Non-contact immunological signaling for highly-efficient regulation of the transcriptional map of human monocytes.

The different immune system cells communicate and coordinate a response using a complex and evolved language of cytokines and chemokines. These cellular interactions carry out multiple functions in distinct cell types with numerous developmental outcomes. Despite the plethora of different cytokines and their cognate receptors, there is a restricted number of signal transducers and activators to control immune responses.

Sensors for detecting pulmonary diseases from exhaled breath.

This review presents and discusses a new frontier for fast, risk-free and potentially inexpensive diagnostics of respiratory diseases by detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in exhaled breath. One part of the review is a didactic presentation of the overlaying concept and the chemistry of exhaled breath. The other part discusses diverse sensors that have been developed and used for the detection of respiratory diseases ( chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, lung cancer, pulmonary arterial hypertension, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and pneumoconiosis) by analysis of VOCs in exhaled breath.

Red-emitting FIT-PNAs: "On site" detection of RNA biomarkers in fresh human cancer tissues.

To date, there are limited approaches for the direct and rapid visualization (on site) of tumor tissues for pathological assessment and for aiding cytoreductive surgery. Herein, we have designed FIT-PNAs (forced-intercalation-peptide nucleic acids) to detect two RNA cancer biomarkers. Firstly, a lncRNA (long noncoding RNA) termed CCAT1, has been shown as an oncogenic lncRNA over-expressed in a variety of cancers.

Lung cancer breath tests.

The current letter describes the rational behind breath analysis of lung cancer and the progress made so far by means of mass spectrometry and smart sensor arrays. Additionally, it presents and discusses the potential of breath analysis in enabling inexpensive and non-invasive technology that would allow efficient early detection of cancer; stratifying the population based on their bio-specification for a tailored (personalized) therapy; and bed-side fast assessment of treatment efficacy in order to change the therapeutic approach. At the end, the letter pinpoints the main implementation strengths of the method as a routine diagnostic and monitoring in the digital era.