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Point-of-care testing (POCT) is a contemporary diagnostic approach characterized by its user-friendly nature, cost efficiency, environmental compatibility, and lack of reliance on professional experts. Therefore, it is widely used in clinical diagnosis and other analytical testing fields to meet the demand for rapid and convenient testing. The application of POCT technology not only improves testing efficiency, but also brings convenience and benefits to the healthcare industry. The personal glucose meter (PGM) is a highly successful commercial POCT tool that has been widely used not only for glucose analysis, but also for non-glucose target detection. In this review, the recent advances from 2020 to 2024 in non-glucose target analysis for PGMs as POCT devices are summarized. The signal transduction strategies for non-glucose target analysis based on PGMs, including enzymatic transduction, nanocarrier transduction (enzyme or glucose), and glucose consumption transduction are briefly introduced. Meanwhile, the applications of PGMs in non-glucose target analysis are outlined, encompassing biomedical, environmental, and food analysis, along with other diverse applications. Finally, the prospects of and obstacles to employing PGMs as POCT tools for non-glucose target analysis are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the biomarkers of coagulation system-related diseases, the detection of thrombin is of practical importance. Thus, this study developed a portable biosensor based on a personal glucometer for rapid detection of thrombin activity. Fibrinogen was used for the detection of thrombin, and the assay principle was inspired by the blood coagulation process, where thrombin hydrolyzes fibrinogen to produce a fibrin hydrogel, and the amount of invertase encapsulated in the fibrin hydrogel fluctuates in accordance with the activity of thrombin in the sample solution. The quantitative assay is conducted by measuring the amount of unencapsulated invertase available to hydrolyze the substrate sucrose, and the signal readout is recorded using a personal glucometer. A linear detection range of 0–0.8 U/mL of thrombin with a limit of detection of 0.04 U/mL was obtained based on the personal glucometer sensing platform. The results of the selectivity and interference experiments showed that the developed personal glucometer sensing platform is highly selective and accurate for thrombin activity. Finally, the reliability of the portable glucometer method for rapid thrombin detection in serum samples was investigated by measuring the recovery rate, which ranged from 92.8% to 107.7%. In summary, the fibrin hydrogel sensing platform proposed in this study offers a portable and versatile means for detecting thrombin using a personal glucometer. This approach not only simplifies the detection process, but also eliminates the need for large instruments and skilled operators, and substantially reduces detection costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergistically enhanced polyurethane (PU) composites, in which the cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) was incorporated, were in situ polymerized and then the increasingly closer grid network structures for PU/CNC composites were achieved by adjusting chain extenders and adding different low contents of CNC, due to the introduction of different hard segments or the evolution of spherulites. As a result, the onset of the light transmission of PU elastomers and CNC‐filled composites showed an obvious red shift from UV light to visible light region, which meant that all UV light regions could be shielded entirely. Therefore, compared with Rhodamine B in water solution unprotected, the excellent UV‐light shielding was further verified by the inefficient photodegradation of Rhodamine B in water solution protected by PU‐PDA, PU‐BDI or PU‐PDA/CNC films under UV‐light irradiation. Meanwhile, enhanced light shielding behavior for PU‐PDA composites was observed with adding the CNC fillers. Moreover, the significantly enhanced mechanical properties were achieved, more than two or three times at elastic modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break. Finally, synergistically Enhanced mechanical properties in PU composites were found. Therefore, the study was of great significance in the potential light application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Serum human epididymis secretory protein 4 (HE4) is a useful diagnostic marker for lung cancer. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of pleural fluid HE4 for MPE. Design: A prospective, double-blind diagnostic test accuracy study. Methods: Patients with undiagnosed pleural effusion were enrolled in two cohorts (Hohhot and Changshu). Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to detect pleural fluid HE4. The diagnostic accuracy of HE4 was evaluated by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the net benefit of HE4 was assessed by a decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: A total of 66 MPEs and 86 benign pleural effusions (BPEs) were enrolled in the Hohhot cohort. In the Changshu cohort, 26 MPEs and 32 BPEs were enrolled. In both cohorts, MPEs had significantly higher pleural fluid HE4 than BPEs. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of HE4 was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.64–0.81) in the Hohhot cohort and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.67–0.91) in the Changshu cohort. At a threshold of 1300 pmol/L, HE4 had sensitivities of 0.44 (95% CI: 0.33–0.56) in the Hohhot cohort and 0.54 (95% CI: 0.35–0.73) in the Changshu cohort. The corresponding specificities were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.83–0.95) in the Hohhot cohort and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.84–1.00) in the Changshu cohort. In subgroup analyses, HE4 had an AUC (95% CI) of 0.78 (0.71–0.85) in exudates and an AUC of 0.69 (0.57–0.81) in patients with negative effusion cytology. The DCA revealed that HE4 determination had a net benefit in both cohorts. Conclusion: Pleural fluid HE4 has moderate diagnostic accuracy for MPE and has net benefit in pleural effusion patients with unknown etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The in vitro stability assessment is essential for investigating the diagnostic accuracy of pleural biomarkers. This study aimed to investigate the long‐term stability of pleural fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) at −80°C to −70°C. In addition, we analyzed the effects of frozen storage on the diagnostic accuracy of CEA for malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Methods: Pleural fluid CEA of participants in two prospective cohorts were stored at −80°C to −70°C for 1–3 years. The CEA level in the stored specimen was measured with an immunoassay, and its level in the fresh specimen was