Whispering Gallery Mode Resonator Temperature Compensation and Refractive Index Sensing in Glucose Droplets

Among the different types of photonic sensor devices, optical whispering gallery mode resonators (WGMRs) have attracted interest due to their high level of sensitivity, small size, and ability to perform real-time temperature measurements. Here we demonstrate the applicability of temperature measurements using WGMR in both air and liquid environments. We also show that WGMR allowed measurements of the refractive index variations in an evaporating glucose–water solution droplet. The thermal tuning of WGMR can be reduced by coating WGMRs with a thin layer of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Dip-coating the silica microsphere multiple times significantly reduced the resonance shift, partially compensating for the positive thermo-optical coefficient of silica. The shift direction changed the sign eventually.

Textile Antenna-Sensor for In Vitro Diagnostics of Diabetes

In this paper, a feasibility study of a microwave antenna-based sensor is proposed for in vitro experiments for monitoring blood glucose levels. The proposed device consists of a square-ring incorporated within a fully textile monopole antenna to absorb and sense different glucose concentrations, covering patients with different diabetic conditions. The designed antenna-sensor is optimized to operate at 2.4 GHz. The sensing principle is based on the resonance frequency shift of the reflection response of the antenna-based sensor under different glucose levels. The experiments were carried out with blood mimicking by means of aqueous solutions, using D(+)- glucose/water in different concentrations for various diabetic conditions of type-2 diabetes. The performance of the embroidered antenna-based sensor is characterized and validated using a convenient setup for in vitro measurements. The results demonstrated the ability of the proposed antenna-based sensor to cover all the glucose levels of the diabetes range, including hypoglycemia (10–70 mg/dL), normoglycemia (80–110 mg/dL) and hyperglycemia (130–190 mg/dL) with a sensitivity of 350 kHz/(mg/dL). Besides its ability to detect different glucose concentrations of various diabetic conditions, the proposed antenna-sensor presents diverse features such as a simplistic design, compact size, wearability and low cost. The proposed textile device demonstrates a proof of concept for efficient in vitro blood glucose level measurements and diagnostics of diabetes.

Comparative study of physiological changes of nil per oral vs glucose water vs free water in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized prospective study

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of ingestion of clear water and glucose water over 10 hours NPO in elective laparoscopic cholecystetctomy surgery.An observational study was conducted in Sir Sunderlal hospital, Banaras Hindu University. The study included ASA I-II patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery. Patients undergoing general anaesthesia were included in the study. Among three groups, the control fasted in accordance to nil per os for 10 hours, second and third group received 200 mL of clear water and 200 ml of glucose water, respectively 2 hours before the surgery. Arterial Blood Gas analysis and blood glucose level was done in the immediate post-operative period. Arterial pH, serum electrolytes, serum lactate and blood glucose levels were compared for the above 3 groups. Results were given as mean ± SD. Data collected were analysed using Student’s t-test. Differences were considered statistically significant if P values were <0.05. A total of 45 patients were included and 15 patients each were randomly assigned to one of the 3 groups. Patients who had 200 ml of clear water before surgery had lesser variation in serum K+ [p=0.045] and serum lactate level [p=0.001] than NPO. Patients fed with 200 ml of glucose water before surgery had lesser variation in serum K+ level [p=0.02], serum lactate level [p<0.001], in Random Blood Sugar level [p<0.001] and no episode of hypoglycaemia observed as compared to NPO. Patients given 200 ml of glucose water exhibited lesser variation in serum lactate level [p=0.004], in RBS level [p<0.001] and no hypoglycaemic episode recorded contrary to those supplied with 200 mL of clear water. More fluctuations in extreme values of pH and serum electrolytes values observed in group A. Episodes of hypoglycaemia found more frequent in NPO and patients that received only clear water. No significant side-effects were observed in any group.We conclude that it is safe to give clear drinks 2 hours prior to surgery. Prolonged withholding of oral fluid may cause imbalance in pH, serum electrolytes and hypoglycaemia. The finding confirms the recent ASA guidelines which no longer recommends an indiscriminate ‘NPO after midnight’ policy.

Hypoglycemia Caused by Endogenous Hyperinsulinism: A Case Study

Hypoglycemia in the absence of diabetes mellitus in a healthy individual needs’ evaluation. We report a case of 45 years old female who presented with restlessness, anxiety, palpitations, excessive sweating followed by dizziness, and tremors in her hand. Eating sugar or consuming glucose water alleviated symptoms. During one such episode, the patient was taken to a nearby clinic and her capillary blood glucose was 43 mg/dl. The patient was admitted for the 72 hours supervised fast after ruling out other systemic causes of hypoglycemia. Evaluation of critical sample showed elevated levels of insulin, c-peptide, proinsulin, as well as a decreased value of beta-hydroxybutyrate and a negative urine screen for oral anti-diabetic agents, a diagnosis of endogenous hyperinsulinism, was made.

