Emerging nanomaterials such as nanozymes have recently been applied for the immunoassay-based detection of biomarkers. However, the inferior catalytic activity and low water solubility of nanozymes ...remain as the major limitations compared to natural enzymes. To overcome these limitations, we successfully synthesized a superior nanozyme with a structure of enriched 2D catalytic interface, namely Nanozyme Nest, which was composed of Fe-based metal–organic frameworks (Fe-MOF) and graphene oxide (GO). Then, we applied it in an ultrasensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of benzoapyrene-7,8-diol 9,10-epoxide–DNA adduct (BPDE–DNA), which is a metabolite of benzoapyrene (BP) and used as a typical biomarker of woodsmoke exposure in human blood. The Nanozyme Nest features amplified peroxidase-like catalytic ability from graphene and Fe-MOF due to their large surface area and abundant active sites. By using the proposed Nanozyme Nest-based ultrasensitive ELISA, the BPDE–DNA could be detected at a level as low as 0.268 ng/mL, and the obtained sensitivity was much higher than most of the widely used methods. Our work provides a novel strategy to design ultrasensitive immunosensors with advantages of amplified catalytic activity and improved water solubility compared to classic nanozymes. This illustrates the promising applications of the Nanozyme Nest-based immunosensors in point-of-care settings to conveniently detect exposures and diagnose diseases.
By contrast to typical high-temperature (100–250 °C) telo-/polymerizations of gaseous fluorinated monomers, carried out in high-pressure metal reactors, the visible light, Mn2(CO)10-photomediated ...initiation of vinylidene fluoride (bp = −83 °C) polymerization occurs readily from a variety of alkyl, semifluorinated, and perfluorinated halides at 40 °C, in low-pressure glass tubes and in a variety of solvents, including water and alkyl carbonates. Perfluorinated alkyl iodide initiators also induce a controlled radical polymerization via iodine degenerative transfer (IDT). While IDT proceeds with accumulation of the less reactive P m -CF2-CH2-I vs the P n -CH2-CF2-I chain ends, Mn2(CO)10 enables their subsequent quantitative activation toward the synthesis of well-defined poly(vinylidene fluoride) block copolymers with a variety of other monomers.
Exhaust from diesel combustion engines is an important contributor to urban air pollution and poses significant risk to human health. Diesel exhaust contains a chemical class known as nitrated ...polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) and is enriched in 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), which has the potential to serve as a marker of diesel exhaust. The isomeric nitro-PAHs 2-nitropyrene (2-NP) and 2-nitrofluoranthene (2-NFL) are secondary pollutants arising from photochemical oxidation of pyrene and fluoranthene, respectively. Like other important air toxics, there is not extensive monitoring of nitro-PAHs, leading to gaps in knowledge about relative exposures and urban hotspots. Epiphytic moss absorbs water, nutrients, and pollutants from the atmosphere and may hold potential as an effective biomonitor for nitro-PAHs. In this study we investigate the suitability of Orthotrichum lyellii as a biomonitor of diesel exhaust by analyzing samples of the moss for 1-NP, 2-NP, and 2-NFL in the Seattle, WA metropolitan area. Samples were collected from rural parks, urban parks, residential, and commercial/industrial areas (N = 22 locations) and exhibited increasing concentrations across these land types. Sampling and laboratory method performance varied by nitro-PAH, but was generally good. We observed moderate to moderately strong correlation between 1-NP and select geographic variables, including summer normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within 250 m (r = −0.88, R2 = 0.77), percent impervious surface within 50 m (r = 0.83, R2 = 0.70), percent high development land use within 500 m (r = 0.77, R2 = 0.60), and distance to nearest secondary and connecting road (r = −0.75, R2 = 0.56). The relationships between 2-NP and 2-NFL and the geographic variables were generally weaker. Our results suggest O. lyellii is a promising biomonitor of diesel exhaust, specifically for 1-NP. To our knowledge this pilot study is the first to evaluate using moss concentrations of nitro-PAHs as biomonitors of diesel exhaust.
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•Diesel exhaust is an important urban air pollutant and poses risk to human health.•Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be used as markers of diesel exhaust.•Tree moss takes up pollutants in the atmosphere, including nitro-PAHs.•Nitro-PAH concentrations in moss are correlated to greenness and roadways.•Orthotrichum lyellii moss can be used as a biomonitor of diesel exhaust.
Many patients requiring pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) surgery are taking warfarin. For patients at high risk for thromboembolic events, guidelines recommend bridging ...therapy with heparin; however, case series suggest that it may be safe to perform surgery without interrupting warfarin treatment. There have been few results from clinical trials to support the safety and efficacy of this approach.
