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Rationale and Objectives To quantitatively compare breast parenchymal texture between two Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) vendors using images from the same patients. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included consecutive patients who had normal screening DBT exams performed in January 2018 from GE and normal screening DBT exams in adjacent years from Hologic. Power spectrum analysis was performed within the breast tissue region. The slope of a linear function between log-frequency and log-power, β, was derived as a quantitative measure of breast texture and compared within and across vendors along with secondary parameters (laterality, view, year, image format, and breast density) with correlation tests and t-tests. Results A total of 24,339 DBT slices or synthetic 2D images from 85 exams in 25 women were analyzed. Strong power-law behavior was verified from all images. Values of β d did not differ significantly for laterality, view, or year. Significant differences of β were observed across vendors for DBT images (Hologic: 3.4±0.2 vs GE: 3.1±0.2, 95% CI on difference: 0.27 to 0.30) and synthetic 2D images (Hologic: 2.7±0.3 vs GE: 3.0±0.2, 95% CI on difference: -0.36 to -0.27), and density groups with each vendor: scattered (GE: 3.0±0.3, Hologic: 3.3±0.3) vs. heterogeneous (GE: 3.2±0.2, Hologic: 3.4±0.1), 95% CI (-0.27, -0.08) and (-0.21, -0.05), respectively. Conclusion There are quantitative differences in the presentation of breast imaging texture between DBT vendors and across breast density categories. Our findings have relevance and importance for development and optimization of AI algorithms related to breast density assessment and cancer detection.

Malnutrition is common in chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD5) and has negative clinical impacts. The aim of the present study is to evaluate bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) in diagnosing malnutrition in CKD5 including hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients (CKD5D) using cutoff values for fat-free mass index (FFMI) according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used as a reference method.We performed a single-center cross-sectional diagnostic study of 90 patients with CKD5 or CKD5D.BIS-derived FFMI estimates were significantly higher compared with those obtained by DXA (18.5 ± 2.6 vs.17.8 ± 2.0, P.05). The mean difference in FFMI estimates between the methods (DXA-BIS) and Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreements is -0.38 (2.76, -3.52) kg/mThe present study showed a limited agreement between estimates of FFMI derived by BIS and DXA due to a large interindividual variation. Using BIS as a clinical tool for assessing FFMI has limited accuracy and poor sensitivity in diagnosing malnutrition in patients with CKD5 and CKD5D.

In the present study, a water-soluble neutral polysaccharide (CAPW-1) with an average molecular weight of 64 kDa was purified from the root of Cynanchum atratum Bunge (Apocynaceae). The monosaccharide residue analysis revealed that CAPW-1 was composed of arabinose and galactose with a relative molar ratio of 7: 3. The backbone of CAPW-1 was consisted of 1,3-Galp and 1,3,6-Galp, the branches were attached to the O-6 of 1,3-Galp, and the side chains contained 1,6-Galp, 1,3,6-Galp, 1,5-linked, 1,3-linked, 1,3,5-linked, and terminal-Araf, which was attached to the O-3 of side 1,6-Galp. The bioactivity study indicated CAPW-1 could stimulate the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells and promote the secretion of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) with no cytotoxicity. The results suggested a potential application of CAPW-1 as an immunostimulant for the treatment of diseases such as infection and tumor.

Presented research aimed to develop a spray drying process without the use of organic solvents for the preparation of novel Karaya gum polymer microparticles (MPs) of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP). The prepared microparticles were characterized and evaluated. Prepared novel karaya gum micro-particles loaded Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP MPs) were observed an effect on cadmium (CAD) induced testicular toxicity. A total of 40 rats (male) was divided into 4 groups viz. 1. Control group, 2. GLP MPs (250 mg/kg, 60 days of b.w per day), 3. CAD (60 days of 30 mg/L/day), 4. GLP MPs + CAD. CAD was responsible for altering the sex hormones, oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, elevated levels of indicator of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde, and a reduced action of SOD, GSH, and CAT (antioxidant enzymes), were observed in the tissues of the testicles of CAD- treated group. Such harmful occurrences were followed by an up-regulation in proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) levels, protein expression of Nrf2, and HO-1 expression was decreased. GLP MPs pre-treatment significantly abrogated these toxic effects which were confirmed histologically. This study concluded that pre-treatment with GLP MPs exerts a protective effect against CAD-induced male reproductive testicular toxicity.

The accumulation and physicochemical properties of starch affect the eating quality of taro corm. This study aims to investigate the accumulation, morphology, and physicochemical properties of starch from inner and outer tissues in the top, middle, and basal parts of taro corm. Structural and morphological observations showed that the inner tissues of the taro corm accumulated more starch, and the middle tissue had moderate amylose content and the largest granule diameter. Starch from different tissues exhibited A-type orthorhombic structure and similar nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. The relative crystallinity of starch in the middle tissue was higher than that in the top and basal tissue. Compared with middle and basal tissue, starch from top tissue showed higher peak viscosity, pasting time, swelling power and solubility. Compared with the top and basal tissues, the middle tissue of taro corm exhibited higher index of eating quality including smell, texture, and total evaluation score. The results indicated that starches in various spatial parts of taro corm exhibit differences in accumulation, morphology, structure and physicochemical properties that lead to diverse eating qualities.

