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The ultrasensitive detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) nucleic acid is crucial for the early diagnosis of hepatitis C. In this study, by combining Ag@Au core/shell nanoparticle (Ag@AuNP)-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tag with hybridization chain reaction (HCR), a novel SERS-sensing method was developed for the ultrasensitive detection of HCV nucleic acid. This SERS-sensing system comprised two different SERS tags, which were constructed by modifying Ag@AuNP with a Raman reporter molecule of 4-ethynylbezaldehyde, two different hairpin-structured HCR sequences (H1 or H2), and a detection plate prepared by immobilizing a capture DNA sequence onto the Ag@AuNP layer surface of the detection wells. When the target nucleic acid was present, the two SERS tags were captured on the surface of the Ag@AuNP-coated detection well to generate many "hot spots" through HCR, forming a strong SERS signal and realizing the ultrasensitive detection of the target HCV nucleic acid. The limit of detection of the SERS-sensing method for HCV nucleic acid was 0.47 fM, and the linear range was from 1 to 10 5 fM., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Prostate and lung cancers are the most common types of cancer and affect a large part of the population around the world, causing deaths. Therefore, the rapid identification of cancer can profoundly impact reducing cancer-related death rates and protecting human lives. Significant resources have been dedicated to investigating new methods for early disease detection. Cancer biomarkers encompass various biochemical entities, including nucleic acids, proteins, sugars, small metabolites, cytogenetic and cytokinetic parameters, and whole tumor cells in bodily fluids. These tools can be utilized for various purposes, such as risk assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment efficacy, toxicity evaluation, and predicting a return. Due to these versatile and critical purposes, there are widespread studies on the development of new, sensitive, and selective approaches for the determination of cancer biomarkers. This review illustrates the significant lung and prostate cancer biomarkers and their determination utilizing electrochemical sensors, which have the advantage of improved sensitivity, low cost, and simple analysis. Additionally, approaches such as improving sensitivity with nanomaterials and ensuring selectivity with MIPs are used to increase the performance of the sensor. This review aims to overview the most recent electrochemical biosensor applications for determining vital biomarkers of prostate and lung cancers in terms of nanobiosensors and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based biosensors., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Analytical chemistry is a broad area of science comprised of many sub-disciplines. Although each sub-discipline has its own dominant trends, one trend is common to all of them: greenness and sustainability. Efforts to develop more ecological and environmentally friendly methods have been ongoing for over a decade with initial attempts largely focusing on limiting the necessary volume of solvents required and eliminating the use of toxic solvents. Over time, the miniaturization of analytical devices gained popularity as a way of not only reducing chemical usage, but also enabling analyses using smaller sample volumes and more "remote" applications (e.g., on-site sampling and analysis). Of course, miniaturization poses numerous challenges for researchers, for instance, in relation to the method's sensitivity and reproducibility. Developments in the design of detection systems have largely helped to mitigate these issues, but they also often restrict the potential for on-site analysis. Therefore, attempts have been made to improve analysis throughout the entire analytical process, from sampling through sample preparation and instrumental analysis to data handling. Furthermore, clinical chemistry labs must adhere to certain regulations and use certified protocols and materials, which precludes the rapid implementation of solutions developed in research labs. What are the obstacles in translating such innovations to practical applications, and what inventions can make a difference in the future? The answers to these two questions define the trends in analytical chemistry in the field of medical analysis., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: We investigated the volumetric changes in the components of the cholinergic pathway for patients with early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI) and those with late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI). The effect of patients' apolipoprotein 4 (APOE-ε4) allele status on the structural changes were analyzed., Methods: Structural magnetic resonance imaging data were collected. Patients' demographic information, plasma data, and validated global cognitive composite scores were included. Relevant features were extracted for constructing machine learning models to differentiate between EMCI (n = 312) and LMCI (n = 541) and predict patients' neurocognitive function. The data were analyzed primarily through one-way analysis of variance and two-way analysis of covariance., Results: Considerable differences were observed in cholinergic structural changes between patients with EMCI and LMCI. Cholinergic atrophy was more prominent in the LMCI cohort than in the EMCI cohort (P < 0.05 family-wise error corrected). APOE-ε4 differentially affected cholinergic atrophy in the LMCI and EMCI cohorts. For LMCI cohort, APOE-ε4 carriers exhibited increased brain atrophy (left amygdala: P = 0.001; right amygdala: P = 0.006, and right Ch123, P = 0.032). EMCI and LCMI patients showed distinctive associations of gray matter volumes in cholinergic regions with executive (R 2  = 0.063 and 0.030 for EMCI and LMCI, respectively) and language (R 2  = 0.095 and 0.042 for EMCI and LMCI, respectively) function., Conclusions: Our data confirmed significant cholinergic atrophy differences between early and late stages of mild cognitive impairment. The impact of the APOE-ε4 allele on cholinergic atrophy varied between the LMCI and EMCI groups., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) rely on synthetic engineered materials able to selectively bind and intimately recognise a target molecule through its size and functionalities. The way in which MIPs interact with their targets, and the magnitude of this interaction, is closely linked to the chemical properties derived during the polymerisation stages, which tailor them to their specific target. Hence, MIPs are in-deep studied in terms of their sensitivity and cross-reactivity, further being used for monitoring purposes of analytes in complex analytical samples. As MIPs are involved in sensor development within different approaches, a systematic optimisation and rational data-driven sensing is fundamental to obtaining a best-performant MIP sensor. In addition, the closer integration of MIPs in sensor development requires that the inner properties of the materials in terms of sensitivity and selectivity are maintained in the presence of competitive molecules, which focus is currently opened. Identifying computational models capable of predicting and reporting the best-performant configuration of electrochemical sensors based on MIPs is of immense importance. The application of chemometrics using design of experiments (DoE) is nowadays increasingly adopted during optimisation problems, which largely reduce the number of experimental trials. These approaches, together with the emergent machine learning (ML) tool in sensor data processing, represent the future trend in design and management of point-of-care configurations based on MIP sensing. This review provides an overview on the recent application of chemometrics tools in optimisation problems during development and analytical assessment of electrochemical sensors based on MIP receptors. A comprehensive discussion is first presented to cover the recent advancements on response surface methodologies (RSM) in optimisation studies of MIPs design. Therefore, the recent advent of machine learning in sensor data processing will be focused on MIPs development and analytical detection in sensors., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic rise in the interest relating to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology. Originally only 'narrow' AI tasks were possible; however, with increasing availability of data, teamed with ease of access to powerful computer processing capabilities, we are becoming more able to generate complex and nuanced prediction models and elaborate solutions for healthcare. Nevertheless, these AI models are not without their failings, and sometimes the intended use for these solutions may not lead to predictable impacts for patients, society or those working within the healthcare profession. In this article, we provide an overview of the latest opinions regarding AI ethics, bias, limitations, challenges and considerations that we should all contemplate in this exciting and expanding field, with a special attention to how this applies to the unique aspects of a paediatric population. By embracing AI technology and fostering a multidisciplinary approach, it is hoped that we can harness the power AI brings whilst minimising harm and ensuring a beneficial impact on radiology practice., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AIMS) has been developing explosively since its first debut. The ionization process was hence able to be achieved under atmospheric pressure, facilitating on-site field analysis in a variety of areas, such as clinical diagnosis, metabolic phenotyping, and surface analysis. As part of the ambitious goal of making MS a general device that can be used in everyday life, lots of efforts have been paid to miniaturize the ionization source. This review discusses avant-garde sources that could be entirely hand-held without any accessories. The structure and applications of the devices are described in detail as well. They could be expediently used in real-time and on-site analysis, presenting a great future potential for the routinizing of MS., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

