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Wearable devices have emerged as powerful tools for personalized healthcare in spite of some challenges that limit their widespread applicability as continuous monitors of physiological information. Here, a materials-based strategy to add utility to traditional dielectric sensors by developing a conformal radiofrequency (RF) construct composed of an active layer encapsulated between two reverse-facing split ring resonators is applied. These small (down to 2 mm × 2 mm) passive dielectric sensors possess enhanced sensitivity and can be further augmented by functionalization of this interlayer material. Demonstrator devices are shown where the interlayer is: (i) a porous silk film, and (ii) a modified PNIPAM hydrogel that swells with pH or temperature. In vivo use is demonstrated by adhesion of the device on tooth enamel to detect foods during human ingestion. Such sensors can be easily multiplexed and yield data-rich temporal information during the diffusion of analytes within the trilayer structure. This format could be extended to a suite of interlayer materials for sensing devices of added use and specificity., (© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of exclusive oral iron supplementation (iron sulphate 2 mg/kg/die) in asymptomatic children with severe iron-deficiency anemia [median hemoglobin (Hb) level before treatment 6.3 g/dL; range 4.5 to 7 g/dL] and to investigate the accuracy of Hb, reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr), and absolute reticulocyte count (ARC) as markers for monitoring early response to treatment. The increase in ARC and CHr was statistically significant at day +3. There was a significant association between suitable logarithmic functions of the percentage increase in CHr and ARC at day +3 and the fraction of required Hb increase compared with baseline to reach the mean reference value for age and sex at day +14. If these results are confirmed in a larger population, ARC and CHr could be considered affordable and widely available markers to detect early responders to oral iron therapy, and to switch unresponsive children to parenteral iron supplementation or transfusion.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative disorders, including autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) and Dianzani autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease (DALD), are inherited defects of the Fas apoptotic pathway characterized by lymphoid accumulation and autoimmune manifestations. We report the molecular, clinical, immunologic features and the long-term progress of 31 patients. Four carried Fas gene mutations and one also displayed a caspase 10 polymorphism that probably contributed to the phenotype. Seven patients developed antibody deficiency and their clinical pictures overlapped those of subjects with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). We postulate the existence of a disorder that involves the Fas pathway and displays the characteristics of both autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease and CVID.

The autoimmune/lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) displays defective function of Fas, autoimmunities, lymphadenopathy/splenomegaly, and expansion of CD4/CD8 double-negative (DN) T cells. Dianzani autoimmune/lymphoproliferative disease (DALD) is an ALPS variant lacking DN cells. Both forms have been ascribed to inherited mutations hitting the Fas system but other factors may be involved. A pilot cDNA array analysis on a DALD patient detected overexpression of the cytokine osteopontin (OPN). This observation was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection of higher OPN serum levels in DALD patients (n = 25) than in controls (n = 50). Analysis of the OPN cDNA identified 4 polymorphisms forming 3 haplotypes (A, B, and C). Their overall distribution and genotypic combinations were different in patients (N = 26) and controls (N = 158) (P <.01). Subjects carrying haplotype B and/or C had an 8-fold higher risk of developing DALD than haplotype A homozygotes. Several data suggest that these haplotypes influence OPN levels: (1) in DALD families, high levels cosegregated with haplotype B or C; (2) in healthy controls, haplotype B or C carriers displayed higher levels than haplotype A homozygotes; and (3) in AB and AC heterozygotes, mRNA for haplotype B or C was more abundant than that for haplotype A. In vitro, exogenous OPN decreased activation-induced T-cell death, which suggests that high OPN levels are involved in the apoptosis defect.