Picosecond acoustics in vegetal cells: Non-invasive in vitro measurements at a sub-cell scale

The review presents data on metabolites in the follicular fluid (FF) from the perspective of reproductive medicine and their use in order to predict outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs. It considers various components of this biological medium (hormones, lipids, melatonin, etc.) with an assessment of their predictive value in prognosis of the effectiveness of in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs. The data on experimental directions in this field and the prospects for their use in clinical practice are presented. The article emphasizes that the growing clinical need and the unsolved problem of increasing the effectiveness of ART programs determine the need for further studies of the FF composition. Materials and methods. The review includes data related to this topic from foreign and Russian articles found in PubMed which were published in recent years. Results. Given the established fact of a direct effect of FF composition on growth and maturation of oocytes, and further, on the fertilization process, various FF metabolites are actively investigated as non-invasive markers of quality of oocytes/embryos. The article provides data on the experimental directions in this field and the prospects for their use in clinical practice. However, clinical studies of a relation between various FF metabolites levels and outcomes of IVF programs are contradictory. Conclusion. Owing large economic cost for treatment of infertility with IVF, there is need for expansion and intensification of studies to identify and use reliable predictors in prognosis of ART programs outcomes.

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Assessing Drug Transport Across the Human Placental Barrier: From In Vivo and In Vitro Measurements to the Ex Vivo Perfusion Method and In silico Techniques

Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology ◽

10.2174/138920111795470930 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 804-813 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Constantinos Giaginis ◽

Anna Tsantili-Kakoulidou ◽

Stamatios Theocharis

Keyword(s):

In Silico ◽

Drug Transport ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Placental Barrier ◽

Ex Vivo Perfusion ◽

Perfusion Method ◽

In Vitro Measurements

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Non-invasive skin sampling of tryptophan/kynurenine ratio in vitro towards a skin cancer biomarker

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-79903-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Skaidre Jankovskaja ◽

Johan Engblom ◽

Melinda Rezeli ◽

György Marko-Varga ◽

Tautgirdas Ruzgas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skin Cancer ◽

Relative Increase ◽

Cancer Biomarker ◽

Cancer Diagnostics ◽

Sampling Time ◽

Skin Permeability ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Non Invasive

AbstractThe tryptophan to kynurenine ratio (Trp/Kyn) has been proposed as a cancer biomarker. Non-invasive topical sampling of Trp/Kyn can therefore serve as a promising concept for skin cancer diagnostics. By performing in vitro pig skin permeability studies, we conclude that non-invasive topical sampling of Trp and Kyn is feasible. We explore the influence of different experimental conditions, which are relevant for the clinical in vivo setting, such as pH variations, sampling time, and microbial degradation of Trp and Kyn. The permeabilities of Trp and Kyn are overall similar. However, the permeated Trp/Kyn ratio is generally higher than unity due to endogenous Trp, which should be taken into account to obtain a non-biased Trp/Kyn ratio accurately reflecting systemic concentrations. Additionally, prolonged sampling time is associated with bacterial Trp and Kyn degradation and should be considered in a clinical setting. Finally, the experimental results are supported by the four permeation pathways model, predicting that the hydrophilic Trp and Kyn molecules mainly permeate through lipid defects (i.e., the porous pathway). However, the hydrophobic indole ring of Trp is suggested to result in a small but noticeable relative increase of Trp diffusion via pathways across the SC lipid lamellae, while the shunt pathway is proposed to slightly favor permeation of Kyn relative to Trp.

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Design and Analysis of a Continuous and Non-Invasive Multi-Wavelength Optical Sensor for Measurement of Dermal Water Content

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21062162 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 2162

Author(s):

Mohammad Mamouei ◽

Subhasri Chatterjee ◽

Meysam Razban ◽

Meha Qassem ◽

Panayiotis A. Kyriacou

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Optical Sensor ◽

Broad Band ◽

Gravimetric Analysis ◽

Skin Damage ◽

Biophysical Parameter ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Multi Wavelength ◽

Invasive Measurement

Dermal water content is an important biophysical parameter in preserving skin integrity and preventing skin damage. Traditional electrical-based and open-chamber evaporimeters have several well-known limitations. In particular, such devices are costly, sizeable, and only provide arbitrary outputs. They also do not permit continuous and non-invasive monitoring of dermal water content, which can be beneficial for various consumer, clinical, and cosmetic purposes. We report here on the design and development of a digital multi-wavelength optical sensor that performs continuous and non-invasive measurement of dermal water content. In silico investigation on porcine skin was carried out using the Monte Carlo modeling strategy to evaluate the feasibility and characterize the sensor. Subsequently, an in vitro experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of the sensor and benchmark its accuracy against a high-end, broad band spectrophotometer. Reference measurements were made against gravimetric analysis. The results demonstrate that the developed sensor can deliver accurate, continuous, and non-invasive measurement of skin hydration through measurement of dermal water content. Remarkably, the novel design of the sensor exceeded the performance of the high-end spectrophotometer due to the important denoising effects of temporal averaging. The authors believe, in addition to wellbeing and skin health monitoring, the designed sensor can particularly facilitate disease management in patients presenting diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, malnutrition, and atopic dermatitis.