To determine the global prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in adults. Six electronic databases (Embase, LILACS, LIVIVO, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched, in addition to gray literature (ASHA, Google Scholar, ProQuest Dissertation, and Theses). A random-effects model for meta-analysis of proportions was conducted, and heterogeneity was evaluated according to the moderator variable through subgroup analysis and meta-regression. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist and the certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE tool. Thirty papers were included for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The combined prevalence estimate was 60% [CI 95% = 50%-70%; I 2  = 95%], accounting for different baseline conditions. However, the wide variation that exists between the different baseline conditions (underlying disease or risk factor) tended to overestimate this prevalence when considering the general population. Only one study evaluated healthy individuals, which showed a prevalence of 31% [CI95% = 27%-36%]. The risk of bias was considered low for all studies. None of the variables were considered predictors for the observed variance between the effect sizes of the included studies. For the prevalence of OD, the GRADE rating was considered very low. Despite the high prevalence observed, with over half of the individuals affected, the evidence regarding this outcome remains uncertain due to an overestimation of the generated estimates caused by the baseline condition of the sample., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Many countries suffer from skilled labor shortages in nursing. One way to increase the nurse labor supply is to raise their retention rates. Yet, though several studies exist on factors associated with the nurse labor supply at different levels, literature on factors associated with nurses' decisions to leave their occupation is relatively scarce. Based on German administrative data, I analyze the determinants of nurses' decisions to leave their profession. My results suggest that younger nurses, nurses in the social sector, and nurses working with smaller employers leave their occupation more often than their counterparts, irrespective of their specific nursing occupations and care settings. Nurses leave more often where more alternative occupational options are available. Nurses who have been unemployed and nurses who have been employed in a different field have a higher probability of leaving the occupation, whereas nurses who just finished vocational training only have a moderate propensity to leave. Female nurses leave less often if employed part time. Female nurses in part time leave even more seldom if they have children. A change in the hospital reimbursement system and introducing a nursing minimum wage during the first decade of the century did not change nurses' occupation durations., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This review paper presents the practical development of imaging biomarkers in the scope of the PRIMAGE (PRedictive In silico Multiscale Analytics to support cancer personalized diaGnosis and prognosis, Empowered by imaging biomarkers) project, as a noninvasive and reliable way to improve the diagnosis and prognosis in pediatric oncology. The PRIMAGE project is a European multi-center research initiative that focuses on developing medical imaging-derived artificial intelligence (AI) solutions designed to enhance overall management and decision-making for two types of pediatric cancer: neuroblastoma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. To allow this, the PRIMAGE project has created an open-cloud platform that combines imaging, clinical, and molecular data together with AI models developed from this data, creating a comprehensive decision support environment for clinicians managing patients with these two cancers. In order to achieve this, a standardized data processing and analysis workflow was implemented to generate robust and reliable predictions for different clinical endpoints. Magnetic resonance (MR) image harmonization and registration was performed as part of the workflow. Subsequently, an automated tool for the detection and segmentation of tumors was trained and internally validated. The Dice similarity coefficient obtained for the independent validation dataset was 0.997, indicating compatibility with the manual segmentation variability. Following this, radiomics and deep features were extracted and correlated with clinical endpoints. Finally, reproducible and relevant imaging quantitative features were integrated with clinical and molecular data to enrich both the predictive models and a set of visual analytics tools, making the PRIMAGE platform a complete clinical decision aid system. In order to ensure the advancement of research in this field and to foster engagement with the wider research community, the PRIMAGE data repository and platform are currently being integrated into the European Federation for Cancer Images (EUCAIM), which is the largest European cancer imaging research infrastructure created to date., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Sample preparation is a constantly evolving step in the measurement process with a positive effect on its performance. Its evolution has been marked by an underlying environmental commitment, with simplification, miniaturization, and automation being three of its driving forces. This trends article deepens how the sample preparation can go sustainable through the efficient design of new sorptive materials, either liquid or solid. This objective can be achieved by using natural and/or biodegradable materials as precursors of the functional sorptive phases and by designing materials that simplify the procedures (thus reducing the energy or resources required). Although environmental performance is a crucial aspect of a new material, its applicability is what really defines its incorporation into the sample preparation toolbox. For this reason, their characteristics and more relevant applications will be briefly presented to conclude with the tendency of their use in the very near future., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Centralized laboratories in which analytical processes are automated to enable the analysis of large numbers of samples at relatively low cost are used for analytical testing throughout the world. However, healthcare is changing, partly due to the general recognition that care needs to be more patient-centered and putting the patient at the center of action. One way to achieve this goal is to consider point-of-care testing (PoC) devices as alternative analytical concepts. This requires miniaturization of current analytical concepts and the use of cost-effective diagnostic tools with appropriate sensitivity and specificity. Electrochemical sensors are ideally adapted as they provide robust, low-cost, and miniaturized solutions for the detection of variable analytes, yet lack the high sensitivity comparable to more classical diagnosis approaches. Advances in nanotechnology have opened up a plethora of different nanomaterials to be applied as electrode and/or sensing materials in electrochemical biosensors. The choice of materials significantly influences the sensor's sensitivity, selectivity, and overall performance. A critical review of the state of the art with respect to the development of the utilized materials (between 2019 and 2023) and where the field is heading to are the focus of this article., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