We randomly assigned patients with an annual risk of thromboembolic events of 5% or more to continued warfarin treatment or to bridging therapy with heparin. The primary outcome was clinically significant device-pocket hematoma, which was defined as device-pocket hematoma that necessitated prolonged hospitalization, interruption of anticoagulation therapy, or further surgery (e.g., hematoma evacuation).
The data and safety monitoring board recommended termination of the trial after the second prespecified interim analysis. Clinically significant device-pocket hematoma occurred in 12 of 343 patients (3.5%) in the continued-warfarin group, as compared with 54 of 338 (16.0%) in the heparin-bridging group (relative risk, 0.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.10 to 0.36; P<0.001). Major surgical and thromboembolic complications were rare and did not differ significantly between the study groups. They included one episode of cardiac tamponade and one myocardial infarction in the heparin-bridging group and one stroke and one transient ischemic attack in the continued-warfarin group.
As compared with bridging therapy with heparin, a strategy of continued warfarin treatment at the time of pacemaker or ICD surgery markedly reduced the incidence of clinically significant device-pocket hematoma. (Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care of Ontario; BRUISE CONTROL ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00800137.).
Genetic testing is recommended in specific inherited heart diseases but its role remains unclear and it is not currently recommended in unexplained cardiac arrest (UCA). We sought to assess the yield ...and clinical utility of genetic testing in UCA using whole-exome sequencing (WES).
Survivors of UCA requiring external defibrillation were included from the Cardiac Arrest Survivor with Preserved Ejection fraction Registry. Whole-exome sequencing was performed, followed by assessment of rare variants in previously reported cardiovascular disease genes. A total of 228 UCA survivors (mean age at arrest 39 ± 13 years) were included. The majority were males (66%) and of European ancestry (81%). Following advanced clinical testing at baseline, the likely aetiology of cardiac arrest was determined in 21/228 (9%) cases. Whole-exome sequencing identified a pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variant in 23/228 (10%) of UCA survivors overall, increasing the proportion of 'explained' cases from 9% only following phenotyping to 18% when combining phenotyping with WES. Notably, 13 (57%) of the 23 P/LP variants identified were located in genes associated with cardiomyopathy, in the absence of a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy at the time of arrest.
Genetic testing identifies a disease-causing variant in 10% of apparent UCA survivors. The majority of disease-causing variants was located in cardiomyopathy-associated genes, highlighting the arrhythmogenic potential of such variants in the absence of an overt cardiomyopathy diagnosis. The present study supports the use of genetic testing including assessment of arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy genes in survivors of UCA.
Abstract
Aims
The term idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) describes survivors of unexplained cardiac arrest (UCA) without a specific diagnosis after clinical and genetic testing. Previous ...reports have described a subset of IVF individuals with ventricular arrhythmia initiated by short-coupled trigger premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) for which the term short-coupled ventricular fibrillation (SCVF) has been proposed. The aim of this article is to establish the phenotype and frequency of SCVF in a large cohort of UCA survivors.
Methods and results
We performed a multicentre study including consecutive UCA survivors from the CASPER registry. Short-coupled ventricular fibrillation was defined as otherwise unexplained ventricular fibrillation initiated by a trigger PVC with a coupling interval of <350 ms. Among 364 UCA survivors, 24/364 (6.6%) met diagnostic criteria for SCVF. The diagnosis of SCVF was obtained in 19/24 (79%) individuals by documented ventricular fibrillation during follow-up. Ventricular arrhythmia was initiated by a mean PVC coupling interval of 274 ± 32 ms. Electrical storm occurred in 21% of SCVF probands but not in any UCA proband (P < 0.001). The median time to recurrent ventricular arrhythmia in SCVF was 31 months. Recurrent ventricular fibrillation resulted in quinidine administration in 12/24 SCVF (50%) with excellent arrhythmia control.
Conclusion
Short-coupled ventricular fibrillation is a distinct primary arrhythmia syndrome accounting for at least 6.6% of UCA. As documentation of ventricular fibrillation onset is necessary for the diagnosis, most cases are diagnosed at the time of recurrent arrhythmia, thus the true prevalence of SCVF remains still unknown. Quinidine is effective in SCVF and should be considered as first-line treatment for patients with recurrent episodes.
Graphical Abstract
Short-coupled ventricular fibrillation (SCVF) is a distinct primary electrical disorder accounting for at least 6.6% of otherwise idiopathic VF. Quinidine is highly effective for SCVF.
Disrupted bone metabolism can lead to delayed fracture healing or non-union, often requiring intervention to correct. Although the current clinical gold standard bone graft implants and commercial ...bone graft substitutes are effective, they possess inherent drawbacks and are limited in their therapeutic capacity for delayed union and non-union repair. Research into advanced biomaterials and therapeutic biomolecules has shown great potential for driving bone regeneration, although few have achieved commercial success or clinical translation. There are a number of therapeutics, which influence bone remodelling, currently licensed for clinical use. Providing an alternative local delivery context for these therapies, can enhance their efficacy and is an emerging trend in bone regenerative therapeutic strategies. This review aims to provide an overview of how biomaterial design has advanced from currently available commercial bone graft substitutes to accommodate previously licensed therapeutics that target local bone restoration and healing in a synergistic manner, and the challenges faced in progressing this research towards clinical reality.