Fabrication of scaffolds with enhanced mechanical properties and desirable cellular compatibility is critical for numerous tissue engineering applications. This study was aimed at fabrication and characterization of a nanofiber skin substitute composed of collagen (Col)/sodium alginate (SA)/ polyethylene oxide (PEO)/Rhodotorula mucilaginosa sp. GUMS16 produced exopolysaccharides (EPS) were prepared using the biaxial electrospinning technique. This study used collagen extracted from the bovine tendon as a natural scaffold, sodium alginate as an absorber of excess wound fluids, and GUMS16 produced exopolysaccharides as an antioxidant. Collagen was characterized using FTIR and EDS analyses. The cross-linked nanofibers were characterized by SEM, FTIR, tensile, contact-angle, swelling test, MTT, and cell attachment techniques. The average diameter of Col nanofiber was 910 ± 89 nm. The Col and Col-SA/PEO non-woven mats' water contact angle measurement was 41.6o and 56.4o, Col/EPS1%, Col/EPS2%, Col-SA/PEO + EPS1%, and Col-SA/PEO + EPS2% were 61.4o, 58.3o, 38.5o, and 50.6o, respectively. Cell viability of more than 100% was shown in Col-SA/PEO + EPS nanofibers. Also, SEM images of cells on nanofiber scaffolds demonstrated that all nanofibers incorporated with GUMS16-produced EPS have good cell growth and proliferation. The acquired results expressed that the GUMS16-produced EPS can be considered a novel biomacromolecule in electrospun fibers that increase cell viability and proliferation.

The effects of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) on the pasting, rheological, and physical properties of yam starch (YS) were investigated. Different concentrations of CMCS were added to the YS, followed by heating paste treatment at 95 °C. Then the blends were subjected to the determination of physicochemical, rheological properties and in vitro digestibility. Our results showed that CMCS reduced the paste viscosity of YS and the addition of CMCS did not effectively inhibit the movement of water molecules. Rheological measurements results showed that YS-CMCS blends exhibited shear thinning behavior. Furthermore, because of the presence of amylose inhibited the swelling of the starch and leaching of amylose, the addition of CMCS had no significant difference between solubility and swelling power of YS.

Injectable hydrogels have been known as promising materials for the regeneration of irregular shape tissue defects. In this study, novel thermosensitive methylcellulose (MC) hydrogels containing bassorin (Ba) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) have been developed for application in bone tissue engineering. Bassorin isolated from gum tragacanth (GT) with the concentration of 0.25-1.5 w/v% was blended with MC. The best MC/Ba gel (containing 0.5% bassorin) was chosen based on the results of injectability and rheological tests. HNTs (1-7%) were added to this formulation and tested for the physicochemical, mechanical, rheological, degradation, swelling, and biological properties. In vitro biological evaluations including cell proliferation (by MTT assay), cell attachment (by SEM), osteogenic activity (by Alizarin Red staining and alkaline phosphatase assay), and osteogenic gene expression (by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) were done using MG-63 cells. Results showed that bassorin led to the increased gel-forming ability (at a lower temperature) and mechanical properties of MC hydrogel. The presence of HNTs and bassorin affected the degradation rate and swelling degree of MC-based hydrogel. Results showed significant enhancement in cell proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization, as well as higher bone-specific gene expression of the cell on bassorin and HNTs incorporated MC compared to pure MC hydrogel.

The current study reports the preparation of lignin grafted temperature and pH responsive hydrogels through copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide, acrylic acid and varying amount of lignin methacrylate (LMA = 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg) as crosslinker adopting radical polymerization technique. Functional group and structural characterizations were carried out to confirm hydrogels synthesis and their network structure. The variation in pore size on addition of lignin revealed the tuning of pores as well as swelling capacity of the hydrogels by suitable amount of LMA. All LMA grafted hydrogels showed temperature responsive behavior and pH dependent sensitivity in swelling, with reduced equilibrium swelling capacity values compared to sample without lignin. In alkali medium at room temperature, the maximum swelling capacity with 48% higher retention was noticed, while a significant reduction in swelling was observed at 40 °C in all media. The addition of lignin still preserved the tensile strength up to 100 kPa and compressive load bearing ability up to 30 kPa in freeze dried state with adequate interfacial stress transfer. An increase in lignin concentration showed enhanced storage modulus (~two-fold increase), adequate loss modulus values and improved cell viability, which paves the way for possible biomedical applications.

The conjugation of monoclonal antibodies with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) has appeared as a potential multifunctional clinical tool, which can effectively diagnose cancers and monitor their treatment, specifically. Despite the presence of different methods for conjugating antibodies to iron oxide nanoparticles, novel cost-effective and simpler conjugation techniques should be performed in this regard. In current study, an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody was conjugated to the Fe3O4 coated by carboxymethyl dextran (CMD) using cyanogen bromide (CNBr). Moreover, EDC/NHS techniques were applied as a positive control. The experimental results showed that the Conjugation was performed and the presence of the antibody conjugated to the MNPs in human xenograft tumors was confirmed using Prussian blue (PB) staining, following magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 30 min after injection. This conjugation method was shown to be able to separate CD3+ T lymphocytes efficiently from whole blood with high purity. Accordingly, this type of bio-conjugation method can be utilized in the future for cell sorting, and can be applied for adopted cell therapies such as CAR-T cell (Chimeric antigen receptor T cell) therapy, as well as targeted MRI imaging.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) pretreatment is a promising approach to decrease “biomass recalcitrance” and boost the cellulose bioconversion as well as lignin valorization. In this study, a short-time DES pretreatment strategy was performed to enhance the production of high-yield fermentable sugars and tailored lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) from abaca. The glucose yield reached 92.4% under the optimal pretreatment condition (110 °C, 30 min), which was dramatically increased in comparison with that (9.5%) of control abaca. Simultaneously, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques indicated that the removed and regenerated DES lignin fractions displayed depolymerized structures and have relatively low molecular weight with relatively homogeneous morphology and narrow size distribution. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis indicated that these lignin fractions are LNPs and the size of the optimal LNPs fraction is ranged from 30 nm to 50 nm. Moreover, all the DES lignin exhibited excellent antioxidant activities as compared to the commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), which can be used as a promising natural antioxidant in industry. In short, this study demonstrated that the short-time DES pretreatment will improve the enzymatic digestibility and facilitate the controllable production and valorization of LNPs from abaca biomass, which will further promote the economic and overall benefits of biorefinery.

