scholarly journals Nanosensors for Visual Detection of Glucose in Biofluids: Are We Ready for Instrument-Free Home-Testing?

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1978
Author(s):  
Luca Boselli ◽  
Tania Pomili ◽  
Paolo Donati ◽  
Pier P. Pompa
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Solid Base ◽  
Chronic Patients ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Diagnostic Strategies ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Home Testing ◽  
Main Instrument

Making frequent large-scale screenings for several diseases economically affordable would represent a real breakthrough in healthcare. One of the most promising routes to pursue such an objective is developing rapid, non-invasive, and cost-effective home-testing devices. As a first step toward a diagnostic revolution, glycemia self-monitoring represents a solid base to start exploring new diagnostic strategies. Glucose self-monitoring is improving people’s life quality in recent years; however, current approaches still present vast room for improvement. In most cases, they still involve invasive sampling processes (i.e., finger-prick), quite discomforting for frequent measurements, or implantable devices which are costly and commonly dedicated to selected chronic patients, thus precluding large-scale monitoring. Thanks to their unique physicochemical properties, nanoparticles hold great promises for the development of rapid colorimetric devices. Here, we overview and analyze the main instrument-free nanosensing strategies reported so far for glucose detection, highlighting their advantages/disadvantages in view of their implementation as cost-effective rapid home-testing devices, including the potential use of alternative non-invasive biofluids as samples sources.

IS A LARGE-SCALE SCREENING FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE POSSIBLE? YES, IN A FEW YEARS

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
F. Ribaldi ◽  
D. Altomare ◽  
G.B. Frisoni
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The European Union ◽  
New Era ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Recent Meeting ◽  
Large Scale Screening

Recent evidence on blood-based biomarkers is pointing the way towards a new era of large-scale, feasible, cost-effective and non-invasive screening for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This was one of the main focuses of the recent meeting of the European Union-North American Clinical Trials in AD (EU/US CTAD) Task Force, which took place in Barcelona in October 24-27, 2018, and convened drug and diagnostics developers from industry and academia in order to define a roadmap for the development and marketing of blood-based biomarkers (1).

scholarly journals Colorimetric Nanoplasmonics to Spot Hyperglycemia From Saliva

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Donati ◽  
Tania Pomili ◽  
Luca Boselli ◽  
Pier P. Pompa
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Visual Response ◽  
Colorimetric Sensing ◽  
Chronic Patients ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Sensing Platform ◽  
Signal Color

Early diagnostics and point-of-care (POC) devices can save people’s lives or drastically improve their quality. In particular, millions of diabetic patients worldwide benefit from POC devices for frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose. Yet, this still involves invasive sampling processes, which are quite discomforting for frequent measurements, or implantable devices dedicated to selected chronic patients, thus precluding large-scale monitoring of the globally increasing diabetic disorders. Here, we report a non-invasive colorimetric sensing platform to identify hyperglycemia from saliva. We designed plasmonic multibranched gold nanostructures, able to rapidly change their shape and color (naked-eye detection) in the presence of hyperglycemic conditions. This “reshaping approach” provides a fast visual response and high sensitivity, overcoming common detection issues related to signal (color intensity) losses and bio-matrix interferences. Notably, optimal performances of the assay were achieved in real biological samples, where the biomolecular environment was found to play a key role. Finally, we developed a dipstick prototype as a rapid home-testing kit.

scholarly journals Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Method and Outcome: A Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 8-14
Author(s):  
Mohammed Saleh D. Albalawi ◽  
Zainab Ali H. Alamer ◽  
Fatimah Sameer H. Alkhars ◽  
Bayan Salman A. Alshuhayb ◽  
Alzahraa Jawad A. Alqasim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Insulin Dosage ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Low Carbohydrate Diet ◽  
Patients With Diabetes

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is a valuable technique for diabetes mellitus treatment. Patients with diabetes frequently monitor their blood glucose levels in order to identify hypoglycemia and modify their insulin dosage as necessary. In many large-scale outcome studies, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in the management of diabetes plays a vital role, contributing significantly to the outcomes. It is recommended that the patient keep track of their SMBG readings in a log book. For interpreting the SMBG findings, information regarding food intake, medication, and activity may be useful. An explanation of the practical components of the process is required to assess a patient's grasp of SMBG knowledge. For SMBG lancing treatments to be effective, the patient must have a thorough understanding of the stages involved. With many studies suggesting the benefits of SMBG other studies say that SMBG has little clinical effectiveness in improving glycemic control in patients with T2DM who are taking oral medications or eating a low-carbohydrate diet alone, and is thus unlikely to be cost-effective. However, if patients have the ability to modify their treatment dosage then it can be much more effective. In this review we will be looking at the SMBG techniques, outcomes and the relationship with glucose management.

