scholarly journals Microbiological and Molecular Diagnosis of Mucormycosis: From Old to New

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1518
Author(s):  
Nina Lackner ◽  
Wilfried Posch ◽  
Cornelia Lass-Flörl
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Molecular Methods ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Melt Curve Analysis ◽  
Current State ◽  
Pcr Product ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Fungal Dna

Members of the order Mucorales may cause severe invasive fungal infections (mucormycosis) in immune-compromised and otherwise ill patients. Diagnosis of Mucorales infections and discrimination from other filamentous fungi are crucial for correct management. Here, we present an overview of current state-of-the-art mucormycosis diagnoses, with a focus on recent developments in the molecular field. Classical diagnostic methods comprise histology/microscopy as well as culture and are still the gold standard. Newer molecular methods are evolving quickly and display great potential in early diagnosis, although standardization is still missing. Among them, quantitative PCR assays with or without melt curve analysis are most widely used to detect fungal DNA in clinical samples. Depending on the respective assay, sequencing of the resulting PCR product can be necessary for genus or even species identification. Further, DNA-based methods include microarrays and PCR-ESI-MS. However, general laboratory standards are still in development, meaning that molecular methods are currently limited to add-on analytics to culture and microscopy.

Recent developments in pharmacotherapy for hypertriglyceridemia: what’s the current state of the art?

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matilda Florentin ◽  
Michael S Kostapanos ◽  
Panagiotis Anagnostis ◽  
George Liamis
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Current State ◽  
Recent Developments

scholarly journals Current Status of Nonculture Methods for Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siew Fah Yeo ◽  
Brian Wong
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Invasive Fungal Infections ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Course Of Disease ◽  
Host Immune Responses ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Timely Fashion ◽  
Fungal Antigens

SUMMARY The incidence of invasive fungal infections has increased dramatically in recent decades, especially among immunocompromised patients. However, the diagnosis of these infections in a timely fashion is often very difficult. Conventional microbiologic and histopathologic approaches generally are neither sensitive nor specific, and they often do not detect invasive fungal infection until late in the course of disease. Since early diagnosis may guide appropriate treatment and prevent mortality, there has been considerable interest in developing nonculture approaches to diagnosing fungal infections. These approaches include detection of specific host immune responses to fungal antigens, detection of specific macromolecular antigens using immunologic reagents, amplification and detection of specific fungal nucleic acid sequences, and detection and quantitation of specific fungal metabolite products. This work reviews the current status and recent developments as well as problems in the design of nonculture diagnostic methods for invasive fungal infections.

A physiome standards-based model publication paradigm

2009 ◽  
Vol 367 (1895) ◽  
pp. 1823-1844 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Nickerson ◽  
Martin L. Buist
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Models ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Web Browsers ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Broadband Internet ◽  
Cellular Electrophysiology ◽  
Current State ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Systems Biology Markup Language ◽  
Model Publication

In this era of widespread broadband Internet penetration and powerful Web browsers on most desktops, a shift in the publication paradigm for physiome-style models is envisaged. No longer will model authors simply submit an essentially textural description of the development and behaviour of their model. Rather, they will submit a complete working implementation of the model encoded and annotated according to the various standards adopted by the physiome project, accompanied by a traditional human-readable summary of the key scientific goals and outcomes of the work. While the final published, peer-reviewed article will look little different to the reader, in this new paradigm, both reviewers and readers will be able to interact with, use and extend the models in ways that are not currently possible. Here, we review recent developments that are laying the foundations for this new model publication paradigm. Initial developments have focused on the publication of mathematical models of cellular electrophysiology, using technology based on a CellML- or Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML)-encoded implementation of the mathematical models. Here, we review the current state of the art and what needs to be done before such a model publication becomes commonplace.

scholarly journals Ambient Air Quality and Human Health: Current Concepts—Part 1

1995 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tee L Guidotti
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Human Health ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Air Quality Standards ◽  
Current State ◽  
Recent Developments

There is a fundamental reevaluation of the association between air quality and human health taking place. This reevaluation is motivated by several recent developments: increasing interest in air quality as an environmental issue; interest in the unanswered questions regarding the epidemiology of asthma; and the reduced prevalence of the principal hazard to respiratory health, cigarette smoking, the control of which invites interest in second-order determinants of health. This article attempts to provide a framework for understanding air quality issues that pertain to human health. The objective is to provide the specialist in respiratory medicine with an overview that will assist in educating patients and in responding to their inquiries, and to equip the physician to respond to requests for assistance or interpretation when called upon to comment on public policy issues involving air pollution. The implications of setting air quality standards or objectives to meet arbitrary levels of risk of health effects are examined. The current state of the art does not support risk-based air quality standards. A policy of continuous improvement is most protective of both human health and the environment.