An electrochemical sensor for detecting ketoprofen was constructed by in-situ grown copper cobaltate (CuCo 2 O 4 ) nanoneedle arrays on a carbon cloth (CC) substrate. The resulting porous nanoneedle arrays not only expose numerous electrochemically active sites but also significantly enhance the electrochemical apparent active area and current transmission efficiency. By leveraging its electrochemical properties, the sensor achieves an impressive detection limit for ketoprofen of 0.7 pM, with a linear range spanning from 2 pM ~ 2 µM. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits remarkable reproducibility, anti-interference capabilities, and stability. Notably, the developed sensor also performed ketoprofen detection on real samples (including drug formulations and wastewater) and demonstrated excellent recognition ability. These exceptional performances can be attributed to the direct growth of CuCo 2 O 4 nanoneedle arrays on the CC substrate, which facilitates a robust electrical connection, provides abundant electrocatalytic active sites, and expands the apparent active area. Consequently, these improvements contribute to the efficient trace detection capabilities of the ketoprofen sensor., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) is a versatile signal transduction strategy widely used in the fabrication of chem/biosensors. However, this technique has not yet been applied in visualized imaging analysis of intracellular species due to the insulating nature of the cell membrane. Here, we construct a ratiometric ECL-RET analytical method for hypochlorite ions (ClO - ) by ECL luminophore, with a luminol derivative (L-012) as the donor and a fluorescence probe (fluorescein hydrazide) as the acceptor. L-012 can emit a strong blue ECL signal and fluorescein hydrazide has negligible absorbance and fluorescence signal in the absence of ClO - . Thus, the ECL-RET process is turned off at this time. In the presence of ClO - , however, the closed-loop hydrazide structure in fluorescein hydrazide is opened via specific recognition with ClO - , accompanied with intensified absorbance and fluorescence signal. Thanks to the spectral overlap between the ECL spectrum of L-012 and the absorption spectrum of fluorescein, the ECL-RET effect is gradually recovered with the addition of ClO - . Furthermore, the ECL-RET system has been successfully applied to image intracellular ClO - . Although the insulating nature of the cell itself can generate a shadow ECL pattern in the cellular region, extracellular ECL emission penetrates the cell membrane and excites intracellular fluorescein generated by the reactions between fluorescein hydrazide and ClO - . The cell imaging strategy via ECL-RET circumvents the blocking of the cell membrane and enables assays of intracellular species. The importance of the ECL-RET platform lies in calibrating the fluctuation from the external environment and improving the selectivity by using fluorescent probes. Therefore, this ratiometric ECL sensor has shown broad application prospects in the identification of targets in clinical diagnosis and environmental monitoring., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Strontium-90 ( 90 Sr) is a major radioactive component that has attracted great attention, but its detection remains challenging since there are no specific energy rays indicative of its presence. Herein, a biosensor that is capable of rapidly detecting Sr 2+ ions is demonstrated. Simple colorimetric method for sensitive detection of Sr 2+ with the help of single-stranded DNA was developed by preparing MnO 2 nanorods as oxidase mimic catalysis 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Under weakly acidic conditions, MnO 2 exhibited a strong oxidase-mimicking activity to oxidize colorless TMB into blue oxidation products (oxTMB) with discernible absorbance signals. Nevertheless, the introduction of a guanine-rich DNA aptamer inhibited MnO 2 -mediated TMB oxidation and reduced oxTMB formation, resulting in blue fading and diminished absorbance. Upon the addition of strontium ions to the system, the aptamers formed a stable G-quadruplex structure with strontium ions, thereby restoring the oxidase-mimicking activity of MnO 2 . Under the best experimental conditions, the absorbance exhibits a linear relationship with the Sr 2+ concentration within the range 0.01-200 μM, with a limit of detection of 0.0028 µM. When the concentration of Sr 2+ from 10 -8 to 10 -6  mol L -1 , a distinct color change gradient could be observed in paper-based sensor. We successfully applied this approach to determine Sr 2+ in natural water samples, obtaining recoveries ranging from 97.6 to 103% with a relative standard deviation of less than 5%. By providing technical solutions for detection, our work contributed to the effective monitoring of transportation of radioactive Sr in the environment., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

A simple and cost-effective fabrication method of gold nanorods (AuNRs) nanoparticles hybridized with polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (AuNR/PVA) for SERS substrate is described. The AuNR/PVA achieves the control of inter-particle nanogap by modulating the density of gold nanorods, and inter-particle nanogap by the spatial deformation of the hydrogel, and the reduction of the gap between the AuNRs deposited on hydrogel makes the SERS enhancement. In addition, the AuNR/PVA substrate maintains high SERS activity after more than 100 cycles of bending and storage in air for 30 days, and the substrate possesses high sensitivity and high reproducibility. Combining a flexible and transparent surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate for in situ detection with a small portable Raman can be applied to scenarios such as environmental detection and hazardous materials detection. The substrate showed excellent SERS activity against malachite green (MG) and crystal violet (CV) with limits of detection of 1.18 × 10 -13 M and 7.17 × 10 -12 M, respectively. The usability of the proposed SERS substrate was demonstrated by detecting the above contaminants in aquatic water. This work not only utilizes a cost-effective method for mass production but also provides a reliable and convenient platform for the preparation of other noble metal flexible substrates., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Brazilian biomes are important sources for environmental microorganisms, including efficient metabolic machineries, like actinomycetes. These bacteria are known for their abilities to produce many bioactive compounds, including enzymes with multiple industrial applications. The present work aimed to evaluate lignocellulolytic abilities of actinomycetes isolated from soil and rhizosphere samples collected at Caatinga, Atlantic and Amazon Forest. Laccase (Lac), lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and cellulase were evaluated for their efficiency. These enzymes have an essential role in lignin decomposition, through oxidation of phenolic and non-phenolic compounds, as well as enzymatic hydrolysis of vegetal biomass. In this sense, a total of 173 actinomycetes were investigated. Eleven (11) of them were selected by their enzymatic performance. The actinomycete AC166 displayed some activity in all analysed scenarios in terms of Lac, MnP and LiP activity, while AC171 was selected as the most promising strain, showing the following activities: 29.7 U.L -1 for Lac; 2.5 U.L -1 for LiP and 23 U.L -1 for MnP. Cellulolytic activities were evaluated at two pH conditions, 4.8 and 7.4, obtaining the following results: 25 U.L -1 and 71 U.L -1 , respectively. Thermostability (4, 30 and 60 o C) and salinity concentrations (0 to 4 M) and pH variation (2.0 to 9.0) stabilities of the obtained LiP and Lac enzymatic extracts were also verified. The actinomycete strain AC171 displayed an adaptable response in distinct pH and salt profiles, indicating that bacterial LiP was some halophilic type. Additionally, the strain AC149 produced an alkali and extreme halophilic lignin peroxidase, which are promising profiles for their future application under lignocellulosic biomass at bioethanol biorefineries., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The increasing incidence of environmental concerns related to excessive use of pesticides, such as imidacloprid and carbendazim, poses risks to pollinators, water bodies, and human health, prompting regulatory scrutiny and bans in developed countries. In this study, we propose a portable smartphone-based biosensor for rapid and label-free colorimetric detection by using the gold-decorated polystyrene microparticles (Ps-AuNP) functionalized with specific aptamers to imidacloprid and carbendazim on a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μ-PAD). Four aptamers were selected for the detection of these pesticides and their sensitivity and selectivity performance was evaluated. The sensitivity results show a detection limit for imidacloprid of 3.12 ppm and 1.56 ppm for carbendazim. The aptamers also exhibited high selectivity performance against other pesticides, such as thiamethoxam, fenamiphos, isoproturon, and atrazine. However, the platform presented cross-selectivity when detecting imidacloprid, carbendazim, and linuron, which is discussed herein. Overall, we present a promising platform for simple, on-site, and rapid colorimetric screening of specific pesticides, while highlighting the challenges of aptasensors in achieving selectivity amidst diverse molecular structures., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to revolutionize medicine, offering vast improvements for plastic surgery. While human physicians are limited to one lifetime of experience, AI is poised to soon surpass human capabilities, as it draws on limitless information and continuous learning abilities. Nevertheless, as AI becomes increasingly prevalent in this domain, it gives rise to critical ethical considerations that must be addressed by professionals., Materials and Methods: This work reviews the literature referring to the ethical challenges brought on by the ever-expanding use of AI in plastic surgery and offers guidelines for its application., Results: Ethical challenges include the disclosure of use of AI by caregivers, validation of decision-making, data privacy, informed consent and autonomy, potential biases in AI systems, the opaque nature of AI models, questions of liability, and the need for regulations., Conclusions: There is a lack of consensus for the ethical use of AI in plastic surgery. Guidelines, such as those presented in this work, are needed within each discipline of medicine to respond to important ethical considerations for the safe use of AI., Level of Evidence V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2024. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