Yak yogurt, one of the naturally fermented dairy products prepared by local herdsmen in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, contains a diverse array of microorganisms. We isolated and identified a novel Streptococcus thermophilus strain, ZJUIDS-2-01, from the traditional yak yogurt. We further purified and carried out detailed structural, physiochemical, and bioactivity studies of an exopolysaccharide (EPS-3A) produced by S. thermophilus ZJUIDS-2-01. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of EPS-3A was estimated to be 1.38 × 106 Da by High-Performance Gel Permeation Chromatography (HPGPC). The monosaccharide analysis established its composition to be glucose, galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, and rhamnose in a ratio of 5.2:2.5:6.4:1.0. The molecular structure of EPS-3A was determined by the combination of permethylation analysis, FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The ζ-potential measurements indicated that EPS-3A had a pKa value of ~4.40. The DSC yielded a melting point (Tm) of 80.4 °C and enthalpy change (ΔH) of 578 J/g for EPS-3A, comparable to those of the xanthan gum (XG), a commercial EPS. EPS-3A exhibited better O/W emulsion stability and flocculating capacity than XG. Furthermore, it also demonstrated similar antioxidant activity to XG and promising in vitro antibacterial properties. This work evidenced that EPS-3A derived from S. thermophilus ZJUIDS-2-01 holds the potential for food and industrial applications.

Background Bronchial casts can be defined as gelatinous structures originating from the airways. While several cases of bronchial cast formation have been reported in literature, unravelling its nature is often a difficult task. Methods In this case report, we applied infrared (IR) spectroscopy on a bronchial cast fragment originating from a patient who suffered from a 2-y history of frequent coughing accompanied by the occasional expectoration of viscous and thick white-yellow bronchial-like structures. Results Based on a markedly high lipid to protein ratio and presence of long-chain fatty acids, the resulting IR spectrum appeared to be very suggestive for chyloptysis. Conclusion Taking into account the patient’s prior history of radiation therapy for a lymphoma complicated by congestive heart failure, we hypothesized that an impairment of adequate lymphatic flow into the venous system due to a combination of lymphatic obstruction and high venous pressures is the most plausible culprit.

Fibril formation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides is one of the key molecular events connected to Alzheimer’s disease. The pathway of formation and mechanism of action of Aβ aggregates in biological systems is still object of very active research. To this end, systematic modifications of the Phe19–Leu34 hydrophobic contact, which has been reported in almost all structural studies of Aβ40 fibrils, helps understanding Aβ folding pathways and the underlying free energy landscape of the amyloid formation process. In our approach, a series of Aβ40 peptide variants with two types of backbone modifications, namely incorporation of (i) a methylene or an ethylene spacer group and (ii) a N-methylation at the amide functional group, of the amino acids at positions 19 or 34 was applied. These mutations are expected to challenge the inter-β-strand side chain contacts as well as intermolecular backbone β-sheet hydrogen bridges. Using a multitude of biophysical methods, it is shown that these backbone modifications lead, in most of the cases, to alterations in the fibril formation kinetics, a higher local structural heterogeneity, and a somewhat modified fibril morphology without generally impairing the fibril formation capacity of the peptides. The toxicological profile found for the variants depend on the type and extent of the modification.

BACKGROUND Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices have been advocated to guide volume management in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We hypothesized that understanding the dynamics of fluid shifts in different body segments may provide additional insight on preventive measures to reduce the risk of intradialytic hypotension. METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted among 42 HD patients at risk of hypotension who were admitted as emergencies inpatient. RESULTS A total of 191 BIA measurements were made during the 42 HD sessions, and hypotension occurred during 52 measurements (27%). The extracellular water (ECW) to intracellular water ratio (EIR) was measured in different body segments and declined significantly only in the non-access arm with increasing HD session duration (β = -0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.05 to -0.03, p

Introduction For early-stage breast cancer, breast-conserving surgery (BCS) plus radiation is standard-of-care. Nationwide, >20% of BCS patients require re-excision for positive margins, resulting in delayed adjuvant therapy, increased complications, emotional and financial stress for patients, and additional cost to the healthcare system. Although several methods may be employed to mitigate positive margins, no technique can fully address the need. MarginProbe® is an adjunctive tool for real-time intraoperative margin assessment and is shown to reduce positive margins by >50%. Areas covered Discussion of the impact of re-excision following BCS, a review of currently available methods for intraoperative margin management, followed by a technology and literature review of the MarginProbe® Radiofrequency Spectroscopy System. Expert opinion Re-excision significantly impacts patients, providers and payers. Limitations in the ability to assess margins at time of surgery warrant more advanced methods of residual disease detection. MarginProbe facilitates the most efficient pathway for breast cancer patients through the surgical phase of treatment. The device is well-suited for adoption as the healthcare focus shifts from volume to value and supports the three pillars of the US Department of Health and Human Services' 'Triple-Aim' strategy: improve population health, improve patient experience of care, and reduce per-capita costs.

