Continuous Biosensor Based on Particle Motion: How Does the Concentration Measurement Precision Depend on Time Scale?

Continuous biosensors measure concentration-time profiles of biomolecular substances in order to allow for comparisons of measurement data over long periods of time. To make meaningful comparisons of time-dependent data, it is essential to understand how measurement imprecision depends on the time interval between two evaluation points, as the applicable imprecision determines the significance of measured concentration differences. Here, we define a set of measurement imprecisions that relate to different sources of variation and different time scales, ranging from minutes to weeks, and study these using statistical analyses of measurement data.

Real-Time Immunosensor for Small-Molecule Monitoring in Industrial Food Processes.

Industrial food processes are monitored to ensure that food is being produced with good quality, yield, and productivity. For developing innovative real-time monitoring and control strategies, real-time sensors are needed that can continuously report chemical and biochemical data of the manufacturing process. Here, we describe a generalizable methodology to develop affinity-based biosensors for the continuous monitoring of small molecules in industrial food processes.

Painful lower limb nodules as first symptom of resectable pancreatic acinar cell cancer: a case report.

Background: Pancreatic panniculitis is characterized by subcutaneous fat necrosis and is a rare presentation of an underlying pancreatic disease, appearing in approximately 2-3% of all patients with a pancreatic disease. The nodules usually involve the lower extremities. Pancreatic panniculitis is commonly associated with acute or chronic pancreatitis, and occasionally with pancreatic cancer, especially acinar cell carcinoma.

Clinical outcomes of open abdominal wall reconstruction with the use of a polypropylene reinforced tissue matrix: a multicenter retrospective study.

Objective: To assess mesh behaviour and clinical outcomes of open complex abdominal wall reconstruction (CAWR) with the use of a polypropylene reinforced tissue matrix.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study of adult patients who underwent open CAWR with the use of a permanent polypropylene reinforced tissue matrix (OviTex) between June 2019 and January 2021.

Results: Fifty-five consecutive patients from four hospitals in the Netherlands were analysed; 46 patients with a ventral hernia and 9 patients with an open abdomen.

Inter-particle biomolecular reactivity tuned by surface crowders.

The rate at which colloidal particles can form biomolecular bonds controls the kinetics of applications such as particle-based biosensing, targeted drug delivery and directed colloidal assembly. Here we study how the reactivity of the particle surface depends on its molecular composition, quantified by the inter-particle rate of aggregation in an optomagnetic cluster experiment. Particles were functionalized with DNA or with proteins for specific binding, and with polyethylene glycol as a passive surface crowder.

Systematic review of team performance in minimally invasive abdominal surgery.

Background: Adverse events in the operating theatre related to non-technical skills and teamwork are still an issue. The influence of minimally invasive techniques on team performance and subsequent impact on patient safety remains unclear. The aim of this review was to assess the methodology used to objectify and rate team performance in minimally invasive abdominal surgery.

Mindfulness facets as differential mediators of short and long-term effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in diabetes outpatients: Findings from the DiaMind randomized trial.

Background: There is increasing evidence that mindfulness-based interventions reduce psychological distress in various medical populations. However, it has hardly been studied if these effects are mediated by an increase in mindfulness. The aim of this study was to examine mediating effects of various mindfulness facets on effects of a Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on perceived stress and mood.

Intestinal behavior of the ester prodrug tenofovir DF in humans.

Tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate (TDF) is a double ester prodrug which enables intestinal uptake of tenofovir (TFV) after oral administration in humans. In this study, prodrug stability was monitored in situ in the human intestine and in vitro using biorelevant media. In fasted state human intestinal fluids, the prodrug was completely degraded within 90 min, resulting in the formation of the mono-ester intermediate and TFV; in fed state intestinal fluids, the degradation rate of TDF was slightly reduced and no TFV was formed.

Vaginal expression of efflux transporters and the potential impact on the disposition of microbicides in vitro and in rabbits.

In order to reach sufficiently high tissue concentrations and thus be effective, vaginally applied anti-HIV microbicides that are active at the level of the immune cells must permeate across the cervicovaginal mucosal layer. Cellular efflux transporters, such as Pgp, BCRP, and MRP-2, have been demonstrated to greatly affect drug disposition at different sites in the body including the intestine and the blood-brain barrier; their possible role on drug uptake from the female genital tract, however, has not been elucidated yet. In the present study, the protein expression of Pgp, BCRP, and MRP-2 in endocervical and vaginal tissue of premenopausal women was confirmed by Western blot analysis.

