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Simple Summary: Considering thermal liquid biopsy (TLB) as a potential secondary test after fecal immunochemical test positivity (FIT+), the aim of this work was to study possible interferences of colonoscopy bowel preparation on TLB outcome on a retrospective study. TLB parameters together with fluorescence spectra and other serum indicators (albumin and C-reactive protein) confirmed the statistically significant differences between normal colonoscopy patients with and without bowel preparation, revealing the distorting effect of bowel preparation on serum composition and discrimination of disease status. The diagnostic capability of other liquid-biopsy-based methods might also be compromised. Blood extraction after bowel preparation for colonoscopy should be avoided. (1) Background: About 50% of prescribed colonoscopies report no pathological findings. A secondary screening test after fecal immunochemical test positivity (FIT+) would be required. Considering thermal liquid biopsy (TLB) as a potential secondary test, the aim of this work was to study possible interferences of colonoscopy bowel preparation on TLB outcome on a retrospective study; (2) Methods: Three groups were studied: 1/514 FIT(+) patients enrolled in a colorectal screening program (CN and CP with normal and pathological colonoscopy, respectively), with blood samples obtained just before colonoscopy and after bowel preparation; 2/55 patients from the CN group with blood sample redrawn after only standard 8–10 h fasting and no bowel preparation (CNR); and 3/55 blood donors from the biobank considered as a healthy control group; (3) Results: The results showed that from the 514 patients undergoing colonoscopy, 247 had CN and 267 had CP. TLB parameters in these two groups were similar but different from those of the blood donors. The resampled patients (with normal colonoscopy and no bowel preparation) had similar TLB parameters to those of the blood donors. TLB parameters together with fluorescence spectra and other serum indicators (albumin and C-reactive protein) confirmed the statistically significant differences between normal colonoscopy patients with and without bowel preparation; (4) Conclusions: Bowel preparation seemed to alter serum protein levels and altered TLB parameters (different from a healthy subject). The diagnostic capability of other liquid-biopsy-based methods might also be compromised. Blood extraction after bowel preparation for colonoscopy should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium overdose usually occurs accidentally, but potassium is also used for judicial executions, assisted death, and, rarely, suicides. In addition to exogenous overdose, various drugs, and renal failure, diabetic ketoacidosis can cause hyperkalemia. Potassium tablets are used in most cases of suicidal potassium overdose. Suicide by intravenous administration of potassium is rare but usually fatal. The author reports a rare case of suicide with potassium infusion. Autopsy and histology findings, along with post-mortem biochemical analysis of different body fluids and fluid from the infusion set, are reported. Previously published reports of potassium overdose were reviewed, and the detection possibilities of potassium overdose are discussed. The detection possibilities of lethal hyperkalemia are very limited since hyperkalemia produces only nonspecific autopsy and histology findings. Post-mortem potassium concentrations are not indicative of ante-mortem potassium concentrations; therefore, post-mortem biochemical analysis has limited value in determining potassium overdose. The best way to prove potassium overdose is via the collection and analysis of circumstantial evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction, limited communication skills, and restrictive and repetitive behaviours. The pathophysiology of ASD is multifactorial and includes genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, whereas a causal relationship has been described between ASD and inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs). This review describes biochemical, genetic, and clinical approaches to investigating IMDs associated with ASD. The biochemical work-up includes body fluid analysis to confirm general metabolic and/or lysosomal storage diseases, while the advances and applications of genomic testing technology would assist with identifying molecular defects. An IMD is considered likely underlying pathophysiology in ASD patients with suggestive clinical symptoms and multiorgan involvement, of which early recognition and treatment increase their likelihood of achieving optimal care and a better quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTMPD) diagnosis by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) with Bactec mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960. Methods: A total of 422 patients with suspected NTMPD in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital between January 2020 and May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed; 194 were diagnosed with NTMPD. The diagnostic performance of mNGS and MGIT 960 for NTMPD was assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and areas under curve (AUCs) were compared. Results: The sensitivity of mNGS in NTMPD diagnosis was 81.4% and higher than that of MGIT 960 (53.6%). The specificity of mNGS in NTMPD diagnosis was 97.8%, similar to that of MGIT 960 (100%). The sensitivity of combined mNGS and MGIT 960 in NTMPD diagnosis was 91.8%. The sensitivity of mNGS for bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), pulmonary puncture tissue fluid, and sputum was 84.8%, 80.6%, and 77.5%, respectively; all were higher than that of MGIT 960 (P < 0.05). The AUC of mNGS and MGIT 960 was 0.897 and 0.768, respectively. The AUC of mNGS were BALF (0.916), pulmonary puncture tissue fluid (0.903), and sputum (0.870). Conclusion: The sensitivity of mNGS was superior to that of Bactec MGIT 960; the specificity in NTMPD diagnosis was similar. mNGS shows effective performance in NTMPD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Giro d'Italia is one of the most demanding races in cycling tour, in which, during the 3 weeks of competition, several physiological adaptations occur. This study aimed to analyze these changes with different methods (bioelectrical, anthropometrical, and hematological analysis) in order to see how body fluids vary in the whole body as the competition progresses, and also in three specific muscle groups (quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves). There were three checkpoint assessments: at the beginning, middle, and end of the race. Results indicated that bioelectrical impedance vector analysis is sensitive to the body fluid changes. A proper homeostatic adaptation was detected during the first half of competition, but the long-term, high intensity exercise would result in profound fluid loss and distribution in the soft tissues. Furthermore, most of these changes happened in the extracellular water compartment, indicating that the state of the cell membranes was maintained in good condition. The calves are the muscle group most sensitive to this analysis. In conclusion, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis is a reliable, non-invasive, and practical method to assess physiological adaptations in athletes. This study aimed to characterize and monitor the body fluid and muscle changes during the Giro d'Italia in nine elite cyclists via bioelectrical (whole-body and muscle-localized) anthropometric and hematological analysis. There were three checkpoint assessments: at the beginning, middle, and end of the race. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the data at baseline and follow up. The Spearman correlation was used to explore relationships between variables. Hotelling's T2 test was used to determine bioelectrical differences in the complex vector. Bodyweight did not change during the competition, despite bioelectrical and hematological data indicating that at the first half of the race, there was a fluid gain, and in the second half a fluid loss occurred, reaching baseline values. These changes were especially prevalent in the extracellular water compartment. Significant correlations between whole-body bioelectrical vector changes and red blood cell parameter changes were reported. The muscle group most sensitive to changes were the calves. Quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves reported a PhA decrease trend during the first half of the race, and an increase during the second half. Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis appears to be sensitive enough to detect hydration and cellular integrity adaptions induced by competitions as demanding as the Giro d'Italia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probability of target attainment (PTA) analyses were conducted to support the recommended ceftolozane/tazobactam dosing regimens, adjusted for renal function, in patients with hospital‐acquired/ventilator‐associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP). Previously published population pharmacokinetic models describing the disposition of ceftolozane and tazobactam in plasma and epithelial lining fluid (ELF) in patients with HABP/VABP were used to simulate ceftolozane and tazobactam concentration–time profiles in plasma and ELF over the course of 14 days. The simulations were conducted for patients with normal renal function and for patients receiving adjusted doses for mild, moderate, and severe renal impairment. PTA was calculated using established pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic targets for ceftolozane and tazobactam. Across renal function groups, plasma PTA was 100% for ceftolozane and >99% for tazobactam; ELF PTA was >99% for ceftolozane and >87% for tazobactam. These results provided support for the currently recommended ceftolozane/tazobactam dosing regimens for HABP/VABP, which were efficacious and well tolerated in the Ceftolozane–Tazobactam Versus Meropenem for Treatment of Nosocomial Pneumonia (ASPECT‐NP) trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer since it is often diagnosed at advanced stages. Current tools for diagnosis are currently insufficient and include physical examination, ultrasound and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, as well as algorithms combining thoraco-abdomino-pelvic scans and blood markers. In this context, there is a need for new tools not only to assess the diagnosis but also to predict the response to chemotherapy and to detect recurrences. Previous studies have highlighted the potential value of non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) in tissue samples, but rarely in biofluids. In this review, we aim to summarize the existing literature on ncRNAs and ovarian tumors in biofluids. Most studies are focused on serum and blood with no data on other biofluids and with few ncRNAs investigated using qRT-PCR or microarray, which does not reflect the heterogeneity of ovarian cancers. Ovarian tumors are the most frequent adnexal mass, raising diagnostic and therapeutic issues linked to a large spectrum of tumors, with a continuum from benign to malignant. Thus far, none of the available diagnostic tools have proven efficient in deciding strategy, and no consensus exists on the best strategy between "single test", "dual testing", "sequential testing", "multiple testing options" and "no testing". In addition, there is a need for prognostic tools such as biological markers of recurrence and theragnostic tools to detect women not responding to chemotherapy in order to adapt therapies. Non-coding RNAs are classified as small or long based on their nucleotide count. Non-coding RNAs have multiple biological functions such as a role in tumorigenesis, gene regulation and genome protection. These ncRNAs emerge as new potential tools to differentiate benign from malignant tumors and to evaluate prognostic and theragnostic factors. In the specific setting of ovarian tumors, the goal of the present work is to offer an insight into the contribution of biofluid non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In breast cancer management, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is well established as therapeutic choice for selected high-risk early or locally advanced breast cancer. However, besides there being few clinical genomic classifiers, there is no technology that can predict for certain whether breast cancer patients will benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy in terms of pathological complete response and disease-free survival. The analysis of miRNAs from biological fluids at the beginning of therapy is simple and may aid in the identification of patients who will receive the greatest benefit. On the other hand, monitoring circulating miRNA levels during treatment could allow the early identification of patients who will not benefit from it (avoiding unnecessary treatments and related side effects). Therefore, there is an urgent clinical need for non-invasive biomarkers in the neoadjuvant setting, and circulating miRNAs could theoretically meet this need, but there is still a long way to go until their use in clinical practice can be established. Recently, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential non-invasive biomarkers for breast cancer (BC) management. In the context of BC patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), the possibility of obtaining repeated, non-invasive biological samples from patients before, during, and after treatment is incredibly convenient and provides the opportunity to investigate circulating miRNAs as diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic tools. The present review aims to summarize major findings in this setting, thus highlighting their potential applicability in daily clinical practice and their possible limitations. In all the contexts (diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic), circulating miR-21-5p and miR-34a-5p have emerged as the most promising non-invasive biomarkers for BC patients undergoing NAC. Specifically, their high baseline level could discriminate between BC patients and healthy controls. On the other hand, in predictive and prognostic investigations, low circulating miR-21-5p and miR-34a-5p levels may identify patients with better outcomes, in terms of both treatment response and invasive disease-free survival. However, the findings in this field have been very heterogeneous. Indeed, pre-analytical and analytical variables, as well as factors related to patients, may explain the inconsistency among different study results. Thus, further clinical trials, with more precise patient inclusion criteria and more standardized methodological approaches, are definitely needed to better define the potential role of these promising non-invasive biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial focuses on two studies regarding the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. It discusses the findings of these studies, emphasizing the improved accuracy of PCR in plasma compared to traditional tests like galactomannan. It also explores the challenges and questions raised by the studies, particularly in the context of the current definitions and classification criteria for IA.

The article is a review of the book "Differential Diagnosis of Body Fluids in Small Animal Cytology" by Francesco Cian and Paola Monti. The book provides a systematic approach to analyzing body fluids and is aimed at veterinary cytologists, clinicians, and students. It covers various body fluids encountered in veterinary practice, including pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, cerebrospinal, and joint fluids, as well as respiratory, urogenital, and ocular fluids. The book incorporates recent advances in technology and diagnostic techniques, equipping readers with contemporary tools to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. Overall, it is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the diagnosis of small animal diseases. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Immune‐checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an effective therapeutic strategy, improving the survival of patients with lung cancer compared with conventional treatments. However, novel predictive biomarkers are needed to stratify which patients derive clinical benefit because the currently used and highly heterogenic histological PD‐L1 has shown low accuracy. Liquid biopsy is the analysis of biomarkers in body fluids and represents a minimally invasive tool that can be used to monitor tumor evolution and treatment effects, potentially reducing biases associated with tumor heterogeneity associated with tissue biopsies. In this context, cytokines, such as transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), can be found free in circulation in the blood and packaged into extracellular vesicles (EVs), which have a specific delivery tropism and can affect in tumor/immune system interaction. TGF‐β is an immunosuppressive cytokine that plays a crucial role in tumor immune escape, treatment resistance, and metastasis. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the predictive value of circulating and EV TGF‐β in patients with non–small‐cell lung cancer receiving ICIs. Methods: Plasma samples were collected in 33 patients with advanced non–small‐cell lung cancer before and during treatment with ICIs. EV were isolated from plasma by serial ultracentrifugation methods and circulating and EV TGF‐β expression levels were evaluated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Baseline high expression of TGF‐β in EVs was associated with nonresponse to ICIs as well as shorter progression‐free survival and overall survival, outperforming circulating TGF‐β levels and tissue PD‐L1 as a predictive biomarker. Conclusion: If validated, EV TGF‐β could be used to improve patient stratification, increasing the effectiveness of treatment with ICIs and potentially informing combinatory treatments with TGF‐β blockade. Plain language summary: Treatment with immune‐checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has improved the survival of some patients with lung cancer. However, the majority of patients do not benefit from this treatment, making it essential to develop more reliable biomarkers to identify patients most likely to benefit.In this pilot study, the expression of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) in blood circulation and in extracellular vesicles was analyzed.The levels of extracellular vesicle TGF‐β before treatment were able to determine which patients would benefit from treatment with ICIs and have a longer survival with higher accuracy than circulating TGF‐β and tissue PD‐L1, which is the currently used biomarker in clinical practice. Extracellular vesicle transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) outperformed circulating TGF‐β and standard tissue PD‐L1 characterization for predicting treatment response and survival of patients with non–small cell lung cancer undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• UF-4000 bacterial count allowed rapid bacteriological detection in body fluid. • UF bacterial counts were significantly different between sterile and infected fluids. • UF-4000 bacterial count of body fluid correlated with the level of growth on culture. • Bacterial cut-offs proposed discriminated well negative from positive cultures. • UF bacterial count is a good complementary method for diagnostic infection. Microbiological analysis of body fluids (BF) provides important information for diagnosis of infection. We evaluated the analytical performance of bacterial count by UF-4000 BF mode for ascitic, cerebrospinal, pleural, synovial and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis fluids compared to classical microbiological procedure (direct Gram staining and culture). For the 1,734 BF analyzed, distribution of UF-4000 bacterial count was analyzed according to the level of growth culture and results were compared using Mann-Whitney test. ROC curves analysis allowed to define the best cut-off value to predict or exclude positive culture for each type of BF. UF-4000 bacterial counts were significantly lower in sterile than in infected BFs (p < 0.00001) and correlated with the level of growth on culture. The ROC curves of bacteria/μL and culture positivity yielded area under the curve >0.80 for each type of BF. Optimal cut-offs were chosen with excellent statistical parameters (sensitivity ranging from 0.70 to 0.86, specificity from 0.78 to 0.98, negative predictive value >0.95 and Youden index >0.55). For BF, UF-4000 bacterial count correlate with culture results and is a discriminative method enhancing detection of microbiological etiology. It could be used as a screening method based on the cut-off values proposed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Detection and identification of body fluids have been at the forefront of forensic professionals and researchers for the past two decades, due to the decisive role played by genetic and non-genetic information imparted by the body fluids. Techniques such as spectroscopic methods, DNA methylation, messenger RNA profiling, etc. are being explored extensively for the detection and identification of body fluids. Although these techniques are promising, their specificity and the need for intricate bioinformatic procedures for their data interpretation are still under investigation. On the other hand, Flow cytometry is an emerging single-cell analysis technique that has already established itself in various domains of basic and applied sciences. The main attribute of this technique to analyze multiple parameters of a single cell in a complex cellular population shows its potential for incorporation in the forensic analysis of body fluids. Mixed body fluid identification has always been a challenge to a forensic serologist as due to the low quantity of samples, it gets difficult to analyze them through traditional techniques. However, this study focuses on the detection and identification of mixed body fluids based on specific protein biomarkers. Aim: Detection of body fluids (blood, saliva, and urine) based on specific protein biomarkers using cytometric bead array flow cytometry. Materials and Method: Samples were collected from 10 healthy donors, selected through stratified sampling from Prayagraj after written consent and subjected to cytometric bead array flow cytometry for the detection of specific body fluid biomarkers. Body fluids were analyzed by calculating median fluorescence intensities for selected biomarkers in body fluid combinations. Results: MFI values of specific biomarkers in pure body fluid samples ranges between 90-150 and in binary mixtures of body fluids (1:1 ratio), ranges between 80 - 130. In case of other proportions (ratios of 1:3, 1:5, 3:1, and 5:1) MFI values of biomarkers range between 40 - 80 and 100 - 240 for positive detections. However, MFI values below 20 were considered as negative detection for that biomarker. Conclusion: Flow cytometry successfully identifies the body fluids based on their biomarkers even in trace quantity or in mixed states. However, in mixed state conditions, the MFI for the body fluid in larger quantity was considerably large in contrast to the one which was present in traced amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetracycline is an antibiotic that has been prescribed for COVID-19 treatment, raising concerns about antibiotic resistance after long-term use. This study reported fluorescent polyvinylpyrrolidone-passivated iron oxide quantum dots (IO QDs) for detecting tetracycline in biological fluids for the first time. The as-prepared IO QDs have an average size of 2.84 nm and exist a good stability under different conditions. The IO QDs' tetracycline detection performance could be attributed to a combination of static quenching and inner filter effect. The IO QDs displayed high sensitivity and selectivity toward tetracycline and achieved a good linear relationship with the corresponding detection limit being 91.6 nM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is known and objective: To analyse the diagnostic accuracy of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid galactomannan (BALF‐GM) assay for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in adults to determine the optimal diagnostic cut‐off by meta‐analysis. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), and China Wanfang databases were searched to collect relevant studies on the diagnostic value of BALF‐GM for IPA from inception to March 2022. The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was drawn to determine the optimal diagnostic cut‐off. Results and discussion: Nineteen articles (56 data sets) were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.72–0.84), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.88–0.94), 9.25 (95% CI: 6.84–12.52), 0.23 (95% CI: 0.18–0.30), 39.44 (95% CI: 29.55–52.65), and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90–0.94), respectively. The area under the curves (AUCs) were 0.92, 0.86, 0.93, 0.89, 0.88, and 0.94 when the cut‐off values were 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0, respectively. Sixteen studies were included in the combined analysis when the cut‐off value was 0.5. The results showed that the pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR and DOR of BALF‐GM (cut‐off 0.5) for the diagnosis of IPA were 0.89 (95% CI: 0.83–0.93), 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71–0.86), 4.33 (95% CI: 3.04–6.16), 0.14 (95% CI: 0.09–0.22), and 31.51 (95% CI: 17.43–56.98). The AUC was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89–0.94). What is new and conclusions: BALF‐GM has excellent diagnostic accuracy for adult IPA, which can be diagnosed early and treated early to reduce the mortality rate. Considering the sensitivity, specificity, PLR and NLR, the recommended diagnostic cut‐off of BALF‐GM for adult IPA is 0.