The current investigation highlights the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by the insectivorous plant Drosera spatulata Labill var. bakoensis, which is the first of its kind. The biosynthesized nanoparticles revealed a UV visible surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 427 nm. The natural phytoconstituents which reduce the monovalent silver were identified by FTIR. The particle size of the Ds-AgNPs was detected by the Nanoparticle size analyzer confirms that the average size of nanoparticles was around 23 ± 2 nm. Ds-AgNPs exhibit high stability because of its high negative zeta potential (− 34.1 mV). AFM studies also revealed that the Ds-AgNPs were spherical in shape and average size ranges from 10 to 20 ± 5 nm. TEM analysis also revealed that the average size of Ds-AgNPs was also around 21 ± 4 nm and the shape is roughly spherical and well dispersed. The crystal nature of Ds-AgNPs was detected as a face-centered cube by the XRD analysis. Furthermore, studies on antibacterial and antifungal activities manifested outstanding antimicrobial activities of Ds-AgNPs compared with standard antibiotic Amoxyclav. In addition, demonstration of superior free radical scavenging efficacy coupled with potential in vitro cytotoxic significance on Human colon cancer cell lines (HT-29) suggests that the Ds-AgNPs attain excellent multifunctional therapeutic applications.

Optical polarimetry have been extensively used for the non-invasive assessment of biological tissues. However, the knowledge regarding differences in polarimetric signatures of different tissue pathologies is very scattered, confounding the deduction of a global trend of the polarimetric variables for healthy and pathological tissues. The purpose of this study was to bridge this gap. We conducted a rigorous online survey to collect all published studies that report the two most common polarimetric variables (i.e., depolarization and retardance) for any type of tissue pathology. A total of 101 studies describing the polarimetric assessment of tissues were collected, wherein 253 (i.e., nhuman = 149, nanimal = 104) different type of tissues were optically characterized. Most tissue samples (172/253) were investigated in ex vivo settings. The data showed 32 different types of tissues pathologies, where the most common pathology was cancer and its subtypes. The skin tissues were the most frequently explored tissues, followed by tissue samples from breast, colon, liver, and cervix. Although differences in polarimetric signatures of different tissue pathologies were summarized from the included studies, generalization of the results was hindered by the presentation of polarimetric data in a non-uniform format. The analyses presented in this study may provide an important reference for future polarimetric studies that conduct optical assessment of tissues at greater depth, particularly in the context of optical biopsy/digital staining.

Antibody therapies are typically based on high-concentration formulations that need to be administered subcutaneously. These conditions induce several challenges, inter alia a viscosity suitable for injection, sufficient solution stability, and preservation of molecular function. To obtain systematic insights into the molecular factors, we study the dynamics on the molecular level under strongly varying solution conditions. In particular, we use solutions of antibodies with poly(ethylene glycol), in which simple cooling from room temperature to freezing temperatures induces a transition from a well-dispersed solution into a phase-separated and macroscopically arrested system. Using quasi-elastic neutron scattering during in situ cooling ramps and in prethermalized measurements, we observe a strong decrease in antibody diffusion, while internal flexibility persists to a significant degree, thus ensuring the movement necessary for the preservation of molecular function. These results are relevant for a more dynamic understanding of antibodies in high-concentration formulations, which affects the formation of transient clusters governing the solution viscosity.

Background: Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) has recently emerged as a potential cognitive enhancement technique and clinical treatment for various neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders by delivering invisible near-infrared light to the scalp and increasing energy metabolism in the brain. Objective: We assessed whether transcranial photobiomodulation with near-infrared light modulates cerebral electrical activity through electroencephalogram (EEG) and cerebral blood flow (CBF). Methods: We conducted a single-blind, sham-controlled pilot study to test the effect of continuous (c-tPBM), pulse (p-tPBM), and sham (s-tPBM) transcranial photobiomodulation on EEG oscillations and CBF using diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) in a sample of ten healthy subjects [6F/4 M; mean age 28.6±12.9 years]. c-tPBM near-infrared radiation (NIR) (830 nm; 54.8 mW/cm2; 65.8 J/cm2; 2.3 kJ) and p-tPBM (830 nm; 10 Hz; 54.8 mW/cm2; 33%; 21.7 J/cm2; 0.8 kJ) were delivered concurrently to the frontal areas by four LED clusters. EEG and DCS recordings were performed weekly before, during, and after each tPBM session. Results: c-tPBM significantly boosted gamma (t = 3.02, df = 7, p

Introduction In Indonesia, smoking is widespread. The same applies to second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure. More than 90% of Indonesian smokers smoke clove cigarettes, so-called Kreteks. They often contain more tar and nicotine than conventional cigarettes, but little is known about particulate matter (PM) emissions. In smokers’ homes, SHS is the main source of PM that is hazardous to health. This study presents data of PM emissions from Kreteks. Methods SHS was generated in a closed 2.88 m³ measuring chamber. PM fractions (PM10, PM2.5, PM1) of three popular Kretek brands (two king-sized and one slim-sized) in comparison to conventional cigarettes and a reference cigarette were measured by laser aerosol spectroscopy in real-time. Results The king-sized Kreteks reached PM10 and PM2.5 mean concentrations of up to about 3000 µg/m³, and PM1 mean concentrations of up to about 2700 µg/m³. Consequently, these Kreteks emitted up to about 100% more PM10 and PM2.5, respectively 84% more PM1 than the reference cigarette, and up to about 260% more PM10 and PM2.5, respectively 234% more PM1 than the other investigated cigarettes. Conclusions PM emissions from Kreteks can be very high. The Indonesian public should be informed and warned about it, considering the high prevalence of smoking and SHS exposure, in particular. The Indonesian tobacco control regulation is limited, and it is overdue to start with a serious and effective tobacco control policy. PM declaration to government authorities could be useful in smoking prevention and tobacco control. Implications Research data are limited for Kretek cigarettes, including data on particulate matter (PM). The clove buds in Kretek cigarettes are for flavoring the smoke and shall soften the smoke feeling. That makes them very popular in Indonesia, in particular. The declaration of PM data of Kreteks and other tobacco products can play a key role in a more effective tobacco policy to reduce consumption of tobacco products, not only in Indonesia. To provide data on PM emissions, this study ascertained PM amounts in passive smoke from Indonesian Kreteks.

