Simple and effective imaging strategies are of utmost interest for applications on a lab-on-chip scale. In fact, the majority of diagnostic tools for medical as well as biotechnological studies still ...employ image-based approaches. Having onboard the chip a compact but powerful imaging apparatus with multiple imaging capabilities, such as 3D dynamic focusing along the optical axis, unlimited field of view (FoV) and double outputs, namely, intensity and quantitative phase-contrast maps of biological objects, is of extreme importance for the next generation of Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) devices. Here we present a coherent 3D microscopy approach with a holographic modality that is specifically suitable for studying biological samples while they simply flow along microfluidic paths. The LoC device is equipped with a compact linear array detector to capture and generate a new conceptual type of a digital hologram in the space-time domain, named here as Space-Time Digital Hologram (STDH). The reported results show that the method is a promising diagnostic tool for optofluidic investigations of biological specimens.
We show here that live e-coli bacterial culture, thanks to the self-propelling feature, can significantly reduce the coherent noise. In fact, the typical self-propelled drive of such microorganisms ...provides enough time diversity in speckle patterns. Optical properties of a bacteria suspension have been investigated and analyzed thus showing that it behaves as a quite good optical speckle decorrelation device. Samples with different bacteria densities have been studied. The decorrelation effect has been demonstrated by probing the imaging performance in through transmission in coherent microscope configuration.
Biofilms are detrimental to human life and industrial processes due to potential infections, contaminations, and deterioration. Therefore, the evaluation of microbial capability to form biofilms is ...of fundamental importance for assessing how different environmental factors may affect their vitality. Nowadays, the approaches used for biofilm evaluation are still poor in reliability and rapidity and often provide contradictory results. Here, we present what we call biofilm electrostatic test (BET) as a simple, rapid, and highly reproducible tool for evaluating in vitro the ability of bacteria to form biofilms through electrostatic interaction with a pyroelectrified carrier. The results show how the BET is able to produce viable biofilms with a density 6-fold higher than that on the control, after just 2 h incubation. The BET could pave the way to a rapid standardization of the evaluation of bacterial resistance among biofilm-producing microorganisms. In fact, due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, it is well suited for a rapid and easy implementation in a microbiology laboratory.
Graphene family materials (GFMs) have large perspectives for drug-delivery applications, but their internalization in live cells is under investigation in a wide variety of studies in order to assess ...the best conditions for efficient cellular uptake. Here we show that mild oxidation of graphene nanoplatelets produces nanographene oxide (nGO) particles, which are massively internalized into the cell cytoplasm. This remarkable uptake of nGO in NIH-3T3 cells has never been observed before. We performed vitality tests for demonstrating the biocompatibility of the material and analyzed the internalization mechanism under different oxidation degrees and concentrations. Moreover, we evaluated quantitatively, for the first time, the cell volume variation after nGO internalization in live cells through a label-free digital holographic imaging technique and in quasi-real-time modality, thus avoiding the time-consuming and detrimental procedures usually employed by electron-based microscopy. The results demonstrate that nGO formulations with a tailored balance between the exposed surface and content of functional groups are very promising in drug-delivery applications.
Simple and effective imaging strategies are of utmost interest for applications on a lab-on-chip scale. In fact, the majority of diagnostic tools for medical as well as biotechnological studies still ...employ image-based approaches. Having onboard the chip a compact but powerful imaging apparatus with multiple imaging capabilities, such as 3D dynamic focusing along the optical axis, unlimited field of view (FoV) and double outputs, namely, intensity and quantitative phase-contrast maps of biological objects, is of extreme importance for the next generation of Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) devices. Here we present a coherent 3D microscopy approach with a holographic modality that is specifically suitable for studying biological samples while they simply flow along microfluidic paths. The LoC device is equipped with a compact linear array detector to capture and generate a new conceptual type of a digital hologram in the space-time domain, named here as Space-Time Digital Hologram (STDH). The reported results show that the method is a promising diagnostic tool for optofluidic investigations of biological specimens.
Microfluidic Space-Time Digital Holography (μSTDH) yields unlimited field of view by on-chip quantitatively microscopy using a linear array detector.
Over the past decade, the capability of double-stranded RNAs to interfere with gene expression has driven new therapeutic approaches. Since small interfering RNA (siRNAs, 21 base pair double-stranded ...RNA) was shown to be able to elicit RNA interference (RNAi), efforts were directed toward the development of efficient delivery systems to preserve siRNA bioactivity throughout the delivery route, from the administration site to the target cell. Here we provide evidence of RNAi triggering, specifically silencing c-myc protooncogene, via the synthesis of a library of novel multifunctional gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The efficiency of the AuNPs is demonstrated using a hierarchical approach including three biological systems of increasing complexity: in vitro cultured human cells, in vivo invertebrate (freshwater polyp, Hydra), and in vivo vertebrate (mouse) models. Our synthetic methodology involved fine-tuning of multiple structural and functional moieties. Selection of the most active functionalities was assisted step-by-step through functional testing that adopted this hierarchical strategy. Merging these chemical and biological approaches led to a safe, nonpathogenic, self-tracking, and universally valid nanocarrier that could be exploited for therapeutic RNAi.