A tunable plasmonic sensor has been developed by varying the dextran content in the initially synthesized dextran-gold nanoparticle (dAuNPs) solution. A colloidal nanogold solution (dAuNPs-Sol) was initially prepared using dextran and gold salt in alkaline media by a one-pot green synthetic route. The dAuNPs-Sol was combined with varying amounts of dextran (ranging from 0.01 to 30.01%) to create a tunable probe, along with different solid formats, including tablet (dAuNPs-Tab), powder (dAuNPs-Powder), and composite (dAuNPs-Comp). Both the liquid and solid phase plasmonic probes were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. The impact of dextran content in the dAuNP solution is studied in terms of surface charge and hydrodynamic size. The influence of operational treatments used to achieve solid dAuNPs probes is also explored. All plasmonic probes were employed to detect a broad range of OCl¯ concentrations (ranging from µM to mM) in water through aggregation followed by calculating a lower and upper limit of detection (LLoD, ULoD) of the proposed colorimetric sensors. Results indicate that the most sensitive detection is achieved with a lower dextran content (0.01%), which exhibits an LLoD of 50 µM. The dAuNPs-Sol sensor is selective and demonstrates real-world applicability, as confirmed by interference analysis and successful testing with various water samples. Additionally, it is found that a 20 × concentration of dextran-coated gold nanoparticles could be attained without any changes in the particle morphology. This concentration is achieved through a straightforward process that does not require the use of a centrifuge machine. This finding highlights the practicality and simplicity of the method, indicating its potential for scalable and cost-effective production of concentrated dAuNPs without compromising their structural integrity., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) exhibit broad fluorescent spectra from visible to near-infrared regions and good enzyme-mimicking catalytic activities. Combined with excellent stability and exceptional biocompatibility, the Au NCs have been widely exploited in biomedicine such as biocatalysis and bioimaging. Especially, the long fluorescence lifetime and large Stokes shift attribute Au NCs to good probes for fluorescence sensing and biological detection. In this review, we systematically summarized the molecular structure and fluorescence properties of Au NCs and highlighted the advances in fluorescence sensing and biological detection. The Au NCs display high sensitivity and specificity in detecting iodine ions, metal ions, and reactive oxygen species, as well as certain diseases based on the fluorescence activities of Au NCs. We also proposed several points to improve the practicability and accelerate the clinical translation of the Au NCs., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

MicroRNA detection is crucial for early infectious disease diagnosis and rapid cancer screening. However, conventional techniques like reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, requiring specialized training and intricate procedures, are less suitable for point-of-care analyses. To address this, we've developed a straightforward amplifier based on an exonuclease III (exo III)-propelled DNAzyme walker for sensitive and selective microRNA detection. This amplifier employs a specially designed hairpin probe with two exposed segments for strand recognition. Once the target microRNA is identified by the hairpin's extended single-strand DNA, exo III initiates its digestion, allowing microRNA regeneration and subsequent hairpin probe digestion cycles. This cyclical process produces a significant amount of DNAzyme, leading to a marked reduction in electrochemical signals. The biosensor exhibits a detection range from 10 fM to 100 pM and achieves a detection limit of 5 fM (3σ criterion). Importantly, by integrating an "And logic gate," our system gains the capacity for simultaneous diagnosis of multiple microRNAs, enhancing its applicability in RNA-based disease diagnostics., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

This study presents a groundbreaking approach for the early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other urological disorders through an image-label-free, multi-dipstick identification method, eliminating the need for complex machinery, label libraries, or preset coordinates. Our research successfully identified reaction pads on 187 multi-dipsticks, each with 11 pads, leveraging machine learning algorithms trained on human urine data. This technique aims to surpass traditional colourimetric methods and concentration-colour curve fitting, offering more robust and precise community screening and home monitoring capabilities. The developed algorithms enhance the generalizability of machine learning models by extracting primary colours and correcting urine colours on each reaction pad. This method's cost-effectiveness and portability are significant, as it requires no additional equipment beyond a standard smartphone. The system's performance rivals professional medical equipment without auxiliary lighting or flash under regular indoor light conditions, effectively managing false positives and negatives across various categories with remarkable accuracy. In a controlled experimental setting, we found that random forest algorithms, based on a Bagging strategy and applied in the HSV colour space, showed optimal results in smartphone-assisted urinalysis. This study also introduces a novel urine colour correction method, significantly improving machine learning model performance. Additionally, ISO parameters were identified as crucial factors influencing the accuracy of smartphone-based urinalysis in the absence of additional lighting or optical configurations, highlighting the potential of this technology in low-resource settings., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), a severe side effect caused by antiresorptive antiangiogenic medication, particularly bisphosphonates (BPs), has become a challenging disease with serious and profound effects on the physical and mental health of patients. Although it occurs with high frequency and is harmful, the exact mechanism of MRONJ remains unknown, and systematic and targeted approaches are still lacking. Maxillofacial surgeons focus on the etiology of osteonecrosis in the mandible and maxilla as well as the appropriate oral interventions for high-risk patients. Adequate nursing care and pharmacotherapy management are also crucial. This review provides a current overview of the clinicopathologic feature and research of MRONJ caused by BPs, with an emphasis on the potential mechanisms and current therapy and prevention strategies of the disease. We are of the opinion that an in-depth comprehension of the mechanisms underlying MRONJ will facilitate the development of more precise and efficacious therapeutic approaches, resulting in enhanced clinical outcomes for patients., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Violent injury varies widely across England and Wales as does the price of alcohol. While the links between alcohol consumption and violence are well established in the medical and epidemiological literature, a causal link is questionable. This paper cuts through the causative argument by reporting a link between the general price of alcohol and violence-related injury across the economic regions of England and Wales. It examines the influence of the real price of alcohol and identifies an 'April effect' that coincides with the annual uprating of alcohol prices for excise duties, on violence-related injuries recorded at Emergency Department attendance. The data are monthly frequency of violent injury rates covering the period 2005-2014 across the economic regions. The principal finding is that a one-way relationship between the real price of alcohol and violent injury is established, and tax policy can be used to reduce the incidence of violent injury and the associated health costs., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

