47–0.96, p = 0.030), need for reintervention (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.03–0.36, p < 0.001) and a shorter duration of hospital stay (2.21 days, 95% CI 0.69–3.73, p = 0.004).
Conclusion
The routine use of intraoperative bile leak testing during liver resection results in a significant reduction in postoperative bile leak rate, overall morbidity, length of hospital stay and need for re-intervention. Bile leak testing should be performed after liver resection without biliary reconstruction. 相似文献
AbstractThe aim of this study was to estimate the effect of ambient air pollutants on cardiovascular deaths in Tehran, Iran. In this time series study, air pollutant data were acquired from the Environmental Protection Agency. Meteorological data were acquired from the meteorological organization, and death data were acquired from the Tehran’s cemetery registration. Generalized Additive Models (GAM) were used for estimating the Rate Ratio. NO2, SO2 and PM10 were associated with total cardiovascular deaths. PM10 and NO2 showed stronger relations with deaths in the elder age group. The result of this study showed that NO2, SO2, PM10 and O3 are probably responsible for part of the cardiovascular deaths that happen daily in Tehran. 相似文献
Nanobodies for the first time were identified in the sera of Camelidae. Single-domain antibodies or nanobodies are a class of next-generation antibodies that have specific features: small size (in nanoscale), high penetration in various tissues, high stability in hard situations and ease production process in microbial systems. In fact single-domain antibodies are the smallest fragment of the antibody with binding ability. Unique characteristics and features of nanobodies make them an appropriate candidate for further evaluation as the development of novel antibody-based therapeutics. In this regard single-domain antibodies are in the interest of many researchers as well as biopharmaceutical companies for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Nowadays several single domain antibodies have been developed and evaluated in different clinical trials. Because of many advantages of single-domain antibodies over other formats of antibodies, they could be good replacement for other formats of antibodies in near future. Here, we review the biology, engineering platforms and application of nanobodies. 相似文献