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Microneedle‐based electrodes have attracted significant attention due to their potential applications in high‐quality, long‐term electrophysiological monitoring. In this study, micromoulding technology is used to develop a flexible, conductive fabric microneedle (CF–MN) electrode by bonding a conductive textile to polymeric microneedle arrays. The resulting electrode conforms to the curved surfaces of the body, and the use of a conductive textile backing reduces metallization time and costs by 50% over double‐sided dry electrodes. The electrode‐skin impedance of the CF–MN electrodes is significantly lower than that of gel electrodes over a wide frequency range, and tests on healthy volunteers, both at rest and under a range of ambulatory conditions, showed that the electrodes are capable of acquiring electrocardiography (ECG) and electromyography (EMG) signals that have a comparable kurtosis and signal‐to‐noise ratio to those recorded using conventional electrodes, but without the need for skin preparation or the use of a wet gel. The biomechanical properties of the electrode are also characterized. This is the first demonstration of CF–MN electrodes that can ultimately be integrated into clothing, which in turn can facilitate personalized cardiac health management by enabling continuous, long‐term ECG/EMG monitoring during daily activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is urgent to diagnose giant cell arteritis (GCA) as quickly as possible to prevent irreversible blindness. The traditional gold standard for diagnosing GCA is temporal artery biopsy (TAB). However, TAB lacks diagnostic performance and carries out risks of surgical intervention. The noninvasive color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) seems to be a promising alternative. This study is designed to assess the diagnostic value of CDU in daily clinical practice. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, patients with a clinical suspicion of active GCA were included and underwent a CDU of the temporal arteries. If deemed necessary by the referrer, a TAB and/or 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography was performed. The retrospective clinical diagnosis was determined 1 year after inclusion by two physicians experienced in the field of vasculitis. Results: 242 patients were included and GCA was diagnosed in 73 (30%) patients by the defined retrospective clinical diagnosis. Compared with the retrospective diagnosis, CDU has a sensitivity of 60% (48–72), specificity of 94% (89–97), positive predictive value (PPV) of 81% (70–89), negative predictive value (NPV) of 85% (80–88), and an accuracy of 84% (78–88). A total of 84 (35%) patients underwent TAB. TAB has a sensitivity of 66% (51–79), specificity of 100% (90–100), PPV of 100% (100), NPV of 67% (58–75), and an accuracy of 80% (70–88). Conclusion: This study shows comparable diagnostic performance for CDU and TAB and even better CDU results with a bilateral halo present. Considering the advantages of the noninvasive CDU, it is the diagnostic tool of choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and occurs frequently in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate one-carbon flux rates of methionine and homocysteine (Hcy) in ESRD patients and healthy controls. Transmethylation (TM), remethylation (RAM), and transsulfuration (TS), as well as Hcy clearance by TS (i.e., TS/plasma total Hcy concentration) and by RM (i.e., RM/plasma total Hcy concentration) were evaluated in relation to body composition, vitamins, and S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) and S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) levels. After a fixed protein diet for 3 days, primed-continuous infusion of [[sup.2][H.sub.3]methyl-1-[sup.13]C]methionine was performed in the postabsorptive state in 12 hemodialysis patients and 16 healthy volunteers. Hcy clearance by TS (-80%, P < 0.001) and by RM (-77%, P < 0.001) in ESRD patients was decreased compared with healthy controls. The absolute flux rates of TM (-27%, P < 0.01) and RM (-28%, P = 0.02) were lower in the ESRD patients. After adjustment for age, TS was not significantly reduced. Whole blood AdoHcy was significantly elevated in ESRD and was a significant determinant of TM (standardized [beta] = - 1.24, P - 0.01) and RM (standardized [beta] = - 1.43, P = 0.03). In conclusion, patients with ESRD have impaired Hey clearance by TS and RM. Elevated whole blood AdoHcy levels are associated with impaired RM and TM flux rates in these patients, and AdoHcy may be a key regulatory compound in one-carbon flux. stable isotopes; S-adenosylmethionine; transsulfuration; remethylation; transmethylation

Lung transplantation is a necessary step for the patients with the end stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The use of artificial lungs is a promising alternative to natural lung transplantation which is complicated and is restricted by low organ donations. For successful lung engineering, it is important to choose the correct combination of specific biological cells and a synthetic carrier polymer. The focus of this study was to investigate the interactions of human lung epithelial cell line NCl-H292 that is involved in lung tissue development with the biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone) before and after its chemical modification to evaluate potential for use in artificial lung formation. Also, the effect of polymer chemical modification on its mechanical and surface properties has been investigated. The poly(ε-caprolactone) surface was modified using aminolysis followed by immobilization of gelatin. The unmodified and modified polymer surfaces were characterized for roughness, tensile strength, and NCl-H292 metabolic cell activity. The results showed for the first time the possibility for NCI-H292 cells to adhere on this polymeric material. The resazurin assay showed that the metabolic activity at 24 h postseeding of 80% in the presence of the unmodified and greater than 100% in the presence of the modified polymer was observed. The roughness of the poly(ε-caprolactone) increased from 4 to 26 nm and the film strength increased from 0.01 to 0.045 kN when the material was chemically modified. The results obtained to date show potential for using modified poly(ε-caprolactone) as a scaffold for lung tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]