We investigate the association between education and disease-specific medications in old age, prescribed by medical doctors, accounting for confounders and how this association is shaped by intelligence. We use administrative data on men including prescribed medication records. To account for endogeneity of education we estimate a structural model, consisting of (i) an ordered probit for educational attainment, (ii) a Gompertz mortality model for survival up to old age, (iii) a probit model for prescribed medications in old age, (iv) a measurement system using IQ tests to identify latent intelligence. The results suggest a strong effect of education on prescribed medications for most medications, except for prescribed medication for cardiac diseases and for depression and anxiety., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Tori and exostoses are considered risk factors for the development of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). The aims of this study were to present the prevalence of MRONJ located at tori in the Copenhagen ONJ Cohort, evaluate the surgical treatment of MRONJ located at tori and explore trauma to tori as an additional risk factor in patients on antiresorptive medication., Methods: Data from a consecutive series of 506 patients with MRONJ (Copenhagen ONJ Cohort) were reviewed for the presence of tori and MRONJ located at tori. Demographic and medical data were analyzed, and healing outcomes and pain after the prophylactic removal of tori, surgical treatment of MRONJ located at tori, and conservative treatment of MRONJ located at tori were evaluated and compared using Fisher's exact test., Results: MRONJ located at tori was frequent and could be identified in 53% of the patients with tori, which accounts for a prevalence of 5.1% in the entire cohort. Of the 28 surgically treated patients, 27 (96.4%) healed uneventfully with no exposed bone after their first or second revision surgery. Fourteen (41.2%) patients with tori underwent therapeutic removal, eight (23.5%) underwent prophylactic removal, and six (17.6%) underwent both therapeutic and prophylactic removals. Two (33.3%) of the six conservatively treated patients healed spontaneously. Both treatment types resulted in a significant decrease in pain., Conclusion: Prophylactic and therapeutic surgical removal of tori are reliable treatments and should be considered if a patient's general health allows surgery., Trial Registration: The study was approved by the Regional Scientific Ethical Committee (H-6-2013-010) on November 20, 2013, and was retrospectively registered., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The current research focused on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Duabanga grandiflora leaf extract. The green synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by the surface plasmon resonance band at 453 nm in a UV-Visible analysis. The formulated AgNPs had a diameter of around 99.72 nm with a spherical shape. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum revealed the bio-reducing potential of phytochemicals present in D. grandiflora, which fundamentally influenced the synthesis of AgNPs. Zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopic (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analyses were executed to reveal the physicochemical attributes of the AgNPs. The AgNPs were further investigated for their antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antibacterial potential. The DPPH free radical assay revealed the potential radical scavenging capacity (IC 50  = 76.73 μg/ml) of green synthesized AgNPs. α-Amylase inhibitory assay displayed significant inhibitory potential (IC 50  = 162.11 μg/ml) of this starch-breaking enzyme by AgNPs, revealing the antidiabetic potential of AgNPs. AgNPs exhibited potential cytotoxic activity (IC 50  = 244.57 µg/ml) against malignant human kidney cells. In addition, AgNPs showed outstanding antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial strains. Interestingly, AgNPs showed cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities at much higher concentrations than radical scavenging and α-amylase inhibitory concentrations. Thus, our finding elaborated the scope of green synthesized AgNPs for diverse therapeutic applications (dose-dependent) for further clinical translation., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The exceptional ascending heights of graphene (carbon) and boron nitride nanostructures have invited scientists to explore metal nitride nanomaterials. Herein, Zn 3 N 2 quantum dots (QDs) were prepared via a simple hydrothermal route from the reaction between zinc nitrate hexahydrate and ammonia solution that possess efficient strength towards sensing applications of metal ions (Cu 2+ and Mn 2+ ). The as-prepared Zn 3 N 2 QDs show bright fluorescence, displaying an emission peak at 408 nm upon excitation at 320 nm, with a quantum yield (QY) of 29.56%. It was noticed that the fluorescence intensity of Zn 3 N 2 QDs linearly decreases with the independent addition of Cu 2+ and Mn 2+ ions, displaying good linearity in the ranges 2.5-50 µM and 0.05-5 µM with detection limits of 21.77 nM and of 63.82 nM for Cu 2+ and Mn 2+ ions, respectively. The probe was successfully tested for quantifying Cu 2+ and Mn 2+ in real samples including river, canal, and tap water, providing good recoveries with a relative standard deviation  < 2%. Furthermore, the masking proposition can successfully eliminate the interference if the two metal ions exist together. It was found that thiourea is efficiently able to mask Cu 2+ and selectively quenches Mn 2+ , and L-cysteine is able to halt the quenching potential of Mn 2+ and is selectively able to sense Cu 2+ . The Zn 3 N 2 QDs provide a simple way for the simultaneous detection of both Cu 2+ and Mn 2+ ions in environmental samples at low sample preparations requirements., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

A magnetic fluorescent molecularly imprinted sensor was successfully prepared and implemented to determine catechol (CT). Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were synthesized by the solvothermal technique and mesoporous Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @mSiO 2 imprinted carriers were prepared by coating nonporous and mesoporous SiO 2 shells on the surface of the Fe 3 O 4 subsequently. The magnetic surface molecularly imprinted fluorescent sensor was created after the magnetic mesoporous carriers were modified with γ-methacryloxyl propyl trimethoxy silane to introduce double bonds on the surface of the carries and the polymerization was carried out in the presence of CT and fluorescent monomers. The magnetic mesoporous carriers were modified with γ-methacryloxyl propyl trimethoxy silane and double bonds were introduced on the surface of the carriers. After CT binding with the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), the fluorescent intensity of the molecularly imprinted polymers (E x  = 400 nm, E m  = 523 nm) increased significantly. The fluorescent intensity ratio (F/F 0 ) of the sensor demonstrated a favorable linear correlation with the concentration of CT between 5 and 50 μM with a detection limit of 0.025 μM. Furthermore, the sensor was successfully applied to determine CT in actual samples with recoveries of 96.4-105% and relative standard deviations were lower than 3.5%. The results indicated that the research of our present work provided an efficient approach for swiftly and accurately determining organic pollutant in water., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

A novel luminol derivative of N-(1,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophthalazin-5-yl)acrylamide (DTA) with excellent luminescence efficiency was designed and synthesized. Furthermore, a molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor (MIECLS) was fabricated to detect ultratrace levels of human serum albumin (HSA) with high sensitivity and selectivity via a click reaction. The molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were formed on the electrode surface via electropolymerization with HSA as a template molecule and catechol as a monomer. In the detection process, the -SH group of HSA on the electrode and the C = C bond of acryloyl group in DTA formed a new C-S bond via the Michael addition reaction to construct the MIECLS. The higher the concentration of HSA, the greater electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity measured. Taking advantage of MIECLS for ECL detection (scanning potential, - 0.4 to 0.5 V), there was a good linear relationship between ECL intensity and the logarithm of HSA concentration in the range 5 × 10 -9 to 1 × 10 -13  mg mL -1 . The limit of detection (LOD) of the sensor was 1.05 × 10 -15  mg mL -1 . The sensor exhibited outstanding selectivity and stability. The sensor was applied to detect HSA in human serum with good recoveries of 97.7-105.2%. The concentration of HSA was detected by electrochemical method using the gating effect of MIP., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Salmonella contamination is a major global health challenge, causing significant foodborne illness. However, current detection methods face limitations in sensitivity and time, which mostly rely on the culture-based detection techniques. Hence, there is an immediate and critical need to enhance early detection, reduce the incidence and impact of Salmonella contamination resulting in outbreaks. In this work, we demonstrate a portable non-faradaic, electrochemical sensing platform capable of detecting Salmonella in potable water with an assay turnaround time of ~ 9 min. We evaluated the effectiveness of this sensing platform by studying two sensor configurations: one utilizing pure gold (Au) and the other incorporating a semiconductor namely a zinc oxide thin film coated on the surface of the gold (Au/ZnO). The inclusion of zinc oxide was intended to enhance the sensing capabilities of the system. Through comprehensive experimentation and analysis, the LoD (limit of detection) values for the Au sensor and Au/ZnO sensor were 0.9 and 0.6 CFU/mL, respectively. In addition to sensitivity, we examined the sensing platform's precision and reproducibility. Both the Au sensor and Au/ZnO sensor exhibited remarkable consistency, with inter-study percentage coefficient of variation (%CV) and intra-study %CV consistently below 10%. The proposed sensing platform exhibits high sensitivity in detecting low concentrations of Salmonella in potable water. Its successful development demonstrates its potential as a rapid and on-site detection tool, offering portability and ease of use. This research opens new avenues for electrochemical-based sensors in food safety and public health, mitigating Salmonella outbreaks and improving water quality monitoring., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Bisphenol A (BPA), an important endocrine disrupting compound, has infiltrated human daily lives through electronic devices, food containers, and children's toys. Developing of novel BPA assay methods with high sensitivity holds tremendous importance in valuing the pollution state. Here, we constructed an ultrasensitive photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor for BPA determination by regulating photoactivities of CdS/Ni-based metal-organic framework (CdS/Ni-MOF) with [Ru(bpy) 2 dppz] 2+ sensitizer. CdS/Ni-MOF spheres exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance, serving as a potential sensing platform for the construction of target recognition process. [Ru(bpy) 2 dppz] 2+ were embedded into DNA double-stranded structure, functioning as sensitizer for modulating the signal response of the developed PEC aptasensor. The proposed PEC sensor exhibited outstanding analytical performances, including a wide linear range (0.1 to 1000.0 nM), low detection limit (0.026 nM, at 3σ/m), excellent selectivity, and high stability. This work provides a perspective for the design of ideal photosensitive materials and signal amplification strategies and extends their application in environment analysis., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

