Topic Review
Immunosensors for Autoimmune-Disease-Related Biomarkers
Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are a group of various disorders that are characterized by dysregulation of the immune system. This malfunction state leads to an improper activation of immune elements that may consequently attack target molecules, cells, and tissues of the organism, resulting in inflammation and organ damage. Due to the continuously increasing number of patients with ADs, the severity of ADs’ clinical symptoms, and treatment insufficiency, novel analytical tools enabling early, reliable, and high-throughput disease diagnosis are highly desirable, since such tools may help health systems to confront the burden related to the late diagnosis of ADs and decrease premature mortality. To meet this need, during the last two decades, several immunosensors for detecting AD-related biomarkers have been developed as research prototypes. The AD immunosensors reported to date can be divided into two main categories depending on the biomarker(s) detected, i.e., either various autoantibodies or other protein biomarkers, such as specific inflammation-related cytokines. Most of AD immunosensors are electrochemical, while some optical and a few piezoelectric sensors have also been described.
  • 162
  • 04 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Hyperpolarized Carbon-13 MRI
MR spectroscopy (MRS) and spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) obtain metabolic information noninvasively from nuclei spins. For in vivo applications, common MR-active nuclei are protons (1H), phosphorus (31P), carbon (13C), sodium (23Na), and xenon (129Xe). The most common are protons due to their high gyromagnetic ratio and natural abundance in the human body. Since most metabolic processes involve carbon, 13C spectroscopy is a valuable method to measure in vivo metabolism noninvasively [1,2,3]. 13C spectra are characterized by a large spectral range (162–185 ppm), narrow line widths, and low sensitivity due to the low gyromagnetic ratio (a quarter as compared to protons) and natural abundance of 1.1% in vivo. However, the sensitivity can be increased with the use of 13C-enriched agents and by hyperpolarization.Hyperpolarized (HP) 13C MRI is a method that magnetizes 13C probes to dramatically increase signal as compared to conventional MRI [3]. Metabolic and functional HP 13C MRI is a promising diagnostic tool for detecting disorders linked to altered metabolism such as cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases [4], increasing sensitivity sufficiently to map metabolic pathways in vivo without the use of ionizing radiation, as in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Metabolic imaging using HP 13C compounds has been translated successfully into single-organ examinations in healthy controls and various patient populations.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Hybrid Near Infrared Imaging Method
This is an efficient near-infrared (NIR) imaging method used to monitor VHH and VHH conjugated nanoparticle kinetics in mice using a hybrid approach: kinetics in blood were assessed by direct sampling, and kinetics in kidney, liver, and brain were assessed by serial in vivo NIR imaging. These studies were performed under “basal” circumstances in which the VHH constructs and VHH-conjugated nanoparticles do not substantially interact with targets nor cross the blood brain barrier. 
  • 338
  • 28 Oct 2021
Topic Review
HIV-Associated Colorectal Oncogenesis
The advancement of HIV treatment has led to increased life expectancy. People living with HIV (PLWH) are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancers. Chronic inflammation has a key role in oncogenesis, affecting the initiation, promotion, transformation, and advancement of the disease. 
  • 267
  • 05 May 2023
Topic Review
HIF-1α in IVD Treatment
The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a complex joint structure comprising three primary components—namely, nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF), and cartilaginous endplate (CEP). The IVD retrieves oxygen from the surrounding vertebral body through CEP by diffusion and likely generates ATP via anaerobic glycolysis. IVD degeneration is characterized by a cascade of cellular, compositional, structural changes. With advanced age, pronounced changes occur in the composition of the disc extracellular matrix (ECM). NP and AF cells in the IVD possess poor regenerative capacity compared with that of other tissues. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a master transcription factor that initiates a coordinated cellular cascade in response to a low oxygen tension environment, including the regulation of numerous enzymes in response to hypoxia. HIF-1α is essential for NP development and homeostasis and is involved in various processes of IVD degeneration process, promotes ECM in NP, maintains the metabolic activities of NP, and regulates dystrophic mineralization of NP, as well as angiogenesis, autophagy, and apoptosis during IVD degeneration. HIF-1α may, therefore, represent a diagnostic tool for early IVD degeneration and a therapeutic target for inhibiting IVD degeneration
  • 1.3K
  • 06 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Harmonization and Standardization of Panel-Based Tumor Mutational Burden
Tumor mutational burden (TMB) refers to the total load of somatic mutations in tumor cells. It has been approved as a predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), next-generation sequencing (NGS) TMB panels are being increasingly used clinically.
  • 380
  • 20 May 2022
Topic Review
Graphene Oxide Thin Films with Drug Delivery Function
Graphene oxide has been used in different fields of nanomedicine as a manager of drug delivery due to its inherent physical and chemical properties that allow its use in thin films with biomedical applications. Several studies demonstrated its efficacy in the control of the amount and the timely delivery of drugs when it is incorporated in multilayer films. It has been demonstrated that graphene oxide layers incorporated in drug delivery systems are able to work either as a nanocarrier, transporting the drugs to their targets or as a barrier delaying the release of drugs to accommodate the treatment schedules. This allows for the development of structured ,sophisticated and time-controlled systems.
  • 600
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Genotoxic Effects of Lead
Lead (Pb) is one of the most widely used heavy metals in several industries for the manufacturing process of Pb-based products due to its physical and chemical properties, such as high density, softness, malleability, and poor conductibility. Thus, Pb can be found in workplaces and other contaminated environments. Pb toxicity can occur via both nonoccupational and occupational exposure through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption.
  • 467
  • 29 Apr 2022
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Displacement Micropump with Check Valves for Diabetes Care—The Challenge of Pumping Insulin at Negative Pressure
The displacement micropump with passive check valves is an attractive solution for precise insulin infusion in patients with type I diabetes. Unlike most insulin pumps that push insulin from a cartridge using a piston, a displacement micropump will first pull insulin from the reservoir before infusing it into the patient. This dual sequence introduces new challenges in terms of insulin stability, notably if the reservoir is not pressurized. After an introduction to displacement micropumps and a brief review of the insulin degradation mechanism, micropump design rules are discussed in light of microfluidic theory.
  • 653
  • 14 May 2024
Topic Review
Diagnostics of HNSCC Patients
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are very frequent worldwide, and smoking and chronic alcohol use are recognized as the main risk factors. For oropharyngeal cancers, HPV 16 infection is known to be a risk factor as well. By employing next-generation sequencing, both HPV-positive and negative HNSCC patients were detected as positive for PI3K mutation, which was considered an optimal molecular target. The treatment of HNSCC includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy alone or combined. In some cases, resistance to therapy with recurrences and metastasis and/or side effects appear. This underlines the need for a new direction of research for targeted cancer therapy.
  • 346
  • 17 May 2022
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