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable electrochemical sweat sensors are potentially promising for health monitoring in a continuous and non-invasive mode with high sensitivity. However, due to the complexity of sweat composition and the growth of skin bacteria, the wearable sweat sensors may gradually lose their sensitivity or even fail over time. To deal with this issue, herein, we proposed a new strategy to construct wearable sweat sensors with antifouling and antimicrobial capabilities. Amyloid albumin hydrogels (ABSAG) were doped with two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial MXene and CeO 2 nanorods to obtain the antifouling and antimicrobial amyloid albumin composite hydrogels (ABSACG, CeO 2 /MXene/ABSAG), and the wearable sensors were prepared by modifying flexible screen-printed electrodes with the ABSACG. Within this sensing system, the hydrophilic ABSAG possesses strong hydration capability, and it can form a hydration layer on the electrode surface to resist biofouling in sweat. The 2D nanomaterial MXene dispersed in the hydrogel endows the hydrogel with good conductivity and electrocatalytic capability, while the doping of CeO 2 nanorods further improves the electrocatalytic performance of the hydrogel and also provides excellent antimicrobial capability. The designed wearable electrochemical sensors based on the ABSACG demonstrated satisfying antifouling and antimicrobial abilities, and they were capable of detecting dopamine accurately in human sweat. It is expected that wearable sensors utilizing the antifouling and antimicrobial ABSACG may find practical applications in human body fluids analysis and health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has become a crucial innovation in forensic science, particularly for analysing bodily fluids. This advanced technology captures both spectral and spatial data across a wide spectrum of wavelengths, offering comprehensive insights into the composition and distribution of bodily fluids found at crime scenes. In this review, we delve into the forensic applications of HSI, emphasizing its role in detecting, identifying, and distinguishing various bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, vaginal fluid, semen, and menstrual blood. We examine the benefits of HSI compared to traditional methods, noting its non-destructive approach, high sensitivity, and capability to differentiate fluids even in complex mixtures. Additionally, we discuss recent advancements in HSI technology and their potential to enhance forensic investigations. This review highlights the importance of HSI as a valuable tool in forensic science, opening new pathways for improving the accuracy and efficiency of crime scene analyses. • Hyperspectral imaging enhances non-destructive detection of fluids at crime scenes. • Ability to precisely identify and differentiate complex fluid mixtures. • Various detection methods for blood, saliva, urine, vaginal fluid, & semen. • Compares hyperspectral imaging with traditional forensic methods. • Adaptability provides advantages over conventional techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides the exceptional mechanical and biocompatible properties, zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) has limited biomedical applications due to its bio-inertness properties. The present work examines the effect of 13–93 bio-glass (BG) addition on the machinability and biological responses of ZTA-containing BG composites. The ZTA – xBG (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, and 25 wt%) composites have been synthesized and sintered at 1250 °C for 4 h. The machining of composite samples is done on an abrasive air-jet machine (AAJM), and their machinability is studied in terms of surface roughness (SR), material removal rate (MRR), and mechanics of material removal (MMR). The result indicates that MRR decreases and SR enhances with the addition of BG. The MMR is studied using machined surface morphology, and the results confirm that material removal is due to the large erosion crater. The relative density is decreased with enhancing the BG content except for a sample containing a high amount of BG (25 wt%). Mechanical properties such as hardness and flexural strength are enhanced by BG content up to 25 wt%. In-vitro analysis in simulated body fluid (SBF) reveals that both corrosion and bioactivity increase as BG concentrations increase. According to the in-vitro cell culture data, adding BG to ZTA improves cellular viability with BG content up to 25 wt%. The antibacterial result shows that the viability of the bacterial cells on the composites has significantly decreased with BG content. As a result, biomaterials with this architecture may be used as bone implants. [Display omitted] • An attempt to prepare ZTA/13–93 bioglass bioceramic composites. • Evaluate the effect of BG on the machinability & surface roughness. • MRR and SR are significantly affected by BG addition into ZTA. • In-vitro bioactivity, cellular & antibacterial responses are improved with BG. • ZTA-BG composite may be feasible for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that microbiological analysis can be an alternative method that overcomes the shortcomings of traditional forensic technology, and skin samples may be the most common source of cases, the analysis of skin microbiome was investigated in this study. High-throughput sequencing targeting the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was performed to reveal the skin microbiome of healthy individuals in Guangdong Han. The bacterial diversity of the palm, navel, groin and plantar of the same individual was analyzed. The overall classification based on 16S rRNA gene amplicons revealed that the microbial composition of skin samples from different anatomical parts was different, and the dominant bacterial genus of the navel, plantar, groin and palm skin were dominated by Cutibacterium , Staphylococcus , Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus , respectively. PCoA analysis showed that the skin at these four anatomical locations could only be grouped into three clusters. A predictive model based on random forest algorithm showed the potential to accurately distinguish these four anatomical locations, which indicated that specific bacteria with low abundance were the key taxa. In addition, the skin microbiome in this study is significantly different from the dominant microbiome in saliva and vaginal secretions identified in our previous study, and can be distinguished from these two tissue fluids. In conclusion, the present findings on the community and microbial structure details of the human skin may reveal its potential application value in assessing the location of skin samples and the type of body fluids in forensic medicine. • In this study, four skin sites showed differences in the abundance of dominant flora and specific low-abundance bacteria. • The random forest model showed high accuracy in distinguishing skin locations of four different anatomical structures. • Microbial composition of skin, saliva and vaginal secretions varies widely for inferring forensic tissue fluid types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The yield of next-generation sequencing (NGS) added to a Sanger sequencing–based 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was evaluated in clinical practice for diagnosis of bacterial infection. Methods PCR targeting the V1 to V3 regions of the 16S rRNA gene was performed, with amplified DNA submitted to Sanger sequencing and/or NGS (Illumina MiSeq) or reported as negative, depending on the cycle threshold value. A total of 2146 normally sterile tissues or body fluids were tested between August 2020 and March 2021. Clinical sensitivity was assessed in 579 patients from whom clinical data were available. Results Compared with Sanger sequencing alone (400 positive tests), positivity increased by 87% by adding NGS (347 added positive tests). Clinical sensitivity of the assay that incorporated NGS was 53%, which was higher than culture (42%, P  < .001), with an impact on clinical decision-making in 14% of infected cases. Clinical sensitivity in the subgroup that received antibiotics at sampling was 41% for culture and 63% for the sequencing assay (P  < .001). Conclusions Adding NGS to Sanger sequencing of the PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene substantially improved test positivity. In the patient population studied, the assay was more sensitive than culture, especially in patients who had received antibiotic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effect of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal (BSF) on haemolymph biochemical indicators, muscle metabolites as well as the lipid and glucose metabolism of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Four diets were formulated in which the control diet contained 25 % of fishmeal (FM) and 10 % (BSF10), 20 % (BSF20), and 30 % (BSF30) of FM protein were replaced with BSF. Four hundred and eighty shrimp (0·88 ± 0·00 g) were distributed to four groups of three replicates and fed for 7 weeks. Results showed that growth performance of shrimp fed BSF30 significantly decreased compared with those fed FM, but there was no significant difference in survival among groups. The whole shrimp crude lipid content, haemolymph TAG and total cholesterol were decreased with the increasing BSF inclusion. The results of metabolomics showed that the metabolite patterns of shrimp fed different diets were altered, with significant changes in metabolites related to lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism as well as TCA cycle. The mRNA expressions of hk, pfk, pk, pepck, ampk, mcd, cpt-1 and scd1 in hepatopancreas were downregulated in shrimp fed BSF30, but mRNA expression of acc1 was