scholarly journals Occurrence of Fungal DNA Contamination in PCR Reagents: Approaches to Control and Decontamination

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Czurda ◽  
S. Smelik ◽  
S. Preuner-Stix ◽  
F. Nogueira ◽  
T. Lion
Keyword(s):  
False Positive ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Positive Test ◽  
Rapid Screening ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Test Results ◽  
False Positive Test ◽  
Fungal Dna

Nucleic acid amplification techniques permitting sensitive and rapid screening in patients at risk for invasive fungal infections are an important addition to conventional fungal diagnostic methods. However, contamination with fungal DNA may be a serious threat to the validity of fungal amplification-based assays. Besides rigorous handling procedures to avoid false-positive test results from exogenous sources, we have implemented protocols for comprehensive assessment of fungal contamination in all materials involved in the analytical process. Traces of fungal DNA were found in different commercially available PCR reagents, including lyophilized primers, TaqMan probes, and master mix solutions. These contaminants resulted in a considerable rate of false-positive tests in panfungal real-time PCR analysis. To address this problem, we have established a decontamination protocol based on the activity of a double-strand specific DNase. Using this approach, we have significantly reduced the frequency of false-positive test results attributable to contaminated reagents. On the basis of our findings, we strongly recommend routine monitoring of all reagents used in fungal PCR assays for the presence of relevant contaminants. As long as fungal-grade reagents are not readily available, pretreatment methods facilitating elimination of fungal DNA are critical for reducing the risk of false-positive results in highly sensitive molecular fungal detection assays.

scholarly journals A Review of Recent Developments in Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Process

Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 807
Author(s):  
Nicolae Goga ◽  
Leonhard Mayrhofer ◽  
Ionut Tranca ◽  
Silvia Nedea ◽  
Koen Heijmans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Water Splitting ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Semiconductor Interfaces ◽  
Current State ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production ◽  
Splitting Process

In this review, we provide a short overview of the Molecular Dynamics (MD) method and how it can be used to model the water splitting process in photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. We cover classical non-reactive and reactive MD techniques as well as multiscale extensions combining classical MD with quantum chemical and continuum methods. Selected examples of MD investigations of various aqueous semiconductor interfaces with a special focus on TiO2 are discussed. Finally, we identify gaps in the current state-of-the-art where further developments will be needed for better utilization of MD techniques in the field of water splitting.

scholarly journals State-of-the-Art of Artificial Intelligence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramjee Prasad ◽  
Purva Choudhary
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Big Data ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Turing Test ◽  
Rapid Progress ◽  
Current State ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Historical Developments ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Made In

Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a technology has existed for less than a century. In spite of this, it has managed to achieve great strides. The rapid progress made in this field has aroused the curiosity of many technologists around the globe and many companies across various domains are curious to explore its potential. For a field that has achieved so much in such a short duration, it is imperative that people who aim to work in Artificial Intelligence, study its origins, recent developments, and future possibilities of expansion to gain a better insight into the field. This paper encapsulates the notable progress made in Artificial Intelligence starting from its conceptualization to its current state and future possibilities, in various fields. It covers concepts like a Turing machine, Turing test, historical developments in Artificial Intelligence, expert systems, big data, robotics, current developments in Artificial Intelligence across various fields, and future possibilities of exploration.

Electrochemical immunosensors, genosensors and phagosensors for Salmonella detection

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (22) ◽  
pp. 8858-8873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Liébana ◽  
Delfina Brandão ◽  
Salvador Alegret ◽  
María Isabel Pividori
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Current State ◽  
Electrochemical Immunosensors ◽  
Recent Developments

This review discusses the current state of the artSalmonelladetection methods. In this perspective, emphasis is given to the recent developments in biosensors, in particular electrochemical immunosensors, genosensors and phagosensors.

Towards nano-diagnostics for bacterial infections

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgette B. Salieb-Beugelaar ◽  
Patrick R. Hunziker
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Rapid Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Rapid Progress ◽  
Resistance Development ◽  
Specific Diagnosis ◽  
Current State

AbstractSensitive, specific and rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases is essential for effective and economic medical care. Focused medical treatment of the patient enabled by pathogen-specific diagnosis may benefit the patient, may reduce cost, and may minimize the risk of drug resistance development. The rapid progress in micro and nanotechnologies contributes to the development of novel diagnostic methods. This critical review assesses emerging nanotechnologies for diagnosis of bacterial infection in developed and developing countries on the background of the current state of the art and includes particular challenges and pitfalls posed by a number of specific pathogens.

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