extracted from medical records. The Bland–Altman method, Passing‐Bablok regression, and Deming regression were used to analyze the agreement of CEA between the fresh and frozen pleural fluid. In addition, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CEA in the fresh and frozen specimens for MPE. Results: A total of 210 participants were enrolled. The median CEA levels in frozen and fresh pleural fluid specimens were similar (frozen, 2.32 ng/mL; fresh, 2.59 ng/mL; p < 0.01). The slopes and intercepts in the Passing‐Bablok regression (intercept 0.01, slope 1.04) and Deming regression (intercept 0.65; slope 1.00) were not statistically significant (p > 0.05 for all). No significant difference was observed between the area under the ROC curves of CEA in the fresh and frozen specimens (p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Pleural fluid CEA is seemingly stable when stored at –80°C to −70°C for 1–3 years. Frozen storage does not significantly affect the diagnostic accuracy of CEA for MPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the effects of different applied nitrogen forms, i. e. , ammonium,nitrate, glycine, glutamine, alanine, bovine serum albumin (BSA), mix- ture of glycine and nitrate, and mixture of BSA and nitrate, on the growth and carbon and nitrogen accumulation of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis). The significant differences were observed in the B. chinensis dry mass, fresh mass, carbon and nitrogen accumulation, and soluble protein, soluble sugar, and free amino acid contents among different treatments. In treatment nitrate, the fresh mass and dry mass of B. chinensis shoot and root were the highest; in treatment glycine, the root growth and the carbon and nitrogen accumulation of B. chinensis were promoted obviously; among the treatments glycine, glutamine, and alanine, treatment glutamine was more beneficial to the shoot growth and nitrogen accumulation. The nutritional effect of the applied nitrogen forms was in the order of nitrate, glutamine > mixture of glycine and nitrate, mixture of BSA and nitrate, glycine, ammonium > alanine, BSA, zero nitrogen. It was suggested that organic nitrogen could be used as a source of nitrogen nutrition for B. chinensis growth, and different nitrogen forms could have different physiological effects on the B. chinensis plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gynecological cancer significantly affect the health of women. This review aimed to describe the global patterns and trends in the survival of patients with gynecological cancers. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, SinoMed, and SEER for survival analyses of cancer registration data of cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers published between 1980 and 2022. Globally, the highest 5-year observed survival rate for cervical cancer was 76.5% in Anshan, Liaoning, China (2008-2017). The 5-year observed survival rates of endometrial and ovarian cancers were higher in Finland (1995-1999, 82.5%) and Singapore (1988-1992, 62.0%). The 5-year relative survival rate of cervical cancer patients was higher in Haining, Zhejiang, China (2011-2014, 85.8%). Korea ranked first at 89.0% and 64.5% for endometrial and ovarian cancers, respectively. Survival rates have improved for cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Patients aged ≥ 75 years and those with advanced-stage disease had the worst 5-year survival rates. Survival rates were better for squamous cell carcinoma in cervical cancer, for endometrial carcinoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma in endometrial cancer, and for germ cell and sex-cord stromal tumors in ovarian cancer. Over the past four decades, the survival rates of gynecological cancers have increased globally, with notable increases in cervical and endometrial cancers. Survival rates are higher in developed countries, with a slow-growing trend. Future studies should focus on improving survival, especially in ovarian cancer patients., (Copyright © 2024 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To establish a rapid and sensitive method based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with capillary electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) and microchip capillary electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence (MCE-LIF) for detecting adenoviruses in fecal samples., Methods: The DNA of adenovirus in fecal samples were extracted by the commercial kits and the conserved region of hexon gene was selected as the target gene and amplified by PCR reaction. After labeling highly sensitive nucleic acid fluorescent dye SYBR Gold and SYBR Orange respectively, PCR amplification products were separated by CE and MCE under the optimized condition and detected by LIF detector., Results: PCR amplification products could be detected within 9 min by CE-LIF and 6 min by MCE-LIF under the optimized separation condition. The sequenced PCR product showed good specificity in comparison with the prototype sequences from NCBI. The intraday and inter-day relative standard deviation (RSD) of the size (bp) of the target DNA was in the range of 1.14%-1.34% and 1.27%- 2.76%, respectively, for CE-LIF, and 1.18%-1.48% and 2.85%-4.06%, respectively, for MCE-LIF. The detection limits was 2.33 x 10(2) copies/mL for CE-LIF and 2.33 x 10(3) copies/mL for MCE-LIF. The two proposed methods were applied to detect fecal samples, both showing high accuracy., Conclusion: The two proposed methods of PCR-CE-LIF and PCR-MCE-LIF can detect adenovirus in fecal samples rapidly, sensitively and specifically.

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the effects of different applied nitrogen forms, i.e., ammonium, nitrate, glycine, glutamine, alanine, bovine serum albumin (BSA), mixture of glycine and nitrate, and mixture of BSA and nitrate, on the growth and carbon and nitrogen accumulation of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis). The significant differences were observed in the B. chinensis dry mass, fresh mass, carbon and nitrogen accumulation, and soluble protein, soluble sugar, and free amino acid contents among different treatments. In treatment nitrate, the fresh mass and dry mass of B. chinensis shoot and root were the highest; in treatment glycine, the root growth and the carbon and nitrogen accumulation of B. chinensis were promoted obviously; among the treatments glycine, glutamine, and alanine, treatment glutamine was more beneficial to the shoot growth and nitrogen accumulation. The nutritional effect of the applied nitrogen forms was in the order of nitrate, glutamine > mixture of glycine and nitrate, mixture of BSA and nitrate, glycine, ammonium > alanine, BSA, zero nitrogen. It was suggested that organic nitrogen could be used as a source of nitrogen nutrition for B. chinensis growth, and different nitrogen forms could have different physiological effects onthe B. chinensis plants.