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Fulltext A Comprehensive Review of Cervical Cancer Screening Devices: The Pros and the Cons

Hon HJ, Chong PP, Choo HL, Khine PP

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2023 Jul 01;24(7):2207-2215.
PMID: 37505749 DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2207

OBJECTIVE: The low screening coverage and reluctance of women in participation lead to low uptake in cervical screening tests. Hence the majority of cervical cancer patients visiting the hospitals are diagnosed at advanced stage, often leading to poor survival rate. This paper aims to review and compile available cancer screening devices so that more people in this field will adopt suitable devices in cervical cancer screening routine depending on requirements which may encourage the uptake in cervical screening tests.
METHODS: This paper reviews devices invented for different cervical cancer screening methods, which are Pap smear test, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) or Lugol's iodine (VILI), and HPV (human papillomavirus)-DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) self-test in terms of functionality, performance in solving the limitations of screening procedure and additionally where applicable, the cervical cell collection efficacy and abnormality detection accuracy. The devices are either available in the market, published in research articles or published in international patent databases.
RESULT: The reviewed devices either simplified the screening procedure to improve the clinical efficiency and accuracy in screening, reduced the pain and discomfort experienced by women during screening procedures, or achieved both outcomes.
CONCLUSION: Many devices have been invented to improve the screening procedures which may potentially improve the uptake in cervical screening tests and encourage the organization of screening campaigns to reduce cervical cancer incidence.

Matched MeSH terms: Mass Screening/methods; Vaginal Smears/methods; Early Detection of Cancer/methods
Fulltext A Comprehensive Review on the Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Pogostemon cablin Benth.: An Aromatic Medicinal Plant of Industrial Importance

Swamy MK, Sinniah UR

Molecules, 2015 May 12;20(5):8521-47.
PMID: 25985355 DOI: 10.3390/molecules20058521

Pogostemon cablin Benth. (patchouli) is an important herb which possesses many therapeutic properties and is widely used in the fragrance industries. In traditional medicinal practices, it is used to treat colds, headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, insect and snake bites. In aromatherapy, patchouli oil is used to relieve depression, stress, calm nerves, control appetite and to improve sexual interest. Till now more than 140 compounds, including terpenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids, organic acids, lignins, alkaloids, glycosides, alcohols, aldehydes have been isolated and identified from patchouli. The main phytochemical compounds are patchouli alcohol, α-patchoulene, β-patchoulene, α-bulnesene, seychellene, norpatchoulenol, pogostone, eugenol and pogostol. Modern studies have revealed several biological activities such as antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, antithrombotic, aphrodisiac, antidepressant, antimutagenic, antiemetic, fibrinolytic and cytotoxic activities. However, some of the traditional uses need to be verified and may require standardizing and authenticating the bioactivity of purified compounds through scientific methods. The aim of the present review is to provide comprehensive knowledge on the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of essential oil and different plant extracts of patchouli based on the available scientific literature. This information will provide a potential guide in exploring the use of main active compounds of patchouli in various medical fields.

Matched MeSH terms: Aromatherapy/methods
Fulltext A Critical Review on Pulsed Electric Field: A Novel Technology for the Extraction of Phytoconstituents

Ranjha MMAN, Kanwal R, Shafique B, Arshad RN, Irfan S, Kieliszek M, et al.

Molecules, 2021 Aug 12;26(16).
PMID: 34443475 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164893

Different parts of a plant (seeds, fruits, flower, leaves, stem, and roots) contain numerous biologically active compounds called "phytoconstituents" that consist of phenolics, minerals, amino acids, and vitamins. The conventional techniques applied to extract these phytoconstituents have several drawbacks including poor performance, low yields, more solvent use, long processing time, and thermally degrading by-products. In contrast, modern and advanced extraction nonthermal technologies such as pulsed electric field (PEF) assist in easier and efficient identification, characterization, and analysis of bioactive ingredients. Other advantages of PEF include cost-efficacy, less time, and solvent consumption with improved yields. This review covers the applications of PEF to obtain bioactive components, essential oils, proteins, pectin, and other important materials from various parts of the plant. Numerous studies compiled in the current evaluation concluded PEF as the best solution to extract phytoconstituents used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. PEF-assisted extraction leads to a higher yield, utilizes less solvents and energy, and it saves a lot of time compared to traditional extraction methods. PEF extraction design should be safe and efficient enough to prevent the degradation of phytoconstituents and oils.