The giant muscle protein titin plays important roles in heart function. Mutations in titin have emerged as a major cause of familial cardiomyopathy. Missense mutations have been identified in cardiomyopathy patients; however, it is challenging to distinguish disease-causing mutations from benign ones. Given the importance of titin mechanics in heart function, it is critically important to elucidate the mechano-phenotypes of cardiomyopathy-causing mutations found in the elastic I-band part of cardiac titin. Using single-molecule atomic force microscopy (AFM) and equilibrium chemical denaturation, we investigated the mechanical and thermodynamic effects of two missense mutations, R57C-I94 and S22P-I84, found in the elastic I-band part of cardiac titin that were predicted to be likely causing cardiomyopathy by bioinformatics analysis. Our AFM results showed that mutation R57C had a significant destabilization effect on the I94 module. R57C reduced the mechanical unfolding force of I94 by ∼30-40 pN, accelerated the unfolding kinetics, and decelerated the folding. These effects collectively increased the unfolding propensity of I94, likely resulting in altered titin elasticity. In comparison, S22P led to only modest destabilization of I84, with a decrease in unfolding force by ∼10 pN. It is unlikely that such a modest destabilization would lead to a change in titin elasticity. These results will serve as the first step toward elucidating mechano-phenotypes of cardiomyopathy-causing mutations in the elastic I-band.

According to the World Health Organization, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2016. Long-term diabetes complications are associated with hyperglycemia. It is difficult to predict the beginning and evolution of those complications. The goal of the study was to evaluate the relationship between glycemia and blood spectroscopic variables in an experimental model of type 1 diabetes (streptozotocin model). Blood samples were taken weekly (10 weeks) from the tail of male Wistar rats with or without diabetes. Blood optical absorption spectra were obtained by means of photoacoustic spectroscopy. It was possible to estimate the time-course of blood characteristic peak ratios. The area under the curve of those peaks correlated with hyperglycemia. The evolution of the optical absorption at 450 nm, related to cytochrome p450, was obtained by using the phase-resolved method. The area under the curve of p450 correlated also with hyperglycemia. It is concluded that photoacoustic spectroscopy is a reliable technology to detect the effects of hyperglycemia on blood with possible applications in the study of long-term diabetes complications.

We report here hourly variations of Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, and Ba/Ca ratios in a Mediterranean mussel shell (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected at the Otsuchi bay, on the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan. This bivalve was living in the intertidal zone, where such organisms are known to form a daily or bidaily growth line comprised of abundant organic matter. Mg/Ca ratios of the inner surface of the outer shell layer, corresponding to the most recent date, show cyclic changes at 25–90 μm intervals, while no interpretable variations are observed in Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios. High Mg/Ca ratios were probably established by (1) cessation of the external supply of Ca and organic layer forming when the shell is closed at low tide, and (2) the strong binding of Mg to the organic layer, but not of Sr and Ba. Immediately following the great tsunami induced by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, Mg/Ca enrichment occurred, up to 10 times that of normal low tide, while apparent Ba/Ca enrichment was observed for only a few days following the event, therefore serving a proxy of the past tsunami. Following the tsunami, periodic peaks and troughs in Mg/Ca continued, perhaps due to a biological memory effect as an endogenous clock.

PURPOSE To evaluate the precision profile (repeatability and reproducibility) of quantitative STEAM-MRS and to determine the relationships between multiple MR biomarkers of chronic liver disease in subjects with iron overload at both 1.5 Tesla (T) and 3T. METHODS MRS data were acquired in patients with known or suspected liver iron overload. Two STEAM-MRS sequences (multi-TE and multi-TE-TR) were acquired at both 1.5T and 3T (same day), including test-retest acquisition. Each acquisition enabled estimation of R1, R2, and FWHM (each separately for water and fat); and proton density fat fraction. The test-retest repeatability and reproducibility across acquisition modes (multi-TE vs. multi-TE-TR) of the estimates were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients, linear regression, and Bland-Altman analyses. Multi-parametric relationships between parameters at each field strength, across field strengths, and with liver iron concentration were also evaluated using linear and nonlinear regression. RESULTS Fifty-six (n = 56) subjects (10 to 73 years, 37 males/19 females) were successfully recruited. Both STEAM-MRS sequences demonstrated good-to-excellent precision (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.81) for the quantification of R1water , R2water , FWHMwater , and proton density fat fraction at both 1.5T and 3T. Additionally, several moderate (R2 = 0.50 to 0.69) to high (R2 ≥ 0.70) correlations were observed between biomarkers, across field strengths, and with liver iron concentration. CONCLUSIONS Over a broad range of liver iron concentration, STEAM-MRS enables rapid and precise measurement of multiple biomarkers of chronic liver disease. By evaluating the multi-parametric relationships between biomarkers, this work may advance the comprehensive MRS-based assessment of chronic liver disease and may help establish biomarkers of chronic liver disease.