upregulated. Unlike BSF30, the mRNA expressions of fas, cpt-1, fbp and 6pgd in hepatopancreas were upregulated in shrimp fed BSF20. This study indicates that BSF20 diet promoted lipid synthesis and lipolysis, while BSF30 diet weakened β-oxidation and glycolysis as well as affected the unsaturated fatty acids synthesis, which may affect the growth performance and body composition of shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of ATR FT-IR spectroscopy are extremely attractive and escalating popularity in the field of body fluid analysis owing to its non-destructive, rapid, and reliable nature. Herein, the present study establishes that how ATR FT-IR spectroscopy could be utilized as a non-destructive, non-invasive, and confirmatory technique for sex discrimination from dry urine traces. Traces of body fluids are of paramount importance to criminal investigations as a major source of individualization by DNA profiling. However, the significance of DNA profiling from urine traces is highly diminished due to the small amount of DNA in urine traces. For that reason, the sex discrimination between the male and female donors is sorely desirable. In this study, ATR FT-IR spectroscopy in combination with partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model unequivocally demonstrated the successful sex discrimination of an individual from dry traces of urine with 95.3% accuracy. PCA-Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) approach provided 85.2% of accuracy; however, PCA could not provide the sufficient findings for the discrimination of male and female urine spectra. The validation study was conducted and obtained 0% rates of false-positive and negative assignments. Additionally, this study also attended to assess the influence of substrates on the analysis of urine traces and results have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective  Pulmonary edema is the most common pathophysiological change in pulmonary disease. Aquaporins (AQPs) and Na + /K + -ATPase play pivotal roles in alveolar fluid clearance. This study aimed to explore the influence of increased alveolar fluid on the absorption of lung fluid. Study Design  Eighty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into eight groups (n  = 10 in each group), and models of different alveolar fluid contents were established by the infusion of different volumes of normal saline (NS) via the endotracheal tube. Five animals in each group were sacrificed immediately after infusion to determine the wet/dry ratio, while the remaining animals in each group were killed 4 hours later to determine the wet/dry ratio at 4 hours. Additionally, lung specimens were collected from each group, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blot, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses of AQPs and Na + /K + -ATPase were performed. Results  The qRT-PCR analysis and western blot studies showed markedly decreased mRNA and protein levels of AQP1 and Na + /K + -ATPase when the alveolar fluid volume was ≥6 mL/kg, and the mRNA level of AQP5 was significantly reduced when the alveolar fluid volume was ≥4 mL/kg. In addition, IHC analysis showed the same results. At 4 hours, the lung wet/dry ratio was significantly increased when the alveolar fluid volume was ≥6 mL/kg; however, compared with 0 hours after NS infusion, there was still a significant absorption of alveolar fluid for a period of 4 hours. Conclusion  The results of this study suggest that increased alveolar fluid may induce the downregulation of the mRNA and protein expression of AQPs and Na + /K + -ATPase, which appear to affect alveolar fluid clearance in rabbit lungs. Early intervention is required to avoid excessive alveolar fluid accumulation. Key Points The expression levels of AQPs and Na + /K +− -ATPase were significantly decreased as alveolar fluid increased. At 4 hours, wet/dry ratio was significantly increased when infusion volume was ≥ 6 mL/kg. Early intervention is required to avoid excessive alveolar fluid accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular analysis of body fluids (BF) has clinical relevance in several medical conditions. The objective of this study is twofold: (1) evaluate the analytical performance of the BF mode of Mindray BC-6800 Plus compared to manual counts under microscopy and (2) analyse if the high-fluorescent cell counts provided by the analyser (HF-BF) are useful to detect malignancy. A total of 285 BF was analysed: 250 corresponding to patients without neoplasia and 35 to patients with malignant diseases. Manual differential counts were performed in BF with ≥250 cells/μL. Percentages and absolute counts were obtained on the BC-6800Plus for total nucleated cells (TC-BF), mononuclear, polymorphonuclear and HF-BF. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman's correlation, Passing-Bablok regression, Bland-Altman graph and ROC curve. To compare manual and automatic total cell counts, samples were divided in three groups: <250, 250–1,000 and >1,000 cells/μL. Correlation was good in all cases (r=0.72, 0.73 and 0.92, respectively) without significant differences between both methods (p=0.65, 0.39 and 0.30, respectively). The concordance between methods showed values of 90%. Considering malignant samples, median HF-BF values showed significant higher values (102 cells/μL) with respect to non-malignant (4 cells/μL) (p<0.001). The cut-off value of 8.5 HF-BF/μL was able to discriminate samples containing malignant cells showing sensitivity and specificity values of 89 and 71%, respectively. Considering both, HF-BF and TC-BF values, sensitivity and specificity values were 100 and 53%, respectively. This study reveals that the Mindray BC-6800Plus offers an accurate and acceptable performance, showing results consistent with the manual method. It is recommended to consider both HF-BF and TC-BF values for the screening of the microscopic evaluation to ensure the detection of all malignant samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pleural effusions in the context of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) are garnering increased recognition for their clinical significance. Acute PE, a serious medical condition marked by the sudden blockage of pulmonary arteries due to blood clots, presents with a wide array of symptoms and poses significant diagnostic challenges. These effusions in PE patients are not merely incidental findings but may offer valuable insights into the severity, pathophysiological mechanisms, and potential outcomes of the disease. Objective: This retrospective cross-sectional study examines the pleural effusions' radiological features in acute PE and assesses the fluid's chemical composition. Methodology: At Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, 78 patients who had been diagnosed with acute PE underwent a retrospective cross-sectional design study during the period from November 2020 and October 2021. To classify pleural effusions and evaluate their components, radiological information from computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) scans and pleural fluid analysis was employed. Results: Among the study cases, 68% of patients with acute PE had pleural effusions, which were often minor to moderate in size (47% and 34%, respectively). Among the radiological abnormalities that were related were pleural thickening (7%), atelectasis (15%), and pulmonary infarcts (26%). A study of the pleural fluid revealed higher levels of several proteins, coagulation parameters, and inflammatory markers. Pleural effusions had an 81% diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing PE from other diseases, and there was a relationship between effusion size and biomarkers and clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Understanding pleural features improves acute PE diagnosis and treatment strategies. Pleural effusions offer prognostic and diagnostic information that can be used to improve patient treatment and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of body fluids is desirable to minimize the invasiveness of diagnostic tests and non-destructive forensic investigations. In this study, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is employed for sensitive and reproducible detection of biomolecule focusing on 'hot spots' generation and automated flow system. Here, we have demonstrated how the plasmon frequency of nanoparticles can be tuned using different aggregating agents for optimal SERS signals. We have compared the effect of different aggregating agents on silver colloids and the resulting enhancement in Raman signals for Tryptophan which is an important amino acid present as an integral component of various body fluids including blood, saliva, tears, and cerebrospinal fluid. The automated segmented flow system, Lab-on-a-chip (LOC), is employed to trap the analyte in droplets while obtaining reproducible SERS spectra of Tryptophan at μM concentration. Further for a thorough interpretation of enhanced