An innovative electrochemical sensor is introduced that utilizes bipolar electrochemistry on a paper substrate for detecting glucose in sweat. The sensor employs a three-dimensional porous nanocomposite (MXene/NiSm-LDH) formed by decorating nickel-samarium nanoparticles with double-layer MXene hydroxide. These specially designed electrodes exhibit exceptional electrocatalytic activity during glucose oxidation. The glucose sensing mechanism involves enzyme-free oxidation of the analyte within the sensor cell, achieved by applying an appropriate potential. This leads to the reduction of K 3 Fe(CN) 6 in the reporter cell, and the resulting current serves as the response signal. By optimizing various parameters, the measurement platform enables the accurate determination of sweat glucose concentrations within a linear range of 10 to 200 µM. The limit of detection (LOD) for glucose is 3.6 µM (S/N = 3), indicating a sensitive and reliable detection capability. Real samples were analysed  to validate the sensor's efficiency, and the results obtained were both promising and encouraging., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Bioaerosols are airborne suspensions of fine solid or liquid particles containing biological substances such as viruses, bacteria, cellular debris, fungal spores, mycelium, and byproducts of microbial metabolism. The global Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the previous emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and influenza have increased the need for reliable and effective monitoring tools for bioaerosols. Bioaerosol collection and detection have aroused considerable attention. Current bioaerosol sampling and detection techniques suffer from long response time, low sensitivity, and high costs, and these drawbacks have forced the development of novel monitoring strategies. Microfluidic technique is considered a breakthrough for high performance analysis of bioaerosols. In recent years, several emerging methods based on microfluidics have been developed and reported for collection and detection of bioaerosols. The unique advantages of microfluidic technique have enabled the integration of bioaerosol collection and detection, which has a higher efficiency over conventional methods. This review focused on the research progress of bioaerosol collection and detection methods based on microfluidic techniques, with special attention on virus aerosols and bacterial aerosols. Different from the existing reviews, this work took a unique perspective of the targets to be collected and detected in bioaerosols, which would provide a direct index of bioaerosol categories readers may be interested in. We also discussed integrated microfluidic monitoring system for bioaerosols. Additionally, the application of bioaerosol detection in biomedicine was presented. Finally, the current challenges in the field of bioaerosol monitoring are presented and an outlook given of future developments., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Phosphorous necrosis of the jaw (PNJ) exhibits similar clinical and pathological features as medical-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). This study aims at comparing the similarities and differences between PNJ and MRONJ regarding pathological features and to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical diagnosis and management of PNJ., Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted to assess clinical differences among 38 PNJ patients and 31 MRONJ patients, who were diagnosed and treated between January 2009 and October 2022. Pathological alterations in bone tissue were evaluated using EDS, H&E, Masson, and TRAP staining on five specimens from both MRONJ and PNJ cases; furthermore, immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression levels of OPG, RANKL, and Runx2. The mandibular coronoid process was removed from individuals with temporomandibular joint ankylosis to serve as a control., Results: CBCT imaging demonstrated necrotic bone formation in block, strip, or plaque shapes. EDS analysis showed that the calcium/phosphorus ratio in the bone tissue of PNJ and MRONJ was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, staining indicated reduced osteoblast counts, disrupted bone trabecular structure, and decreased collagen fiber content in the bone tissues of PNJ and MRONJ. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that RANKL expression was significantly lower in MRONJ compared to PNJ and control groups (P < 0.05). Conversely, Runx2 expression was significantly higher in PNJ than in MRONJ and control groups (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in OPG expression., Conclusion: PNJ and MRONJ demonstrate comparable clinical manifestations and pathological traits, although disparities may exist in their underlying exhibit comparable clinical manifestations, pathological traits, and molecular mechanisms., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The discovery of enzyme-like catalytic characteristics in nanomaterials triggers the generation of nanozymes and their multifarious applications. As a class of artificial mimetic enzymes, nanozymes are widely recognized to have better stability and lower cost than natural bio-enzymes, but the lack of catalytic specificity hinders their wider use. To solve the problem, several potential strategies are explored, among which molecular imprinting attracts much attention because of its powerful capacity for creating specific binding cavities as biomimetic receptors. Attractively, introducing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) onto nanozyme surfaces can make an impact on the latter's catalytic activity. As a result, in recent years, MIPs featuring universal fabrication, low cost, and good stability have been intensively integrated with nanozymes for biochemical detection. In this critical review, we first summarize the general fabrication of nanozyme@MIPs, followed by clarifying the potential effects of molecular imprinting on the catalytic performance of nanozymes in terms of selectivity and activity. Typical examples are emphatically discussed to highlight the latest progress of nanozyme@MIPs applied in catalytic analysis. In the end, personal viewpoints on the future directions of nanozyme@MIPs are presented, to provide a reference for studying the interactions between MIPs and nanozymes and attract more efforts to advance this promising area., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: This study aimed to verify whether tooth extraction before the administration of bone-modifying agents (BMA) was effective in preventing the onset of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ)., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients with a history of receiving BMA for cancer treatment. The patients were classified into three groups based on the timing of tooth extraction: no tooth extraction before the onset of MRONJ, tooth extraction before the administration of BMA, and tooth extraction after the administration of BMA. The incidence of MRONJ was compared between the groups. Fisher's exact test and Bonferroni correction were used to test for differences in proportions between the three groups., Results: The total number of subjects was 123. Twenty-four patients (19.5%) developed MRONJ. The incidence rates were 12.3% (10/81), 17.9% (5/28), and 64.3% (9/14) in the non-extraction group, the extraction before BMA administration group, and the extraction after BMA administration group, respectively, showing statistically significant differences between the extraction after BMA administration group and the non-extraction groups and between the extraction after BMA administration group and the extraction before BMA administration group (p < 0.001, p = 0.0049). On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference in incidence between the non-extraction and the extraction before BMA administration group (p = 0.5274)., Conclusions: Tooth extraction before the administration of BMA is effective in preventing the onset of MRONJ in patients receiving BMA for cancer treatment. Prevention of MRONJ development in patients receiving BMA for cancer treatment contributes to the maintenance of patients' quality of life., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A novel portable smartphone-assisted colorimetric method was reported for the determination of Hg 2+ with good analytical performance. A Zr(IV)-based metal-organic framework functionalized with amino groups (NH 2 -UiO-66) has been adopted as a supporting platform to anchor gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), avoiding the migration and aggregation of AuNPs. With the addition of Hg 2+ , the formation of gold amalgam proved possible to enhance peroxidase-like activity of the composite (AuNPs/NH 2 -UiO-66), accelerating the oxidization of zymolyte 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). In the meantime, the color of the reaction solution turned a vivid blue, and the red, green, and blue (RGB) values of the solution color changed accordingly. On account of this strategy, the quantitative detection of Hg 2+ could be achieved. After the optimization of the experiment conditions, the average color intensity (I c ) resulting from RGB values was linear related to the concentration of Hg 2+ from 10 to 100 nM, accompanied with a detection limit (LOD) down to 5.4 nM calculated by 3σ/S. The successful application of the designed method has been promoted to detect Hg 2+ in some water samples, displaying a great potential in practical application. Furthermore, the use of a smartphone made our proposed method simple and accurate, and thus puts forward a possible way for in situ and real-time monitoring., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