Background Recent data suggested an association between Tofacitinib treatment and increased cardiovascular events in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis. Janus Kinase inhibitors (JAKi), specifically ...JAK3, have been demonstrated to be one of the regulators of platelet function. Treating platelets with thrombin induces tyrosine phosphorylation of the JAK3 target substrates STAT1 and STAT3, and JAK3 deficiency in mice reduces platelet aggregation and improves event-free survival in thromboplastin-induced thromboembolism. Objectives This study aimed to study the ability of the JAK1/JAK3 inhibitor, Tofacitinib, to influence platelet activity in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Methods We enrolled patients with a diagnosis of RA according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria. Peripheral blood was obtained from RA patients at the baseline and after 1, 3 and 6 months of Tofacitinib therapy. Platelet aggregation assay was performed by optical aggregometry stimulated with the thromboxane A 2 receptor in RA patients and controls. The aggregation test was performed before starting the therapy with Tofacitinib and after one month, three months and six months. Results 25 RA patients treated with Tofacitinib were recruited, 86% female and 14 % male, with a mean age of 56.5 years (SD 9.7 yrs.), mean disease duration of 16.3 years, mean ESR 28.2 mm, mean CRP 0.9 mg/dl, mean SDAI 18.2 and mean prednisone equivalent dose 3.75 mg/die. 78% of the patients were positive for Rheumatoid factor and 57.1% for ACPA. Looking at the classical risk factors, 35.7 had hypertension, 21.4% had hypercholesterolemia, 16.2% had diabetes, and 14.2% were smokers.; only one patient had a previous cardiovascular event. The platelet aggregation was not influenced by Tofacitinib treatment at any time points (T1, T3 and T6) at any Thromboxane dose (5uM and 20 uM), furthermore did not differ from patients and controls basally (64%, SD 15.84% vs 62%, SD 10.5%). Conclusion In conclusion, Tofacitinib does not increase platelet aggregation in patients treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis. References 1Lu, W.-J., Lin, K.-C., Huang, S.-Y., Thomas, P. A., Wu, Y.-H., Wu, H.-C., Lin, K.-H., & Sheu, J.-R. (2014). Role of a Janus kinase 2-dependent signaling pathway in platelet activation. Thrombosis Research , 133 (6), 1088–1096. 2Parra-Izquierdo, I., Melrose, A. R., Pang, J., Lakshmanan, H. H. S., Reitsma, S. E., Vavilapalli, S. H., Larson, M. K., Shatzel, J. J., McCarty, O. J. T., & Aslan, J. E. (2022). Janus kinase inhibitors ruxolitinib and baricitinib impair glycoprotein-VI mediated platelet function. Platelets , 33 (3), 404–415. Acknowledgements Research was supported by an unrestricted grant by Pfizer. Disclosure of Interests Daniele Mauro Grant/research support from: Research was supported by an unrestricted grant by Pfizer, Daniela Iacono Grant/research support from: Research was supported by an unrestricted grant by Pfizer, Ilenia Pantano Grant/research support from: Some research was supported by an unrestricted grant by Pfizer, Maura Raimondi Grant/research support from: Some research was supported by an unrestricted grant by Pfizer, Maria Laura Marchesano Grant/research support from: Some research was supported by an unrestricted grant by Pfizer, Flavia Riccio Grant/research support from: Some research was supported by an unrestricted grant by Pfizer, Anna Pellegrino Grant/research support from: Some research was supported by an unrestricted grant by Pfizer, Vasiliki Liakouli Grant/research support from: Some research was supported by an unrestricted grant by Pfizer, Francesco Ciccia Grant/research support from: Some research was supported by an unrestricted grant by Pfizer.
Over a quarter of hospital prescribing errors are attributable to incomplete medication histories being obtained at the time of admission. We undertook a systematic review of studies describing the ...frequency, type and clinical importance of medication history errors at hospital admission.
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL for articles published from 1966 through April 2005 and bibliographies of papers subsequently retrieved from the search. We reviewed all published studies with quantitative results that compared prescription medication histories obtained by physicians at the time of hospital admission with comprehensive medication histories. Three reviewers independently abstracted data on methodologic features and results.
We identified 22 studies involving a total of 3755 patients (range 33-1053, median 104). Errors in prescription medication histories occurred in up to 67% of cases: 10%- 61% had at least 1 omission error (deletion of a drug used before admission), and 13%- 22% had at least 1 commission error (addition of a drug not used before admission); 60%- 67% had at least 1 omission or commission error. Only 5 studies (n = 545 patients) explicitly distinguished between unintentional discrepancies and intentional therapeutic changes through discussions with ordering physicians. These studies found that 27%- 54% of patients had at least 1 medication history error and that 19%- 75% of the discrepancies were unintentional. In 6 of the studies (n = 588 patients), the investigators estimated that 11%-59% of the medication history errors were clinically important.
Medication history errors at the time of hospital admission are common and potentially clinically important. Improved physician training, accessible community pharmacy databases and closer teamwork between patients, physicians and pharmacists could reduce the frequency of these errors.
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