The SAFE project: towards non-invasive prenatal diagnosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 460-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah G. Maddocks ◽  
Medhat S. Alberry ◽  
George Attilakos ◽  
Tracey E. Madgett ◽  
Kin Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prenatal Diagnosis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Maternal Circulation ◽  
Haemolytic Disease ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
New Biomarkers

After the revolutionary detection of ffDNA (free fetal DNA) in maternal circulation by real-time PCR in 1997 and advances in molecular techniques, NIPD (non-invasive prenatal diagnosis) is now a clinical reality. Non-invasive diagnosis using ffDNA has been implemented, allowing the detection of paternally inherited alleles, sex-linked conditions and some single-gene disorders and is a viable indicator of predisposition to certain obstetric complications [e.g. PET (pre-eclampsia)]. To date, the major use of ffDNA genotyping in the clinic has been for the non-invasive detection of the pregnancies that are at risk of HDFN (haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn). This has seen numerous clinical services arising across Europe and many large-scale NIPD genotyping studies taking place using maternal plasma. Because of the interest in performing NIPD and the speed at which the research in this area was developing, the SAFE (Special Non-Invasive Advances in Fetal and Neonatal Evaluation) NoE (Network of Excellence) was founded. The SAFE project was set up to implement routine, cost-effective NIPD and neonatal screening through the creation of long-term partnerships within and beyond the European Community and has played a major role in the standardization of non-invasive RHD genotyping. Other research using ffDNA has focused on the amount of ffDNA present in the maternal circulation, with a view to pre-empting various complications of pregnancy. One of the key areas of interest in the non-invasive arena is the prenatal detection of aneuploid pregnancies, particularly Down's syndrome. Owing to the high maternal DNA background, detection of ffDNA from maternal plasma is very difficult; consequently, research in this area is now more focused on ffRNA to produce new biomarkers.

scholarly journals Enzymatic Methods for Salivary Biomarkers Detection: Overview and Current Challenges

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (22) ◽  
pp. 7026
Author(s):  
Alonso Ornelas-González ◽  
Margarita Ortiz-Martínez ◽  
Mirna González-González ◽  
Marco Rito-Palomares
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Method Development ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Enzymatic Assays ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Cost Effective Alternative ◽  
Enzymatic Methods

Early detection is a key factor in patient fate. Currently, multiple biomolecules have been recognized as biomarkers. Nevertheless, their identification is only the starting line on the way to their implementation in disease diagnosis. Although blood is the biofluid par excellence for the quantification of biomarkers, its extraction is uncomfortable and painful for many patients. In this sense, there is a gap in which saliva emerges as a non-invasive and valuable source of information, as it contains many of the biomarkers found in blood. Recent technological advances have made it possible to detect and quantify biomarkers in saliva samples. However, there are opportunity areas in terms of cost and complexity, which could be solved using simpler methodologies such as those based on enzymes. Many reviews have focused on presenting the state-of-the-art in identifying biomarkers in saliva samples. However, just a few of them provide critical analysis of technical elements for biomarker quantification in enzymatic methods for large-scale clinical applications. Thus, this review proposes enzymatic assays as a cost-effective alternative to overcome the limitations of current methods for the quantification of biomarkers in saliva, highlighting the technical and operational considerations necessary for sampling, method development, optimization, and validation.