vibrational modes of Tryptophan, a theoretical approach has been applied. By combining both experimental and computational approaches we have identified the most preferable site of Tryptophan for interaction with metal nanoparticles and accurately assigned the enhanced Raman bands. The present study demonstrates that the union of SERS and microfluidics has the potential for spectral fingerprinting of biomolecules present in body fluids with high sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid biopsy, the analysis of body fluids, represents a promising approach for disease diagnosis and prognosis with minimal intervention. Sequencing cell-free RNA derived from liquid biopsies has been very promising for the diagnosis of several diseases. Cancer research, in particular, has emerged as a prominent candidate since early diagnosis has been shown to be a critical determinant of disease prognosis. Although high-throughput analysis of liquid biopsies has uncovered many differentially expressed genes in the context of cancer, the functional connection between these genes is not investigated in depth. An important approach to remedy this issue is the construction of gene networks which describes the correlation patterns between different genes, thereby allowing to infer their functional organization. In this study, we aimed at characterizing extracellular transcriptome gene networks of hepatocellular carcinoma patients compared to healthy controls. Our analysis revealed a number of genes previously associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and uncovered their association network in the blood. Our study thus demonstrates the feasibility of performing gene co-expression network analysis from cell-free RNA data and its utility in studying hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, we augmented cell-free RNA network analysis with single-cell RNA sequencing data which enables the contextualization of the identified network modules with cell-type specific transcriptomes from the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Aurantiamide acetate (AA) is a dipeptide derivative with complex pharmacological activities and remarkable effects on preventing and treating various diseases. In the current study, we aimed to investigate whether AA can exert protective effects in a mouse model of ALI induced by LPS. Materials and Methods. In this model, mice were given intranasal LPS for 3 days prior to receiving AA (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) via oral gavage. An assessment of histopathological changes was performed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Proinflammatory cytokines were detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The effects of AA on protein expression of NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways were determined by Western blot. In addition, lung wet/dry (W/D) weight ratio, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, cell counts, and protein content were also measured. Results. According to results, AA pretreatment significantly reduced lung pathological changes, W/D ratio, MPO activity, and protein content. Additionally, AA resulted in a significant reduction in the number of total cells, neutrophils, and proinflammatory cytokines in the BALF after LPS stimulation. The subsequent study revealed that pretreatment with AA dose dependently suppressed LPS-induced activation of NF-κB as well as PI3K/AKT phosphorylation. Conclusion. The results indicated that the AA had a protective effect on LPS-induced ALI in mice and could be a potential drug for ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Critical regulatory genes are functionally silenced by DNA hypermethylation in breast cancer and premalignant lesions. The objective of this study was to examine whether DNA methylation assessed in random fine needle aspirates (rFNA) can be used to inform breast cancer risk. Methods. In 20 women with invasive breast cancer scheduled for surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, cumulative methylation status was assessed in a comprehensive manner. rFNA was performed on tumors, adjacent normal tissues, and all remaining quadrants. Pathology review was conducted on blocks from all excised tissue. The cumulative methylation index (CMI) for 12 genes was assessed by a highly sensitive QM-MSP assay in 280 aspirates and tissue from 11 incidental premalignant lesions. Mann–Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to compare median CMI by patient, location, and tumor characteristics. Results. The median age of participants was 49 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 44–58). DNA methylation was detectable at high levels in all tumor aspirates (median CMI = 252, IQR: 75–111). Methylation was zero or low in aspirates from adjacent tissue (median CMI = 11, IQR: 0–13), and other quadrants (median CMI = 2, IQR: 1–5). Nineteen incidental lesions were identified in 13 women (4 malignant and 15 premalignant). Median CMI levels were not significantly different in aspirates from quadrants (p = 0.43) or adjacent tissue (p = 0.93) in which 11 methylated incidental lesions were identified. Conclusions. The diagnostic accuracy of methylation based on rFNA alone to detect premalignant lesions or at-risk quadrants is poor and therefore should not be used to evaluate cancer risk. A more targeted approach needs to be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Albumin has been shown to decrease the incidence of mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Albumin administration in SBP is recommended within 6 hours of diagnosis and for reserved use in high-risk patients with the following baseline laboratory tests: serum creatinine >1 mg/dL, blood urea nitrogen >30 mg/dL or total bilirubin >4 mg/dL. Objective: We aimed to assess the impact of an albumin order set restricted to high-risk SBP. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted between Jan 1, 2013 to Feb 28, 2018. The albumin order set was implemented on Sep 20, 2016. Patients were included if they were diagnosed with SBP and had an ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear count ≥ 250 cells/mm3. Results: Out of a total of 137 patients reviewed, 88 met the inclusion criteria. The incidence of AKI in the pre-order set and post-order set were 63.93% and 33.33% (p = 0.01), respectively. The incidence of mortality in the pre-order set and post-order set were 36.07% and 7.41% (p = 0.005), respectively. The percentage of patients administered albumin within 6 hours were 24.59% to 40.74% (p = 0.14) in the pre-order set and post-order set, respectively. The percentage of patients who received the recommended albumin dosing regimen ordered was 42.62% vs 96.30% (p < 0.001), in the pre-order set and post-order set, respectively. Conclusion: The albumin order set restricted to high-risk SBP patients significantly reduced the incidence of AKI and mortality, and improved the appropriateness of albumin regimen ordered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular analysis of body fluids (BFs) can assist clinicians for the diagnosis of many medical conditions. The aim of this work is the evaluation of the analytical performance of the UF-5000 body fluid mode (UF-BF) analyzer compared to the gold standard method (optical microscopy, OM) and to XN-1000 (XN-BF), another analyzer produced by the same manufacturer (Sysmex) and with a similar technology for BF analysis. One hundred BF samples collected in K3EDTA tubes were analyzed by UF-BF, XN-BF and OM. The agreement was evaluated using Passing and Bablok regression and Bland–Altman plot analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were selected for evaluating the diagnostic agreement between OM classification and UF-BF parameters. Comparison between UF-BF and OM, in all BF types, showed Passing and Bablok's slope comprised between 0.99 (polymorphonuclear cells count, PMN-BF) and 1.39 (mononuclear cells count, MN-BF), the intercepts ranged between 26.47 (PMN-BF parameter) and 226.80 (white blood cell count). Bland–Altman bias was comprised between 7.3% (total cell count, TC-BF) and 52.9% (MN-BF). Comparison between UF-BF and XN-BF in all BF showed slopes ranged between 1.07 (TC-BF and PMN-BF) and 1.16 (MN-BF), intercepts ranged between 8.30 (PMN) and 64.78 (WBC-BF). Bland–Altman bias ranged between 5.8 (TC-BF) and 21.1% (MN-BF). The ROC curve analysis showed an area under the curve ranged between 0.9664 and 1.000. UF-BF shows very good performance for the differential counts of cells in ascitic, pleural and synovial fluids and therefore it is useful to screen and count cells in this type of BF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in the peritoneal fluid is a matter of debate in the COVID-19 literature. The study aimed to report the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the peritoneal fluid of patients with nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 undergoing emergency surgery and review the literature. Methods: The present study was conducted between March 2020 and June 2021. Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 positivity was confirmed by preoperative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Eighteen patients with positive nasopharyngeal swabs were operated in emergency in two third-level Italian hospitals. In 13 of these patients (72%), a peritoneal swab was analyzed: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found in the abdominal fluid of two patients (15%). Neither of them had visceral perforation and one patient died. In ten patients with negative peritoneal swabs, visceral perforation and mortality rates were 30% and 20%, respectively. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 peritoneal positivity is rare. Abdominal surgery can, therefore, be safely performed in patients with COVID-19 using standard precautions. The correlation with a visceral perforation is not evaluable. The clinical outcomes seem uninfluenced by the viral colonization of the peritoneum. Assessment in large series to provide definitive answers about the involvement of the SARS-CoV-2 in the peritoneum will be challenging to coordinate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The Indian Academy of Cytologists published Guidelines and categories for Reporting Serous Effusions (IACGRSE) in 2020 to improve consistency and reproducibility of fluid cytology reporting and to guide patient management. Aims: To evaluate category-wise agreement while using IACGRSE 2020 categories. To analyze interobserver agreement among participants with different level of training and years of experience. Settings and Design: A retrospective interobserver variability study. Methods and Material: Study was done with four participants: an expert cytopathologist and three cytopathology fellows with varying experience. Fluid smears from 60 cases with clinical and/or radiological evidence of malignancy were categorized into one of the five IACGRSE 2020 categories. The interpretations of expert cytopathologist were taken as standard. Statistical Analysis Used: Interobserver agreement was analyzed using Kappa statistics. Results: Previous cases without definitive category got classified into "Atypical cells NOS" (3.33%) and "Atypical cells, Suspicious of Malignancy" (15%). Agreement analysis for IACGRSE 2020 categories showed better concordance for inadequate (I), malignant (V), and benign (II) categories. The range of Kappa for interobserver agreement of fellows was fair to substantial (range 0.1692--0.7249). The participant with substantial diagnostic agreement with expert ( = 0.729, 88.3%) had the most experience. Causes of major discordance were pertaining to paucity and distribution of cells, and to misinterpretation of reactive mesothelial cells. Conclusions: IACGRSE 2020 categories and participants' experience were important determinants in classifying the effusion fluid cytology smears and interobserver agreement; emphasizing the need to use IACGRSE2020, and sufficient time and training required for accurate diagnosis of fluid specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body fluid identification through messenger RNA (mRNA) has been proposed as a useful supplement to presumptive and confirmatory tests by previous laboratory studies; however, its application in routine clinical forensic examination was rare. We report a case of sexual assault in which body fluid identification by mRNA profiling was used. Vaginal secretions mRNA markers (MUC4, HBD1, and CYP2B7P1) were used to test the sample, being obtained positive results. This case demonstrates that mRNA profiling of body fluids could be applied to routine case examinations as an aid, acting as a scientific collaborative evidence to strengthen the medicolegal opinion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of texture analysis (TA) features to discriminate between different types of infected fluid collections, as seen on computed tomography (CT) images, has never been investigated. The study comprised forty patients who had pathological post-operative fluid collections following gastric cancer surgery and underwent CT scans. Patients were separated into six groups based on advanced microbiological analysis of the fluid: mono bacterial (n = 16)/multiple-bacterial (n = 24)/fungal (n = 14)/non-fungal (n = 26) infection and drug susceptibility tests into: multiple drug-resistance bacteria (n = 23) and non-resistant bacteria (n = 17). Dedicated software was used to extract the collections' TA parameters. The parameters obtained were used to compare fungal and non-fungal infections, mono-bacterial and multiple-bacterial infections, and multiresistant and non-resistant infections. Univariate and receiver operating characteristic analyses and the calculation of sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) were used to identify the best-suited parameters for distinguishing between the selected groups. TA parameters were able to differentiate between fungal and non-fungal collections (ATeta3, p = 0.02; 55% Se, 100% Sp), mono and multiple-bacterial (CN2D6AngScMom, p = 0.03); 80% Se, 64.29% Sp) and between multiresistant and non-multiresistant collections (CN2D6Contrast, p = 0.04; 100% Se, 50% Sp). CT-based TA can statistically differentiate between different types of infected fluid collections. However, it is unclear which of the fluids' micro or macroscopic features are reflected by the texture parameters. In addition, this cohort is used as a training cohort for the imaging algorithm, with further validation cohorts being required to confirm the changes detected by the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is written to investigate the levels and significance of tumor markers [carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9)] and cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-4, and IL-2] in serum and peritoneal lavage fluid of patients with peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. For this research, 145 patients with gastric cancer treated in our hospital were divided into peritoneal metastasis group (n = 25), other metastasis group (n = 32), and nonmetastasis group (n = 88) according to the occurrence of metastasis. At the same time, the levels of serum tumor markers and cytokines and tumor markers and cytokines in intraoperative peritoneal lavage fluid were compared among the three groups. The results showed that the proportion of TNM stage III in peritoneal metastasis group and other metastasis group was 68.00% and 62.50%, respectively, and the proportion of tumor >5 cm was 64.00% and 59.38%, respectively, which was significantly higher than that in the control group. The 1-year survival rate of peritoneal metastasis group and other metastasis group was 44.00% and 40.63%, respectively, which was significantly lower than that of nonmetastasis group (P < 0.05).The serum levels of CEA, CA125, CA19-9, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2 in peritoneal metastasis group and other metastasis group were higher than those in nonmetastasis group. The intraoperative peritoneal lavage fluid CEA, CA125, and IL-6 were 13.41 ± 3.72 ng/ml, 8.97 ± 1.33 U/ml, and 1.85 ± 0.44 pg/ml, respectively, which were higher than those in other metastasis groups and nonmetastasis groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of CA19-9, IL-4, and IL-2 in peritoneal lavage fluid among peritoneal metastasis group, other metastasis groups, and nonmetastasis groups (P > 0.05); the areas under the ROC curve of intraoperative peritoneal lavage fluid CEA, CA125, and IL-6 in predicting peritoneal metastasis were 0.850, 0.902, and 0.806, respectively, P < 0.05. Thus, the conclusion is that peritoneal lavage fluid CEA, CA125, and IL-6 have certain application value in predicting and diagnosing peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer, while the other indexes have no application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Performance of UF-4000 body fluid are in accordance with appropriate standards. • UF-4000 proved to be more rapid, efficient, and accurate than manual counting. • UF-4000 enhances laboratory workflow for cellular analysis of body fluids. • UF-4000 body fluid mode is a good alternative to manual cell counting of body fluids. • UF-4000 cellular analysis can help clinicians to make rapid therapeutic decisions. Cytological analysis of body fluids (BF) provides important information for diagnosis in various medical conditions. We evaluated the analytical performance of the UF-4000 BF mode for ascitic, cerebrospinal, pleural, synovial and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis fluids compared to light microscopy counting (LM). 