The combined use of biomaterial scaffolds with licensed pro-anabolic and anti-catabolic therapeutics to target local bone restoration and healing in a synergistic manner by enhancing osteoblast activity and reducing osteoclast activity. As a result, the deposition and formation of bone is expedited yielding improved stability and osseous bridging for non-union fracture repair. Display omitted
IFAB‐ulous trifluoromethylation: (CX3COO)2IIIIPh (X=F, H) and (CH3COO)3IV(C6H4COO) are introduced as CX3./CX3I precursors for metal‐free, visible‐light, radical (trifluoro)(iodo)methylations of ...alkenes, illustrated by their use as photoinitiators for the controlled radical polymerization of vinylidene fluoride with external (I(CF2)6I) and in situ generated (CF3I) iodine chain transfer agents, and for block copolymer synthesis.
Emission from field burning of crop residue, a common practice in many parts of the world today, has potential effects on air quality, atmosphere and climate. This study provides a comprehensive size ...and compositional characterization of particulate matter (PM) emission from rice straw (RS) burning using both
in situ experiments (11 spread field burning) and laboratory hood experiments (3 pile and 6 spread burning) that were conducted during 2003-2006 in Thailand. The carbon balance and emission ratio method was used to determine PM emission factors (EF) in the field experiments. The obtained EF varied from field to hood experiments reflecting multiple factors affecting combustion and emission. In the hood experiments, EF were found to be depending on the burning types (spread or pile), moisture content and the combustion efficiency. In addition, in the field experiments, burning rate and EF were also influenced by weather conditions, i.e. wind. Hood pile burning produced significantly higher EF (20
±
8
g
kg
−1 RS) than hood spread burning (4.7
±
2.2
g
kg
−1 RS). The majority of PM emitted from the field burning was PM
2.5 with EF of 5.1
±
0.7
g
m
−2 or 8.3
±
2.7
g
kg
−1 RS burned. The coarse PM fraction (PM
10–2.5) was mainly generated by fire attention activities and was relatively small, hence the resulting EF of PM
10 (9.4
±
3.5
g
kg
−1 RS) was not significantly higher than PM
2.5. PM size distribution was measured across 8 size ranges (from <0.4
μm to >9.0
μm). The largest fractions of PM, EC and OC were associated with PM
1.1. The most significant components in PM
2.5 and PM
10 include OC, water soluble ions and levoglucosan. Relative abundance of some methoxyphenols (e.g., acetylsyringone), PAHs (e.g., fluoranthene and pyrene), organochlorine pesticides and PCBs may also serve as additional signatures for the PM emission. Presence of these toxic compounds in PM of burning smoke increases the potential toxic effects of the emission. For illustration, an estimation of the annual RS field burning in Thailand was made using the obtained
in situ field burning EF and preliminary burning activity data.
Wearable Spectroradiometer for Dosimetry Chmielinski, Maximilian J; Cohen, Martin A; Yost, Michael G ...
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland),
11/2022, Letnik:
22, Številka:
22
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Available wearable dosimeters suffer from spectral mismatch during the measurement of broadband UV and visible radiation in environments that receive radiation from multiple sources emitting ...differing spectra. We observed this type of multi-spectra environment in all five Washington State cannabis farms visited during a field study investigating worker exposure to ultraviolet radiation in 2018. Spectroradiometers do not suffer from spectral mismatch in these environments, however, an extensive literature review conducted at the time of writing did not identify any spectroradiometers that were directly deployable as wearable dosimetry devices. To close this research gap, we developed a microcontroller system and platform that allows for researchers to mount and deploy the Ocean Insight Flame-S Spectroradiometer as a wearable device for measurement of UV and visible wavelengths (300 to 700 nm). The platform validation consisted of comparing measurements taken under platform control with measurements taken with the spectrometer controlled by a personal computer running the software provided by the spectroradiometer manufacturer. Three Mann-Whitney U-Tests (two-tailed, 95% CI), one for each intensity condition, compared the central tendency between the total spectral power (TSP), the integral of a spectrum measurement, measured under both control schemas. An additional analysis of per pixel agreement and overall platform stability was performed. The three Mann-Whitney tests returned no significant difference between the set of TSPs for each filter condition. These results suggest that the spectroradiometer takes measurements of equivalent accuracy under both control schemas, and can be deployed as a wearable device for the measurement of wavelength resolved UV and visible radiation.
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