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Background: Detection of CTCs is a poor prognostic factor for many cancer types; however, their very low frequency represents an obstacle for their detection. The objective of the current study was to compare the performance of commonly used methods for CTCs isolation. Methods: The evaluated methods using spiking experiments of MCF7, SKBR3 and MDA MB- 231 breast cancer cell lines were (i) ficoll density gradient separation (DGS), (ii) red blood cell lysis (Erythrolysis) isolation, (iii) positive immunomagnetic selection (EpCAM Dynal beads), (iv) two different negative immunomagnetic separation systems (Dynal vs Miltenyi CD45 beads) as well as (v) the Cell Search platform and (vi) the ISET system. Results: The recovery rates of Erythrolysis and DGS were 39% and 24%, respectively. Magnetic isolations are ranked from the worse to the best recovery rate as follows:, Myltenyi-anti-CD45 microbeads (24%); Dynalanti- EpCAM beads (75%); Dynabeads-anti-CD45 (97%). CTCs isolation from blood samples using the CellSearch and ISET systems revealed that the recovery rate for Cell Search and ISET was 52% and 95%, respectively. Conclusions: Dynal-anti-CD45 beads have the best recovery rate compared to other magnetic methods. Furthermore the recovery rate of ISET was higher compared to Cell Search, especially for the more aggressive MDA-MB 231 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute renal failure in children can have a variety of causes. There have been several epidemics of acute renal failure affecting predominantly young children where the cause has been diethylene glycol (DEG) poisoning. These children have presented with gastrointestinal bleeding, seizures and liver failure as well as renal failure. The poisoning has been the result of either contamination of the medicinal products by DEG or the deliberate illegal use of DEG as a solvent. More than 300 children worldwide have died from DEG poisoning. Health professionals need to be aware of the clinical presentation of DEG poisoning as prompt action is likely to save lives by the removal of the contaminated/illegal medicine from pharmacies and shops in the affected area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Electrochemical sensor was proposed for analysis of AZM and HCQ. • The electrochemical sensor is VS 2 -QDs/GNA/cCNTs. • The sensor exhibits good sensitivity, reproducibility, and sufficient selectivity. • The sensor was used to detect AZM and HCQ in biological fluids. In this research paper, an innovative electrochemical sensor was suggested for simultaneous voltammetric analysis of azithromycin (AZM) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for the first time. The sensor based on hydrothermal synthesis of vanadium disulfide quantum dots (VS 2 QDs) and insertion within 3D N, S graphene aerogel (3D N, S @ GNA) and carbon nanotubes nanaostructure as a new and widely group of carbon nanomaterials. The nanocomposites were characterized morphologically using different techniques. In addition, the nanomaterials were characterized electrochemically using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The proposed electrochemical sensor showed wide dynamic linear ranges of 0.28–30 × 10−8 M and 0.84–22.5 × 10−8 M for analysis of AZM and HCQ, respectively. The limits of detection (LODs) based on signal to noise (S/N) 3:1 were found to be 0.091 × 10−8 M and 0.277 × 10−8 M for AZM and HCQ, respectively. Briefly, the electrochemical sensor had good stability, selectivity, reproducibility and feasibility for simultaneous detection of AZM and HCQ in presence of different interfering species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]