223 consecutive BF were analyzed by UF-4000 and results were compared using Pearson's correlation, Bland-Altman analysis, and contingence tests at relevant cut-off values. This study also included the evaluation of precision, linearity, and carryover. For white and red blood cells (WBC, RBC) counts in all BF, correlation was excellent with Pearson's coefficients R2 > 0,98. Bland-Altman analysis didn't reveal significant differences with limited bias for WBC ranging from −10 to −1 WBC/µL and bias ranging from −43 to −6/µL for RBC. At specific cut-off values for WBC, Se and Spe were 100% except for ascites (Spe = 98%) due to two false positive. Precision evaluated at three concentration levels was good for each parameter (WBC < 10%). Linearity was excellent for WBC (R2 > 0,99) and carryover negligible (<0,004%). UF-4000 BF mode is a good alternative to manual LM for BF cell counting. This automated method gives rapid and accurate results which is important for therapeutic decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Enhanced Sensitivity: achieved low LODs and interference-free electropherograms. • Clinical Applicability: successfully analyzed human serum samples. • Innovative Methodology: integrated UA-DLLME and LVSS for analysis of two pairs of barbiturate enantiomer drugs. • Sensitivity Boost: attained a 6200–6400-fold sensitivity enhancement. • Efficient Analysis: provided a simple, high-efficiency method for biosample analysis. A rapid, straightforward, and sensitive approach to quantifying enantiomeric barbiturates in serum was developed by integrating ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (UA-DLLME) with large-volume sample stacking (LVSS) in capillary electrophoresis (CE). UA-DLLME was employed for sample preparation, and on-column preconcentration by using LVSS with polarity switching was implemented to enhance sensitivity. We thoroughly investigated and optimized various parameters influencing extraction and stacking to achieve optimal detection performance with the highest enrichment efficiencies. Under optimal extraction conditions (injection of a mixed solution containing 40 μL of CHCl 3 and 200 μL of tetrahydrofuran into 1 mL of a sample solution at pH 10.0), LVSS was performed using 600 mM Tris-boric acid (pH 9.5) containing 35 mM hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and sodium taurodeoxycholate hydrate. A voltage of 20 kV was applied and a preinjection water plug was loaded at a height of 25 cm for 10 s. Subsequently, the sample solution was injected at a height of 25 cm for 480 s, after which a voltage of −20 kV was applied and the sample stacking was initiated. The stacking process was completed when 95 % of the separation current was attained. Under optimized conditions, the contraction folds of the four barbiturate analytes (R, S -Secobarbital, R, S -pentobarbital) were improved by approximately 6400-fold, achieving detection limits of 0.1 ng/mL. The limits of quantification for all analyte enantiomers were 0.5–50 ng/mL, demonstrating good linearity (r > 0.997). Migration times exhibited a relative standard deviation of less than 1.7 %, whereas peak areas for the four analytes exhibited a deviation of 8.7 %. Finally, the established method was effectively applied to the analysis of human serum samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the outbreak of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this pandemic has caused severe death and infection worldwide. Owing to its strong infectivity, long incubation period, and nonspecific symptoms, the early diagnosis is essential to reduce risk of the severe illness. The electrochemical biosensor, as a fast and sensitive technique for quantitative analysis of body fluids, has been widely studied to diagnose different biomarkers caused at different infective stages of COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2). Recently, many reports have proved that nanomaterials with special architectures and size effects can effectively promote the biosensing performance on the COVID-19 diagnosis, there are few comprehensive summary reports yet. Therefore, in this review, we will pay efforts on recent progress of advanced nanomaterials-facilitated electrochemical biosensors for the COVID-19 detections. The process of SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans will be briefly described, as well as summarizing the types of sensors that should be designed for different infection processes. Emphasis will be supplied to various functional nanomaterials which dominate the biosensing performance for comparison, expecting to provide a rational guidance on the material selection of biosensor construction for people. Finally, we will conclude the perspective on the design of superior nanomaterials-based biosensors facing the unknown virus in future. Due to its strong infectivity and long incubation period, COVID-19 has caused significant losses to people's health and socio-economic development. This article focuses on strategies for electrochemical detection of four types of biomarkers produced by SARS-CoV-2. Summarized the different advantages and applications of new nanomaterials in electrochemical biosensors, provided design prospects for new nanomaterial biosensors facing unknown viruses. [Display omitted] • The application of various regular structure nanomaterials in the detection of COVID-19 is summarized. • Construction of electrochemical sensors with different strategies based on the processes of SARS-CoV-2 into the human body. • Control of regular nanostructures is always a challenge for biosensing performance. • This review is of guidance to construct high-performance electrochemical biosensors for detection of infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risperidone (RIS) is an atypical antipsychotic agent and its 9-hydroxylated metabolite named paliperidone (PAL) also has pharmacological properties similar to that of RIS. Quantifications of RIS and PAL in authentic human biological fluids and solid tissues by liquid chromatography (LC)–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) have not been reported yet although those in plasma (and blood) were reported abundantly. In the present work, a quantification method for RIS and PAL based on the standard addition method was devised and validated for the human fluid and solid tissue specimens. RIS and PAL in biological fluids were quantified only after their dilution and deproteinization. The concentrations of RIS and PAL in the heart whole blood, pericardial fluid, stomach contents, bile, urine, liver, kidney and cerebrum were determined for a deceased who had been treated with RIS therapeutically, and also a deceased who had ingested RIS with other drugs intentionally. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the quantification of RIS and PAL by LC–MS/MS in the authentic human tissues and biological fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Criminal investigations, particularly sexual assaults, frequently require the identification of body fluid type in addition to body fluid donor to provide context. In most cases this can be achieved by conventional methods, however, in certain scenarios, alternative molecular methods are required. An example of this is the detection of menstrual fluid and vaginal material, which are not able to be identified using conventional techniques. Endpoint reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) is currently used for this purpose to amplify body fluid specific messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts in forensic casework. Real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) is a similar method but utilises fluorescent markers to generate quantitative results in the form of threshold cycle (C q) values. Despite the uncertainty surrounding body fluid identification, most interpretation guidelines utilise categorical statements. Probabilistic modelling is more realistic as it reflects biological variation as well as the known performance of the method. This research describes the application of various machine learning models to single-source mRNA profiles obtained by RT-qPCR and assesses their performance. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR), Naïve Bayes (NB), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used to discriminate between the following body fluid categories: saliva, circulatory blood, menstrual fluid, vaginal material, and semen. We identified that the performance of MLR was somewhat improved when the quantitative dataset of the original C q values was used (overall accuracy of approximately 0.95) rather than presence/absence coded data (overall accuracy of approximately 0.94). This indicates that the quantitative information obtained by RT-qPCR amplification is useful in assigning body fluid class. Of the three classification methods, MLR performed the best. When we utilised receiver operating characteristic curves to observe performance by body fluid class, it was clear that all methods found difficulty in classifying menstrual blood samples. Future work will involve the modelling of body fluid mixtures, which are common in samples analysed as part of sexual assault investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]