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Non-invasive plasma glycomic and metabolic biomarkers of post-treatment control of HIV

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-24077-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Leila B. Giron ◽

Clovis S. Palmer ◽

Qin Liu ◽

Xiangfan Yin ◽

Emmanouil Papasavvas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Interruption ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Machine Learning Algorithms ◽

Virologic Suppression ◽

Hiv Latency ◽

Viral Rebound ◽

Treatment Control ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Metabolic Biomarkers

AbstractNon-invasive biomarkers that predict HIV remission after antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption are urgently needed. Such biomarkers can improve the safety of analytic treatment interruption (ATI) and provide mechanistic insights into the host pathways involved in post-ART HIV control. Here we report plasma glycomic and metabolic signatures of time-to-viral-rebound and probability-of-viral-remission using samples from two independent cohorts. These samples include a large number of post-treatment controllers, a rare population demonstrating sustained virologic suppression after ART-cessation. These signatures remain significant after adjusting for key demographic and clinical confounders. We also report mechanistic links between some of these biomarkers and HIV latency reactivation and/or myeloid inflammation in vitro. Finally, machine learning algorithms, based on selected sets of these biomarkers, predict time-to-viral-rebound with 74% capacity and probability-of-viral-remission with 97.5% capacity. In summary, we report non-invasive plasma biomarkers, with potential functional significance, that predict both the duration and probability of HIV remission after treatment interruption.

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Antioxidant-Loaded Mucoadhesive Nanoparticles for Eye Drug Delivery: A New Strategy to Reduce Oxidative Stress

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9020379 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 379

Author(s):

Sandra Cordeiro ◽

Beatriz Silva ◽

Ana Margarida Martins ◽

Helena Margarida Ribeiro ◽

Lídia Gonçalves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Hyaluronic Acid ◽

Zeta Potential ◽

Retinal Pigment ◽

Release Kinetic ◽

Efficient Treatment ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Diffusion Cells ◽

Franz Diffusion Cells

There are several approaches to treat ocular diseases, which can be invasive or non-invasive. Within the non-invasive, new pharmaceutical strategies based on nanotechnology and mucoadhesive polymers are emerging methodologies, which aim to reach an efficient treatment of eye diseases. The aim of this work was the development of novel chitosan/hyaluronic acid nanoparticle systems with mucoadhesive properties, intended to encapsulate antioxidant molecules (e.g., crocin) aiming to reduce eye oxidative stress and, consequently, ocular disease. An ultraviolet (UV) absorber molecule, actinoquinol, was also added to the nanoparticles, to further decrease oxidative stress. The developed nanoparticles were characterized and the results showed a mean particle size lower than 400 nm, polydispersity index of 0.220 ± 0.034, positive zeta potential, and high yield. The nanoparticles were also characterized in terms of pH, osmolality, and viscosity. Mucoadhesion studies involving the determination of zeta potential, viscosity, and tackiness, showed a strong interaction between the nanoparticles and mucin. In vitro release studies using synthetic membranes in Franz diffusion cells were conducted to unravel the drug release kinetic profile. Ex vitro studies using pig eye scleras in Franz diffusion cells were performed to evaluate the permeation of the nanoparticles. Furthermore, in vitro assays using the ARPE-19 (adult retinal pigment epithelium) cell line showed that the nanoparticles can efficiently decrease oxidative stress and showed low cytotoxicity. Thus, the developed chitosan/hyaluronic acid nanoparticles are a promising system for the delivery of antioxidants to the eye, by increasing their residence time and controlling their delivery.

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Analysis of Morphokinetic Parameters of Feline Embryos Using a Time-Lapse System

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11030748 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 748

Author(s):

Joanna Kochan ◽

Agnieszka Nowak ◽

Barbara Kij ◽

Sylwia Prochowska ◽

Wojciech Niżański

Keyword(s):

Embryo Development ◽

Embryo Quality ◽

Time Lapse ◽

Blastocyst Stage ◽

Cavity Formation ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Morphokinetic Parameters ◽

Morphological Defects ◽

Development In Vitro

The aim of this study was to analyze the morphokinetic parameters of feline embryos using a time lapse system. Oocytes matured in vitro were fertilized (IVF) and in vitro cultured in a time lapse-system (Primo Vision®, Gothenburg, Sweden). The first cell division of embryos occurred between 17 h post insemination (hpi) and 38 hpi, with the highest proportion of embryos (46%) cleaving between 21 and 24 hpi. The timing of the first cleavage significantly affected further embryo development, with the highest development occurring in embryos that cleaved at 21–22 hpi. Embryos that cleaved very early (17–18 hpi) developed poorly to the blastocyst stage (2%) and none of the embryos that cleaved later than 27 hpi were able to reach the blastocyst stage. Morphological defects were observed in 48% of the embryos. There were no statistically significant differences between the timing intervals of the first cleavage division and the frequency of morphological defects in embryos. Multiple (MUL) morphological defects were detected in more than half (56%) of the abnormal embryos. The most frequent single morphological defects were cytoplasmic fragmentation (FR) (8%) and blastomere asymmetry (AS) (6%). Direct cleavage (DC) from 1–3 or 3–5 blastomeres, reverse cleavage (RC) and vacuoles were rarely observed (2–3%). The timing of blastocyst cavity formation is a very good indicator of embryo quality. In our study, blastocyst cavity formation occurred between 127–167 hpi, with the highest frequency of hatching observed in blastocysts that cavitated between 142–150 hpi. Blastocysts in which cavitation began after 161 h did not hatch. In conclusion, the timing of the first and second cleavage divisions, the timing of blastocyst cavity formation and morphological anomalies can all be used as early and non-invasive indicators of cat embryo development in vitro.

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