The rising crime rate associated with document forgery has a significant impact on public safety and social stability. In document fraud cases, determining the origin of a particular stamp-pad ink is the most important objective. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the volatile compounds in quick-drying stamp-pad inks from six commonly used brands were performed for the first time, utilizing a combination of headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) and multivariate statistical analysis methods. Visual and comparative analysis of the differential volatile components among different stamp-pad ink samples was conducted using fingerprints and volcano plots. A total of 127 volatile compounds were accurately identified, with ketones, esters, alcohols, and aldehydes being the most abundant compounds in the stamp-pad inks. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), including dendrograms and clustering heatmaps, was utilized to explore the correlations between these compounds and the samples. Additionally, the precise identification of positional isomers and functional group isomers of aliphatic compounds was achieved. To achieve accurate discrimination of various stamp-pad ink samples, a multivariate statistical analysis method was utilized to establish a classification model for them. Based on the results obtained from HS-GC-IMS, effective discrimination among different brands of stamp-pad ink samples was achieved through principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The model exhibited excellent performance, with the fit index of dependent variables (R 2 Y) and the predictive index of the model (Q 2 ) values of 0.99 and 0.984, respectively. These results provided significant theoretical evidence for the application of HS-GC-IMS as an efficient technique in the analysis of volatile compounds, identification of positional isomers and functional group isomers, as well as tracing the origin of stamp-pad ink and analyzing the formation time of documents., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Facelift surgery, also known as rhytidectomy, is a commonly performed procedure to address aging-related changes in the face and neck. Over the years, its techniques and methodologies have evolved. This study aimed to provide a bibliometric analysis of the top 50 most cited publications related to facelift surgery over a fifty-year period (1973-2023)., Methods: The authors obtained data from the Web of Science Core Collection on July 15, 2023. Using a predefined search strategy, the most cited articles from 1973 to 2023 on facelift surgery were identified. The publications were analyzed for their type of study, journal of publication, geographic origin, and primary outcomes. Furthermore, the authorship gender distribution was assessed., Results: The majority of the publications (34 out of 50) were published in the "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery" journal. The USA contributed to 72% of the research, followed by the UK, Mexico, Australia, and Germany. The primary outcomes varied from surgical techniques, anatomical studies, risk factors, patient-specific outcomes, and facial rejuvenation techniques, to comparative and historical progression of techniques. Notably, male authors dominated the field with 47 out of 50 papers having both a first and senior male author., Conclusion: Facelift surgery has seen substantial research development over the past fifty years. The USA has been at the forefront of this research, with a predominant focus on surgical techniques and anatomical studies. Male dominance in authorship indicates potential scope for increased gender diversity in this specialty. Annual updates are recommended for continued insights., Level of Evidence Iii: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2023. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

Enzyme activity assays play a crucial role in numerous fields, including biotechnology, the food industry, and clinical diagnostics. Lipases are particularly important enzymes due to their widespread use in lipid metabolism and esterification reactions. Here, we present a pioneering method for the sensitive and selective determination of lipase activity using green carbon dots (G-CDs) for first time. G-CDs are a fascinating class of carbon nanomaterials with unique optical properties and biocompatibility, making them ideal candidates for enzyme activity assays. This approach eliminates the need for traditional fluorophores or chromogenic substrates, reducing costs, fast response time (1 min), and environmental impact with a quantum yield (QY) of 7.42%. As designed, the G-CDs fluorescent probe turn-on demonstrated a reliable linear detection range from 0 to 9 mg/mL under ideal conditions, with detection limit of 0.01 mg/mL and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.045 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the G-CDs system was thoroughly evaluated in human serum samples, showing recoveries ranging from 100.0 to 105.0%. These findings highlight the promising applicability of the G-CDs probe for lipase detection, yielding highly favorable results., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Snakebite in India is a severe problem as it causes a mortality rate of 58,000 and a disability rate of 140,000 every year which is the highest among any other country. Antivenom is the primary therapy for snakebite, and its manufacturing techniques have essentially stayed unaltered for over a century. Indian polyvalent antivenom, a scientifically validated medicine for treating the toxic effects of snakebites, is available against the venom of the so-called Big Four snakes namely Spectacled cobra (Naja naja), Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus), Russell's viper (Daboia russelli) and the Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), responsible for majority of the deaths in India. India hosts many other species of snakes, including cobras, kraits, saw-scaled vipers, sea snakes, and pit vipers, responsible for clinically severe envenomation. Neutralization strategy has been applied to access the efficacy of antivenoms, crucial for reducing snake bite deaths and disabilities. This review aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the neutralization efficiency of the Polyvalent Antivenom (PAV) and focus on the factors that may contribute to the poor recognition of the antivenom towards the venom toxins. Reports focusing on the investigation of antivenom efficacy were searched and collected from several databases. Preclinical studies that reported the neutralization efficacy of the commercial antivenom against the medically important snakes of India were included. The articles were screened based on the inclusion criteria and 8 studies were shortlisted for meta-analysis. Pooled proportion was calculated for the antivenom efficacy reported by the studies and was found to be statistically significant with a 95% confidence interval. The heterogenicity in the venom toxicity and neutralization potency of the antivenom was evident in the overall estimate (proportion) and individual data. We provide comprehensive evidence on antivenom efficacy against medically important snakes from various parts of India which may aid in identifying the gaps in snake envenomation therapy and the need for novel potentially improved treatment of snakebites., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A general and adaptable method is proposed to reliably extract quantitative information from smartphone images of microfluidic sensors. By analyzing and processing the color information of selected standard substances, the influence of light conditions, device differences, and human factors could be significantly reduced. Machine learning and multivariate fitting methods were proved to be effective for chroma correction, and a key element was the training of sample size and the fitting form, respectively. A custom APP was developed and validated using a high-sensitivity chromium ion quantification paper chip. The average chroma deviations under different conditions were reduced by more than 75% in RGB color space, and the concentration test error was reduced by more than half compared with the commonly used method. The proposed approach could be a beneficial supplement to existing and potential colorimetry-based detection methods., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