The Use of Ultrasound for Preventing Honey Crystallization

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ultrasound treatment for preventing honey crystallization on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of unifloral honey and polyfloral honey. Honey samples without any treatment were used as a control group for comparison. The effect of applying ultrasound treatment was evaluated by studying over time the tendency of crystallization, the rheological properties of honey and chemical and microbiological properties. The parameters analyzed for the two groups of samples (treated and untreated with ultrasound), which did not vary or had small variations during the research were water content, acidity, water activity, glucose, fructose, sucrose, glucose/water ratio, glucose/fructose ratio. The crystallization process was installed in the control samples from the first month of the study, and much later in the treated samples. The color of the untreated samples varied considerably, and the color of the treated ones remained stable or slightly varied. For the control samples, the smallest variation in hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) concentration was in raspberry honey (5%), and the most significant variation was in honeydew honey (30%). For the treated samples, the largest variation of this parameter was found in tillia honey (127%), and the smallest variation was in rapeseed honey (26%). The microbiological quality was higher for the treated samples. In the ultrasound-treated samples of acacia honey, honeydew honey and grassland honey, yeasts, molds or standard plate counts (SPCs) were undetectable. For control samples, SPC values were <10–50 cfu/g. Ultrasound-treated samples maintained their SPC parameter levels or were thus reduced (<10–20 cfu/g). Yeasts and molds were undetectable or had value between <10 and 10 cfu/g. The yeasts and the molds ranged in the control samples between <10 and 40 cfu/g.

Water in Biodegradable Glucose-Water-Urea Deep Eutectic Solvent: Modifications of Structure and Dynamics in a Crowded Environment

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed on a highly viscous (η~255 cP) naturally abundant deep eutectic solvent (NADES) composed of glucose, urea and water at a weight ratio of 6:4:1...

Novel and potent antimicrobial effects of caspofungin on drug-resistant Candida and bacteria

Echinocandins, including caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin, are first-line antifungal agents for the treatment of invasive candidiasis. They exhibit fungicidal activity by inhibiting the synthesis of β-1,3-d-glucan, an essential component of the fungal cell wall. However, they are active only against proliferating fungal cells and unable to completely eradicate fungal cells even after a 24 h drug exposure in standard time-kill assays. Surprisingly, we found that caspofungin, when dissolved in low ionic solutions, had rapid and potent antimicrobial activities against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Candida and bacteria cells even in non-growth conditions. This effect was not observed in 0.9% NaCl or other ion-containing solutions and was not exerted by other echinocandins. Furthermore, caspofungin dissolved in low ionic solutions drastically reduced mature biofilm cells of MDR Candida auris in only 5 min, as well as Candida-bacterial polymicrobial biofilms in a catheter-lock therapy model. Caspofungin displayed ion concentration-dependent conformational changes and intracellular accumulation with increased reactive oxygen species production, indicating a novel mechanism of action in low ionic conditions. Importantly, caspofungin dissolved in 5% glucose water did not exhibit increased toxicity to human cells. This study facilitates the development of new therapeutic strategies in the management of catheter-related biofilm infections.

Trends and determinants of prelacteal feeding in Turkey: analysis of 2003–2018 demographic and health surveys

Objective:The aim of the current study is to analyse the trends, determinants of prelacteal feeding (PLF) and its relations with the mode of delivery among infants <24 months over the years 2003–2018.Design:We pooled data from Turkey Demographic and Health Surveys (TDHS). The key outcome variable was PLF. Factors associated with PLF were analysed by using complex sample multiple logistic regression analysis, separately and merged database.Setting:TDHS in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018.Participants:Mother–infant dyads (n 4942).Results:PLF rates fluctuated between 29·3 and 41·4 %. The most common types of PLF were infant formula (61·1 %) followed by sugar/glucose water (24·9 %) and plain water (9·3 %). PLF rate was 1·51 times higher (95 % CI 1·28, 1·78) in cases delivered by caesarean section as compared with those delivered by vaginal route. According to the initiation time of breast-feeding after delivery, the most significant absolute change in PLF rate was observed within 1 h (10·9 % increase). Delayed initiation of breast-feeding was associated with significantly higher odds of PLF compared with the first hour (1 to < 2 h: adjusted OR (AOR) 1·29, 95 % CI 1·04, 1·61; 2–23 h: AOR 1·73, 95 % CI 1·42, 2·11; ≥24 h: AOR 11·37, 95 % CI 8·81, 14·69).Conclusions:To eliminate suboptimal breast-feeding practices, counselling on breast-feeding and delivery type during antenatal visits, postnatal breast-feeding support and social support should be provided to all mothers and families.