Matched MeSH terms: Chemical Fractionation/methods*; Electrochemical Techniques/methods*
A Cytotoxic Indole Characterized by Incorporation of a Unique Carbon-Nitrogen Skeleton and Two Pentacyclic Corynanthean Alkaloids Incorporating a Substituted Tetrahydrofuranone Ring from Kopsia arborea

Wong SK, Wong SP, Sim KS, Lim SH, Low YY, Kam TS

J Nat Prod, 2019 07 26;82(7):1902-1907.
PMID: 31241923 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00255

Three new alkaloids were isolated from the bark extract of the Malayan Kopsia arborea, viz., arbophyllidine (1), an unusual pentacyclic, monoterpenoid indole characterized by an absence of oxygen atoms and incorporating a new carbon-nitrogen skeleton, and arbophyllinines A (2) and B (3), two pentacyclic corynanthean alkaloids incorporating a hydroxyethyl-substituted tetrahydrofuranone ring. The structures of the alkaloids were deduced based on analysis of the MS and NMR data and confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. The absolute configuration of arbophyllidine (1) was established based on experimental and calculated ECD data, while that of arbophyllinine A was based on X-ray diffraction analysis (Cu Kα). A reasonable biosynthetic route to arbophyllidine (1) from a pericine precursor is presented. Arbophyllidine (1) showed pronounced in vitro growth inhibitory activity against the HT-29 human cancer cell line with IC50 6.2 μM.

Matched MeSH terms: Spectrum Analysis/methods
A DNA biosensor based on gold nanoparticle decorated on carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes for gender determination of Arowana fish

Saeedfar K, Heng LY, Chiang CP

Bioelectrochemistry, 2017 Dec;118:106-113.
PMID: 28780443 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2017.07.012

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified to design a new DNA biosensor. Functionalized MWCNTs were equipped with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) (~15nm) (GNP-MWCNTCOOH) to construct DNA biosensors based on carbon-paste screen-printed (SPE) electrodes. GNP attachment onto functionalized MWCNTs was carried out by microwave irradiation and was confirmed by spectroscopic studies and surface analysis. DNA biosensors based on differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were constructed by immobilizing thiolated single-stranded DNA probes onto GNP-MWCNTCOOH. Ruthenium (III) chloride hexaammoniate [Ru(NH3)6,2Cl(-)] (RuHex) was used as hybridization redox indicator. RuHex and MWCNT interaction was low in compared to other organic redox hybridization indicators. The linear response range for DNA determination was 1×10(-21) to 1×10(-9)M with a lower detection limit of 1.55×10(-21)M. Thus, the attachment of GNPs onto functionalized MWCNTs yielded sensitive DNA biosensor with low detection limit and stability more than 30days. Constructed electrode was used to determine gender of arowana fish.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Determination Analysis/methods*; Biosensing Techniques/methods*
Fulltext A Deep Learning Model for Automated Sleep Stages Classification Using PSG Signals

Yildirim O, Baloglu UB, Acharya UR

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019 02 19;16(4).
PMID: 30791379 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16040599

Sleep disorder is a symptom of many neurological diseases that may significantly affect the quality of daily life. Traditional methods are time-consuming and involve the manual scoring of polysomnogram (PSG) signals obtained in a laboratory environment. However, the automated monitoring of sleep stages can help detect neurological disorders accurately as well. In this study, a flexible deep learning model is proposed using raw PSG signals. A one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) is developed using electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrooculogram (EOG) signals for the classification of sleep stages. The performance of the system is evaluated using two public databases (sleep-edf and sleep-edfx). The developed model yielded the highest accuracies of 98.06%, 94.64%, 92.36%, 91.22%, and 91.00% for two to six sleep classes, respectively, using the sleep-edf database. Further, the proposed model obtained the highest accuracies of 97.62%, 94.34%, 92.33%, 90.98%, and 89.54%, respectively for the same two to six sleep classes using the sleep-edfx dataset. The developed deep learning model is ready for clinical usage, and can be tested with big PSG data.