Photoacoustic (PA) technology has wide applications in cell study. However, photoacoustics from cancer cells lacks adequate understanding. Here, we establish two modified models for theoretical investigation of photoacoustics from cancer cells. The first model is based on endogenous absorbers of cancer cells, which can be measured by label-free PA microscopy. Different from previous studies about PA for cancer cells that are limited to melanoma cells, our model considers general cancer cells. Further, the feasibility of cancer cell cycle analysis via PA spectrum analysis is demonstrated. The second model is based on exogenous absorbers, e.g., nanoparticles (NPs), in cancer cells. The interactions between NPs and cells in PA signal generation are considered. The nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio, refractive index, cellular uptake of NPs, NPs size heterogeneity and cell size are modeled to evaluate the contribution of each factor to the change of PA signal amplitudes, which is valuable to guide experiments for cancer cell identification by utilizing different PA signal amplitudes between normal cells and cancer cells. In conclusion, our study comprehensively investigates photoacoustics from cancer cells, which lays theoretical groundwork for future research on PA techniques for cancer cells and is expected to be useful for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Capitalizing on the photoacoustic effect, we developed a new fingerprint sensing system that can reveal both fingerprints and underlying vascular structures at a high spatial resolution. Our system is built on a 15 MHz linear transducer array, a research ultrasound system, and a 532-nm pulsed laser. A 3D image was obtained by scanning the linear array over the fingertip. The acquired fingerprint images strongly agreed with the images acquired from ultrasound. Additional experiments were also conducted to investigate the effect of acoustic coupling. We discovered that high-quality fingerprint and vessel images can be acquired from both wet and dry fingers using our photoacoustic system. The reduced subdermal features in dry coupling can be enhanced through post-processing. Compared to existing fingerprint scanners, the photoacoustic approach provides a higher quality 3D image of the fingerprint, as well as unique subdermal vasculature structures, making the system almost impossible to counterfeit.

In recent year, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been displayed to be a category of promising drug delivery systems because of their crystalline structure, the potential of further functionality, and high porosity. In this research, graphene oxide was synthesized from pure graphite via hummer method and then MgFe2O4 nanoparticles was incorporated into the synthesized ZIF-8 metal–organic frameworks which followed with loading on the surfaces of graphene oxide. In continue, tetracycline as an antibiotic drug was loaded on the surfaces and the cavities of the prepared nanocomposite. The outcomes of this research revealed that 90% of the tetracycline was loaded on the synthesized ZIF-8/GO/MgFe2O4 nanostructure. Next, drug release was done at pH: 5 and pH: 7.4 within 3 days, resulting about 88% and 92% release of the tetracycline, respectively. With using different spectroscopic methods like X-ray crystallography (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX/Mapping), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermalgravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), the structure of synthesized materials was confirmed. Furthermore, the antibiotic activity of tetracycline trapped into the ZIF-8/GO/MgFe2O4 was evaluated by agar-well diffusion method on both gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, which showed good antibacterial results.

In recent decades, mechanobiology has emerged as a novel perspective in the context of basic biomedical research. It is now widely recognized that living cells respond not only to chemical stimuli (for example drugs), but they are also able to decipher mechanical cues, such as the rigidity of the underlying matrix or the presence of shear forces. Probing the viscoelastic properties of cells and their local microenvironment with sub-micrometer resolution is required to study this complex interplay and dig deeper into the mechanobiology of single cells. Current approaches to measure mechanical properties of adherent cells mainly rely on the exploitation of miniaturized indenters, to poke single cells while measuring the corresponding deformation. This method provides a neat implementation of the everyday approach to measure mechanical properties of a material, but it typically results in a very low throughput and invasive experimental protocol, poorly translatable towards three-dimensional living tissues and biological constructs. To overcome the main limitations of nanoindentation experiments, a radical paradigm change is foreseen, adopting next generation contact-less methods to measure mechanical properties of biological samples with sub-cell resolution. Here we briefly introduce the field of single cell mechanical characterization, and we concentrate on a promising high resolution optical elastography technique, Brillouin spectroscopy. This non-contact technique is rapidly emerging as a potential breakthrough innovation in biomechanics, but the application to single cells is still in its infancy.

Progress improving zinc nutrition globally is slowed by limited understanding of population zinc status. This challenge is compounded when small differences in measurement can bias the determination of zinc deficiency rates. Our objective was to evaluate zinc analytical accuracy and precision among different instrument types and sample matrices using a standardized method. Participating laboratories analyzed zinc content of plasma, serum, liver samples, and controls, using a standardized method based on current practice. Instrument calibration and drift were evaluated using a zinc standard. Accuracy was evaluated by percent error vs. reference, and precision by coefficient of variation (CV). Seven laboratories in 4 countries running 9 instruments completed the exercise: 4 atomic absorbance spectrometers (AAS), 1 inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), and 4 ICP mass spectrometers (ICP-MS). Calibration differed between individual instruments up to 18.9% (p p = 0.91, p = 0.15, respectively). Among sample matrices, serum and plasma zinc measures had the highest CV: 4.8% (3.0%, 7.7%) and 3.9% (2.9%, 5.4%), respectively (p

It is important but remains unclear whether ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sodium heparin anticoagulants have different impacts on the levels of various metals in peripheral blood after long-term frozen storage. The concentrations of 22 metals (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Mg, Mo, Ni, Fe, Pb, Rb, Se, Sn, Sb, Sr, Ti, V, Zn) in whole blood, blood cells and plasma from 22 healthy participants were determined twice, 18 months apart, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mean percentage error (MPE) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated to evaluate the impact of the anticoagulants and long-term frozen storage on metal concentrations, respectively. The concentrations of Sb and Ba in whole blood, blood cells and plasma were significantly altered by EDTA and sodium heparin at two measurement timepoints (P 0.05 and MPE 80%). In EDTA tubes, the Ti and Ni concentrations in blood cells were changed significantly; and in heparin tubes, the concentrations of Ni and Mo in blood cells and Sb in plasma were also altered (P 0.05 and MPE 80%). The ICCs of 11 metals in whole blood, 15 metals in blood cells and 16 metals in plasma remained unchanged in EDTA tubes, and 16 metals in whole blood, 15 metals in blood cells and 17 metals in plasma remained unchanged in heparin tubes (ICC 0.40). Our study suggested the use of EDTA tubes to determine Sb concentrations in peripheral blood and heparin tubes to determine Ba concentrations. Additionally, heparin tubes may be more suited for determining multiple metal concentrations in whole blood, whereas for blood cells and plasma either EDTA or heparin tubes could be used.