This study evaluates a complex telemedicine-based intervention targeting patients with chronic health problems. Computer tablets and home telemonitoring devices are used by patients to report point-of-care measurements, e.g., blood pressure, blood glucose or oxygen saturation, and to answer health-related questions at a follow-up center. We designed a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to compare the telemedicine-based intervention with usual care in six local centers in Norway. The study outcomes included health-related quality of life (HRQoL) based on the EuroQol questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), patient experiences, and utilization of healthcare. We also conducted a cost-benefit analysis to inform policy implementation, as well as a process evaluation (reported elsewhere). We used mixed methods to analyze data collected during the trial (health data, survey data and interviews with patients and health personnel) as well as data from national health registers. 735 patients were included during the period from February 2019 to June 2020. One year after inclusion, the effects on the use of healthcare services were mixed. The proportion of patients receiving home-based care services declined, but the number of GP contacts increased in the intervention group compared to the control group. Participants in the intervention group experienced improved HRQoL compared to the control group and were more satisfied with the follow-up of their health. The cost-benefit of the intervention depends largely on the design of the service and the value society places on improved safety and self-efficacy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in women worldwide, and its incidence is increasing every year. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to improve the curability and prognosis of patients. However, existing detection methods often suffer from insufficient sensitivity and specificity, which limits their clinical application. Fortunately, the rapid development of nanotechnology offers new possibilities for diagnosing BC. For example, the unique physicochemical properties of gold nanomaterials (Au NMs), such as fascinating optical properties and quantum size effect, along with excellent biocompatibility and modifiability, enable them to manifest great potential in the field of biosensing, especially in the detection of BC biomarkers. Through fine surface modification and functionalization, Au NMs can accurately bind to specific antibodies, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules, thus achieving sensitive and precise detection of specific biomarkers. Here, we focus on the research progress of Au NMs as a key biosensing vector in BC biomarker detection. From four major perspectives of early diagnosis, prognostic evaluation, risk prediction, and bioimaging applications, we have thoroughly analyzed the broad application of Au NMs in BC biomarker detection and prospectively addressed its possible future trends. We hope this review will provide more comprehensive ideas for future researchers and promote the further development of this field., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

A high-throughput surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-sensing platform is presented for FNT detection in human urine without any sample preparation. The sensing platform is based on plasmonics-active silver-coated sharply branched gold nanostars (SGNS). The effect of silver thickness was investigated experimentally and theoretically, and the results indicated that SERS enhancement was maximum at an optimum silver thickness of 45 nm on the sharply spiked SGNS. The proposed high-throughput SERS platform exhibited ultrahigh sensitivity and excellent enhancement uniformity for a model analyte, i.e., crystal violet. Moreover, the SERS-sensing platform demonstrated good sensitivity of FNT spiked in human urine samples with two differential linear response ranges of 2 to 0.2 µg/mL and 0.1 µg/mL to 100 pg/mL, respectively,  with a detection limit as low as 10.02 pg/mL. The spiked human urine samples show satisfactory recovery values from 92.5 to 102% with relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 10%. In summary, the high-throughput performance of the proposed microplate-based SERS platform demonstrated great potential for rapid low-cost SERS-based sensing applications., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

A lateral flow assay (LFA) strip based on dual 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB)-encoded satellite Fe 3 O 4 @Au (Mag@Au) SERS tags with nanogap is reported for  ultrasensitive and simultaneous diagnosis of two SARS-CoV-2 functional proteins. Composed of Fe 3 O 4 core, satellite gold shell with nanogaps, and double-layer DTNB, the Mag@Au nanoparticles with an average size of 238 nm were designed as multifunctional tags to efficiently enrich the target SARS-CoV-2 protein from complex samples, significantly enhancing the SERS signal of the LFA strip and provide quantitative SERS detection of analyte on test lines. The developed dual DTNB-encoded satellite Mag@Au-based LFA allowed simultaneous quantification of spike (S) protein and nucleocapsid (NP) protein with detection limits of 23 pg mL -1 and 2 pg mL -1 , respectively, lower than commercial ELISA kits and reported SERS-LFA detection system-based Au NPs and Fe 3 O 4 @3 nm Au MNPs. This magnetic SERS-LFA also showed high performance of multi-variant strain detection and further distinguished clinical samples of Omicron variant infection, demonstrating the potential of in situ detection of respiratory virus diseases., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the levels of halitosis in patients with Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and osteoporosis and to suggest a new MRONJ screening method using halitosis measurement., Materials and Methods: From October 2019 to April 2023, participants aged 19 years or older without periodontal disease were selected. Seventy-five participants, 25 in each group, were divided into an MRONJ group, an osteoporosis group without MRONJ, and a control group without osteoporosis and not taking osteoporosis drugs or antibiotics. Each participant underwent halitosis assessment twice using an exhaled breath analyzer to measure halitosis twice by blowing a straw for 1 min. Measured concentrations of hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and methyl mercaptan were compared between groups., Results: Data from 22 patients in the MRONJ group, 25 in the osteoporosis group, and 25 in the control group were analyzed. The concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan were significantly higher in the MRONJ group than in the other groups, but the concentrations of hydrogen did not differ between the groups. When comparing the concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan in osteoporosis patients and solid cancer patients in the MRONJ group, there was a significant difference in hydrogen sulfide concentration, but there was no significant difference in methyl mercaptan., Conclusions: Quantifying the level of halitosis can be used to screen for MRONJ in patients taking bisphosphonates, such as patients with osteoporosis, prostate cancer, and breast cancer., Clinical Relevance: MRONJ is accompanied by bad breath, and the concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan are associated with MRONJ., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A natural stress response induces elevated cortisol levels in biological fluids, such as saliva. While current sensor technologies can detect cortisol in real time, their sensitivity and reliability for human subjects have not been assured. This is due to relatively low concentrations of salivary cortisol, which fluctuate throughout the day and vary significantly between individuals. To address these challenges, we present an improved electrochemical biosensor leveraging graphene's exceptional conductivity and physicochemical properties. A 1-pyrenebutyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (PBASE-NHS)-modified commercial graphene foam (GF) electrode is presented to realize an ultra-sensitive biosensor for cortisol detection directly in human saliva. The biosensor fabrication process entails the attachment of anti-cortisol monoclonal antibodies (mAb-cort) onto a PBASE-NHS/GF electrode through noncovalent immobilization on the vertically stratified graphene foam electrode surface. This unique immobilization strategy preserves graphene's structural integrity and electrical conductivity while facilitating antibody immobilization. The binding of cortisol to immobilized mAb-cort is read out via differential pulse voltammetry using ferri/ferro redox reactions. The immunosensor demonstrates an exceptional dynamic range of 1.0 fg mL -1 to 10,000 pg mL -1 (R 2  = 0.9914) with a detection limit of 0.24 fg mL -1 (n = 3) for cortisol. Furthermore, we have established the reliability of cortisol sensors in monitoring human saliva. We have also performed multiple modes of validation, one against the established enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a second by a third-party service Salimetric on 16 student volunteers exposed to different stress levels, showing excellent correlation (r = 0.9961). These findings suggest the potential for using mAb-cort/PBASE-NHS/GF-based cortisol electrodes for monitoring salivary cortisol in the general population., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)