Matched MeSH terms: Polysomnography/methods*
Fulltext A Double Whammy of Mycotic Aneurysms and Acquired Dysfibrinogenemia in a Patient with Septicemia

Sim CY, Khoo CS, Mustafar R, Chai JN

Balkan Med J, 2021 01;38(1):55-56.
PMID: 32720494 DOI: 10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2020.2020.5.208
Matched MeSH terms: Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods
A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial of High Cutoff Versus Standard Hemofiltration in Critically Ill Patients With Acute Kidney Injury

Atan R, Peck L, Prowle J, Licari E, Eastwood GM, Storr M, et al.

Crit Care Med, 2018 10;46(10):e988-e994.
PMID: 30074491 DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000003350

OBJECTIVES: In critically ill patients with acute kidney injury receiving vasopressors, high cytokine levels may sustain the shock state. High cutoff hemofiltration achieves greater cytokine removal in ex vivo and in animal models and may reduce the duration of shock but may also increase albumin losses.
DESIGN: This was a single-center double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing continuous venovenous hemofiltration-high cutoff to continuous venovenous hemofiltration-standard.
SETTING: Tertiary care hospital in Australia.
PATIENTS: Vasopressor-dependent patients in acute kidney injury who were admitted to the ICU.
INTERVENTIONS: Norepinephrine-free time were calculated in critically ill vasopressor-dependent patients in acute kidney injury, randomized to either continuous venovenous hemofiltration-high cutoff or continuous venovenous hemofiltration-standard.
MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 76 patients were randomized with the following characteristics (continuous venovenous hemofiltration-high cutoff vs continuous venovenous hemofiltration-standard); median age of 65 versus 70 year, percentage of males 47% versus 68%, and median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation scores of 25 versus 23.5. The median hours of norepinephrine-free time at day 7 were 32 (0-110.8) for continuous venovenous hemofiltration-high cutoff and 56 hours (0-109.3 hr) (p = 0.520) for continuous venovenous hemofiltration-standard. Inhospital mortality was 55.6% with continuous venovenous hemofiltration-high cutoff versus 34.2% with continuous venovenous hemofiltration-standard (adjusted odds ratio, 2.49; 95% CI, 0.81-7.66; p = 0.191). There was no significant difference in time to cessation of norepinephrine (p = 0.358), time to cessation of hemofiltration (p = 0.563), and filter life (p = 0.21). Serum albumin levels (p = 0.192) were similar and the median dose of IV albumin given was 90 grams (20-212 g) for continuous venovenous hemofiltration-high cutoff and 80 grams (15-132 g) for continuous venovenous hemofiltration-standard (p = 0.252).
CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, continuous venovenous hemofiltration-high cutoff did not reduce the duration of vasopressor support or mortality or change albumin levels compared with continuous venovenous hemofiltration-standard.

Matched MeSH terms: Critical Care/methods*; Hemodiafiltration/methods
Fulltext A Fast SVM-Based Tongue's Colour Classification Aided by k-Means Clustering Identifiers and Colour Attributes as Computer-Assisted Tool for Tongue Diagnosis

Kamarudin ND, Ooi CY, Kawanabe T, Odaguchi H, Kobayashi F

J Healthc Eng, 2017;2017:7460168.
PMID: 29065640 DOI: 10.1155/2017/7460168

In tongue diagnosis, colour information of tongue body has kept valuable information regarding the state of disease and its correlation with the internal organs. Qualitatively, practitioners may have difficulty in their judgement due to the instable lighting condition and naked eye's ability to capture the exact colour distribution on the tongue especially the tongue with multicolour substance. To overcome this ambiguity, this paper presents a two-stage tongue's multicolour classification based on a support vector machine (SVM) whose support vectors are reduced by our proposed k-means clustering identifiers and red colour range for precise tongue colour diagnosis. In the first stage, k-means clustering is used to cluster a tongue image into four clusters of image background (black), deep red region, red/light red region, and transitional region. In the second-stage classification, red/light red tongue images are further classified into red tongue or light red tongue based on the red colour range derived in our work. Overall, true rate classification accuracy of the proposed two-stage classification to diagnose red, light red, and deep red tongue colours is 94%. The number of support vectors in SVM is improved by 41.2%, and the execution time for one image is recorded as 48 seconds.

