Comparison of Phototoxicity Sensitivity by the Neutral Red Uptake Method for BALB/c 3T3, HaCaT, and HDFa Cells In Vitro

ABSTRACT Introduction Phototoxicity is an acute photoinduced reaction. The 3T3 neutral red uptake (NRU) phototoxicity test has high sensitivity for the determination of phototoxic substances. To further optimize the method, this study mainly focused on comparing the phototoxicity sensitivity by using the NRU method for BALB/c 3T3, HaCaT, and HDFa cells in vitro. Methods The NRU method was used to evaluate the phototoxicity of chlorpromazine hydrochloride (CPZ), amiodarone hydrochloride (Amiodar), and L-histidine (L-His) on BALB/c 3T3 cells, HaCaT cells, and HDFa cells. The sensitivity of different cells to ultraviolet (UVA) irradiation in vitro was studied. Results L-His showed no phototoxicity, but the phototoxicity of CPZ and Amiodar showed different sensitivities among the three kinds of cells. The in vitro phototoxicity evaluation of HaCaT cells is closer to that of primary human fibroblasts. Conclusion This study provides a reference for cell line selection to optimize the existing in vitro evaluation method of 3T3 NRU phototoxicity.

Use of a Mobile Health (mHealth) Platform for Remote Assessment of Suicidal Ideation, Depression, and Anxiety: A Longitudinal Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT Introduction There is growing support for the use of integrated measurement-based care to capture symptom data in real time so treatment providers can make informed decisions about intervention strategies for mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, both of which are known to increase suicide. We examined the potential scalability and effectiveness of a mobile health (mHealth) application with integrated behavioral health functions to capture remote patient-reported measurement of suicidal ideation and overall symptoms of depression and anxiety. Methods This study was an observational retrospective review of deidentified patient data, including symptoms of suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) or Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scale, which were administered to and completed by patients on a smartphone or desktop application. After controlling for age, sex, and the presence of moderate versus severe symptoms at baseline, mean scores were analyzed with the Student's t-test. Results Of patients who took the PHQ-9 assessment at baseline and 8 weeks later (n = 764), the proportion who endorsed suicidal thinking decreased from 25% to 14.66% (p < 0.001) over 8 weeks. The mean PHQ-9 score was reduced from 14.69 (standard error [SE], 4.09) to 10.50 (SE, 5.94; p < 0.001), and a subset of individuals who continued use and took the PHQ-9 again at 24 weeks (n = 185) had a further decrease to 9.03 (SE, 7.09, p < 0.01). Although 21.62% of this subset still had suicidal thinking, the frequency of suicidal thoughts decreased. Of patients who took the GAD-7 at baseline and 8 weeks (n = 797) the mean score decreased from 14.20 (SE, 3.31) to 10.08 (SE, 5.55; p < 0.001) at 8 weeks and to 7.48 (SE, 6.54; p < 0.001) for a subset (n = 278) who continued use and took a GAD-7 at 24 weeks (n = 278). The sum of subgroup samples is larger than the whole because of instances of comorbid depression and anxiety. Conclusion Remote assessments within technology-supported integrated behavioral health care were feasible at scale. Change in symptoms could be observed at the individual and group level in real time, which may allow clinical teams to adjust treatments and improve outcomes. Prospective controlled studies are needed to determine what factors contribute to reductions in symptom severity.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Opinions of Egyptian Medical Students Toward Biobanking Issues

ABSTRACT Introduction Biobanking is an emerging concept in Egypt. Medical students represent important future stakeholders in the research community. The objective of this work was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and opinions of Egyptian medical students toward biobanking issues. Methods We designed a structured survey about these issues, which was communicated online with medical students at three universities in Egypt. Results A total of 315 of 364 questionnaires were completed. More than half the students have heard the term “biobanking” before. Approximately 77% had a general positive attitude toward the concept of biobanking; however, only 57.7% were willing to participate with their own or family samples. The positive attitude toward donation was significantly higher in participants with negative family history of inherited diseases (p = 0.02). Conclusion Although some students had limited knowledge of biobanking, they had a positive attitude toward the concept in general. However, this was not reflected in a similar attitude toward donating biospecimens, especially in those with a family history of inherited disease. Moreover, they expressed concerns about data protection and samples sharing with different stakeholders. Taking all these into account, educational activities about biobanking should be given to medical students to fill the knowledge gap on the subject.

Plasma Biomarkers Ascertained With Immunomagnetic Reduction Diagnosing Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) will become a prominent public health issue in the future given its cognitively debilitating nature. As the advent of global ageing society is expected, AD may bring tremendous socioeconomical costs if current diagnosis methods stay put. In this article, we performed a systematic review of a recent (less than 10 years) ultrasensitive technology, the immunomagnetic reduction (IMR), which shows promising potential of early diagnosis of AD. Methods We searched the Pubmed and Embase databases for studies that included keywords “early-stage Alzheimer's disease” and “immunomagnetic signal reduction.” Results After full-text review, a total of 7 studies were included for final analysis. Most included studies have reported on Aβ40, Aβ42, t-tau, and levels of these biomarkers in the plasma of early AD patients comparing those in the healthy population. The ranges of the mean Aβ40 levels are as follows: 59.2 to 60.9 for control groups and 36.9 to 39.5 pg/mL for AD. Aβ42 and t-tau concentrations are both markedly lower than Aβ40, Aβ42 at 15.5 to 16.1 for control groups and 17.9 to 19 pg/mL for AD; t-tau levels were 13.5 to 14.3 for control groups and 39.4 to 46.7 pg/mL for AD. There is a significant increasing level of plasma Aβ42 by IMR assays in early AD patients across nearly all the included studies. There is a possible relationship between plasma levels of IMR AD biomarkers and (1) degree of hippocampal atrophy using magnetic resonance imaging, and (2) amount of brain amyloid accumulation using positron emission tomography. Conclusion IMR assay is an ultrasensitivity technique that is useful for detection of early AD, which can provide benefits on understanding the disease progression of AD and encourage early medical invention for AD patients.

Candidalysin: From Mechanism of Action to Biomarker Development and Therapeutic Response

ABSTRACT The incidence of systemic fungal infection is increasing, and millions of people around the world suffer from fungal infections. Candida albicans is one of the most frequently isolated fungal pathogens in clinical settings. As a polymorphic organism, the transition between yeast and hyphae is critical for C. albicans virulence and pathogenesis. However, the mechanism of hyphae-associated virulence remains unclear. Candidalysin is the first human fungal cytolytic peptide toxin originating from the hyphae-specific gene, ECE1. This review will summarize the most recent progress underlying candidalysin-mediated epithelial damage and host defense pathways, which might shed new light on the development of a novel antifungal strategy and early diagnostic biomarker.