Objective Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ) is one of the most common and serious complications after radiotherapy of head and neck malignancies due to the high incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer in Southern China. Clinicians lack understanding and consensus on anti-infective treatment in ORNJ lesions. This research aims to provide evidence for rational use of antibiotics by reviewing the bacterial spectrums and antimicrobial susceptibility test of ORNJ patients. Methods We collected patient who was diagnosed with ORNJ from November 2012 to June 2019 in our hospital. Exudate or bone unexposed wound surface sampling, agar plates culturing and susceptibility testing were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used for data presentation. Results A total of 219 samples were collected in our retrospective study. The most common cultured bacteria were Klebsiella Pneumoniae (15.10%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.54%) and Staphylococcus aureus (10.94%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounted for 5.21% in the whole positive samples. Ticarcillin, Ofloxacin, Vancomycin, Tigecycline, Meropenem were more susceptible than other antibiotics to treat uncontrollable infection. Conclusions Our research provided objective evidence for understanding the types of local bacterial flora and drug susceptibility in ORNJ lesions, and gave a guiding reference for empirical antibiotics medication.

Objective Characterize vegetable and fruit (VF) intake in a Yup'ik community using self-reported intake and skin carotenoid status (SCS) and evaluate the relationship between SCS and fish intake. Methods Self-reported VF intake was measured using the 24-hour recall, SCS was measured by reflection spectroscopy via the Veggie Meter (Longevity Link Corporation), and fish intake was estimated by the nitrogen isotope ratio (NIR) for 80 participants in a remote community in Southwestern Alaska. Bivariate correlations were used to assess the relationship between self-reported VF intake, SCS, and NIR. Results Intake of all VF subgroups was low. The SCS was higher for males (262.7 vs 185.3; P = 0.002) and participants consuming more than 1 VF serving (232.5 vs 183.0; P = 0.02). It was not associated with the NIR. Conclusions and Implications Increasing VF intake is a way to improve diet in Yup'ik communities and the Veggie Meter is a simple and noninvasive tool to facilitate surveillance efforts.

Latino early adolescents have a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Interventions to address healthy eating among Latino youth frequently focus on fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. Reflection spectroscopy assessed skin carotenoid (SC) levels has been proposed as an easy, noninvasive method to evaluate FV intake, but validation studies involving ethnically diverse youth are lacking.This study aimed to assess the association between reflection spectroscopy-measured SC scores and self-reported FV intake among low-income, urban, Latino early adolescents, controlling for potential confounding factors.This study was a cross-sectional secondary analysis of baseline data from a community-based intervention program (Padres Preparados, Jóvenes Saludables) involving Latino fathers and adolescents to improve paternal parenting practices and youth energy balance-related behaviors.Participants were 195 low-income, Latino early adolescents (aged 10 to 14 years). Data were collected in the Minneapolis/St Paul metropolitan area from 2017 to 2020 during fall or winter months.SC scores were measured using reflection spectroscopy, usual intakes of FV and carotenoid compounds were estimated based on the assessment using 24-hour dietary recalls.Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to estimate associations of SC scores and each dietary component and potential confounding factors after assessing variables for inclusion in the analyses.The mean SC score was 225 ± 95. The mean FV and total carotenoid intakes were 3.3 ± 0.5 servings/day and 8,360 ± 786 μg/day, respectively. Higher SC scores were observed among youth who had higher FV (β = .37 and P0.01) or total carotenoid intakes (β = .31 and P0.01). SC scores measured during fall were higher than scores measured during winter. Study participants with higher home FV availability and accessibility had higher SC scores.Findings supported using SC score as a potential easy-to-use indicator of FV intake among Latino youth with consideration of seasonal variation and home FV availability and accessibility.

Abstract Diagnosis of bacterial infections until today mostly relies on conventional microbiological methods. The resulting long turnaround times can lead to delayed initiation of adequate antibiotic therapy and prolonged periods of empiric antibiotic therapy (e.g., in intensive care medicine). Therewith, they contribute to the mortality of bacterial infections and the induction of multidrug resistances. The detection of species specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by bacteria has been proposed as a possible diagnostic approach with the potential to serve as an innovative point-of-care diagnostic tool with very short turnaround times. A range of spectrometric methods are available which allow the detection and quantification of bacterial VOCs down to a range of part per trillion. This narrative review introduces the application of spectrometric analytical methods for the purpose of detecting VOCs of bacterial origin and their clinical use for diagnosing different infectious conditions over the last decade. Key Points • Detection of VOCs enables bacterial differentiation in various medical conditions. • Spectrometric methods may function as point-of-care diagnostics in near future.

In this article, authors proposed a useful technique for order reduction of large-scale linear dynamic time-invariant systems using the dominant pole retention, Pole Spectrum Analysis, and Pade approximations. The denominator dynamics of the simplified system is obtained by using PSA and pole dominance algorithm; numerator dynamics of the same is obtained by using Pade approximation. The approximation is based on the principle that the mean of the poles (pole centroid) and centroid-based system stiffness are same for both large-scale and simplified systems. For a stable higher-order system, the method promises the stability of the simplified system. To validate the proposed technique, some numerical illustrations have been considered from the literature with the comparisons of performance in terms of a quality check through performance index and response matching between original higher-order and simplified systems.