Matched MeSH terms: Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods; Medical Informatics/methods*
Fulltext A Fault Tolerant Surveillance System for Fire Detection and Prevention Using LoRaWAN in Smart Buildings

Safi A, Ahmad Z, Jehangiri AI, Latip R, Zaman SKU, Khan MA, et al.

Sensors (Basel), 2022 Nov 01;22(21).
PMID: 36366109 DOI: 10.3390/s22218411

In recent years, fire detection technologies have helped safeguard lives and property from hazards. Early fire warning methods, such as smoke or gas sensors, are ineffectual. Many fires have caused deaths and property damage. IoT is a fast-growing technology. It contains equipment, buildings, electrical systems, vehicles, and everyday things with computing and sensing capabilities. These objects can be managed and monitored remotely as they are connected to the Internet. In the Internet of Things concept, low-power devices like sensors and controllers are linked together using the concept of Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN). Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) is an LPWAN product used on the Internet of Things (IoT). It is well suited for networks of things connected to the Internet, where terminals send a minute amount of sensor data over large distances, providing the end terminals with battery lifetimes of years. In this article, we design and implement a LoRaWAN-based system for smart building fire detection and prevention, not reliant upon Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) connection. A LoRa node with a combination of sensors can detect smoke, gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), propane, methane, hydrogen, alcohol, temperature, and humidity. We developed the system in a real-world environment utilizing Wi-Fi Lora 32 boards. The performance is evaluated considering the response time and overall network delay. The tests are carried out in different lengths (0-600 m) and heights above the ground (0-2 m) in an open environment and indoor (1st Floor-3rd floor) environment. We observed that the proposed system outperformed in sensing and data transfer from sensing nodes to the controller boards.

Matched MeSH terms: Monitoring, Physiologic/methods
A Flowmeter Technique to Exclude Internal Mammary Artery Anastomosis Error in an Arrested Heart

Hashim SA, Amin MA, Nair A, Raja Mokhtar RA, Krishnasamy S, Cheng K

Heart Lung Circ, 2018 May;27(5):e59-e63.
PMID: 29246681 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2017.11.011

The revision of an internal mammary artery graft anastomosis because of a technical error can be time-consuming and complicated and may lead to complications. Here, we describe the technical details and our early experience of using a standard transit-time flowmeter to exclude technical errors and facilitate rapid decision making for anastomosis revision in an arrested heart during aortic cross-clamping in the absence of ultrasound guidance.

Matched MeSH terms: Anastomosis, Surgical/methods; Coronary Artery Bypass/methods*
Fulltext A Framework for Assessing High School Students' Statistical Reasoning

Chan SW, Ismail Z, Sumintono B

PLoS One, 2016;11(11):e0163846.
PMID: 27812091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163846

Based on a synthesis of literature, earlier studies, analyses and observations on high school students, this study developed an initial framework for assessing students' statistical reasoning about descriptive statistics. Framework descriptors were established across five levels of statistical reasoning and four key constructs. The former consisted of idiosyncratic reasoning, verbal reasoning, transitional reasoning, procedural reasoning, and integrated process reasoning. The latter include describing data, organizing and reducing data, representing data, and analyzing and interpreting data. In contrast to earlier studies, this initial framework formulated a complete and coherent statistical reasoning framework. A statistical reasoning assessment tool was then constructed from this initial framework. The tool was administered to 10 tenth-grade students in a task-based interview. The initial framework was refined, and the statistical reasoning assessment tool was revised. The ten students then participated in the second task-based interview, and the data obtained were used to validate the framework. The findings showed that the students' statistical reasoning levels were consistent across the four constructs, and this result confirmed the framework's cohesion. Developed to contribute to statistics education, this newly developed statistical reasoning framework provides a guide for planning learning goals and designing instruction and assessments.

