Disposable platform provides visual and color-based point-of-care anemia self-testing

BACKGROUND. Anemia, or low blood hemoglobin (Hgb) levels, afflicts 2 billion people worldwide. Currently, Hgb levels are typically measured from blood samples using hematology analyzers, which are housed in hospitals, clinics, or commercial laboratories and require skilled technicians to operate. A reliable, inexpensive point-of-care (POC) Hgb test would enable cost-effective anemia screening and chronically anemic patients to self-monitor their disease. We present a rapid, stand-alone, and disposable POC anemia test that, via a single drop of blood, outputs color-based visual results that correlate with Hgb levels.METHODS. We tested blood from 238 pediatric and adult patients with anemia of varying degrees and etiologies and compared hematology analyzer Hgb levels with POC Hgb levels, which were estimated via visual interpretation using a color scale and an optional smartphone app for automated analysis.RESULTS. POC Hgb levels correlated with hematology analyzer Hgb levels (r = 0.864 and r = 0.856 for visual interpretation and smartphone app, respectively), and both POC test methods yielded comparable sensitivity and specificity for detecting any anemia (n = 178) (<11 g/dl) (sensitivity: 90.2% and 91.1%, specificity: 83.7% and 79.2%, respectively) and severe anemia (n = 10) (<7 g/dl) (sensitivity: 90.0% and 100%, specificity: 94.6% and 93.9%, respectively).CONCLUSIONS. These results demonstrate the feasibility of this POC color-based diagnostic test for self-screening/self-monitoring of anemia.TRIAL REGISTRATION. Not applicable.FUNDING. This work was funded by the FDA-funded Atlantic Pediatric Device Consortium, the Georgia Research Alliance, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Georgia Center of Innovation for Manufacturing, and the InVenture Prize and Ideas to Serve competitions at the Georgia Institute of Technology.     

Male breast cancer

Male breast cancer is rare, and many patients and health care providers are not familiar with this entity. Although the underlying causes are not well understood, certain populations are at higher risk, including certain gene mutation carriers, men with Klinefelter syndrome, and certain ethnic groups. Male breast cancer typically presents at a later stage than female breast cancer. A palpable mass is the most common presentation, but nipple discharge or other nipple changes may be seen. Because the number of affected individuals is small, prospective trials have not been conducted; thus, treatment recommendations are typically taken from large trials involving female breast cancer populations. Although outcomes in male breast cancer were previously thought to be worse than female breast cancer outcomes, it appears that they are similar. Questions regarding the most effective surgical and adjuvant therapies remain. Mastectomy with axillary lymph node evaluation, adjuvant hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy are commonly used. Providers of health care to male patients must be aware of the possibility of breast cancer and appropriately evaluate any suspicious changes.     

ZnO Films Incorporation Study on Macroporous Silicon Structure

In the present work, we developed hybrid nanostructures based on ZnO films deposited on macroporous silicon substrates using the sol–gel spin coating and ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) techniques. The changes in the growth of ZnO films on macroporous silicon were studied using a UV-visible spectrometer, an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). XRD analysis revealed the beneficial influence of macroporous silicon on the structural properties of ZnO films. SEM micrographs showed the growth and coverage of ZnO granular and flake-like crystals inside the pores of the substrate. The root mean square roughness (RMS) measured by AFM in the ZnO grown on the macroporous silicon substrate was up to one order of magnitude higher than reference samples. These results prove that the methods used in this work are effective to cover porous and obtain nano-morphologies of ZnO. These morphologies could be useful for making highly sensitive gas sensors.     

破裂和未破裂颅内动脉瘤栓塞治疗实践标准

1 引言 弹簧圈栓塞最初被设计并经美国食品药品监督管理局批准用于治疗显微外科手术夹闭风险高的脑动脉瘤,但目前该方法越来越被认为是颅内动脉瘤的一线治疗方法.动脉瘤血管内治疗技术已有长足进步,新器材的研发使得以前因血管解剖结构复杂而无法填塞的动脉瘤也得以治疗,从而扩大了血管内治疗的适应证.而且,血管内弹簧圈栓塞已成为当前动脉瘤血管内治疗的主流方法;医学文献证明,在特定患者人群中,弹簧圈栓塞的转归优于外科手术夹闭[1-3].最近的一份美国心脏协会(American Heart Association,AHA)科学声明指出,对于适合治疗的脑动脉瘤,不论是血管内栓塞还是显微外科手术夹闭,均为破裂动脉瘤Ⅰ级推荐治疗方法和未破裂动脉瘤的Ⅱa级推荐治疗方法[4].在这两组患者中,治疗利大于弊.一个在血管显微神经外科、神经重症监护和介入神经外科方面有着丰富经验的多学科团队最有利于对颅内动脉瘤的处理实施最佳的技术.神经血管联合写作组此前已发表过一份联合声明,提出了有关脑血管介入治疗的培训和认证的推荐意见[5].     

Regulation of in vitro and in vivo T cell activation by CD43

Accessory molecule interactions can be critical in determining the outcome of a T cell's encounter with antigen. Cell adhesion proteins may augment T cell responses by facilitating TCR engagement of the antigen-MHC complex, while co-stimulatory molecules may deliver distinct signals that modulate T cell responsiveness. CD43 (leukosialin, sialophorin) has been suggested to influence cell activation by steric hindrance based upon the large size and glycosylation of the protein, as well as the relative abundance of the protein on the cell surface. In this paper we examine both in vitro and in vivo T cell-dependent responses in CD43-deficient mice. We demonstrate that T cells from CD43-deficient mice are hyper-responsive following both in vivo and in vitro activation, and that this is observed in response to not only TCR-CD3-mediated stimulation, but also following receptor-independent activation. This data suggests that mechanisms other than non-specific steric hindrance are important in the regulation of T cell activation by CD43.      

Quantitative assessment of circulating antigens in human lymphatic filariasis: a field evaluation of monoclonal antibody-based ELISA using blood collected on filter strips

objective   To quantify circulating antigens in individuals with lymphatic filariasis by means of an ELISA using blood on filter strips. method   Circulating antigens in filarial patients and normal individuals living in an area endemic for W. bancrofti infection in Madras, India were estimated using a monoclonal antibody-based ELISA. results   All microfilaraemics showed positivity to circulating antigens whereas people with chronic pathology and 80% of the endemic normals tested negative. The antigen levels in the blood collected in the night and during day time showed positivity and there was no difference in the antigen concentration. The results of the antigen levels collected onto filter strips correlated with their corresponding plasma antigen levels ( r = 0.83). In microfilaraemics, DEC treatment did not alter the levels of circulating antigens for up to one month. conclusions   We conclude that this monoclonal antibody-based ELISA using filter strips may be used in day time and replace the existing routine night blood surveys in our endemic area in India.