Non Invasive Screening for Fetal RHD-Genotype in All D-Negative Women Is Reliable and Cost-Effective.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 556-556
Author(s):  
C. Ellen Van der Schoot ◽  
Aicha Ait Soussan ◽  
Gouke J. Bonsel ◽  
Masja de Haas
Keyword(s):  
Cord Blood ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Serological Test ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Automated Assay ◽  
Cell Free Fetal Dna

Abstract About 40% of D-negative pregnant women receive antenatal anti-D despite a D-negative fetus. We have developed an automated assay for fetal genotyping using cell-free fetal DNA from maternal plasma to restrict antenatal prophylaxis to women carrying a D-positive fetus. This will save anti-D of which is worldwide shortage, and will prevent the unnecessary administration of a blood product. 1 ml of plasma is automatically presented (Tecan) to a DNA isolation-robot (Roche). The DNA-eluate is tested (after automatically pipetting) in triplicate in a real-time RHD exon7-PCR (ApplBios). Results Plasma from 2415 D-negative pregnant women, whose blood was sent in for 28–30th week antibody screening, has been tested. In 35 cases (1.44%) the women (10 weak D and 25 normal D-positive) were typed as D-positive by repeated serological tests, and excluded from the study. 1465 of the plasma’s (61.59%) were typed RhD positive and 915 RhD negative. Because the RHD exon7-PCR will give positive results in D-negative women carrying D-negative variant RHD genes such as RHDΨ, we determined the incidence of these genes in our studygroup. In all cases (n=39) with Ct values below 33.2 DNA was isolated from maternal leukocytes. Of the 19 cases with extremely low Ct values (<32), 6 women carried an RHDΨ gene, 5 an RHD variant type VI, 3 weak D (type 1, 11 and 17) and 1 RHDdel. The 24 other women did not carry RHD genes. To compare the plasma PCR results with cord blood serology, all women and obstetric caregivers were sent questionnaires on cord blood serology. 55% responded (n=1257). For cases with discrepant results(n=21) or incompleted questionnaires(n=31) the laboratory which performed the cord blood typing was contacted. Finally, concordant results were obtained in 1249 of the cases. In 3 cases the genotype suggests D-positivity while serology is D-negative. In 5 cases no RHD-sequences were detected in plasma but cord blood was typed D-positive. For the discrepant cases it cannot be concluded yet, which assay gave the correct phenotype. Conclusion This is the first large scale automated study demonstrating the feasibility of screening D-negative women to restrict antenatal anti-D to women carrying D-positive fetuses. For the recognition of women at risk for immunization, the plasma-PCR test seems to be at least as reliable as the serological test. Furthermore, postnatal prophylaxis could have been given directly after delivery in all women with a positive PCR-result, saving cord blood serology tests and possibly increasing the effectiveness of postnatal prophylaxis. An economic evaluation demonstrated that this screening policy is cost effective in the Netherlands.

scholarly journals High Efficacy of Saliva in Detecting SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in Adults and Children

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 642
Author(s):  
Michael Huber ◽  
Peter Werner Schreiber ◽  
Thomas Scheier ◽  
Annette Audigé ◽  
Roberto Buonomano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
High Agreement ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Test Strategies ◽  
Percent Agreement ◽  
Home Testing ◽  
Adults And Children

Rising demands for repetitive SARS-CoV-2 screens and mass testing necessitate additional test strategies. Saliva may serve as an alternative to nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) as its collection is simple, non-invasive and amenable for mass- and home testing, but its rigorous validation, particularly in children, is missing. We conducted a large-scale head-to-head comparison of SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-PCR in saliva and NPS of 1270 adults and children reporting to outpatient test centers and an emergency unit. In total, 273 individuals were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in either NPS or saliva. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results in the two specimens showed a high agreement (overall percent agreement = 97.8%). Despite lower viral loads in the saliva of both adults and children, detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva fared well compared to NPS (positive percent agreement = 92.5%). Importantly, in children, SARS-CoV-2 infections were more often detected in saliva than NPS (positive predictive value = 84.8%), underlining that NPS sampling in children can be challenging. The comprehensive parallel analysis reported here establishes saliva as a generally reliable specimen for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, with particular advantages for testing children, that is readily applicable to increase and facilitate repetitive and mass testing in adults and children.

A novel use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in uterine artery embolization

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Jemianne Bautista Jia ◽  
Eric Mastrolonardo ◽  
Mateen Soleman ◽  
Ilya Lekht
Keyword(s):  
Uterine Artery Embolization ◽  
Uterine Artery ◽  
Imaging Modality ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Artery Embolization ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Contrast Enhanced

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a cost-effective, quick, and non-invasive imaging modality that has yet to be incorporated in uterine artery embolization (UAE). We present two cases that demonstrate the utility of CEUS in UAE for the identification of uterine-ovarian collaterals which otherwise can result in ineffective fibroid treatment and non-target embolization.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document