Matched MeSH terms: Educational Measurement/methods*
Fulltext A Fuzzy-C-Means-Clustering Approach: Quantifying Chromatin Pattern of Non-Neoplastic Cervical Squamous Cells

Tang JR, Mat Isa NA, Ch'ng ES

PLoS One, 2015;10(11):e0142830.
PMID: 26560331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142830

Despite the effectiveness of Pap-smear test in reducing the mortality rate due to cervical cancer, the criteria of the reporting standard of the Pap-smear test are mostly qualitative in nature. This study addresses the issue on how to define the criteria in a more quantitative and definite term. A negative Pap-smear test result, i.e. negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM), is qualitatively defined to have evenly distributed, finely granular chromatin in the nuclei of cervical squamous cells. To quantify this chromatin pattern, this study employed Fuzzy C-Means clustering as the segmentation technique, enabling different degrees of chromatin segmentation to be performed on sample images of non-neoplastic squamous cells. From the simulation results, a model representing the chromatin distribution of non-neoplastic cervical squamous cell is constructed with the following quantitative characteristics: at the best representative sensitivity level 4 based on statistical analysis and human experts' feedbacks, a nucleus of non-neoplastic squamous cell has an average of 67 chromatins with a total area of 10.827 μm2; the average distance between the nearest chromatin pair is 0.508 μm and the average eccentricity of the chromatin is 0.47.

Matched MeSH terms: Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods; Vaginal Smears/methods; Computational Biology/methods*; Papanicolaou Test/methods*
Fulltext A Genome Wide Study of Copy Number Variation Associated with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Malaysian Chinese Identifies CNVs at 11q14.3 and 6p21.3 as Candidate Loci

Low JS, Chin YM, Mushiroda T, Kubo M, Govindasamy GK, Pua KC, et al.

PLoS One, 2016;11(1):e0145774.
PMID: 26730743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145774

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a neoplasm of the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx. Despite various reports linking genomic variants to NPC predisposition, very few reports were done on copy number variations (CNV). CNV is an inherent structural variation that has been found to be involved in cancer predisposition.
METHODS: A discovery cohort of Malaysian Chinese descent (NPC patients, n = 140; Healthy controls, n = 256) were genotyped using Illumina® HumanOmniExpress BeadChip. PennCNV and cnvPartition calling algorithms were applied for CNV calling. Taqman CNV assays and digital PCR were used to validate CNV calls and replicate candidate copy number variant region (CNVR) associations in a follow-up Malaysian Chinese (NPC cases, n = 465; and Healthy controls, n = 677) and Malay cohort (NPC cases, n = 114; Healthy controls, n = 124).
RESULTS: Six putative CNVRs overlapping GRM5, MICA/HCP5/HCG26, LILRB3/LILRA6, DPY19L2, RNase3/RNase2 and GOLPH3 genes were jointly identified by PennCNV and cnvPartition. CNVs overlapping GRM5 and MICA/HCP5/HCG26 were subjected to further validation by Taqman CNV assays and digital PCR. Combined analysis in Malaysian Chinese cohort revealed a strong association at CNVR on chromosome 11q14.3 (Pcombined = 1.54x10-5; odds ratio (OR) = 7.27; 95% CI = 2.96-17.88) overlapping GRM5 and a suggestive association at CNVR on chromosome 6p21.3 (Pcombined = 1.29x10-3; OR = 4.21; 95% CI = 1.75-10.11) overlapping MICA/HCP5/HCG26 genes.
CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated the association of CNVs towards NPC susceptibility, implicating a possible role of CNVs in NPC development.