Nα-2-thiophenoyl-d-phenylalanine-2-morpholinoanilide (MMV688845, IUPAC: N-(1-((2-morpholinophenyl)amino)-1-oxo-3-phenylpropan-2-yl)thiophene-2-carboxamide) from the Pathogen Box® library (Medicines for Malaria Ventures, MMV) is a promising lead compound for antimycobacterial drug development. Two straightforward synthetic routes to the title compound starting from phenylalanine or its Boc-protected derivative are reported. Employing Boc-phenylalanine as starting material and the T3P® and PyBOP® amide coupling reagents enables racemization-free synthesis, avoiding the need for subsequent separation of the enantiomers. The crystal structure of the racemic counterpart gives insight into the molecular structure and hydrogen bonding interactions in the solid state. The R-enantiomer of the title compound (derived from d-phenylalanine) exhibits activity against non-pathogenic and pathogenic mycobacterial strains, whereas the S-enantiomer is inactive. Neither of the enantiomers and the racemate of the title compound shows cytotoxicity against various mammalian cells.

Renal injury caused by renal ischemia and reperfusion strongly influences heart morphology, electrophysiology, and redox unbalance. The so-called cardiorenal syndrome is an important class of dysfunction since heart and kidneys are responsible for hemodynamic stability and organ perfusion through a complex network. In the present work we investigate the vibrational spectral features probed by Fourier-Transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopy due to physiological alterations induced by renal ischemic reperfusion aiming to detect molecular markers related to progression of acute to chronic kidney injury and mortality predictors as well. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to unilateral occlusion of the renal pedicle for 60 min and reperfusion for 5, 8, and 15 days. Biopsies of heart and kidney tissues were analyzed. Our findings indicated that cysteine/cystine, fatty acids, methyl groups of Collagen, α-form of proteins, Tyrosine, and Tryptophan were modulated during renal ischemia and reperfusion process. These changes are consistent with fibroblast growth factors and Collagen III contents changes. Interestingly, Tyrosine and Tryptophan, precursor molecules for the formation of uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate were also modulated. They are markers of kidney injury and their increase is strongly correlated to cardiovascular mortality. Regarding this aspect, we notice that monitoring the Tyrosine and Tryptophan bands at 1558, 1616, and 1625 cm−1 is a viable and and advantageous way to predict fatality in cardiovascular diseases both “in vivo” or “in vitro”, using the real-time, multiplexing, and minimally invasive advantages of FT-Raman spectroscopy.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection caused by Cysticercus cellulosae, the metacestode of pork tapeworm ( Taenia solium). NCC is one of the most common public health problems worldwide. We present a patient harboring a bilobed ring-enhancing lesion with a presumed diagnosis of brain metastasis, who returned to the USA after traveling to an endemic region. The diagnosis of NCC was established based on a characteristic resonance of succinate on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Also, higher mean diffusivity and lower fractional anisotropy along with relative cerebral blood volume were observed from the lesion compared to contralateral normal brain regions. Multiparametric analysis may improve the differential diagnosis of ring-enhancing intracranial lesions such as NCC.

Inflammation is a common defensive response of the vascular system that involves the activation and mediation of immune cell and stem cell homing. However, it is usually hard to track and analyze the real-time status of these cell types toward the inflammation microenvironment in a large field of view with desired resolution. Here, we designed and synthesized near-infrared absorbing semiconducting polymer nanoparticles, BBT-TQP-NP (BTNPs), as the cell tracker and utilized their photoacoustic activity to unveil the targeting behaviors of macrophages, neutrophils, and mesenchymal stem cells to the inflamed sites in mice. Facilitated by multispectral optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (ORPAM), we can continuously monitor the in vivo photoacoustic signals of the labeled cells with cellular resolution in a wide-field (a circle field-of-view with a diameter of 9 mm). In addition, the highly sensitive observation of vascular microstructures and labeled cells can reveal the time-dependent accumulating behaviors of various cell types toward inflammation sites. As a result, our study offers an effective and promising tracking strategy to analyze the in vivo status and fate of functional cells in targeting the diseased/damaged regions.

Phytoglycogen is a naturally occurring glucose polymer that is produced by sweet corn in the form of compact nanoparticles with a dendritic or tree-like architecture. The soft and porous nature of the nanoparticles, combined with their biodegradability and lack of toxicity, makes them ideal for a broad range of applications in personal care, nutrition, and biomedicine. To fully exploit these applications, it is necessary to understand the complex properties of the soft, hydrated nanoparticles in detail. In the present study, we have used atomic force microscopy (AFM) force spectroscopy to collect high-resolution force-distance maps of a large number of individual phytoglycogen nanoparticles, providing unique insights into the morphology and mechanical stiffness of the nanoparticles at the single-particle level. Our measurements performed in water on nanoparticles covalently bonded to gold surfaces revealed an inner branched structure and high deformability of the nanoparticles at modest values of the applied force. These measurements also allowed us to determine the spatial distribution of Young's modulus values within individual nanoparticles. Drying of the nanoparticles resulted in a dramatic increase in Young's modulus, quantifying the effect of hydration on their mechanical stiffness. We obtained excellent agreement between AFM and osmotic pressure measurements of the mechanical properties of hydrated phytoglycogen nanoparticles; the ratio of the average Young's modulus measured using AFM to the bulk modulus measured using osmotic pressure was in close agreement with that expected for a material with Poisson's ratio ν = 0. The soft, deformable nature of phytoglycogen nanoparticles revealed by our measurements provides new insights at the single-nanoparticle level and suggests their suitability for biomedical applications such as transdermal and targeted drug delivery.