Handheld impedance biosensor system using engineered proteinaceous receptors

We put forward an impedometric protein-based biosensor platform suitable for point-of-care diagnostics. A hand-held scale impedance reader system is described for the detection of corresponding physiochemical changes as the immobilized proteins bind to the analyte molecules in the proximity of the microfabricated electrodes. Specifically, we study the viability of this approach for glucose biosensing purposes using genetically engineered glucokinase as receptor proteins. The proposed reagent-less biosensor offers a high sensitivity of 0.5 mM glucose concentration level in the physiologically relevant range of 0.5 mM to 7.5 mM with less than 10 s response time.     

Expression of heat shock proteins 70 and 47 in tissues following short-pulse laser irradiation: Assessment of thermal damage and healing

In order to develop effective laser-based therapeutics, the extent of laser-induced damage must be quantified for given laser parameters. Therefore, we want to determine the spatiotemporal expression patterns of heat shock proteins, both to understand the roles of heat shock proteins in laser-induced tissue damage and repair and to develop heat shock proteins as tools to illustrate the extent of laser-induced damage and wound healing following irradiation. We exposed anesthetized mice to the focused beam of a short-pulse Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm; 200 ns pulsewidth) for 15 s, while measuring temperature distribution in the skin using an infrared thermal camera. Following irradiation, we examined expression of HSP47 and HSP70 over time (0–24 h) as indicators of the heat shock response and recovery from damage in the laser-irradiated region. Expression patterns of HSP70 and HSP47 as detected by immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy delineate the extent of damage and the process of healing in tissue. Both HSP70 and HSP47 were expressed in dermis and epidermis following laser irradiation, and the spatial and temporal changes in HSP expression patterns define the laser-induced thermal damage zone and the process of healing in tissues. HSP70 may define biochemically the thermal damage zone in which cells are targeted for destruction, and HSP47 may illustrate the process of recovery from thermally induced damage. Studying the effects of different laser parameters on the expression of HSPs will allow development of effective laser therapies that provide accurate and precise tissue ablation and may promote rapid wound healing following laser-based surgery.     

EGFR Mutation Testing Practice in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose

Testing tumor samples for the presence of a mutation in the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is recommended for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We aimed to collect data about common practice among Medical Oncologists treating lung cancer patients, regarding EGFR mutation testing in advanced NSCLC patients.

Methods

An internet-based survey was conducted among members of the Israeli Society for Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy involved in the treatment of lung cancer patients.

Results

24 Oncologists participated in the survey. The participants encompass the Oncologists treating most of the lung cancer patients in Israel. 79 % of them use EGFR testing routinely for all advanced NSCLC patients. Opinions were split regarding the preferable biopsy site for EGFR testing material. 60 % of participants recommend waiting for EGFR test results prior to initiation of first-line therapy.

Conclusions

EGFR testing is requested in Israel routinely by most treating Oncologists for all advanced NSCLC patients, regardless of histology. In most cases, systemic treatment is deferred until the results of this test are received.     

Utility of B-type natriuretic peptide in predicting medium-term mortality in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery

This study was conducted to assess the ability of preoperative B-type natriuretic peptide levels to predict medium-term mortality in patients who undergo major noncardiac surgery. During a median of 654 days of follow-up, 33 patients from a total cohort of 204 patients (16%) died, 17 from cardiovascular causes. The optimal cutoff in this cohort, determined using a receiver-operating characteristic curve, was >35 pg . ml(-1). This was associated with a 3.5-fold increase in the hazard of death (p = 0.001) and a 6.9-fold increase in the hazard of cardiovascular mortality (p = 0.003). In conclusion, these findings extend recent work demonstrating that B-type natriuretic peptide levels obtained before major noncardiac surgery can be used to predict perioperative morbidity and indicate that they also forecast medium-term mortality, particularly cardiovascular death.