Matched MeSH terms: Genome-Wide Association Study/methods*
Fulltext A High-Yield Two-Hour Protocol for Extraction of Human Hair Shaft Proteins

Wong SY, Lee CC, Ashrafzadeh A, Junit SM, Abrahim N, Hashim OH

PLoS One, 2016;11(10):e0164993.
PMID: 27741315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164993

Proteome analysis of the human hair remains challenging due to the poor solubility of hair proteins and the difficulty in their extraction. In the present study, we have developed a rapid extraction protocol for hair shaft protein using alkaline-based buffer. The new protocol accelerated the procedure by reducing the extraction time from at least a day to less than two hours and showed a protein recovery of 47.3 ± 3.72%. Further analyses of the extracted protein sample through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis unveiled a total of 60 proteins, including 25 that were not previously reported. Identification of these proteins is anticipated to be crucial in helping to understand the molecular basis of hair for potential applications in the future.

Matched MeSH terms: Solid Phase Extraction/methods
A High-throughput Quantitative Expression Analysis of Cancer-related Genes in Human HepG2 Cells in Response to Limonene, a Potential Anticancer Agent

Hafidh RR, Hussein SZ, MalAllah MQ, Abdulamir AS, Abu Bakar F

Curr Cancer Drug Targets, 2018;18(8):807-815.
PMID: 29141549 DOI: 10.2174/1568009617666171114144236

BACKGROUND: Citrus bioactive compounds, as active anticancer agents, have been under focus by several studies worldwide. However, the underlying genes responsible for the anticancer potential have not been sufficiently highlighted.
OBJECTIVES: The current study investigated the gene expression profile of hepatocellular carcinoma, HepG2, cells after treatment with Limonene.
METHODS: The concentration that killed 50% of HepG2 cells was used to elucidate the genetic mechanisms of limonene anticancer activity. The apoptotic induction was detected by flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscope. Two of the pro-apoptotic events, caspase-3 activation and phosphatidylserine translocation were manifested by confocal fluorescence microscopy. Highthroughput real-time PCR was used to profile 1023 cancer-related genes in 16 different gene families related to the cancer development.
RESULTS: In comparison to untreated cells, limonene increased the percentage of apoptotic cells up to 89.61%, by flow cytometry, and 48.2% by fluorescence microscopy. There was a significant limonene- driven differential gene expression of HepG2 cells in 15 different gene families. Limonene was shown to significantly (>2log) up-regulate and down-regulate 14 and 59 genes, respectively. The affected gene families, from the most to the least affected, were apoptosis induction, signal transduction, cancer genes augmentation, alteration in kinases expression, inflammation, DNA damage repair, and cell cycle proteins.
CONCLUSION: The current study reveals that limonene could be a promising, cheap, and effective anticancer compound. The broad spectrum of limonene anticancer activity is interesting for anticancer drug development. Further research is needed to confirm the current findings and to examine the anticancer potential of limonene along with underlying mechanisms on different cell lines.

Matched MeSH terms: Drug Discovery/methods
Fulltext A Highly Sensitive Impedimetric DNA Biosensor Based on Hollow Silica Microspheres for Label-Free Determination of E. coli

Yuhana Ariffin E, Heng LY, Tan LL, Abd Karim NH, Hasbullah SA

Sensors (Basel), 2020 Feb 26;20(5).
PMID: 32111092 DOI: 10.3390/s20051279

A novel label-free electrochemical DNA biosensor was constructed for the determination of Escherichia coli bacteria in environmental water samples. The aminated DNA probe was immobilized onto hollow silica microspheres (HSMs) functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and deposited onto a screen-printed electrode (SPE) carbon paste with supported gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The biosensor was optimized for higher specificity and sensitivity. The label-free E. coli DNA biosensor exhibited a dynamic linear response range of 1 × 10-10 µM to 1 × 10-5 µM (R2 = 0.982), with a limit of detection at 1.95 × 10-15 µM, without a redox mediator. The sensitivity of the developed DNA biosensor was comparable to the non-complementary and single-base mismatched DNA. The DNA biosensor demonstrated a stable response up to 21 days of storage at 4 ℃ and pH 7. The DNA biosensor response was regenerable over three successive regeneration and rehybridization cycles.