B-lymphocytes as key players in chemical-induced asthma.

T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes are key players in allergic asthma, with B-lymphocytes producing antigen-specific immunoglobulins E (IgE). We used a mouse model of chemical-induced asthma and transferred B-lymphocytes from sensitized animals into naïve wild type mice, B-lymphocyte knock-out (B-KO) mice or severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. On days 1 and 8, BALB/c mice were dermally sensitized with 0.

Development and in vitro evaluation of a vaginal microbicide gel formulation for UAMC01398, a novel diaryltriazine NNRTI against HIV-1.

Diaryltriazines (DATAs) constitute a class of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) that are being investigated for use as anti-HIV microbicides. The aim of the present study was (1) to assess the biopharmaceutical properties of the DATA series, (2) to select the lead candidate as vaginal microbicide and (3) to develop and evaluate gel formulations of the lead candidate. First, the vaginal tissue permeation potential of the different DATAs was screened by performing permeability and solubility measurements.

Prior lung inflammation impacts on body distribution of gold nanoparticles.

Introduction: Gold- (Au-) based nanomaterials have shown promising potential in nanomedicine. The individual health status is an important determinant of the response to injury/exposure. It is, therefore, critical to evaluate exposure to Au-nanomaterials with varied preexisting health status.

Plant-associated bacteria and their role in the success or failure of metal phytoextraction projects: first observations of a field-related experiment.

Phytoextraction has been reported as an economically and ecologically sound alternative for the remediation of metal-contaminated soils. Willow is a metal phytoextractor of interest because it allows to combine a gradual contaminant removal with production of biomass that can be valorized in different ways. In this work two willow clones growing on a metal-contaminated site were selected: 'Belgisch Rood' (BR) with a moderate metal extraction capacity and 'Tora' (TO) with a twice as high metal accumulation.

Neutrophil and eosinophil granulocytes as key players in a mouse model of chemical-induced asthma.

Diisocyanates are an important cause of chemical-induced occupational asthma. This type of immunologically mediated asthma is often characterized by a predominant granulocytic inflammation in the airways, rather than an infiltration by lymphocytes. We sought to determine the contribution of granulocytes in the outcome of chemical-induced asthma using general and specific leukocyte depletion strategies in an established mouse model of isocyanate asthma.

A theoretical and experimental proteome map of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

A total proteome map of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 proteome is presented, generated by a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and protein identification by mass spectrometry. In total, 1128 spots were visualized, and 181 protein spots were characterized, corresponding to 159 different protein entries. In particular, protein chaperones and enzymes important in energy conversion and amino acid biosynthesis were identified.

Thrombogenic changes in young and old mice upon subchronic exposure to air pollution in an urban roadside tunnel.

Epidemiological studies indicate that elderly persons are particularly susceptible to the cardiovascular health complications of air pollution, but pathophysiological mechanisms behind the increased susceptibility remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated how continuous traffic-related air pollution exposure affects haemostasis parameters in young and old mice. Young (10 weeks) and old (20 months) mice were placed in an urban roadside tunnel or in a clean environment for 25 or 26 days and markers of inflammation and endothelial cells or blood platelet activation were measured, respectively.

Phenotypic and genome-wide analysis of an antibiotic-resistant small colony variant (SCV) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Background: Small colony variants (SCVs) are slow-growing bacteria, which often show increased resistance to antibiotics and cause latent or recurrent infections. It is therefore important to understand the mechanisms at the basis of this phenotypic switch.

Methodology/principal Findings: One SCV (termed PAO-SCV) was isolated, showing high resistance to gentamicin and to the cephalosporine cefotaxime.

Successful transfer of chemical-induced asthma by adoptive transfer of low amounts of lymphocytes in a mouse model.

Background: We optimized an adoptive transfer protocol in our mouse model of TDI-induced asthma in order to investigate the mechanisms of this type of occupational asthma.

Methods: On days 1 and 8, BALB/c mice were dermally sensitized with 0.3% TDI or vehicle (acetone/olive oil), and on day 15, they were sacrificed and a cell suspension was made from auricular lymph nodes.

Proteome analysis of multiple compartments in a mouse model of chemical-induced asthma.

Occupational asthma is the principal cause of work-related respiratory disease in the industrial world. Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) is one of the most common respiratory sensitizers leading to occupational asthma. Using a mouse model of chemical-induced asthma, we explored proteome changes in multiple compartments of mice sensitized and challenged with TDI or acetone-olive oil (AOO; vehicle).