Publications by authors named "Julia Strauss"

Portable sample-to-answer devices with applications in point-of-care settings have emerged to obviate the necessity of centralized laboratories for biomarker analysis. In this work, a smartphone-operated and additively manufactured multiplexed electrochemical device (AMMED) is presented for the portable detection of biomarkers in blood and saliva. AMMED is comprised of a customized portable potentiostat with a multiplexing feature, a 3D-printed sample collection cartridge to handle three samples of saliva and blood at the same time, a smartphone application to remotely control the potentiostat, and a 3D-printed-based multiplexed microfluidic electrochemical biosensor (test chip).

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Novel biomaterials for bio- and chemical sensing applications have gained considerable traction in the diagnostic community with rising trends of using biocompatible and lowly cytotoxic material. Hydrogel-based electrochemical sensors have become a promising candidate for their swellable, nano-/microporous, and aqueous 3D structures capable of immobilizing catalytic enzymes, electroactive species, whole cells, and complex tissue models, while maintaining tunable mechanical properties in wearable and implantable applications. With advances in highly controllable fabrication and processability of these novel biomaterials, the possibility of bio-nanocomposite hydrogel-based electrochemical sensing presents a paradigm shift in the development of biocompatible, "smart," and sensitive health monitoring point-of-care devices.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The text discusses a new home-test kit called NFluidEX, designed to quickly detect viral infections and immune responses using saliva and blood, similar to how a glucometer works, providing results in just 11 minutes.
  • - This device incorporates advanced technology, including biomimetic receptors made from molecularly imprinted polymers and nano gold electrodes, to enable simultaneous detection of viral proteins and antibodies against infections like Influenza A H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2.
  • - NFluidEX has shown impressive accuracy in clinical tests, achieving 100% sensitivity and specificity when compared to traditional lab methods, making it a promising tool for monitoring viral respiratory infections at home.
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Introduction: Increasing the use of breast milk in critically ill neonates is an important priority to improve neonatal care. Lactation consultants (LCs) educate mothers about evidence-based benefits of breast milk and provide technical support. LC support can lead to increased breastfeeding initiation.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study highlights the role of the Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in regulating DNA repair and transcription in melanocytic cells, which are sensitive to UV radiation.
  • MITF activates the transcription factor GTF2H1, enhancing nucleotide excision repair and ensuring timely resumption of transcription, crucial for the survival of melanocytes and melanoma cells.
  • Additionally, MITF influences c-MYC to regulate general transcription and CDK7, suggesting a novel mechanism that could be targeted for therapeutic interventions in melanoma.
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  • Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play a key role in the development of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but understanding how their signaling impacts cancer behavior is complex.
  • Researchers used patient-derived models of ALL influenced by specific RTKs (FLT3 and PDGFRB) and employed phosphoproteomics to explore signaling pathways and identify group I p21-activated kinases (PAKs) as potential new targets for therapy.
  • Inhibiting PAKs, either through RNA interference or specific drugs, reduced leukemia cell growth and increased cell death, and combining PAK inhibitors with existing treatments enhanced their effectiveness, suggesting a promising strategy to improve outcomes in RTK-dependent ALL.
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The inositol 5-phosphatase SHIP1 is a negative regulator of the PI3K/AKT pathway, which is constitutively activated in 50-70% of acute myeloid leukemias (AML). Ten different missense mutations in SHIP1 have been described in 3% of AML patients suggesting a functional role of SHIP1 in AML. Here, we report the identification of two new SHIP1 mutations T162P and R225W that were detected in 2 and 1 out of 96 AML patients, respectively.

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Rapid intracellular transport and secretion of cytotoxic granules through the immunological synapse requires a balanced interaction of several proteins. Disturbance of this highly regulated process underlies familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL), a genetically heterogeneous autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by a severe hyperinflammatory phenotype. Here, we have assigned FHL-5 to a 1 Mb region on chromosome 19p by using high-resolution SNP genotyping in eight unrelated FHL patients from consanguineous families.

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