Matched MeSH terms: Biosensing Techniques/methods*
A Homemade, High-fidelity Ultrasound Model for Simulating Pneumonia with Parapneumonic Effusion and Empyema

James V, Kee CY, Ong GY

J Emerg Med, 2019 Apr;56(4):421-425.
PMID: 30638645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2018.12.015

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is increasingly used for both diagnostic and guided procedures. Increasingly, POCUS has been used for identification of pneumonia and to assist in the differentiation of pleural effusions, as well as to guide thoracentesis. As such, there is a need for training with ideally high-fidelity lung ultrasound phantoms to ensure ultrasound proficiency and procedural competency. Unfortunately, most commercial ultrasound phantoms remain expensive and may have limited fidelity.
OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to create and describe a homemade, high-fidelity ultrasound phantom model for demonstrating pneumonia with pleural effusions for teaching purposes.
DISCUSSION: An ultrasound phantom was constructed using a water-filled latex glove with a sliver of meat in it, covered over by a palm-sized piece of meat (skin and ribs are optional to increase ultrasonographic details and realism). This would appear like parapneumonic effusions with organized pneumonia under ultrasound examination. Creamer (or talc) can be added to the water in the glove to simulate empyema. The model can also be used to teach simple effusions and for ultrasound-guided thoracentesis and in clinical decision making.
CONCLUSIONS: Easily prepared, homemade high-fidelity ultrasound phantom models for instructions on identification of pleural effusions and ultrasound-guided pleural tap of parapneumonic effusion were made.

Matched MeSH terms: Simulation Training/methods*; Ultrasonography/methods*
Fulltext A Hybrid One-Way ANOVA Approach for the Robust and Efficient Estimation of Differential Gene Expression with Multiple Patterns

Mollah MM, Jamal R, Mokhtar NM, Harun R, Mollah MN

PLoS One, 2015;10(9):e0138810.
PMID: 26413858 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138810

Identifying genes that are differentially expressed (DE) between two or more conditions with multiple patterns of expression is one of the primary objectives of gene expression data analysis. Several statistical approaches, including one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), are used to identify DE genes. However, most of these methods provide misleading results for two or more conditions with multiple patterns of expression in the presence of outlying genes. In this paper, an attempt is made to develop a hybrid one-way ANOVA approach that unifies the robustness and efficiency of estimation using the minimum β-divergence method to overcome some problems that arise in the existing robust methods for both small- and large-sample cases with multiple patterns of expression.

Matched MeSH terms: Gene Expression Profiling/methods*
A Laboratory Maintenance Regime for a Fungus-Growing Termite Macrotermes gilvus (Blattodea: Termitidae)

Lee CC, Lee CY

J Econ Entomol, 2015 Jun;108(3):1243-50.
PMID: 26470252 DOI: 10.1093/jee/tov112

The optimum maintenance conditions of the fungus-growing termite, Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen) (Blattodea: Termitidae), in the laboratory were studied. Termites were kept on a matrix of moist sand and with fungus comb as food. The survival of groups of termites was measured when maintained at different population densities by changing group size and container volume. Larger groups (≥0.6 g) were more vigorous and had significant higher survival rates than smaller groups (≤0.3 g). The population density for optimal survival of M. gilvus is 0.0025 g per container volume (ml) or 0.0169 g per matrix volume (cm(3)), i.e., 1.2 g of termites kept in a 480-ml container filled with 71 cm3 of sand. In termite groups of smaller size (i.e., 0.3 g) or groups maintained in smaller container (i.e., 100 ml) the fungus comb was overgrown with Xylaria spp., and subsequently all termites died within the study period. The insufficient number of workers for regulating the growth of unwanted fungi other than Termitomyces spp. in the fungus comb is the most likely reason. Unlike some other mound-building termite species, M. gilvus showed satisfactory survival when maintained in non-nutritious matrix (i.e., sand). There was no significant difference in the survival rate between different colonies of M. gilvus (n=5), with survival in the range of 78.5-84.4% after 4 wk. Advances in the maintenance of Macrotermes will enable researchers to study with more biological relevance many aspects of the biology, behavior, and management of this species.

Matched MeSH terms: Insect Control/methods*

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